A scalable, multi-protocol mobile switching center in a
wireless communications network provides communications control for digital and analog
wireless communications devices including devices that operate according to
GSM and IS-41 standards. The hardware and
software architecture of the switching center is designed so that
processing that is unique to a particular protocol is performed at the lowest possible level, and remaining
processing can use generic procedures. The switching center incorporates a home location register and visitor location register that are used in conjunction with
software applications to determine the protocol of mobile communications devices using the
wireless communications network. The mobile switching center can be used to provide a large scale distributed
wireless network or a small scale
wireless network. The switching center can also be used as an adjunct to a private
branch exchange to provide in-building wireless services and
call control. Graphical user interfaces make the wireless communications network easy to maintain.