Integrated telecommunications system

Abstract

The present invention, as described and claimed, provides for an integrated wireless telecommunications system. Such telecommunications system integrates functionality and elements that are commonly found in distinct components of conventional wireless telecommunications systems. For example, the telecommunications system may includes a radio controller and switching center.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A telecommunications system connected to one or more base stations that are operable to communicate with multiple subscriber units, comprising: a radio controller to control the operation of the base station(s); and   a switching center to switch calls directed to and from the subscribers units.   
     
     
       2. The telecommunications system according to claim 1, further comprising a transcoder and rate adapter unit for transcoding and adapting the rate of signals received from the base station(s). 
     
     
       3. The telecommunications system according to claim 1, further comprising a switch that is utilized by both the radio controller and the switching center. 
     
     
       4. The telecommunications system according to claim 3, wherein the switch comprises a switching matrix. 
     
     
       5. The telecommunications system according to claim 1, wherein the radio controller comprises one or more software entities. 
     
     
       6. The telecommunications system according to claim 1, wherein the switching center comprises one or more software entities. 
     
     
       7. The telecommunications system according to claim 1, wherein the radio controller and the switching center each comprise one or more software entities that are operable to form logical connections to one another. 
     
     
       8. The telecommunications system according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications system communicates with the base station(s) by a link level protocol. 
     
     
       9. A GSM telecommunications system connected to one or more base transceiver stations that are operable to communicate with multiple subscriber units, comprising: a base station controller to control the operation of the base station(s); and   a mobile switching center to switch calls directed to and from the subscribers units.   
     
     
       10. The GSM telecommunications system according to claim 9, further comprising a transcoder and rate adapter unit to translate signals directed to or from the base transceiver station(s). 
     
     
       11. The GSM telecommunications system according to claim 9, further comprising a switch utilized by both the radio controller and the switching center. 
     
     
       12. The GSM telecommunications system according to claim 9, wherein the base station controller comprises one or more software entities. 
     
     
       13. The GSM telecommunications system according to claim 9, wherein the mobile switching center comprises one or more software entities. 
     
     
       14. The GSM telecommunications system according to claim 9, wherein the base station controller and the mobile switching center each comprise one or more software entities that are operable to form logical connections to one another. 
     
     
       15. The GSM telecommunications system according to claim 9, wherein the GSM telecommunications system communicates with the base transceiver station(s) by a link level protocol. 
     
     
       16. The GSM telecommunications system according to claim 9, wherein the base transceiver station(s) communicate with the multiple subscriber units by usage of a plurality of radio channels and the base transceiver station(s) are connected to the GSM telecommunications system over one or more telecommunications lines that carry a plurality of digital channels, and wherein a given digital channel transmits information associated with more than one radio channel to the GSM telecommunication system. 
     
     
       17. A telecommunications system connected to one or more base stations that are operable to communicate with multiple subscriber units, comprising: a resource assembly connected by one or more telecommunications lines to the base station(s); and   a call processor assembly, connected to the resource assembly, which includes a radio controller to control the operation of the base transceiver station(s) and a switching center to control switching calls directed to and from the subscriber units.   
     
     
       18. The telecommunications system according to claim 17, wherein the resource assembly includes a transcoder rate adapter unit to convert and adapt the rate of signals directed to or from the base station(s). 
     
     
       19. The telecommunications system according to claim 17, wherein the resource assembly includes a switch which can be utilized by the radio controller and switching center. 
     
     
       20. The telecommunications system according to claim 17, wherein the resource assembly includes an echo canceler to cancel echo from calls directed to or from the subscriber units. 
     
     
       21. The telecommunications system according to claim 17, wherein the resource assembly includes one or more digital signal processors configured to translate signals directed to or from the base station(s). 
     
     
       22. The telecommunications system according to claim 17, wherein the resource assembly includes one or more digital signal processors configured to perform echo cancellation functions with respect to signals directed to or from the base station(s). 
     
     
       23. The telecommunications system according to claim 17, wherein the telecommunications system further comprises a network management system connected to, and operable to configure and store information associated with, the resource assembly and the call processor assembly. 
     
     
       24. The telecommunications system according to claim 17, further comprising a resource manager, connected to the resource assembly, radio controller and switching center, which is operable to communicate information from the radio controller and switching center to the resource assembly. 
     
     
       25. The telecommunications system according to claim 17, wherein the call processor assembly further includes: a home location register to maintain information concerning those multiple subscriber units associated with the telecommunications system;   a visitor location register to maintain information concerning the multiple subscriber units, whether or not associated with the telecommunications system; and   a mobile application part provider, connected to the switching center, the home location register and the visitor location register, which is operable to provide mobile application part protocols for use by the home location register and the visitor location register.   
     
     
       26. A call processor assembly, comprising: a base station controller to control the operation of one or more base stations that communicate with multiple subscriber units;   a mobile switching center to switch calls directed to and from the subscribers units;   a home location register to maintain information concerning those multiple subscriber units associated with the telecommunications system;   a visitor location register to maintain information concerning the multiple subscriber units, whether or not associated with the telecommunications system; and   a mobile application part provider, connected to the mobile switching center, the home location register and the visitor location register, which is operable to provide mobile application part protocols for use by the home location register and the visitor location register.   
     
     
       27. The call processor assembly according to claim 26, wherein the base station controller, the mobile switching center, the home location register, the visitor location register and the mobile application part provider each comprise software entities.