Base stations routing traffic over a packet backhaul network to multiple routing elements

摘要

System, methods, and networks are disclosed that allow base station systems of a wireless communication network to transmit outgoing traffic over a packet backhaul network to multiple routing elements on the MSC side of the network. A base station system described herein identifies a primary routing element and a backup routing element. The primary routing element is the device to which the base station system transmits outgoing traffic under normal operation, and the backup routing element is an alternate to the primary routing element. To transmit traffic over the packet backhaul network, the base station system monitors the availability of the primary routing element. If the primary routing element is available, then the base station system transmits outgoing traffic over the packet backhaul network to the primary routing element. If unavailable, then the base station system transmits outgoing traffic over the packet backhaul network to the backup routing element.

主权项

1. A method of operating a base station system of a wireless communication network to transmit traffic over a packet backhaul network to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), the method comprising:
identifying a primary network address for a primary routing element that terminates a first virtual connection from the base station system at the MSC over the packet backhaul network; identifying a backup network address for a backup routing element that terminates a second virtual connection from the base station system at the MSC over the packet backhaul network; using heartbeat messages to monitor the availability of the primary routing element for handling traffic between the base station system and the MSC; transmitting outgoing traffic over the packet backhaul network to the primary routing element based on the primary network address responsive to the primary routing element being available; and transmitting outgoing traffic over the packet backhaul network to the backup routing element based on the backup network address responsive to the primary routing element being unavailable.