US Patent & Trademark Office
`
` US 7,245,874
` USPTO Transaction Information*
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`Post Issue Communication - Certificate of Correction
`18 Sep 2008
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`17 Jul 2007
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`27 Jun 2007
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`17 Jul 2007
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`14 Mar 2007
`Date Forwarded to Examiner
`27 Feb 2007
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`01 Dec 2006 Mail Final Rejection (PTOL - 326)
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`14 Sep 2006
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`31 Aug 2006
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`31 May 2006 Mail Non-Final Rejection
`25 May 2006 Correspondence Address Change
`21 Mar 2006
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`22 Dec 2005
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`29 Aug 2005
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`20 May 2005 Mail Non-Final Rejection
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`07 Nov 2003
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`02 Nov 2001
`New or Additional Drawing Filed
`30 Nov 2001
`Case Docketed to Examiner in GAU
`26 Nov 2001
`Application Dispatched from OIPE
`19 Nov 2001
`Application Is Now Complete
`05 Sep 2001
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`08 Aug 2001
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`*
`
`δ
`
` Document generated on 04/13/2015 by PATENTEC from official USPTO records, external to this file.
` Information deemed accurate, but not Certified.
` Transaction Sequence Number (SEQ.) is unrelated to Paper Number in File Table of contents.
`
` Page 1 of 2
`
`Quality Patent Documents
`
`TM
`
` 2001 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202
` 1-703-418-2777 (cid:122) www.patentec.com (cid:122) info@ patentec.com
` © 2015 PATENTEC
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 1
`
`

`
`US Patent & Trademark Office
`
`US 7,245,874
`USPTO Transaction Information*
`
`SEQ.δ
`48
`
`DATE
`01 Aug 2001
`
`DESCRIPTION
`Initial Exam Team nn
`
`* Document generated on 04/13/2015 by PATENTEC from official USPTO records, external to this file.
`Information deemed accurate, but not Certified.
`δ Transaction Sequence Number (SEQ.) is unrelated to Paper Number in File Table of contents.
`
`Page 2 of 2
`
`Quality Patent Documents
`
`TM
`
`2001 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202
`1-703-418-2777 (cid:122) www.patentec.com (cid:122) info@patentec.com
`© 2015 PATENTEC
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 2
`
`

`
` Patent Assignment Abstract of Title
`
`
`Total Assignments: 2
`Issue Dt: 07/17/2007
`Patent #: 7245874
`Application #: 09918443
`Filing Dt: 08/01/2001
`Publication #: US20030027567 Pub Dt: 06-FEB-03
`PCT #: NONE
`Intl Reg #:
`Inventors: Yehuda Rest, Salit Drobiner Gros, Avraham Barda
`Title: INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TELEPHONY NETWORK
`
`
`
`Assignment: 1
`Reel/Frame: 012057 /
`0580
`
`Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS).
`
`Assignors: REST, YEHUDA
`
`
`
`
`Exec Dt: 07/30/2001
`
`Received: 08/14/2001 Recorded: 08/01/2001 Mailed: 10/13/2001 Pages: 2
`
`GROSS, SALIT DROBINER
`
`
`
`
`
`Exec Dt: 07/30/2001
`
`Exec Dt: 07/30/2001
`
`BARDA, AVRAHAM
`
`
`
`
`Assignee: SHIRON SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS (1996) LTD.
`23 HASIVIM STREET
`PETAH TIKVAH, ISRAEL 49 17
`
`
`Correspondent: SOL SHEINBEIN
`C/O ANTHONY CASTORINA
`SUITE 207
`2001 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY.
`ARLINGTON, VA 22202
`
`
`
`
`Assignment: 2
`Reel/Frame: 024294 /
`0777
`
`Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS).
`
`Assignor: SHIRON SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS (1996) LTD.
`
`
`Assignee: ELBIT SYSTEMS LAND AND C4I - TADIRAN LTD.
`5 HAGAVISH STREET
`NATANIA, ISRAEL 42507
`
`Received: 04/28/2010 Recorded: 04/28/2010 Mailed: 04/28/2010 Pages: 2
`
`Exec Dt: 12/31/2009
`
`
`
`
`Correspondent: MARTIN D. MOYNIHAN
`P.O. BOX 16446
`PRTSI, INC.
`ARLINGTON, VA 22215
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 3
`
`

`
` US Patent & Trademark Office
`
` US 7,245,874
` Maintenance Fee Statement*
`
`Fee Description
`
`Amount
`
`Surcharge
`
`Small
`Entity
`
`Attorney
`Docket No.
`
`4th yr. Maintenance Fee
`
`980.00
`
`0.00
`
`LARGE
`
`00/21410
`
`8th yr. Maintenance Fee
`
`3,600.00
`
`0.00
`
`LARGE
`
`00/21410
`
`Due at 11.5 years
`
`0.00
`
`0.00
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`Status
`
`PAID
`
`PAID
`
`NONE
`
`*
`
` Document generated on 04/13/2015 by PATENTEC from official USPTO records, external to this file.
` Information deemed accurate, but not Certified.
`
` Page 1 of 1
`
`Quality Patent Documents
`
`TM
`
` 2001 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202
` 1-703-418-2777 (cid:122) www.patentec.com (cid:122) info@ patentec.com
` © 2015 PATENTEC
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 4
`
`

`
`-
`-z,.
`0
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`"';·,
`
`U.S. UTILITY· Patent Application
`
`PATENT NUMBER·
`'
`
`.
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`09/918443
`
`CONT/PRIOR
`
`CLASS
`455
`
`SUBCLASS
`Wlf..
`
`~ Yehtid21 Rest
`;o Sal i t 1:'.:it·os
`;;: Avt-aham Bat-da
`
`~
`
`Infrastructure for telephony network
`;
`\
`
`-------:------- -- - . -~--
`/ -.
`
`. ' ~· . ' ~~ .
`
`---- .. -
`
`---.. -·-- ---·-. ------- .... --
`
`ORIGINAL
`
`I
`
`ISSUING CLASSIFICATION
`CROSS REFEREN¢E(S)
`
`.
`
`CLASS
`
`SUBCLASS
`
`CLASS
`
`SUBCLASS (ONE SUBCLASS PER BLOCK)
`
`INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION
`
`PTl)a)40
`12199
`
`.
`
`DTERMINAL
`DISCLAIMER.
`
`DRAWINGS
`
`-
`CLAIMS ALLOWED
`
`Sheets Drwg.
`
`Figs. Drwg.
`
`Print Fig.
`
`Total Claims
`
`Print Claim for 0.G;
`
`0 Continued on Issue Slip Inside Ale JScket
`
`" ..
`
`r .
`
`,,
`
`0 The term of this patent·
`subsequent to
`has been disclaimed.
`0 The tenn of this patent shall
`not extend beyond the expiration date
`of U.S Patent. No.
`
`(date)
`
`0 The terminal _months of
`this patent hav.e been cflSClalmed.
`
`(Assistant Examiner)
`
`(Dale)
`
`NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED
`
`.. ,\i'
`
`(Primary Examiner)
`
`(Oa!e)
`
`ISSUE FEE
`
`Amount Due
`
`Date Paid
`
`ISSUE BATCH NUMBER
`
`(1-l lnalrumen1a Examiner)
`
`(Oa!e)
`
`.
`
`WARNING:
`The Information disclosed herein may be restricted. Unauthorized dlsclosura may be prohibited by the Untted States Code Title 35, Sections 122, 181 end 368.
`'PossBsslon outside the U.S. Patent & Trademark Olllce Is restricted to authorized emptoyees end contractors only.
`
`Form PT0-438A
`(Rev. 8199)
`
`FILED WITH: D DISK (CRF) D FICHE D CD-ROM
`
`(Al!acl1ed In poctat on ~gh1 Inside ftap)
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 5
`
`

`
`
`
`MISSING PAGE(S) FROM THE
`U.S. PATENT OFFICE
`OFFICIAL FILE WRAPPER
`
`
`Table of Contents
`
`(Note: This page is not a part of the official USPTO record.)
`
`
`
`
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 6
`
`

`
`ISSUE SLIP STAPLE AREA (for ad<liti"'"'ll cross references)
`
`POSmON
`
`INmALS
`
`ID NO.
`
`DATE
`
`FEE DETERMINATION
`0.1.P.E. CLASSIFIER
`
`-~
`.~
`
`·~
`
`Claim ,\
`,o,
`~
`~~
`en
`I! a ~
`~
`I 1 +
`2 -:-
`3 I
`4 1.
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`~~
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`'· 18
`19
`. 20
`21
`C.22
`23 .
`24
`25
`26
`I 27
`28
`1~1
`31
`3 )
`32
`33
`34
`35
`36 '
`37
`38
`39
`40
`41
`42
`43
`44
`45
`46
`47
`48
`49
`50
`
`INDEX OF CLAIMS
`~ ................................. Rejected
`N ................................. Non-elected
`= ................................. Allowed
`I ................................. Interference
`A ................................. Appeal
`(Through numeral) ... Canceled
`O ................................. Objected
`................................. Restricted
`
`Date
`
`Claim
`
`Date
`
`Claim
`
`Date
`
`iii
`c :g>
`~
`0
`51
`52
`53
`54
`55
`56
`57
`58
`59
`60
`61
`62
`63
`64
`65
`66
`67
`68
`69
`70
`71
`72
`73
`74
`75
`76
`n
`78
`79
`80
`81
`82
`83
`84
`85
`86
`87
`88
`89
`90
`91
`92
`93
`94
`95
`96
`97
`98
`99
`~Oil
`
`'
`
`OI
`c
`c;,
`~
`·c
`u:: 0
`101
`100
`1~
`104
`05
`06
`107
`108
`09
`~10
`111
`112
`11~
`m
`115
`116
`117
`11E
`11!
`120
`121
`122
`1Zl
`124
`125
`126
`127
`12B
`129
`130
`131
`132
`~~
`
`1~
`
`~35
`136
`137
`138
`139
`140
`141
`~42
`14:
`14'
`1~
`146
`14i
`1~
`14
`15{
`
`·-
`
`If more than 150 claims or 1 O actions
`staple additional sheet here
`
`(LEFT INSIDE)
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 7
`
`

`
`SEARCHED
`
`SEARCH NOTES
`(INCLUDING SEARCH STRATEGY)
`
`Class
`
`Sub.
`
`Date
`
`Exmr.
`
`Date
`
`Exmr.
`
`INTERFERENCE SEARCHED
`Sub.
`Class
`Date
`Exmr.
`
`!
`i
`i
`
`(RIGHT OUTSIDE)
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 8
`
`

`
`;· I ., • , I
`
`'! ~~ I
`
`.... "
`
`..
`
`Page 1of1
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND ThADEMARK OmcE
`
`11m1m~1~~ m1 ~1 ~m m1m~1m1111 ~111101
`
`Bib Data Sheet
`
`SERIAL NUMBER
`09/918,443
`
`FILING DATE
`08/01/2001
`RULE
`
`COMMISSIONER FOR PATl!:NTS
`UNITED STATES PATENT ANO TRADEMARK OFFICE
`WAsHIN010N, D.C. 202.31
`www.uspto.gov
`
`CONFIRMATION NO. 4731
`
`CLASS
`455
`
`GROUP ART UNIT
`2681
`
`ATTORNEY
`DOCKET NO.
`00/21410
`
`APPLICANTS
`Yehuda Rest, Lev Hashomron, ISRAEL;
`Salit Drobiner Gros, Kiryat Ono, ISRAEL;
`Avraham Barda, Hod-Hasharon, ISRAEL;
`**CONTINUING DATA************************* ~ctJ1V
`·&
`
`**FOREIGN APPLICATIONS******************** lj:il
`
`IF REQUIRED, FOREIGN FILING LICENSE GRANTED •• SMALL ENTITY**
`h>• 09/05/2001
`
`/
`
`I
`
`I
`
`[J yes-fl no
`[J yes ~o [J Met after
`Allows~
`Examiner's ~e Initials
`
`Foreign Priority claimed
`
`35 USC 119 (a·d) conditions
`met
`Verified and
`Acknowledi:ied
`ADDRESS
`G.E. EHRLICH (1995) LTD
`c/o ANTHONY CASTORINA
`SUITE 207
`12001 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
`~RLINGTON ,VA 22202
`
`SHEETS
`STATE OR
`COUNTRY DRAWING
`IS RAEL
`12
`
`TOT L
`CLAIMS
`36
`
`INDEPENJNT
`CLAIMS
`10
`
`TITLE
`
`Infrastructure for telephony network
`
`FILING FEE FEES: Authority has been given in Paper
`to charge/credit DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
`RECEIVED No.
`for following:
`No.
`779
`
`!CJ All Fees
`ICJ 1.16 Fees (Filing)
`[J 1.17 Fees ( Processing Ext. of
`time)
`lt:J 1.18 Fees (Issue)
`
`j[J Other
`
`l[J Credit
`
`I
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 9
`
`

`
`00/21410.
`
`7/25/01
`
`Inventor(s): Yehuda Rest, Salit Drobiner Gros, Avraham Barda.
`
`Title of the Invention
`
`5
`
`Infrastructure for a telephony network
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to infrastructure for a telephony network
`
`and more particularly but not exclusively to infrastructure including backbone
`
`10
`
`and peripheral infrastructure for a cellular telephony network.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`Cellular networks generally comprise a series of base stations arranged
`
`to allow mobile stations within range of the network to contact other mobile
`
`15
`
`stations and be able to access the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
`
`The base stations maintain wireless communication links with nearby mobile
`
`stations, but generally require hard infrastructure in the form of wiring to link
`
`the base stations to other parts of the cellular network and to outside networks
`
`and backbone networks. The laying of cable to provide such infrastructure is
`
`20
`
`expensive and becomes more expensive if the infrastructure is to include any
`
`1
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 10
`
`

`
`kind of backup provision. The cost of wired infrastructure is one of the limiting
`
`factors in extending a cellular network to remote areas.
`
`The telephony system including cellular networks and the PSTN, is
`
`generally based on the E 1, or possibly Tl, protocol for multiplexing
`
`5
`
`transmissions into time slots. The protocol is strongly synchronous in that the
`
`individual transmission to which a time slot is assumed to belong to is
`
`determined from its temporal position amongst the other time slots. Thus an
`
`individual transmission which does not have current data creates blank slots to
`
`reserve its current position.
`
`10
`
`Much available data carrying capacity is based on the TCP/IP protocol,
`
`which involves individual data packets being sent out over a network in
`
`accordance with destination information contained in a packet header. A single
`
`transmission is thus broken down into numerous packets which are each sent
`
`out independently over the network. The packets may be sent along different
`
`15
`
`routes depending on availability and may not arrive in the order in which they
`
`have been sent. However the packet headers may be used by the receiving
`
`application to rebuild an original sequence from the packets.
`
`The El (and Tl) protocol thus depends on the preservation of a
`
`temporal relationship between time slots whereas the TCP/IP protocol does not
`
`20
`
`preserve timing information. Thus TCP/IP based capacity cannot be used to
`
`transport E 1 data since synchronization is not preserved, rendering the E 1
`
`datastream irrecoverable.
`
`2
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 11
`
`

`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`It is an aim of the present embodiments to solve the above mentioned
`
`problems and to provide a system in which the incompatibility between TCP/IP
`
`and El is overcome.
`
`5
`
`It is a further aim of the present embodiments to provide IP based
`
`infrastructure and infrastructure backup for cellular telephony networks.
`
`It is a further aim of the present embodiments to provide IP based
`
`backbone infrastructure and infrastructure backup for cellular telephony based
`
`networks.
`
`10
`
`According to a first aspect of the present invention there is thus provided
`
`!:I:
`
`a cellular telephone network comprising peripheral branches and a central high-
`
`capacity data trunking region and using a synchronous data communication
`
`protocol and wherein the high-capacity data trunking region comprises a
`
`satellite interface for a satellite connection usmg a non-synchronous data
`
`15
`
`communication protocol.
`
`Preferably, the high capacity trunking region comprises a terrestrial high
`
`capacity trunking connection in parallel with the satellite connection such that
`
`the satellite connection is usable to back up the terrestrial connection.
`
`Preferably, the synchronous data communication protocol is the El data
`
`20
`
`protocol and the asynchronous data communication protocol is the TCP/IP data
`
`communication protocol, and wherein the satellite interface comprises an El -
`
`TCP /IP converter.
`
`3
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 12
`
`

`
`Preferably, the high capacity trunking region comprises a terrestrial high
`
`capacity trunking connection in parallel with the satellite connection such that
`
`ihe terrestrial high capacity trunking connection is usable to back up the
`
`satellite connection.
`
`5
`
`Preferably, the synchronous data communication protocol is the El
`
`protocol and the asynchronous data communication protocol is the TCP/IP
`
`protocol and wherein the interface comprises El - TCP/IP converters.
`
`Preferably, the El - TCP/IP converter comprises a multiplexer for
`
`converting between the El signal and the TCP/IP signal.
`
`10
`
`Preferably, the satellite link is via geostationary orbit satellite.
`
`Preferably, the El - TCP/IP converter comprises a multiplexer for
`
`converting between the El signal and the TCP/IP signal.
`
`Preferably, the converter is operable to receive E 1 signaling containing
`
`SS7 control signaling distributed therein at a predetermined data rate, the
`
`15
`
`converter comprising
`
`an extractor for extracting the SS7 signaling, and
`
`a TCP /IP packet former for arranging the extracted signaling into
`
`TCP/IP packets.
`
`Preferably,
`
`the converter comprises an encoder
`
`for encoding
`
`20
`
`synchronization control data describing the El signal into headers of TCP/IP
`
`4
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 13
`
`

`
`packets, thereby to enable subsequent synchronous reconstruction of the E 1
`
`signal.
`
`Preferably, at least one of the peripheral branches comprises a satellite
`
`link and an El -TCP/IP interface.
`
`5
`
`According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a
`
`branch of a cellular telephone network based on a first synchronous data
`
`communication protocol, comprising interfaces to a satellite link using a
`
`second, asynchronous, data communication protocol, wherein the interfaces
`
`comprise converters for converting data between the first data communication
`
`10
`
`protocol and the second data communication protocol.
`
`Preferably,
`
`the interfaces are arranged to provide the satellite link as a
`
`parallel path to a terrestrial data link.
`
`Preferably,
`
`the
`
`interfaces
`
`comprise
`
`encoders
`
`for
`
`encoding
`
`synchronization control information of the :first protocol when encoding data of
`
`15
`
`the :first protocol into the second protocol, thereby to enable reconstruction of a
`
`signal
`
`in the first protocol from data
`
`in the second protocol, which
`
`reconstructed data retains the synchronization.
`
`Preferably, the system comprises at least one base station connected to
`
`at least one mobile switching center, the at least one mobile switching center
`
`20
`
`being associated with at least one location register, and wherein the satellite
`
`link is arranged to connect the at least one mobile switching center with the at
`
`least one location register.
`
`5
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 14
`
`

`
`Preferably,
`
`the
`
`interfaces compnse decoders operable
`
`to decode
`
`synchronization control information from data arnvmg from the link, to
`
`reconstruct a synchronized telephony protocol data stream.
`
`Preferably,
`
`the
`
`interface further comprises a buffer controllable
`
`5
`
`according to the decoded synchronization information to recreate time delay
`
`relationships of the telephony protocol data stream.
`
`Preferably, the telephony protocol allows non-data carrying time slots,
`
`and the interfaces comprising a non-data carrying time slot remover for
`
`removing the non-data carrying time slots during conversion into
`
`the
`
`10
`
`asynchronous protocol and a time slot regenerator for regenerating non-data
`
`carrying time slots during reconstruction of the telephony protocol datastream.
`
`According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a
`
`hub for connecting to a satellite link, the hub being associated with an interface
`
`for
`
`interfacing between a synchronous telephone data protocol and an
`
`15
`
`asynchronous satellite data protocol, thereby to allow telephone data to be sent
`
`via the satellite link.
`
`Preferably, the interface comprises a multiplexer for converting between
`
`the telephone data protocol and the satellite data protocol, and an encoder for
`
`encoding timing information of the telephone data protocol.
`
`20
`
`The hub is preferably operable to send the data via geostationary
`
`satellites.
`
`6
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 15
`
`

`
`"
`
`According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
`
`an interface for interfacing between an El data network and a TCP/IP data
`
`netvmrk, the interface comprising a multiplexer for converting between El and
`
`TCP/IP data formats and comprising an encoder for encoding timing
`
`5
`
`information of the El format when encoding El data into TCP/IP data and a
`
`buffer for recreating El synchronization when converting the data back into El
`
`data.
`
`According to a yet further aspect of the present invention there is
`
`provided a method of managing an El-based telephone network using a
`
`10
`
`combination of El and TCP/IP high speed data links each having a given
`
`capacity, the method comprising:
`
`routing data directly via the E 1 data links until their capacity is filled,
`
`converting excess data to TCP!IP format and routing via TCP/IP high
`
`speed data links, and
`
`15
`
`reconverting the excess data to E 1 format at a destination end of the
`
`TCP/IP high speed data links.
`
`Preferably, converting and reconverting are carried out by multiplexing
`
`the excess data.
`
`Preferably, the TCP/IP high speed data links compnse satellite data
`
`20
`
`links.
`
`7
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 16
`
`

`
`Preferably, the satellite data links utilize satellites m geostationary
`
`orbit.
`
`According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided
`
`a communication backbone comprising high capacity E 1 links and high
`
`5
`
`capacity TCP/IP links and El -TCP/IP converters therebetween.
`
`Preferably, the high capacity TCP/IP data links comprise satellite links.
`
`According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there is
`
`provided the use of synchronization preserving El - TCP/IP protocol
`
`conversion to allow interconnection of geostationary satellite links and Internet
`
`10
`
`backbone links with mobile telephone networks to form a unified network.
`
`According to a yet further aspect of the present invention there is
`
`provided a senes of TCP/IP data packets each having a packet header
`
`comprising timing information to allow reconstruction of the series as an El
`
`stream, the packets each carrying SS#7 data payload.
`
`15
`
`According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is
`
`provided an El-TCP/IP data converter comprising a packager operable to
`
`package the E 1 data as a series of independent packets and an encoder operable
`
`to insert within each one of the independent packets, header information
`
`indicating synchronization information of the packet as part of the E 1 data.
`
`20
`
`Preferably, the packager comprises a filter for identifying and discarding
`
`empty E 1 time slots.
`
`8
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 17
`
`

`
`•
`
`Preferably, the filter further compnses a filter encoder for encoding
`
`positions of the discarded slots.
`
`Preferably, the filter is operable to discard predetermined time slots.
`
`According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
`
`5
`
`TCP/IP -El data reconverter comprising an input buffer for receiving TCP/IP
`
`packaged El data as a series of unsynchronized TCP/IP packets,
`
`a header reader for reading E 1 synchronization data from the packets,
`
`and a reconstructor for using the El synchronization data to provide a
`
`reconstruction of an original El data stream from the TCP/IP data packets.
`
`10
`
`Eii
`
`Preferably, the El synchronization data comprises information of
`
`discarded timeslots and wherein the reconstructor is operable to regenerate the
`
`discarded timeslots for insertion into the reconstructed E 1 data stream.
`
`15
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same
`
`may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of
`
`example, to the accompanying drawings.
`
`With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that
`
`20
`
`the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative
`
`discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are
`
`9
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 18
`
`

`
`presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and
`
`readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the
`
`invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the
`
`invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of
`
`5
`
`the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those
`
`skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in
`
`practice. In the accompanying drawings:
`
`Fig. 1 is a generalized block diagram showing part of a standard GSM(cid:173)
`
`based mobile telephony system including a base station subsystem and a
`
`10
`
`network subsystem,
`
`Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a converter or an IP multiplexer
`
`(IPMux), which is able to convert between synchronous and asynchronous
`
`protocols, in particular between El/Tl and TCP/IP.
`
`Fig. 3 is a simplified block diagram showing a satellite connection in
`
`15
`
`use as part of the infrastructure of a cellular network,
`
`Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram of a star connected satellite-based
`
`network linking parts of a cellular network.
`
`Fig. 5 is a simplified block diagram of a star connected satellite based
`
`network as in Fig. 4 but with additional mesh connections between remote
`
`20
`
`gateways,
`
`10
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 19
`
`

`
`Fig. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a satellite link comprising a hub
`
`and the remote gateway of Fig. 5 providing an infrastructure link within a
`
`cellular network, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
`
`Fig. 7 is a simplified block diagram of the remote gateway of Fig. 6 in
`
`5
`
`greater detail, the remote gateway being operable to connect El/Tl networks to
`
`a TCP/IP based satellite link,
`
`Fig. 8 is a simplified block diagram showing the hub station of Fig. 6
`
`in greater detail,
`
`Fig. 9 is a simplified block diagram showing the use of satellite
`
`10
`
`TCP/IP, terrestrial TCP/IP and El/Tl backbone in parallel to link parts of a
`
`"'
`
`cellular network,
`
`Fig. 10 is a simplified block diagram showing a communication
`
`channel bridging mobile and satellite components, and illustrating another
`
`preferred embodiment of the present invention,
`
`15
`
`Fig. I I .is a simplified block diagram showing a remote gateway of a
`
`satellite link for use with the embodiment of Fig. 10, and
`
`Fig. 12 is a simplified block diagram showing in greater detail the
`
`satellite hub of Fig. 10.
`
`11
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 20
`
`

`
`..
`
`Description of the Preferred Embodiments
`
`Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it
`
`is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the
`
`5
`
`details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the
`
`following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is applicable
`
`to other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.
`
`Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed
`
`herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
`
`10
`
`The embodiments concern cellular and other wireless networks
`
`comprising branches and a heavy data trunking region which is required to
`
`carry large amounts of data rapidly and thus to serve as the backbone of the
`
`network. Generally, telephony based systems use the El/Tl telephony
`
`protocols whereas data carrying capacity that uses the TCP/IP Internet protocol
`
`15
`
`is readily available. Such data capacity is available in the form of satellite
`
`capacity, particularly via geostationary satellite, and by terrestrial IP resources.
`
`The embodiments describe how these IP resources may be incorporated into
`
`telephony networks as cellular infrastructure, as high capacity backbone or as a
`
`backup to either the infrastructure or the backbone of a telephony network.
`
`20
`
`The embodiments also show and describe interface devices and methods.
`
`Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a generalized block diagram
`
`of a standard mobile telephone system. In Fig. 1, a user (not shown) connects
`
`12
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 21
`
`

`
`to a base station subsystem 10 (BSS) via a mobile station (MS) 12 over an air
`
`interface. The mobile station 12 comprises a subscriber identity module (SIM)
`
`14 that allows the mobile station 12 to be identified to the system, both so that
`
`calls can be routed to it and so that it can be billed. The base station subsystem
`
`5
`
`is connected to a network subsystem 16 which provides a link to the outside
`
`world of the regular telephone network 18 (PSTN) and other parts of the
`
`mobile phone network (other MSC) 20.
`
`Referring to the base station subsystem 10 in more detail, it comprises
`
`a base transceiver station (BTS) 22, which supports two way communication
`
`10 with the mobile stations 12, and base station controllers (BSC) 24 which
`
`control the transceivers 22 and route data between the transceivers and the
`
`network subsystem.
`
`Referring now to the network subsystem 16 in more detail, it comprises
`
`a mobile switching center 26 (MSC) through which data is routed and which
`
`15
`
`controls tracking of mobile stations so that the mobile station is correctly
`
`identified, so that data is routed to the correct base station and so that handover
`
`between base stations is carried out correctly during movement of the mobile
`
`station over the course of a call. The MSC 26 is the central component of the
`
`network subsystem 16, and performs the switching functions of the network. It
`
`20
`
`also supports connections ( 18, 20, 3 8) to other networks.
`
`In order to carry out the above-mentioned tasks the mobile switching
`
`center is supported by an authentication center (AUC) 28 for authenticating
`
`13
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 22
`
`

`
`•
`
`identifications made of mobile stations, for example using digital signatures. A
`
`home location register 30 (HLR) and a visitor location register 32 (VLR)
`
`comprise lists of mobile stations so that identification of the mobile station can
`
`be carried out, and an operations and maintenance center 34 allows for overall
`
`5
`
`supervision of the system.
`
`More particularly the HLR 30 is a dynamically defined database that
`
`stores information of the subscribers within the coverage area of an MSC. It
`
`stores the current location of the subscribers and the services to which they
`
`have access. The location of the subscriber corresponds to the SS7 address of
`
`10
`
`the Visitor Location Register (VLR) 32.
`
`The VLR 32 is used for subscribers away from their home part of the
`
`ceJlular network. The VLR 32 contains information taken from a subscriber's
`
`own local HLR in order to provide the subscribed services to visiting users in
`
`the current mobile region. When a subscriber enters the covering area of a new
`
`15 MSC, the VLR associated with the new MSC requests information about the
`
`new subscriber from his HLR. The VLR preferably obtains enough information
`
`to provide the subscriber with the appropriate services without needing to ask
`
`the source HLR each time a communication is established.
`
`The VLR is generally implemented together with an MSC; so that the
`
`20
`
`area under control of the MSC is identical with the area under control of the
`
`VLR.
`
`14
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 23
`
`

`
`Equipment identity register (EIR) 36 is connected to the MSC 26. The
`
`EIR is a register containing information about individual mobile units. More
`
`particularly, it contains a list of all valid terminals. A terminal is identified by
`
`its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). The EIR uses the number
`
`S
`
`and the register to forbid calls from stolen or unauthorized terminals,
`
`unauthorized including for example a terminal that does not respect the
`
`specifications concerning the output RF power).
`
`The visitor location register 32 is operatively associated with other
`
`visitor location registers 38, thereby to assist in managing handover and like
`
`10
`
`procedures.
`
`In the following, the network subsystem and the base station
`
`subsystem and the connections within and therebetween are referred to as the
`
`cellular infrastructure. High capacity connections that link different MSCs or
`
`groupings of MSCs are referred to as the cellular backbone. High capacity
`
`connections that form part of the PSTN 18 are referred to as the PSTN
`
`15
`
`backbone.
`
`In general, both the cellular and PSTN systems use telephony protocols
`
`such as El. Additional network capacity is available in the form of
`
`communication links that use the TCP/IP Internet protocol, such as much of the
`
`geostationary satellite based links and Internet structure, but this capacity is not
`
`20
`
`available for telephony due to incompatibility between the different protocols,
`
`as explained in the introduction.
`
`Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a simplified diagram of an
`
`interfacing device comprising an internet protocol multiplexer (IPMux) for use
`15
`
`Pet., Exh. 1002, p. 24
`
`

`
`in a first embodiment of the present invention. The IPMux 50 comprises a first
`
`input port 52 for receiving an El or Tl data stream. The El or Tl data stream
`
`is generally a highly synchronized or ordered data stream comprising numerous
`
`communication channels (transmissions) multiplexed together in different time
`
`5
`
`slots within a continuous stream. The time slots comprise both data and
`
`associated control signaling. The multiplexer packages the data stream and
`
`associated control signaling into TCP/IP data packets as data payload such the
`
`packaging can be removed at the far end to leave the original E 1 or T 1 data
`
`stream in its entirety. The TCP/IP data packets are first stripped of blank time
`
`10
`
`slots, TO slots and other user predete