Interworking function in an internet protocol (IP)-based radio telecommunications network

• US 6,377,799 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson), Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Ericason Incorporated
• Inventors: Hagen, Tore Martin, Hameleers, Heino, Davidson, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/335,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/418, 455/422, 455/419, 455/426, 455/465, 370/338, 370/913, 370/466
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/913 Wireless or radio

Abstract

An Internet Protocol (IP)-based radio telecommunications network and method of providing data services to a mobile terminal. An Internet Protocol Shared Interworking Function (IP-SIWF) is implemented in the network, and is controlled from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) utilizing the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) device control protocol. When a data call carrying a data payload is originated by a mobile terminal, the data call is transported utilizing radio access and radio link protocols to the IP-SIWF. The radio access and radio link protocols are terminated in the IP-SIWF, and the data payload is transported thereafter utilizing a real time protocol over a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and an IP protocol layer.

Claims

1. In Internet Protocol (IP)-based Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) radio telecommunications network having a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) and a non-GSM compliant Media Gateway, a method of providing GSM data services between a GSM mobile terminal and a destination terminal equipment (TE) operating in a circuit-switched network, said method comprising the steps of:

implementing an Internet Protocol Shared Interworking Function (IP-SIWF) in the GSM radio telecommunications network;

controlling the IP-SIWF from the MSC utilizing a device control protocol;

originating a GSM data call from the mobile terminal, said data call carrying a data payload utilizing GSM radio access and radio link protocols;

terminating the GSM radio link protocol in the IP-SIWF;

replacing the GSM radio access protocol in the IP-SIWF with a media gateway protocol that is compatible with the non-GSM compliant Media Gateway; and

transporting the data payload from the IP-SIWF to the non-GSM compliant Media Gateway utilizing the media gateway protocol and a real time protocol (RTP) over a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and an IP protocol layer.

2. The method of providing GSM data services of claim 1 wherein the step of replacing the GSM radio access protocol with a media gateway protocol includes replacing the GSM radio access protocol with a High Level Data Link Control (HLDLC) protocol.

3. An Internet Protocol (IP)-based radio telecommunicatons network for providing Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) data services between a GSM mobile terminal and a destination terminal equipment (TE) operating in a circuit-switched network, said network comprising:

a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) serving the mobile terminal;

means for originating a GSM data call from the mobile terminal, said data call carrying a data payload utilizing GSM radio access and radio link protocols;

a non-GSM compliant Media Gateway providing access to the circuit-switched network in which the destination TE is operating; and

an Internet Protocol Shared Interworking Function (IP-SIWF) connected to the MSC by signaling links and controlled by the MSC utilizing a device control protocol, said IP-SIWF including;

means for terminating the GSM radio link protocol,

means for replacing the GSM radio access protocol with a media gateway protocol that is compatible with the non-GSM compliant Media Gateway, and

means for transporting the data payload from the IP-SIWF to the non-GSM compliant Media Gateway utilizing the media gateway protocol and a real time protocol over a User Datagram