Patent ID: 6711417
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
An interface between a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a wireless communication network, and a wireless device, said wireless communication network having a plurality of cells and a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSCs), each of said plurality of cells having a coverage area, said interface comprising:a broadband packet network; an integrated services hub (ISH), said ISH communicatively coupled to said wireless device and said broadband packet network, said ISH receiving RF signaling and media information from said wireless device and converting said RF signaling and media information into control and media packets usable by said broadband packet network, said ISH transmitting said control and media packets over said broadband packet network, said ISH having an antenna with a first coverage area extending over a pico cell; and a service manager communicatively coupled to said broadband packet network, to said wireless network, and to said PSTN, said service manager receiving said control packets from said ISH via said broadband packet network and forming and providing signaling communications in response to receiving said control packets, said signaling communications controlling the operation of switches in said PSTN, said service manager communicating with selected ones of said plurality of MSCs in said wireless network to perform hand-offs of said wireless device from said first coverage area to a selected one of said plurality of cells within said wireless network.