Core network interface for packet domain for uma unc applications

Abstract

An UMA network controller (SGW, CM) is dedicated for an UMA mobile network comprising a CS core network (CN 2 ) and a PS core network (CN 1 ) with a SGSN. This UMA network controller comprises a security gateway (SGW) and a control means (CM) coupled one to the other. The security gateway (SGW) is arranged i) to ensure security procedures between mobile stations (MS) and the UMA world, ii) to forward messages relative to the control plan for the packet switched core network (CN 1 ) between mobile stations (MS) and the control means (CM), and iii) to forward messages relative to the user plan for the packet switched core network (CN 1 ) between mobile stations (MS) and the serving GPRS serving node (SGSN). The control means (CM) is intercalated between the security gateway (SGW) and the serving GPRS serving node (SGSN) and arranged for handling the control plan for the packet switched core network (CN 1 ).

1 . UMA network controller (SGW, CM) for an UMA mobile communication network comprising a circuit switched core network (CN 2 ) and a packet switched core network (CN 1 ) with at least one serving GPRS serving node (SGSN), characterized in that it comprises a security gateway (SGW) and a control means (CM) coupled one to the other, said security gateway (SGW) being arranged i) to ensure security procedures between mobile stations (MS) and an UMA world, ii) to forward messages relative to the control plan for said packet switched core network (CN 1 ) between mobile stations (MS) and said control means (CM), and iii) to forward messages relative to the user plan for the packet switched core network (CN 1 ) between mobile stations (MS) and said serving GPRS serving node (SGSN), and said control means (CM) being intercalated between said security gateway (SGW) and said serving GPRS serving node (SGSN) and arranged for handling the control plan for the packet switched core network (CN 1 ). 
     
     
         2 . UMA network controller according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises a media gateway (MGW) coupled to said security gateway (SGW) and to said circuit switched core network (CN 2 ), in that said security gateway (SGW) is further arranged i) to forward messages relative to the control plan for said circuit switched core network (CN 2 ) between mobile stations (MS) and said control means (CM), and ii) to forward messages relative to the user plan for the circuit switched core network (CN 2 ) between mobile stations (MS) and said media gateway (MGW), and in that said control means (CM) is intercalated between said security gateway (SGW) and a mobile switching center (MSC) of said circuit switched core network (CN 2 ) and arranged i) for handling the control plan for said circuit switched core network (CN 2 ) and discovery and registration procedures of said mobile stations (MS), and ii) for relaying circuit switched call messages between said mobile switching center (MSC) and said mobile stations (MS) through said security gateway (SGW). 
     
     
         3 . UMA network controller according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said control means comprises i) a packet switched part (P 1 ) coupled to said serving GPRS serving node (SGSN) and ii) a circuit switched part (P 2 ) coupled to said mobile switching center (MSC) and to said packet switched part (P 1 ) and arranged for forwarding packet switched call messages over TCP between said packet switched part (P 1 ) and said mobile stations (MS) through said security gateway (SGW). 
     
     
         4 . UMA network controller according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said packet switched part (P 1 ) and circuit switched part (P 2 ) are arranged to exchange messages through at least one transport path. 
     
     
         5 . UMA network controller according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said transport path is chosen in a group comprising at least a TCP path and an UDP path. 
     
     
         6 . UMA network controller according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said control means (CM) is arranged to exchange information elements, relative to the IP address and communication port number of a mobile station (MS) and to the IP address and communication port number of said serving GPRS serving node (SGSN), with said serving GPRS serving node (SGSN).