Method in a communication network

Details Method in a communication network Method in a communication network

2000-04-21

2001-11-13

Patel, Ajit (Department: 2662)

Multiplex communications

Communication over free space

Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...

C370S338000, C455S432300, C455S456500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06317421

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a communication network supporting a general packet radio communication service (GPRS). More in particular, the invention relates to a way of configuring an interface between a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a Base Station System (BSS).
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
General packet radio service (GPRS) is a standard from the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) on packet data in GSM systems. GPRS has also been accepted by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) as the packet-data standard for TDMA/136 systems. By adding GPRS functionality to the public land mobile network (PLMN), operators can give their subscribers resource-efficient access to external Internet protocol-based (IP) networks.
A communication network supporting GPRS includes a base station system (BSS) connected via a G
b
interface to a serving GPRS support node (SGSN). The G
b
interface is currently based on frame relay. The G
b
interface includes a BSS GPRS Protocol (BSSGP) layer in which peer functional entities in the base station system and the serving GPRS support node communicate via so called BSSGP Virtual Connections (BVCs). Each BSSGP Virtual Connection is identified by a combination of a BSSGP Virtual Connection Identifier (BVCI) and a Network Service Entity Identifier (NSEI). Configuring the Gb interface is to a large extent performed using manual procedures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the problem of providing a more efficient way of configuring an interface between a serving GPRS support node and a base station system, and in particular such an interface utilizing IP based communication.
The problem is solved essentially by a method in which a new network service entity identifier is automatically allocated and automatically registered in data structures in the serving GPRS support node and the base station system.
More specifically, the problem is solved in the following manner. In response to a request for allocation of a new network service entity identifier, the new network service entity identifier is automatically allocated according to a predefined rule ensuring that the new network service entity identifier is unique within the serving GPRS support node. Said data structures in the serving GPRS support node and the base station system are automatically initiated by registering the allocated new network service entity identifier in said data structures.
A general object of the invention is to provide a more efficient way of configuring an interface between a serving GPRS support node and a base station system, and in particular such an interface utilizing IP based communication.
A more specific object of the invention is to provide a way of configuring the interface between a base station system and a serving GPRS support node wherein a new network service entity identifier is automatically allocated and registered in both the base station system and the serving GPRS support node.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a way of configuring the interface between a base station system and a serving GPRS support node wherein not only a new network service entity identifier is automatically allocated and registered in data structures in both the base station system and the serving GPRS support node, but also the need for a new network service entity identifier is automatically detected.
A general advantage afforded by the invention is that it provides a more efficient way of configuring an interface between a serving GPRS support node and a base station system, and in particular such an interface utilizing IP based communication.
A more specific advantage afforded by the invention is that it relieves operation and maintenance personnel of the tasks of allocating new network service entity identifiers and ensuring that said identifiers are unique within the serving GPRS support node as well as registering the new network service entity identifiers in both the base station system and the serving GPRS support node.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5729537 (1998-03-01), Billstrom
patent: 5745695 (1998-04-01), Gilchrist et al.
patent: 6081723 (2000-06-01), Mademann
patent: 6104929 (2000-08-01), Josse et al.
patent: 196 11 947 C1 (1997-06-01), None
patent: WO 97/16007 (1997-05-01), None
patent: WO 00/19742 (2000-04-01), None
patent: WO 00/35153 (2000-06-01), None
patent: 99/01713 (2000-10-01), None
U.S. application No. 09/594,819, filed Jun. 16, 2000, pending.
Digital Cellular Telecommunications System (Phase 2+);General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Base Station System (BSS)—Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) Interface; Network Service; (GSM 08.16 Version 7.1.0 Release 1998), TS 101 299 V7.1.0 (1999-07), European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) 1999, pp. 1-39.
Digital Cellular Telecommunications System (Phase 2+);General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Base Station System (BSS)—Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN), BSS GPRS Protocol (BSSGP); (GSM 08.18 Version 7.0.0 Release 1998), TS 101 343 V7.0.0 (1999-07), European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) 1999, pp. 1-64.
R. Droms, “Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol”, RFC 2131, Bucknell University, Mar., 1997, pp. 1-36.

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