System and method for use in a cellular communication network

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provides a system and method for extracting information pertaining to a portable wireless communications device (103) which is connectable to a cellular communication network comprising the steps of: disposing the portable wireless communications device within an enclosure (101) substantially impenetrable by electromagnetic radiation; generating a cell of a cellular communication network within the enclosure; transmitting a signal to the device, the transmitted signal being suitable for initiating registration of the device with the generated cell; receiving a signal from the device comprising information pertaining to the device, the received signal being suitable for registering the device with the generated cell; and extracting information pertaining to the device from the received signal. Embodiments also provide the additional step of generating a message dependent upon the extracted information and transmitting the same, via the generated cell, to the user's device.

1 . A system ( 100 ) for extracting information pertaining to a portable wireless communications device ( 103 ) which is connectable to a cellular communication network comprising:
 an enclosure ( 101 ) arranged so as to be substantially impenetrable by electromagnetic radiation;   means for generating a cell of a cellular communication network within the enclosure ( 105 ,  102 ); and   processing means ( 106 ), coupled to the means for generating a cell; wherein:   the means for generating a cell is arranged so as to be able to:
 transmit a signal to said portable wireless communications device when the device is disposed within the enclosure, the transmitted signal being suitable for initiating registration of the device with a cell generated within the enclosure, and 
 receive a signal from the device, the received signal being suitable for registering the device with the cell generated within the enclosure, the received signal comprising information pertaining to the device; and 
   the processing means is arranged to extract the information pertaining to the device from the received signal.   
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the means for generating a cell comprises: a controller ( 105 ), a transmitter ( 102 ) and a receiver ( 102 ) wherein the transmitter and receiver are disposed within the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising means to generate a message for transmission to the device. 
     
     
         5 . A system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the content of the message is dependent upon the extracted information. 
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the means for generating a cell is further arranged to transmit the message to the device. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the extracted information comprises at least one of the following:
 an International Mobile Subscriber Identity;   a Mobile Country Code;   a Mobile Network Code;   a Mobile Station Identification Number;   an International Mobile Equipment Identity, and   a Type Allocation Code.   
     
     
         12 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a database having a plurality of data entries related to information pertaining to portable wireless communications devices therein and wherein the processor is further arranged to correlate the extracted information with at least one of the data entries. 
     
     
         13 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the extracted information is used to determine at least one of:
 device manufacturer;   device type;   device model;   device's home country; and   device's home cellular network.   
     
     
         14 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for generating a cell is arranged to emulate a cell of a cellular communication network. 
     
     
         15 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for generating a cell is arranged to emulate a cell of a cellular communication network based upon the extracted information. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for generating a cell is further arranged to use the extracted information to register the device with the generated cell so as to connect the device thereto. 
     
     
         18 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is substantially impenetrable by external electromagnetic radiation of a frequency between 500-3,000 Mhz or more preferably 850-2,100 Mhz. 
     
     
         19 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the enclosure is formed of a material substantially impervious to external electromagnetic radiation whose thickness exceeds the skin depth electromagnetic radiation having a frequency between 500-3,000 Mhz or more preferably 850-2,100 Mhz. 
     
     
         20 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the enclosure is formed so as to be devoid of holes whose dimensions are greater than the wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation having a frequency between 500-3,000 Mhz or more preferably 850-2,100 Mhz. 
     
     
         21 . A system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the controller comprises at least one of:
 a) a computer running software that emulates the functionality of a base station controller;   b) a link to a cellular network operator's existing base station or network of base stations such that the transceiver is controlled thereby; and   c) custom hardware, such as a programmable logic device (PLD), configured to emulate the functionality of a base station controller.   
     
     
         22 . A system for transmitting a message to a portable wireless communications device which is connectable to a cellular communication network comprising the system as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . A method for extracting information pertaining to a portable wireless communications device which is connectable to a cellular communication network comprising the steps of:
 disposing the portable wireless communications device ( 103 ) within an enclosure ( 101 ) substantially impenetrable by electromagnetic radiation;   generating a cell of a cellular communication network within the enclosure;   transmitting a signal to the device, the transmitted signal being suitable for initiating registration of the device with the generated cell;   receiving a signal from the device comprising information pertaining to the device, the received signal being suitable for registering the device with the generated cell; and   extracting information pertaining to the device from the received signal.   
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising the step of registering the device with the generated cell. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising the step of generating a message dependent upon the extracted information. 
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , further comprising the step of transmitting the message to the device via the generated cell. 
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the step of generating a cell comprises emulating a cell of a cellular communication network. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the extracted information comprises information that identifies the user of the device. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the information that identifies the user comprises the Mobile Station Identification Number that forms part of the International Mobile Subscriber Identity. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 29 , further comprising the step of interrogating a database of users' details to obtain the identity of the user, based on the information that identifies the user. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled)