Support of multiplicity of radio interfaces over an interface between a base station system and a mobile switch

Claim 2

A mobile radio system, comprising mobile stations, a mobile switch, a base station system supporting multiple radio interfaces for communication between said base station system and said mobile stations, a dedicated signalling protocol associated with each of said multiple radio interfaces, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said base station system, said single signalling protocol supporting each of said dedicated signalling protocols, a discrimination parameter used separating signalling messages belonging to different signalling protocols from each other, said discrimination parameter being associated with each signalling message transferred through said single signalling interface for indicating the signalling the signalling protocol said message belongs to.

Claim 3

A mobile radio system, comprising mobile stations, a mobile switch, a base station system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said mobile stations and a second radio interface for communication with a second group of said mobile stations, a first signalling protocol and a first group of signalling messages associated with said first radio interface, a second signalling protocol and a second group of messages associated with said second radio interface, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said base station system, said single signalling protocol supporting each of said dedicated signalling protocols, a discrimination parameter used for separating said first and second groups of signalling messages belonging to different signalling protocols from each other, said discrimination parameter being associated with each signalling message transferred through said single signalling interface for indicating the signalling the signalling protocol said message belongs to.

Claim 4

A mobile radio system, comprising mobile stations, a mobile switch, a base station system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said mobile stations and a second radio interface for communication with a second group of said mobile stations, a first signalling protocol and a first group of signalling messages associated with said first radio interface, a second signalling protocol and a second group of messages associated with said second radio interface, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said base station system, said single signalling protocol supporting each of said dedicated signalling protocols, a discrimination parameter used for separating said first and second groups of signalling messages belonging to different signalling protocols from each other, said discrimination parameter being associated with each signalling message transferred through said single signalling interface for indicating the signalling the signalling protocol said message belongs to.

Claim 5

A mobile radio system, comprising mobile stations, a mobile switch, a base station system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said mobile stations and radio interface for communication with a second group of said mobile stations, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said base station system, said single signalling interface comprising an upper signalling layer comprising a first group of signalling messages corresponding to said first radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said base station system over said single signalling interface, and a second group of signalling messages corresponding to said second radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said base station system over said single signalling interface, a lower signalling layer for carrying said upper signalling layer messages in an user data field of a lower layer message over said single signalling interface, said user data field of said lower layer message further containing a discrimination parameter, one or more bits of said discriminating parameter indicating whether said message in said user data field of said lower layer message belongs to said first group of messages or to said second group of messages, an intermediate layer between said lower layer and said upper layer for managing said discrimination parameter and for discrimination between said upper layer messages belonging to said first and second groups of messages.

Claim 6

A mobile radio system, comprising mobile stations, a mobile switch, a base station system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said mobile stations and radio interface for communication with a second group of said mobile stations, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said base station system, said single signalling interface comprising an upper signalling layer comprising a first group of signalling messages corresponding to said first radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said base station system over said single signalling interface, and a second group of signalling messages corresponding to said second radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said base station system over said single signalling interface, a lower signalling layer for carrying said upper signalling layer messages in an user data field of a lower layer message over said single signalling interface, said user data field of said lower layer message further containing a discrimination parameter, one or more bits of said discriminating parameter indicating whether said message in said user data field of said lower layer message belongs to said first group of messages or to said second group of messages, an intermediate layer between said lower layer and said upper layer for managing said discrimination parameter and for discrimination between said upper layer messages belonging to said first and second groups of messages.

Claim 7

A mobile radio system, comprising mobile stations, a mobile switch, a base station system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said mobile stations and a second a second radio interface for communication with a second group of said mobile stations, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said base station system, a first group of signalling messages corresponding to said first radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said base station system over said single signalling interface, a second group of signalling messages corresponding to said second radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said second base station system over said single signalling interface, said single signalling interface comprising a first direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said first group of messages between said mobile switch and said first group of said mobile stations via said single signalling interface and base station system, a first base station system management application sub-part BSSMAP for transferring BSSMAP messages in said first group messages between said mobile switch and said base station system, a second direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said second group of messages between said mobile switch and said second group of said mobile stations via said single signalling interface and base station system, a second base station system management application sub-part BSSMAP for transferring BSSMAP messages in said second group messages between said mobile switch and said base station system, a single signalling connection and control part SCCP for transferring said DTAP and BSSMAP messages in an user data field of a SCCP message over said single signalling interface, said user data field of said SCCP message containing a distribution data unit, a length indicator and said DTAP or BSSMAP message to be transferred, said distribution data unit containing a discrimination parameter, at least one bit of said discrimination parameter indicating whether the message in said user data field of said SCCP message is a BSSMAP message or a DTAP message, and one or more of the remaining bits of said discriminating parameter indicating whether said message in said user data field of said SCCP message belongs to said first group of messages or said second group of messages, an intermediate layer between the SCCP and DTAP and BSSMAP and for managing said discrimination parameter and for discrimination between said DTAP and BSSMAP messages belonging to said first and second groups of messages.

Claim 8

A mobile radio system, comprising mobile stations, a mobile switch, a base station system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said mobile stations and a second a second radio interface for communication with a second group of said mobile stations, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said base station system, a first group of signalling messages corresponding to said first radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said base station system over said single signalling interface, a second group of signalling messages corresponding to said second radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said second base station system over said single signalling interface, said single signalling interface comprising a first direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said first group of messages between said mobile switch and said first group of said mobile stations via said single signalling interface and base station system, a first base station system management application sub-part BSSMAP for transferring BSSMAP messages in said first group messages between said mobile switch and said base station system, a second direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said second group of messages between said mobile switch and said second group of said mobile stations via said single signalling interface and base station system, a second base station system management application sub-part BSSMAP for transferring BSSMAP messages in said second group messages between said mobile switch and said base station system, a single signalling connection and control part SCCP for transferring said DTAP and BSSMAP messages in an user data field of a SCCP message over said single signalling interface, said user data field of said SCCP message containing a distribution data unit, a length indicator and said DTAP or BSSMAP message to be transferred, said distribution data unit containing a discrimination parameter, at least one bit of said discrimination parameter indicating whether the message in said user data field of said SCCP message is a BSSMAP message or a DTAP message, and one or more of the remaining bits of said discriminating parameter indicating whether said message in said user data field of said SCCP message belongs to said first group of messages or said second group of messages, an intermediate layer between the SCCP and DTAP and BSSMAP and for managing said discrimination parameter and for discrimination between said DTAP and BSSMAP messages belonging to said first and second groups of messages.

Claim 9

A mobile radio system according to claim 4, wherein said intermediate layer is responsive to said discrimination parameter in a received SCCP message to distribute the message in the user data field of the SCCP message to said first DTAP if said discrimination parameter indicates the message in said user data field is a DTAP message belonging to said first group of messages, said second DTAP if said discrimination parameter indicates the message in said user data field is a DTAP message belonging to said second group of messages, said first BSSMAP if said discrimination parameter indicates the message in said user data field is a BSSMAP message belonging to said first group of messages, said second BSSMAP if said discrimination parameter indicates the message in said user data field is a BSSMAP message belonging to said second group of messages.

Claim 10

A mobile radio system according to claim 4, wherein said single signalling interface is substantially similar to the GSM specific A-interface.

Claim 11

A mobile radio system, comprising personal stations, a mobile switch, a radio system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said personal stations and a second interface for communication with a second group of said personal stations, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said radio system, a first group of signalling messages corresponding to said first radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said radio system over said single signalling interface, a second group of signalling messages corresponding to said second radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said radio system over said single signalling interface, said single signalling interface comprising a first direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said first group of messages between said mobile switch and said first group of said personal stations via said single signalling interface and said radio system, a first radio system management application sub-part RSMAP for transferring RSMAP messages in said first group messages between said mobile switch and said radio system, a second direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said second group of messages between said mobile switch and said second group of said personal stations via said single signalling interface and said radio system, a second radio system management application sub-part RSMAP for transferring RSMAP messages in said second group messages between said mobile switch and said radio system, a single signalling connection and control part SCCP for transferring said DTAP and BSSMAP messages in an user data field of a SCCP message over said single signalling interface, said user data field of said SCCP message containing a distribution data unit, a length indicator and said DTAP or RSMAP message to be transferred, said distribution data unit containing a discrimination parameter, at least one bit of said discrimination parameter indicating whether the message in said user data field of said SCCP message is a RSMAP message or a DTAP message, and one or more of the remaining bits of said discriminating parameter indicating whether said message in said user data field of said SCCP message belongs to said first group of messages or said second group of messages, an intermediate layer between the SCCP and DTAP and RSMAP and for managing said discrimination parameter and for discrimination between said DTAP and RSMAP messages belonging to said first and second groups of messages.

Claim 12

A mobile radio system, comprising personal stations, a mobile switch, a radio system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said personal stations and a second interface for communication with a second group of said personal stations, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said radio system, a first group of signalling messages corresponding to said first radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said radio system over said single signalling interface, a second group of signalling messages corresponding to said second radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said radio system over said single signalling interface, said single signalling interface comprising a first direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said first group of messages between said mobile switch and said first group of said personal stations via said single signalling interface and said radio system, a first radio system management application sub-part RSMAP for transferring RSMAP messages in said first group messages between said mobile switch and said radio system, a second direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said second group of messages between said mobile switch and said second group of said personal stations via said single signalling interface and said radio system, a second radio system management application sub-part RSMAP for transferring RSMAP messages in said second group messages between said mobile switch and said radio system, a single signalling connection and control part SCCP for transferring said DTAP and BSSMAP messages in an user data field of a SCCP message over said single signalling interface, said user data field of said SCCP message containing a distribution data unit, a length indicator and said DTAP or RSMAP message to be transferred, said distribution data unit containing a discrimination parameter, at least one bit of said discrimination parameter indicating whether the message in said user data field of said SCCP message is a RSMAP message or a DTAP message, and one or more of the remaining bits of said discriminating parameter indicating whether said message in said user data field of said SCCP message belongs to said first group of messages or said second group of messages, an intermediate layer between the SCCP and DTAP and RSMAP and for managing said discrimination parameter and for discrimination between said DTAP and RSMAP messages belonging to said first and second groups of messages.

Claim 13

A mobile radio system according to claim 7, wherein said intermediate layer is responsive to said discrimination parameter in a received SCCP message to distribute the message in the user data field of the SCCP message to said first DTAP if said discrimination parameter indicates the message in said user data field is a DTAP message belonging to said first group of messages, said second DTAP if said discrimination parameter indicates the message in said user data field is a DTAP message belonging to said second group of messages, said first RSMAP if said discrimination parameter indicates the message in said user data field is a RSMAP message belonging to said first group of messages, said second RSMAP if said discrimination parameter indicates the message in said user data field is a RSMAP message belonging to said second group of messages.

Claim 14

A mobile radio system according to claim 7, wherein said single signalling interface is a signalling system Number 7 (SS7) based A-interface PN-3343.

Claim 15

A signalling method in a mobile radio system, comprising steps of utilizing at least two different radio interfaces for communication between a base station system and a plurality of mobile stations, utilizing a dedicated signalling protocol for each of said at least two different radio interfaces, utilizing a single signalling interface for signalling between said base station system and a mobile switch, said single signalling interface supporting each of said dedicated signalling protocols, associating a discrimination parameter with each signalling message transferred through said single signalling interface, for separating signalling messages belonging to different signalling protocols from each other in said single signalling interface, a dedicated value of said discrimination parameter being allocated to each of said radio multiple radio interfaces.

Claim 16

A signalling method in a mobile radio system, comprising steps of utilizing at least two different radio interfaces for communication between a base station system and a plurality of mobile stations, utilizing a dedicated signalling protocol for each of said at least two different radio interfaces, utilizing a single signalling interface for signalling between said base station system and a mobile switch, said single signalling interface supporting each of said dedicated signalling protocols, associating a discrimination parameter with each signalling message transferred through said single signalling interface, for separating signalling messages belonging to different signalling protocols from each other in said single signalling interface, a dedicated value of said discrimination parameter being allocated to each of said radio multiple radio interfaces.

Claim 17

A mobile radio system, comprising personal stations, a mobile switch, a radio system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said personal stations and a second interface for communication with a second group of said personal stations, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said radio system, a first group of signalling messages corresponding to said first radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said radio system over said single signalling interface, a second group of signalling messages corresponding to said second radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said radio system over said single signalling interface, said single signalling interface comprising a first direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said first group of messages via said single signalling interface and said radio system, a first radio system management application sub-part RSMAP for transferring RSMAP messages in said first group messages between said mobile switch and said radio system, a second direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said second group of messages between said mobile switch and said second group of said personal stations via said single signalling interface and said radio system, a second radio system management application sub-part RSMAP for transferring RSMAP messages in said second group messages between said mobile switch and said radio system, a single signalling connection and control part SCCP for transferring said DTAP and BSSMAP messages in an user data field of a SCCP message over said single signalling interface, said user data field of said SCCP message containing a distribution data unit, a length indicator and said DTAP or RSMAP message to be transferred, said distribution data unit containing a discrimination parameter, at least one bit of said discrimination parameter indicating whether the message in said user data field of said SCCP message is a RSMAP message or a DTAP message, and one or more of the remaining bits of said discriminating parameter indicating whether said message in said user data field of said SCCP message belongs to said first group of messages or said second group of messages, an intermediate layer between the SCCP and DTAP and RSMAP and for managing said discrimination parameter and for discrimination between said DTAP and RSMAP messages belonging to said first and second groups of messages.

Claim 18

A mobile radio system, comprising personal stations, a mobile switch, a radio system supporting a first radio interface for communication with a first group of said personal stations and a second interface for communication with a second group of said personal stations, a single signalling interface between said mobile switch and said radio system, a first group of signalling messages corresponding to said first radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said radio system over said single signalling interface, a second group of signalling messages corresponding to said second radio interface for signalling between said mobile switch and said radio system over said single signalling interface, said single signalling interface comprising a first direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said first group of messages via said single signalling interface and said radio system, a first radio system management application sub-part RSMAP for transferring RSMAP messages in said first group messages between said mobile switch and said radio system, a second direct transfer application sub-part DTAP for transferring DTAP messages in said second group of messages between said mobile switch and said second group of said personal stations via said single signalling interface and said radio system, a second radio system management application sub-part RSMAP for transferring RSMAP messages in said second group messages between said mobile switch and said radio system, a single signalling connection and control part SCCP for transferring said DTAP and BSSMAP messages in an user data field of a SCCP message over said single signalling interface, said user data field of said SCCP message containing a distribution data unit, a length indicator and said DTAP or RSMAP message to be transferred, said distribution data unit containing a discrimination parameter, at least one bit of said discrimination parameter indicating whether the message in said user data field of said SCCP message is a RSMAP message or a DTAP message, and one or more of the remaining bits of said discriminating parameter indicating whether said message in said user data field of said SCCP message belongs to said first group of messages or said second group of messages, an intermediate layer between the SCCP and DTAP and RSMAP and for managing said discrimination parameter and for discrimination between said DTAP and RSMAP messages belonging to said first and second groups of messages.