Filtered wireless communications

Abstract

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a wireless virtual phone booth is provided within a filtered wireless zone. A filtered wireless zone is provided. A geographically limited signal is contained within the filtered wireless zone. When a handset in the filtered wireless zone attempts to place a call, the call attempt is blocked. In addition, a handset in the geographically limited signal contained within the filtered wireless zone is allowed to place calls.

1 - 48 . (canceled)  
   
   
       49 . A virtual phone booth comprising: 
 a filtered wireless zone; and    a geographically limited signal contained within the filtered wireless zone;    whereby when a handset in the filtered wireless zone attempts to place a call, the call attempt is blocked;    further whereby a handset in the geographically limited signal contained within the filtered wireless zone places a call, the call is allowed.    
   
   
       50 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the geographically limited signal contained within the filtered wireless zone is generated by a set of transmitter-receivers.  
   
   
       51 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the geographically limited signal contained within the filtered wireless zone allows calls to be received.  
   
   
       52 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein certain calls made from a handset in the filtered wireless zone are allowed.  
   
   
       53 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the filtered wireless zone comprises: a system control, the system control arranged to receive a signaling channel of one or more cell sites in a geographic vicinity and to cover the filtered wireless zone with a signal; a signal channeling marker signal transmitted by the system control in the filtered wireless zone; and a new signaling channel assignment message transmitted by the system control in the filtered wireless zone, thereby sending handsets to a new capture channel.  
   
   
       54 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the signal channeling marker signal comprises the identity of the ordinary system it is supplanting.  
   
   
       55 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the strength of the geographically limited signal is higher than signal strengths normally received in the filtered wireless zone.  
   
   
       56 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the signal comprises Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) signals.  
   
   
       57 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the signal comprises Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signals.  
   
   
       58 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the signal comprises Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signals.  
   
   
       59 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the signal comprises Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) signals.  
   
   
       60 . The virtual phone booth of  claim 49  further wherein the signal comprises transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) signals.  
   
   
       61 . A method of creating a virtual phone booth comprising: 
 establishing a filtered wireless zone; and    transmitting a geographically limited signal contained within the filtered wireless zone;    whereby when a handset in the filtered wireless zone attempts to place a call, the call attempt is blocked;    further whereby a handset in the geographically limited signal contained within the filtered wireless zone places a call, the call is allowed.    
   
   
       62 . The method of creating a virtual phone booth of  claim 61  further including generating the geographically limited signal contained within the filtered wireless zone by a set of transmitter-receivers.  
   
   
       63 . The method of creating a virtual phone booth of  claim 61  further including the geographically limited signal contained within the filtered wireless zone allowing calls to be received.  
   
   
       64 . The method of creating a virtual phone booth of  claim 61  further including allowing certain calls made from a handset in the filtered wireless zone.  
   
   
       65 . The method of creating a visual phone booth of  claim 61  further wherein establishing the filtered wireless zone comprises scanning signaling channels serving a geographic vicinity; recording channel identity and system identity of each signaling channel; commanding a transmitter-receiver to such channel, causing the transmitter-receiver to radiate a signaling channel marker; and transmitting a new signaling channel assignment message, sending handsets to a new capture channel.  
   
   
       66 . The method of creating a virtual phone booth of  claim 61  further wherein the step of causing the system control to radiate a signaling channel marker comprises including in that the identity of the ordinary system it is supplanting.  
   
   
       67 . The method of creating a virtual phone booth of  claim 61  further including ensuring the strength of signals are higher than signal strengths normally serving the filtered wireless zone.