Network controller messaging for channel activation in an unlicensed wireless communication system

• US 20080299976A1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baranowski, Joseph G., Mohammed, Jahangir, Shi, Jianxiong, Shekhar, Madhu C., Elam, Thomas G., Powell, Mark, Kolderup, Kenneth M., Gallagher, Michael D., Markovic, Milan
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices

Abstract

An unlicensed wireless service is adapted to generate the interface protocols of a licensed wireless service to provide transparent transition of communication sessions between a licensed wireless service and an unlicensed wireless service. In one embodiment, a mobile station includes level 1, level 2, and level 3 protocols for licensed wireless service and an unlicensed wireless service. An indoor base station and indoor network controller provide protocol conversion for the unlicensed wireless service into a standard base station controller interface of the licensed wireless service.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method comprising:

a) from a network controller of a first communication network that communicatively couples a plurality of service regions of the first communication network to a licensed wireless second communication network, sending a channel activation message to a particular service region;

b) through an activated channel, receiving at the network controller communication session data from the particular service region for routing to the second communication network; and

c) sending a release message to the particular service region to cause a telecommunication device at the particular service region to terminate the communication session by releasing the activated channel.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the communication session data comprises voice communications.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first communication network is an unlicensed wireless network, wherein the telecommunication device is dual mode device comprising a first mode for communicating with the second communication network using licensed wireless frequencies and a second mode for communicating with the first communication network using unlicensed wireless frequencies.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the telecommunication device comprises a device for communicatively coupling to a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) device.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the activated channel communicatively couples the particular service region to the network controller through the Internet using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the second communication network provides circuit switched services to the communicatively coupled service regions of the first communication network.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising establishing a secure link between the network controller and the particular service region before sending the channel activation message.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the secure link is IP security (IPSec), the method further comprising establishing a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) session over the secure link.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the channel activation message causes an allocation of a channel to facilitate a communication session that involves the telecommunication device.

30. The method of claim 21 further comprising receiving at the network controller a response to the channel activation message.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the activated channel permits the telecommunication device to access bearer services of the second communication network through the first communication network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the bearer services comprise services for facilitating voice communications.

33. A method comprising:

a) from a network controller of a first communication network that communicatively couples a plurality of service regions of the first communication network to a licensed wireless second communication network, sending a first message to page a telecommunication device in a particular service region; and

b) from the network controller, sending to the particular service region a second message to activate a communication channel between the network controller and the particular service region, wherein through an activated channel, the network controller receives communication session data from the particular service region for routing to the second communication network.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising routing said communication session data from the network controller to the second communication network.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein routing the communication session data to the second communication network comprises routing said data over a time division multiplexing (TDM) interface.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising receiving at the network controller communication session data from the second communication for routing to the particular service region.

37. The method of claim 33 further comprising receiving a paging response from the particular service region before sending the second message.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the first message comprises an identifier for identifying a telecommunication device with which to establish a communication session.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the identifier for identifying the telecommunication device comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the telecommunication device.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein sending the second message to activate the communication channel comprises a message for facilitating voice bearer services between the network controller and the particular service region through the Internet using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

41. In a communication system comprising a licensed wireless communication system and an unlicensed wireless communication system, the unlicensed wireless communication system having an unlicensed region served by an unlicensed network controller, the unlicensed wireless communication system having a service region that has an unlicensed wireless link with a telecommunications device using an unlicensed frequency, the licensed wireless communication system comprising a mobile switching center (MSC), a method for assigning a voice bearer channel for a telecommunications device to access voice bearer services of the licensed wireless communication system via the unlicensed wireless communication system, the method comprising:

a) through the unlicensed wireless link, establishing at the unlicensed network controller a secure link with the telecommunications device;

b) receiving an assignment request at the unlicensed network controller from the MSC; and

c) at the unlicensed network controller, exchanging a set of unlicensed channel activation messages with the telecommunications device to assign the voice bearer channel, wherein the set of unlicensed channel activation messages includes;

an activate channel message sent from the unlicensed network controller to the telecommunications device triggering establishment of the voice bearer channel for the telecommunications device.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising:

a) sending an activate channel acknowledgment message by the telecommunications device in response to receiving the activate channel message; and

b) receiving of the channel assignment acknowledgment message at the unlicensed network controller.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein said voice bearer channel utilizes Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

44. In a communication system that includes a licensed wireless communication system for communicatively connecting to a telecommunications device using a licensed wireless frequency and an unlicensed wireless communication system for communicatively connecting to the telecommunications device using an unlicensed wireless frequency, a computer readable storage medium of an unlicensed wireless network controller, said computer readable medium storing a computer program for execution by said unlicensed wireless network controller, said computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) connecting to a service region, said service region communicatively coupled to the telecommunications device using the unlicensed wireless frequency; and

b) generating, transmitting, and processing a set of unlicensed messages to support assigning a voice bearer channel for the telecommunications device to access voice bearer services of the licensed wireless communication system via the unlicensed wireless communication system, wherein the set of unlicensed messages comprises;

an activate channel message sent by the unlicensed network controller and received at the telecommunications device, wherein the receipt of the activate channel message by the telecommunications device triggers establishment of the voice bearer channel for the telecommunications device.

45. The computer readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein said computer program further comprises a set of instructions for receiving an activate channel acknowledgment message sent from the telecommunications device in response to said telecommunications device receiving the activate channel message.

46. The computer readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein said voice bearer channel uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

47. A network controller of a first communication system for communicatively coupling a plurality of service regions of the first communication system to a licensed wireless second communication system, the network controller comprising:

a) a first network interface comprising a broadband access network;

b) a second network interface for sending messages to and receiving messages from a telecommunications device through a particular service region, the interface including a plurality of layers implemented over the broadband network interface;

c) a third network interface, for connecting the network controller to the licensed wireless second communication system, wherein said licensed wireless second communication system comprises a mobile switching center (MSC); and

d) circuits for receiving an assignment request from the MSC.

48. The network controller of claim 47 further comprising circuits for generating, transmitting, and processing a set of messages transmitted over the second interface to support assigning a voice bearer channel for the telecommunications device to access voice bearer services of the licensed wireless communication system via the first communication system.

49. The network controller of claim 48, wherein the set of messages comprises an activate channel message sent from the network controller and received by the telecommunications device, wherein the receipt of the activate channel message by the telecommunications device triggers establishment of the voice bearer channel for the telecommunications device.

50. The network controller of claim 49, wherein the set of messages further comprises:

an activate channel acknowledgment message sent by the telecommunications device in response to receiving the activate channel message and received at the network controller.

51. The network controller of claim 47, wherein said second network interface uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).