US6515997B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for automatic configuration of a gateway translation function
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
•
Filing: 1999-05-17
•
Granted: 2003-02-04
•
Expires: 2019-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A system ( 100 ) and method ( 140 ) for facilitating automatic translation of signals between a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) ( 104 ) and an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network ( 102 ) in a communications system ( 100 ) having a gateway ( 108 ) providing an exchange mechanism between the PLMN ( 104 ) and the IP-based network ( 102 ). The IP-based network ( 102 ) contains a Network Access Controller (NAC) ( 106 ) configured to communicate with the gateway ( 108 ). The method includes the steps of provisioning IP address and port number identifiers of the gateway within the NAC ( 142 ) and sending a registration message ( 124 ) from the NAC to the gateway ( 146 ), where the registration message ( 124 ) contains the IP address and port information of nodes within the IP-based network ( 102 ). The information in the registration message ( 124 ) is used to update a translation function ( 128 ) within the gateway ( 108 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Chuck Feltner
- 👤 Miguel-Angel Garcia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/09; H04L61/10; H04L61/106; H04L69/00; H04L69/16; H04L69/169; H04W; H04W8/00; H04W8/26; H04L2101/00; H04L2101/60; H04L2101/618; H04L2101/622; H04L2101/65; H04L2101/663; H04W80/00; H04W92/00; H04W92/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
In a communications system comprising a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network and a gateway providing an exchange mechanism between the PLMN and the IP-based network, the IP-based network containing a Network Access Controller (NAC) configured to communicate with said gateway, a method of facilitating automatic translation of signals between the PLMN and the IP-based network comprising the steps of: provisioning IP address and port number identifiers of said gateway within said NAC; and responsive to a system startup, automatically sending a registration message from said NAC to said gateway, said registration message containing the IP address and port information of nodes within said IP-based network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a communications system comprising a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network and a gateway providing an exchange mechanism between the PLMN and the IP-based network, the IP-based network containing a Network Access Controller (NAC) configured to communicate with said gateway, a method of facilitating automatic translation of signals between the PLMN and the IP-based network comprising the steps of: provisioning IP address and port number identifiers of said gateway within said NAC; and responsive to a system startup, automatically sending a registration message from said NAC to said gateway, said registration message containing the IP address and port information of nodes within said IP-based network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said exchange mechanism is a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) connection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of establishing a connection between said NAC and said gateway wherein said exchange mechanism is a Transmission Control Port/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) connection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of utilizing a plurality of Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs) having common channel signaling system number 7 (SS7) to interconnect said MSCs, wherein said PLMN comprises a Global System for Mobile (GSM) network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein said gateway is an IP-SS7 gateway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 5 further comprising the step of: updating a translation function of said IP-SS7 gateway with said IP address and port identifiers in said registration message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein said translation function comprises a translation table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of: said IP-SS7 gateway translating E.212, E.214, and E.164 numbers to said IP address and port identifiers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 8 further comprising the steps of: said IP-SS7 gateway receiving a GSM MAP message from said PLMN; and determining a destination GSM application for said GSM MAP message utilizing said translation table.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein said registration message contains E.164, E.212 and E.214 numbers, IP addresses and port identifiers for a plurality of applications serviced by said NAC.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein said registration message further comprises configuration information for said translation function.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said exchange mechanism is over a Local Area Network (LAN).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said exchange mechanism is over a Wide Area Network (WAN).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: said NAC identifying IP address information of said subscribers; and formatting said subscriber IP address information into said registration message, wherein said NAC is configured to handle call control functions and services for a plurality of subscribers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a communications system comprising a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) in communication with an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network, a system for facilitating automatic translation of signals between the PLMN and the IP-based network comprising: a gateway for providing an exchange mechanism between the PLMN and the IP-based network; and a Network Access Controller (NAC) within the IP-based network for, responsive to a system startup, automatically providing signal control functions for a plurality of subscribers, said NAC configured to provision IP address and port number identifiers of said subscribers to said gateway and send a registration message from said NAC to said gateway, said registration message containing the IP address and port information of said subscribers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a communications system comprising a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) in communication with an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network, a system for facilitating automatic translation of signals between the PLMN and the IP-based network comprising: a gateway for providing an exchange mechanism between the PLMN and the IP-based network; and a Network Access Controller (NAC) within the IP-based network for, responsive to a system startup, automatically providing signal control functions for a plurality of subscribers, said NAC configured to provision IP address and port number identifiers of said subscribers to said gateway and send a registration message from said NAC to said gateway, said registration message containing the IP address and port information of said subscribers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system according to claim 15 wherein said PLMN is a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network comprising a plurality of Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs) utilizing common channel signaling system number 7 (SS7) to interconnect said MSCs, wherein said exchange mechanism is over a Local Area Network (LAN) and is a Transmission Control Port/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) connection, wherein said NAC is further configured to establish a connection to said gateway.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 15 wherein said connection is over a Wide Area Network (WAN).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system according to claim 15 wherein said gateway is an IP-SS7 gateway comprising a translation function and said IP address and port identifiers contained in said registration message are used to update said IP-SS7 gateway translation function.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said translation function comprises a translation table.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 19 wherein said registration message contains E.164, E.212, and E.214 numbers, IP address and port identifiers for a plurality of GSM applications serviced by said NAC.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 20 wherein said registration message further comprises configuration information for said translation function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system according to claim 15 , wherein said NAC is configured to identify IF address information of said plurality of subscribers and format said subscriber IP address information into said registration message.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 15 wherein said exchange mechanism is a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) connection.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: responsive to adding a new NAC to said IP network, said IP network node addresses and port information contained in said NAC are sent in a registration message to said gateway.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of updating the translation function in said gateway by correlating said IP address and port number information to a numbering plan and digit string within the PLMN.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5878347A
Cited
US5852660A
Cited
US5867788A
Cited
US5933784A
Cited
US6094578A
Cited
US6005845A
Cited
US5901352A
Cited
US6044142A
Cited
US6356761B1
Cited
US6047194A
Cited
US6353621B1
Cited
US6353607B1
Cited
US6324183B1
Cited
US6327267B1
Cited
US6219548B1
Cited
US6308267B1
Cited
US6317421B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-03 | 2006-08-05 | 2007-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-03 | 2010-08-05 | 2011-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-03 | 2014-08-05 | 2015-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |