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

• US 6,807,431 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yang, Sheausong, Sayers, Ian Leslie, Long, Paul Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taylor, Barry W
• Application Number:
  US10/395,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20030186694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 455/555, 455/461, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/426.2, 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/455, 455/422.1, 370/338, 370/401, 370/389, 370/466
• US Class Current: 455/555
• 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 69/169 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: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• 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 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

A communication system formed by a private network that includes a private wireless network. The communication system includes a public wireless network using a public wireless protocol, such as GSM, and includes public networks, such as PSTN, ISDN and the Internet, using a wired protocol, such as IP. The private network also includes a local area network (LAN) and the private network connects to the public networks using a wired packet protocol, such as IP. The public and private wireless networks operate with the same public wireless protocol, such as GSM, and the private wireless network additionally operates with a wired packet protocol, such as IP. The communication system permits users to operate freely in both public and private wireless networks using standard mobile stations while achieving high private network data rates. The communication system uses normal wireless handsets or other mobile or fixed stations without need for any modifications.

Claims

1. A method for allowing a mobile station to communicate in a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system comprising a plurality of private base transceiver stations, the private base transceiver stations having radio transceivers that communicate data and signaling information with the mobile station, the private base transceiver stations also having a processing layer for mobility management and a call control processing layer contained within them, the private base transceiver stations interconnected by a packet data network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call control message at the private base transceiver stations and passing the call control message to the processing layer for mobility management resident within the private base transceiver stations, without forwarding the call control message to a base station controller, the call control message including a control function identifier and a mobile station identifier;

forwarding the call control message internally within the private base transceiver stations to a packet interface layer in the private base transceiver stations, the packet interface layer providing communication between the private base transceiver stations and other nodes connected to the packet data network;

at the packet interface layer, formatting an external control message intended for transmission over the packet data network, the formatted external control message indicating an alias identifier corresponding to the mobile station identifier; and

forwarding the formatted external control message across the packet data network.

2. A method as in claim 1 in which the call control message requesting a location update and received from the mobile station at the private base transceiver stations and being passed to the processing layer for mobility management resident within the private base transceiver stations additionally, comprises:

reformatting the call control message as an external message requesting registration by the packet interface layer, the external message specifying the mobile station identifier;

sending the external message from the packet interface layer over the packet data network; and

receiving a confirmation message confirming registration over the packet data network, the confirmation message including a packet data network identifier for the mobile station, the packet data network operable for direct communication with a public wireless network.

3. A method as in claim 2 additionally comprising:

before the step of sending the external message, issuing a channel request message from the mobile station to a layer for radio resource functions resident within the private base transceiver stations; and

returning an immediate channel assignment message from the layer for radio resource functions to the mobile station.

4. A method as in claim 3 additionally comprising:

returning a message confirming acknowledgment from the packet data network indicating call parameters as an encapsulated packet data network message.

5. A method as in claim 1 additionally establishing a connection for a mobile station initiated call, comprising the steps of:

sending a call setup message from the mobile station to the private base transceiver stations, the call setup message being received at the processing layer for mobility management, the call setup message indicating a called party number;

forming an internal setup message in a layer for connection management associated with the private base transceiver stations, and forwarding the internal setup message to the packet interface layer of the private base transceiver stations; and

forming a message requesting acknowledgment from the internal setup message, and forwarding the message requesting acknowledgment across the packet data network.

6. A method as in claim 5 additionally comprising:

sending a setup message from the private base transceiver stations across the packet data network, the setup message including an indicator of the called party number to be used by the mobile station;

in response thereto, receiving, at the private base transceiver stations, a call proceeding message from the packet data network;

forwarding the call proceeding message internally to the layer for connection management within the private base transceiver stations; and

forwarding a call proceeding message from the layer for connection management through to the processing layer for mobility management, to the mobile station.

7. A method as in claim 1 additionally comprising terminating a call at a mobile station, comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the packet data network, a setup message encapsulated in a data network message;

forwarding the setup message through an internal protocol stack as an internal setup message indicating a called party number and other configuration information to the layer for connection management in the private base transceiver stations; and

sending an internal page request message from the layer for connection management to the layer for radio resource functions within the private base transceiver stations.

8. A method as in claim 7 additionally comprising:

the layer for radio resource functions issuing a paging request message to the mobile station; and

in response thereto, the mobile station returning a paging response message indicating a mobile station identifier to the processing layer for mobility management to initiate a begin call sequence.

9. A method as in claim 8 additionally comprising:

after the call setup message is received at the layer for connection management;

providing a begin call internal message from the layer for connection management to the packet interface layer, the begin call message initiating a message requesting acknowledgment that includes the mobile station identifier and called party number;

receiving, from the packet data network, a message confirming acknowledgment indicating connection information; and

generating an internal accepted call message using the received message confirming acknowledgment to establish the ability to receive a call.

10. A method as in claim 9 additionally comprising:

in response to receiving the accepted call message at the layer for connection management, generating a setup message to the mobile station, the setup message indicating a called party number and channel number;

returning a call confirmed message from the mobile station to the layer for connection management;

generating an internal call confirmed message from the layer for connection management to the packet layer interface; and

generating an open channel message from the packet layer interface to the packet data network to open channels for information transfer.

11. A method as in claim 1 in which the call control messages indicate a handover of servicing the mobile station from a serving private base transceiver stations to a target private base transceiver stations, further comprising:

passing a handover request message from the layer for connection management within the private base transceiver stations to the packet layer interface;

generating a location request message indicating the private base transceiver stations identifier and called party number; and

returning from the packet data network a location confirmation message indicating handover processing information.

12. A method as in claim 11 additionally comprising:

forwarding a handover message from the packet layer interface as a nonstandard packet data network message indicating a handover request; and

receiving a handover acceptance message as a nonstandard packet data network message.

13. A method as in claim 12 additionally comprising:

upon receipt of a connection message from the target private base transceiver stations reporting on allocation of resources, bridging a release complete message received from the target private base transceiver stations at the serving private base transceiver stations from the packet layer interface to the layer for connection management;

bridging the release complete message from the layer for connection management to the processing layer for mobility management; and

forwarding a handover command from the processing layer for mobility management to the mobile station.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein

the external control messages causes a protocol address of the private base transceiver stations associated with the mobile station identified by the mobile station identifier to be changed to a different protocol address of a different private base transceiver stations.

15. A computer program product having computer program code for allowing a mobile station to communicate in a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system comprising a plurality of private base transceiver stations, the private base transceiver stations having radio transceivers that communicate data and signaling information with the mobile station, the private base transceiver stations also having a processing layer for mobility management and a call control processing layer contained within them, the private base transceiver stations interconnected by a packet data network, comprising:

computer program code for receiving a call control message at the private base transceiver stations and passing the call control message to the processing layer for mobility management resident within the private base transceiver stations, without forwarding the call control message to a base station controller, the call control message including a control function identifier and a mobile station identifier;

computer program code for forwarding the call control message internally within the private base transceiver stations to a packet interface layer in the private base transceiver stations, the packet interface layer providing communication between the private base transceiver stations and other nodes connected to the packet data network;

computer program code for, at the packet interface layer, formatting an external control message intended for transmission over the packet data network, the formatted external control message indicating an alias identifier corresponding to the mobile station identifier; and

computer program code for forwarding the external control message across the packet data network.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein

the external control messages causes a protocol address of the private base transceiver stations associated with the mobile station identified by the mobile station identifier to be changed to a different protocol address of a different private base transceiver stations.

17. A wireless communication system including a plurality of private base transceiver stations, the private base transceiver stations having radio transceivers that communicate data and signaling information with the mobile station, the private base transceiver stations also having a processing layer for mobility management and a call control processing layer contained within them, the private base transceiver stations interconnected by a packet data network, comprising:

a private base transceiver stations operable to receive a call control message at the private base transceiver stations and pass the call control message to the processing layer for mobility management resident within the private base transceiver stations, without forwarding the call control message to a base station controller, the call control message including a control function identifier and a mobile station identifier;

a packet interface layer in the private base transceiver stations operable to receive the forwarded call control message internally within the private base transceiver stations, the packet interface layer further operable to provide communication between the private base transceiver stations and other nodes connected to the packet data network;

an external control message formatted at the packet interface layer and intended for transmission over the packet data network, the formatted external control message indicating an alias identifier corresponding to the mobile station identifier; and

a packet data network operable to forward the external control message.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 17 wherein

the external control messages causes a protocol address of the private base transceiver stations associated with the mobile station identified by the mobile station identifier to be changed to a different protocol address of a different private base transceiver stations.

19. A wireless communication system including a plurality of private base transceiver stations, the private base transceiver stations having radio transceivers that communicate data and signaling information with the mobile station, the private base transceiver stations also having a processing layer for mobility management and a call control processing layer contained within them, the private base transceiver stations interconnected by a packet data network, comprising:

means for receiving a call control message at the private base transceiver stations and for passing the call control message to the processing layer for mobility management resident within the private base transceiver stations, without forwarding the call control message to a base station controller, the call control message including a control function identifier and a mobile station identifier;

means for forwarding the call control message internally within the private base transceiver stations to a packet interface layer in the private base transceiver stations, the packet interface layer operable to provide communication between the private base transceiver stations and other nodes connected to the packet data network;

means for, at the packet interface layer, formatting an external control message intended for transmission over the packet data network, the formatted external control message indicating an alias identifier corresponding to the mobile station identifier; and

means for forwarding the external control message across the packet data network.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 19 wherein

the external control messages causes a protocol address of the private base transceiver stations associated with the mobile station identified by the mobile station identifier to be changed to a different protocol address of a different private base transceiver stations.