Mobile communication system that supports soft handoff between switching stations and method for implementing handoff

A mobile communication system, comprising:

• a plurality of a first group of base stations (BS);
• a plurality of a second group of base stations;
• a first base station controller (BSC) controlling the first group of base stations;
• a second BSC controlling the second group of base stations;
• a first mobile switching center (MSC) controlling the first base station controller;
• a second mobile switching center controlling the second base station controller;
• and
• a switching station coupled to the first and second base station controllers, wherein when a user equipment satisfies conditions of handover between a base station of the first group and a base station of the second group, the switching station allows soft handover between the first mobile switching center and the second mobile switching center, wherein the switching station includes at least one center CDMA Inter Network (CCIN), one master CDMA Inter Network (MCIN) and one top CDMA Inter Network (TCIN) for providing an interface between first and second base station controller.

A method of providing mobile communications in a communication system having first and second groups of base stations that provide communications to corresponding mobile stations, comprising:

• providing first and second base station controllers, wherein each of the first and second base station controllers controls the first and second groups of base stations, respectively;
• providing first and second mobile switching centers that respectively control the first and second base station controllers connected to each of the first and second mobile switching centers;
• providing a telephone switch (T s/w) connecting the first and second mobile switching centers (MSCs);
• providing a switching station coupled to the first and second base station controllers, wherein the switching station provides an interface between the first and second base station controllers;
• and
• performing a soft handoff between the first mobile switching center and the second mobile switching center using the switching station when a user equipment satisfies conditions of handover between a base station of the first group and a base station of the second group.

A mobile communication system comprising:

• a plurality of base station controllers;
• a plurality of mobile switching stations that provide a physical link switching service between the base station controllers, wherein each of the mobile switching stations includes a first inter network that controls the base station controllers;
• and
• at least one local switching stations each having a second inter network that provides a communication path between the mobile switching stations, wherein a handoff between the mobile switching stations is performed by a first interface between the first inter network and the second inter network, wherein the second inter network comprises,
• a routing portion that performs management and extension functions of a network, and detects and reports disorder and alarm of the network, wherein the routing portion is a master inter-working routing board assembly (MIRA),
• a first packet transmission portion that transmits packet data through the communication path, wherein the first packet transmission portion is a master inter-working gateway board assembly (MIGA), and
• a second packet transmission portion that transmits the packet data through the first interface, wherein the second packet transmission portion is a master inter-working trunk board assembly (MITA).

A mobile communication system comprising:

• a plurality of base station controllers;
• a plurality of mobile switching stations that provide a physical link switching service between the base station controllers, wherein each of the mobile switching stations includes a first inter network that controls the base station controllers;
• and
• at least one local switching stations each having a second inter network that provides a communication path between the mobile switching stations, wherein a handoff between the mobile switching stations is performed by a first interface between the first inter network and the second inter network, wherein a data frame used for handoff between the mobile switching stations comprises,
• a first field indicative of an address of each element provided in the mobile switching stations,
• a second field indicative of an address of the at least one local switching station, and
• a third field indicative of an address of a corresponding mobile switching station, wherein the first field includes an address of a processor provided in the corresponding mobile switching station and an address of a processor provided in a corresponding base station controller.