Message and communication system in a network

• US 6,577,643 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1998
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Provenance Asset Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rai, Girish, Chuah, Mooi, Parsons, Philip M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cangialosi, Salvatore
• Application Number:
  US09/138,677
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/466, 370/467, 370/386, 370/389, 370/352-356, 370/400-405
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/168 specially adapted for link layer protocols, e.g. asynchronous transfer mode [ATM], synchronous optical network [SONET] or point-to-point protocol [PPP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A Message and communication system in a coupled data network is disclosed. The coupled data network includes a foreign network and a home network. The foreign network includes a foreign base station with a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a first serving inter-working function. The home network includes a first home inter-working function. A first mobile end system is a subscriber to the home network and operates within the foreign network. A first message is transportable between the first mobile end system and a first communications server through the first home inter-working function and through the first serving inter-working function of the foreign access hub in the foreign base station.

Claims

1. A coupled data network comprising:

a foreign network that includes a foreign base station with a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a first serving inter-working function,

a home network with a first home inter-working function; and

a first message of a first mobile end system subscribed to the home network and operating within the foreign network, the first message being transportable between the first mobile end system and a first communications server through the first home inter-working function and through the first serving inter-working function of the foreign access hub in the foreign base station using an XTunnel protocol, the first home interworking function serving as an anchor point as the first mobile end system roams in other foreign networks.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the first message is transportable from the first mobile end system through the first home inter-working function to the first communications server.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein the first mobile end system includes a wireless modem coupleable to the foreign access hub.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the home network includes a home mobile switching center, the first home inter-working function being included in the home mobile switching center.

5. The network of claim 1, further comprising:

a second end system subscribed to the home network and operating as a fixed end system within the home network; and

a home base station that includes a home access hub with a second home inter-working function, a second message being transportable between the second end system and a second communications server through the second home inter-working function.

6. The network of claim 1, further comprising:

a second end system subscribed to the home network and operating as a mobile end system within the home network;

a home mobile switching center having a second home inter-working function, the first home inter-working function being included in the home mobile switching center; and

a home base station that includes a home access hub with a second serving inter-working function, a second message being transportable between the second end system and a second communications server through the second serving inter-working function and through the second home inter-working function.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the first home inter-working function includes a home accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first home inter-working function.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein:

the home network further includes a home mobile switching center that includes a home accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

9. The network of claim 8, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

10. The network of claim 6, wherein the first home inter-working function includes a home accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first home inter-working function.

11. The network of claim 10, wherein:

the home network further includes a home mobile switching center that includes a home accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

12. The network of claim 11, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

13. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor;

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the first serving inter-working function includes a foreign accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

14. The network of claim 6, wherein

the foreign network further includes a foreign mobile switching center, the foreign mobile switching center including a serving registration server, and the foreign access hub including a proxy registration agent;

the home mobile switching center with a home registration server; and

the first mobile end system includes an end registration agent, the end registration agent being coupled to the proxy registration agent, the proxy registration agent being coupled to the serving registration server, the serving registration server being coupled to the home registration server.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the end system.

16. The network of claim 14, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first mobile end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

17. The network of claim 14, wherein the serving registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first mobile end system is a subscriber of the home network.

18. The network of claim 14, wherein:

the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the first mobile end system;

the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first mobile end system is authorized to receive services of the home network; and

the serving registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first mobile end system is a subscriber of the home network.

19. The network of claim 1, wherein

the foreign network further includes a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server;

the home network further includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server and a plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions; and

the first mobile end system includes an end registration agent to form a registration request, the end registration agent sending the registration request through the serving registration server to the home registration server, the home registration server including a module to select an active home inter-working function from the plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions based on the registration request.

20. The network of claim 19, wherein:

the serving inter-working function is regarded as an active serving inter-working function;

the foreign network further includes a plurality of serving inter-working functions; and

the serving registration server includes a module to select the active serving inter-working function from the plurality of serving inter-working functions based on the registration request.

21. The network of claim 19, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the first mobile end system.

22. The network of claim 19, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first mobile end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

23. The network of claim 19, wherein the serving registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first mobile end system is a subscriber of the home network.

24. The network of claim 19, wherein:

the registration request includes service type information; and

the home registration server includes a module to control the selection of the active home inter-working function based on the service type information.

25. The network of claim 24, wherein the service type information specifies a request for one of public internet service and private intranet service.

26. The network of claim 24, wherein the service type information specifies a request for one of mobile service and fixed service.

27. The network of claim 19, wherein:

the registration request includes quality of service information; and

the home registration server includes a module to control the selection of the active home inter-working function based on the quality of service information.

28. The network of claim 27, wherein the quality of service information specifies a request for one of constant bit rate service, real time variable bit rate service, non-real time variable bit rate service, unspecified bit rate service and available bit rate service.

29. A data network coupled to a foreign network that includes a foreign base station with a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a first serving inter-working function, the data network comprising:

a home network with a first home inter-working function; and

a first message of a first mobile end system subscribed to the home network and operating within the foreign network, the first message being transportable between the first mobile end system and a first communications server through the first home inter-working function and through the first serving inter-working function of the foreign access hub in the foreign base station using an XTunnel protocol, the first home interworking function serving as an anchor point as the first mobile end system roams in other foreign networks.

30. The network of claim 29, wherein the first message is transportable from the first mobile end system through the first home inter-working function to the first communications server.

31. The network of claim 29, wherein the home network includes a home mobile switching center, the first home inter-working function being included in the home mobile switching center.

32. The network of claim 29, further comprising:

a second end system subscribed to the home network and operating as a fixed end system within the home network; and

a home base station that includes a home access hub with a second home inter-working function, a second message being transportable between the second end system and a second communications server through the second home inter-working function.

33. The network of claim 29, further comprising:

a second end system subscribed to the home network and operating as a mobile end system within the home network;

a home mobile switching center having a second home inter-working function, the first home inter-working function being included in the home mobile switching center; and

a home base station that includes a home access hub with a second serving inter-working function, a second message being transportable between the second end system and a second communications server through the second serving inter-working function and through the second home inter-working function.

34. The network of claim 29, wherein the first home inter-working function includes a home accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first home inter-working function.

35. The network of claim 34, wherein:

the home network further includes a home mobile switching center that includes a home accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

36. The network of claim 35, wherein:

the home network further includes a billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the billing processor, the billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

37. The network of claim 33, wherein the first home inter-working function includes a home accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first home inter-working function.

38. The network of claim 37, wherein:

the home network further includes a home mobile switching center that includes a home accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

39. The network of claim 38, wherein:

the home network further includes a billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the billing processor, the billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.

40. The network of claim 29, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor;

the foreign network further includes a foreign accounting server and a foreign billing processor;

the first serving inter-working function includes a foreign accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first serving inter-working function, the foreign accounting collection module including a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to the foreign accounting server, the foreign accounting server including a module to send accounting reports to the foreign billing processor, the foreign billing processor including a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the foreign billing processor.

41. The network of claim 33, wherein the foreign network includes a foreign mobile switching center, the foreign mobile switching center including a serving registration server, and the access hub including a proxy registration agent,

the home network that further includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server;

the first mobile end system includes an end registration agent, the end registration agent being coupled to the proxy registration agent, the proxy registration agent being coupled to the serving registration server, the serving registration server being coupled to the home registration server.

42. The network of claim 41, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the first mobile end system.

43. The network of claim 41, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first mobile end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

44. The network of claim 29, wherein the foreign network includes a foreign mobile switching center with a serving registration server,

the home network that includes a home mobile switching center with a home registration server and a plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions;

and

the first mobile end system includes an end registration agent to form a registration request, the end registration agent sending the registration request through the serving registration server to the home registration server, the home registration server including a module to select an active home inter-working function from the plurality of unassigned home inter-working functions based on the registration request.

45. The network of claim 44, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the foreign network is authorized to host the first mobile end system.

46. The network of claim 44, wherein the home registration server includes a module to authenticate that the first mobile end system is authorized to receive services of the home network.

47. The network of claim 44, wherein:

the registration request includes service type information; and

the home registration server includes a module to control the selection of the active home inter-working function based on the service type information.

48. The network of claim 47, wherein the service type information specifies a request for one of public internet service and private intranet service.

49. The network of claim 47, wherein the service type information specifies a request for one of mobile service and fixed service.

50. The network of claim 44, wherein:

the registration request includes quality of service information; and

the home registration server includes a module to control the selection of the active home inter-working function based on the quality of service information.

51. The network of claim 50, wherein the quality of service information specifies a request for one of constant bit rate service, real time variable bit rate service, non-real time variable bit rate service, unspecified bit rate service and available bit rate service.

52. A mobile end system for use in a data network coupled to a foreign network, that includes a foreign base station with a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a first serving inter-working function, and a home network with a first home inter-working function, comprising:

means for connecting the mobile end system to said foreign network; and

said first mobile end system subscribed to the home network and operating within the foreign network, a first message being transportable between the first mobile end system and a first communications server through the first home inter-working function and through the first serving inter-working function of the foreign access hub in the foreign base station using an XTunnel protocol, the first home interworking function serving as an anchor point as the first mobile end systems roams in other foreign networks.

53. A mobile end system according to claim 52, wherein said mobile end system is connected to said foreign network by a modem.

54. A mobile end system according to claim 52, wherein said mobile end system is connected to said foreign network by a wireless modem.

55. A home network for use in a data network coupled to a foreign network, that includes a foreign base station with a foreign access hub, the foreign access hub including a first serving inter-working function, and mobile end system subscribed to the home network and operating within the foreign network, comprising:

a home switching center;

a first home inter-working function being included in said home mobile switching center; and

wherein a first message is transported between the first mobile end system and a first communications server through the first home inter-working function and through the first serving inter-working function of the foreign access hub in the foreign base station using an XTunnel protocol, the first home interworking function serving as an anchor point as the first mobile end system roams in other foreign networks.

56. The network of claim 55, wherein the first home inter-working function includes a home accounting collection module to collect accounting data on message traffic transported through the first home inter-working function.

57. The network of claim 56, wherein:

the home network further includes a home mobile switching center that includes a home accounting server; and

the home accounting collection module includes a sub-module to periodically send accounting reports to a home accounting server.

58. The network of claim 57, wherein:

the home network further includes a home billing processor; and

the home accounting server includes a module to send accounting reports to the home billing processor, the home billing processor including a module to prepare customer bills based on the accounting reports from the home accounting server.