Base station for use in multi-network connection communication system and its connecting method

• US 7,006,847 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamao, Yasushi, Umeda, Narumi, Sato, Hijin
• Primary Examiner(s): PEREZ GUTIERREZ, RAFAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/989,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 455/462, 455/463, 455/445, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/465, 455/552.1, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/561, 370/328, 370/352, 370/353, 370/392
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A base station for use in a multi-network connection communication system and its connecting method are provided, wherein the base station is connectable simultaneously to a carrier network and a private network. The base station comprises a section for making a decision as to whether a terminal is to be connected to a carrier network or a private network, and a section for connecting the terminal to the carrier network or the private network in accordance with the decision result.

Claims

1. A multi-network connection communication system comprising:

connection decision means for making a decision as to whether a mobile station is to be connected to a carrier network or a private network; and

means for connecting said mobile station to said carrier network or said private network in accordance with the decision result,

wherein said system further comprises;

means for broadcasting characteristics of a private network service offered by said base station;

means for registering and managing addresses of mobile stations that use the base station as the private network; and

means for receiving a packet from a mobile station or the carrier network, the packet having a terminating address,

wherein said connection decision means decides whether the terminating address of said packet is registered in said means for registering and managing, and decides whether said packet is to be transmitted to a mobile station or the carrier network based on said characteristics of the private network service and whether the terminating address of said packet is registered, and

said means for connecting transmits said packet to the mobile station or the carrier network based on the decision result of said connection decision means.

3. The base station as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said base station further comprises service area decision means for making a decision of a service area based on said packet, and

said connection decision means decides whether said packet is to be transmitted to a mobile station or the carrier network based on said characteristics of the private network service, whether the terminating address of said packet is registered, and the decision result of said service area decision means.

4. The base station as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said base station further comprises means for receiving a registration request for using the base station as the private network from a mobile station, and

said means for registering and managing registers and manages an address of the mobile station that transmits the registration request.

5. The base station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connection decision means decides to transmit said packet to the carrier network, if the terminating address of said packet is not registered in said means for registering and managing.

6. The base station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives a packet from a mobile station.

7. The base station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for receiving receives a packet from the carrier network.

2. A base station for use in a multi-network connection communication system comprising:

connection decision means for making a decision as to whether a mobile station is to be connected to a carrier network or a private network; and

means for connecting said mobile station to said carrier network or said private network in accordance with the decision result,

wherein said base station further comprises;

means for broadcasting characteristics of a private network service offered by said base station;

means for registering and managing addresses of mobile stations that use the base station as the private network; and

means for receiving a packet from a mobile station or the carrier network, the packet having a terminating address,

wherein said connection decision means decides whether the terminating address of said packet is registered in said means for registering and managing, and decides whether said packet is to be transmitted to a mobile station or the carrier network based on said characteristics of the private network service and whether the terminating address of said packet is registered, and

said means for connecting transmits said packet to the mobile station or the carrier network based on the decision result of said connection decision means.

8. A connecting method for use in a base station for use in a multi-network connection communication system comprising:

a connection decision step of making a decision as to whether a mobile station is to be connected to a carrier network or a private network; and

a step of connecting said mobile station to said carrier network or said private network in accordance with the decision result,

wherein said method further comprises;

a step of broadcasting characteristics of a private network service offered by said base station;

a step of registering addresses of mobile stations that use the base station as the private network in a means for registering and managing the addresses; and

a step of receiving a packet from a mobile station or the carrier network, the packet having a terminating address,

wherein said connection decision step decides whether the terminating address of said packet is registered in said means for registering and managing, and decides whether said packet is to be transmitted to a mobile station or the carrier network based on said characteristics of the private network service and whether the terminating address of said packet is registered, and said step of connecting transmits said packet to the mobile station or the carrier network based on the decision result of said connection decision step.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein

said method further comprises a service area decision step of making a decision of a service area based on said packet, and

said connection decision step decides whether said packet is to be transmitted to a mobile station or the carrier network based on said characteristics of the private network service, whether the terminating address of said packet is registered, and the decision result of said service area decision step.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein

said method further comprises a step of receiving a registration request for using the base station as the private network from a mobile station, and

said means for registering and managing registers and manages an address of the mobile station that transmits the registration request.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said connection decision step decides to transmit said packet to the carrier network, if the terminating address of said packet is not registered in said means for registering and managing.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of receiving receives a packet from a mobile station.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of receiving receives a packet from the carrier network.