Network controller messaging for release in an Unlicensed Wireless Communication System

• US 20080299977A1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baranowski, Joseph G., Mohammed, Jahangir, Shi, Jianxiong, Shekhar, Madhu C., Elam, Thomas G., Powell, Mark, Kolderup, Kenneth M., Gallagher, Michael D., Markovic, Milan
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices

Abstract

An unlicensed wireless service is adapted to generate the interface protocols of a licensed wireless service to provide transparent transition of communication sessions between a licensed wireless service and an unlicensed wireless service. In one embodiment, a mobile station includes level 1, level 2, and level 3 protocols for licensed wireless service and an unlicensed wireless service. An indoor base station and indoor network controller provide protocol conversion for the unlicensed wireless service into a standard base station controller

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method comprising:

a) at a network controller of a first unlicensed wireless communication system that communicatively couples a plurality of service regions of the first communication system to a licensed wireless second communication system, determining that an unlicensed session between the network controller and a mobile station in a particular service region of the first communication system needs to be released; and

b) sending a release message from the network controller to the particular service region to cause a release of the unlicensed session.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the licensed wireless communication system comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), wherein said determining that the session needs to be released is done after the unlicensed network controller receives a clear command from the MSC.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising sending a clear complete message from the network controller to the MSC.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

a) receiving the release message at the mobile station;

b) releasing by the mobile station voice channels and other resources allocated for the unlicensed session;

c) sending a release confirmation message from the mobile station; and

d) receiving the release confirmation at the network controller.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein releasing the unlicensed session comprises releasing voice channels that the mobile station had allocated to the unlicensed session.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein releasing the unlicensed session comprises releasing resources other than the voice channels that the mobile station had allocated to the unlicensed session.

27. In a communication system that includes a licensed wireless communication system for communicatively connecting to a mobile station using a licensed wireless frequency and an unlicensed wireless communication system for communicatively connecting to the mobile station using an unlicensed wireless frequency, a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for execution by an unlicensed wireless network controller, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) connecting the network controller to an unlicensed wireless base station, said base station communicatively coupled to the mobile station using the unlicensed wireless frequency; and

b) sending a release message from the network controller through the base station to command the mobile station to release an unlicensed session between the network controller and the mobile station.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the computer program further comprises sets of instructions for receiving at the network controller a release confirmation sent from the mobile station indicating that the mobile station has released voice channels and other resources allocated for the unlicensed session.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the program further comprises sets of instructions for receiving a clear command at the network controller from a mobile switching center (MSC) of the licensed wireless communication system.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the program further comprises sets of instructions for sending a clear complete message from the network controller to the MSC.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein release of the unlicensed session comprises release of voice channels that the mobile station has allocated to the unlicensed session.

32. A method comprising:

a) at a network controller of a first communication network that communicatively couples a plurality of service regions of the first communication network to a licensed wireless second communication network, determining to release a set of resources for facilitating a communication session of a telecommunication device in a particular service region of the first communication network; and

b) sending a message from the network controller to the particular service region to cause the release of the set of resources.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said sending the message comprises sending the message over a broadband interface to an access point of the first communication network for wirelessly coupling the telecommunication device at the particular service region to the network controller.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising from the particular service region receiving a release complete message at the network controller when the set of resources have been released.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said sending of the message to release the set of resources comprises a message for releasing voice channels allocated between the telecommunication device and the network controller.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein said determining that the communication session needs to be released comprises receiving a message sent from the second communication network to the network controller to initiate a disconnect of the communication session.

37. The method of claim 32 further comprising, before sending the message from the network controller to the particular service region to cause the release, sending a message to the second communication network to initiate a release of a set of resources allocated for facilitating the communication session between the network controller and the second communication network.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the set of resources comprises a communication channel used to route communication session data to and from the particular service region and the second communication network through the network controller.

39. The method of claim 32 further comprising receiving a release complete message from the telecommunication device.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the first communication network is an unlicensed wireless network, wherein the telecommunication device is dual mode device comprising a first mode for communicating with the second communication network using licensed wireless frequencies and a second mode for communicating with the first communication network using unlicensed wireless frequencies.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein the telecommunication device comprises a device for communicatively coupling to a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) device.

42. A network controller of a first communication network, said network controller comprising:

a) a first interface for communicatively coupling to a plurality of service regions of the first communication network;

b) a second interface for communicatively coupling to a licensed wireless second communication network; and

c) circuits for;

(i) determining to release a set of resources for facilitating a communication session of a telecommunication device in a particular service region of the first communication network; and

(ii) sending a message from the network controller to the particular service region to cause the release of the set of resources.

43. The network controller of claim 42, wherein the first interface communicatively couples the particular service area to the network controller through the Internet using Voice over IP (VoIP).

44. The network controller of claim 42, wherein the second interface is communicatively coupled to a mobile switching center (MSC) of the second communication network.

45. The network controller of claim 42, wherein the network controller determines that the set of resources needs to be released based on a message received from the second communication network over the second interface, said message for initiating a disconnect of the communication session.

46. The network controller of claim 42, wherein the network controller determines that the set of resources needs to be released based on a message received from the particular service region over the first interface, said message for initiating a disconnect of the communication session.