PROTOCOL CONVERSION USING A VIRTUAL DISTRIBUTED NODE

摘要

An end user local network and a packet data communication network are interconnected by an arrangement including a packet data network backbone, at least one packet data node with a serving functionality for handling packet data communication, and a gateway functionality for providing communication with external network(s). At least one virtual distributed node provides a gateway functionality and includes an interworking node device including a converting device for converting between a local network and user communication protocol including a user level data packet format (ULC) and an internal packet data communication protocol using an internal packet data format (ICP). The virtual distributed node includes a management functionality (MA) for managing the interworking node device. The management functionality is executed in a packet data node, and the packet data network backbone is used for communication.