Multiple technology vocoder and an associated telecommunications network

• US 6,542,486 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Lewis, Larry D., Mizell, Jerry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, DANG T
• Application Number:
  US09/218,985
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 370/320, 370/329, 370/331, 370/335, 370/328, 370/465, 370/466, 370/468, 370/470, 370/477, 370/357, 370/286-287, 370/395, 370/441, 370/442, 370/342, 370/347, 370/428, 370/461, 370/402, 370/321, 370/337, 370/336, 455/509, 455/510, 455/515, 455/67.1, 455/422, 455/450, 455/452, 455/455, 455/458, 455/560, 455/563
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/181 Transcoding devices; Rate adaptation devices

Abstract

A wireless telecommunications network includes a base station controller which, in turn, is comprised of a call control resource manager and a multiple technology vocoder having first and second interfaces, first and second selection managers, a vocoder controller and first, second, third, fourth and fifth resources, each embodied as a software module, for performing D/A and A/D conversions on messages configured in accordance with EVRC, EFRC, RLP, VSELP and QCELP protocols, respectively. When transferring messages between a mobile terminal and an MSC via the base station controller, the mobile terminal first informs the call control resource manager of the protocol to which the message conforms. In turn, the call control resource manager advises of the vocoder controller of the protocol type for the incoming message. The vocoder controller configures the interfaces to accept messages formatted in the protocol and instructs the selection managers to provide a path, for the received message, to the appropriate resource for conversion. The converted message is then returned to the call control resource manager and transmitted on to its final destination.

Claims

1. A base station controller, comprising:

a call control resource manager, said call control resource manager controlling exchanges of messages between at least one mobile terminal and a MSC;

a reconfigurable buffer operable to receive messages from said call control resource manager;

a multiple technology vocoder coupled to said call control resource manager and said reconfigurable buffer, said multiple technology vocoder receiving, from said reconfigurable buffer, messages being exchanged between said at least one mobile terminal and said MSC;

said multiple technology vocoder comprising;

a first resource module for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with a first technology;

a second resource module for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with a second technology; and

a selection manager for selecting one of said first and second resource modules to perform D/A and A/D conversions on messages received from said call resource manager; and

a buffer manager accessible to said reconfigurable buffer and said multiple technology vocoder, said buffer manager operable to configure said reconfigurable buffer to accept messages configured in accordance with either said first or second technology when so instructed by said multiple technology vocoder.

2. The base station controller of claim 1, wherein said multiple technology vocoder further comprises:

a vocoder controller coupled to said call control resource manager and said selection manager, said selection manager selecting one of said first and second resource modules in response to a first control signal issued by said vocoder controller.

4. The base station controller of claim 1 wherein said first technology is TDMA and said second technology is CDMA.

5. The base station controller of claim 4 wherein said multiple technology vocoder is embodied within a DSP.

3. A base station controller comprising:

a call control resource manager, said call control resource manager controlling exchanges of messages between at least one mobile terminal and a MSC;

a multiple technology vocoder coupled to said call control resource manager, said multiple technology vocoder receiving, from said call control resource manager, messages being exchanged between said at least one mobile terminal and said MSC, said multiple technology vocoder comprising;

a first resource module for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with a first technology;

a second resource module for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with a second technology;

a selection manager for selecting one of said first and second resource modules to perform D/A and A/D conversions on messages received from said call resource manager;

a reconfigurable buffer; and

a buffer manager coupled to said call control resource manager, said selection manager, said reconfigurable buffer, and said vocoder controller, said buffer manager transmitting messages, received from said call control resource manager, to said selection manager using said reconfigurable buffer, said buffer manager regulating the transmission of messages received from said call control manager in response to a second control signal, issued by said vocoder controller, indicative of transmission characteristics of said technology to which said received messages correspond;

said regulation including configuring said reconfigurable buffer to receive messages in said technology to which said received messages correspond; and

a vocoder controller coupled to said call control resource manager and said selection manager, said selection manager selecting one of said first and second resource modules in response to a first control signal issued by said vocoder controller.

6. A telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile terminal configured for transmitting and receiving digital messages configured in accordance with a first protocol;

a first base station controller, said first base station controller capable of being coupled to said mobile terminal by a first airlink;

a second base station controller, said second base station controller directly linked to said first base station controller and capable of being coupled to said mobile terminal by a second airlink; and

a MSC coupled to said first base station controller and said second base station controller, said MSC configured for transmitting and receiving analog messages configured in accordance with said first protocol;

said first base station controller including a vocoder for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with said first protocol, said vocoder comprising;

a first resource module for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with said first protocol;

a second resource module for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with a third protocol;

a selection manager for selecting one of said first and second resource modules to perform D/A and A/D conversions on messages transmitted by said MSC, said mobile terminal and said second base station controller, respectively, and received by said first base station controller;

first interface, said first interface coupled to receive messages originating at said mobile terminal and destined for said MSC;

wherein said first interface comprises a first reconfigurable buffer and a first buffer manager, said first buffer manager configuring said first reconfigurable buffer to accept messages formatted in a selected one of said first and third protocols, said first buffer manager reconfiguring said first buffer each time a change in protocol is detected by said first base station controller; and

a second interface, said second interface coupled to receive messages originating at said MSC and destined for said mobile terminal, wherein said second interface further comprises a second reconfigurable buffer and a second buffer manager, said second buffer manager configuring said second buffer to accept messages formatted in a selected one of said first and third protocols, said second buffer manager reconfiguring said second buffer each time a change in protocol is detected by said first base station controller, each one of said first and second resource modules being located between said first and said second interfaces;

said second base station controller including a vocoder for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with a second protocol but incapable of performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with said first protocol;

wherein said vocoder for said first base station controller performs D/A and A/D conversions for messages being exchanged between said mobile terminal and said MSC when said mobile terminal is coupled to said first base station controller by said first airlink and wherein said second base station controller transfers messages being exchanged between said mobile terminal and said MSC to said first base station controller for D/A and A/D conversion thereby when said mobile terminal is coupled to said second base station controller by said second airlink.

7. A base station controller comprising:

a call control resource manager, said call control resource manager controlling exchanges of messages between a mobile terminal and a MSC; and

a vocoder coupled to said call control resource manager, said vocoder receiving, from said call control resource manager, messages being exchanged between said mobile terminal and said MSC, said vocoder comprising;

a first interface, said first interface coupled to receive, from said call control resource manager, messages originating at said mobile terminal and destined for said MSC; and

wherein said first interface comprises;

a first reconfigurable buffer; and

a first buffer manager, said first buffer manager configuring said first buffer to accept messages formatted in a selected one of said first and second protocols in response to receipt of a first control signal issued by said vocoder controller, wherein said first buffer manager reconfigures said first buffer each time said vocoder controller detects a change in protocol;

a second interface, said second interface coupled to receive, from said call control resource manager, messages originating at said MSC and destined for said mobile terminal;

a first resource module, coupled to said first and second interfaces, for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with a first protocol;

a second resource module, coupled to said first and second interfaces, for performing D/A and A/D conversions for messages configured in accordance with a second protocol; and

a vocoder controller coupled to said call control resource manager and said first and second interfaces, said vocoder controller configuring said first and second interfaces to handle messages of a selected one of said first and second protocols in response to information received from said call control resource manager.

8. The base station controller of claim 7 wherein said second interface further comprises:

a second reconfigurable buffer; and

a second buffer manager;

said second buffer manager configuring said second buffer to accept messages formatted in a selected one of said first and second protocols in response to receipt of a second control signal issued by said vocoder controller;

wherein said second buffer manager reconfigures said second buffer each time said vocoder controller detects a change in protocol.

9. The base station controller of claim 8 wherein said vocoder further comprises:

a first selection manager, coupled to said first interface and said vocoder controller, for selecting one of said first and second resource modules to perform D/A conversions on messages received from said call resource manager, originating at said mobile terminal and destined for said MSC;

said first selection manager providing a path to said selected one of said first and second resource modules in response to a third control signal issued by said vocoder controller.

10. The base station controller of claim 9 wherein said vocoder further comprises:

a second selection manager, coupled to said second interface and said vocoder controller, for selecting one of said first and second resource modules to perform A/D conversions on messages received from said call resource manager, originating at said MSC and destined for said mobile terminal;

said second selection manager providing a path to said selected one of said first and second resource modules in response to a fourth control signal issued by said vocoder controller.

11. The base station controller of claim 10 wherein each one of said first and second protocols is a TDMA technology.

12. The base station controller of claim 10 wherein each one of said first and second protocols is a CDMA technology.

13. The base station controller of claim 10 wherein said first protocol is a TDMA technology and said second protocol is a CDMA technology.

14. The base station controller of claim 10 wherein said first protocol is a TDMA technology and said second protocol is a radio link protocol.

15. The base station controller of claim 10 wherein said first protocol is a CDMA technology and said second protocol is a radio link protocol.

16. A base station controller, comprising:

a call control resource manager, said call control resource manager controlling exchanges of messages between a mobile terminal and a MSC; and

a vocoder coupled to said call control resource manager, said vocoder receiving, from said call control resource manager, messages being exchanged between said mobile terminal and said MSC;

said vocoder comprising;

a first interface, said first interface coupled to receive, from said call control resource manager, messages originating at said mobile terminal and destined for said MSC;

a second interface, said second interface coupled to receive, from said call control resource manager, messages originating at said MSC and destined for said mobile terminal;

a first resource module, coupled to said first and second interfaces, for performing D/A and A/D conversions for data configured in accordance with a first protocol;

a second resource module, coupled to said first and second interfaces, for performing D/A and A/D conversions for data configured in accordance with a second protocol;

a third resource module, coupled to said first and second interfaces, for performing D/A and A/D conversions for data configured in accordance with a third protocol;

a fourth resource module, coupled to said first and second interfaces, for performing D/A and A/D conversions for data configured in accordance with a fourth protocol;

a fifth resource module, coupled to said first and second interfaces, for performing D/A and A/D conversions for data configured in accordance with a fifth protocol;

a vocoder controller coupled to said call control resource manager and said first and second interfaces, said vocoder controller configuring said first and second interfaces to handle messages of a selected one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth protocols in response to information received from said call control resource manager;

a first selection manager, coupled to said first interface and said vocoder controller, for selecting one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth resource modules to perform D/A conversions on messages originating at said mobile terminal, received by said call resource manager and destined for said MSC, said first selection manager providing a path between said first selection manager and said selected one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth resource modules in response to a first control signal issued by said vocoder controller; and

a second selection manager, coupled to said second interface and said vocoder controller, for selecting one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth resource modules to perform A/D conversions on messages originating at said MSC, received by said call resource manager and destined for said mobile terminal, said second selection manager providing a path between said second selection manager and said selected one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth resource modules in response to a second control signal issued by said vocoder controller;

said first interface further comprising a first reconfigurable buffer and a first buffer manager, said first buffer manager configuring said first buffer to accept messages formatted in a selected one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth protocols in response to receipt of a third control signal issued by said vocoder controller, said first buffer manager reconfiguring said first buffer each time said vocoder controller detects a change in protocol;

said second interface further comprising a second reconfigurable buffer and a second buffer manager, said second buffer manager configuring said second buffer to accept messages formatted in a selected one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth protocols in response to receipt of a fourth control signal issued by said vocoder controller, said second buffer manager reconfiguring said second buffer each time said vocoder controller detects a change in protocol.

17. The base station controller of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth protocols is a TDAM technology and another one of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth protocols is a CDMA technology.

18. The base station controller according to claim 17 wherein said first protocol is EVRC, a CDMA technology, said second protocol is EFRC, a TDMA technology, said third protocol is RLP, an asynchronous technology, said fourth protocol is VSELP, a TDMA technology, and said fifth protocol is QCELP, a CDMA technology.