Optimization of packet transmission path

• US 10,069,714 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Matsunaga, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Kao, Jutai
• Application Number:
  US10/515,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20050249121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 5,585 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/04 Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/12 Shortest path evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A method is disclosed for optimizing packet transmission paths in a mobile communication network (400) in which packets are transmitted and received between mobile stations (10-14) or between a mobile station and a fixed network (120) by way of a plurality of packet transmission device (60-64, 70-72, 80, and 81) and radio base stations (50-57). When a mobile station uses a service that is provided by a fixed network (300), imposed are applied on the packet transmission path such that packets pass by way of specific packet transmission devices (80 and 81) depending on the fixed network (external network) 300. When the mobile station uses a service that is provided by the mobile communication network (400), on the other hand, no restrictions are imposed on the packet transmission path, and the packet transmission path is thus set such that the link costs are a minimum.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system, comprising:

a mobile terminal configured to access a first network including a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) connected to a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a second network including a network node that is connected to the SGSN and is other than the GGSN, the mobile terminal having information indicating when the mobile terminal can access the first network and when the mobile terminal can access the second network,

wherein the SGSN is configured to, at packet data protocol (PDP) context activation,

determine when the mobile terminal can access the first network or the second network based on the information that is obtained from the mobile terminal,

select the GGSN when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the first network, and

select the network node when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the second network without selecting the GGSN of the first network.

2. A Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) in a mobile communication system, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a request signal, which includes information indicating when a mobile terminal can access a first network including a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) connected to the SGSN and when the mobile terminal can access a second network including a network node that is connected to the SGSN and is other than the GGSN, from the mobile terminal; and

a controller configured to, at packet data protocol (PDP) context activation,

determine when the mobile terminal can access the first network or the second network based on the information that is obtained from the mobile terminal,

select the GGSN when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the first network, and

select the network node when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the second network without selecting the GGSN of the first network,

wherein the mobile terminal accesses at least the first network or the second network.

3. A mobile terminal in a mobile communication system, the mobile terminal comprising:

a controller configured to access at least a first network including a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) connected to a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a second network including a network node that is connected to the SGSN and is other than the GGSN, and to generate information indicating when the mobile terminal can access to the first network and when the mobile terminal can access the second network; and

a transmitter configured to send a request signal including said information to the SGSN,

wherein the SGSN is configured to, at packet data protocol (PDP) context activation,

determine when the mobile terminal can access the first network or the second network based on the information that is obtained from the mobile terminal,

select the GGSN when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the first network, and

select the network node when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the second network without selecting the GGSN of the first network.

4. A packet transfer method of a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

accessing, by a mobile terminal, at least a first network including a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) connected to a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a second network including a network node that is connected to the SGSN and is other than the GGSN;

sending, by the mobile terminal, a request signal, which includes information indicating when the mobile terminal can access the first network and when the mobile terminal can access the second network, to the SGSN; and

at packet data protocol (PDP) context activation,

determining, by the SGSN, when the mobile terminal can access the first network or the second network based on the information that is obtained from the mobile terminal,

selecting, by the SGSN, the GGSN when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the first network, and

selecting, by the SGSN, the network node when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the second network without selecting the GGSN of the first network.

5. A packet transfer method of a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a request signal, which includes information indicating when a mobile terminal can access a first network including a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) connected to the SGSN and a second network including a network node that is connected to the SGSN and is other than the GGSN, from the mobile terminal; and

at packet data protocol (PDP) context activation,

determining when the mobile terminal can access the first network or the second network based on the information that is obtained from the mobile terminal,

selecting the GGSN when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the first network, and

selecting the network node when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the second network without selecting the GGSN of the first network,

wherein the mobile terminal accesses at least the first network or the second network.

6. A packet transfer method of a mobile terminal in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

accessing either a first network including a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) connected to a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a second network including a network node that is connected to the SGSN and is other than the GGSN, including generating information indicating when the mobile terminal can access the first network and when the mobile terminal can access the second network; and

sending a request signal including said information to the SGSN,

wherein the SGSN is configured to, at packet data protocol (PDP) context activation,

determine when the mobile terminal can access the first network or the second network based on the information that is obtained from the mobile terminal,

select the GGSN when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the first network, and

select the network node when the SGSN determines that the mobile terminal can access the second network without selecting the GGSN of the first network.