WO2001043461A2

WO2001043461A2 - Psp matching in gprs-136hs

Info

Publication number: WO2001043461A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/042518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Carlsson
Original assignee: Ericsson Inc.
Priority date: 1999-12-10
Filing date: 2000-12-04
Publication date: 2001-06-14
Also published as: CO5300376A1; WO2001043461A3; AR028881A1; AU4309401A; TW496095B

Abstract

A mobile station of a non-public wireless system is described for communicating in a mobile public voice and data network having acircuit side for communicating voice and circuit data and a packet side for communicating packet data. The mobile station includes a memory storing information relating to select channels in at least one of the circuit side and the packet side and select channels of the non-public system. A comparator is operable when the mobile station is communicating on a given channel on the packet side for comparing the given channel to the stored information to determine a matched or non-matched condition. A communication control is operable if a matched condition exists to scan for channels of the non-public system, and if a non-matched condition exists to communicate on the packet side.

Description

PSP MATCHING IN GPRS-136HS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to Public Service Profile (PSP) matching for non-public cellular systems and, more particularly, to PSP matching in packet data networks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A wireless communication system, in the form of a public cellular system, is designed to cover a large geographic area The system is divided into numerous cells providing air interface between mobile stations and land-based systems These wireless systems maintain a set of frequencies used for traffic channels and control channels Recently, cellular-based system design is used as a foundation for smaller systems, such as non-public wireless office systems. These non-public systems may share the frequency spectrum with the public systems. The non-public system user must be defined as a normal cellular subscriber in the subscriber database of the public system, and the user's mobile station must be defined in both the non-public system and the public system. These are preconditions to enable the mobile station to roam between these systems. They are also required for the mobile station to find the non-public system.

Attempts are in process to standardize and develop a cellular voice and data network that is commonly called EGPRS-136, formerly GPRS-136HS. This network consists of two distinct pieces One piece is the circuit side (for voice and circuit data) based on time division multiple access (TDMA) technology (TINEIA-41 [also called ANSI-41] for the network infrastructure and TIA/EIA-136 [also called ANSI- 136] for the air-interface) The other piece is the packet side based on general packet radio service (GPRS) technology using GSM standards

In this type of network, the mobile station is typically camped on a 200-kHz packet control channel when it is in the camping state If the mobile station needs to originate a circuit call or if an incoming circuit call needs to be answered, then the mobile station leaves the 200-kHz packet control channel and uses the 30-kHz circuit side channels for the circuit call. The way in which it quickly finds the proper 30-kHz channel in such a situation is based on pointers available on the 200-kHz control channel to the 30-kHz control channels that are available (these pointers are sometimes called "DCCH Pointer List"). In the currently existing version of TIA/EIA-136 (revision A), there is support for non-public systems, such as Wireless Office Systems (WOS) The main use of such a system is where an organization sets up its own wireless system in its own premises By utilizing the features in TIA/EIA-136, the non-public wireless system can use the same mobile stations as the public cellular network does The mobile stations can roam between the non- public system in the office and the regular cellular systems outside the office In an "integrated" set-up the public system includes cells from the non-public system on its neighbor lists This allows the mobile stations to re-select to the non-public system when they are within the coverage of the non-public system An autonomous non-public system allows the mobile stations to roam between the public and the non-public system without the need for the public system to broadcast information about the non-public system In order for the mobile stations to be able to reselect to the non-public system when they are within the coverage of an autonomous non-public system a process called Public Service Profile (PSP) matching is used Each mobile station stores information about the public cells PSPs and it also stores information about Private Operating Frequencies (POFs) A POF is a frequency used by the non-public system The mobile station will re-select to non-public systems by looking for the POFs when it is camping on a public cell that matches a PSP it has stored This process is described in more detail in TIA/EIA-136-123-N section 4 20 Each PSP contains the channel number (CHAN) of the control channel, the hyperband of the channel, the Digital Verification Color Code (DVCC) or the Digital Color Code (DCC) of the control channel and the system identity (SID/SOC/MCC) of the system (i e matching on CHAN/Hyperband/DVCC [DCCH] or CHAN/SID/DCC [ACC])

There are different ways for the mobile station to obtain the PSP POF data One is described in TIA/EIA-136-123-N section 4 20 In this method the mobile station stores PSP/POF information at each initial selection of a DCCH in a non-public system The mobile station stores the first four neighbor cell entries (CHAΝ/Hyperband/DVCC or CHAΝ/SID/DCC) with the "CELLTYPE" set to "ΝOΝ PREFERRED" found in the neighbor cell list ("Neighbor Cell message" or the "Neighbor Cell (Multi Hyperband) message") as the PSP info The mobile station also stores the first eight neighbor cell entries (Hyperband/CHAN/CELLTWE/MS_ACC_PWR^ISS_ACC_MLN/SS_SUFF DELAY) with the "CELLTYPE" set to "PREFERRED" or "REGULAR" found in the neighbor cell list ("Neighbor Cell message" or the "Neighbor Cell (Multi Hyperband) message") as the POF information.

Another way is to obtain the PSP/POF data in the "Over-The-Air Activation Teleservice (OATS)" procedure. This is specified in TIA/EIA- 136-720 (see section 7.15). Basically the required PSP and POF information is sent to the mobile station in a point-to- point message during the activation procedure. If no PSP/POF info is delivered to a mobile station in an OATS procedure, then the mobile station can initially obtain the data by performing a full scan (all hyperbands and channels) at the request of the user and when the desired non-public system is found, the data will be read from the neighbor cell lists as described above. In the EGPRS-136 system it is desirable to still support non-public systems.

However, the old PSP matching process will no longer work because the mobile stations will not camp on the 30-kHz ACC or DCCH, which was used for PSP matching.

The present invention is directed to solving one or more of the problems discussed above, in a novel and simple manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a system for using PSP matching in mobile public voice and data networks having a circuit side and a packet side.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a method for supporting communication with mobile stations of a non-public system in a mobile public voice and data network having a circuit side for communicating voice and circuit data and a packet side for communicating packet data. The method comprises the steps of storing information in the mobile station relating to select channels on at least one of the circuit side and the packet side and select channels of the non-public system. When the mobile station is communicating on a given channel on the packet side, then the method compares the given channel to the stored information to determine a matched or a non-matched condition. If a matched condition exists, then the mobile station scans for channels of the non-public system. If a non-matched condition exists, then the mobile station communicates on the packet side.

It is a feature of the invention that the storing step comprises storing a cell global identity for select channels on the packet side. The comparing step determines a matched condition if the given channel has a stored cell global identity. The cell global identity comprises a location area identification and a unique cell identity

In accordance with one aspect of the invention a list of cell global identities are broadcast to the mobile station over the non-public system

In accordance with another aspect of the invention the list of cell global identities are broadcast to the mobile station using over-the-air activation-teleservice

In accordance with another aspect of the invention the storing step comprises storing channel identification information for select channels on the circuit side and pointers from channels on the packet side to available channels on the circuit side The comparing step comprises determining a matched condition if pointers from the given channel are to any of the available channels on the circuit side The pointers define a DCCH pointer list

It is another feature of the invention that, if a matched condition exists, the method switches to the circuit side if a channel of the non-public system is found, and otherwise communicates on the packet side

There is disclosed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention a mobile station of a non-public wireless system for communicating in a mobile public voice and data network having a circuit side for communicating voice and circuit data and a packet side for communicating packet data The mobile station includes a memory storing information relating to select channels in at least one of the circuit side and the packet side and select channels of the non-public system A comparator is operable when the mobile station is communicating on a given channel on the packet side for comparing the given channel to the stored information to determine a matched or non-matched condition A communication control is operable if a matched condition exists to scan for channels of the non-public system, and if a non-matched condition exists to communicate on the packet side

Further features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the specification and from the drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile station, in accordance with the invention, of a non-public wireless system for communicating in a public system having a circuit side and a packet side, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the mobile station of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of a first program for implementing PSP matching in the mobile station of Fig. 1 in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of a second program for implementing PSP matching in the mobile station of Fig. 1 in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for supporting communication with mobile stations (MS) 10 of a non-public system 12 in a mobile public voice and data network 14 having a circuit side 16 for communicating voice and circuit data and a packet side 18 for communicating packet data. The mobile station 10 stores information relating to select channels in at least one of the circuit side 16 and the packet side 18 and select channels of the non-public system 12. The mobile station 10 compares a given channel it is communicating on to the stored information to scan for channels of the non-public system 12 if a matched condition exists, and to communicate on the packet side 18 if a non-matched condition exists. The network 14 is an EGPRS-136 cellular voice and data network, as discussed above . The circuit side 16 (for voice and circuit data) is based on time division multiple access (TDMA) technology (TIA/EIA-41 [also called ANSI-41] for the network infrastructure and TIA/EIA-136 [also called ANSI- 136] for the air-interface). The packet side 18 based on general packet radio service (GPRS) technology using GSM standards. The air-interface on the circuit side 16 is a 30-kHz Um interface based on

TIA/EIA-136 and contains several logical channels. For signaling an Analog Control Channel (ACC) and a Digital Control Channel (DCCH) are defined. For 'traffic' (voice calls, fax calls, circuit-data calls etc.) an Analog Voice Channel (AVC) and a Digital Traffic Channel (DTC) are defined. The air-interface on the packet side 18 is a 200-kHz Um interface based on GPRS and also contains several logical channels. For signaling the following channels are defined: packet broadcast control channel (PBCCH); packet associated control channel (PACCH), packet timing advance control channel (PTCCH); packet random access channel (i.e. uplink PCCCH) (PRACH), packet paging channel (part of downlink PCCCH) (PPCH), - packet access grant channel (part of downlink PCCCH) (PAGCH), packet notification channel (part of downlink PCCCH) (PNCH),

For traffic there is a packet data traffic channel (PDTCH).

The non-public system 12 may comprise, for example, a wireless office system (WOS) The non-public system 12 includes a base station 20 for communicating with the mobile station 10 using a 30-kHz Um interface, as with the circuit side 16 The base station

20 is operatively connected to a non-public serving MSC/VLR (mobile switching center/visitor location register) 22 which is connected directly and through a private branch exchange 24 to the public switch telephone network (PSTN) 26. The MSC/VLR 22 also connects via a signaling interface to an HLR/AC (home location register/authentication center) 28 on the circuit side 16.

The circuit side 16 communicates with the mobile station 10 via base stations 32 operatively connected to a serving MSC/VLR 32. The serving MSC/VLR 32 is all connected via a signaling interface to the HLR/AC 28. Both interface with a gateway MSC/VLR 34 providing an interface to the packet side 18 The packet side 18 includes a base station 36 for communicating with the mobile station 10 using the 200 kHz Um interface The base station 36 is operatively connected to a serving GPR support node (SGSN) 38 which is also connected to the gateway MSC/VLR 34. Additionally, the SGSN 38 is connected to other SGSNs 40 and via a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) 42 to other public land mobile network 44 and via a GGSN 46 to a public data network (PDN) 48 The SGSN 38 and the GGSN 46 are connected to a

GPRS HLR 50. Also, the SGSN 38 is connected to a short message service (SMS) node 52

The network 14 includes additional components illustrated in Fig 1 that are not specifically discussed herein. In general, the network 14 operates in a conventional manner except for modifications as specifically described herein relating to PSP matching

There are two methods of PSP matching in the EGPRS-136 system in accordance with the invention One is based on the characteristics of the 200-kHz channel and the second is based on pointers to 30-kHz channels on the 200-kHz channel The first method defines a new set of information to use for the PSP Instead of using the set {CHAN, DVCC/Hyperband or CHAN/SID/DCC}, the cell identity of the 200-kHz cell is all that is needed as information for the PSP The second method instead uses the same set of information as currently {CHAN, DVCC/Hyperband or CHAN/SID/DCC} Instead of deciding on a PSP match by camping on a 30-kHz channel with the correct data, the PSP match is decided when the pointer information on the 200-kHz control channel includes pointers to 30-kHz channels that matches the information set in the PSP

Referring to Fig 2, the mobile station 10 is illustrated in block diagram form The mobile station 10 includes an antenna 60 for sending and receiving radio signals between itself and the network 14, see Fig 1 The antenna 60 is connected to a transmitter/receiver 62 to broadcast and receive on the same antenna 60 Particularly, the transmitter/receiver 62 includes a receiver that demodulates, demultiplexes and decodes the radio signals into one or more channels Such channels include a control channel and a traffic channel for speech or data The speech or data are delivered to an output device of an input-output circuit 64, such as a speaker The receiver delivers messages from the control channel to a processor 66 The processor 66 controls and coordinates the function of the mobile station 10 responsive to messages on the control channel using programs and data stored in a memory 68, so that the mobile station can operate within the wireless network The processor 66 also controls the operation of the mobile station 10 responsive to input from the input-output circuit 64 This input may utilize a keyboard/keypad or the like as a user-input device and a display to give the user information, as is well known The transmitter/receiver 66 also includes a transmitter that converts analog electrical signals into digital data, encodes the data with error detection and correction information, and multiplexes this data with control messages from the processor 66 This combined data is modulated and broadcast via radio signal through the antenna 60, as is conventional The memory 68, in accordance with the invention, stores information relating to select channels in at least one of the circuit side 16 and the packet side 18 and selects channels of the non-public system 12 The processor 66 implements a program, as discussed below, when the mobile station 10 is communicating on a given channel on the packet side 18 for comparing the given channel to the stored information If a matched condition exists, then the mobile station 10 scans for channels of the non-public system 12 If a non-matched condition exists, then the mobile station 10 is operated to communicate on the packet side 18

With the first method, if the mobile station 10 selects a 30-kHz channel, then PSP matching works exactly as before If the mobile station 10 selects a given 200-kHz channel, it checks the Cell Global Identity (CGI) ("Location Area Identity LE" plus "Cell

Identification IE" see GSM 04 60 for LAI and CI and GSM 03 03 for CGI) for the given channel and if it matches one that the mobile station 10 has stored for a PSP, then a PSP match is declared

In order to obtain the PSP and POF information two new methods are used On the 30-kHz DCCH a new message or information element is defined This new message or information element is used by non-public systems to broadcast PSP data It contains a list of the CGIs of all the public channels that are to be used for PSP matching The POF information is obtained the same way as it is done currently for 30-kHz PSPs Also, for the "Over-The-Air Activation Teleservice (OATS)" a new message or information element is defined that transmits the PSP information It also is the CGI

The CGI can be described generally, as in GSM 03 03, as follows

4.3. I Cell Identity (CI) and Cell Global Identification (CGI)

The BSS and cell within the BSS is identified within a location or routing area by adding a Cell Identity (CI) to the location or routing area identification The CI is of fixed length with 2 octets and it can be coded using a full hexadecimal representation The Cell Global Identification is the concatenation of the Location Area Identification and the Cell Identity Cell Identity must be unique within a location area The Location Area Identification includes a Mobile Country Code (MCC) consisting of three decimal digits, a Mobile Network Code (MNC) consisting of two decimal (non-North America) or three (North America) digits, and an LAC which is a 16-bit number. The CI is a 16-bit number.

Referring to Fig. 3, a flow diagram illustrates a program implemented in the processor 66 of Fig. 2 in accordance with this first method. The program begins at a start node 70. If the mobile station 10 selects a 30-kHz channel, then PSP matching is implemented in the conventional fashion and is not illustrated. The flow diagram of Fig. 3 is implemented when the mobile station 10 selects a new 200-kHz channel, as indicated at a block 72. Thereafter, a decision block 74 determines if the CGI of the new channel or cell is equal to a stored CGI. If there is no match, then the mobile station 10 camps on the 200-kHz public channel at a block 76 and the program returns to normal processing as indicated at a node 78. If a match is found between the CGI of the new channel and the stored CGIs, then the mobile station 10 declares a PSP match at a block 80 and begins scanning for POFs. A decision block 82 determines if a POF is found. If not, then the mobile station 10 camps on the 200-kHz public channel and continues to scan at regular intervals for POFs at a block 84. If a POF is found, then the mobile station 10 camps on the 30-kHz POF channel at a block 86. From either block 84 or 86, the program returns to other processing via the node 78.

In the second method, similarly to the first method, if the mobile station 10 selects a 30-kHz channel, PSP matching works exactly as before. In the second method, when the MS selects a 200-kHz channel, it checks the "DCCH pointer list" and if the data

(CHAN/DVCC/Hyperband or CHAN/SID/DCC) matches one that the mobile station 10 has stored for a PSP, then a PSP match is declared. No changes are needed compared to existing solutions for PSP/POF information collection at the mobile station 10 in the second method.

Referring to Fig. 4, a flow diagram illustrates a program implemented in the processor 66 of Fig. 2 for implementing the second method. This program includes a start node 90 and block 92 that corresponds to the node 70 of block 72 discussed relative to Fig. 3. When a new 200-kHz channel is selected, then the mobile station 10 reads pointer information from one pointer in a DCCH pointer list at a block 94. A decision block 96 determines if the PSP information in the one pointer matches stored PSP information. If not, then a decision block 98 determines if more pointers are available in the list. If so, then the program returns to the block 94 to continue comparing PSP information relating to additional pointers. If not, then there is no match and the mobile station 10 camps on the 200-kHz public channel at a block 100

If the PSP information in one of the pointers matches the stored PSP information, as determined at the decision block 96, then the mobile station 10 declares a PSP match at a block 104 and begins scanning for POFs A decision block 106 determines if a POF is found. If not, then the mobile station 10 camps on the 200-kHz public channel and continues to scan at regular intervals for POFs at a block 108. If a POF is found, then the mobile station 10 camps on the 30-kHz POF channel at a block 110 From either block 104 or 106, the program returns to other processing via the node 102

While the present application is described in connection with the EGPRS-136 network, the present invention could be used with other public voice and data networks having a circuit side and packet side, such as described herein Further, while the mobile station 10 utilizes a processor 66 for implementing the comparison and control functions for camping on a particular channel, these functions could be performed by alternative types of processing systems and logic circuits or the like, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS I CLAIM:

1. In a mobile public voice and data network having a circuit side for communicating voice and circuit data and a packet side for communicating packet data, a method for supporting communication with mobile stations of a non-public system, comprising the steps of: storing information in the mobile station relating to select channels on at least one of the circuit side and the packet side and select channels of the non-public system; when the mobile station is communicating on a given channel on the packet side, then comparing the given channel to the stored information to determine a matched or non-matched condition; and if a matched condition, then operating the mobile station scan for channels of the non-public system, and if a non-matched condition, then operating the mobile station to communicate on the packet side.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing step comprises storing a cell global identity for select channels on the packet side.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the comparing step determines a matched condition if the given channel has a stored cell global identity.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the cell global identity comprises a location area identification and a unique cell identity.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of broadcasting a list of cell global identities to the mobile station over the non-public system.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of sending a list of cell global identities to the mobile station using Over-the-air-Activation-Teleservice.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing step comprises storing channel identification information for select channels on the circuit side and pointers from channels on the packet side to available channels on the circuit side.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the comparing step comprises determining a matched condition if pointers from the given channel are to any of the available channels on the circuit side.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the pointers define a DCCH pointer list.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps, if a matched condition exists, of switching to the circuit side if a channel of the non-public system is found, otherwise communicating on the packet side.

11. A mobile station of a non-public wireless system for commumcating in a mobile public voice and data network having a circuit side for communicating voice and circuit data and a packet side for communicating packet data, comprising: a memory storing information relating to select channels in at least one of the circuit side and the packet side and select channels of the non-public system; a comparator, operable when the mobile station is communicating on a given channel on the packet side, for comparing the given channel to the stored information to determine a matched or non-matched condition; and a communication control operable if a matched condition exists to scan for channels of the non-public system, and if a non-matched condition exists to communicate on the packet side.

12. The mobile station of claim 11 wherein the memory stores a cell global identity for select channels on the packet side.

13. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein the comparator determines a matched condition if the given channel has a stored cell global identity.

14. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein the cell global identity comprises a location area identification and a unique cell identity.

15. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein a list of cell global identities is broadcast to the mobile station over the non-public system.

16. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein a list of cell global identities is sent to the mobile station using Over-the air-Activation-Teleservice.

17. The mobile station of claim 11 wherein the memory stores channel identification information for select channels on the circuit side and pointers from channels on the packet side to available channels on the circuit side.

18. The mobile station of claim 17 wherein the comparator determines a matched condition if pointers from the given channel are to any of the available channels on the circuit side.

19. The mobile station of claim 17 wherein the pointers define a DCCH pointer list.

20. The mobile station of claim 11 wherein the communication control, if a matched condition exists, switches to the circuit side if a channel of the non-public system is found, and otherwise communicates on the packet side.