EP0740486A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for providing interswitch handover in personal communication services systems
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-04-17
Abstract
Abstract The system of the invention provides a method for handling interswitch handovers in a personal communication services (PCS) system. Specifically, the method of the invention designates the original switching system (2a) that hosts the radio port control unit (RPCU) (26a) that first serves the call as the anchor switch. The anchor switch maintains this status for the duration of the call and is always responsible for setting up the three-way connection to effectuate the interswitch handover regardless of how many additional new switching systems (2b,2c) host RPCUs (26b,26c) that serve the call as the mobile station (34) moves through the system. The additional new switching systems hosting the new RPCUs always communicate with the anchor switch (2a) and the call is always routed from the anchor switch directly to the switching system hosting the RPCU serving the mobile station. Intermediate switches (e.g.2b) are dropped from the connection when the mobile station exits the areas (e.g. 36b) they serve thereby eliminating the need to maintain connections through prior switching systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell D. Klem
- 👤 Kimberly Sue Tomasko-Dean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for routing calls in a wireless telecommunications system having a plurality of switching systems in communication with one another, selected ones of said switching systems each hosting a radio port control unit (RPCU) for communicating over an air interface with a mobile station, comprising the steps of: serving a call from a first RPCU hosted by a first of said plurality of switching systems; transferring the call to a second RPCU hosted by a second of said plurality of switching systems; identifying a third RPCU for serving the call, said third RPCU being hosted by a third of said plurality of switching systems; sending a call set up request from the third RPCU to said third switching system; sending a first automatic link transfer (ALT) request to the second switching system; transmitting the identity of the first switching system to the third switching system in response to the first ALT request; transmitting a second ALT request to the first of said plurality switching system; and routing the call from the first switching system to the third switching system without routing through the second switching system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of connecting the call from the second RPCU at a predetermined location on said second switching system and identifying the predetermined location with a first directory number.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2, further including the step of providing said first directory number to said third switching system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the first directory number is provided to said third switching system by said mobile station to allow said third switching system to identify the call in said second switching system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the identity of the first switching system includes the step of identifying the first switching system by the second switching system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of routing the call includes the step of creating a three-way connection in said first switching system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, further including the step of creating the three-way connection between the second RPCU, the third RPCU and a remote station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7, further including the step of breaking the three-way connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first switching system constitutes an anchor switch where all interswitch handovers are controlled.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for providing interswitch handovers in a personal communications services (PCS) telecommunications system having a plurality of switching systems in communication with one another, selected ones of said switching systems each hosting a radio port control unit (RPCU) for communicating with mobile stations located in an area served by the RPCU, comprising the steps of: routing a call between one of said mobile stations and a remote station through a first switching system, said mobile station being located in a first area; transferring the call through a second switching system from the first switching system to maintain the connection between the mobile station and remote station when the mobile station moves to a second area; transferring the call through a third switching system from the first switching system to maintain the connection between the mobile station and remote station when the mobile station moves to a third area and disconnecting the second switching system from the call.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10, further including the step of using a radio port control unit with each of said first, second and third switching systems to provide an air interface with the mobile station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transferring the call through a second switching system includes the step of creating a three-way connection in the first switching system between the remote station, the first switching system and the second switching system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transferring the call through a third switching system includes the step of creating a three-way connection in the first switching system between the remote station, the second switching system and the third switching system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the first switching system constitutes an anchor switch where all interswitch handovers are controlled.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
213 words
An apparatus for routing calls in a wireless telecommunications system having a plurality of switching systems in communication with one another, selected ones of said switching systems each hosting a means for communicating over an air interface with a mobile station, comprising the steps of: a first means for communicating hosted by a first of said plurality of switching systems for serving a call to or from a mobile station; means for transferring the call to a second means for communicating hosted by a second of said plurality of switching systems; means for identifying a third means for communicating for serving the call, said third means for communicating being hosted by a third of said plurality of switching systems; means for sending a call set up request from the third means for communicating to said third switching system; means for sending a first automatic link transfer (ALT) request to the second switching system; means for transmitting the identity of the first switching system to the third switching system in response to the first ALT request; means for transmitting a second ALT request to the first of said plurality switching system; and means for routing the call from the first switching system to the third switching system without routing through the second switching system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 15, further including means for connecting the call from the second means for communicating at a predetermined location on said second switching system, said predetermined location being identified by a first directory number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 16, further including means for providing said first directory number to said third switching system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein means for providing the first directory number to said third switching system comprises said mobile station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the means of routing the call includes a means for creating a three-way connection in said first switching system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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