Interface between cellular and wired networks with enhanced subscriber mobility

• US 6,167,271 A
• Filed: 05/05/1997
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Connell, John, Maxwell, Stewart Hodde, Parker, Jerry Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US08/851,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 455/560, 455/561, 455/554, 455/555, 455/507, 455/422, 455/74, 455/74.1, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A system to enable communication between a base station controller (24) within a cellular network (12), and a wired telephone system (38, 39) in a wired subscriber loop (113), wherein the base station controller (24) is responsive to, and generates, cellular network signaling, and the wired telephone system is responsive to, and generates, wired signals. The system includes: a protocol processor (121) receptive to the wired signals, for generating processed signals; and a terminal adapter controller (34) conductively coupled both to the base station controller (24) and to the protocol processor (121), receptive to the processed signals, for generating cellular network signaling. In another feature of the invention, the cellular network signaling is GSM signaling. In another feature of the invention, the system also includes a voice service module (123) conductively coupled to the protocol processor, for compressing voice data to standard cellular compression. In another feature of the invention, the system also includes means (150) for converting mobility events in the wired telephone system to cellular network signaling.

Claims

1. A system to enable communication between a base station controller within a cellular network, and a wired telephone system in a wired subscriber loop, wherein the base station controller is responsive to, and generates, cellular network signaling, and the wired telephone system is responsive to, and generates, wired signals, the system comprising:

a. means for converting wired signals to cellular network signaling;

b. means for converting mobility events in the wired telephone system to cellular network signaling;

c. means for providing the cellular network signaling to the base station controller so that the cellular network may respond to the provided cellular network signaling according to cellular network signaling techniques; and

d. means for enabling said base station controller to locate a subscriber in said wired telephone network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cellular network signaling is GSM signaling.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cellular network signaling is Advanced Mobile Phone System signaling.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cellular network signaling is Time Division Multiple Access signaling.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cellular network signaling is Code Division Multiple Access signaling.

6. The system as in any of claims 1-5, further comprising means for compressing voice data to standard cellular compression.

7. A system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a first telephone coupled to said wired telephone system; and

a second telephone coupled to said wired telephone system.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said means for enabling comprises subscriber information relating to said subscriber including an associated telephone number.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said first telephone and said second telephone are capable of receiving said subscriber information.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said base station controller associates said subscriber with said first telephone when said subscriber information is received by said first telephone.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein said base station controller associates said subscriber with said second telephone when said subscriber information is received by said second telephone.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said base station controller provides communications for said telephone number to said first telephone when said subscriber information is associated therewith.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein said base station controller provides communications for said telephone number to said second telephone when said subscriber information is associated therewith.

14. A method of enabling communication between a base station controller within a cellular network, and a wired telephone system in a wired subscriber loop, wherein the base station controller is responsive to, and generates, cellular network signaling, and the wired telephone system is responsive to, and generates, wired signals, the method comprising:

a. converting wired signals to cellular network signaling; and

b. converting mobility events in the wired telephone system to cellular network signaling; and

c. transmitting the cellular network signaling to the base station controller so that the base station controller may respond to the transmitted cellular network signaling; and

d. enabling said base station controller to locate a subscriber in said wired telephone network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the cellular network signaling is GSM signaling.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the cellular network signaling is Advanced Mobile Phone System signaling.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the cellular network signaling is Time Division Multiple Access signaling.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the cellular network signaling is Code Division Multiple Access signaling.

19. The method of any of claims 14-18, further comprising means for compressing voice data to standard cellular compression.

20. A method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

coupling a first telephone to said wired telephone system; and

coupling a second telephone to said wired telephone system.

21. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of receiving said subscriber information by said first telephone and said second telephone.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said step of enabling comprises the step of storing subscriber information relating to said subscriber including an associated telephone number.

23. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

associating said subscriber with said first telephone when said subscriber information is received by said first telephone; and

associating said subscriber with said second telephone when said subscriber information is received by said first telephone.

24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

providing communications for said telephone number to said first telephone when said subscriber information is associated therewith; and

providing communications for said telephone number to said second telephone when said subscriber information is associated therewith.

25. A system to enable communication between a base station controller within a cellular network, and a wired telephone system in a wired subscriber loop, wherein the base station controller is responsive to, and generates, cellular network signaling between a wireless telephone and a mobile services switching center, and the wired telephone system is responsive to, and generates, wired signals to and from a wired telephone, the system comprising:

a. a terminal adapter controller conductively coupled to the base station controller, and receptive to the cellular network signaling, for generating processed signals;

b. a protocol processor conductively coupled both to the wired telephone system and to the terminal adapter controller, receptive to the processed signals, for generating wired signals; and

c. a module for enabling said base station controller to locate a subscriber within said wired telephone system

whereby the base station controller is responsive to, and generates, cellular network signaling between the wired telephone and the mobile services switching center so that the telephone being wired is relatively transparent to the mobile services switching center.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the cellular network signaling is GSM signaling.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the cellular network signaling is Advanced Mobile Phone System signaling.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the cellular network signaling is Time Division Multiple Access signaling.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the cellular network signaling is Code Division Multiple Access signaling.

30. The system as in any of claims 25-29, further comprising a voice service module conductively coupled to the protocol processor, for compressing voice data to standard cellular compression.