US7675881B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interfacing a WLAN with a mobile communications system
Assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
•
Filing: 2003-05-28
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Granted: 2010-03-09
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Expires: 2023-05-28
Abstract
Abstract An interface for connecting networks includes an interworking function provided between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a public mobile land network (PLMN) to provide communication interactions between the PLMN and the WLAN. The interworking function includes a dual-protocol stack, which interfaces the WLAN protocols and PLMN protocols to provide seamless communications between the WLAN and the PLMN such that an increase in available service bandwidth provided for users of the PLMN is maintained.
Inventors
- 👤 Shaily Verma
- 👤 Charles Chuanming Wang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W92/00; H04W92/02; H04L; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/16; H04L12/00; H04L12/66; H04W80/00; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/042; H04W84/10; H04W84/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An interface for connecting networks, comprising: an interworking function provided between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a public mobile land network (PLMN) to provide communication interactions between the public mobile land network and the wireless local area network; the interworking function further comprising a dual-protocol stack which interfaces the wireless local area network protocols and public mobile land network protocols to provide seamless communications between the wireless local area network and the public mobile land network such that an increase in available service bandwidth provided for users of the public mobile land network is maintained; and means for detecting user movement between a coverage area of said wireless local area network and a coverage area of said public mobile land network by comparing a first routing area identifier (RAI) associated with said public mobile land network and a second routing area identifier (RAI) associated with said wireless local area network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An interface for connecting networks, comprising: an interworking function provided between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a public mobile land network (PLMN) to provide communication interactions between the public mobile land network and the wireless local area network; the interworking function further comprising a dual-protocol stack which interfaces the wireless local area network protocols and public mobile land network protocols to provide seamless communications between the wireless local area network and the public mobile land network such that an increase in available service bandwidth provided for users of the public mobile land network is maintained; and means for detecting user movement between a coverage area of said wireless local area network and a coverage area of said public mobile land network by comparing a first routing area identifier (RAI) associated with said public mobile land network and a second routing area identifier (RAI) associated with said wireless local area network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interworking function is present within the wireless local area network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the public mobile land network includes one of a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) and a general packet radio service (GPRS) system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interworking function communicates between the wireless local area network and the public mobile land network through a Gn interface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the seamless communications include protocol compatibility between the wireless local area network and the public mobile land network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interworking function functions as a logical serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The interface as recited in claim 6 , wherein the interworking function is viewed by the public mobile land network as a logical serving general packet radio service support node within its own network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The interface as recited in claim 6 , wherein the interworking function is viewed as a node within the wireless local area network by the wireless local area network when receiving information from the public mobile land network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interworking function is coupled to a gateway general packet radio service support node (GGSN) via a gateway tunneling protocol (GTP) tunnel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the protocol stack includes a user plane stack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the protocol stack includes a control plane stack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the public mobile land network includes session management general packet radio service mobility management (GMM) procedures which are reused in the wireless local area network due to the use of an adaptation layer in a mobile dual-protocol stack and in the interworking function to wireless local area network interface to mimic the functionality of a radio resource control (RRC) protocol sublayer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The interface as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wireless local area network works with any serving general packet radio service (GPRS) or code division multiple access (CDMA) system.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for interfacing two wireless networks, comprising the steps of: connecting a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network through an intra public mobile land network (PLMN) interface; and interfacing the wireless local area network to the universal mobile telecommunications system network by providing interfaces towards the universal mobile telecommunications system and the wireless local area network using an interworking function such that communications received from the wireless local area network appear to be from a different serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN) and communications sent to the wireless local area network appear to be from within the wireless local area network, and detecting user movement between a coverage area of said wireless local area network and a coverage area of said public mobile land network by comparing a first routing area identifier (RAI) associated with said public mobile land network and a second routing area identifier (RAI) associated with said wireless local area network.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for interfacing two wireless networks, comprising the steps of: connecting a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network through an intra public mobile land network (PLMN) interface; and interfacing the wireless local area network to the universal mobile telecommunications system network by providing interfaces towards the universal mobile telecommunications system and the wireless local area network using an interworking function such that communications received from the wireless local area network appear to be from a different serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN) and communications sent to the wireless local area network appear to be from within the wireless local area network, and detecting user movement between a coverage area of said wireless local area network and a coverage area of said public mobile land network by comparing a first routing area identifier (RAI) associated with said public mobile land network and a second routing area identifier (RAI) associated with said wireless local area network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the interworking function communicates with a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN) of the universal mobile telecommunications system network through a Gn interface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the interworking function creates seamless interactions between the universal mobile telecommunications system network and wireless local area network by ensuring protocol compatibility between the wireless local area network and the universal mobile telecommunications system network.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the interworking function functions as a logical serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising the step of viewing the interworking function as a logical serving general packet radio service support node from a same public mobile land network.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2013-03-08 | 2013-09-07 | 2014-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2017-03-08 | 2017-09-07 | 2018-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2021-03-08 | 2021-09-07 | 2022-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |