Multi-protocol wireless communication apparatus and method

• US 6,912,230 B1
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tecore Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tecore Incorporated
• Inventors: Joseph, Thomas V. III, Salkini, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US09/245,292
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 370/318, 370/320, 370/321, 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/465, 370/466, 370/395, 370/352, 370/355, 370/357, 370/358, 370/360, 370/467, 370335-338, 370342-347, 370/401, 455/560, 455/433, 455/524, 455/436, 455/507, 455/449, 361/683
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18591 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A scalable, multi-protocol mobile switching center in a wireless communications network provides communications control for digital and analog wireless communications devices including devices that operate according to GSM and IS-41 standards. The hardware and software architecture of the switching center is designed so that processing that is unique to a particular protocol is performed at the lowest possible level, and remaining processing can use generic procedures. The switching center incorporates a home location register and visitor location register that are used in conjunction with software applications to determine the protocol of mobile communications devices using the wireless communications network. The mobile switching center can be used to provide a large scale distributed wireless network or a small scale wireless network. The switching center can also be used as an adjunct to a private branch exchange to provide in-building wireless services and call control. Graphical user interfaces make the wireless communications network easy to maintain.

Claims

1. A switching center for a communications system that provides communications services to customers having wireless and other communications devices, comprising:

a single platform having a back plane for communication, the single platform comprising;

a first interface, the first interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a first protocol, the first interface comprising;

a first intrasystem message handler, and

a first intrasystem message handler;

a second interface, the second interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a second protocol, the second interface comprising;

a second intrasystem message handler, and

a second intersystem message handler; and

a processor system coupled to the first and second interfaces, wherein the processor system controls operation of the first and the second interfaces and generates control messages for sending by the first and the second interfaces.

2. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the first intrasystem message handler operates according to IS-634 protocols, the second intrasystem and intersystem message handlers operate according to GSM protocols, and the first intersystem message handler operates according to IS-41 protocols.

3. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the GSM protocols include GSM A (Series 4 and 8) protocols, IS-651 and 1-STD protocols, IS-652 protocols and GSM 09.02 protocols.

4. The switching center of claim 2, wherein the IS-634 and the IS-41 protocols include time division multiple access (TDMA) protocols and code division multiple access (CDMA) protocols and AMPS protocols.

5. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the first interface further receives and sends analog messaging, the analog messaging including Advanced Mobile Telephone System (AMPS) protocols.

6. The switching center of claim 5, wherein the AMPS protocols include IS-634 protocols and ISDN PRI+protocols and propriety protocols.

7. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising

a home location register coupled to the processor system;

and

a visitor location register coupled to the home location register and the processor system, wherein the home location register stores permanent data related to customers of the communications system that are homed on the communications system, and wherein the visitor location register stores temporary data related to customers that are active on the communications system, the home location register and the visitor location register indicating a most recent protocol used by a wireless communications device of a customer and indicating other protocols useable by the wireless communications device.

8. The switching center of claim 7, wherein the permanent data related to customers in the home location register is stored in a customer profile, the customer profile including one or more of call features, call restrictions, mobile unit protocols, line identification, personal identification number, call offering, prepaid services and customer information.

9. The switching center of claim 7, wherein the home location register includes a common data section and protocol-specific data sections, wherein the common data section stores data generic to all protocols and the protocol-specific data sections stores data unique to one or more specific protocols.

10. The switching center of claim 7, wherein the processor system determines a protocol of a wireless communications device by reference to one of the home location register and the visitor location register.

11. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the communications system includes one or more base stations, and wherein the processor system determines a protocol of a wireless communications device based on a protocol of the base station that communicates between the switching center and the wireless communications device.

12. The switching center of claim 1 wherein the communications system includes a multi-protocol base station, the multi-protocol base station sending base station control messages to the switching center, and wherein the processor system determines a protocol of a wireless communications device by interpreting protocol data contained in the base station control message.

13. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the communications system receives communications from an external wireless system having an external home location register and an external communications device registered on the external home location register, and wherein the processor system determines a protocol of the external communications device by obtaining an identification of the external home location register.

14. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the processor system generates and interprets generic command messages, the generic command messages operable to control the communications services according to at least the first and the second protocols.

15. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the processor system generates and interprets protocol-specific command messages, the protocol-specific command messages used to provide additional control of the communications services.

16. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interface, the ATM interface providing wireless ATM communications and other packet board communications.

17. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising a public switched telephone network (PST) interface.

18. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising a private branch exchange (PBX) interface.

19. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications devices include a fixed wireless telephone, a mobile telephone and a computer having a wireless modem.

20. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising

an equipment identification register, wherein the equipment identification register includes serial number data related to the mobile communications devices that are homed on the wireless communications system;

and

an authentication center, wherein the authentication center provides authentication and encryption parameters for wireless communications received ax and originated from the switching center.

21. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising:

a first device handler coupled to the first interface; and

a second device handler coupled to the second interface, wherein the first and the second device handlers are operable to receive and transmit multi-protocol messaging from and to devices external to the switching center and to transmit and receive generic messaging to and from the first and the second interfaces, respectively.

22. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises:

a central processor, the central processor controlling operation of the processor system;

an authentication and registration system, the authentication and registration system controlling registration of the wireless communications devices with the communications system and providing encryption and ciphering of voice and data communications;

a paging system, the paging system sending paging messages to the wireless communications devices and receiving page response messages from the wireless communications devices;

a timer system, the timer system setting timers in response to operations of the processing system

a recovery and startup system, the recovery and startup system managing a status of communications trunks in the communications system and performing audits of the communications system; and

a memory, wherein the memory stores information related to a particular call in a memory area, and wherein components of the processor system access the memos area to retrieve and store information related to the particular call.

23. The switching center of claim 22, wherein the processor system further comprises a hand off processor, the hand off processor receiving and processing hand off requests from a wireless communications device in the communications system, determining a target base station for hand off and sending a hand off command to the wireless communications device.

24. The switching center of claim 22, wherein the processor system operates to reserve a voice channel with each base station in the communications system that is capable of receiving communications from the wireless communications device, and wherein the processor system operates to release all base stations having a reserved voice channel, except the target base station upon receipt by the processor system of a call connect acknowledge message.

25. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface providing an operator access to operate the switching center and to update data related to the customers, database configuration, system configuration and maintenance.

26. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising a switch management module that manages switching of the incoming signals.

27. The switching center of claim 1, wherein the first and the second interfaces module each comprises a digital interface that supports digital wireless communications.

28. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising a wired interface module that provides connections to wired land-lines.

29. The switching center of claim 25, wherein the graphical user interface is remotely located from te mobile switching center.

30. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising a prepaid module that enables prepaid communication.

31. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising a features module that supports a plurality of communication features.

32. The switching center of claim 1, further comprising a remote network management access module that is remotely located from and operably connected to the switching center.

33. An advanced intelligent message handler for use in a mobile telecommunications network having mobile communications devices and one or more base stations, the advanced intelligent message handler, comprising:

a first interface for intersystem messaging, the first interface, comprising;

a first GSM processing thread,

a first TDMA processing thread,

a first CDMA processing thread, and

a first AMPS processing thread,

a second interface for intrasystem messaging, the second interface, comprising;

a second GSM processing thread,

a second TDMA processing thread,

a second CDMA processing thread, and

a second AMPS processing thread,

a processor system coupled to the first and the second interfaces, the processor system controlling a flow of message traffic to and from the first and the second interfaces; and

a single housing containing the first and the second interfaces and the processor system.

34. A method for controlling communications in a multi-protocol wireless network, comprising:

receiving first digital communications according to a first protocol at a first interface in a common housing;

sending a first control message according to the first protocol;

receiving second digital communications according to a second protocol at a second interface in the common housing;

receiving intrasystem communications at a intrasystem message handler,

receiving intersystem communications at a intersystem message handler; and

sending a second control message according to the second protocol, wherein a processor in a switching center interprets the first and the second digital communications and generates the first and the second control messages, and wherein the switching center is located in the common housing.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the intrasystem message handler operates according to IS-634 and GSM standards and the intersystem message handler operates according to IS-41 and GSM standards.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the GSM protocols include GSM A protocols, IS-651 protocols, IS-652 protocols and GSM 09.02 protocols.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the IS-634 and IS-41 protocols include time division multiple access (TDMA) protocols and code division multiple access (CDMA) protocols and AMP protocols.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the first interface further receives and sends analog communications, the analog communications including Advanced Mobile Telephone System (AMPS) protocols.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the AMPS protocols include IS-634 protocols and ISDN PRI+ protocols and proprietany protocols.

40. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

creating a home location register the home location register including a customer profile for each mobile unit in the multi-protocol wireless network, the customer profile indicating protocols available to the mobile and a most recent protocol used by the mobile unit; and

creating a visitor location register, the visitor location register containing the customer profile for each mobile unit that is active in the multi-protocol wireless network.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the customer profile further includes call features, call restriction, line identification, personal identification number, call offering and prepaid series.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the home location register includes a common data section and a protocol-specific data section, the common data section storing data generic to all protocols and the protocol-specific data sections storing data unique to one or more protocols.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising determining a protocol of a wireless communications device by reference to one of the home location register and the visitor location register.

44. The method of claim 34, further comprising determining a protocol of a wireless communications device by reference to a protocol of a base station that communicates with the switching center.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein the multi-protocol wireless network includes one or more multi-protocol base stations, wherein the processor determines a protocol of a wireless communications device by interpreting protocol data contained in communications from the one or more multi-protocol base stations.

46. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving communications from an external communications device from a wireless network external to the multi-protocol wireless network, the external wireless network including an external home location register; and

determining a protocol of the external communications device by obtaining an identification of the external home location register.

47. The method of claim 34, wherein the processor generates and interprets generic messages, the generic messages providing generic control signals to control operation of the multi-protocol wireless network.

48. The method of claim 34, wherein the processor generates and interprets protocol-specific messages the protocol-specific messages providing additional control of the communications devices.

49. The method of claim 34, further comprising providing packet based communications.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising providing an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interface providing wireless ATM communications.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the ATM interface provides PSTN connectivity and an extension of a switch matrix.

52. The method of claim 34, further comprising connecting the switching center to a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

53. The method of claim 34, further comprising connecting the switching center to a private branch exchange.

54. The method of claim 34, wherein the communications devices include a fixed wireless telephone, a mobile telephone and a computer having a wireless modem.

55. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

recording an identity of a mobile device; and

encrypting and decrypting the first and the second digital communications.

56. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving first communications at and sending, first communications from a first device handler coupled to the first interface; and

receiving second communications at and sending second communications from a second device handler coupled to the second interface, wherein the first and the second device handlers are operable to receive and transmit multi-protocol communications.

57. The method of claim 34, further comprising

sending and receiving registration notification messages to resister a mobile unit in a visitor location register;

sending and receiving paging messages to access a mobile unit in the multi-protocol wireless network;

setting a user to time out control messages;

maintaining a status of communications trunks in the multi-protocol wireless network; and

storing data related to a particular call in a common memory area, the data for the particular call used by components of the multipurpose wireless network to control and access the particular call.

58. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

monitoring a signal strength of communications with a mobile communications device;

sending a hand off request when the signal strength exceed a limit;

measuring signal-strengths of each of the other base stations in the multi-protocol wireless network;

reserving a voice channel in each of the other base stations; and

selecting a target base station for communication with the mobile communications device; and

handing off the mobile communications based on the measurements.

59. The method of claim 34, further comprising providing a graphical user interface to the switching center, the graphical user interface allowing an operator to update information stored by the switching center.

60. The method of claim 34, further comprising;

designating a first communications trunk, the first communications trunk carrying the first control message, wherein the first communications trunk connects a first base station and the switching center; and

designating a second communications trunk, the second communications trunk carrying the second control message, wherein the second communications trunk connects a second base station and the switching center.

61. The method of claim 34, wherein the switching center comprises a plurality of communications trunks, the switching center designating one or more of the plurality of the communications trunk for use in connecting wireless calls.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the switching center tracks a state of each communications trunk of the plurality of communications trunks.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein a state of a communications trunk may be one of not configured, blocked, unblocked, unblocked pending, call processing, blocked pending and maintenance.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the communications trunk transitions from the not configured state to the blocked state when a base station is activated in the wireless network.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the communications trunk transitions from the blocked state to the unblocked pending state based on a recovery request.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the communications trunk transitions from the unblocked state to the call processing state when a base station is allocated for call processing.

67. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a call from a prepaid customer;

processing the call from the prepaid customer;

determining an allowed time of call based on a prepaid account for the prepaid customer;

determining a warning time for the call, wherein the warning time is a time less than the allowed time;

connecting the call;

monitoring a time of the call;

providing a warning to the prepaid customer when the warning time occurs; and

disconnecting the call when the allowed time is reached.

68. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

providing a plurality of rate plans, wherein the prepaid customer may select a desired rate plan from the plurality of rate plans.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the desired rate plan is stored in a home location register.

70. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

determining a least cost route for the call from the prepaid customer.

71. The method of claim 67, further comprising:

at a completion of the call from the prepaid customer, computing an actual cost for the call; and

updating the prepaid account based on the actual cost for the call.

72. A switching center for communication system that provides communications devices to customers having wireless and other communications devices, comprising:

a first interface, the first interface, comprising;

a first intrasystem message handler; and

a first intersystem message handler, the first interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a first protocol;

a second interface, the second interface, comprising;

a second intrasystem message handler; and

a second intersystem message handler, the second interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a second protocol, wherein the second interface comprises an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interface, the ATM interface providing wireless ATM communications and other packet communications; and

a processor system coupled to the first and the second interfaces, wherein the processor system controls operation of the first and the second interfaces and generates control messages for sending by the first and the second interfaces; and

a single platform having a communications back plane, the single housing enclosing the first interface, the second interface, and the processor system.

73. A mobile switching center, comprising:

a central processor that processes incoming signals wherein the incoming signals are switched in a telecommunications network;

at

a wireless interface module that supports two or more wireless protocols, wherein the wireless interface module comprises an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interface, the ATM interface providing wireless ATM communications and other packet communications, and wherein the ATM interface comprises;

a first intrasystem message handler,

a first intersystem message handler,

a second intrasystem message handler, and

a second intersystem message handler, and

a single platform having a communications back plane, the single housing enclosing the central processor and the wireless interface module.

74. A switching center for a communication system that provides communications services to customers having wireless and other communications devices, comprising:

a first interface, the first interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a first protocol, the first interface comprising a first intrasystem message handler and a first intersystem message handler;

a second interface, the second interface receiving and sending digital messaging having a second protocol, the second interface comprising a second intrasystem message handler and a second intersystem message handler; and

a processor system coupled to the first and second interfaces, the processor system comprising a single operating system for communications received at the first and the second interfaces, wherein the processor system controls operation of the first and the second interfaces and generates control messages for sending by the first and the second interfaces; and

a single platform having a communications back plane, the single housing enclosing the first interface, the second interface, and the processor system.