System and method for providing wireless telephony over a packet-switched network

Abstract

A system and method of providing an integrated wireless telecommunications network including a cellular network portion and a packet-switched network portion. The cellular network portion provides legacy mobile telecommunications functionality to mobile subscribers. The packet-switched network portion is provided for transporting communication traffic, wherein the communication traffic comprises traffic originated from a mobile subscriber, traffic intended for a mobile subscriber, or both. The network also includes a gateway disposed between the cellular network portion and the packet-switched network portion for providing a communication path therebetween. An interworking interface module is provided between the cellular network portion and the packet-switched network portion. The interworking interface module preferably comprises a mobility gateway and an IP client (or proxy), wherein the mobility gateway handles mobility management information and the translation of control signaling information between the cellular network portion and the packet-switched network portion. The IP client handles communication traffic with one or more associated servers disposed in the PSN with respect to, e.g., mobility management, security/authentication, and subscriber services of the mobile subscriber.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.