CA2314981A1 - Broadband cellular network device - Google Patents
Broadband cellular network device Download PDFInfo
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- CA2314981A1 CA2314981A1 CA002314981A CA2314981A CA2314981A1 CA 2314981 A1 CA2314981 A1 CA 2314981A1 CA 002314981 A CA002314981 A CA 002314981A CA 2314981 A CA2314981 A CA 2314981A CA 2314981 A1 CA2314981 A1 CA 2314981A1
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- 230000001413 cellular effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 59
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000010295 mobile communication Methods 0.000 abstract description 11
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 108091006146 Channels Proteins 0.000 description 10
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 6
- 229910052729 chemical element Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920000136 polysorbate Polymers 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W4/06—Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L49/00—Packet switching elements
- H04L49/10—Packet switching elements characterised by the switching fabric construction
- H04L49/104—Asynchronous transfer mode [ATM] switching fabrics
- H04L49/105—ATM switching elements
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L49/00—Packet switching elements
- H04L49/10—Packet switching elements characterised by the switching fabric construction
- H04L49/104—Asynchronous transfer mode [ATM] switching fabrics
- H04L49/105—ATM switching elements
- H04L49/106—ATM switching elements using space switching, e.g. crossbar or matrix
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L49/00—Packet switching elements
- H04L49/10—Packet switching elements characterised by the switching fabric construction
- H04L49/104—Asynchronous transfer mode [ATM] switching fabrics
- H04L49/105—ATM switching elements
- H04L49/107—ATM switching elements using shared medium
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L49/00—Packet switching elements
- H04L49/10—Packet switching elements characterised by the switching fabric construction
- H04L49/104—Asynchronous transfer mode [ATM] switching fabrics
- H04L49/105—ATM switching elements
- H04L49/108—ATM switching elements using shared central buffer
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L49/00—Packet switching elements
- H04L49/20—Support for services
- H04L49/201—Multicast operation; Broadcast operation
- H04L49/203—ATM switching fabrics with multicast or broadcast capabilities
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q11/00—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
- H04Q11/04—Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems for time-division multiplexing
- H04Q11/0428—Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
- H04Q11/0478—Provisions for broadband connections
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/54—Store-and-forward switching systems
- H04L12/56—Packet switching systems
- H04L12/5601—Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
- H04L2012/5603—Access techniques
- H04L2012/5604—Medium of transmission, e.g. fibre, cable, radio
- H04L2012/5607—Radio
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/54—Store-and-forward switching systems
- H04L12/56—Packet switching systems
- H04L12/5601—Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
- H04L2012/5638—Services, e.g. multimedia, GOS, QOS
- H04L2012/564—Connection-oriented
- H04L2012/5642—Multicast/broadcast/point-multipoint, e.g. VOD
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
- H04W88/12—Access point controller devices
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
- Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
Abstract
A broadband cellular network device comprises a cellular controller means (2) adapted to control the distribution of cellular traffic consisting of asynchronous transfer mode cells in trunking mobile communication networks based on ATM technology, and an asynchronous transfer mode switching means (3) controlled by said cellular controller means and adapted to multicast said cellular traffic to downlink base transceiver stations (4) using multicast properties of the asynchronous transfer mode switching means (3).
Description
BROyDBAND CELLULAR NETWORK DEVICR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cellular.multicasting in a mobile communication system, and in particular concerns an asynchronous transfer mode cellular network device for per-forming cellular multicasting in downlink directiow using multicast properties of an asynchronous transfer mode switch-ing element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and other cellular networks have grown rapidly all over the world. An accordingly increasing number of subscribers has led to a corresponding increase of bandwidth in trunking networks of cellular systems such as base station subsystems (BSS) in the GSM.
In addition, the integration of mobile stations (MS) such as mobile phones and data communication has given rise to new data services like e.g. the Short Message Service (SMS) or access to the Internet using a mobile station. It is more and more difficult and expensive to provide the bandwidth re-quired for these new data services by conventional PCM based trunking networks. Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for replacing these networks with broadband communication systems.
As a future technology for use in broadband communication systems, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) has recently been proposed.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cellular.multicasting in a mobile communication system, and in particular concerns an asynchronous transfer mode cellular network device for per-forming cellular multicasting in downlink directiow using multicast properties of an asynchronous transfer mode switch-ing element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and other cellular networks have grown rapidly all over the world. An accordingly increasing number of subscribers has led to a corresponding increase of bandwidth in trunking networks of cellular systems such as base station subsystems (BSS) in the GSM.
In addition, the integration of mobile stations (MS) such as mobile phones and data communication has given rise to new data services like e.g. the Short Message Service (SMS) or access to the Internet using a mobile station. It is more and more difficult and expensive to provide the bandwidth re-quired for these new data services by conventional PCM based trunking networks. Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for replacing these networks with broadband communication systems.
As a future technology for use in broadband communication systems, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) has recently been proposed.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
2 PCTIEP97107322 The basic idea of ATM is to transfer data in small data pack-ets having a fixed size. These data packets are called cells.
A flow of such cells represent a virtual channel connection (VCC) between respective end users. Since the switching of the cells is performed by hardware and not by software, as in conventional software based packet switching technologies, the ATM principle provides for a very fast transfer technol-ogY.
Along with the aforementioned technological changes in mobile communication systems, demand increases for cellular mul-ticasting, in particular with respect to downlink traffic, i.e. traffic directed from a mobile communication network to mobile stations of end users. Cellular multicasting means here, that one channel is directed to more than one destina-tion, and includes also the broadcasting of a channel to the entirety of possible destinations.
Fig. 3a and 3b schematically show part of a conventional PCM
mobile communication system, respectively, in which the down-link cellular multicasting of channels is performed by a cen-trally located switching center SC. The switching center SC
multicasts an incoming channel to a plurality of remote base transceiver stations BTS. The base transceiver stations BTS
communicate with the mobile station of the end user. In Fig.
la, the base transceiver stations BTS transmit the multicast channel to one specific mobile station, thereby implementing e.g. a soft handover procedure for mobile stations crossing cell borders. In Fig. lb, the base transceiver stations BTS
transmit the multicast channel to a plurality of mobile sta-tions located within the respective base transceiver station cell area.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) a a ''~. ,' ,'~, _'', . , ' ~ . , , . , , , ' ~ ~ ~ , ~ . , , < : ,, ~a~~~~~;: -2a-Enclosure of January 11,.. 2000 PCT Patent Application No.: PCT/EP97/07322 NOKIA NETWORKS OY
Our ref.. WO 20622 Document EP-A-0 796 022 discloses a radio communication system having different base station controllers for controlling an ATM communication network so as to provide a multicasting function.
Furthermore, document EP-A-0 801 513 discloses a broadband cellular device as defined in the preamble of claim 1, wherein a frame selector located in a cellular switch is used for performing the multicasting function. Thus, in case of a multicasting function the communication path from the frame selector to the base station includes at least the cellular switch and the converter, and from the frame selector to the radio port also at least the ATM fabrics.
Therefore, the multicasting function is executed by centrally located switching devices.
i / ,.
/.
j.
[--. 3~
~~G~QF~ ~~r~~
A flow of such cells represent a virtual channel connection (VCC) between respective end users. Since the switching of the cells is performed by hardware and not by software, as in conventional software based packet switching technologies, the ATM principle provides for a very fast transfer technol-ogY.
Along with the aforementioned technological changes in mobile communication systems, demand increases for cellular mul-ticasting, in particular with respect to downlink traffic, i.e. traffic directed from a mobile communication network to mobile stations of end users. Cellular multicasting means here, that one channel is directed to more than one destina-tion, and includes also the broadcasting of a channel to the entirety of possible destinations.
Fig. 3a and 3b schematically show part of a conventional PCM
mobile communication system, respectively, in which the down-link cellular multicasting of channels is performed by a cen-trally located switching center SC. The switching center SC
multicasts an incoming channel to a plurality of remote base transceiver stations BTS. The base transceiver stations BTS
communicate with the mobile station of the end user. In Fig.
la, the base transceiver stations BTS transmit the multicast channel to one specific mobile station, thereby implementing e.g. a soft handover procedure for mobile stations crossing cell borders. In Fig. lb, the base transceiver stations BTS
transmit the multicast channel to a plurality of mobile sta-tions located within the respective base transceiver station cell area.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) a a ''~. ,' ,'~, _'', . , ' ~ . , , . , , , ' ~ ~ ~ , ~ . , , < : ,, ~a~~~~~;: -2a-Enclosure of January 11,.. 2000 PCT Patent Application No.: PCT/EP97/07322 NOKIA NETWORKS OY
Our ref.. WO 20622 Document EP-A-0 796 022 discloses a radio communication system having different base station controllers for controlling an ATM communication network so as to provide a multicasting function.
Furthermore, document EP-A-0 801 513 discloses a broadband cellular device as defined in the preamble of claim 1, wherein a frame selector located in a cellular switch is used for performing the multicasting function. Thus, in case of a multicasting function the communication path from the frame selector to the base station includes at least the cellular switch and the converter, and from the frame selector to the radio port also at least the ATM fabrics.
Therefore, the multicasting function is executed by centrally located switching devices.
i / ,.
/.
j.
[--. 3~
~~G~QF~ ~~r~~
-3-In such a conventional PCM mobile communication system, how-ever, the switching center SC on the one part represents a complex and, thus, expensive device, and on the other part is located remote from the destination mobile station. Due to the accordingly remote switching operation, valuable band-width between the switching center SC and the base trans-ceiver stations BTS is occupied for each multicast channel and, thus, no longer available for other cellular traffic.
Accordingly, the overall bandwidth efficiency is deterio-rated.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a low cost broadband cellular network device which is capable of improving the bandwidth efficiency in mobile communication systems.
This object is achieved by a broadband cellular network de-vice, comprising a cellular controller means adapted to con-trol the distribution of cellular traffic consisting of asyn-chronous transfer mode cells, and an asynchronous transfer mode switching means controlled by said cellular controller means and adapted to multicast said cellular traffic to down-link mobile communication system components.
With the above configuration, the multicast properties of an inexpensive asynchronous transfer mode switching element are advantageously used to perform cellular multicasting close to the destination. Thereby, valuable bandwidth before the broadband cellular network device is saved, since the incom-ing channel can be distributed to several destinations at the switching element closest to the mobile stations.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
Accordingly, the overall bandwidth efficiency is deterio-rated.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a low cost broadband cellular network device which is capable of improving the bandwidth efficiency in mobile communication systems.
This object is achieved by a broadband cellular network de-vice, comprising a cellular controller means adapted to con-trol the distribution of cellular traffic consisting of asyn-chronous transfer mode cells, and an asynchronous transfer mode switching means controlled by said cellular controller means and adapted to multicast said cellular traffic to down-link mobile communication system components.
With the above configuration, the multicast properties of an inexpensive asynchronous transfer mode switching element are advantageously used to perform cellular multicasting close to the destination. Thereby, valuable bandwidth before the broadband cellular network device is saved, since the incom-ing channel can be distributed to several destinations at the switching element closest to the mobile stations.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
-4-Further embodiments of the present invention are subject of the attached dependent claims.
Preferably, the asynchronous transfer mode switching means is coupled to said downlink base transceiver stations directly.
Alternatively, the asynchronous transfer mode switching means may be a higher level switching element which delivers said cellular traffic to a respective lower level switching ele ment coupled to said downlink base transceiver stations.
In the latter case, the higher level switching element may comprise an asynchronous transfer mode specific controller means providing an interface to the cellular controller means, and the lower level switching element may comprise the hardware required for switching said cellular traffic.
Favorably, said asynchronous transfer mode switching element is adapted to switch an incoming asynchronous transfer mode cell to a plurality of output ports thereof.
Also favorably, said asynchronous transfer mode switching element is adapted to switch an incoming virtual channel to a plurality of output virtual channels.
In addition, said asynchronous transfer mode switching ele-ment may be adapted to permanently reserve a virtual channel as a multicast virtual channel and to switch an incoming re-served virtual channel to a plurality of output virtual chan-nels.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
Preferably, the asynchronous transfer mode switching means is coupled to said downlink base transceiver stations directly.
Alternatively, the asynchronous transfer mode switching means may be a higher level switching element which delivers said cellular traffic to a respective lower level switching ele ment coupled to said downlink base transceiver stations.
In the latter case, the higher level switching element may comprise an asynchronous transfer mode specific controller means providing an interface to the cellular controller means, and the lower level switching element may comprise the hardware required for switching said cellular traffic.
Favorably, said asynchronous transfer mode switching element is adapted to switch an incoming asynchronous transfer mode cell to a plurality of output ports thereof.
Also favorably, said asynchronous transfer mode switching element is adapted to switch an incoming virtual channel to a plurality of output virtual channels.
In addition, said asynchronous transfer mode switching ele-ment may be adapted to permanently reserve a virtual channel as a multicast virtual channel and to switch an incoming re-served virtual channel to a plurality of output virtual chan-nels.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
-5-Advantageously, said cellular controller means and said asyn-chronous transfer mode switching means are arranged in a base station controller device located close to a destination mo-bile station.
Finally, the device is capable of handling asynchronous transfer mode cells carrying voice messages, data messages, signalling messages, or a mixed content thereof.
Hence, the device according to the present invention may most advantageously be used for cellular multicasting in downlink direction employing the multicast properties of an asynchro-nous transfer mode switching element.
BRIEF DF.~,~~RIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail by way of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows part of a mobile communication system using a broadband cellular network device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the broadband cellular net-work device according to the preferred embodiment; and Fig. 3a and 3b show part of a known mobile communication sys-tem.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
Finally, the device is capable of handling asynchronous transfer mode cells carrying voice messages, data messages, signalling messages, or a mixed content thereof.
Hence, the device according to the present invention may most advantageously be used for cellular multicasting in downlink direction employing the multicast properties of an asynchro-nous transfer mode switching element.
BRIEF DF.~,~~RIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail by way of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows part of a mobile communication system using a broadband cellular network device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the broadband cellular net-work device according to the preferred embodiment; and Fig. 3a and 3b show part of a known mobile communication sys-tem.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
-6-BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 schematically shows part of a GSM system in which an ATM based cellular network element is used as a preferred em-bodiment of the broadband cellular network device according to the present invention.
In Fig. 1, a mobile services switching center (MSC) 1 repre-senting a first downlink transfer stage is connected to a predetermined port of an ATM switch 3. In addition, a base station controller (BSC) 2a is connected to a further prede-termined port of the ATM switch 3. The output side of the ATM
switch 3 is coupled to a plurality of base transceiver sta-tions (BTS) 4 which communicate as described above with a particular one or a plurality of respective end user mobile stations (MS) 5.
Within this structure, the ATM switch 3 serves as the switch-ing element and is controlled by the base station controller 2a.
Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the ATM based cellular net-work element as the said preferred embodiment of the broad-band cellular network device.
The ATM based cellular network element comprises a cellular controller 2 and an ATM switch 3 and provides for the switch-ing of cellular traffic channels consisting of asynchronous transfer mode cells carrying e.g. voice messages, data mes-sages, signalling messages, or a mixed content thereof.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) -7_ The cellular controller 2 thereby performs known cellular re-fated functions such as signalling and is appropriately con-nected with the ATM switch 3 in order to control same.
The ATM switch 3 may be arranged such that it is coupled to a respective number of base transceiver stations 4 directly, i.e. comprise the actual hardware switch and be adapted to perform the switching operation under the control of the cel-lular controller 2.
Alternatively, the ATM switch 3 may be arranged in the form of a higher level switch delivering cellular traffic to a corresponding of lower level switching element. In this case, the higher level switching element then comprises an asyn-chronous transfer mode specific controller means providing a suitable interface to the cellular controller 2, while the lower level switching element comprises the hardware required for switching said cellular traffic.
As indicated in Fig. 2 by dotted lines, the ATM switch 3 has multicast properties, i.e. is capable to arbitrarily connect cellular traffic coming in at a respective input port to one or a plurality of its output ports. In practice, an asynchro-noes transfer mode cell arriving at an input port of the ATM
switch 3 is copied to one or a plurality of output ports and to one or a plurality of virtual channels VC, respectively.
Several possibilities do exist for utilizing the multicast properties of the ATM switch 3 for multicast connections. For example, permanent virtual channels VC may be reserved for multicast operation. In this case, an asynchronous transfer SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) - g -mode cell containing e.g. speech, data or signalling informa-tion and coming in from a virtual channel to be multicast is copied to a predetermined number of output ports and virtual channels, respectively.
Alternatively, ATM signalling, e.g. according to the User-Network Interface 3.1 (UNI3.1) of ATM Forum, which is the standard adopted by the ATM Forum to define connections be-tween users or end stations and a local switch and which pro-vides an interface point between ATM end users and a private ATM switch or between a private ATM switch and the public carrier ATM network, may be used to create a new point-to-multipoint channel upon detection of a need for multicast op-eration.
Since the actual switching is performed by a relatively inex-pensive ATM switch 3 arranged in the base station controller area located close to the base transceiver stations 4 rather than in the remote mobile services switching center 1, the multicast operation is achieved with low cost. In addition, valuable bandwidth is saved, because the information to be multicast can be distributed to a plurality of destinations at the switching element located closest to an end users mo-bile station.
It should be understood that the above description and accom-panying figures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. Thus, the device according to the invention may also be used in networks other than the GSM referred to in the example. The preferred embodiment of the invention may also vary within the scope of the attached claims.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
Fig. 1 schematically shows part of a GSM system in which an ATM based cellular network element is used as a preferred em-bodiment of the broadband cellular network device according to the present invention.
In Fig. 1, a mobile services switching center (MSC) 1 repre-senting a first downlink transfer stage is connected to a predetermined port of an ATM switch 3. In addition, a base station controller (BSC) 2a is connected to a further prede-termined port of the ATM switch 3. The output side of the ATM
switch 3 is coupled to a plurality of base transceiver sta-tions (BTS) 4 which communicate as described above with a particular one or a plurality of respective end user mobile stations (MS) 5.
Within this structure, the ATM switch 3 serves as the switch-ing element and is controlled by the base station controller 2a.
Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the ATM based cellular net-work element as the said preferred embodiment of the broad-band cellular network device.
The ATM based cellular network element comprises a cellular controller 2 and an ATM switch 3 and provides for the switch-ing of cellular traffic channels consisting of asynchronous transfer mode cells carrying e.g. voice messages, data mes-sages, signalling messages, or a mixed content thereof.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) -7_ The cellular controller 2 thereby performs known cellular re-fated functions such as signalling and is appropriately con-nected with the ATM switch 3 in order to control same.
The ATM switch 3 may be arranged such that it is coupled to a respective number of base transceiver stations 4 directly, i.e. comprise the actual hardware switch and be adapted to perform the switching operation under the control of the cel-lular controller 2.
Alternatively, the ATM switch 3 may be arranged in the form of a higher level switch delivering cellular traffic to a corresponding of lower level switching element. In this case, the higher level switching element then comprises an asyn-chronous transfer mode specific controller means providing a suitable interface to the cellular controller 2, while the lower level switching element comprises the hardware required for switching said cellular traffic.
As indicated in Fig. 2 by dotted lines, the ATM switch 3 has multicast properties, i.e. is capable to arbitrarily connect cellular traffic coming in at a respective input port to one or a plurality of its output ports. In practice, an asynchro-noes transfer mode cell arriving at an input port of the ATM
switch 3 is copied to one or a plurality of output ports and to one or a plurality of virtual channels VC, respectively.
Several possibilities do exist for utilizing the multicast properties of the ATM switch 3 for multicast connections. For example, permanent virtual channels VC may be reserved for multicast operation. In this case, an asynchronous transfer SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) - g -mode cell containing e.g. speech, data or signalling informa-tion and coming in from a virtual channel to be multicast is copied to a predetermined number of output ports and virtual channels, respectively.
Alternatively, ATM signalling, e.g. according to the User-Network Interface 3.1 (UNI3.1) of ATM Forum, which is the standard adopted by the ATM Forum to define connections be-tween users or end stations and a local switch and which pro-vides an interface point between ATM end users and a private ATM switch or between a private ATM switch and the public carrier ATM network, may be used to create a new point-to-multipoint channel upon detection of a need for multicast op-eration.
Since the actual switching is performed by a relatively inex-pensive ATM switch 3 arranged in the base station controller area located close to the base transceiver stations 4 rather than in the remote mobile services switching center 1, the multicast operation is achieved with low cost. In addition, valuable bandwidth is saved, because the information to be multicast can be distributed to a plurality of destinations at the switching element located closest to an end users mo-bile station.
It should be understood that the above description and accom-panying figures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. Thus, the device according to the invention may also be used in networks other than the GSM referred to in the example. The preferred embodiment of the invention may also vary within the scope of the attached claims.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
Claims (10)
1. Broadband cellular network device, comprising a cellular controller means (2) adapted to control the distribution of cellular traffic consisting of asynchronous transfer mode cells, and an asynchronous transfer mode switching means (3) controlled by said cellular controller means, characterized in that said ATM switching means is adapted to multicast said cellular traffic to base transceiver stations (4).
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the asynchronous transfer mode switching means (3) is coupled to said base transceiver stations (4) directly.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the asynchronous transfer mode switching means (3) comprises an asynchronous transfer mode specific controller means providing a suitable interface to said cellular controller means (2), and wherein said asynchronous transfer mode switching means (3) is arranged to deliver cellular traffic to a corresponding switching element used for switching said cellular traffic and being coupled to said base transceiver stations (4).
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the switching element at a higher uplink level comprises an asynchronous transfer mode specific controller means providing an interface to the cellular controller means (2), and wherein the switching element at a lower uplink level comprises hardware required for switching said-cellular traffic.
5. A device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said asynchronous transfer mode switching element (3) is adapted to switch an incoming asynchronous transfer mode cell to a plurality of output ports thereof.
6. A device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said asynchronous transfer mode switching element (3) is adapted to switch an incoming virtual channel to a plurality of output virtual channels.
7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said asynchronous transfer mode switching element (3) is adapted to permanently reserve a virtual channel as a multicast virtual channel and to switch an incoming reserved virtual channel to a plurality of output virtual channels.
8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said cellular controller means (2) and said asynchronous transfer mode switching means (3) are arranged in a base station controller device.
9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said asynchronous transfer mode cells are adapted to carry voice messages, data messages; signaling messages, or a mixed content thereof.
10. Use of a device according to one of the preceding claims for cellular multicasting in downlink direction employing the multicast properties of an asynchronous transfer mode switching element (3).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP1997/007322 WO1999035862A1 (en) | 1997-12-30 | 1997-12-30 | Broadband cellular network device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2314981A1 true CA2314981A1 (en) | 1999-07-15 |
Family
ID=8166823
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002314981A Abandoned CA2314981A1 (en) | 1997-12-30 | 1997-12-30 | Broadband cellular network device |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1044574A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2002501351A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU5764598A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2314981A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1999035862A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2000115829A (en) | 1998-10-09 | 2000-04-21 | Nec Corp | Sequential connection communication system for base station in mobile communication system |
| CA2330988A1 (en) * | 2000-02-22 | 2001-08-22 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | System and method for enhancing inter-site forward traffic capacity for a soft hand-off |
| CA2331110A1 (en) * | 2000-02-22 | 2001-08-22 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | System and method for enhancing inter-site reverse traffic capacity for a soft hand-off |
| GB2376382A (en) * | 2001-06-08 | 2002-12-11 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Transmission of SMS cell broadcast messages |
| KR100860581B1 (en) | 2002-05-18 | 2008-09-26 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Method for transmitting multicast data |
| EP1662819A1 (en) * | 2004-11-25 | 2006-05-31 | Siemens Mobile Communications S.p.A. | A method and system for providing voice broadcast services in a cellular communication network, related network and computer program product |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5487065A (en) * | 1993-05-26 | 1996-01-23 | The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York | Method and apparatus for supporting mobile communications in asynchronous transfer mode based networks |
| GB2298765B (en) * | 1995-03-07 | 1999-03-24 | Roke Manor Research | Improvements in or relating to mobile telecommunications networks |
| US5940381A (en) * | 1996-03-14 | 1999-08-17 | Motorola, Inc. | Asynchronous transfer mode radio communications system with handoff and method of operation |
| FR2746992B1 (en) * | 1996-03-27 | 1998-09-04 | Quinquis Jean Paul | LOCAL MOBILE ACCESS NETWORK |
| EP0823827A3 (en) * | 1996-08-09 | 1999-09-29 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Mobile communications systems and methods of operating such systems |
-
1997
- 1997-12-30 WO PCT/EP1997/007322 patent/WO1999035862A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-12-30 JP JP2000528113A patent/JP2002501351A/en not_active Ceased
- 1997-12-30 AU AU57645/98A patent/AU5764598A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-12-30 EP EP97953931A patent/EP1044574A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-12-30 CA CA002314981A patent/CA2314981A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU5764598A (en) | 1999-07-26 |
| JP2002501351A (en) | 2002-01-15 |
| WO1999035862A1 (en) | 1999-07-15 |
| EP1044574A1 (en) | 2000-10-18 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |