Connection establishment for PDP contexts

• US 20040127237A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hurtta, Tuija
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/765 triggered by the end-points
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/808 User-type aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/824 Applicable to portable or mobile terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/32 Release of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/34 Selective release of ongoing connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and apparatus for establishing multiple PDP contexts in a mobile communication system. The method comprises determining the number of PDP context requests required. Preferably this step is performed by the UE. The method comprises receiving all the required PDP context requests. This step is preferably performed in the network, i.e. in the SGSN and/or the GGSN. The method comprises establishing radio access resources for all the PDP context requests. This step is preferably initiated by the SGSN, and the RNC then preferably allocates the radio access resources based on SGSN requests.

Claims

1. A method of establishing multiple connections between a user equipment and a communications network over a radio interface, comprising the step of establishing the radio access resources for the multiple connections in a single step.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the multiple connections correspond to bearers having different levels of service.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the multiple connections correspond to bearers carrying different media components.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the media components include one or more of video, voice or data.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the radio access resources are radio access bearers.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving a request for the multiple connections.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the request is at least one PDP context request.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving a request for the multiple connections in a single step.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the request is an activate PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the request is an activate secondary PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein the request is a modify PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts.

12. A method according to claim 8 wherein the request is a deactivate PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts.

13. A method according to claim 8 wherein a create PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts is created responsive to the request.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein a create PDP context response identifying multiple PDP contexts is created responsive to the create PDP context request.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the radio access resources are established responsive to the create PDP context response.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein an activate PDP context accept identifying multiple PDP contexts is created following establishment of the radio access resources.

17. A method according to claim 1 further comprising receiving requests for the multiple connections in corresponding multiple successive steps.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein each request is an activate PDP context request identifying a PDP context.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein each request is an activate secondary PDP context request identifying a PDP context.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein each request is a modify PDP context request identifying a PDP context.

21. A method according to claim 17 wherein each request is a deactivate PDP context request identifying a PDP context.

22. A method according to claim 17 wherein the activate request includes an indication of whether a further request follows.

23. A method according to claim 17 wherein a create PDP context request is created responsive to each successive request.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the create PDP context request includes an indication of whether a further PDP context request follows.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein a create PDP context response is created responsive to each successive create PDP context request.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the create PDP context response includes an indication of whether a further PDP context response follows.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the radio access resources are established responsive to receipt of all successive PDP context responses.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein successive activate PDP context accepts are created following establishment of the radio access resources.

29. A method of establishing multiple PDP contexts in a mobile communication system, comprising:

determining the number of PDP context requests required;

receiving all the required PDP context requests;

establishing radio access resources for all the PDP context requests.

30. Apparatus for establishing multiple connections between a user equipment and a communications network over a radio interface, comprising means adapted to establish the radio access resources for the multiple connections in a single step.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30 in which the multiple connections correspond to bearers having different levels of service.

32. Apparatus according to claim 30 in which the multiple connections correspond to bearers carrying different media components.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the media components include one or more of video, voice or data.

34. Apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the radio access resources are radio access bearers.

35. Apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising means for receiving a request for the multiple connections.

36. Apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the request is at least one PDP context request.

37. Apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising means for receiving a request for the multiple connections in a single step.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the request is an activate PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts.

39. Apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the request is one of:

an activate secondary PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts;

a modify PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts;

a deactivate PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts.

40. Apparatus according to claim 37 further comprising means for generating a create PDP context request identifying multiple PDP contexts responsive to the request.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40 further comprising means for generating a create PDP context response identifying multiple PDP contexts responsive to the create PDP context request.

42. Apparatus according to claim 41 further comprising means for establishing the radio access resources responsive to the create PDP context response.

43. Apparatus according to claim 42 further comprising creating an activate PDP context accept identifying multiple PDP contexts following establishment of the radio access resources.

44. Apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising means for receiving requests for the multiple connections in corresponding multiple successive steps.

45. Apparatus according to claim 44 wherein each request is one of:

an activate PDP context request identifying a PDP context;

an activate secondary PDP context request identifying a PDP context;

a modify PDP context request identifying a PDP context;

a deactivate PDP context request identifying a PDP context.

46. Apparatus according to claim 44 wherein the activate request includes an indication of whether a further request follows.

47. Apparatus according to claim 44 further comprising means for creating a create PDP context request responsive to each successive request.

48. Apparatus according to claim 47 wherein the create PDP context request includes an indication of whether a further PDP context request follows.

49. Apparatus according to claim 47 further comprising means for creating a create PDP context response responsive to each successive create PDP context request.

50. Apparatus according to claim 49 wherein the create PDP context response includes an indication of whether a further PDP context response follows.

51. Apparatus according to claim 50 further comprising means for establishing the radio access resources responsive to receipt of all successive PDP context responses.

52. Apparatus according to claim 51 further comprising means for establishing successive activate PDP context accepts following establishment of the radio access resources.

53. A mobile communication system for establishing multiple PDP contexts comprising:

at least one user equipment for determining the number of PDP context requests required;

in a first network element receiving all the required PDP context requests;

in a second network element establishing radio access resources for all the PDP context requests; and

in a third network element allocating radio access resources based on the requests to the second element.

54. A mobile communication system according to claim 53 wherein the first network element is a SGSN or a GGSN;

wherein the second network element is the SGSN; and

the third network element is an RNC.