System and method for internet protocol version-based multiple access point name support in a network environment

• US 10,462,699 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grayson, Mark, Gundavelli, Srinath
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Yaotang
• Application Number:
  US14/480,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20160073283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/59 using proxies for addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving an attach trigger for a user equipment (UE) within a trusted access network; configuring a first signaling path for the UE for a first Internet protocol (IP) connection; and configuring a second signaling path for the UE for a second IP connection, wherein the first and second IP connections are associated with different IP version types. The method can include switching traffic for the UE between the first signaling path for the first IP connection and the second signaling path for the second IP connection based on IP version type of the traffic.

Claims

1. A method for a communication network comprising:

receiving one attach trigger for a user equipment (UE) within a trusted access network, wherein the UE is dual stack capable device; and

configuring, in response to receiving the one attach trigger at a Trusted Wireless Local Area Network Access Gateway (TWAG) in the trusted access network;

a first signaling path for the UE for a first Internet protocol (IP) connection that is configured for a first IP version type; and

a second signaling path for the UE for a second IP connection that is configured for a second IP version type different from the first IP version type; and

in response to detecting one detach event between the UE and the TWAG, completing detach procedures for both the first signaling path and the second signaling path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IP connection is associated with a first packet data network (PDN) connection for a first access point name (APN) and the second IP connection is associated with a second PDN connection for a second APN.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first signaling path or the second signaling path is configured for at least one of:

an IP version 4 (IPv4) packet data network (PDN) connection using an S2a signaling interface; and

an IP version 6 (IPv6) PDN connection using another S2a signaling interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IP connection is associated with an IP version 4 (IPv4) non-seamless wireless offload (NSWO) connection within the trusted access network and the second IP connection is associated with an IP version 6 (IPv6) packet data network (PDN) connection via a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network with an IPv6 access point name (APN).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first IP connection is associated with an IP version 6 (IPv6) non-seamless wireless offload (NSWO) connection within the trusted access network and the second IP connection is associated with an IP version 4 (IPv4) packet data network (PDN) connection via a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network with an IPv4 access point name (APN).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring a subscriber profile for a subscriber associated with the UE, which identifies the first IP connection and the second IP connection for the subscriber; and

loading the subscriber profile for the subscriber upon receiving the one attach trigger for the UE.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

switching traffic for the UE between the first signaling path configured for the first IP connection and the second signaling path configured for the second IP connection based on IP version type of the traffic.

8. One or more non-transitory tangible media encoding logic that include instructions for execution that, when executed by a processor, is operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving one attach trigger for a user equipment (UE) that is dual stack capable within a trusted access network;

in response to receiving the one attach trigger, concurrently configuring, at a Trusted Wireless Local Area Network Access Gateway (TWAG) in the trusted access network;

a first signaling path for the UE for a first Internet protocol (IP) connection that is configured for a first IP version type; and

a second IP connection that is configured for a second IP version type different from the first IP version type; and

in response to detecting one detach event between the UE and the TWAG, completing detach procedures for both the first signaling path and the second signaling path.

9. The media of claim 8, wherein the first IP connection is associated with a first packet data network (PDN) for a first access point name (APN) and the second IP connection is associated with a second PDN for a second APN.

10. The media of claim 8, wherein the first signaling path or the second signaling path is configured for at least one of:

an IP version 4 (IPv4) packet data network (PDN) connection using an S2a signaling interface; and

an IP version 6 (IPv6) PDN connection using another S2a signaling interface.

11. The media of claim 8, wherein the first IP connection is associated with an IP version 4 (IPv4) non-seamless wireless offload (NSWO) connection within the trusted access network and the second IP connection is associated with an IP version 6 (IPv6) packet data network (PDN) connection via a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network with an IPv6 access point name (APN).

12. The media of claim 8, wherein the first IP connection is associated with an IP version 6 (IPv6) non-seamless wireless offload (NSWO) connection within the trusted access network and the second IP connection is associated with an IP version 4 (IPv4) packet data network (PDN) connection via a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network with an IPv4 access point name (APN).

13. The media of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

configuring a subscriber profile for a subscriber associated with the UE, which identifies the first IP connection and the second IP connection for the subscriber; and

loading the subscriber profile for the subscriber upon receiving the one attach trigger for the UE.

14. The media of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

switching traffic for the UE between the first signaling path configured for the first IP connection and the second signaling path configured for the second IP connection based on IP version type of the traffic.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element for storing data; and

a processor that executes instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and memory element cooperate such that the apparatus is configured for;

receiving one attach trigger for a user equipment (UE) that is a dual stack device within a trusted access network;

in response to receiving the one attach trigger, configuring, at a Trusted Wireless Local Area Network Access Gateway (TWAG) in the trusted access network;

a first signaling path for the UE for a first Internet protocol (IP) connection configured for IP version 4 (IPv4); and

a second signaling path for the UE for a second IP connection configured for IP version 6 (IPv6); and

in response to detecting one detach event between the UE and the TWAG, completing detach procedures for both the first signaling path and the second signaling path.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first IP connection is associated with a first packet data network (PDN) connection for a first access point name (APN) and the second IP connection is associated with a second PDN connection for a second APN.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first signaling path or the second signaling path is configured for a packet data network (PDN) connection using an S2a signaling interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first IP connection is associated with an IPv4 non-seamless wireless offload (NSWO) connection within the trusted access network and the second IP connection is associated with an IPv6 packet data network (PDN) connection via a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network with an IPv6 access point name (APN).

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second IP connection is associated with an IPv6 non-seamless wireless offload (NSWO) connection within the trusted access network and the first IP connection is associated with an IPv4 packet data network (PDN) connection via a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network with an IPv4 access point name (APN).

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further configured for:

switching traffic for the UE between the first signaling path configured for the first IP connection and the second signaling path configured for the second IP connection based on IP version type of the traffic.