Private wireless network integrated with public wireless network

• US 6,970,719 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Zhang, Baoquan, McConnell, Von K., Yarkosky, Mark, Sladek, Thomas M., Jackson, Kenneth C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US09/595,595
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 455/554, 455/555, 455/435.1, 455/439, 455/413, 455/432.3, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/556.1, 455/561, 455/435.2, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 379/156, 379/157, 379/158, 379/167.1, 379/201.01
• US Class Current: 455/554.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1328 Call transfer, e.g. in PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13294 CDMA, code division multiplexing, i.e. combinations of H04Q2213/13291 and/or H04Q2213/13292 with space division
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices

Abstract

A private wireless network is able to provide wireless telecommunication services to subscriber mobile stations that also subscribe to a public wireless network. The private wireless network includes a private base transceiver station (BTS), a private mobile switching center (MSC), and a gateway service control point (SCP). The private BTS provides a private network wireless coverage area within which the mobile station can communicate with the base transceiver station over an air interface. The gateway SCP has a private network database containing private network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A private network data record includes a private network service profile and a private network locator address. The public wireless network has a home location register (HLR) with a public network database containing public network data records for subscribing mobile stations. A public network data record includes a public network service profile and a public network locator address. When a subscriber mobile station is active on the private wireless network, the private network locator address identifies the private MSC, and the public network locator address identifies the gateway SCP. By providing the private network wireless coverage area so that it overlaps the public network'"'"'s wireless coverage area, the subscriber mobile station may be handed off between the private and public wireless networks.

Claims

1. A private wireless network, to which private network mobile stations subscribe, integrated with a public wireless network, to which public network mobile stations subscribe, said private wireless network being able to provide wireless telecommunications services to at least one mobile station that subscribes to said private wireless network and to said public wireless network, said public wireless network having a public network subscriber database containing a public network data record for each of said public network mobile stations, including a first data record for said at least one mobile station, said public wireless network providing a public network coverage area within which said at least one mobile station can communicate with said public wireless network over an air interface, said public wireless network including a public mobile switching center (MSC) serving mobile stations operating in said public network coverage area, said private wireless network comprising:

at least one base station providing a private network coverage area, said at least one mobile station being able to communicate with said at least one base station over an air interface when said at least one mobile station is operating in said private network coverage area;

a switching system in communication with said at least one base station, said switching system including a private MSC serving mobile stations operating in said private network coverage area;

a gateway service control point (SCP) in communication with said switching system, wherein said gateway SCP provides call processing instructions in response to queries from said switching system; and

a private network subscriber database located in said gateway SCP, said private network subscriber database containing a private network data record for each of said private network mobile stations, including a second data record for said at least one mobile station.

2. The private wireless network of claim 1, wherein said public network subscriber database is located in a home location register (HLR).

3. The private wireless network of claim 1, wherein said first data record includes a first locator address for locating said at least one mobile station and said second data record includes a second locator address for locating said at least one mobile station.

4. The private wireless network of claim 3, wherein said first locator address identifies said gateway SCP and said second locator address identifies said switching system.

5. The private wireless network of claim 1, wherein said gateway SCP includes a plurality of service logic modules.

6. The private wireless network of claim 2, wherein said HLR includes a plurality of service logic modules.

7. The private wireless network of claim 1, wherein said switching system includes a second private MSC.

8. The private wireless network of claim 1, wherein said switching system includes a first private branch exchange (PBX).

9. The private wireless network of claim 8, wherein first PBX communicates with said gateway SCP via a computer telephony interface (CTI).

10. The private wireless network of claim 8, wherein said switching system includes a second PBX.

11. The private wireless network of claim 1, wherein said first data record includes a first service profile for said at least one mobile station and said second data record includes a second service profile for said at least one mobile station.

12. The private wireless network of claim 11, wherein said first service profile differs from said second service profile.

13. The private wireless network of claim 1, wherein said private network wireless coverage area overlaps said public network coverage area.