Mobility in a multi-access communication network

• US 20050025163A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Christie, Samuel H. IV
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/17 Selecting a data network PoA [Point of Attachment]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections

Abstract

The present invention provides a terminal capable of establishing multiple communication sessions with a public network proxy through different access networks. The terminal actively communicates with the public network proxy to control which of the multiple communication paths are active, as well as control the transition from actively using one communication path to using another. The public network proxy facilitates data and voice sessions between the terminal and any number of other communication devices. In one embodiment, the communication sessions are reserved tunneling sessions, and the terminal cooperates with the public network proxy to effectively control how many tunneling sessions are established, how many tunneling sessions are active at any given time, and the transition from one tunneling session to another for active communications. Each of the communication or tunneling sessions may be established over different access networks using different communication technologies and protocols.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating packet communications from a terminal to a network proxy comprising:

a) establishing a plurality of communication sessions via a plurality of access networks with the network proxy, which facilitates communications between the terminal and at least one communication device;

b) selecting one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a first active communication session;

c) identifying the first active communication session to the network proxy; and

d) transferring packets to or from the network proxy using the first active communication session to effect communications with the at least one communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) selecting at least a second one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a second active communication session wherein there are at least first and second active communication sessions; and

b) transferring packets to or from the network proxy using the first and second active communication sessions to effect the communications with the at least one communication device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the packets transferred using the first active communication session carry information different than carried in the packets transferred using the second active communication session.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the packets are duplicated and sent over both the first and second active communication sessions.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) determining a need to switch from the first active communication session;

b) selecting at least a second one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a second active communication session;

c) providing indicia indicative of the need to switch from the first active communication session to the second active communication session; and

d) transferring packets to or from the network proxy using only the second active communication session to effect the communications with the at least one communication device.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising transferring the packets to or from the network proxy using the first and second active communication sessions to effect the communications with the at least one communication device prior to using only the second active communication session.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising sending second indicia instructing the network proxy to stop using the first active communication session.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving temporary IP addresses from the respective access networks and using the temporary IP addresses to establish the plurality of communication sessions, wherein a public IP address associated with the terminal is supported by the network proxy.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication sessions are tunneling sessions with the network proxy.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein communications with the plurality of access networks are based on disparate communication technologies.

11. A terminal for facilitating packet communications over a plurality of access networks comprising:

a) communication circuitry adapted to facilitate communications with the plurality of access networks; and

b) a control system associated with the communication circuitry adapted to;

i) establish a plurality of communication sessions via the plurality of access networks with a network proxy, which facilitates communications between the terminal and at least one communication device;

ii) select one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a first active communication session;

iii) identify the first active communication session to the network proxy; and

iv) transfer packets to or from the network proxy using the first active communication session to effect communications with the at least one communication device.

12. The terminal of claim 11 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) select at least a second one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a second active communication session wherein there are at least first and second active communication sessions; and

b) transfer packets to or from the network proxy using the first and second active communication sessions to effect the communications with the at least one communication device.

13. The terminal of claim 12 wherein the packets transferred using the first active communication session carry information different than carried in the packets transferred using the second active communication session.

14. The terminal of claim 12 wherein the packets are duplicated and sent over both the first and second active communication sessions.

15. The terminal of claim 11 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) determine a need to switch from the first active communication session;

b) select at least a second one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a second active communication session;

c) send indicia indicative of the need to switch from the first active communication session to the second active communication session; and

d) transfer packets to or from the network proxy using only the second active communication session to effect the communications with the at least one communication device.

16. The terminal of claim 15 wherein the control system is further adapted to transfer the packets to or from the network proxy using the first and second active communication sessions to effect the communications with the at least one communication device prior to using only the second active communication session.

17. The terminal of claim 16 wherein the control system is further adapted to send second indicia instructing the network proxy to stop using the first active communication session.

18. The terminal of claim 11 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive temporary IP addresses from the respective access networks and use the temporary IP addresses to establish the plurality of communication sessions, wherein a public IP address associated with the terminal is supported by the network proxy.

19. The terminal of claim 11 wherein the communication sessions are tunneling sessions with the network proxy.

20. The terminal of claim 11 wherein communications with the plurality of access networks are based on disparate communication technologies.

21. A method for facilitating packet communications between a terminal and at least one communication device via a network proxy comprising:

a) establishing a plurality of communication sessions via a plurality of access networks with the terminal;

b) receiving selection indicia from the terminal identifying one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a first active communication session;

c) transferring packets to or from the terminal using the first active communication session to effect communications with the terminal; and

d) communicating with the at least one communication device on behalf of the terminal.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

a) receiving second selection indicia from the terminal identifying at least a second one of the plurality of communication sessions to be an active communication session wherein there are at least first and second active communication sessions; and

b) transferring packets to or from the terminal using the first and second active communication sessions to effect communications between the terminal and the at least one communication device.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the packets transferred using the first active communication session carry information different than carried in the packets transferred using the second active communication session.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the packets are duplicated and sent over both the first and second active communication sessions.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

a) receiving switch indicia from the terminal indicating a need to switch from the first active communication session;

b) receiving first selection indicia from the terminal identifying at least a second one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a second active communication session; and

c) transferring packets to or from the terminal using only the second active communication session to effect the communications with the at least one communication device.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising transferring the packets to or from the network proxy using the first and second active communication sessions to effect the communications with the at least one communication device prior to using only the second active communication session.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising receiving second selection indicia from the terminal and stopping use of the first active communication session to transfer the packets based on the second selection indicia.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein the communication sessions are tunneling sessions with the network proxy.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein the terminal'"'"'s communications with the plurality of access networks are based on disparate communication technologies.

30. A network proxy for facilitating packet communications between a terminal and at least one communication device comprising:

a) communication circuitry adapted to facilitate communications with the plurality of access networks; and

b) a control system associated with the communication circuitry and adapted to;

i) establish a plurality of communication sessions via the plurality of access networks with the terminal,

ii) receive selection indicia from the terminal identifying one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a first active communication session;

iii) transfer packets to or from the terminal using the first active communication session to effect communications with the terminal; and

iv) communicate with the at least one communication device on behalf of the terminal.

31. The network proxy of claim 30 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive second selection indicia from the terminal identifying at least a second one of the plurality of communication sessions to be a second active communication session wherein there are at least first and second active communication sessions; and

b) transfer packets to or from the terminal using the first and second active communication sessions to effect the communications between the terminal and the at least one communication device.

32. The network proxy of claim 31 wherein the packets transferred using the first active communication session carry information different than carried in the packets transferred using the second active communication session.

33. The network proxy of claim 31 wherein the packets are duplicated and sent over both the first and second active communication sessions.

34. The network proxy of claim 32 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive switch indicia from the terminal indicating a need to switch from the first active communication session;

b) receive the second selection indicia from the terminal identifying at least a second one of the plurality of communication sessions to be the second active communication session; and

c) transfer packets to or from the terminal using only the second active communication session to effect the communications with the at least one communication device.

35. The network proxy of claim 34 wherein the control system is further adapted to transfer the packets to or from the network proxy using the first and second active communication sessions to effect communications with the at least one communication device prior to using only the second active communication session.

36. The network proxy of claim 35 wherein the control system is further adapted to receive the second selection indicia from the terminal and stop use of the first active communication session to transfer the packets based on the second selection indicia.

37. The network proxy of claim 30 wherein the communication sessions are tunneling sessions with the network proxy.

38. The network proxy of claim 30 wherein the terminal'"'"'s communications with the plurality of access networks are based on disparate communication technologies.