System and method for data packet transport in hybrid wireless communication system

• US 8,483,124 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Parekh, Nileshkumar J., Jain, Nikhil
• Primary Examiner(s): Jagannathan, Melanie
• Application Number:
  US11/757,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20070237111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,227 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Computer data is transferred between a CDMA radio access network and a GSM core infrastructure using a switch that acts on the CDMA side as a packet data serving node (PDSN) element and on the GSM side as a serving GPRS service node (SGSN) element. Switching message sequences and protocol stacks are disclosed.

Claims

1. A switch for supporting wireless communication, comprising:

a first element communicating with a code division multiple access (CDMA) radio access network (RAN), the first element using a CDMA protocol;

a second element communicating with a GSM core infrastructure, the second element using a GSM protocol; and

a third element configured to reformat the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a first layer of a data stack when a first packet data protocol (PDP) type is designated, and configured to reformat the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a second layer of the data stack when a second PDP type is designated,

wherein the first and second elements communicate with each other via the third element, whereby use of the CDMA RAN with the GSM core infrastructure is facilitated.

2. The switch of claim 1, wherein the first element is a packet data serving node (PDSN) element.

3. The switch of claim 2, wherein the PDSN element communicates with a CDMA base station controller (BSC).

4. The switch of claim 1, wherein the second element is a serving GPRS service node (SGSN) element.

5. The switch of claim 4, wherein the SGSN element communicates with a gateway GPRS service node (GGSN).

6. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the switch transfers computer data between the CDMA RAN and GSM core infrastructure.

7. The switch of claim 1, wherein the switch terminates point-to-point protocol (PPP) framing from the CDMA RAN and sends Internet Protocol (IP) to the GSM core infrastructure in response to selection of IP by a user of a CDMA mobile station communicating with the CDMA RAN.

8. The switch of claim 1, wherein the first layer is a network layer and the first PDP type is Internet protocol (IP).

9. The switch of claim 1, wherein the second layer is a link layer and the second PDP type is point-to-point (PPP).

10. The switch of claim 1, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at the second layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

11. The switch of claim 1, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at a third layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

12. The switch of claim 11, wherein the third layer is a relay layer.

13. A method for facilitating the use of a CDMA RAN with a GSM core infrastructure, comprising steps of:

terminating point-to-point protocol (PPP) framing from the CDMA RAN and sending Internet Protocol (IP) to the GSM core infrastructure in response to selection of IP by a user of a CDMA mobile station communicating with the CDMA RAN; and

initiating packet data protocol (PDP) context activation including specifying at least one access point name from the CDMA mobile station,

wherein the terminating step and the initiating step are performed using a switch having a packet data serving node (PDSN) element communicating with the CDMA RAN using CDMA protocol and a serving GPRS service node (SGSN) element communicating with the GSM core infrastructure using GSM protocol, the elements of the switch communicating with each other via a processing element configured to reformat the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a first layer of a data stack when a first packet data protocol (PDP) type is designated, and configured to reformat the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a second layer of the data stack when a second PDP type is designated.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising initiating PDP context activation including specifying at least one access point name from a GSM home location registry (HLR).

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising encapsulating IP from the GSM core infrastructure in point-to-point protocol (PPP) framing and transmitting the PPP to a CDMA mobile station in response to selection of IP by a user of the CDMA mobile station.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein PDP context activation is initiated without changing a CDMA standard used by the mobile station.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first layer is a network layer and the first PDP type is Internet protocol (IP).

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the second layer is a link layer and the second PDP type is point-to-point (PPP).

19. The method of claim 13, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at the second layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at a third layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the third layer is a relay layer.

22. A method for facilitating the use of a CDMA RAN with a GSM core infrastructure, comprising steps of:

terminating point-to-point protocol (PPP) framing from the CDMA RAN and sending Internet Protocol (IP) to the GSM core infrastructure in response to selection of IP by a user of a CDMA mobile station communicating with the CDMA RAN; and

initiating packet data protocol (PDP) context activation including specifying at least one access point name from a GSM home location registry (HLR),

wherein the terminating step and the initiating step are performed using a switch having a packet data serving node (PDSN) element communicating with the CDMA RAN using CDMA protocol and a serving GPRS service node (SGSN) element communicating with the GSM core infrastructure using GSM protocol, the elements of the switch communicating with each other via a processing element configured to reformat the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a first layer of a data stack when a first packet data protocol (PDP) type is designated, and configured to reformat the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a second layer of the data stack when a second PDP type is designated.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the initiating step is performed using existing CDMA messages.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first layer is a network layer and the first PDP type is Internet protocol (IP).

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the second layer is a link layer and the second PDP type is point-to-point (PPP).

26. The method of claim 22, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at the second layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein a General Packet Radio Service. tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at a third layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the third layer is a relay layer.

29. A wireless data communication system, comprising:

a CDMA RAN;

a GSM core infrastructure; and

at least one switch interconnecting the CDMA RAN and GSM core infrastructure, the at least one switch receiving and transmitting computer data using a CDMA protocol to communicate with the CDMA RAN, the at least one switch receiving and transmitting computer data using a GSM protocol to communicate with the GSM core infrastructure

wherein the at least one switch facilitates communication between the CDMA RAN and the GSM core infrastructure by reformatting the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a first layer of a data stack when a first packet data protocol (PDP) type is designated. and reformatting the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a second layer of the data stack when a second PDP type is designated.

30. The wireless data communication system of claim 29, wherein the at least one switch includes a first element communicating with the CDMA RAN and a second element communicating with the GSM core infrastructure.

31. The wireless data communication system of claim 30, wherein the first element is a packet data serving node (PDSN) element.

32. The wireless data communication system of claim 30, wherein the second element is a serving GPRS service node (SGSN) element.

33. The wireless data communication system of claim 32, further comprising at least one gateway GPRS service node (GGSN) communicating with the SGSN element.

34. The wireless data communication system of claim 29, wherein the at least one switch terminates point-to-point protocol (PPP) framing from the CDMA RAN and sends Internet Protocol (IP) to the GSM core infrastructure in response to selection of IP by a user of a CDMA mobile station communicating with the CDMA RAN.

35. An apparatus for supporting wireless communication. comprising:

means for communicating with a code division multiple access (CDMA) radio access network (RAN), using a CDMA protocol;

means for communicating with a GSM core infrastructure, using a GSM protocol; and

means for reformatting the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a first layer of a data stack when a first packet data protocol (PDP) type is designated, and reformatting the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a second layer of the data stack when a second PDP type is designated,

wherein the means for communicating with the CDMA RAN and the means for communicating with the GSM infrastructure communicate with each other via the means for transforming, whereby use of the CDMA RAN with the GSM core infrastructure is facilitated.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the first layer is a network layer and the first PDP type is Internet protocol (IP).

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the second layer is a link layer and the second PDP type is point-to-point (PPP).

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at the second layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

39. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at a third layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the third layer is a relay layer.

41. An apparatus for facilitating the use of a CDMA RAN with a GSM core infrastructure, comprising:

means for communicating with the CDMA RAN using a CDMA protocol;

means for communicating with the GSM core infrastructure, using a GSM protocol;

means for reformatting the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a first layer of a data stack when a first packet data protocol (PDP) type is designated, and reformatting the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a second layer of the data stack when a second PDP type is designated;

means for terminating point-to-point protocol (PPP) framing from the CDMA RAN and sending Internet Protocol (IP) to the GSM core infrastructure in response to selection of IP by a user of a CDMA mobile station communicating with the CDMA RAN; and

means for initiating packet data protocol (PDP) context activation including specifying at least one access point name from the CDMA mobile station.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the first layer is a network layer and the first PDP type is Internet protocol (IP).

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the second layer is a link layer and the second PDP type is point-to-point (PPP).

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at the second layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at a third layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the third layer is a relay layer.

47. An apparatus for facilitating the use of a CDMA RAN with a GSM core infrastructure, comprising:

means for communicating with the CDMA RAN using a CDMA protocol;

means for communicating with the GSM core infrastructure, using a GSM protocol;

means for reformatting the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a first layer of a data stack when a first packet data protocol (PDP) type is designated, and reformatting the CDMA protocol into the GSM protocol at a second layer of the data stack when a second PDP type is designated;

means for terminating point-to-point protocol (PPP) framing from the CDMA RAN and sending Internet Protocol (IP) to the GSM core infrastructure in response to selection of IP by a user of a CDMA mobile station communicating with the CDMA RAN; and

means for initiating packet data protocol (PDP) context activation including specifying at least one access point name from a GSM home location registry (HLR).

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first layer is a network layer and the first PDP type is Internet protocol (IP).

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the second layer is a link layer and the second PDP type is point-to-point (PPP).

50. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at the second layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein a General Packet Radio Service tunneling protocol (GTP) layer exists at a third layer of the data stack when the first PDP type is designated.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the third layer is a relay layer.