Interworking Gateway for GSM-R and TETRA Protocol Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Facilitating communication between GSM-R and TETRA networks is challenging due to differences in their respective standards, such as ISDN User Part (ISUP) and Inter System Interface (ISI) protocols, requiring a vendor-dependent solution for interconnecting users across these networks.
Innovation Solution
An interworking gateway is introduced to facilitate to-and-fro communication between GSM-R and TETRA networks by mapping ISUP messages to ISI messages and vice versa, enabling vendor-independent communication through Point-to-Point, Voice Group Call, and Voice Broadcast Services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If ISDN User Part (ISUP) or Mobile Application Part (MAP) standards are used in GSM-R network and Inter System Interface (ISI) standards are used in TETRA network, then each network can maintain its own standard compatibility, but interconnecting between the TETRA network and GSM-R network becomes challenging due to difference in respective standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interworking gateway as an intermediary device that connects the GSM-R network and TETRA network. The gateway performs protocol conversion between ISUP/MAP protocols used in GSM-R and ISI protocols used in TETRA, enabling communication between the two networks while maintaining their standard compatibility. The gateway acts as a mediator that translates messages between different protocol families without requiring changes to the core network standards.
2Reliability
If vendor-dependent solutions are used for facilitating communication between GSM-R and TETRA networks, then communication can be established, but the solution lacks independence and portability across different vendors
Solution Approach 1:
The interworking gateway is designed with universal functionality that supports multiple protocol families (ISUP, MAP, and ISI) and can interconnect different vendors' networks. The gateway implements standardized protocol conversion capabilities that are not tied to any specific vendor's proprietary implementation, allowing it to facilitate communication between GSM-R and TETRA networks from different manufacturers. This universal design enables the same gateway architecture to work across vendor boundaries.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol conversion is implemented between ISUP and ISI standards, then communication between GSM-R and TETRA networks is enabled, but the complexity of the interworking gateway increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interworking gateway is segmented into distinct functional modules, each handling specific protocol conversion tasks. The gateway separates the conversion from ISUP to ISI, from MAP to ISI, and vice versa into independent conversion modules. This segmentation allows each module to handle a specific protocol pair independently, making the overall complex system manageable through modular design. Each segment can be developed, tested, and maintained independently.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an interworking gateway facilitating to-and-fro communication between a first subscriber and a second subscriber. The first subscriber is on a Global System for Mobile Communications Railway (GSM-R) network and the second subscriber is on a Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) network. In one aspect, the interworking gateway receives a plurality of ISUP messages from the first subscriber. The plurality of ISUP messages are based on an ISUP protocol. Upon receiving an ISUP message, of the plurality ISUP messages, the interworking gateway selects an ISI message, from the plurality ISI messages, equivalent to the ISUP message based on a pre-defined mapping to facilitate the to-and-fro communication. The to-and-fro communication is facilitated by at least one of a Point-to-Point Call (PtP), a Voice Group Call Service (VGCS), and a Voice Broadcast Service (VBS) between the first subscriber and the second subscriber in a vendor independent approach.