Method and apparatus for interconnecting a private cellular network to a public cellular network
First Claim
1. A communication system, comprising:
- one or more public networks supporting a first communication protocol, each public network comprising;
a public wired network operable to support communication with one or more public network cells of the public network according to the first communication protocol;
a base station sub-system (BSS) operable to communicate with mobile stations wirelessly through one or more base stations; and
a base station controller (BSC) operable to facilitate communication between the public wired network and the station sub-system; and
one or more private networks supporting a second communication protocol, wherein the second communication protocol is a packet-based protocol, each private network comprising;
a private wired local area network (LAN) operable to support communication with one or more private network cells of the private network according to the second communication protocol; and
a plurality of private network stations, each private network station operable to communicate with mobile stations located within a geographic area associated with the station;
an interworking unit operable to;
receive a first update request formatted in accordance with the first communication protocol, the first update request comprising a mobile station identifier identifying a mobile station in communication with one of the base stations;
identify a gatekeeper associated with the mobile station identifier; and
transmit a second update request to the identified gatekeeper, wherein the second update request is formatted in accordance with the second communication protocol and comprises the mobile station identifier and an address for communicating with the mobile station in accordance with the first communication protocol; and
the identified gatekeeper operable to;
receive the second update request from the interworking unit; and
associate the mobile station identifier with the address for communicating with the mobile station in accordance with the first communication protocol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system extends over a cellular region formed of a plurality of wireless cells where each cell covers a portion of the cellular region. Each cell has a station which is responsible for communication with the cellular subscriber. In order to for the call to be properly managed in the public cellular domain, responsibility for call handling and processing must first be managed by the public MSC. Call handling with the public MSC for a private cellular subscriber first requires the exchange of information between the two systems. This is facilitated through the exchange of MAP and A interface signaling between the private and public cellular systems. Since this information on the private network is normally transmitted via IP, this information must be converted to standard SS7 based MAP and A protocol signaling in order for the public MSC to process.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A communication system, comprising:
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one or more public networks supporting a first communication protocol, each public network comprising; a public wired network operable to support communication with one or more public network cells of the public network according to the first communication protocol; a base station sub-system (BSS) operable to communicate with mobile stations wirelessly through one or more base stations; and a base station controller (BSC) operable to facilitate communication between the public wired network and the station sub-system; and one or more private networks supporting a second communication protocol, wherein the second communication protocol is a packet-based protocol, each private network comprising; a private wired local area network (LAN) operable to support communication with one or more private network cells of the private network according to the second communication protocol; and a plurality of private network stations, each private network station operable to communicate with mobile stations located within a geographic area associated with the station; an interworking unit operable to; receive a first update request formatted in accordance with the first communication protocol, the first update request comprising a mobile station identifier identifying a mobile station in communication with one of the base stations; identify a gatekeeper associated with the mobile station identifier; and transmit a second update request to the identified gatekeeper, wherein the second update request is formatted in accordance with the second communication protocol and comprises the mobile station identifier and an address for communicating with the mobile station in accordance with the first communication protocol; and the identified gatekeeper operable to; receive the second update request from the interworking unit; and associate the mobile station identifier with the address for communicating with the mobile station in accordance with the first communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A communication system, comprising:
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a first network operable to support a first communication protocol, the first network including a first station operable to communicate wirelessly with a mobile station; a second network operable to support a second communication protocol, wherein the second network comprises one or more local area networks (LANs) and the second communication protocol is a packet-based protocol, the second network coupled to the first network and including a second station operable to communicate wirelessly with the mobile station; an interworking unit operable to; receive a first update request from the first network formatted in accordance with the first communication protocol, the first update request comprising a mobile station identifier identifying a mobile station in communication with the first network; and identify a gatekeeper in the second network associated with the mobile station identifier; and transmit a second update request to the identified gatekeeper, the second update request formatted in accordance with the second communication protocol and comprising the mobile station identifier and a first address associated with the first network, wherein the first address comprises an address associated with the first communication protocol; and the identified gatekeeper operable to; receive the second update request from the interworking unit; and associate the mobile station identifier with the first address. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for providing communication, comprising:
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receiving information wirelessly at a first station from a mobile station, wherein the information received includes a mobile station identifier associated with the mobile station; transmitting at least a portion of the information to an interworking unit over a first network according to a first communication protocol; identifying a gatekeeper associated with the mobile station identifier; transmitting at least a portion of the information and an address associated with the first communication protocol to the identified gatekeeper according to a second communication protocol, wherein the second communication protocol comprises a packet-based protocol; receiving, at the identified gatekeeper, at least a portion of the information and the address associated with of the first communication protocol; associating the mobile station identifier with the address associated with the first communication protocol; and communicating with the mobile station over the first network using the address associated with the mobile station identifier. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 31)
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30. The method of 26, further comprising:
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authenticating the mobile station using a local database operable to communicate according to Internet Protocol (IP); communicating with a remote protocol gateway using a local client operable; and communicating with the interworking unit using a local interface.
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Specification