CDMA internet protocol mobile telecommunications network architecture and methodology

• US 7,116,646 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2000
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Basilier, Henrik, Gustafson, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hyun, Soon D.
• Application Number:
  US09/528,553
• Time in Patent Office: 2,388 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/328, 370/338, 370/401, 455/426, 455/436, 455/445, 455/552, 455/553, 455/560
• US Class Current: 370/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A system and methodology for implementing an all-Internet Protocol for voice and data communications on a code division multiple access (CDMA) network. An access control server is employed to handle packetized communications within the CDMA network. The methodology is preferably also employed when migrating from a legacy, circuited-switched system to the improved packet-switched, all-IP CDMA system of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for facilitating the step-wise migration of a telecommunication network containing a Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC) from a mixed circuit-switched and packet-switched network to an all packet switched network comprising:

an access control server connected to at least one base station, said at least one base station being in wireless communication with at least one mobile station, said at least one base station having a circuit-switched connection to said MSC,

said access control server including a signaling interface to manage packetized communications within said telecommunication network independent of said MSC, such that said MSC facilitates only circuit-switched communications within said telecommunication network;

a packet data service network (PDSN) and an authorization, authentication, and accounting unit (AAA) in communication with said access control server; and

a migratory interface to enable synchronization between said access control server and said MSC.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one mobile station comprises a mixture of legacy mobile stations and all-packetized mobile stations.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a Packet Authentication Center (PAC) in communication with said access control server.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said PAC contains subscriber profiles for authentication and authorization of packet data.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said network further comprises:

a home location register (HLR) in communication with said MSC.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said network further comprises:

a packet data service network (PDSN) in communication with said base station.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said network further comprises:

a home agent unit (HA) and an authorization, authentication, and account unit (AAA) in communication with said PDSN.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said PDSN is in communication with said base station via a packet control function.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said access control server maintains and updates a subscriber packet service subscription profile and actual packet session characteristics.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said access control server is responsible for bearer control and mobility management associated with packet services.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said MSC center maintains control and handling procedures for said circuit-switched communications.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said network comprises a code division multiple access wireless telecommunications network.

13. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a packet data carrier comprising a plurality of bearers associated with a plurality of packet data services;

a plurality of mobile devices configured to communicate packet data over the packet data carrier, and to use the plurality of bearers to access the plurality of packet data services;

a base station configured to communicate with the respective mobile devices over the packet data carrier; and

a packet data service access monitor, the packet data service access monitor comprising

a packet authentication center (PAC) configured to maintain a packet service profile for each of the plurality of mobile devices, and

an access control server (ACS) including a signaling interface and communicatively coupled with the PAC and the base station, the ACS configured to manage packet data services for the plurality of mobile device based, at least in part, on their respective packet service profiles.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the ACS and the base station communicate over an Internet protocol (IP) based communication link.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the packet data includes packetized voice data.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the ACS is configured to track and maintain a session profile for each packet data communication involving a respective mobile device.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 13, wherein the mobile devices are configured to switch from a first packet data service associated with a first bearer to a second packet data service associate with a second bearer, and wherein the ACS is configured to manage handoffs of the respective mobile devices from the first bearer to the second bearer.

18. A communication system employing packetized communications for voice and data transmissions, the communication system comprising:

a code division multiple access wireless communication network having a mobile station and a base transceiver station configured to support wireless packetized communications therebetween;

an access control server in communication with the base transceiver station and including a signaling interface to manage the wireless packetized communications;

a mobile services switching center in communication with the base transceiver station, the mobile services switching center servicing circuit-switched communications with the mobile station within the code division multiple access communication network; and

a migratory interface to enable synchronization between the access control server and the mobile services switching center.

19. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the circuit-switched communications with the mobile services switching center comprise voice only communications.

20. The communication system of claim 18, further comprising a home location register (HLR) in communication with the mobile services switching center.

21. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the packet service means within the access control server services packet-switched data only communications with the mobile station within the code division multiple access communication network.

22. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the access control server is an Internet Protocol (IP) entity comprising means therein for setting up and maintaining at least one packet data session.

23. The communication system of claim 18, further comprising a Packet Authentication Center (PAC) in communication with the access control server.

24. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the PAC contains subscriber profiles for authentication and authorization of packet data.

25. The communication system of claim 18 further comprising a packet data service network (PDSN) in communication with the base transceiver station.

26. The communication system of claim 25, further comprising a home agent unit (HA) and an authorization, authentication, and account unit (AAA) in communication with the PDSN.

27. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the PDSN is in communication with the base transceiver station via a packet control function.

28. The telecommunication system of claim 18, further comprising a packet data service network (PDSN) and an authorization, authentication, and accounting unit (AAA) in communication with the access control server.

29. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the access control server maintains and updates a subscriber packet service subscription profile and actual packet session characteristics.

30. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the access control server is responsible for bearer control and mobility management associated with packet services.

31. A method of mobile communication employing a mobile device, the mobile device configured for circuit switched communication and packet data communication in a wireless communication system comprising a circuit switched network and a packet data network, the method comprising:

generating a registration request at the mobile device, the registration request comprising circuit switched specific parameters and packet data specific parameters;

generating a registration message based on the circuit switched specific parameters in the registration request;

transmitting the registration message to the circuit switched network;

authenticating the mobile device in the circuit switched network based on the registration message;

generating an authentication message from the packet data specific parameters in the registration request;

transmitting the authentication message to the packet data network; and

authenticating the mobile device in the packet data network based on the authentication message.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising

the mobile device sending a packet data session request to the packet data network;

the packet data network authorizing the packet data session request based on a packet service profile associated with the mobile device;

the mobile device accessing a traffic channel in the packet data network; and

the mobile device opening a Radio Network-Packet Network (R-P) connection over the traffic channel for the packet data session.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising storing information related to the packet data session request and storing a quality of service profile for the packet data session.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising notifying the circuit switched network that a packet data session is active for the mobile device in the packet data network.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving an incoming circuit switched communication through the circuit switched network;

the circuit switched network requesting that the mobile device accept the circuit switched communication; and

the mobile device, accessing a traffic channel in the circuit switched network in order to accept the circuit switched communication.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising notifying the packet data network that the mobile device is engaged in a circuit switched communication in the circuit switched network.