Public land mobile network/private wireless network-integrated service network and system for the same

A public land mobile network (PLMN)/private wireless network-integrated service network and a system for the service network. The service network according to the present invention can interwork with any PLMN with no dependence on an upper system. In the present invention, there is no need for a public BSC and a separate private BSC. The novel BSC handles both public and private data and voice calls placed from or placed to a mobile station or terminal. The novel BSC enables a wireless phone or terminal to place and receive calls using either the public communications network or the private communications network. Thus, the need for a redundant private BSC is eliminated while providing the diversity of services to mobile stations.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to my application entitled “PUBLIC LAND MOBILE NETWORK/PRIVATE WIRELESS NETWORK-INTEGRATED SERVICE NETWORK AND SYSTEM FOR THE SAME”, filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Nov. 28, 2001 and assigned Serial No. 2001-74585, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile telecommunications service, and more particularly to a mobile telecommunications service network in which there is an interworking between a public land mobile network (PLMN) and a wired/wireless private switched network.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, it is impossible for a public land mobile network (PLMN) to interwork with a wired/wireless private network, and subscribers suffer the inconvenience of having to be provided with a mobile telecommunications service only from their registered network, one of the PLMN and the wireless private network. There has been developed a service system in which the PLMN interworks with the wired/wireless private switched network such that the subscriber can be provided with the mobile telecommunications service from either one of the networks with a mobile telecommunications terminal, or a mobile station (MS). Examples of this service system are disclosed in a Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-9932 published on Jan. 5, 2001 (entitled “Method for processing in extension terminal terminating call between mobile telecommunications network and private switched network”) and an U.S. Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-16835 published on Mar. 5, 2001 (entitled “Method for processing in mobile terminal terminating call between mobile telecommunications network and private wireless network”).

What is needed is an arrangement where a private network can work with any PLMN. Also, what is needed is to eliminate the need for a public and a private base station controller (i.e., BSC) thus eliminating redundant elements and providing both public and private mobile communications to mobile stations and terminals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a PLMN/private wireless network-integrated service network, which can interwork with any PLMN with no dependence on an upper system, and a system for the service network.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a PLMN/private wireless network-integrated service network with no need for a BSC of a PLMN and a private BSC to be separately provided, and a system for the service network.

It is further an object of the present invention to efficiently provide both public and private mobile communication services to mobile stations and terminals for both data calls and voice calls.

These and other objects can be achieved by having a novel public BSC interface to both a public mobile communication system and a private mobile communication system enabling mobile stations and terminals to have access to both public and private mobile communication services. The mobile station or a terminal is in wireless communication with a base transceiver station (i.e., “BTS”). The BTS is in communication with the novel BSC enabling the mobile station to send and receive both voice calls and data calls using either a public network or a private network. The novel BSC and the MSC work together for public voice calls, the BSC and the PBX work together for private voice calls, the BSC and the PSDN work together for public data calls and the BSC and the intranet work together for private data calls. Therefore, the novel BSC has interface circuitry and is connected to each of the MSC, PDSN, PBX and the intranet.

The novel BSC includes two transcoder/MSC link interface boards, one connected to the public MSC via either T1 or E1 connection and the other connected to the private PBX via LAN (or Local Area Network) connection to handle voice calls. The BSC further includes two radio packet interface boards, one connected to the public PSDN and the other connected to the private intranet to handle data calls. The novel BSC further includes a BTS interface board that is connected to the BTS's and a control board. The control board, the BTS interface board, the two transcoder/MSC link interface boards and the two radio packet interface boards are all connected to an inner switch disposed within the MSC. The novel control board disposed within the novel BSC induces a public call process module, a private call process module, a message routing module, a private HLR and a private MSC module. The novel BSC handles public network originating calls (or public calls originating from MS210), private network originating calls (or private calls originating from MS210), private network terminating calls (or private calls handled by the private network to MS210) and public network terminating calls (or calls handled by the public network to MS210). All of the above calls can be either voice calls or data calls. Depending on the above eight types of calls, the BSC interworks with one of the public MSC, the public PSDN, the private PBX and the private intranet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a block diagram showing the construction of a service network in which there is an interworking between the PLMN and the wired/wireless private switched network. As shown in this drawing, the wired/wireless private switched network100interworks with the PLMN102while being connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN)104and an Internet protocol (IP) network106. The PLMN102includes a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSCs)118and132, a plurality of base station controllers (BSCs)122and124connected to the MSC118, and a plurality of base transceiver stations (BTSs)126and128connected to the BSC122. With this construction, the PLMN102can provide mobile telecommunications services to a mobile station (MS)130. The MSC118is connected to a home location register/visitor location register (HLR/VLR)120.FIG. 1simply shows, for the convenience of description, connections between the MSC118and the HLR/VLR120and between the MSC118and the plurality of the BSCs122and124, and connections between the BSC122and the plurality of the BTSs126and128. However, although not shown, it will be appreciated that the MSC132may have connections to the HLR/VLR120and other BSCs, and the BSC124may have connections to other BTSs. Further, each of the MSCs118and132may be connected to the PSTN104and the IP network106using an interworking function (IWF), although not shown in this drawing.

The wired/wireless private switched network100interworking with the PLMN102has a structure in which a system108has a private branch exchange (PBX)112and a private BSC (pBSC)110and is connected to a private BTS (pBTS)114in order to provide the mobile telecommunications services to an MS116registered in the networks100and102. Further, the wired/wireless private switched network100is connected to the PSTN104through the PBX112while being connected to the IP network106through the pBSC110. The functions of the system108and pBTS114may be performed by an InfoMobile-3G system, which is manufactured and sold by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in Korea.

As well as the BSC122and BTS126and128, the BSC124and pBSC110communicate with each other using inter-processor communications (IPCs) while the MSC118and BSCs122and124communicate with each other according to a standard protocol. On the other hand, the pBSC110is connected to the PSTN104according to a protocol such as T1, E1, PRI, SS7 or the like, and connected to the IP network106according to a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) or a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP).

The pBSC110interworks with the PBX112and PLMN102and performs a routing process for a wireless call to the MS116. In other words, the pBSC110performs a routing process with respect to the wireless call via the BSC124to the MS116if the wireless call is a public network call while performing services via the pBTS114if the wireless call is a private network call.

As described above, the pBSC110operates between the BSC and the BTS without use of the standard protocol and is dependent on a base station subsystem (BSS), which includes the BSC and BTS, so that it cannot independently interwork with other PLMNs. As described above, the pBSC performs a routing process with respect to the public network call via a public network and, on the other hand, performs a service with respect to a private network call via the pBTS. That is, in order to provide the two similar services, the BSC are the pBSC are both needed, which are respectively upper and lower systems and perform a similar function. Further, a problem may happen in a management of the BTS because the lower private network is managed under the condition that a base station manager (BSM) and the BSC in the PLMN do not recognize the existence of the private network.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of a service network integrating a PLMN and a private wireless network and a system for the network according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the public land mobile network (PLMN) according to the present invention employs an MSC202, a BSC200, BTSs206and208and an MS210similarly to the PLMN102illustrated inFIG. 1. The BSC200(or PLMN/private wireless network-integrated service system) according to the present invention has a hardware construction of the same type as a BSC of the PLMN102illustrated inFIG. 1. However, the PLMN and the BSC200inFIG. 2are configured suitably to the service network in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a system separated from the PLMN102inFIG. 1is not employed. The service network integrates the PLMN102and private wireless network in such a manner that the BSC124of the PLMN102and the pBSC110of a private wireless network is integrated to be the BSC200, in which BSC124and pBSC110have a similar function with the same hardware form. Namely, the pBSC110of the private wireless network is removed, and the BSC200interworks with a PBX which had interworked with the pBSC110. The network as shown inFIG. 2has functions of the PLMN and has a construction in which the network can be connected to a public data service network (PDSN)204through the BSC200. Further, the network can be connected to a private voice network using the PBX212and to a private data network such as an intranet216. With this construction, the PLMN network can be connected to any private network without dependence on a base stating substation (i.e., a BSS) which is a component of an upper system. The PBX212and the intranet216in a private area220are connected to a PSTN214and the Internet218, respectively.

The BSC200is an example of one used in a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, and has the same hardware form as the BSC of the PLMN102illustrated inFIG. 1. The BSC200according to the present invention includes a control board222, transcoder/MSC link interface boards224and226, radio packet interface boards228and230, a BTS link interface board232and an inner switch234. The control board222functions to process signals of voice and data calls and signals in a traffic state. Both of the transcoder/MSC link interface boards224and226are system resources and have a voice coder/decoders (VOCODER) to convert PCM data into Qualcomm code-excited linear predictive coding (QCELP) data and vice versa in order to communicate with a BTS channel. Further, each of the transcoder/MSC link interface boards224and226has an E1 or T1 link to be connected to the MSC202. Both of the radio packet interface boards228and230are system resources for data services and perform a radio link protocol (RLP) function. The inner switch234functions to enable IPCs (inter-processor communications) among the control board222, transcoder/MSC link interface boards224and226, radio packet interface boards228and230, BTS link interface board232and inner switch234. The inner switch234may be, for example, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch, a high-level data link control (HDLC) switch or the like.

As described above, the BSC200has a similar construction to the BSC of the PLMN102illustrated inFIG. 1. However, in the present invention, the transcoder/MSC link interface board224is connected to the MSC202through the E1 or T1 link and is allocated for public use while the transcoder/MSC link interface board226is connected to the PBX212through a local area network (LAN) and allocated for a local use. Namely, the transcoder/MSC link interface board224for public use provides an interface between the BSC200and the MSC202, and the transcoder/MSC link interface board226for the local use provides an interface between the BSC200and the PBX212. On the other hand, the radio packet interface board228connected to the PDSN204is allocated for public use while the radio packet interface board230connected to the intranet216is allocated for a local use. Namely, the radio packet interface board228provides an interface between the BSC200and the PDSN204, and the radio packet interface board230provides an interface between the BSC200and the intranet216. The control board222controls a public network originating call (a call originating from MS210and utilizing the public communications network) from the MS210by interworking with the MSC202if there is a public network originating call process request transmitted through the BTS206or208from the MS210. Further the control board222controls a private network originating call (a call originating from MS210and utilizing the private communications network) from the MS210by interworking with the PBX212if there is a private network originating call process request transmitted from the MS210through the BTS206or208. On the other hand, the control board222controls respective public network and private network terminating call processes (calls to MS210utilizing the public communications network and the private communications network, respectively) requested from the MSC202and PBX212, respectively through the BTS206or208to MS210. Also, the control board222controls public and private terminating call processes requested from MSC202and PBX212, respectively, through the PDSN204and the intranet216, respectively.

FIG. 3illustrates a detailed view of control board222depicted inFIG. 2according to the principles of the present invention. In order to perform the call processes as described above, the control board222has two types of software that are different from the BSC of the PLMN102illustrated inFIG. 1. That is, one is a public call process module302for controlling the public call and the other is a private call process module304for controlling the private call. The public call process module302processes the public network originating and terminating calls by interworking with the MSC202, and processes a data call through the PDSN204. The private call process module304processes the private network originating and terminating calls by interworking with the PBX212through a private MSC module306, and processes a data call through the intranet216. A private HLR308for the private call process manages information about subscribers registered in a private wireless network. The private MSC module306is connected to the private HLR308and enables an interworking between the private call process module304and the PBX212. A message routing module300is connected to the public call process module302, private call process module304and the private HLR308. The message routing module300performs a routing process through the public call process module302with respect to the public network originating and terminating calls from and to the MS210, respectively. The message routing module300also performs a routing process through the private call process module304with respect to the private network originating and terminating calls from and to the MS210, respectively. Further, the message routing module300performs a routing process with respect to the data call to provide the data services through the PDSN204or the intranet216.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 to 6, call processing procedures will be described below.FIG. 4is a flow chart illustrating a procedure (S400to S410) of processing an originating call from the MS210or a terminating call to the MS210in the message routing module300.FIG. 5is a flow chart illustrating a procedure (S500to S506) of processing an originating call from the MS210or a terminating call to the MS210in the public call module302.FIG. 6is a flow chart illustrating a procedure (S600to S606) of processing an originating call from the MS210or a terminating call to the MS210in the private call module304. First, referring toFIG. 4, if the message routing module300receives a public network terminating call process request from the MSC202(S400and S402), it then processes a corresponding public network terminating call to the MS210through the BTS206or208(S410). If the message routing module300receives a public network originating call process request from the MS210(S400, S402and S404), it then transfers the received call process request to the public call process module302(S406). Upon receiving the call process request from the message routing module300(S500and S502), the public call process module302processes a corresponding public network originating call by interworking with the MSC202(S506). On the other hand, if the message routing module300receives a private network originating call process request from the MS210, it then analyzes corresponding information in the private HLR308and a corresponding calling number (S400, S402and S404). Then, the message routing module300transfers the received the call process request to the private call process module304(S408). Upon receiving the private network originating call process request from the message routing module300(S600and S602), the private call process module304processes a corresponding private network originating call by interworking with the PBX212.

On the other hand, if the public call process module302receives a public network terminating call process request from the MSC202(S500and S502), it then processes a corresponding public network terminating call to the MS210by interworking with the BTS206or208(S504). If the private call process module304receives a private network terminating call process request from the PBX212(S600and S602), it then processes a corresponding private network terminating call to the MS210by interworking with the BTS206or208.

Although voice calls have been described in detail, this invention is by no means limited to just voice calls. The scope of this invention also encompasses data calls. For example, a private network originating data call is a call placed by MS210to intranet216. In a private network originating data call, BSC200interworks with intranet216to connect MS210with intranet216using only the private communications network. A public network originating data call is a call placed by MS210to PDSN204. In such a call, BSC200interworks with PSDN204to connect MS210with PDSN204via the public communications network. A private network terminating data call is a call with the MS210being the destination, said call requiring the interworking of BSC200with intranet216and use of only the private communications network. A public network terminating data call is a call with the MS210being the destination, said call requiring the interworking of BSC200with PDSN204to open communication between PDSN204and MS210and use of only the public communications network.

As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an integrated service network can be configured to be connected to any network without dependence on a BSS which is an upper system using a new BSC in which a BSC of a PLMN and a pBSC of a private wireless network are integrated to be one, which BSC and pBSC have the same hardware form and a similar function. Further, in the present invention, because the new BSC has a function of the pBSC as well, it is possible to manage the network smoothly.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. For example, although data services are provided through the PDSN204and the intranet216in the above embodiment of the present invention, the data services do not have to be provided. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.