Class in-band service delivery over fixed wireless access communication systems

• US 6,115,603 A
• Filed: 08/28/1997
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Barnard, Paul, Parton, William James, Baird, Anthony John
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US08/919,985
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/415, 455/417, 455/458, 455/515, 455/554, 455/560, 455/561, 379/142, 379/215, 379/216, 379/201, 379/229, 379/220, 370/384, 370/385, 370/438, 370/522, 370/524, 370/336, 370/328, 370/329
• US Class Current: 455/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/04 for time-division multiplexing H04Q11/0001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13251 Restricted service, class of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 Signaling in general, in-band signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A signaling path between a central office switch and a fixed radio access network terminal equipment supporting one or a plurality of subscriber handsets comprises a radio base station connection to the central office switch via a back haul transmission link, and communicates with the network terminal equipment via a wireless link operating in accordance with an air interface protocol e.g. such as described in International Standard Q931. In band service signals, e.g. of the Custom Local Area Special Services (CLASS) type, are issued by the central office switch on an in voice band channel and are stored at the radio base station whilst A party to B party call set up is effected over a digital signal path between the central office switch and the network terminal equipment. Out of band digital call set up signals and in band signals are multiplexed at the radio base station prior to transmission over digital channel of the air interface, thereby allowing call set up to occur before transmission of CLASS service signals to a subscriber handset.

Claims

1. A method of providing services in a telecommunications network having at least first and second transmission links, each of said first and second transmission links having a voice band channel and an out-of-band digital channel, and said second transmission link being a fixed wireless access link, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving service signals describing said services on said voice band channel of said first transmission link;

receiving a call set up signal on said digital channel of said first transmission link;

transmitting said call set up signal over said digital channel of said wireless link;

delaying said service signals for a delay period; and

transmitting said service signals in a predetermined timing relationship with said call set up signal over said digital channel of said wireless link after said delay period.

2. A method of operating a radio base station apparatus of a fixed wireless access telecommunications system, for delivering services carried in a voice band channel of a subscriber line, said method comprising steps carried out at said radio base station of:

detecting a call set up signal received on a digital path of said subscriber line;

transmitting said call set up signal over a digital channel of a wireless link of said subscriber line;

receiving a set of service signals on said voice band channel of said subscriber line;

storing said service signals at said base station for a delay period; and

after said delay period, transmitting said service signals in a predetermined timing relationship with said call set up signal over said digital channel of said wireless link of said subscriber line.

3. In a fixed wireless access radio base station of a telecommunication system, a method of delivering service signals carried in a voice band channel of a subscriber line, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving digital call set up signals over a digital path of said subscriber line;

receiving said service signals over a voice band path of said subscriber line;

delaying said service signals for a delay period;

multiplexing said digital call set up signals and said service signals in a predetermined timing relationship; and

transmitting said multiplexed digital call set up signals and said service signals over a digital channel of a fixed wireless access link of said subscriber line.

4. In a fixed wireless access network terminal apparatus a method of supplying service signals carried in a voice channel of a subscriber line and call set up signals carried in an out-of band channel, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a digitized signal over a digital channel of a fixed wireless access link, said digitized signal comprising a digital call set up signal and a digitized service signal in a predetermined timing relationship;

transmitting said digital call set up signal along a digital channel of said subscriber line;

converting said digitized service signal to analog format; and

transmitting said analog service signal over an analog channel of said subscriber line.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of transmitting said service signal over said analog channel comprises transmitting said service signal within a voice band.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of converting said digitized service signal to analog format comprises re-modulating said service signal as a frequency shift keyed signal.

7. A fixed wireless access network terminal apparatus comprising:

transceiver means capable of receiving a digital signal comprising a call set up signal and a digitized service signal multiplexed with each other in a predetermined timing relationship;

a digital to analog converter capable of converting said digitized service signal to analog service signal format;

transmission means for transmitting said analog service signal in a voice band of an analog channel of a subscriber line; and

transmission means for transmitting said call set up signal in an out of band path of said subscriber line.

8. A fixed wireless access radio base station apparatus for use in a telecommunications network having a transmission link for carrying service signals in a voice band channel and a call set up signal in an out-of-band digital channel, comprising:

transceiver means capable of receiving a digital signal comprising said call set up signal and a digitized version of said service signals, said transceiver means being capable of transmitting said call set up signal and said service signals over the transmission link in a predetermined timing relationship; and

data storage means capable of storing said digitized service signals;

wherein said data storage means operates to store and delay said service signals prior to transmission of said service signals over the transmission link.