Patent ID: 7688790

Claim:
A communication system, comprising: one or more public networks supporting a first communication protocol, each public network comprising: a public wired network operable to support communication with one or more public network cells of the public network according to the first communication protocol; a base station sub-system (BSS) operable to communicate with mobile stations wirelessly through one or more base stations; and a base station controller (BSC) operable to facilitate communication between the public wired network and the station sub-system; and one or more private networks supporting a second communication protocol, wherein the second communication protocol is a packet-based protocol, each private network comprising: a private wired local area network (LAN) operable to support communication with one or more private network cells of the private network according to the second communication protocol; and a plurality of private network stations, each private network station operable to communicate with mobile stations located within a geographic area associated with the station; an interworking unit operable to: receive a first update request formatted in accordance with the first communication protocol, the first update request comprising a mobile station identifier identifying a mobile station in communication with one of the base stations; identify a gatekeeper associated with the mobile station identifier; and transmit a second update request to the identified gatekeeper, wherein the second update request is formatted in accordance with the second communication protocol and comprises the mobile station identifier and an address for communicating with the mobile station in accordance with the first communication protocol; and the identified gatekeeper operable to: receive the second update request from the interworking unit; and associate the mobile station identifier with the address for communicating with the mobile station in accordance with the first communication protocol.