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.
