Integrated home location register and IP-SS7 gateway

• US 6,594,258 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Nilsson, Mikael, Hoglund, Mats, Mo, Hans, Larson, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): CANGIALOSI, SALVATORE A
• Application Number:
  US09/320,220
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/466, 370/467, 370/469, 370/522, 379/219, 379/220.07, 455/403, 455/422, 455/445
• US Class Current: 370/353
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/08 for phantom working phantom working in transmission of digital information H04L5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

An integrated IP-SS7 gateway and home location register system is disclosed for transmitting and receiving messages in a wireless communication network. The system comprises a processing system including a home location register (HLR) storing wireless user subscriber information. A first interface is in communication with a wireless office system (WOS) network for routing messages using a TCP/IP protocol. A second interface is in communication with a public land mobile network (PLMN) for routing messages using an MTP protocol. A gateway function is operatively connected to the HLR and the first and second interfaces for controlling message transmission therebetween.

Claims

1. A router controlling message communication between a first wireless communication network that transmits and receives messages using a TCP/IP protocol and a second wireless communication network that transmits and receives messages using an MTP protocol, the router comprising:

an integrated processing system including a home location register (HLR) storing wireless user subscriber information, a first interface for communicating with the first wireless communication network using the TCP/IP protocol, a second interface for communicating with the second wireless communication network using the MTP protocol, and a gateway function operatively connected to the HLR and the first and second interfaces for controlling message transmission therebetween, wherein the HLR and the gateway function are integrated in a single node.

2. The router of claim 1 wherein the HLR stores subscriber information for users of both the first wireless communication network and the second wireless communication network.

3. The router of claim 2 wherein the gateway function transmits and receives HLR subscriber information with either network directly without protocol conversion.

4. The router of claim 1 wherein the gateway function converts protocol of messages between TCP/IP and MTP for messages to be transferred from one of the networks to the other of the networks.

5. The router of claim 4 wherein the gateway function translates global titles received from the second wireless communication network to IP addresses for the first wireless communication network.

6. The router of claim 1 wherein the gateway function operates as a signaling transfer point for the second wireless communication network via the second interface.

7. The router of claim 1 wherein the gateway function operates as a termination point for first wireless communication network protocols.

8. The router of claim 7 wherein the first wireless communication network protocols support monitoring of communication between the first wireless communication network and the gateway function.

9. The router of claim 7 wherein the first wireless communication network protocols support transport of configuration messages.

10. An integrated gateway and home location register system for transmitting and receiving message in a wireless communication network comprising:

a processing system including a home location register (HLR) storing wireless user subscriber information, a first interface in communication with a wireless office system (WOS) network for routing messages using the TCP/IP protocol, a second interface in communication with a public land mobile network (PLMN) for routing messages using the MTP protocol, and a gateway function operatively connected to the HLR and the first and second interfaces for controlling message transmission therebetween, wherein the HLR and the gateway function are integrated in a single node.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the HLR stores subscriber information for users of both the WOS network and the PLMN.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the gateway function transmits and receives HLR subscriber information with either network directly without protocol conversion.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the gateway function converts protocol of messages between TCP/IP and MTP for messages to be transferred from one of the networks to the other of the networks.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the gateway function translates global titles received from the PLMN to IP addresses for the WOS network.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the gateway function operates as a signaling transfer point for the PLMN via the second interface.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the gateway function operates as a termination point for WOS network protocols.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the WOS network protocols support monitor communication between the WOS network and the gateway function.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the WOS network protocols support transport of configuration messages.

19. A communication device, comprising:

a home location register (HLR);

a gateway coupled to the HLR to route signals between a wireless office system using a TCP/IP protocol and a public land mobile network (PLMN) using an MTP protocol; and

a WOSP stack between an SCCP stack and a TCP stack to route the signals between the wireless office system and the PLMN.

24. The communication device of claim 19, wherein the HLR and gateway are combined to form an integrated software application.

25. The communication device of claim 24, wherein the HLR and gateway are configured to be a single node.

20. A method of communicating between networks, comprising:

stacking SCCP, TCAP and MAP layers on TCP and IP layers; and

inserting a WOSP layer between the SCCP layer and the TCP layer.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising stacking the SCCP, TCAP and MAP layers on an MTP layer for communication with an SS7 network.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising performing global message translation (GTT) on messages from a wireless office system (WOS).

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising converting messages from riding atop a TCP/IP stack to riding atop an MTP layer.

26. A communication system, comprising:

a first network using one protocol;

a second network using another protocol; and

a home location register (HLR) and gateway configured to be a single node for communication between the first network and the second network.

27. The communication system of claim 26, wherein the first network comprises an SS7 network.

28. The communication system of claim 26, wherein the second network comprises an IP network.

29. The communication system of claim 26, further comprising a server, wherein the HLR and gateway are an integrated software application running on the server.