U.S. patent application number 15/854640 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-03 for method and apparatus for interfacing among mobile terminal, base station and core network in mobile telecommunications system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pantech Inc.. Invention is credited to Woon-Hee HWANG, Yeon-Sang KOO, Chong-Won LEE, Jae-Hong PARK, Shin-Hyun YANG, Jeong-Hwa YE.
Application Number | 20180124645 15/854640 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27350036 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180124645 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Jae-Hong ; et
al. |
May 3, 2018 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERFACING AMONG MOBILE TERMINAL, BASE
STATION AND CORE NETWORK IN MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
Abstract
A method, apparatus and a computer readable record media storing
instructions for executing the same method for interfacing among a
hybrid type synchronous or asynchronous terminal to a core network
in a next generation mobile telecommunications system. The hybrid
type synchronous or asynchronous radio network determines the
operating type of the core network when the core network has a
connection thereto, and sends the determined core network operating
type information and information related to the core network to the
hybrid type synchronous or asynchronous terminal, thereby allowing
the synchronous or asynchronous terminal to smoothly perform a data
interfacing operation with the core network.
Inventors: |
PARK; Jae-Hong; (Seoul,
KR) ; HWANG; Woon-Hee; (Seoul, KR) ; KOO;
Yeon-Sang; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Chong-Won;
(Seoul, KR) ; YANG; Shin-Hyun; (Seoul, KR)
; YE; Jeong-Hwa; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pantech Inc. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
27350036 |
Appl. No.: |
15/854640 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15430942 |
Feb 13, 2017 |
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15854640 |
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15138915 |
Apr 26, 2016 |
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15430942 |
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14319105 |
Jun 30, 2014 |
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15138915 |
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13857020 |
Apr 4, 2013 |
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14319105 |
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13604502 |
Sep 5, 2012 |
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13857020 |
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11966263 |
Dec 28, 2007 |
8285325 |
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13604502 |
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10825281 |
Apr 15, 2004 |
7505783 |
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11966263 |
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09564941 |
May 4, 2000 |
6741868 |
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10825281 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 48/12 20130101;
H04W 88/06 20130101; H04W 92/04 20130101; H04W 88/16 20130101; H04W
80/02 20130101; H04W 92/02 20130101; H04W 48/18 20130101; H04W
92/10 20130101; H04W 28/16 20130101; H04W 56/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 28/16 20090101
H04W028/16; H04W 92/10 20090101 H04W092/10; H04W 88/06 20090101
H04W088/06; H04W 48/18 20090101 H04W048/18; H04W 56/00 20090101
H04W056/00; H04W 92/02 20090101 H04W092/02; H04W 48/12 20090101
H04W048/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 1999 |
KR |
10-1999-0031448 |
Jul 31, 1999 |
KR |
10-1999-0031591 |
Aug 19, 1999 |
KR |
10-1999-0034344 |
Claims
1. A wireless communication terminal comprising a layered protocol
structure to communicate with an asynchronous core network through
a synchronous radio network, the wireless communication terminal
comprising: a physical layer to communicate with a physical layer
of the asynchronous core network through a physical layer of the
synchronous radio network; a data link layer to communicate with a
data link layer of the asynchronous core network through a data
link layer of the synchronous radio network; and a network layer
comprising an asynchronous call control (CC) entity and an
asynchronous mobility management (MM) entity.
2. The wireless communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the
network layer further comprises a synchronous radio resource (RR)
sub layer to communicate with a synchronous radio resource (RR) sub
layer of the synchronous radio network.
3. A method of a wireless communication terminal comprising a
layered protocol structure, the wireless communication terminal
communicating with an asynchronous core network through a
synchronous radio network, the method comprising: activating an
asynchronous call control (CC) entity of the wireless communication
terminal and an asynchronous mobile management (MM) entity of the
wireless communication terminal; and communicating with an
asynchronous core network through a synchronous radio network using
the activated asynchronous call control (CC) entity and the
activated asynchronous mobile management (MM) entity.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: communicating with
the asynchronous core network through the synchronous radio network
using a synchronous radio resource (RR) sub layer of the wireless
communication terminal, wherein the synchronous radio resource (RR)
sub layer of the wireless communication terminal communicates with
a synchronous radio resource (RR) sub layer of the synchronous
radio network.
5. A wireless communication terminal comprising a layered protocol
structure to communicate with a synchronous core network through an
asynchronous radio network, the wireless communication terminal
comprising: a physical layer to communicate with a physical layer
of the synchronous core network through a physical layer of the
asynchronous radio network; a data link layer to communicate with a
data link layer of the synchronous core network through a data link
layer of the asynchronous radio network; and a network layer
comprising a synchronous call control (CC) entity and a synchronous
mobility management (MM) entity.
6. The wireless communication terminal of claim 5, wherein the
network layer further comprises an asynchronous radio resource
control (RRC) part to communicate with an asynchronous radio
resource control (RRC) part of the asynchronous radio network.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/430,942, filed on Feb. 13, 2017,
which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 15/138,915, filed on Apr. 26, 2016, which is a continuation
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/319,105, filed
on Jun. 30, 2014, which is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/857,020, filed on Apr. 4, 2013,
which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/604,502, filed on Sep. 5, 2012, which is a continuation
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/966,263, filed
on Dec. 28, 2007 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,285,325 on Oct. 9,
2012, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/825,281, filed on Apr. 15, 2004, and issued
as U.S. Pat. No. 7,505,783 on Mar. 17, 2009, which is a
continuation of application Ser. No. 09/564,941, filed on May 4,
2000, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,741,868 on May 25, 2004, all of
which claim priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-1999-0031448, filed on Jul. 30, 1999, Korean
Patent Application No. 10-1999-0031591, filed on Jul. 31, 1999, and
Korean Patent Application No. 10-1999-0034344, filed on Aug. 19,
1999, which are all hereby incorporated by reference for all
purposes as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates in general to a technique for
interfacing among a mobile terminal, a base station (BS) and a core
network in a next-generation mobile telecommunications system, and
more particularly to a method, an apparatus and a computer readable
record media storing instructions for executing the same method for
interfacing among a hybrid type mobile terminal, a hybrid type base
transceiver station/base station controller (BTS/BSC) and a core
network in a next-generation telecommunication system, e.g., an
international mobile telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) system and
so on, in which a hybrid type synchronous or hybrid type
asynchronous radio network determines an operating type of the core
network when the core network has a connection thereto, and sends
information about the determined core network operating type and
information related to the core network to a hybrid type mobile
terminal.
[0003] In more detail, the present invention relates to a method,
an apparatus and a computer readable record media storing
instructions for executing the same method for interfacing among a
hybrid type mobile terminal, a hybrid type base transceiver
station/base station controller (BTS/BSC) and a core network in a
mobile telecommunications system, wherein a hybrid type synchronous
radio network having a hybrid type BTS/BSC determines the operating
type of the core network when the core network has a connection
thereto, and sends the determined core network operating type and
information related to the core network to the hybrid type
synchronous terminal over a synchronous channel (Sync channel), and
the hybrid type synchronous terminal recognizes the operating type
of the core network on the basis of the core network operating type
information (hereinafter, refers to "CN type") and sets a protocol
according to the information related to core network.
[0004] Further, the present invention relates to a method, an
apparatus and a computer readable record media for executing the
same method for interfacing an asynchronous terminal and a hybrid
type asynchronous BTS/BSC with a core network in a mobile
telecommunications system, wherein a hybrid type asynchronous radio
network having a hybrid type asynchronous BTS/BSC determines an
operating type of the core network when the core network has a
connection thereto, and sends the determined core network operating
type information and information related to the core network to a
hybrid type asynchronous terminal over a broadcast control channel
(BCCH), and the hybrid type asynchronous terminal recognizes the
core network on the basis of the core network operating type
information and sets a protocol according to the information
related to the core network.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0005] In a conventional synchronous mobile telecommunications
system, a synchronous terminal is connected to a synchronous radio
network (for example, a CDMA-2000 radio network), and an ANSI-41
network is connected to a core network.
[0006] In a conventional asynchronous mobile telecommunications
system, an asynchronous terminal is connected to an asynchronous
radio network (for example, a universal mobile telecommunication
system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN)), and a
global system for mobile communications-mobile application part
(GSM-MAP) network is connected to a core network.
[0007] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show core network interface
architectures of the conventional synchronous/asynchronous mobile
telecommunication systems as mentioned above.
[0008] FIG. 1A is a view showing the core network interface
architecture of the conventional synchronous mobile
telecommunications system. In this drawing, the reference numeral
11 denotes a synchronous terminal, 12 denotes a synchronous radio
network (i.e., a code division multiple access-2000 (CDMA-2000)
radio network) which performs a data interfacing operation with the
synchronous terminal 11 and includes a synchronous base transceiver
station/base station controller (BTS/BSC), and 13 denotes a
synchronous core network which is connected to the synchronous
radio network 12 and includes a synchronous mobile services
switching center (MSC) 14 and an ANSI-41 network 15.
[0009] In the above core network interface architecture of the
conventional synchronous mobile telecommunications system, the
synchronous terminal 11 can be connected to only the synchronous
radio network 12 as well known to one skilled in the art, which is
in turn connected to the synchronous core network 13, thereby
allowing the synchronous terminal 11 to be interfaced with only the
synchronous core network 13.
[0010] FIG. 1B is a view showing the core network interface
architecture of the conventional asynchronous mobile
telecommunications system. In this drawing, the reference numeral
21 denotes an asynchronous terminal, 22 denotes an asynchronous
radio network (i.e., a UTRAN) which includes a base transceiver
station (BTS) and a radio network controller (RNC), and 23 denotes
an asynchronous core network which includes an asynchronous mobile
services switching center (MSC) 24 connected to the UTRAN 22 and a
GSM-MAP network 25 connected to the asynchronous MSC 24.
[0011] In the above core network interface architecture of the
conventional asynchronous mobile telecommunications system, the
asynchronous terminal 21 is connected to the asynchronous radio
network 22 (i.e., UTRAN) which is in turn connected to the
asynchronous core network 23, thereby allowing the asynchronous
terminal 21 to perform a data interfacing operation with the
asynchronous core network 23.
[0012] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show layered protocol structures of the
conventional synchronous/asynchronous mobile telecommunication
systems as mentioned above.
[0013] FIG. 2A is a view showing the layered protocol structure of
the conventional synchronous mobile telecommunications system. In
this drawing, the reference numeral 30 denotes a synchronous
terminal, 40 a synchronous radio network, and 50 a synchronous core
network connected to the synchronous radio network 40.
[0014] The synchronous terminal 30 comprises a layer 3 31, a layer
2 35 and a layer 1 36. The layer 3 31 includes a synchronous call
control (CC) entity 32 for management of a call and a synchronous
mobility management (MM) entity 33 for management of a
mobility.
[0015] The layer 1 36 is a physical layer which offers data
transport services to higher layers and transfers transport blocks
over a radio interface.
[0016] The layer 2 35 is a data link layer which includes following
sub layers, a medium access control (MAC) sub layer and a radio
link control (RLC) sub layer. However, the sub layers are not shown
in this drawing.
[0017] The MAC sub layer offers data transfer services on logical
channels to a higher layer (RLC sub layer) and on transport
channels to a lower layer (the physical layer 36). The MAC sub
layer is responsible for mapping of the logical channel onto the
appropriate transports channel.
[0018] The RLC sub layer offers data transfer services on primitive
to a higher layer and on logical channels to a lower layer (MAC sub
layer). Also, the RLC sub layer performs error correction,
duplicate detection, ciphering and flow control of the data.
[0019] The layer 3 31 is a network layer which includes following
sub layers, a synchronous radio resource (RR) sub layer, a
synchronous call control (CC) entity 32 and a mobility management
(MM) entity 33. In synchronous system, the synchronous RR sub layer
is not apparently separated from the others in the layer 3 31.
[0020] The RR sub layer offers data transfer services on primitive
to a lower layer (RLC sub layer) and handles a control plane
signaling of the layer 3 31 between a user equipment (UE) and a
synchronous radio network. The RR sub layer manages a radio
resource. Also, the RR sub layer assigns/re-configures/releases the
radio resource to UE/UTRAN.
[0021] The CC entity handles a call control signaling of layer 3
between the UEs and the synchronous radio network.
[0022] The MM entity handles a mobility management signaling of
layer 3 between the UEs and the synchronous radio network.
[0023] The layers 3 to 1 31, 35, and 36 in the synchronous terminal
30 communicate with corresponding layers 41, 45, and 46 in the
synchronous radio network 40.
[0024] The synchronous radio network 40 comprises a layer 3 41, a
layer 2 45 and a layer 1 46. The layers 3 to 1 in the synchronous
radio network 40 correspond respectively to those in the
synchronous terminal 30.
[0025] The layers 3 to 1 41, 45, and 46 in the synchronous radio
network 40 communicate with corresponding layers 31, 35, 36, 51,
55, and 56 in the synchronous terminal and the synchronous core
network 50.
[0026] The synchronous core network 50 comprises a layer 3 51, a
layer 2 55 and a layer 1 56. The layers 3 to 1 in the synchronous
radio network 50 correspond respectively to those in the
synchronous terminal 30.
[0027] The layers 3 to 1 51, 55, and 56 in the synchronous core
network 50 communicate with corresponding layers 41, 45, and 46 in
the synchronous radio network 40.
[0028] In the conventional synchronous terminal and radio network
as the layered protocol structure, the synchronous terminal 30
receives a Sync channel message from the synchronous radio network
40 over a Sync channel and acquires information necessary to its
connection to the synchronous core network 50, including
information related to the synchronous core network 50 and
information about the synchronous radio network 40, from the
received Sync channel message.
[0029] In other words, for interfacing with the synchronous ANSI-41
network via the synchronous radio network, the synchronous terminal
acquires system information (i.e., information related to the radio
network and core network) through a system determination sub-state,
a pilot channel acquisition sub-state, a Sync channel acquisition
sub-state and a timing changing sub-state after it is powered
on.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure where the
synchronous terminal acquires the system information through the
four station transitions as mentioned above.
[0031] The first state, or the system determination sub-state, S1,
is a state where the synchronous terminal selects a code division
multiple access (CDMA) system with which it should communicate.
Before being powered off, the synchronous terminal stores a CDMA
channel number that it uses at the present time, a CDMA area list,
a system identification (SID) list, a network identification (NID)
list and other information in its memory. Thereafter, upon being
powered on, the synchronous terminal selects a CDMA system with
which it can communicate on the basis of the above information
stored in its memory and a CDMA system selection algorithm, which
is provided from a terminal manufacturer. After selecting the CDMA
system, the synchronous terminal shifts to the next state, or the
pilot channel acquisition sub-state, S2 to acquire a pilot.
[0032] The pilot channel acquisition sub-state S2 is a state where
the synchronous terminal obtains a pilot channel and thus selects a
base transceiver station. After selecting the CDMA system, the
synchronous terminal acquires a pilot with the same CDMA channel
number, or CDMA frequency number, as that corresponding to the
selected CDMA system. After acquiring the pilot, the synchronous
terminal shifts to the next state, or the Sync channel acquisition
sub-state, S3.
[0033] The Sync channel acquisition sub-state S3 is a state where
the synchronous terminal acquires information of a system selected
through the above pilot channel acquisition and timing information
of the selected system. The synchronous terminal receives a Sync
channel message from the base transceiver station selected at the
above pilot channel acquisition sub-state over a Sync channel and
obtains the information of the selected system and the system
timing information from the received Sync channel message. Such a
Sync channel message is produced by the system and then sent to the
synchronous terminal over the Sync channel.
[0034] Information elements as shown in FIG. 7A are written in the
Sync channel message received by the synchronous terminal, as
follows:
[0035] a) Protocol Revision Level: 8 bits,
[0036] b) Minimum Protocol Revision Level: 8 bits,
[0037] c) System Identification: 15 bits,
[0038] d) Network Identification: 16 bits,
[0039] e) Pilot Pseudo. Noise (PN) sequence offset index: 9
bits,
[0040] f) Long Code State: 42 bits,
[0041] g) System Time: 36 bits,
[0042] h) The number of Leap seconds that have occurred since the
start of System Time: 8 bits,
[0043] i) Offset of local time from System Time: 6 bits,
[0044] j) Daylight savings time indicator: 1 bit,
[0045] k) Paging Channel Data Rate: 2 bits,
[0046] l) Frequency assignment: 11 bits,
[0047] m) Extended frequency assignment: 11 bits, and
[0048] n) Orthogonal transmit diversity mode: 2 bits.
[0049] The synchronous terminal stores the following information
elements from the received Sync channel message in its memory:
[0050] a) Protocol Revision Level: 8 bits,
[0051] b) Minimum Protocol Revision Level: 8 bits,
[0052] c) System Identification: 15 bits,
[0053] d) Network Identification: 16 bits,
[0054] e) Pilot PN sequence offset index: 9 bits,
[0055] f) Long Code State: 42 bits,
[0056] g) System Time: 36 bits,
[0057] h) Paging Channel Data Rate: 2 bits, and
[0058] i) Orthogonal transmit diversity mode: 2 bits.
[0059] After completing the above procedure, the synchronous
terminal shifts to the synchronization sub-state S4.
[0060] The synchronization sub-state S4 is a state where the
synchronous terminal synchronizes its timing with that of the
selected CDMA system. The synchronous terminal synchronizes its
timing with that of the selected CDMA system on the basis of the
information elements in the Sync channel message, received at the
above Sync channel acquisition sub-state and stored in its memory.
After being timed with the selected. CDMA system, the synchronous
terminal enters a standby mode S5.
[0061] At the standby mode S5, the synchronous terminal monitors a
paging channel of the selected system. Namely, at the standby mode
S5, the synchronous terminal receives messages (a system parameter
message, an access channel message, a registration request message,
etc.) sent over the paging channel.
[0062] FIG. 2B is a view showing the layered protocol structure of
the conventional asynchronous mobile telecommunications system. In
this drawing, the reference numeral 60 denotes an asynchronous
terminal, 70 a UTRAN, and 80 an asynchronous core network.
[0063] The asynchronous terminal 60 comprises a layer 3 61, a layer
2 65 and a layer 1 66. In particular, the layer 3 61 includes a
non-access stratum (NAS) part and an access stratum (AS) part. The
NAS part includes an asynchronous call control (CC) part 62 for
management of a call and an asynchronous mobility management (MM)
part 63 for management of a mobility. The AS part includes an
asynchronous radio resource control (RRC) part. In the asynchronous
system, the asynchronous RRC sub layer is apparently separated from
the NAS part. Functions of the asynchronous RRC sub layer are the
same as those of the synchronous RR sub layer.
[0064] The UTRAN 70 comprises a layer 3 71, a layer 2 73 and a
layer 1 74. The layer 3 71 of the UTRAN 70 has no NAS part having
asynchronous CC part and asynchronous MM part. The layers 3 to 1 of
the UTRAN 70 are connected and correspond respectively to those in
the asynchronous terminal 60 and those in the asynchronous core
network 80. However, since the UTRAN 70 does not have the NAS part,
i.e., the asynchronous CC part and the asynchronous MM part, the
NAS parts of the asynchronous terminal 60 and the asynchronous core
network 80 are coupled to each other not through the UTRAN 70.
[0065] The asynchronous core network 80 comprises a layer 3 having
a NAS part 81 connected to that of the asynchronous terminal 60 and
a AS part, a layer 2 85 and a layer 1 86 connected respectively to
those in the UTRAN 70. The NAS part comprises an asynchronous CC
part 82 for management of a call and an asynchronous MM part 83 for
management of a mobility. Functions of the layer 3 to 1 of the
asynchronous system are similar with those of the synchronous
system except for an operating type. Therefore, detailed
description of the layer 3 to 1 will be skipped.
[0066] The more detailed descriptions about layered protocol
structures are well taught in 3.sup.rd Generation Partnership
Project (3GPP), Technical Specification Group (TSG)--Radio Access
Network (RAN): 3G TS25.301 (Radio Interface Protocol Architecture),
3G TS25.302 (Services provided by the physical layer), 3G TS25.321
(MAC Protocol Specification), 3G TS25.322 (RLC Protocol
Specification) and 3G TS25.331 (RRC Protocol Specification) in
detail.
[0067] In the conventional asynchronous mobile terminal and radio
network having the layered protocol structure, the asynchronous
terminal 60 receives a system information message from the UTRAN 70
over a broadcast control channel (BCCH) and acquires information
necessary to its connection to the asynchronous core network 80,
including information related to the asynchronous core network 80
and information about the UTRAN 70, from the received system
information message. FIG. 7B shows a format of the system
information message received by the asynchronous terminal 60.
[0068] The system information message, sent from the UTRAN 70 to
the asynchronous terminal 60, contains the following information
elements, which are applied in common to all asynchronous terminals
connected to the UTRAN of the asynchronous communication
system:
[0069] 1) core network (CN) information,
[0070] 2) UTRAN mobility information, and
[0071] 3) other information.
[0072] The asynchronous terminal analyzes the CN information
elements among the above information elements and acquires public
land mobile network (PLMN) identity information, CN domain identity
information and non-access stratum (NAS) system information as a
result of the analysis.
[0073] The PLMN identity information is company identification
information and includes a mobile country code (MCC) and a mobile
network code (MNC). The CN domain identity information is used to
determine whether a currently connected core network is of a
circuit switching type or a packet switching type. The NAS system
information is information desired in an asynchronous call control
(CC) part for management of a call and an asynchronous mobility
management (MM) part for management of a mobility.
[0074] IMT-2000 systems are the third generation systems which aim
to unify the various mobile communication networks and services
into one to provide many mobile communication services. The systems
can provide multimedia services under multi-environments through
various air-interfaces and high capacity. Also, in the aspect of
services, the systems can provide multimedia services of speech,
image and data up to the rate of 2 Mbps and an international
roaming. And, in the aspect of network, the systems are total
systems which are based on ATM networks and combine fixed and
wireless systems.
[0075] IMT-2000 system requires new system concept, high-level
adaptation technology, and novel network technology, as well all
conventional technologies which were already adopted in the second
digital cellular system.
[0076] As described above, in the next-generation mobile
telecommunication system such as the IMT-2000 system, either the
GSM-MAP network used in the above conventional asynchronous mobile
telecommunications system or the ANSI-41 network used in the above
conventional synchronous mobile telecommunications system should be
employed as a core network in order to perform an international
roaming in a synchronous or asynchronous mobile telecommunications
system of an IMT-2000 system.
[0077] According to network deployment scenarios, the IMT-2000
system can have the following four interface architectures; first:
synchronous terminal--synchronous radio network--synchronous
ANSI-41 network, second: synchronous terminal--synchronous radio
network--asynchronous GSM-MAP network, third: asynchronous
terminal--asynchronous radio network--synchronous ANSI-41 network
and fourth: asynchronous terminal--asynchronous radio
network--asynchronous GSM-MAP network.
[0078] The IMT-2000 system has the four interface architectures as
mentioned above. Therefore, the hybrid type synchronous terminal
must recognize an operating type of a core network currently
connected thereto, and the hybrid type synchronous radio network
should provide core network operating type information and others
information to the hybrid type synchronous terminal. The core
network operating type information and the others information must
be contained in the Sync channel message that the synchronous
terminal, after being powered on, receives through the Sync channel
in the above-mentioned conventional interfacing manner.
[0079] Similarly, the hybrid type asynchronous terminal must
recognize an operating type of a core network currently connected
thereto, and the hybrid type asynchronous radio network should
provide the core network operating type information and others
information to the hybrid type asynchronous terminal. The core
network operating type information and the others information must
be contained in the system information message transmitted to the
asynchronous terminal, after being powered on, so that the
asynchronous terminal receives through the broadcast control
channel (BCCH) in the above-mentioned conventional interfacing
manner.
[0080] However, as shown in FIG. 7A, the Sync channel message used
in the conventional synchronous terminal and radio network contain
only information (information regarding a synchronous core network)
defined at the Sync channel acquisition sub-state of the
synchronous terminal, with neither core network operating type
information nor information about an asynchronous core network.
[0081] Because there is no core network operating type information
in the Sync channel message, the synchronous terminal cannot
determine which one of the CC/MM protocol for the ANSI-41 core
network or the CC/MM protocol for the GSM-MAP core network to use
at the layer 3 in its protocol stack structure, and be thus
interfaced with any asynchronous core network. Of course, because
the synchronous terminal is set to the synchronous CC/MM protocol
in the conventional synchronous terminal and radio network, they
have no particular problem in interfacing to a core network
currently connected thereto, so far as the connected core network
is a synchronous core network.
[0082] Also, as shown in FIG. 7B, the system information message
used in the conventional asynchronous terminal and radio network
contain only information (information regarding an asynchronous
core network) defined at the BCCH acquisition sub-state of the
asynchronous terminal, with neither core network operating type
information nor information about a synchronous core network.
[0083] Because there is no core network operating type information
in the system information message, the asynchronous terminal cannot
determine which one of the CC/MM protocol for the ANSI-41 core
network or the CC/MM protocol for the GSM-MAP core network to use
at the layer 3 in its protocol stack structure, and be thus
interfaced with any synchronous core network. Of course, because
the asynchronous terminal is set to the asynchronous CC/MM protocol
in the conventional asynchronous terminal and radio network, they
has no particular problem in interfacing with a core network
currently connected thereto, so far as the connected core network
is an asynchronous core network.
[0084] In other words, the conventional synchronous terminal and
radio network have a disadvantage in that the synchronous terminal
cannot be interfaced with any other networks than a synchronous
core network connected thereto because it cannot recognize core
network operating type information and core network related
information.
[0085] Similarly, the conventional asynchronous terminal and radio
network have a disadvantage in that the asynchronous terminal
cannot be interfaced with any other networks than an asynchronous
core network because they cannot recognize core network operating
type information and core network related information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0086] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of
the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to
provide a method, an apparatus and a computer readable record media
storing instructions for executing the same method for interfacing
among a synchronous or asynchronous terminal, a synchronous or
asynchronous radio network and a synchronous or asynchronous core
network in a next-generation mobile telecommunications system.
[0087] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
method for interfacing a synchronous terminal with a synchronous or
asynchronous core network, wherein a synchronous radio network
determines the operating type of the core network when the core
network has a connection thereto, and sends the determined core
network operating type information and information related to the
core network to the synchronous terminal over a Sync channel, and
the synchronous terminal recognizes the core network on the basis
of the core network operating type information and sets a protocol
according to the core network related information, so as to
smoothly perform a message interfacing operation with the core
network.
[0088] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a method for interfacing an asynchronous terminal to a synchronous
or asynchronous core network, wherein an asynchronous radio network
determines the operating type of the core network when the core
network has a connection thereto, and sends the determined core
network operating type information and information related to the
core network to the asynchronous terminal over a BCCH, and the
asynchronous terminal recognizes the core network on the basis of
the core network operating type information and sets a protocol
according to the core network related information, so as to
smoothly perform a message interfacing operation with the core
network.
[0089] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method for interfacing among a terminal, a
radio network and a core network connected to the radio network in
a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the radio network has a
base station (BS) and each of the terminal and the radio network
has a hybrid operating type being possible to be set as either a
synchronous operating type or an asynchronous operating type, said
method comprising the steps of: a) at the BS, determining an
operating type of the core network and generating core network
operating type information representing the operating type of the
core network; b) at the BS, setting an operating type of the BS to
the synchronous operating type or the asynchronous operating type
on the basis of the core network operating type information; c) at
the BS, providing the terminal with the core network operating type
information and information related to the core network through a
predetermined channel in a form of a message; d) extracting, at the
terminal, the core network operating type information from a
received message, the core network operating type information being
inserted into a predetermined location of the message; e)
recognizing, at the terminal, the operating type of the core
network on the basis of the extracted core network operating type
information; and f) at the terminal, setting an operating type of
the terminal to the synchronous operating type or the asynchronous
operating type on the basis of the recognized operating type of the
core network.
[0090] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an apparatus for interfacing among a terminal, a
radio network and a core network connected to the radio network in
a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the radio network has a
base station (BS) and each of the terminal and the radio network
has a hybrid operating type being possible to be set as either a
synchronous operating type or an asynchronous operating type, said
apparatus comprising: determination means, contained in the BS, for
determining an operating type of the core network; first setting
means, employed in the BS, for setting an operating type of the BS
to the synchronous operating type or the asynchronous operating
type on the basis of the determined operating type of the core
network; message means, included in the BS, for providing the
terminal with core network operating type information representing
the determined operating type of the core network and information
related to the core network through a predetermined channel;
receiver means, provided in the terminal, for receiving a channel
message having the core network operating type information and the
information related to the core network; extraction means,
contained in the terminal, for extracting the core network
operating type information inserted into a predetermined location
of the channel message; detection means, contained in the terminal,
for recognizing the operating type of the core network on the basis
of the extracted core network operating type information; and
second setting means, contained in the terminal, for setting an
operating type of the terminal to the synchronous operating type or
the asynchronous operating type on the basis of the recognized
operating type of the core network.
[0091] In accordance with a. further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method for interfacing among a
terminal, a radio network and a core network connected to the radio
network in a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the radio
network has a base station (BS) and the terminal has a hybrid
operating type being possible to be set as either a synchronous
operating type or an asynchronous operating type, the method
comprising the steps of: a) storing core network operating type
information and information related to the core network on a
storage device; b) reading the core network operating type
information and information related to the core network stored on
the storage device during a time period of initialization of the
BS; c) providing the terminal with the core network operating type
information and information related to the core network as a
message through a predetermined channel; d) extracting, at the
terminal, the core network operating type information from a
received message, the core network operating type information being
inserted into a predetermined location of the received message; e)
recognizing, at the terminal, the operating type of the core
network on the basis of the extracted core network operating type
information; and f) setting an operating type of the terminal to
the synchronous operating type or the asynchronous operating type
on the basis of the recognized operating type of the core
network.
[0092] In accordance with further another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an apparatus for interfacing among a
terminal, a radio network and a core network connected to the radio
network in a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the radio
network has a base station (BS) and the terminal has a hybrid
operating type being possible to be set as either a synchronous
operating type or an asynchronous operating type, comprising: a
storage device, contained in the BS, for storing core network
operating type information representing operating type of the core
network and information related to the core network; first
extraction means, contained in the BS, for reading the core network
operating type information and information related to the core
network stored in the storage device during a time period of
initialization of the BS; message means, contained in the BS, for
providing the terminal with the core network operating type
information and information related to the core network as a
message through a predetermined channel; second extraction means,
contained in the terminal, for extracting the core network
operating type information from a received message, the core
network operating type information being inserted into a
predetermined location of the received message; detection means,
contained in the terminal, for recognizing the operating type of
the core network on the basis of the extracted core network
operating type information; and setting means, contained in the
terminal, for setting an operating type of the terminal to the
synchronous operating type or the asynchronous operating type on
the basis of the recognized operating type of the core network.
[0093] In accordance with a further another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method for interfacing between a
radio network and a core network connected to the radio network in
a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the radio network has a
base station (BS) having a hybrid operating type being possible to
be set as either a synchronous operating type or an asynchronous
operating type, said method comprising the steps of: a) determining
an operating type of the core network; b) setting an operating type
of the BS to the synchronous operating type or the asynchronous
operating type on the basis of core network operating type
information representing the determined operating type of the core
network; and c) providing the terminal with the core network
operating type information and information related to the core
network through a predetermined channel in a form of a message.
[0094] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a n apparatus for interfacing between
a radio network and a core network connected to the radio network
in a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the radio network has
a base station (BS) having a hybrid operating type being possible
to be set as either a synchronous operating type or an asynchronous
operating type, said apparatus comprising: determination means for
determining an operating. type of the core network; setting means
for setting an operating type of the BS to the synchronous
operating type or the asynchronous operating type on the basis of
core network operating type information representing the determined
operating type of the core network; and message means for providing
the terminal with the core network operating type information and
information related to the core network through a predetermined
channel in a form of a message.
[0095] In accordance with a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a computer readable media storing a
program instructions, the program instructions disposed on a
computer to perform a method for interfacing between a radio
network and a core network connected to the radio network in a
mobile telecommunication system, wherein the radio network has a
base station (BS) having a hybrid operating type being possible to
be set as either a synchronous operating type or an asynchronous
operating type, said method comprising the steps of: a) determining
an operating type of the core network; b) setting an operating type
of the BS to the synchronous operating type or the asynchronous
operating type on the basis of core network operating type
information representing the determined operating type of the core
network; and c) providing the terminal with the core network
operating type information and information related to the core
network through a predetermined channel in a form of a message.
[0096] In accordance with another. aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method for interfacing among a terminal, a
radio network and a core network connected to the radio network in
a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the radio network has a
base station (BS) and the terminal has a hybrid operating type
being possible to be set as either a synchronous operating type or
an asynchronous operating type, the method comprising the steps of:
a) storing core network operating type information representing
operating type of the core network and information related to the
core network on a storage device; b) reading the core network
operating type information and information related to the core
network stored on the storage device during a time period of
initialization of the BS; and c) periodically providing the
terminal with the core network operating type information and
information related to the core network as a message through a
predetermined channel.
[0097] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an apparatus for interfacing among a
terminal, a radio network and a core network connected to the radio
network in a mobile, telecommunication system, wherein the radio
network has a base station (BS) and the terminal has a hybrid
operating type being possible to be set as either a synchronous
operating type or an asynchronous operating type, comprising: a
storage device, contained in the BS, for storing core network
operating type information representing operating type of the core
network and information related to the core network; extraction
means, contained in the BS, for reading the core network operating
type information and information related to the core network stored
in the storage device during a time period of initialization of the
BS; and message means, contained in the BS, for periodically
providing the terminal with the core network operating type
information and information related to the core network as a
message through a predetermined channel.
[0098] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a computer readable media storing a
program instructions, the program instructions disposed on a
computer to perform a method for interfacing among a terminal, a
radio network and a core network connected to the radio network in
a mobile telecommunication system, wherein the radio network has a
base station (BS) and the terminal has a hybrid operating type
being possible to be set as either a synchronous operating type or
an asynchronous operating type, the method comprising the steps of:
a) storing core network operating type information representing
operating type of the core network and information related to the
core network on a storage device; b) reading the core network
operating type information and information related to the core
network stored on the storage device during a time period of
initialization of the BS; and c) periodically providing the
terminal with the core network operating type information and
information related to the core network as a message through a
predetermined channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0099] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will, be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0100] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B show core network interface
architectures of conventional synchronous/asynchronous mobile
telecommunications systems, wherein:
[0101] FIG. 1A is a view showing a core network interface
architecture of the conventional synchronous mobile
telecommunications system; and
[0102] FIG. 1B is a view showing a core network interface
architecture of the conventional asynchronous mobile
telecommunications system;
[0103] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show layered protocol structures of the
conventional synchronous/asynchronous mobile telecommunications
systems, wherein:
[0104] FIG. 2A is a view showing a layered protocol structure of
the conventional synchronous mobile telecommunications system;
and
[0105] FIG. 2B is a view showing a layered protocol structure of
the conventional asynchronous mobile telecommunications system;
[0106] FIG. 3 is a view showing a protocol stack structure for
interfacing a terminal and a base station with a core network in a
next-generation mobile telecommunications system;
[0107] FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, and FIG. 4D show core network
interface architectures of the next-generation mobile
telecommunications system, wherein:
[0108] FIG. 4A is a view showing a synchronous ANSI-41 core network
interface architecture of hybrid type synchronous mobile terminal
and radio network;
[0109] FIG. 4B is a view showing an asynchronous GSM-MAP core
network interface architecture of hybrid type synchronous mobile
terminal and radio network;
[0110] FIG. 4C is a view showing an asynchronous GSM-MAP core
network interface architecture of hybrid type asynchronous mobile
terminal and radio network; and
[0111] FIG. 4D is a view showing a synchronous ANSI-41 core network
interface architecture of hybrid type asynchronous mobile terminal
and radio network;
[0112] FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, and FIG. 5D show layered protocol
structures of the next-generation mobile telecommunications system,
wherein:
[0113] FIG. 5A is a view showing layered protocol structures of
hybrid type synchronous mobile terminal and radio network and the
synchronous ANSI-41 core network;
[0114] FIG. 5B is a view showing layered protocol structures of
hybrid type synchronous mobile. terminal and radio network and the
asynchronous GSM-MAP core network;
[0115] FIG. 5C is a view showing layered protocol structures of
hybrid type asynchronous mobile terminal. and radio network and the
synchronous ANSI-41 core network; and
[0116] FIG. 5D is a view showing layered protocol structures of
hybrid type asynchronous mobile terminal and radio network and the
asynchronous GSM-MAP core network;
[0117] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating state transitions of a
synchronous terminal in the conventional synchronous mobile
telecommunications system;
[0118] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show format of a message received by the
terminal from the conventional synchronous radio network,
wherein:
[0119] FIG. 7A is a view showing a format of a Sync channel message
received by the synchronous terminal from the conventional
synchronous radio network;
[0120] FIG. 7B is a view showing a format of a system information
message received by an asynchronous terminal from the conventional
asynchronous radio network;
[0121] FIG. 8A is a block diagram of a base station controller for
interfacing among a terminal, a radio network and a core
network;
[0122] FIG. 8B is a block diagram of a terminal controller for
interfacing among a terminal, a radio network and a core
network;
[0123] FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show a Sync channel message received by
a hybrid type synchronous terminal from in a hybrid type
synchronous radio network in accordance with the present invention,
wherein:
[0124] FIG. 9A is a view showing a format of the Sync channel
message when a core network connected to a hybrid type synchronous
radio network is a GSM-MAP network; and
[0125] FIG. 9B is a view showing a format of the Sync channel
message when the core network connected to the hybrid type
synchronous radio network is an ANSI-41 network;
[0126] FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B, FIG. 10C, and FIG. 10D show a master
information block in a system information message received by a
hybrid type asynchronous terminal from a hybrid type asynchronous
radio network in accordance with the present invention,
wherein:
[0127] FIGS. 10A and 10B are views showing formats of the master
information block when a core network connected to a hybrid type
asynchronous radio network, or a UTRAN, is the GSM-MAP network;
and
[0128] FIGS. 10C and 10D are views showing formats of the master
information block when the core network connected to the UTRAN is
the ANSI-41 network;
[0129] FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B show flow charts illustrating a method
for interfacing a hybrid type synchronous terminal with a core
network in accordance with the present invention, wherein:
[0130] FIG. 11A is a flowchart illustrating a procedure where a
hybrid type synchronous radio network sends core network operating
type information and information related to core network to the
hybrid type synchronous terminal; and
[0131] FIG. 11B is a flowchart illustrating a procedure where the
hybrid type synchronous terminal receives the core network
operating type information and the information related to core
network from the hybrid type synchronous radio network and then is
interfaced with the core network on the basis of the received
information; and
[0132] FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B show flow charts illustrating a method
for interfacing a hybrid type asynchronous terminal to a core
network in accordance with the present invention, wherein:
[0133] FIG. 12A is a flowchart illustrating a procedure where a
hybrid type asynchronous radio network sends core network operating
type information and information related to core network to the
hybrid type asynchronous terminal; and
[0134] FIG. 12B is a flowchart illustrating a procedure where the
hybrid type asynchronous terminal receives the core network
operating type information and the information related to core
network from the hybrid type asynchronous radio network and then is
interfaced with the core network on the basis of the received
information.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0135] In the specification, a radio network means a network
including a plurality of base transceiver stations (BTS) and at
least a base station controller for controlling the plurality of
BTSs in a synchronous or an asynchronous mobile telecommunication
system.
[0136] Functions for controlling the base transceiver station can
be distributively performed in the plurality of the base
transceiver stations, or can be concentrically performed in the
base station controller. Therefore, in this specification, a
terminology "base station," which includes the base transceiver
station and the base station controller, is used.
[0137] Referring to FIG. 3, it is illustrated a protocol stack
structure for interfacing a mobile terminal, a base transceiver
station/base station controller (BTS/BSC) and a core network having
the same or a different operating type with/from the mobile
terminal in a next-generation mobile telecommunications system such
as the IMT-2000 system.
[0138] FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C, and FIG. 4D show core network
interface architectures of the next-generation mobile
telecommunications system such as the IMT-2000 system.
[0139] FIG. 4A is a view showing a synchronous ANSI-41 core network
interface architecture of a hybrid type synchronous radio network.
In this drawing, the reference numeral 100 denotes a hybrid type
synchronous terminal, 110 a hybrid type synchronous radio network,
and 120 a synchronous core network which includes an ANSI-41
network.
[0140] FIG. 4B is a view showing an asynchronous GSM-MAP core
network interface architecture of the hybrid type synchronous radio
network. In this drawing, the reference numeral 100 denotes a
hybrid type synchronous terminal, 110 a hybrid type synchronous
radio network, and 130 an asynchronous core network which includes
a GSM-MAP network.
[0141] FIG. 4C is a view showing an asynchronous GSM-MAP core
network interface architecture of a hybrid type asynchronous radio
network. In this drawing, the reference numeral 210 denotes a
hybrid type asynchronous terminal, 220 denotes a hybrid type UTRAN
which is a hybrid type asynchronous radio network, and 240 denotes
a core network which is connected to the hybrid type UTRAN 220 and
includes an asynchronous GSM-MAP network.
[0142] FIG. 4D is a view showing a synchronous ANSI-41 core network
interface architecture of the hybrid type asynchronous radio
network. In this drawing, the reference numeral 210 denotes a
hybrid type asynchronous terminal, 220 denotes a hybrid type UTRAN
which is a hybrid type asynchronous radio network, and 230 denotes
a core network which is connected to the hybrid type UTRAN 220 and
includes a synchronous ANSI-41 network.
[0143] In order to be operable adaptively to the above four
interface architectures, each of the hybrid type synchronous and
asynchronous terminals in the next-generation mobile
telecommunications system has both asynchronous CC and MM protocol
entities serving for the GSM-MAP core network and synchronous CC
and MM protocol entities serving for the ANSI-41 core network at
the layer 3 in the protocol stack structure, which is a different
from each of the conventional synchronous and asynchronous
terminals.
[0144] FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, and FIG. 5D show layered protocol
structures of the next-generation mobile telecommunications
system.
[0145] FIG. 5A is a view showing the layered protocol structure of
a hybrid type synchronous terminal, a hybrid type synchronous radio
network and the synchronous ANSI-41 core network. In this drawing,
the reference numeral 100 denotes a hybrid type synchronous
terminal, 110 denotes a hybrid type synchronous radio network, and
120 denotes an ANSI-41 core network which is a synchronous core
network connected to the hybrid type synchronous radio network
110.
[0146] The hybrid type synchronous terminal 100 comprises a layer 3
101, a layer 2 107 and a layer 1 108. The layer 3 101 comprises a
synchronous CC part 102, a synchronous MM part 103, an asynchronous
CC part 104, an asynchronous MM part 105 and a synchronous radio
resource part 106. The hybrid type synchronous terminal 100
selectively makes a CC/MM protocol active according to a core
network operating type. Information for identifying the core
network operating type is given to the hybrid type synchronous
terminal 100.
[0147] For example, if the hybrid type synchronous terminal 100 is
currently connected to the ANSI-41 core network 120, the layer 3
101 therein activates protocols of the synchronous CC part 102 and
synchronous MM part 103 to perform a message interfacing operation
with the ANSI-41 core network 120.
[0148] The hybrid type synchronous radio network 110 comprises a
layer 3 111, a layer 2 115 and a layer 1 116, which activate their
protocols corresponding respectively to those in the hybrid type
synchronous terminal 100 and those in the ANSI-41 core network 120
to transmit and receive messages.
[0149] The ANSI-41 core network 120 comprises a layer 3 121, a
layer 2 125 and a layer 1 126. The layer 3 121 comprises a
synchronous CC part 122, a synchronous MM part 123 and a
synchronous RR part 124.
[0150] On the other hand, a hybrid type synchronous mobile
terminal, a hybrid type synchronous radio network and an
asynchronous core network have layered protocol structures as shown
in FIG. 5B when the core network connected thereto is of an
asynchronous operating type as shown in FIG. 4B.
[0151] In FIG. 5B, the reference numeral 100 denotes a hybrid type
synchronous terminal, 110 denotes a hybrid type synchronous radio
network, and 130 denotes a GSM-MAP core network which is an
asynchronous core network.
[0152] The hybrid type synchronous terminal 100 comprises a layer 3
101 having a NAS part and an AS part, a layer 2 107 and a layer 1
108. The NAS part includes a synchronous CC part 102, a synchronous
MM part 103, an asynchronous CC part 104 and an asynchronous MM
part 105. The AS part includes a synchronous RR part 106. The
hybrid type synchronous terminal 100 selectively makes a CC/MM
protocol active according to a core network operating type.
[0153] For example, if the hybrid type synchronous terminal 100 is
currently connected to the GSM-MAP core network 130, the layer 3
101 therein activates protocols of the asynchronous CC part 104 and
asynchronous MM part 105 to perform a message interfacing operation
with the GSM-MAP core network 130.
[0154] The hybrid type synchronous radio network 110 comprises a
layer 3 111 having a NAS part and an AS part, a layer 2 115 and a
layer 1 116, which activate their protocols corresponding
respectively to those in the hybrid type synchronous terminal 100
and those in the GSM-MAP core network 130 to transmit and receive
messages.
[0155] The GSM-MAP core network 130 comprises a layer 3 131 having
a NAS part and an AS part, a layer 2 135 and a layer 1 136. The NAS
part includes an asynchronous CC part 132 and an asynchronous MM
part 133. The AS part includes an asynchronous RRC part 134.
[0156] The layers 3 to 1 of the hybrid type synchronous radio
network 110 are connected and correspond respectively to those in
the hybrid type synchronous terminal 100 and those in the
asynchronous core network. 130. However, the NAS parts of the
hybrid type asynchronous terminal 100 and the asynchronous core
network 130 are coupled to each other not through the hybrid type
synchronous radio network 110.
[0157] FIG. 5C is a view showing layered protocol structures of a
hybrid type asynchronous mobile terminal, a hybrid type
asynchronous radio network and a synchronous ANSI-41 core network.
In this drawing, the reference numeral 210 denotes a hybrid type
asynchronous terminal, 220 denotes a hybrid type UTRAN which is a
hybrid type asynchronous radio network, and 230 denotes an ANSI-41
core network connected to the hybrid type UTRAN 220.
[0158] The hybrid type asynchronous terminal 210 comprises a layer
3 211, a layer 2 217 and a layer 1 218. The layer 3 includes a
synchronous CC part 212, a synchronous MM part 213, an asynchronous
CC part 214, an asynchronous MM part 215 and asynchronous RRC part
216 and selectively activates a synchronous CC/MM protocol or an
asynchronous CC/MM protocol.
[0159] For example, if the hybrid type asynchronous terminal 210 is
currently connected to the ANSI-41 core network 230, the layer 3
therein activates a protocol between the synchronous CC part 212
and synchronous MM part 213 to perform a message interfacing
operation with the ANSI-41 core network 230.
[0160] FIG. 5D is a view showing layered protocol structures of a
hybrid type asynchronous mobile terminal, a hybrid type
asynchronous radio network, and an asynchronous GSM-MAP core
network. In this drawing, the reference numeral 210 denotes a
hybrid type asynchronous terminal, 220 denotes hybrid type UTRAN
which is a hybrid type asynchronous radio network, and 240 denotes
an asynchronous GSM-MAP core network connected to the hybrid type
UTRAN 220.
[0161] The hybrid type asynchronous terminal 210 comprises a layer
3 211 having a NAS part and an AS part, a layer 2 217 and a layer 1
218. The NAS part includes a synchronous CC part 212, a synchronous
MM part 213, an asynchronous CC part 214 and an asynchronous MM
part 215 and selectively activates a synchronous CC/MM protocol or
an asynchronous CC/MM protocol. The AS part includes an
asynchronous RRC part 216.
[0162] The hybrid type asynchronous radio network 220 comprises a
layer 3 221 having a NAS part and an AS part, a layer 2 225 and a
layer 1 226, which activate their protocols corresponding
respectively to those in the hybrid type asynchronous terminal 210
and those in the GSM-MAP core network 240 to transmit and receive
messages.
[0163] The GSM-MAP core network 240 comprises a layer 3 241 having
a NAS part and an AS part, a layer 2 245 and a layer 1 246. The NAS
part includes an asynchronous CC part 242 and an asynchronous MM
part 243. The. AS part includes an asynchronous RRC part 244.
[0164] For example, if the hybrid type asynchronous terminal 210 is
currently connected to the GSM-MAP core network 240, the NAS part
therein activates protocols of the asynchronous CC part 214 and
asynchronous MM part 215 to perform a message interfacing operation
with the GSM-MAP core network 240.
[0165] The layers 3 to 1 of the hybrid type asynchronous radio
network 220 are connected and correspond respectively to those in
the hybrid type asynchronous terminal 210 and those in the
asynchronous core network 240. However, the NAS parts of the hybrid
type asynchronous terminal 210 and the asynchronous core network
240 are coupled to each other not through the hybrid type
asynchronous radio network 220.
Embodiment 1
[0166] In a method for interfacing a hybrid type synchronous
terminal to a synchronous core network, the hybrid type synchronous
mobile terminal and radio work have core network interface
architectures as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4 B
and the associated layered protocol structures as described above
with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.
[0167] FIG. 8A is a block diagram of a BS controller for
interfacing the BS with a core network having the same or a
different operating type with/from the BS.
[0168] The base station (BS) includes a controller 811 which
performs control functions of the BS, for example, information
transmission, call processing, etc.
[0169] The BS controller provides a terminal set synchronous or
asynchronous with a determined core network operating type
information and an information related to the core network to be
connected, thereby allowing the terminal to be interfaced with the
core network having the same or a different operating type
with/from the terminal.
[0170] A management/maintenance block 813 determines an operating
type of the core network to be connected on the basis of
information stored on the BS controller or on the basis of message
exchanged with the connected core network.
[0171] The stored information can be stored on a read only memory
(ROM) in the controller 811, or on a dip switch to which a central
processing unit (CPU) of the controller 811 connected. The message
exchanged with the core network is preferably a
management/maintenance message or a signaling message.
[0172] A call processing block 815 provides the terminal with the
core network operating type information and the information related
to the core network through a channel. In a synchronous operating
type, the core network operating type information and the
information related to the core network are inserted into a core
network operating type information field of a synchronous channel
and transmitted to the terminal. The core network operating type
information transmitted to the terminal is GSM-MAP information
representing an asynchronous core network, or ANSI-41 information
representing a synchronous core network.
[0173] FIG. 8B is a block diagram of a terminal controller for
interfacing the terminal with a core network, wherein the core
network is of a synchronous or an asynchronous type.
[0174] The terminal controller comprises a controlling unit 821, a
call processing unit 823, and a management/maintenance unit
825.
[0175] The call processing unit 823 includes a receiving block
which receives channel message having core network operating type
information, and a determining block which extracts the core
network operating type information inserted into a pre-selected
location of the channel message and determines whether the core
network is of a synchronous or an asynchronous type. The
management/maintenance unit 825 includes a setting block which sets
the terminal as an operating type corresponding to the core network
operating type information. The controlling unit 821 performs
general control functions of the terminal, for example, call
processing function, management/maintenance function, etc. The
terminal controller further includes a memory extracting and
storing information related to the core network from the channel
message. Here, the information related to the core network
corresponds to the core network operating type information.
[0176] As described above, the method and the apparatus in
accordance with the present invention adaptively sets a protocol
and interfaces among the terminal, the base station and the core
network on the basis of an operating type of the core network.
Preferred formats of messages communicated between the terminal and
the base station in order to perform setting and interfacing
functions are illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B.
[0177] FIG. 9A shows a format of a synchronous channel message
received by a synchronous terminal when a core network connected to
the radio network is GSM-MAP. FIG. 9B shows a format of a
synchronous channel message received by a synchronous terminal when
a core network connected to the radio network is ANSI-41 core
network.
[0178] If the core network operating type information is ANSI-41
information representing a synchronous core network, the
information related to core network includes information P_REV
representing a revision level of a system protocol, information
M_P_REV representing a minimum revision level, system
identification SID and network identification NID. If the core
network operating type information is GSM-MAP information
representing an asynchronous core network, the information related
to core network includes public land mobile network identity
PLMN_ID, core network domain identity and non-access stratum (NAS)
system information. The public land mobile network (PLMN) identity
PLMN_ID includes mobile country code (MCC) and mobile network code
(MNC). The terminal identifies a provider of a system to which it
accesses based on the PLMN identity PLMN_ID.
[0179] FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B show a method for interfacing a hybrid
type synchronous terminal with a core network in accordance with
the present invention.
[0180] FIG. 11A is a flowchart illustrating a procedure where a
hybrid type synchronous radio network including a base transceiver
station (BTS) and a base station controller (BSC) determines the
operating type of the core network and sends information about the
core network, for example, core network operating type information
and information related to core network, to the hybrid type
synchronous terminal.
[0181] First, the BSC in the hybrid type synchronous radio network
detects a core network operating type information of a core network
connected thereto at step S11.
[0182] Noticeably, the BSC detects the core network operating type
information of the connected core network on the basis of
information from a read only memory (ROM) or information from a dip
switch which may be manually operated by an operator, upon system
initialization. Alternatively, the BSC may detect the operating
type of the connected core network through the exchange of a
management/maintenance message with the connected core network.
[0183] Further, the BSC may detect the operating type of the
connected core network by conducting the above two methods
simultaneously or a simple modification of them.
[0184] Thereafter, the BSC determines at step S12 whether the
connected core network is a synchronous ANSI-41 core network. If
the connected core network is the synchronous ANSI-41 core network,
the BSC sets core network operating type information CN Type
corresponding to the detected core network operating type at step
S15.
[0185] In the case where it is determined at the above step S12
that the connected core network is not the synchronous ANSI-41 core
network, the BSC determines at step S13 whether the connected core
network is an asynchronous GSM-MAP core network. If the connected
core network is the asynchronous GSM-MAP core network, the BSC
activates an asynchronous CC part and an asynchronous MM part for a
direct spreading (DS) method at step S14 and then sets the CN Type
information corresponding to the detected core network operating
type at step S15.
[0186] Herein, the CN Type information is set to "1" when the
connected core network is the synchronous ANSI-41 core network, and
"0" when the connected core network is the asynchronous GSM-MAP
core network.
[0187] Subsequently, the BSC inserts the set core network operating
type information and the information related to core network
respectively into specific fields of a Sync channel message at step
S16.
[0188] Herein, the Sync channel message has formats as shown in
FIGS. 9A and 9B.
[0189] FIG. 9A is a view showing a format of the Sync channel
message when the core network connected to the hybrid type
synchronous radio network is the GSM-MAP network. As shown in this
drawing, the core network operating type information CN Type of "0"
or "1" is written in a first field of the Sync channel message and
information elements related to the GSM-MAP network, PLMN identity
information PLMN_ID, CN domain identity information and NAS system
information are sequentially written in the subsequent fields of
the message. As described above, the same information elements as
those in the conventional Sync channel message shown in FIG. 7A are
sequentially written from the next field of the present Sync
channel message.
[0190] FIG. 9B is a view showing a format of the Sync channel
message when the core network connected to the hybrid type
synchronous radio work is the ANSI-41 network. As shown in this
drawing, the core network operating type information CN Type of "0"
or "1" is written in a first field of the Sync channel message and
information elements related to the ANSI-41 network, an 8 bits
protocol revision level, an 8 bits minimum protocol revision level,
a 15 bits system identification and a 16 bits network
identification, are sequentially written in the subsequent fields
of the message. The same information elements as those in the
conventional Sync channel message shown in FIG. 7A are sequentially
written from the next field of the present Sync channel
message.
[0191] Herein, the core network operating type information is used
to indicate whether the core network connected to the synchronous
radio network is the ANSI-41 network or the GSM-MAP network. For
example, the core network operating type information is set to "1"
when the core network connected to the hybrid type synchronous
radio network is the ANSI-41 core network, and "0" when the
connected core network is the GSM-MAP core network.
[0192] Thereafter, the BSC in the hybrid type synchronous radio
network sends the Sync channel message having the CN operating type
information to the hybrid type synchronous terminal over a Sync
channel at step S17.
[0193] Then, the BSC interfaces the hybrid type synchronous
terminal with the core network in a synchronous or asynchronous
communication manner according to a set protocol at step S18.
[0194] On the other hand, upon receiving the above Sync channel
message, the hybrid type synchronous terminal synchronizes its
timing with that of the connected core network according to a
flowchart of FIG. 11B.
[0195] That is, upon being powered on, the synchronous terminal
selects a CDMA system on the basis of a CDMA channel number, a CDMA
area list, an SID list, an NID list and other information stored in
its memory and a CDMA system selection algorithm provided from a
terminal manufacturer at step S21.
[0196] Then, the hybrid type synchronous terminal acquires a pilot
having the same. CDMA channel number as that of the selected CDMA
system at step S22. In other words, after selecting the CDMA
system, the hybrid type synchronous terminal acquires a pilot
having the same CDMA channel number as that of the selected CDMA
system, or CDMA frequency number as that corresponding to the
selected CDMA system.
[0197] After acquiring the pilot, the hybrid type synchronous
terminal proceeds to step S23 to perform a Sync channel acquisition
operation and then to step S24 to receive a Sync channel message
over the acquired Sync channel.
[0198] Subsequently, the hybrid type synchronous terminal analyzes
core network operating type information CN Type among information
elements in the received Sync channel message at step S25. Herein,
the CN Type information is set to "1" when the connected core
network is the synchronous ANSI-41 core network, and "0" when the
connected core network is the asynchronous GSM-MAP core
network.
[0199] Accordingly, the hybrid type synchronous terminal determines
at step 526 whether the CN Type information value is "1" and
proceeds to step S27 if the CN Type information value is "1". At
step S27, the synchronous terminal analyzes information elements
related to the core network as those for the ANSI-41 core network
and stores desired ones of them in its memory. At this time, the
stored information elements are system identification (SID),
network identification (NID), a minimum protocol revision level
(MIN_P_REV) and a protocol revision level (P_REV).
[0200] Thereafter, at step S28, the hybrid type synchronous
terminal selects a synchronous CC part and a synchronous MM part
for the ANSI-41 network and sets protocols according to the
selected operating type. Subsequently, the hybrid type synchronous
terminal synchronizes its timing with that of a base transceiver
station in the selected system at step S29 and then performs a
message interfacing operation with the ANSI-41 core network at step
S30.
[0201] On the other hand, in the case where it is determined at the
above step S26 that the CN Type information value is not "1", the
synchronous terminal determines at step S31 whether the CN Type
information value is "0" and proceeds to step S32 if the CN Type
information value is "0". At step S32, the synchronous terminal
analyzes the information elements related to core network as those
for the GSM-MAP core network and stores a desired one, a PLMN
identity, of them in its memory.
[0202] Thereafter, at step S33, the hybrid type synchronous
terminal selects an asynchronous CC part and an asynchronous MM
part for the GSM-MAP network and sets protocols according to the
selected operating type. Subsequently, the hybrid type synchronous
terminal synchronizes its timing with that of a base transceiver
station in the selected system at step S34 and then performs a
message interfacing operation with the GSM-MAP core network at step
S35.
Embodiment 2
[0203] Architectures of telecommunication system for interfacing a
hybrid type asynchronous terminal with a core network are described
above with reference to FIGS. 4C and 4D and the associated layered
protocol structures of the telecommunication system are described
above with reference to FIGS. 5C and 5D.
[0204] As described above, the method or the apparatus for
interfacing in accordance with the present invention adaptively
sets a protocol on the basis of an operating type of the core
network and smoothly interfaces among the terminal, the base
station and the core network. Preferred formats of messages
communicated between the terminal and the base station in order to
perform setting and interfacing functions are illustrated in FIGS.
10A to and 10D.
[0205] FIGS. 10A and 10B show a format of a master information
block in a system information message received by a hybrid type
asynchronous terminal when a core network connected to a universal
mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access.
network (UTRAN) is an asynchronous GSM-MAP core network. FIGS. 10C
and 10D show a format of a master information block in a system
information message received by a hybrid type asynchronous terminal
when a core network connected to the UTRAN is a synchronous ANSI-41
core network.
[0206] If the core network operating type information is ANSI-41
information representing a synchronous core network, the
information related to core network includes a revision level
(P_REV) representing a revision level of a system protocol, a
minimum revision level (M_P_REV), a system identification (SID) and
network identification (NID). If the core network operating type
information is GSM-MAP information representing an asynchronous
core network, the information related to core network includes
public land mobile network identity (PLMN_ID).
[0207] FIG. 12A is a flowchart illustrating a procedure where a
hybrid type radio network controller (RNC) in an asynchronous radio
network, or UTRAN, determines the operating type of a core network
connected thereto and sends the core network operating type
information and information related to the core network to a hybrid
type asynchronous terminal.
[0208] First, the hybrid type RNC in the UTRAN detects an operating
type of a core network connected thereto at step S41.
[0209] Noticeably, the hybrid type RNC detects the operating type
of the connected core network on the basis of information from a
read only memory (ROM) or information from a dip switch which may
be manually operated by an operator, upon system initialization.
Alternatively, the hybrid type RNC may detect the operating type of
the connected core network through the exchange of a
management/maintenance message with the connected core network.
[0210] Alternatively, the hybrid type RNC may detect the operating
type of the connected core network by conducting the above two
methods simultaneously or a simple modification of them.
[0211] Thereafter, the hybrid type RNC determines at step S42
whether the connected core network is an asynchronous GSM-MAP core
network.
[0212] If it is determined at the above step S42 that the connected
core network is the asynchronous GSM-MAP core network, the hybrid
type RNC sets core network operating type information CN Type
corresponding to the detected operating type of the core network at
step S45. For example, if the connected core network is the
asynchronous GSM-MAP core network, the RNC sets the core network
operating type information as "GSM-MAP".
[0213] Subsequently, the hybrid type RNC inserts the set CN Type
information and information related to core network respectively
into specific fields of a system information message at step
S46.
[0214] Herein, the CN Type information and information related to
core network are inserted into a master information block (MIB) in
the system information message. In FIGS. 10A and 10B, views showing
a format of the MIB are shown. The MIB has the CN Type information
and the information related to core network in accordance with the
present invention.
[0215] In FIGS. 10A and 10B, other fields except for CN information
elements are the same as those in the conventional system
information message shown in FIG. 7B and a detailed description
thereof will thus be omitted. The core network operating
information and the information related to core network are written
in the CN information element field. Because it is determined at
the above step S42 that the connected core network is the
asynchronous GSM-MAP core network, "GSM-MAP" is written in the CN
Type information field and a PLMN identity is written in the core
network related information field.
[0216] Thereafter, the RNC sends the system information message
having a master information block (MIB) to the hybrid type
asynchronous terminal over a BCCH at step S47 and then performs a
message interfacing operation between the hybrid type asynchronous
terminal and the core network at step S48.
[0217] On the other hand, in the case where it is determined at the
above step S42 that the connected core network is not the
asynchronous GSM-MAP core network, the RNC determines at step S43
whether the connected core network is a synchronous ANSI-41 core
network. If the connected core network is the synchronous ANSI-41
core network, the RNC activates a synchronous. CC part and a
synchronous MM part for MC at step S44 and then sets the core
network operating type information CN Type corresponding to the
detected core network operating type at step S45. For example, if
the connected core network is the synchronous ANSI-41 core network,
the RNC sets the CN Type information as "ANSI-41".
[0218] Subsequently, the RNC inserts the set CN Type information
and the information related to core network respectively into
specific fields of a system information message at step S46.
[0219] Herein, the CN Type information and the information related
to core network are inserted into the MIB in the system information
message. FIGS. 10C and 10D are views showing a format of the MIB in
which the CN Type information and information related to core
network are written in accordance with the present invention.
[0220] In FIGS. 10C and 10D, other fields except for fields
containing CN information elements are the same as those in the
conventional system information message shown in FIG. 7B and a
detailed description thereof will thus be omitted. The CN Type
information and information related to core network are written in
the CN information element fields. Because it is determined at the
above step S43 that the connected core network is the synchronous
ANSI-41 core network, "ANSI-41" is written in the CN Type
information field and ANSI-41 information elements are written in
the information related to core network field. Herein, the ANSI-41
information elements are P_REV, MIN_P_REV, SID and NID
information.
[0221] Thereafter, the RNC sends the system information message
having the MIB to the asynchronous terminal over the BCCH at step
S47 and then performs a message interfacing operation between the
hybrid type asynchronous terminal and the core network at step
S48.
[0222] On the other hand, upon receiving the above system
information message over the BCCH, the hybrid type asynchronous
terminal sets its protocol through a procedure of FIG. 12B to
perform an interfacing operation with the core network.
[0223] Namely, upon being powered on, the hybrid type asynchronous
terminal selects a PLMN where it is located, on the basis of a PLMN
list stored in its memory at step S51. Then, the hybrid type
asynchronous terminal selects a cell in the selected PLMN with
which it can efficiently communicate, at step S52, and receives a
system information message as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B or 10C and
10D over a BCCH at step S53.
[0224] At step S54, the hybrid type asynchronous terminal extracts
the master information block (MIB) from the received system
information message and analyzes CN Type information in the
extracted MIB.
[0225] The hybrid type asynchronous terminal determines at step S55
whether the CN s Type information is "GSM-MAP" and proceeds to step
S56 if the CN Type information is "GSM-MAP". At step S56, the
hybrid type asynchronous terminal analyzes the information elements
related to core network as those for the GSM-MAP core network and
stores a desired one, a PLMN identity, of them in its memory.
[0226] Thereafter, at step S57, the asynchronous terminal selects
an asynchronous CC part and an asynchronous MM part for the GSM-MAP
network and sets a protocol therebetween. Subsequently, the hybrid
type asynchronous terminal carries out its initialization based on
the contents of the information elements related to core network at
step S58 and then performs a message interfacing operation with the
GSM-MAP core network at step S59.
[0227] On the other hand, in the case where it is determined at the
above step S55 that the CN Type information is not "GSM-MAP", the
hybrid type asynchronous terminal determines at step S60 whether
the CN Type information is "ANSI-41" and proceeds to step S61 if
the CN Type information is "ANSI-41".
[0228] At step S61, the hybrid type asynchronous terminal analyzes
the information elements related to the core network as those for
the ANSI-41 core network and stores desired ones of them in its
memory. The stored information elements are SID, NID, MIN_P_REV and
P_REV information.
[0229] Thereafter, at step S62, the hybrid type asynchronous
terminal selects a synchronous CC part and a synchronous MM part
for the ANSI-41 network and sets a protocol therebetween.
Subsequently, the hybrid type asynchronous terminal carries out its
initialization based on the contents of the core network related
information elements at step S63 and then performs a message
interfacing operation with the ANSI-41 core network at step
S64.
[0230] As apparent from the above description, according to the
present invention, even though a hybrid type synchronous or
asynchronous terminal is connected to either a GSM-MAP core network
or an ANSI-41 core network, it can smoothly be interfaced with the
connected core network because it is able to recognize the
operating type of the connected core network and information
related to the core network.
[0231] Further, new information elements (CN Type information and
information related to core network) are simply added to a Sync
channel message used in an existing synchronous radio network, in
other words, changes or modifications of existing information
elements in the Sync channel message are minimized. Therefore, the
hybrid type synchronous radio network can readily notify a hybrid
type synchronous terminal of the operating type of a connected core
network, and a synchronous system subscriber can be provided with a
service from an asynchronous GSM-MAP core network.
[0232] Moreover, new information elements, i.e., CN Type
information and information related to core network, are added to a
system information message used in an asynchronous system having an
existing asynchronous radio network, without modifying existing
information elements in the system information message. Therefore,
the hybrid type asynchronous radio network can readily notify a
hybrid type asynchronous terminal of the operating type of a
connected core network, and an asynchronous system subscriber can
be provided with a service from a synchronous ANSI-41 core
network.
[0233] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *