Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Combined circuit switching and packet switching
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-12
2002-05-28
Chin, Wellington (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Combined circuit switching and packet switching
C370S357000, C370S355000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06396828
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to an arrangement for providing access between a telecommunications station in a telecommunications network and a data network. The invention also relates to access support means supporting access between a computer connected to a telecommunications station and a data network and to a communication system in which access is provided between mobile and/or fixed telecommunication stations and a data network. Still further the invention relates to a method of sending data between a personal computer connected to a telecommunications station and a data network such as for example Internet, intranets, corporate LAN:s or external public data networks etc. The use of data networks is increasing rapidly worldwide. In particular the continued exponential growth of the Internet has created needs for development of new protocols, techniques and products for accessing Internet, particularly via cellular mobile telecommunications networks.
In general subscribers of cellular mobile telecommunications networks as well as fixed subscribers need to be able to access different data networks such as for example Internet, corporate LANs (Local Area Network), intranets and external public data networks etc.
Basically three different ways of accessing data networks, such as intranets or Internet, from cellular mobile communication systems, such as for example GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), are known.
One way relates to a packet switched data service which currently has been standardized for a later implementation in the GSM system. This is called the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). This packet switched data service allows packet switched communications such as for example virtual circuit switched communication or IP (Internet Protocol) communication. GPRS is currently being standardized by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), but it is not yet in service.
Another way of accessing a data network is through the use of the Short Message Service (SMS). SMS provides a connection-less transfer of messages, the messages being stored and forwarded by an SMS-service center. The short messages are transported on the signalling links of the telecommunications system. However, the capacity is low (160 bytes in each message) and the time performance is also low. For example it takes about 3 seconds to reach the mobile from a SMS-service center. SMS is optimized for short messages and notifications and a more extended use of SMS for packet data applications would severely load the signalling links or the signalling networks of the cellular mobile communication system, such as for example GSM.
Still another way of accessing data networks from GSM relates to a new application solution intending to enhance the existing GSM data services, the so called “IP Direct Access” which is a type of GSM bearer services. This is a dial-up (mobile-originated only) circuit-switched service with TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) based inter-networking. Direct Access means that the circuit-switched part of the GSM data call within the PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) is not routed through a public ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) or PSTN (Public Switched Telecommunications Network) but instead it is terminated at a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) for further transportation of data traffic to external data networks. Thus direct access is provided to servers in a LAN or in Internet.
However, it is a serious drawback that the “IP Direct Access” method only allows mobile-originated service, i.e. dial-up, or nothing. Another serious drawback with this method is that a connection will be used for the total duration of a session which means that the connection will be used also when no data actually is sent. This is a serious waste for the operator since radio resources are wasted. It is also a serious drawback for the user who has to pay for the duration of a call instead of for the data that has actually been sent, i.e. a charging method based on the volume of the sent data which would be very attractive for the customer. Still further the method provides for no mobility and roaming support between access points.
SUMMARY
What is needed is therefore an arrangement for providing access between a telecommunications station in a telecommunications network and a data network which enables a high capacity transfer of messages and which has a high time performance. An arrangement is also needed which enables data access for mobile as well as for fixed subscribers through which the radio resources are efficiently used and which is cost-efficient for the user. Still further an arrangement is needed which enables a mobile originated service as well as a mobile terminated service. Particularly an arrangement is needed which provides for mobility and roaming support between access points.
A communication system is also needed in which access between a subscriber station of a telecommunications network, a mobile station or a fixed station, and a data network is provided in which the radio resources are efficiently used and in which larger amounts of data can be sent with a high capacity and a high performance, and without loading the signalling links of the system. A communication system is also needed through which mobile originated services as well as mobile terminated services are enabled. Still further a communication system is needed in which mobility and roaming support between access points is provided.
A method of providing access between a mobile or a fixed telecommunications station and a data network is also needed through which the above mentioned objects are achieved.
An arrangement as referred to above is therefore provided which comprises access support means which are connected to a server, via which a connection can be set-up between a telecommunications station and a data network. When a telecommunications station is registered with the access support means, the access support means can switch the telecommunications station between a connected mode, in which the telecommunications station is connected to the server, and an intermediate, or a semi-connected, mode in which the telecommunications station is still registered with the access support means but in which it is disconnected from the server, in such a way that the telecommunications station only is in the connected mode when data actually is sent to/from the telecommunications station.
The server may e.g. be a so called point-to-point protocol server, PPP-server, which uses a point-to-point protocol (PPP) which relates to a standard method for transporting multi-protocol datagrams over point-to-point links. The point-to-point protocol is designed for simple links transporting packets between two peers, a peer being one of two ends of a point-to-point link. These links provide for full duplex, simultaneous bi-directional operation and they are assumed to deliver packets in order. PPP is a known solution intended to provide an easy connection of a large number of, and a wide variety of, hosts, bridges and routers. A router in this context is a node which forwards IP packets not explicitly addressed to the node itself and a host is any node which is not a router. These as well as other concepts, which will be further discussed below, are among others discussed in “IP Mobility Support”, C. Perkins, editor IBM, October 1996, The Network Working Group, pages 1-12, “The point-to-point protocol (PPP)”, W. Simpson, editor Daydreamer, July 1994, up to page 9 and “Mobility Support in IPv6”, David B. Johnson, Carnegie Mellon University, Charles Perkins IBM Corporation, Nov. 26, 1996, up to page 8. These documents are herewith incorporated herein by reference.
In an advantageous embodiment the telecommunications station is automatically registered with the access support means when it is connected to the server, e.g. the PPP-server, i.e. when it is connected to the data network. In an alternative embodiment the telecommunications station is regist
Chin Wellington
Pham Brenda
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
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