Fault tolerant architecture for wireless base stations using ethernet backhaul

• US 20060227767A1
• Filed: 04/11/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Harold W., Satapathy, Durga
• Application Number:
  US11/103,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227767A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

Base stations exchange information with users over first wireless communication links. A mobile switching center provides mobile telephone service. An Internet access system provides Internet access service. A data system provides a data service. An Ethernet backhaul system uses an Ethernet format to exchange the information between the base stations and the mobile switching center, the Internet access system, and the data system. Wireless interfaces are coupled to the base stations and are configured to exchange the information over second wireless links. Individual base stations detect a fault in the Ethernet backhaul system, and in response, to route the information away from the Ethernet backhaul system and to the wireless interfaces to provide service restoration.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of base stations configured to exchange information with users over first wireless communication links;

a mobile switching center configured to provide mobile telephone service;

an Internet access system configured to provide Internet access service;

a data system configured to provide a data service;

an Ethernet backhaul system configured to use an Ethernet format to exchange the information between the base stations and the mobile switching center, the Internet access system, and the data system; and

a plurality of wireless interfaces coupled to the base stations and configured to exchange the information over second wireless links; and

wherein individual ones of the base stations are configured to detect a fault in the Ethernet backhaul system, and in response, to route the information away from the Ethernet backhaul system and to the wireless interfaces to provide service restoration.

2. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interfaces communicate with one another over the second wireless links and wherein a first one of the base stations is configured to detect the fault and route the information to a second one of the base stations through the wireless interfaces and over the second wireless links.

3. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interfaces communicate with one another over the second wireless links and wherein a first one of the base stations is configured to detect the fault and route the information through the wireless interfaces and over the second wireless links to a different access point for the Ethernet backhaul system.

4. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interfaces include point-to-multipoint radios.

5. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interfaces are configured to exchange the information over the second wireless links using the Ethernet format.

6. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the wireless interfaces communicate with a satellite system over the second wireless links.

7. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the Ethernet backhaul system includes pseudo-wire systems configured to receive the information from the base stations over T1 connections and transfer the information within the Ethernet backhaul system over Ethernet connections.

8. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the Ethernet backhaul system is configured to aggregate a first portion of the information for exchange with the mobile switching center, aggregate a second portion of the information for exchange with the Internet access system, and aggregate a third portion of the information for exchange with the data system.

9. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the data service comprises a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service.

10. The communications system of claim 1 wherein the data service comprises a Push To Talk (PTT) service.

11. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

in a plurality of base stations, exchanging information with users over first wireless communication links;

in a mobile switching center, providing mobile telephone service;

in an Internet access system, providing Internet access service;

in a data system, providing a data service;

in an Ethernet backhaul system, using an Ethernet format to exchange the information between the base stations and the mobile switching center, the Internet access system, and the data system; and

in ones of the base stations, detecting a fault in the Ethernet backhaul system, and in response, routing the information away from the Ethernet backhaul system and to wireless interfaces; and

in the wireless interfaces, exchanging the information over second wireless links to provide service restoration.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein exchanging the information over the second wireless links comprises exchanging the information between the wireless interfaces and wherein detecting the fault and routing the information comprises detecting the fault at a first one of the base stations and transferring the information from the first base station to a second one of the base stations through the wireless interfaces and over the second wireless links.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein exchanging the information over the second wireless links comprises exchanging the information between the wireless interfaces and wherein detecting the fault and routing the information comprises detecting the fault at a first one of the base stations and transferring the information from the first base station to a different access point for the Ethernet backhaul system through the wireless interfaces and over the second wireless links.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless interfaces include point-to-multipoint radios.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein exchanging the information over the second wireless links comprises exchanging the information over the second wireless links using the Ethernet format.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein exchanging the information over the second wireless links comprises exchanging the information with a satellite system over the second wireless links.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein using the Ethernet format to exchange the information between the base stations and the mobile switching center, the Internet access system, and the data system comprises using pseudo-wire systems to receive the information from the base stations over T1 connections and transfer the information within the Ethernet backhaul system over Ethernet connections.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein using the Ethernet format to exchange the information between the base stations and the mobile switching center, the Internet access system, and the data system comprises aggregating a first portion of the information for exchange with the mobile switching center, aggregating a second portion of the information for exchange with the Internet access system, and aggregating a third portion of the information for exchange with the data system.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the data service comprises a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the data service comprises a Push To Talk (PTT) service.