System and method for private wireless networks

• US 7,738,915 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Nextel Communications (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Wolf, Justin David, Singh, Lakhbir
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Paul P
• Application Number:
  US11/192,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/90.2, 455/418, 455/427, 455/428, 455/430, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519, 455/520, 455/521, 455/527, 455/554.1, 455/426.1, 455/456.3, 455/458, 455/552.1, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/439, 455/553.1, 455/554.2, 455/555, 455/561, 370/260, 370/278, 370/296, 370/310, 370/328, 370/338, 370/341, 370/347, 370/349, 370/351, 370/352, 370/355, 370/356, 370/385, 370/395.5, 370/401, 370/466
• US Class Current: 455/554.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A method and system for private wireless network communications is provided. A private wireless network controller is coupled to a Private Branch Exchange (PBX), a private base transceiver station, and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The private base transceiver station is coupled to a wireless macro network. The private wireless network controller and private base transceiver station allow connection of interconnect and dispatch wireless calls, which originate on the private wireless network, to other mobile stations on the private wireless network, to terminals connected to the PBX, to mobile stations on wireless macro networks, and to terminals coupled to the PSTN.

Claims

1. A private communication network, comprising:

a private base transceiver station coupled to a plurality of antennas; and

a private wireless network controller coupled to a private branch exchange, a wireless macro network and the private base transceiver station, the private wireless network controller comprising

a home location register/visitor location register (HLR/VLR);

a dispatch call processor; and

an interconnect call processor;

wherein the wireless macro network includes a location database;

wherein when a mobile station is assigned a telephone number associated with the wireless macro network, the mobile station is provisioned in the location database of the wireless macro network and the HLR/VLR of the private wireless network controller; and

wherein when the mobile station is assigned a telephone number associated with the private branch exchange, the mobile station is provisioned in the HLR/VLR of the private wireless network controller, but not the location database of the wireless macro network.

2. The private communication network of claim 1, wherein the private base transceiver station comprises a plurality of base radios coupled to the plurality of antennas.

3. The private communication network of claim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of base radios operate using different air interface protocols which are selected from the group consisting of integrated dispatch enhanced network (iDEN), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), digital advanced mobile telephone service (D-AMPS), and Voice over Wireless Internet Protocol air interface protocols.

4. The private communication network of claim 1, wherein the private wireless network controller receives a registration message from one of the plurality of antennas and determines whether a mobile station associated with the registration message is authorized to register with the private wireless network controller.

5. The private communication network of claim 4, wherein a mobile station is authorized to register with the private wireless network controller when an identification associated with the mobile station in the registration message is stored in the HLR/VLR.

6. The private communication network of claim 4, wherein when an identification in the registration message is not stored in the HLR/VLR, the private wireless network controller determines whether the mobile station is authorized to register using information from the wireless macro network.

7. The private communication network of claim 1, wherein the private wireless network controller is coupled to a digital access cross-connect switch (DACS) in the wireless macro network.

8. The private communication network of claim 1, wherein the private wireless network controller is coupled to a base site controller (BSC) in the wireless macro network.

9. The private communication network of claim 1, further comprising:

a private network manager, wherein the private network manager provisions subscribers in the private network.

10. The private communication network of claim 1, wherein the private communication network is assigned its own location area.

11. A private wireless network comprising:

a private wireless network controller that includes a home location register/visitor location register (HLR/VLR) and that is coupled to a private branch exchange and a wireless macro network; and

private base transceiver station coupled to the private wireless network controller, wherein the private wireless network controller is coupled to the wireless macro network as a base station of the wireless macro network by coupling the private wireless network controller to a digital access cross-connect switch (DACS) of the wireless macro network;

wherein the wireless macro network includes a location database;

wherein when a mobile station is assigned a telephone number associated with the wireless macro network, the mobile station is provisioned in the location database of the wireless macro network and the HLR/VLR of the private wireless network controller; and

wherein when the mobile station is assigned a telephone number associated with the private branch exchange, the mobile station is provisioned in the HLR/VLR of the private wireless network controller, but not the location database of the wireless macro network.

12. The private wireless network of claim 11, wherein the private wireless network controller initiates and terminates dispatch calls between mobile stations in the wireless macro network and private wireless network using the connection to the DACS.

13. The private wireless network of claim 11, wherein the private wireless network controller is coupled to a base site controller (BSC) of the wireless macro network.

14. The private wireless network of claim 11, wherein the private wireless network controller comprises:

a transcoder for converting coding of voice communications originating in the private wireless network to coding compatible with a network associated with the private branch exchange.