Method of synchronizing the operation of two or more interfaces

• US 20020018459A1
• Filed: 05/29/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Redondo, Frederic, Desblancs, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/350
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/269 Master/slave synchronisation

Abstract

A method is disclosed of synchronizing the operation of two or more interfaces sharing shared communication means or a shared communication resource. The periods of operation of the interfaces, and in particular the periods of use of the shared communication means or the shared communication resource, do not overlap.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing the operation of two or more interfaces sharing the same communication means or the same communication resource, wherein periods of use of said interfaces, in particular periods of use of said shared means or resource, do not overlap, at least two external interfaces each provide an interface with a corresponding communication network and can be interconnected to provide a bidirectional transmission link between said two networks, said networks each include one or more mobile or fixed units or stations, and:

one of said interfaces is made a master interface relative to other fixed or mobile units or stations of the associated network and the other of said interfaces is made a slave of the associated network, to which it can be connected,

operation of said master interface is made dependent on said slave interface, and

each interface is allocated specific time periods to use said shared resource and the time of said network of said slave interface is imposed on said master interface and said associated network.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said two interfaces are part of the same communication device forming the fixed base station or a fixed base station at least of said network associated with said master interface and said two networks interconnected by said two interfaces are time division multiple access networks.

3. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said synchronization of said two interfaces is maintained when said shared resource is not being used and in particular when there is no communication between said two networks.

4. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said synchronization of said two interfaces is established or updated on setting up a communication channel between said two networks via said interfaces and can be updated during a call by modifying said time and/or said time periods allocated to said master interface at the time of a change of connection of said slave interface in said associated network.

5. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the event of a call request from said network associated with said slave interface, the connection of the calling fixed or mobile station with said slave interface is set up first and then the connection is set up between said master interface and the destination mobile or fixed station of the associated network, said time periods for said master interface/network connection being compatible with said time intervals imposed on said slave interface by said associated network, to synchronize said interfaces, in particular with regard to use of said shared resource.

6. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the event of a call request from a fixed or mobile station of said network associated with said master interface, communication of said slave interface with the destination mobile or fixed unit or station of said associated network is requested first and then, after said communication has been set up, a connection is set up between said master interface and said destination mobile or fixed station of said associated network, said time periods of said master interface/network connection being compatible with said time slots imposed on said slave interface by said associated network, to synchronize said interfaces, in particular with regard to use of said shared resource.

7. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the event of a call request from a fixed or mobile station of said network associated with said master interface, a first connection is set up between said calling fixed or mobile station and said master interface, a second connection is then set up between said slave interface and said destination mobile or fixed station of said associated network, and finally said first connection is adapted to said second connection, in particular by synchronizing use of said shared resource by said interfaces.

8. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said network associated with said master interface is a cordless telephone local area network including two or more mobile stations or cordless telephones and said network associated with said slave interface is a cellular radio-frequency telecommunication network.

9. The method claimed in claim 8 wherein said two or more mobile stations or cordless telephones are of the CTS type, said network associated with said slave interface is of the GSM type, and said slave interface is regarded by said network as a mobile station associated with it.

12. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said synchronization of said two interfaces is maintained when said shared resource is not being used and in particular when there is no communication between said two networks.

10. A device for interconnecting two communication networks, including two external send-receive interfaces sharing a shared resource, for example a radio communication resource, each allocated to interfacing with one of said networks, wherein the operation of said two interfaces is synchronized by a method wherein periods of use of said interfaces, in particular periods of use of said shared means or resource do not overlap, at least two external interfaces each provide an interface with a corresponding communication network and can be interconnected to provide a bidirectional transmission link between said two networks, said networks each include one or more mobile or fixed units or stations, and:

one of said interfaces is made a master interface relative to other fixed or mobile units or stations of the associated network and the other of said interfaces is made a slave of the associated network, to which it can be connected,

operation of said master interface is made dependent on said slave interface, and

each interface is allocated specific time periods to use said shared resource and the time of said network of said slave interface is imposed on said master interface and said associated network.

11. The device claimed in claim 10 wherein said two interfaces are part of the same communication device forming the fixed base station or a fixed base station at least of said network associated with said master interface and said two networks interconnected by said two interfaces are time division multiple access networks.

13. The device claimed in claim 10 wherein said synchronization of said two interfaces is established or updated on setting up a communication channel between said two networks via said interfaces and can be updated during a call by modifying said time and/or said time periods allocated to said master interface at the time of a change of connection of said slave interface in said associated network.

14. The device claimed in claim 10 wherein, in the event of a call request from said network associated with said slave interface, the connection of the calling fixed or mobile station with said slave interface is set up first and then the connection is set up between said master interface and the destination mobile or fixed station of the associated network, said time periods for said master interface/network connection being compatible with said time intervals imposed on said slave interface by said associated network, to synchronize said interfaces, in particular with regard to use of said shared resource.

15. The device claimed in claim 10 wherein, in the event of a call request from a fixed or mobile station of said network associated with said master interface, communication of said slave interface with the destination mobile or fixed unit or station of said associated network is requested first and then, after said communication has been set up, a connection is set up between said master interface and said destination mobile or fixed station of said associated network, said time periods of said master interface/network connection being compatible with said time slots imposed on said slave interface by said associated network, to synchronize said interfaces, in particular with regard to use of said shared resource.

16. The device claimed in claim 10 wherein, in the event of a call request from a fixed or mobile station of said network associated with said master interface, a first connection is set up between said calling fixed or mobile station and said master interface, a second connection is then set up between said slave interface and said destination mobile or fixed station of said associated network, and finally said first connection is adapted to said second connection, in particular by synchronizing use of said shared resource by said interfaces.

17. The device claimed in claim 10 wherein said network associated with said master interface is a cordless telephone local area network including two or more mobile stations or cordless telephones and said network associated with said slave interface is a cellular radio-frequency telecommunication network.

18. The device claimed in claim 17 wherein said two or more mobile stations or cordless telephones are of the CTS type, said network associated with said slave interface is of the GSM type, and said slave interface is regarded by said network as a mobile station associated with it.

19. The device claimed in claim 10, forming a base station of said cordless telephone local area network and supporting functional cooperation of said two interfaces, wherein, in the event of a call request from a fixed or mobile station of said network associated with said master interface, a first connection is set up between said calling fixed or mobile station and said master interface, then a second connection is set up between said slave interface and said destination mobile or fixed station of said associated network, and finally said first connection is adapted to said second connection, in particular by synchronizing use of said shared resource by said interfaces.