Wireless gateway, and associated method, for a packet radio communication system

• US 20030219024A1
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Purnadi, Rene, Saifullah, Yousuf
• Granted Patent: US 6,937,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/36 due to handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/085 involving hierarchical organized mobility servers, e.g. hierarchical mobile IP [HMIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, for a 3G, cellular communication system having an access network and a core network. The access network is operable pursuant to the cdma2000 the operational specification, and the core network is operable pursuant to the 3GPP architecture using GPRS. A wireless gateway that provides an interworking functionality is provided to permit to the access network to utilize GPRS as a transport layer through which to transport packet-formatted data, thereby to effectuate, for example, multimedia applications over IP.

Claims

1. In a packet radio communication system having a first part operable pursuant to a first packet radio communication scheme having a first protocol and a second part operable pursuant to a second packet radio common scheme, an improvement of apparatus for facilitating communication of packet-formatted data with a mobile node operable pursuant to the second packet radio scheme while utilizing the first protocol, said apparatus comprising:

a gateway coupled to both the first part and to the second part to receive messages generated selectably at the first part and selectably at the second part, said gateway selectably for initiating a data-related procedure as part of the handoff procedure defined pursuant to the first protocol responsive to selected messages received thereat, the data-related procedure, once completed, permitting routing of packet-formatted data formatted pursuant to the first protocol with the mobile station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first part comprises a GPRS-based (General Packet Radio Service-based) network and the first protocol comprises a GPRS protocol, wherein the second part comprises a cdma2000-based network, and wherein the data-related procedure comprises a GPRS attach procedure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second packet radio communication scheme pursuant to which the cdma2000-based network is operable has a cdma2000-protocol that defines registration request messages and registration reply messages, the registration request messages and the registration reply messages each containing extension fields, selected values contained in an extension field of a registration request message, when detected by said gateway, causing initiation of the GPRS attach procedure.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the registration request is formatted pursuant to an IOS A11 specification defined for the cdma2000 protocol, wherein the registration request message detected by said gateway comprises an IOS A11 registration request and wherein the extension field thereof comprises a vendor-specified extension field, the selected values contained therein, when detected by said gateway, causing initiation of the GPRS attach procedure.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the selected values contained in the vendor-specific-extension field that detection of which causes the initiation of the GPRS attach procedure comprise null values.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the mobile node is operable pursuant to a cdma2000 protocol and wherein the messages to which said gateway is coupled to receive and responsive to which said gateway initiates the GPRS attach procedure comprises messages generated pursuant to the cdma2000 protocol, the messages generated pursuant to mobile node registration procedures.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the mobile node is operable pursuant to a cdma2000 protocol and wherein the messages to which said gateway is coupled to receive and responsive to which said gateway initiates the GPRS attach procedure comprises messages generated pursuant to the cdma2000 protocol, the messages generated pursuant to dormant handoff procedures.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second packet radio communication scheme pursuant to which the cdma2000-based network is operable has a cdma2000-protocol that defines registration request messages and registration reply messages, the registration request messages and the registration reply messages each containing extension fields, selected values contained in an extension field of a registration request message generated by the mobile node, when detected by said gateway, causing initiation of the GPRS attach procedures.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the registration request is formatted pursuant to an IOS A11 specification defined for the cdma2000 protocol, wherein the registration request message detected by said gateway comprises an IOS A11 registration request and wherein the extension field thereof comprises a vendor-specific-extension field, the selected values contained therein, when detected by said gateway, causing initiation of the GPRS attach procedure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first part comprises a GPRS-based (General Packet Radio Service-based) network and the first protocol comprises a GPRS protocol, wherein the second part comprises a cdma-based network and the mobile node is operable pursuant to a cdma2000 protocol, and wherein the messages to which said gateway is coupled to receive and responsive to which said gateway further initiates a GPRS routing area update procedure comprises messages generated pursuant to the cdma2000 protocol, the messages generated pursuant to active handoff procedures.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second packet radio communication scheme pursuant to which the cdma2000-based network is operable has a cdma2000-protocol that defines registration request messages and registration reply messages, the registration request messages and the registration reply messages each containing extension fields, selected values contained in an extension field of a registration request message generated by the mobile node, when detected by said gateway, causing initiation of the GPRS routing area update procedure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the registration request is formatted pursuant to an IOS A11 specification defined for the cdma2000 protocol, wherein the registration request message detected by said gateway comprises an IOS A11 registration request and wherein the extension field thereof comprises a vendor-specific-extension field, the selected values contained therein, when detected by said gateway, causing initiation of the GPRS routing area update procedure.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the selected values contained in the vendor-specific-extension field that detection of which causes the initiation of the GPRS routing area update procedure comprise non-null values.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the IOS A11 registration request comprises a modified IOS A11 registration request, wherein the GPRS protocol further defines an srcPZI (source-PZI) value, and wherein the modified IOS A11 registration request further comprises values representative of the srcPZI value, said gateway, responsive to detection of the modified IOS A11 registration request, for initiating a GPRS Routing Area Update procedure.

15. A method for initiating a data related procedure in a packet radio communication system having a first part operable pursuant to a cdma2000 operating protocol and a second part operable pursuant to a GSM/GPRS operating protocol, and a mobile station operable pursuant to the cdma operating protocol, said method comprising:

generating an IOS A1 message at the mobile station for communication to the first part of the packet radio communication system;

providing indications of the IOS A1 message to an interworking function, functionally interconnecting the first and second parts, respectively, of the packet radio communication system; and

utilizing the GSM/GPRS operating protocol as a transport layer to perform the GPRS data related procedure.

16. In a method of communicating in a packet radio communication system having a first part operable pursuant to a first packet radio communication scheme having a first protocol and a second part operable pursuant to a second packet radio communication scheme, an improvement of a method for facilitating communication of packet-formatted data with a mobile node operable pursuant to the second packet radio scheme while utilizing the first protocol, said method comprising:

detecting, at a gateway coupled to both the first part and the second part, messages selectably generated at the first part and selectably generated at the second part; and

selectably initiating a data-related attach procedure defined pursuant to the first protocol responsive to selected messages received thereat, the data-related procedure, once completed, permitting routing of packet-formatted data, formatted pursuant to the first protocol with the mobile station.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first part comprises a GPRS-based (General Packet Radio Service-based) network and the first protocol comprises a GPRS protocol, wherein the second part comprises a cdma2000-based network, wherein the GPRS protocol defines a P-TMSI value and a P-TMSI signature, and wherein the data-related procedure initiated during said operation of selectably initiating comprises a GPRS attach procedure.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the operation of sending the messages to the gateway.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the messages sent during said operation of sending comprise registration request messages defined pursuant to an IOS A11 specification for the cdma2000 protocol.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the first part comprises a GPRS-based (General Packet Radio Service-based) network and the first protocol comprises a GPRS protocol, wherein the second part comprises a cdma 2000-based network, wherein the GPRS protocol defines a P-TMSI value and a P-TMSI signature, and wherein the data-related procedure initiated during said operation of selectably initiating comprises a GPRS routing are update procedure.