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US H1,641 HGranted
Connection of mobile devices to heterogenous networks
AssigneeGTE Mobile Communications Service Corporation
InventorDuane R. Sharman
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AssigneeGTE Mobile Communications Service Corporation
InventorDuane R. Sharman
Estimating the term…
An improved apparatus for connecting a mobile end system to a communications network includes a mobile end system with storage that is assigned a first unique identity code. An interface with a first transmitter is assigned a second unique identity code and is linked to the mobile end system via a first communications channel. A data switch with a second transmitter is assigned a third unique identity code, and is linked to the interface via a second communications channel. The data switch is also linked to the communications network via a third communications channel. The mobile end system transmits at least the first unique identity code to the interface, which transmits a least the first and second unique identity codes to the data switch, which in turn transmits at least the first, second and third unique identity codes to the communications network. A method of communicating data packets bidirectionally between two mobile end systems or between a mobile end system and a fixed end system through a communications network includes the steps of assigning unique identity codes to each mobile end system and to an interface device and a data witch for each mobile end system, setting up communication channels between the end systems, identifying the routing scheme to be used for the packet transmission, and establishing bidirectional communications between the end systems.
An apparatus for connecting a mobile end system to a communications network comprising:
A method of communicating data packets bidirectionally between a mobile end system and either a fixed end system or a second mobile end system, said mobile end system being coupled to one or more subnetwork communication devices to communicate with a circuit switched network or packet data network, said method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
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This invention relates generally to telecommunication networks, and more particularly to the communication of packet data and the connection of switched telephone circuits to and from mobile end systems. The mobile end systems may connect to switched circuit networks and packet data networks using various interface devices, including telephone circuits, cellular switched radio channels, cellular packet data radio channels, and local area network interfaces.
Many telecommunication systems are available for connecting terminal equipment to switched circuit and packet data networks. Most provide communication services to terminals, or end systems that reside in a fixed location, connecting to a network at a topologically restricted point in order to facilitate static routing of packets or calls, for instance fixed telephone or local area networks. Mobility features have been designed into cellular equipment, to support connection of a mobile terminal or end system to a cellular basestation depending on the geographic area covered by the basestation and the radio path between the basestations and the mobile end system. Cellular systems have been designed to provide switched circuit communications, for cellular telephones as defined in TIA RS-553 specifications, and more recently in cellular packet data communications, as defined in the CDPD specifications.
Interworking requirements for fixed and cellular telephone equipment have been developed to provide uniform service, including a uniform numbering plan and compatible call setup procedures. The North American cellular industry has developed the RS-553, IS-54, and IS-41 specifications for switching systems to allow cellular telephones to roam between cellular switch systems, providing authentication, location tracking, call routing and setup, and handoff between cellular switch systems. Similar specifications have been developed for other cellular systems including European GSM.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile end system and other components of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the connections of the components of the mobile routing network of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure executed by the mobile end station to transmit or cause to be transmitted its current location.
System Overview
Referring first to FIG. 1, the network system of the present invention comprises four primary devices: a mobile end system 102, a telephone access gateway 104, a local area network access gateway 107, and a mobile routing network 101. Components of the system that derive substantially from prior art are a fixed telephone 124, a circuit switched network 103, a packet data network 108, a cellular packet data system 106, a cellular switch system 105, and a fixed end system 125. The network system is designed to route data packets bidirectionally between mobile end system 102 and fixed end system 125, and also between mobile end system 102 and other similar mobile end systems of similar design. The network system is also designed to connect switched circuits between mobile end system 102 and fixed telephone 124, and also between mobile end system 102 and other mobile systems of similar design.
Mobile end system 102 connects to one or more subnetwork communication devices, which as shown in FIG. 1 may include telephone access gateway 104, cellular switch system 105, cellular packet data system 106, and local area network access gateway 107, which provide communication capabilities to mobile end system 102, allowing it to communicate with circuit switched network 103 and packet data network 108.