Tunneling signaling method and apparatus

• US 6,731,617 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1999
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Mizell, Jerry L., Taylor, Cecil L., Hanson, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/354,487
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/435, 455/432, 455/403, 455/445, 455/450, 370/338, 370/328, 370/329, 370/349, 370/401, 370/389, 370/353
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus providing minimal systems alterations in non-GSM cellular systems wishing to incorporate GSM GPRS messaging capability. This is accomplished by giving a registering terminal or MS an IP address for use in receiving both signaling and traffic data messages rather than using the SGSN as the traffic receiving entity and forwarding traffic to the MS from the SGSN and requiring signaling messages to be transmitted from the MSC to the MS by other means. This approach simplifies the integration of GPRS capability into any non-GSM configuration cellular system by providing a generic way to exchange signaling information between any MSC, having a known IP address, and any MS with an assigned IP address.

Claims

1. An MS (Mobile Station) for use in a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network comprising:

means for accepting an IP (Internet Protocol) address for the duration of receipt of a traffic message;

means for receiving messages from the GPRS network having the accepted IP address;

means for de-capsulating received messages to retrieve signaling messages embedded therein; and

means for altering states of a connection process within said MS in accordance with the retrieved signaling messages from the GPRS network having the accepted IP address.

2. The method of passing signaling messages from a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) MSC (Mobile Switching Center) to an MS (Mobile Station) comprising the steps of:

assigning an IP (Internet Protocol) address to a MS when the MS registers;

encapsulating signaling messages within an IP message;

tunneling signaling messages over a GPRS network from the home TDMA MSC to a given MS;

sending the assigned IP address to the home MSC of the MS;

de-capsulating, at the given MS, the encapsulated signaling message within the received IP message from the GPRS network, wherein the signaling messages are generated by the home MSC; and

altering states of a connection process within the MS in accordance with the retrieved signaling messages from the GPRS network generating the assigned IP address.

3. A cellular system for communicating GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) messages comprising:

an MS (mobile station) having an IP address that can distinguish between received traffic and signaling messages;

registering means for assigning an IP address to the MS when it registers for service;

an MSC (Mobile Switching Center), having an IP address, for encapsulating signaling messages in IP (internet protocol) format to be sent for the control of any MS having that MSC as a home MSC; and

means for altering states of a connection process within the MS in accordance with the retrieved signaling messages from the GPRS network generating the assigned IP address.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 comprising, in addition:

encapsulating and de-capsulating means comprising part of said MS for sending control signals to and receiving control signals from the home MSC of said MS.

5. A method of providing control signaling messages from a home MSC (Mobile Switching Center) to an MS (mobile station) in a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) messaging system integrated into a cellular network comprising:

assigning an IP (Internet Protocol) address to a MS when the MS registers with the GPRS system;

notifying the home MSC of the IP address of said MS;

encapsulating control signal messages in IP format for controlling the MS directly from said home MSC over any intervening IP networks;

means for accepting the IP address for the duration of receipt of a traffic message from the GPRS; and

means for altering states of a connection process within the MS in accordance with retrieved signaling messages from the GPRS network having the accepted IP address.

6. An MS (Mobile Station) for use in a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network comprising:

means for accepting an IP (Internet Protocol) address for the duration of receipt of a traffic message from the GPRS network;

means for de-capsulating received IP format messages from a home MSC to retrieve signaling messages embedded therein; and

means for altering states of a connection process within the MS in accordance with retrieved signaling messages from the GPRS network generating the accepted IP address.

7. A method of controlling an MS (Mobile Station) in a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network where the MS is located in a network remote from the home MSC (Mobile Switching Center) of that MS comprising the steps of:

assigning an IP (Internet Protocol) address to an MS when it registers;

notifying the home MSC of the IP address of said MS; and

transmitting signaling communications between said MSC and said MS directly in IP format, wherein the signaling messages are generated by the home MSC; and

altering states of a connection process within the MS in accordance with retrieved signaling messages from the GPRS network generating the assigned IP address.