US6208627B1 — Signaling and protocol for communication system w…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 144 words

A method of communication, comprising the steps of: establishing a wireless connection between a wireless access communication unit and a base station subsystem of a cellular network, said wireless access communication unit connected to a plurality of non-wireless units; performing connection management and mobility management functions between said wireless access communication unit and a mobile switching center using GSM connection management and GSM mobility management protocols end-to-end between said wireless access communication unit and said mobile switching center, said connection management and mobility management functions providing at least call set-up, maintenance and release functions for each of said non-wireless units; transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station subsystem using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol; and transporting said call data between said base station subsystem and said mobile switching center using a GSM protocol.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 144 words

A method of communication, comprising the steps of: establishing a wireless connection between a wireless access communication unit and a base station subsystem of a cellular network, said wireless access communication unit connected to a plurality of non-wireless units; performing connection management and mobility management functions between said wireless access communication unit and a mobile switching center using GSM connection management and GSM mobility management protocols end-to-end between said wireless access communication unit and said mobile switching center, said connection management and mobility management functions providing at least call set-up, maintenance and release functions for each of said non-wireless units; transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station subsystem using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol; and transporting said call data between said base station subsystem and said mobile switching center using a GSM protocol.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 117 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein said base station subsystem comprises a plurality of base stations connected to a base station controller, said step of transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station subsystem using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol comprises the step of transporting call data between said wireless access communication unit and a base station of said base station subsystem, and said step of transporting said call data between said base station subsystem and a mobile switching center using a GSM protocol comprises the step of transporting said call data between said base station controller and said mobile switching center using said GSM protocol.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of establishing a plurality of bearer paths between said wireless access communication unit and said mobile switching center, each bearer path corresponding to one of said non-wireless units connected to said wireless access communication unit.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of establishing and maintaining a plurality of SCCP links between said base station controller and said mobile switching center, one SCCP link for each of said bearer paths.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station subsystem using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol comprises the step of transporting said call data using an IS-661 format.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 151 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station subsystem using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol comprises the steps of: assigning, from among a plurality of time slots of a time frame, one or more duplex time slots to said wireless access communication unit, one of said duplex time slots being assigned for each non-wireless communication unit desiring to communicate over said wireless connection; transmitting, over a first frequency band, user-to-base traffic messages from the wireless access communication unit to a base station of said base station subsystem during a user transmission segment in each of said duplex time slots; and transmitting, over a second frequency band, base-to-user traffic messages from said base station to said wireless access communication unit during a base transmission segment in each of said duplex time slots.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 6 , wherein said user transmission segment and said base transmission segment of each duplex time slot are separated by one-half the duration of said time frame.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 215 words

A method of communication, comprising the steps of: establishing a wireless connection between a wireless access communication unit and a base station of a cellular network, said wireless access communication unit connected to a plurality of non-wireless units; performing connection management and mobility management functions between said wireless access communication unit and a mobile switching center using GSM connection management and GSM mobility management protocols end-to-end between said wireless access communication unit and said mobile switching center, said connection management and mobility management functions providing at least call set-up, maintenance and release functions for each of said non-wireless units; transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol; transmitting call data received from said wireless access communication unit over a backhaul connection from said base station to a base station controller; relaying said call data received from said wireless access communication unit from said base station controller to said mobile switching center using a GSM protocol; transmitting from said mobile switching center to said base station controller call data intended for said wireless access communication unit using said GSM protocol; and relaying said call data intended for said wireless access communication unit to said base station over said backhaul connection.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 215 words

A method of communication, comprising the steps of: establishing a wireless connection between a wireless access communication unit and a base station of a cellular network, said wireless access communication unit connected to a plurality of non-wireless units; performing connection management and mobility management functions between said wireless access communication unit and a mobile switching center using GSM connection management and GSM mobility management protocols end-to-end between said wireless access communication unit and said mobile switching center, said connection management and mobility management functions providing at least call set-up, maintenance and release functions for each of said non-wireless units; transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol; transmitting call data received from said wireless access communication unit over a backhaul connection from said base station to a base station controller; relaying said call data received from said wireless access communication unit from said base station controller to said mobile switching center using a GSM protocol; transmitting from said mobile switching center to said base station controller call data intended for said wireless access communication unit using said GSM protocol; and relaying said call data intended for said wireless access communication unit to said base station over said backhaul connection.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 8 , wherein said step of transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol comprises the step of transporting said call data using an IS-661 protocol.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 145 words

The method of claim 8 , wherein said step of transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol comprises the steps of: assigning, from among a plurality of time slots of a time frame, one or more duplex time slots to said wireless access communication unit, one of said duplex time slots being assigned for each non-wireless communication unit desiring to communicate over said wireless connection; transmitting, over a first frequency band, user-to-base traffic messages from the wireless access communication unit to said base station during a user transmission segment in each of said duplex time slots; and transmitting, over a second frequency band, base-to-user traffic messages from said base station to said wireless access communication unit during a base transmission segment in each of said duplex time slots.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 10 , wherein said user transmission segment and said base transmission segment in each duplex time slot are separated by one-half the duration of said time frame.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 8 , wherein said step of transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol comprises the step of transmitting signaling messages between said wireless access communication unit and said base station.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 8 , wherein said step of transporting call data over said wireless connection between said wireless access communication unit and said base station using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol comprises the step of transmitting bearer traffic messages between said wireless access communication unit and said base station for each non-wireless unit communicating over said wireless connection.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 144 words

A communication system, comprising: a base station; a wireless access communication unit connected to a plurality of non-wireless units, said wireless access communication unit providing a communication path between said base station and said non-wireless units, said communication path including a wireless connection over which said wireless access communication unit and base station communicate using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol; a base station controller connected to said base station; and a mobile switching center connected to said base station controller, said mobile switching center and said base station controller communicating using a GSM protocol, said mobile switching center and said wireless access communication unit performing connection management and mobility management functions using GSM connection management and GSM mobility management protocols end-to-end, said connection management and mobility management functions providing at least call set-up, maintenance and release functions for each of said non-wireless units.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 144 words

A communication system, comprising: a base station; a wireless access communication unit connected to a plurality of non-wireless units, said wireless access communication unit providing a communication path between said base station and said non-wireless units, said communication path including a wireless connection over which said wireless access communication unit and base station communicate using a non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol; a base station controller connected to said base station; and a mobile switching center connected to said base station controller, said mobile switching center and said base station controller communicating using a GSM protocol, said mobile switching center and said wireless access communication unit performing connection management and mobility management functions using GSM connection management and GSM mobility management protocols end-to-end, said connection management and mobility management functions providing at least call set-up, maintenance and release functions for each of said non-wireless units.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The communication system of claim 14 , wherein said non-GSM over-the-air physical layer protocol comprises an IS-661 over-the-air protocol.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The communication system of claim 14 , wherein said base station comprises at least two backhaul transceivers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The communication system of claim 16 , wherein said backhaul transceivers comprise logical terminal endpoints, each backhaul transceiver supporting a first logical link for traffic signaling and a second logical link for operations, administration and management signaling.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 39 words

The communication system of claim 17 , wherein said base station multiplexes said first logical link and said second logical link of each of said backhaul transceivers onto a single time slot for communication to said base station controller.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The communication system of claim 17 , wherein functional entities of said base station are addressable using service access point identifiers.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

The communication system of claim 14 , wherein said base station controller and said wireless access communication unit comprise endpoints for voice encoding and decoding.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

The communication system of claim 14 , wherein said base station controller and said wireless access communication unit comprise endpoints for encryption and decryption of bearer traffic.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The communication system of claim 14 , wherein said base station controller and said wireless access communication unit comprise endpoints for forward error correction.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

The communication system of claim 14 , further comprising a transcoding unit, wherein said mobile switching center is connected to said base station controller through said transcoding unit.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

The communication system of claim 14 , wherein said base station controller and said mobile switching center communicate across a GSM A-interface.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 25 words

The communication system of claim 14 , wherein said wireless access communication unit is connected to said non-wireless units through a local area telephone switch.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 25 words

The communication system of claim 25 , wherein said local area telephone switch comprises either a private branch exchange (PBX) or key telephone system (KTS).

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 78 words

The communication system of claim 25 , wherein said wireless access communication unit comprises a plurality of subscriber ports connected to said local area telephone switch over a plurality of trunks; a plurality of user interfaces connected to said subscriber ports, one user interface for each subscriber port; a radio transceiver; and a controller connected to said user interfaces and said radio transceiver, said controller managing the transfer of data between said user interfaces and said radio transceiver.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

The communication system of claim 27 , wherein said user interfaces are individually addressable.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 42 words

The communication system of claim 27 , wherein said base station controller and said mobile switching center maintain a plurality of SCCP links, one SCCP link for each user interface over which a call is connected from one of said non-wireless units.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 36 words

The communication system of claim 27 , wherein said wireless access communication unit sets up and maintains calls from said non-wireless units to said mobile switching center via said base station and said base station controller.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

The communication system of claim 14 , wherein said base station supports a multiple access communication protocol, said base station establishing wireless communication paths with mobile user stations upon demand.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-03-26	2004-09-25	2005-03-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-03-26	2008-09-25	2009-03-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-03-26	2012-09-25	2013-03-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Signaling and protocol for communication system with wireless trunk

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