Method and arrangement for increasing the range for a telecommunication network in a telecommunication system

• US 6,154,647 A
• Filed: 04/16/1997
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Chambert, Georg William Robin, Dahlin, Jan Erik .ANG.ke Steinar
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US08/793,149
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/426, 455/422, 455/560, 455/561, 455/433, 455/509, 455/454, 455/458, 455/451, 455/552, 455/553, 455/466, 455/450, 370/522, 370/524, 370/328, 370/331, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A telecommunications system is disclosed for extending the range of at least two service networks having different specified signalling standards. The telecommunications system includes a radio-based access network which includes at least one port to each service network. The ports are connected to at least one base station in the access network. The access network also includes a radio-based access network part capable of connecting the base station to a radio unit in the access network. The radio unit is registered in one of the service networks, the so-called home network of the radio unit, and a signal carrier in the access network has a first terminal point in the radio unit and a second terminal point in a port which connects the access network with the home network. The port functions to combine the signal carrier in the access network with a signal carrier in the home network.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system for extending the range of at least two service networks having mutually different specified signaling standards, wherein the telecommunications system includes a radio-based access network which includes at least one port to each service network, wherein the ports are connected to at least one base station in the access network, wherein the access network also includes a radio-based access network part which can connect the at least one base station to a radio unit in the access network, wherein the radio unit is registered as belonging in a home network associated with one of the service networks, wherein a signal carrier in the access network has a first terminal point in the radio unit and a second terminal point in a port that connects the access network with the home network, and wherein the port functions to combine the signal carrier in the access network with a signal carrier in the home network.

2. A telecommunications system according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications system includes a radio-based data transport network, wherein the transport network is connected to the port and to the base station, wherein the transport network includes a radio-based transport network part which can connect the base station to the radio unit, wherein the radio unit forms a first terminal point for a transparent data carrier through the transport network, wherein the port forms a second terminal point for the data carrier through the transport network and wherein the port functions to combine the data carrier in the transport network with a data carrier in the home network.

3. A telecommunications system according to claim 1, wherein the radio unit includes an access network which forms the first terminal point for the signal carrier in the access network, wherein the radio unit also includes a service unit which functions to transmit and receive signals over the signal carrier in the access network with the same specified signalling standard as a signalling standard specified in the home network.

4. A telecommunications system according to claim 3, wherein the access unit also forms the first terminal point for the data carrier in the transport network, and wherein the service unit functions to transmit and receive data over the data carrier in the transport network at the same data transmission rate as the data transmission rate specified in the home network.

5. A telecommunications system according to claim 1, wherein the port includes a first signalling node which borders on the access network and a second signalling node which borders on the home network, wherein the first signalling node forms the second terminal point for the signal carrier through the access network, and wherein the second signalling node forms a terminal point for the signal carrier through the home network, and wherein the nodes use the same specified signalling standards as those used in the network on which respective nodes border.

6. A telecommunications system according to claim 5, wherein the port includes a transfer unit which functions to transfer signals having home network standard from the signal carrier in the access network to the signal carrier in the home network, and wherein the transfer unit functions to transfer signals with home network standards from the signal carrier in the home network to the signal carrier in the access network.

7. A telecommunications system according to claim 5, wherein the port includes a transfer unit which functions to transfer signals with home network transmission rates from the data carrier in the transport network to the signal carrier in the home network, and wherein the transfer unit functions to transfer signals with home network transmission rates from the signal carrier in the home network to the signal carrier in the access network.

8. A method relating to a telecommunications system for extending the range of at least two service networks having different specified signaling standards, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

connecting at least one input port to each of the service networks;

connecting a radio-based access network to the input ports; and

connecting at least one base station in the access network to the input ports, wherein the at least one base station is able to establish a radio connection to at least two radio units in the access network, and wherein each of the radio units is registered as belonging to a home network associated with one of the service networks.

9. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 8, wherein the access network includes a radio control unit which is connected between the base station and the input ports, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:

storing in the radio control unit information disclosing service networks that border on the ports;

sending from a radio unit to the radio control unit a service network identity corresponding to the home network of the radio unit; and

pointing out the input port of the home network in the radio control unit.

10. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:

establishing a signal carrier between the radio unit and the input port of the home network; and

combining the signal carrier in the access network with a signal carrier in the home network.

11. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 10, wherein the method comprises the further step of:

transferring signals between the radio unit and the home network over the signal carrier in the access network, said signals being of the same specified standard as the standard specified within the home network.

12. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

connecting a transport network to the input ports;

connecting the transport network to the base station and to the radio unit;

establishing a data carrier in the transport network between the radio unit and the input port;

combining the data carrier in the transport network with a data carrier in the home network.

13. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises the further step of:

sending data between the radio unit and the home network over the data carriers, said data being transmitted at the same transmission rate as the transmission rate specified in the home network.

14. A method relating to a telecommunications system for extending the range of at least two service networks having different specified signalling standards, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

connecting at least one input port to each of the service networks;

connecting a radio-based access network to the input port; and

connecting at least one base station in the access network to the input ports, wherein the base station can establish a radio connection to a radio unit in the access network, and wherein the radio unit is registered as belonging in a telephone network which is of the same standard type as one of the service networks, this telephone network being designated the home network of the radio unit.

15. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 14, wherein the access network includes a radio control unit which is connected between the base station and the input ports, wherein the method comprises the further steps of:

storing in the radio control unit information disclosing those service networks that border on the ports;

sending from the radio unit to the radio control unit a service network identity corresponding to the home network of the radio unit; and

in the radio control unit, designating an input port to a service network whose specified standard is the same as the standard of the home network.

16. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 14, wherein the access network includes a radio control unit which is connected between the base station and the input ports wherein the method includes the further steps of:

storing in the radio control unit information disclosing those service networks that border on the ports, and storing information disclosing cooperative relationships between Operators of the service networks and Operators of other networks;

sending a service network identity corresponding to the home network of the radio unit from said radio unit to the radio control unit; and

in the radio control unit, designating an input port of a service network with which cooperative relationships are found and whose specified standard is the same as the standard of the home network.

17. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 14, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a signal carrier between the radio unit and the designated input port of the service networks; and

combining the signal carrier in the access network with a signal carrier in the service network.

18. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 17, wherein the method comprises the further step of:

transferring signals between the radio unit and the service network having the designated input port, said signals being of the same specified standard as the standard specified within the service network that is pointed out.

19. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

connecting a transport network to the input ports;

connecting the transport network to the base station and to the radio unit;

establishing a data carrier in the transport network between the radio unit and the input port;

combining the data carrier in the transport network with a data carrier in the home network.

20. A method relating to a telecommunications system according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises the further step of:

sending data between the radio unit and the home network over the data carriers, said data being transmitted at the same transmission rate as the transmission rate specified in the home network.

21. A telephone network comprising a radio-based access network and at least two service networks having different specified standards, wherein the access network includes at least one port to each service net, wherein the ports are connected to at least one base station in the access network, wherein the access network also includes a radio-based access network part capable of connecting the at least one base station to a radio unit in the access network, wherein the radio unit is registered as belonging to one of the service networks, the so-called home network of the radio unit, wherein a signal carrier in the access network has a first terminal point in the radio unit and a second terminal point in the port which connects the access network with the home network, and wherein the port functions to combine the signal carrier in the access network with a signal carrier in the home network.

22. A radio unit in an access network which is connected to at least two service networks having different specified standards, wherein the radio unit is registered as belonging to one of the service networks, said service networks being designated as the home unit of the radio unit, wherein the radio network includes an access unit which functions to maintain a radio connection with a base station in the access network, and wherein the radio unit also includes a service unit which functions to transmit and receive, via the radio connection, signals having the same specified signal standard as a standard specified in the home network.

23. A radio unit according to claim 22, wherein the service unit also functions to transmit and receive data signals having the same data transmission rate as a transmission rate specified in the home network.