Wireless communication system in which a base station controller routes packet data between roaming mobile units and a coupled packet data network

• US 20030063582A1
• Filed: 11/11/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Lauson, David, Mizell, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US10/292,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A wireless communication system constructed according to the present invention includes at least one base station controller (BSC) that couples to a packet data network to service packet data communications between the packet data network and a mobile unit. The BSC is serviced by a mobile switching center (MSC) and services a plurality of base stations. The BSC includes circuitry that perform necessary interfacing functions to service the packet data communication requirements of the mobile unit. The mobile unit requests the wireless communication system to initiate this operation via a request made to a servicing base station. The base station forwards the request to the BSC which interacts with the MSC to initiate the packet data session. The BSC allocates a digital signal processor (DSP), processor and packet data network interface to service the packet data session for the mobile unit. The BSC thereafter sets up and services the packet data session through its connection to the servicing base station and its connection to the packet data network. Once this connection is established, the BSC continues to service the packet data session until it is terminated or until the mobile unit roams into a cell/sector serviced by another base station. Upon roaming of the mobile unit, operation will be altered. If the mobile unit roams to another cell or sector of a base station serviced by the same BSC, the path is only altered to include the newly servicing base station. However, if the mobile unit roams to a cell or sector serviced by another base station, the BSC must initiate mobility operations that will forward packet data communications to the newly servicing BSC for delivery to the mobile unit. By forwarding the packet data, the mobile unit maintains the same packet data network address.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system that services packet data communications between a mobile unit and a packet data network, the wireless communication system comprising:

a mobile switching center;

a plurality of base station controllers coupled to the mobile switching center, each of the base station controllers coupled to the packet data network;

a plurality of base stations, each of which couples to a respective base station controller and supports wireless communications; and

the packet data communications routed between the mobile unit and the packet data network via a base station of the plurality of base stations and a base station controller of the plurality of base station controllers.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein a first base station controller that previously serviced wireless communications with the mobile unit forwards packet data communications to a second base station controller that currently services wireless communications with the mobile unit.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the first base station controller forwards the packet data to the second base station controller via a coupled network.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the first base station controller forwards the packet data to the second base station controller via the packet data network.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the first base station controller maintains a packet data network address for the mobile unit.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication system operates according to a Code Division Multiple Access Protocol.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication system operates according to a Time Division Multiple Access Protocol.

8. A base station controller that couples to a packet data network and that services packet data communications with a mobile unit, the base station controller comprising:

a base station interface that couples the base station controller to a plurality of base stations, at least one of which wirelessly services packet data communications with the mobile unit;

a digital signal processor that couples to the base station interface and that processes the packet data communications;

a processor that couples to the digital signal processor and that processes the packet data communications; and

a packet data network interface coupled to the processor that interfaces with the packet data network and that passes the packet data communications between the base station controller and the packet data network.

9. The base station of claim 8, wherein:

the base station controller supports a Code Division Multiple Access Protocol; and

the digital signal processor supports the InterSystem Link Protocol and the Radio Link Protocol.

10. The base station controller of claim 9, wherein the processor supports the InterSystem Link Protocol, the Point-to-Point Protocol and the Internet Protocol.

11. The base station of claim 8, wherein:

the base station controller supports a Time Division Multiple Access Protocol; and

the digital signal processor supports the General Packet Radio Services Protocol and the Link Layer Control Protocol.

12. The base station controller of claim 11, wherein the processor supports the InterSystem Link Protocol, the Point-to-Point Protocol and the Internet Protocol.

13. The base station controller of claim 8, further comprising a shelf controller that manages the processor, the digital signal processor, the packet data network interface and the base station interface.

14. The base station controller of claim 13, further comprising a back plane that serves to intercouple the shelf controller, the processor, the digital signal processor, the packet data network interface and the base station interface.

15. The base station controller of claim 8, wherein the processor further supports mobility management for the base station controller.

16. In a wireless communication system having a base station controller and a plurality of base stations coupled to the base station controller, a method of operating the wireless communication system to service packet data communications between a mobile unit and a packet data network that is coupled to the base station controller, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless link between a servicing base station and the mobile unit;

allocating a packet data communication path between the base station and the base station controller;

establishing a connection from the base station controller to the packet data network; and

servicing the packet data communications between the mobile unit and the packet data network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising continuing to service the packet data communications when the mobile unit roams to another base station serviced by the base station controller.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising forwarding the packet data communications received by the base station controller to another base station controller that is servicing the mobile unit while it is roaming.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the another base station controller couples to the packet data network and transmits outgoing packet data communications from the mobile unit to the packet data network.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising operating the wireless communication system according to a Code Division Multiple Access protocol.