DE2423603

A method and system for more efficiently utilizing presently available and prospectively available two-way communication channels for communication between mobile telephones and either fixed telephones or mobile telephones. A large mobile telephone service area is divided into a plurality of smaller zones, and channels are assigned to the zones in a manner which permits the reuse of channels in zones on a non-interfering basis. A control signal is broadcast over a designated one of the channels assigned to each zone by equipment at a fixed station in each zone under the control of a central control unit. Each mobile telephone monitors one of the designated control channels in accordance with the signal reception characteristics thereof. When a call is placed over the designated control channel, a service or talking channel is assigned to serve the call and the mobile unit is remotely tuned to the assigned talking channel. Provision is made for using the designated control channel as a talking channel if necessary, for assigning additional channels to a fixed station on the basis of user density, and for maintaining communications between two parties as a mobile unit moves from one zone to another. A novel mobile telephone unit operable in accordance with the techniques of the present invention and providing simplified call placement and control is also disclosed.