Tunneling of non-GSM signaling messages in a GSM based network to enable both non-GSM circuit service and GSM packet service to the mobile station

摘要

A non-GSM network that uses a GSM serving GPRS support node (40) and a gateway support node for providing packet service to transmit a message capsule (52) containing one or more signaling messages between a mobile station (36) and a mobile switching center (46). The mobile station (36) constructs an uplink tunneling of messages protocol envelope (48) that includes, in addition to a uplink message capsule, information specific to non-GSM protocols and the serving GPRS support node (40) determines a destination of the uplink message capsule based on a routing area identifier and the information specific to the non-GSM protocols. The serving GPRS support node (40) constructs a downlink tunneling of messages protocol envelope that includes a downlink message capsule and information specific to the non-GSM protocols and transmits the downlink tunneling of messages to the mobile station (36) and the mobile station extracts the downlink message capsule based on the information specific to the non-GSM protocols.