Method and apparatus for integrated wireless communications in private and public network environments

• US 6,687,243 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sayers, Ian Leslie, Long, Paul Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US09/408,967
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/466, 370/467, 455/432, 455/433, 455/560, 455/552, 455/553
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A communications system extends over a cellular region formed of a plurality of wireless cells where each cell covers a portion of the cellular region. Each cell has a base station which is responsible for communication with the cellular subscriber. In order for a call to be properly managed in the public cellular domain, responsibility for call handling and processing must first be managed by a public MSC. Call handling with the public MSC for a private cellular subscriber first requires the exchange of information between the two systems. This is facilitated through the exchange of MAP and A interface signaling between the private and public cellular systems. Since this information on the private network is normally transmitted via IP, this information must be converted to standard SS7 based MAP and A protocol signaling in order for the public MSC to process.

Claims

1. A communication system extending over a cellular region and formed of a plurality of wireless cells where each cell covers a portion of the cellular region comprising,

a first wireless network using a first protocol for communicating with one or more first cells in the first wireless network and wherein each one of said first cells includes,

a first base station for communicating with mobile stations in one of said first cells,

first control means using the first protocol for communications associated with said first base station,

a second wireless network using a second protocol for communicating with one or more second cells in the second wireless network and wherein each one of said second cells includes,

a second base station for communicating with mobile stations in one of said second cells,

second control means using the second protocol for communications associated with said second base station and including a gatekeeper communicating with said second base station for each of said second cells using said second protocol,

a connection unit for interconnecting the first wireless network and the second wireless network to carry traffic,

an interworking unit for correlating communications using said first protocol with communications using second protocol to control said traffic between said first wireless unit and the second wireless unit.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said gatekeeper communicates with the connection unit or interworking unit.

3. The communication system of claim 2 wherein said gatekeeper includes a database for correlating addresses in said first and second protocols.

4. The communication system of claim 3 wherein said database is an H.323 database and said second protocol is IP.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said gatekeeper communicates using said second protocol with the connection unit or interworking unit.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said gatekeeper includes,

a local database which communicates via IP for providing authentication,

a local client for communicating with a remote protocol gateway, and

a local interface for communicating with the interworking unit using an IP protocol.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said connection unit includes a gateway for transporting communications between said second wireless network using said second protocol and another network using another protocol.

8. The communication system of claim 7 wherein said another network using another protocol is a PSTN network, and ISDN network or a PLMN network.

9. The communication system of claim 7 wherein said gateway is located on a premises with said second wireless network where said second wireless network operates with an IP protocol.

10. The communication system of claim 7 wherein said gateway is located on a premises with said first wireless network where said first wireless network operates with an SS7 protocol.

11. The communication system of claim 7 wherein said gatekeeper communicates using said second protocol with the connection unit or interworking unit.

12. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said first wireless network is a public wireless network.

13. The communication system of claim 12 wherein said public wireless network is a Public Land Mobile Network.

14. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said second wireless network is a private wireless network.

15. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said first wireless network is a public wireless network having one or more public cells and wherein said second wireless network is a private wireless network having one or more private cells within one or more of said public cells and having mobile stations that move among the private and public cells.

16. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said interworking unit includes a first stack for processing messages according to said first protocol, includes a second stack for processing messages according to said second protocol and includes a protocol converter for converting messages between said first protocol and said second protocol.

17. The communication system of claim 16 wherein said first stack includes MTP, SCCP and TCAP layers for an SS7 protocol and wherein said second stack includes IP and TCP/UDP layers for an EP protocol.

18. The communication system of claim 16 wherein said interworking unit includes one or more message encode/decode layers connected to a database for storing conversions of messages between said first and second protocols.

19. The communication system of claim 16 wherein said interworking unit includes a Mobile Application Part layer adjacent one of said message encode/decode layers for said first stack.

20. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said second wireless network is a private wireless network and said interworking unit is located on a premises of said private wireless network.

21. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said first wireless network is a public wireless network and said interworking unit is located on a premises of said public wireless network.

22. A communication system extending over a cellular region and formed of a plurality of wireless cells where each cell covers a portion of the cellular region comprising,

one or more public networks including,

a PLMN first wireless network using a first protocol for communicating with one or more first cells in the first wireless network and wherein each one of said first cells includes,

a BSS including a first base station for communicating with mobile stations in one of said first cells,

first control means including a BSC using the first protocol for communications associated with said first base station,

one or more private networks including,

a second wireless network using a second protocol for communicating with one or more second cells in the second wireless network and wherein each one of said second cells includes,

a second base station for communicating with mobile stations in one of said second cells,

second control means using a second protocol for communications associated with said second base station and including a gatekeeper communicating with said second base station for each of said second cells using said second protocol,

a wired network communicating with said second protocol, a connection unit for interconnecting the public networks and the private

networks to carry traffic,

an interworking unit for correlating communications using said first protocol with communications using said second protocol to control said traffic between said public networks and the private networks.

23. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said gatekeeper with the connection unit or interworking unit.

24. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said gatekeeper includes a database for correlating addresses in said first and second protocols.

25. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said database is an H.323 database and said second protocol is IP.

26. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said gatekeeper communicates using said second protocol with the connection unit or interworking unit.

27. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said gatekeeper includes,

a local database which communicates via IP for providing authentication,

a local client for communicating with a remote protocol gateway, and

a local interface for communicating with the interworking unit using an IP protocol.

28. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said connection unit includes a gateway for transporting communications between said second wireless network using said second protocol and another network using another protocol.

29. The communication system of claim 28 wherein said another network using another protocol is a PSTN network, and ISDN network or a PLMN network.

30. The communication system of claim 29 wherein said gateway is located on a premises with said second wireless network where said second wireless network operates with an IP protocol.

31. The communication system of claim 29 wherein said gateway is located on a premises with said first wireless network where said first wireless network operates with an SS7 protocol.

32. The communication system of claim 28 wherein said gatekeeper communicates using said second protocol with the connection unit or interworking unit.

33. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said first wireless network is a public wireless network.

34. The communication system of claim 33 wherein said public wireless network is a Public Land Mobile Network.

35. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said second wireless network is a private wireless network.

36. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said first wireless network is a public wireless network having one or more public cells and wherein said second wireless network is a private wireless network having one or more private cells within one or more of said public cells and having mobile stations that move among the private and public cells.

37. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said interworking unit includes a first stack for processing messages according to said first protocol, includes a second stack for processing messages according to said second protocol and includes a protocol converter for converting messages between said first protocol and said second protocol.

38. The communication system of claim 37 wherein said first stack includes MTP, SCCP and TCAP layers for an SS7 protocol and wherein said second stack includes IP and TCP/UDP layers for an IP protocol.

39. The communication system of claim 37 wherein said interworking unit includes one or more message encode/decode layers connected to a database for storing conversions of messages between said first and second protocols.

40. The communication system of claim 37 wherein said interworking unit includes a Mobile Application Part layer adjacent one of said message encode/decode layers for said first stack.

41. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said second wireless network is a private wireless network and said interworking unit is located on a premises of said private wireless network.

42. The communication system of claim 22 wherein said first wireless network is a public wireless network and said interworking unit is located on a premises of said public wireless network.

43. A communication method for wireless communication extending over a cellular region formed of a plurality of wireless cells where each cell covers a portion of the cellular region comprising,

communicating with a first protocol for one or more first cells in a first wireless network wherein each one of said first cells,

communicating with mobile stations in one of said first cells using a first base station,

communicating with said first base station using the first protocol,

communicating with a second protocol for one or more second cells in a second wireless network wherein each one of said second cells,

communicating with mobile stations in one of said second cells using a second base station,

communicating with said second bases station using the second protocol and accessing a gatekeeper communicating with said second base station for each of said second cells using said second protocol,

interconnecting the first wireless unit and the second wireless unit to carry traffic, and

correlating communications using said first protocol with communications using said second protocol to control said traffic between said first wireless unit and the second wireless unit.