Enhanced private parameter capability in IS-41 messages

• US 20020136236A1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Leslie Joseph, Fonseca, Eric Marcelo, Smith, Harold Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,963,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating between entities of a wireless cellular telecommunications system in protocols extended from the standard IS-41 Protocols. In accordance with the invention, different pairs of entities can communicate using different extended protocol dialects. The extended protocol dialects can include extra operations codes, extra parameter identifiers, or both. The extended protocol between each pair of entities of the system is assigned, but can be changed by an appropriate message. Advantageously, the basic spectrum for extended protocols can be enlarged by allowing different extended protocols between different entities and/or by switching extended protocol dialects between specific entities.

Claims

1. In a wireless telecommunication system, a method of transmitting signaling messages among a plurality of entities, said signaling messages transmitted using a protocol having a standard portion for transmitting standard messages, and an extension portion for transmitting non-standard messages, comprising the steps of:

transmitting standard messages, using the standard portion of the protocol;

assigning to each pair of communicating entities, an extended protocol;

communicating between pairs of entities, using the assigned extended protocol;

in response to receipt of a message outside the Standard protocol, determining the source of the message, and interpreting the message in accordance with the extended protocol assigned for communications between a source and recipient entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one entity can communicate in at least two different extended protocols.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one entity can translate between compatible messages in a first extended protocol and a second extended protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an extended protocol comprises at least one extended protocol operations code, not defined in the standard portion of the protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said assigned extended protocol comprises at least one parameter identifier not included in said standard protocol.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said extended protocol further comprises at least one operations code not included in said standard protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a message for switching to a different extended protocol between the communicating entities.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said standard protocol is an IS-41 Protocol.

9. In a wireless telecommunication system, apparatus for transmitting signaling messages among a plurality of entities, said signaling messages transmitted using a protocol having a standard portion for transmitting standard messages, and an extension portion for transmitting non-standard messages, comprising processor means for controlling execution of the following steps:

transmitting standard messages, using the standard portion of the protocol;

assigning to each pair of communicating entities, an extended protocol;

communicating between pairs of entities, using the assigned extended protocol;

in response to receipt of a message outside the Standard protocol, determining the source of the message, and interpreting the message in accordance with the extended protocol assigned for communications between a source and recipient entity.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one entity can communicate in at least two different extended protocols.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one entity can translate between compatible messages in a first extended protocol and a second extended protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein an extended protocol comprises at least one extended protocol operations code, not defined in the standard portion of the protocol.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said assigned extended protocol comprises at least one parameter code not included in said standard protocol.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said extended protocol further comprises at least one operations code not included in said standard protocol.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said processor means are for further controlling the step of transmitting a message for switching to a different extended protocol between the communicating entities.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said standard protocol is an IS-41 Protocol.