Multiplex communications – Communication over free space – Using atm as a wireles protocol
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-08
2004-10-05
Marcelo, Melvin (Department: 2663)
Multiplex communications
Communication over free space
Using atm as a wireles protocol
C370S338000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06801508
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a packet data network and packet data transfer method, and more particularly to an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) packet network which is suitable to a radio communication network, and a method for transferring packet data in the same.
2. Background of the Related Art
Research is now in progress for introducing ATM switches into cellular/personal communication service (PCS) mobile communication systems which are now commercially available. One proposed example is a mobile communication network utilizing an ATM switch for transferring data from a cellular mobile terminal to a receiver, which is shown in block form in FIG.
1
.
In
FIG. 1
, user packet data sent from a mobile terminal
11
is delivered to a radio network controller (RNC)
31
through an associated base station
21
. Then, the radio network controller
31
transfers the delivered user packet data to a destination radio network controller or a destination packet data node (PDN) along a path determined by a mobile switching center (MSC)
41
.
In order to select and determine a data path for the mobile terminal
11
, the signaling between the radio network controller
31
and mobile switching center
41
and the signaling between the mobile switching center
41
and packet data node
61
are performed through signaling ATM adaptation layers (SAALs) which are provided respectively in the radio network controller
31
, mobile switching center
41
and packet data node
61
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, in the case where an ATM switch is used. At this time, one virtual circuit is assigned to each mobile terminal call to transfer user data.
However, when the radio network controller
31
and packet data node
61
serve as nodes of the communication network using the ATM switch, outgoing data from the radio network controller or packet data node must be transferred through a virtual circuit in a circuit switched manner based on the ATM switch, as shown in FIG.
3
. For this reason, the radio network controller or packet data node has to assign such a virtual circuit under the condition that the associated mobile terminal establishes a data or speech call connection. There is a limitation in establishing a virtual circuit for the ATM switch with respect to every unit physical connection port, and a signaling processing time is further required for the virtual circuit establishment.
In other words, when a source mobile terminal establishes a packet path to a destination mobile terminal or an Internet host to receive a packet data service, the associated radio network controller, ATM switch, and packet data node interact to assign a virtual circuit to the established packet path. The assigned virtual circuit is kept in an active state while user packet data is transferred. It then enters a dormant state if it is not in use for a given period of time.
Thereafter, if the virtual circuit is reused within a prescribed period of time, it again becomes active. The virtual circuit, however, is released unless it is reused within that prescribed period of time. Consequently, if a large number of mobile terminals keep their paths in the dormant state at a time or region having heavy traffic, the number of virtual circuits for the packet data service may be insufficient as compared with the number of users.
In order to prevent the above virtual circuit insufficiency, dormant virtual circuits may be released unless data is transferred for a prescribed period of time. When released, the associated mobile terminal has to reestablish the released packet data path to resume the packet transfer, resulting in an inconvenience.
As a result, the conventional mobile communication network as shown in
FIG. 1
is limited in the number of virtual circuits to be assigned as the volume of traffic increases above a threshold value. This makes it difficult to efficiently execute packet data communication.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an ATM network that substantially obviates at least the above problems caused by disadvantages of the related art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ATM packet network in which, when an ATM switch is used to transfer radio packet data from a mobile terminal, such as a cellular device, terminating at a radio network controller to a wire packet network access node or another radio network controller or vice versa, one virtual circuit is established between the packet network access node and radio network controller and a method for transferring packet data in the same.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an ATM packet network in which packet data or packet sessions from a plurality of mobile terminals are multiplexed/demultiplexed and transferred on an established virtual circuit between a packet network access node and a radio network controller, and a method for transferring packet data in the same.
To achieve at least the above objects in whole or in parts, there is provided a cellular asynchronous transfer mode packet network comprising a plurality of radio network controllers, each of the radio network controllers for performing a channel assignment function based on a service option of a source mobile station to separate packet data and circuit data service paths from each other upon interfacing with a core network; a packet call controller connected in common to the radio network controllers in its radio service area for supporting a speech communication exchange function and location registration and mobility of the source mobile station and managing location information of the source mobile station and information of packet connection nodes; a mobile packet router connected in common to the radio network controllers for routing packet data or packet sessions from the radio network controllers to established transfer paths, respectively; and a plurality of packet data nodes connected in common to the mobile packet router, each of the packet data nodes routing a corresponding one of the packet data or packet sessions routed by the mobile packet router according to a destination identifier; whereby a virtual circuit is established between a serving one of the radio network controllers and a target one of the radio network controllers or between the serving radio network controller and a target one of the packet data nodes and data blocks of the packet data or packet sessions are multiplexed/demultiplexed over the virtual circuit and transferred respectively to corresponding destinations via the mobile packet router, the packet connection nodes being the serving radio network controller and the target radio network controller or the target packet data node.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for transferring packet data in a cellular asynchronous transfer mode packet network which has one or more radio network controllers, a packet call controller, one or more packet data nodes and a mobile packet router, comprising the first step of establishing a virtual circuit between a serving one of the radio network controllers and a target one of the radio network controllers or between the serving radio network controller and a target one of the packet data nodes; the second step of establishing individual packet paths between the serving radio network controller and the target radio network controller or between the serving radio network controller and the target packet data node through the mobile packet router; the third step of multiplexing/demultiplexing individual data blocks of the packet data or packet sessions over the virtual circuit on the basis of a service specific convergence sub-layer protocol; and the fourth step of routing the multiplexed/demultiplexed data blocks according to authenticated destination identifiers
Fleshner & Kim LLP
LG Information & Communications Ltd.
Marcelo Melvin
LandOfFree
Asynchronous transfer mode packet network and method for... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Asynchronous transfer mode packet network and method for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Asynchronous transfer mode packet network and method for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3300769