Signaling arrangements in a cellular mobile telecommunications switching system
First Claim
1. In a cellular mobile switching center (MSC), a method of signaling from any mobile station via a base station system to a selected one of a plurality of control processors, each control processor for controlling a wireless switching module for switching wireless calls of said MSC, the selected processor for assisting in the control of a wireless service for a mobile subscriber, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting signaling messages, said messages having a common reference number, said messages for control of said service for said subscriber, from said mobile station via a base station system (BSS), via a protocol handler of one of said wireless switching modules connected to said BSS, over a physical circuit connection to a centralized signal switching means of said MSC, for performing protocol handling and data switching for said messages received from any of said wireless switching modules of said MSC;
within said centralized signal switching means, maintaining state information for controlling the protocol of a plurality of virtual circuit connections, each virtual circuit connection having a common reference number, and for identifying one of said plurality of virtual circuit connections between the BSS and the centralized signal switching means; and
transmitting messages, of said one of said plurality of virtual circuit connections received in said centralized signal switching means, over one of a plurality of second physical circuit connections therefrom to one of said control processors of said switching system for assisting in the control of a wireless service.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for providing cellular mobile telecommunication service in accordance with the requirements of the Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard. A modular switching system is provided which performs the functions of the mobile switching center plus those of a home location register, authentication center, visitor location register, and equipment identity register. The latter functions are advantageously spread among the modules of the switching system, thus avoiding the getting started cost of expensive dedicated data bases. A wireless global switching module advantageously switches mobile communications control messages among the modules of the system and between the modules and the base station systems, and terminates signaling links between the mobile switching center and the base station systems.
142 Citations
10 Claims
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1. In a cellular mobile switching center (MSC), a method of signaling from any mobile station via a base station system to a selected one of a plurality of control processors, each control processor for controlling a wireless switching module for switching wireless calls of said MSC, the selected processor for assisting in the control of a wireless service for a mobile subscriber, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting signaling messages, said messages having a common reference number, said messages for control of said service for said subscriber, from said mobile station via a base station system (BSS), via a protocol handler of one of said wireless switching modules connected to said BSS, over a physical circuit connection to a centralized signal switching means of said MSC, for performing protocol handling and data switching for said messages received from any of said wireless switching modules of said MSC; within said centralized signal switching means, maintaining state information for controlling the protocol of a plurality of virtual circuit connections, each virtual circuit connection having a common reference number, and for identifying one of said plurality of virtual circuit connections between the BSS and the centralized signal switching means; and transmitting messages, of said one of said plurality of virtual circuit connections received in said centralized signal switching means, over one of a plurality of second physical circuit connections therefrom to one of said control processors of said switching system for assisting in the control of a wireless service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification