Network hub for interconnecting a wireless office environment with a public cellular telephone network

• US 6,411,632 B2
• Filed: 09/16/1997
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Wikström, Claes, Lindgren, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phunkulh, Bob A.
• Application Number:
  US08/931,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 370/410, 370/466, 370/467, 370/469, 370/328, 379/90.01, 379/93.31, 395/183.15, 395/285, 395/286, 395/831, 709/249, 455/422, 455/435, 455/410, 455/411
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A network hub interconnects a public access cellular telephone network transceiving signals according to a SS7 protocol with a wireless office environment transceiving signals according to a TCP/fP protocol. The wireless office environment comprises a TCP/IP network interconnecting a plurality of private wireless networks. A processor within the hub converts received signals between being carried by the SS7 and TCP/IP protocols. The conversions are assisted by a translation table including active mobile identification numbers and IP addresses within the wireless office environment and a second table listing all signal point codes for nodes within the public access cellular telephone network.

Claims

1. A network hub, comprising:

means for interconnecting the network hub to a first network to transceive signals via a SS7 protocol;

means for interconnecting the network hub to at least two private wireless networks to transceive signals via a TCP/IP protocol;

a processor for processing received signals to convert the signals between being carried by the SS7 protocol and the TCP/IP protocol;

a translation table used in association with the processor for mapping an SS7 signaling point code of the network hub to IP addresses of the at least two private wireless networks based on a mobile identification number; and

means for automatically updating the translation table in response to contacts involving a particular mobile identification number.

2. The network hub of claim 1 wherein the processor further replaces message transfer part (MTP) and signal connection control part (SSCP) layers of the SS7 protocol with a TCP/IP and adaptation layers for transmission from the first network to the at least two private wireless networks.

3. The network hub of claim 1 wherein the processor further replaces a TCP/IP layer with message transfer part (MTP) and signal connection control part (SSCP) layers for transmission from the at least two private wireless networks to the first network.

4. The network hub of claim 1 further including a North American Cellular Network address table associated with the processor to enable transmission to nodes within the first network from the at least two private wireless networks.

5. The network hub of claim 1 further including a translation table storing mobile identification numbers and an associated IP address for the private wireless network serving a mobile station associated with the mobile identification number for enabling transmissions from the first network to the at least two private wireless networks.

6. The network hub of claim 1 wherein the at least two private wireless networks are addressed from the first network via a single signaling point code associated with the network hub.

7. A communications system, comprising:

a first communications network operating according to a SS7 protocol for transmitting signals;

a second communications network operating according to a TCP/IP protocol for transmitting signals;

a network hub for interconnecting the first communications network with the second communications network, the network hub converting received signals between being carried by the SS7 protocol and the TCP/IP protocol based upon a mobile identification number; and

a plurality of private wireless networks connected with the second communications network, each of the plurality of private wireless networks addressed from the first network via a same destination signaling point code as the network hub.

8. The communications system of claims 7 wherein the network hub further replaces message transfer part (MTP) and signal connection control part (SSCP) layers of the SS7 protocol with a TCP/IP layer and an adaptation layer for transmission from the first network to the second network.

9. The communications system of claim 7 wherein the network hub replaces a TCP/IP layer with message transfer part (MTP and signal connection control part (SSCP) layers for transmission from the second network to the first network.

10. The communications system of claim 7 wherein the network hub further includes a translation table for mapping between SS7 signaling point codes and IP addresses.

11. The communications system of claim 10 wherein the network hub further includes means for automatically updating the translation table in response to contacts involving a particular mobile identification number.

12. The communications system of claim 7 wherein the network hub further includes a North American Cellular Network address table to enable transmission to nodes within the first network from the second network.

13. The communications system of claim 7 wherein the network hub further includes a translation table storing mobile identification numbers and an associated IP address for the wireless office serving a mobile station associated with the mobile identification number for enabling transmissions from the first network to the second network.

14. The communications system of claim 7 wherein the network hub further includes means for selecting which mobile stations may access one of the plurality of wireless networks.

15. The communications system of claim 7 wherein the network hub further includes means for limiting a total number of users which may access a wireless network.

16. A network hub, comprising:

means for interconnecting the network hub via a first network to transceive signals via a SS7 protocol;

means for interconnecting the network hub with a second network to transceive signals via a TCP/IP protocol, the second network further connected to a plurality of private wireless networks that are addressed from the first network via a single signaling point code associated with the network hub;

a cellular network addressing table for locating transmission end points within the first network;

a translation table for locating mobile stations served by the private wireless networks connected to the second network, the translation table including mobile identification numbers active within the connected private wireless networks and IP addresses for the private wireless networks where the mobile identification numbers are active; and

a processor for processing received signals to convert the signals for carriage between the SS7 protocol and the TCP/IP protocol, the processor further configured to convert the single signaling point code of the network hub to IP addresses of the private wireless networks based on mobile identification numbers.

17. The network hub of claim 16 wherein the cellular network addressing table further includes signaling point codes for all nodes in the first network.

18. The network hub of claim 16 wherein the processor further replaces message transfer part (MTP) and signal connection control part (SSCP) layers of SS7 protocol with a TCP/IP layer and an adaptation layer for transmission from the first network to the second network.

19. The network hub of claim 16 wherein the processor further replaces a TCP/IP layer with message transfer part (MTP) and signal connection control part (SSCP) layers for transmission from the second network to the first network.

20. A network hub, comprising:

means for interconnecting the network hub to a first network to transceive signals via a SS7 protocol;

means for interconnecting the network hub to a plurality of cellular network nodes to transceive signals via a second protocol, each of the plurality of cellular network nodes addressed from the first network via same signaling point code as the network hub; and

a processor for processing received signals to convert the signals between being carried by the SS7 protocol and the second protocol, the processor further configured to convert the single signaling point code of the network hub to IP addresses of the private wireless networks based on mobile identification numbers.

21. The network hub of claim 20 wherein the second protocol comprises a TCP/IP protocol.

22. The network hub of claim 20 wherein the second protocol comprises a ISDN protocol.

23. The network hub of claim 20 wherein the second protocol comprises a E.164 protocol.