Wire/wireless unified in-building communication method and system

• US 7,120,135 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Ki-Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): QURESHI, AFSAR M
• Application Number:
  US09/828,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/332, 370/333, 370/343, 370/338, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/401, 370/395.1, 455/422.1, 455/435.1, 455/445, 455/446, 455/448, 455/449, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/436
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• 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 unified in-building communication method in a communication system connected to a public land mobile network (PLMN), a public switched telephone network/integrated services digital network (PSTN/ISDN), and an Internet protocol (IP) network is disclosed. The method comprises setting a common cell area such that a wireless public or wireless in-company communication service is available in a prescribed local area; and connecting a mobile switching center (MSC) to the PLMN, using a registered mobile terminal as an extension telephone in the common cell area, and bypassing an unregistered mobile terminal, so that the PLMN can share a base station. The registered mobile terminal communicates with a wire extension terminal or a wireless extension terminal, and the registered mobile terminal wirelessly receives a data service through the IP network. The wireless in-building communication service of the present invention is performed in a single cell so that a handoff does not occur. The wireless in-building communication service of the present invention is performed such that, even for the same service provider, when the registered mobile terminal moves out of the common cell and moves into the PLMN and vice versa, the handoff does not occur.

Claims

1. A communication method in a wireless in-building communication system connected to a public land mobile network including a mobile switching center and a base station controller, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a common cell area in which a wireless public communication service and a wireless in-building communication service are available through a private base station;

requesting a communication service at a mobile terminal in the common cell area;

determining, in response to the requesting of the communication service, whether the mobile terminal is registered for the wireless in-building communication service;

providing the wireless in-building communication service to a registered mobile terminal; and

bypassing the communication service request of an unregistered mobile terminal to the public land mobile network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication service includes voice and data services.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein signals from the registered mobile terminal are outputted to at least one antenna mounted in said common cell area, and said at least one antenna is coupled to the wireless in-building communication system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the registered mobile terminal communicates with one of a wire extension terminal and a wireless extension terminal, and the registered mobile terminal wirelessly performs a data service through an Internet protocol network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless in-building communication service provided to the registered mobile terminal includes a communication service between the registered mobile terminal and a wire extension terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless in-building communication service provided to the registered mobile terminal includes a communication service between the registered mobile terminal and a wireless extension terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless in-building communication system is connected to an Internet protocol network through a local area network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless in-building communication service provided to the registered mobile terminal includes a data communication service between the registered mobile terminal and the Internet protocol network.

9. A unified in-building communication apparatus connected to a public land mobile network, said apparatus comprising:

a private base station for forming a common cell area in which a public land mobile network service and an in-building wireless network service are available;

a call manager responsive to a communication service request from a mobile terminal in the common cell area for determining whether the mobile terminal is registered for the in-building wireless network service, and for controlling provision of a corresponding service according to a result of the determination; and

a public/private communication service unit responsive to control by said call manager for providing the in-building wireless network service to a registered mobile terminal, and for bypassing the communication service request of an unregistered mobile terminal to the public land mobile network.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the public/private communication service unit comprises:

an Internet protocol-private branch exchange for performing switching for establishing communication between the mobile terminal in the common cell area and a wire extension terminal, and for providing a path between a wireless extension terminal and one of a public switched telephone network and an integrated service digital network; and

a private base station controller for allocating a vocoder in response to a call request of the mobile terminal in the common cell area, and for providing a communication path to the mobile terminal in the common cell area.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a router for providing access between the unified in-building communication apparatus and an Internet protocol network; and

a local area network switch connected to the unified in-building communication apparatus through the router for switching data of the unified in-building communication apparatus, and for connecting the unified in-building communication apparatus to the Internet protocol network through a local area network.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a transcoder and selector bank interface for providing an interface between the local area network switch and the private base station controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the private base station controller is connected to a private base station and to the public land mobile network through respective communication lines, and includes a local interface assembly for providing an interface therebetween.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the local interface assembly generates and outputs inter-process communication data from communication data which is received from the private base station and the public land mobile network, and outputs communication data from inter-process communication data which is transmitted to the private base station and the public land mobile network.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a high capacity inter-process communication node board assembly connected to the local interface assembly, the transcoder and selector bank interface, and the call manger, respectively, for performing inter-process communication data processing between the local interface assembly, the transcoder and selector bank interface, and the call manager.