Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Combined circuit switching and packet switching
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-31
2003-02-11
Yao, Kwang Bin (Department: 2662)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Combined circuit switching and packet switching
C370S401000, C370S328000, C379S211020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06519252
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications systems and methods for providing voice communication over the Internet, and specifically to allowing mobile subscribers to receive calls from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) during an Internet session.
2. Background and Objects of the Present Invention
Cellular telecommunications is one of the fastest growing and most demanding telecommunications applications ever. Today it represents a large and continuously increasing percentage of all new telephone subscriptions around the world. Cellular networks have evolved into two different networks. The European cellular network uses the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) digital mobile cellular radio system. In the United States, cellular networks are still primarily analog, but many North American cellular networks have begun deploying SS
7
to support access of remote databases. European cellular networks have always relied on SS7 for their signaling requirements. However, GSM is currently operated in North America in a newly reserved frequency band in the 1900 MHZ range. The revised GSM standard is also known as Personal Communication Services 1900 or PCS 1900.
FIG. 1
illustrates the typical components of a GSM/PCS 1900 wireless communications system
10
.
The GSM/PCS 1900 wireless communications system
8
is located within a geographical area serviced by a single provider, hereinafter referred to as the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)
10
. The basic components of the wireless communications system
10
are a Base Station System (BSS)
25
, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)
14
and a Mobile Station (MS)
20
. At least one BSS
25
is deployed within the PLMN
10
. The BSS
25
acts as an interface between the MSC
14
and a plurality of MSs
20
. The MS
20
may be a mobile wireless telephone, a pager or other equipment. The MS
20
may not access the GSM/PCS 1900 wireless communications system
10
without providing subscriber specific data for the MS
20
. This data is provided through use of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card
13
which is plugged into the MS
20
, or other memory. The SIM card
13
allows the subscriber to access the network through any MS
20
in which the subscriber has inserted their SIM card
13
. The SIM card
13
includes such data as a subscriber authentication key, the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number, temporary network data, service related data (e.g. language preference), charging information and other data.
The BSS
25
includes a Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
24
and a Base Station Controller (BSC)
23
. The BTS
24
operates as a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data and control messages to and from the MS
20
over the air interface. The BSS
25
is connected to the MSC
14
through dedicated telephone lines through an A-interface
15
. Also connected to the MSC
14
is a Visitor Location Register (VLR)
16
and a Home Location Register (HLR)
26
. The HLR
26
is a database maintaining all subscriber information, e.g., user profiles, current location information, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, and other administrative information. The HLR
26
may be co-located with a given MSC
14
, integrated with the MSC
14
, or alternatively can service multiple MSCs
14
, the latter of which is illustrated in FIG.
2
. The MSC/VLR areas
12
include a plurality of Location Areas (LA)
18
, which are defined as that part of a given MSC/VLR area
12
in which a mobile station (MS)
20
may move freely without having to send update location information to the MSC/VLR area
12
that controls the LA
18
. Each Location Area
12
, in turn, is divided into a number of cells
22
, each of which has at least one BTS
24
.
The VLR
16
is a database containing information about all of the MSs
20
currently located within the MSC/VLR area
12
. If a MS
20
roams into a new MSC/VLR area
12
, the VLR
16
connected to that MSC
14
will request data about that Mobile Station (terminal)
20
from the HLR database
26
(simultaneously informing the HLR
26
about the current location of the MS
20
). Accordingly, if the user of the MS
20
then wants to make a call, the local VLR
16
will have the requisite identification information without having to reinterrogate the HLR
26
. In the aforedescribed manner, the VLR and HLR databases
16
and
26
, respectively, contain various subscriber information associated with a given MS
20
.
An interworking function (IWF)
17
within the MSC
14
links the wireless communications system
10
to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
19
. The MSC
14
and IWF
17
control the switching of incoming calls to various BSSs
25
and the interfacing of outgoing calls to the PSTN
19
.
With reference now to
FIG. 2
of the drawings, a separate network that provides packet data communications is known as the “Internet”. The Internet is based on the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol), which was developed as a standard protocol to allow different types of computers to exchange electronic mail and other files over a network. The TCP/IP Protocol specifies the addressing of nodes on the Internet and provides a method of sending packets of data from one node to another. The TCP or Transmission Control Protocol is an application implemented on top of the IP to provide reliable delivery of the data packets end-to-end.
Typically, an Internet session begins by an Internet user
200
, e.g., a computer, dialing the access number for a specific Internet Service Provider (ISP)
260
. This call is then routed from the Internet user's end office
210
, e.g., a Service Switching Point (SSP) for a wireline Internet user, or a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) for a wireless Internet user, to an end office (local access point)
220
where the ISP
260
resides. Finally, a Point-to-Point (PPP) protocol or Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) connection is established between the computer's
200
modem and the ISP
260
. During a session, digital data is exchanged over the subscriber's line using the standard TCP/IP protocol in the form of packets.
All that is required for use of the Internet
260
for telephony purposes is a sound card mounted in a personal computer (PC), a microphone, a pair of speakers connected to the sound card, and a telephony application (software) that recognizes the sound card. Bidirectional voice communication between two telephony applications is then possible, e.g., a subscriber can make and receive calls to or from another PC or the public PSTN.
Currently, the industry is developing systems and methods for allowing a subscriber to make and receive calls on the wireline subscriber line to which a modem is connected during an Internet session. This simultaneous telephony and Internet access over a single Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) access line, which is not a digital line, is achieved by transforming an incoming POTS call into an Internet phone call when the access line is busy, using modem communications between the subscriber's host computer
200
and an ISP
260
. With this technology, it will soon also be possible to place telephone calls by an on-line subscriber through the Internet phone application towards a normal POTS subscriber. This can be accomplished by the Internet phone service being terminated in a voice gateway node to the POTS network, which then routes and carries the phone call.
For wireless applications, the MS is typically connected to the Internet either by use of a Direct Access (DA) service or by a call connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), as described in
FIG. 2
of the drawings. However, existing technology does not allow a mobile/cellular system to act as the access network for the called or calling party. Therefore, a mobile subscriber cannot receive incoming calls over the mobile station when it is connected to a modem on a computer during an Internet session.
Ericsson Inc.
Jenkens & Gilchrist P.C.
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