Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!pyrdc!netsys!vector!nobody
From: weinstoc@SEI.CMU.EDU (Chuck Weinstock)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Cellular Phone Question
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Date: 24 Sep 88 14:39:13 GMT
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If I call a number associated with a cellular phone, how does the
cellular phone operator know which phone to ring and where it is.  I
can think of two possible answers:

1. Periodically each cellular phone emits a "here I am" which is
   received by the nearest cells and recorded in a database.

2. When a call for a particular phone comes through all cells in the system
   broadcast a "where are you" and the cellular phone responds.

If anyone knows the details of the protocol used I'd appreciate
hearing from them.

Chuck Weinstock