Private wireless network integrated with public wireless network

• US 7,398,087 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• 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): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/230,809
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/445, 455/414, 455/522, 455/554.1, 455/413, 455/433
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• 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 method for mobility management of a mobile station, said mobile station subscribing to a private wireless network and to a public wireless network, said private wireless network having a base station, said base station being able to communicate with said mobile station over an air interface, a switching system in communication with said base station, a gateway in communication with said switching system, a private network database accessible by said gateway, said private network database containing a first data record for said mobile station, said public wireless network having a home location register, said home location register including a public network database, said public network database containing a second data record for said mobile station, said method comprising the steps of:

said mobile station transmitting a registration request message to said base station over said air interface;

said gateway receiving a first registration notification message, said first registration notification message identifying said mobile station; and

said gateway transmitting a second registration notification message to said home location register, said second registration notification message identifying said mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

in response to receiving said first registration notification message, said gateway providing said private network database with a first locator address for said mobile station, said first locator address corresponding to said switching system; and

said private network database updating said first data record with said first locator address.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

said home location register receiving said second registration notification message; and

in response to receiving said second registration notification message, said home location register providing said public network database with a second locator address for said mobile station; and

said public network database updating said second data record with said second locator address.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said second locator address corresponds to said gateway.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

in response to receiving said second registration notification message, said home location register providing said public network database with a short message system address for said mobile station; and

said public network database updating said second data record with said short message system address.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said short message system address corresponds to said switching system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

said gateway obtaining from said private network database a first service profile for said mobile station.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

said gateway receiving a second service profile from said home location register for said mobile station.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

said gateway reconciling said first and second service profiles to obtain a working service profile for said mobile station.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

said mobile station transmitting a de-registration request message to said base station over said air interface;

said gateway receiving a first de-registration notification message, said first de-registration notification message identifying said mobile station; and

said gateway transmitting a second de-registration notification message to said home location registration, said second de-registration notification message identifying said mobile station.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

in response to receiving said first de-registration notification message, said gateway notifying said private network database that said mobile station is inactive; and

said private network database updating said first data record to indicate that said mobile station is inactive.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

said home location register receiving said second de-registration notification message; and

in response to receiving said second de-registration notification message, said home location register updating said second data record to indicate that said mobile station is inactive.

13. A method for providing call origination services to a mobile station that subscribes to a private wireless network and to a public wireless network, said private wireless network having a private network serving system for serving said mobile station when said mobile station is operating in a private network wireless coverage area, said public wireless network having a public network serving system for serving said mobile station when said mobile station is operating in a public network wireless coverage area, said private wireless network having a first service control point (SCP), said public wireless network having a second service control point (SCP), said method comprising the steps of:

if said mobile station is operating in said private network wireless coverage area;

said private network serving system transmitting a first call origination query to said first SCP;

said first SCP transmitting a second call origination query to said second SCP;

said second SCP executing service logic to formulate first call processing instructions;

said second SCP transmitting to said first SCP a first response message containing said first call processing instructions; and

said first SCP transmitting to said private network serving system a second response message containing said first call processing instructions.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

if said mobile station is operating in said public network wireless coverage area;

said public network serving system transmitting a third call origination query to said second SCP;

said second SCP executing service logic to formulate second call processing instructions; and

said second SCP transmitting to said public network serving system a third response message containing said second call processing instructions.

15. A method for providing call termination services to a mobile station that subscribes to a private wireless network and to a public wireless network, said private wireless network having and a mobile switching center (MSC) and a first service control point (SCP), said public wireless network having a second SCP, said method comprising the steps of:

in response to receiving a request to terminate a call to said mobile station, said MSC transmitting a first call termination query to said first SCP;

said first SCP transmitting a first response message to said MSC, said first response message identifying said second SCP;

said MSC transmitting a second call termination query to said second SCP;

said second SCP executing service logic to formulate call processing instructions; and

said second SCP transmitting a second response message to said MSC, said second response message containing said call processing instructions.