Wireless communication method and system for implementing media independent handover between technologically diversified access networks

• US 20060140150A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zuniga, Juan Carlos, Shaheen, Kamel M., Carlton, Alan Gerald, Rudolf, Marian, Zaki, Maged, Lu, Guang, Olvera-Hernandez, Ulises
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/005 involving radio access media independent information, e.g. MIH [Media independent Hand-off]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/085 involving hierarchical organized mobility servers, e.g. hierarchical mobile IP [HMIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless communication system including at least one IEEE 802 multi-stack wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a plurality of technologically diversified access networks, such as IEEE 802.X networks and Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networks, that are concurrently deployed. Both the multi-stack WTRU and the technologically-diversified networks include a media independent handover (MIH) function. The WTRU is configured to read MIH information transmitted from one of the IEEE 802.X networks, trigger 3GPP authentication and authorization procedures based on the MIH information, obtain a local Internet protocol (IP) address, establish a tunnel to a packet data gateway (PDG) in a 3GPP core network, construct a care of address (CoA) and register the CoA with a home agent of the WTRU, whereby data destined for the WTRU is routed via the home agent through a new tunnel established between the home agent and a foreign agent based on the CoA.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system including a plurality of technologically diversified access networks and at least one multi-stack wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the multi-stack WTRU including a protocol stack including a media independent handover (MIH) function, a method for establishing a communication link with the access networks, the method comprising:

(a) activating the WTRU and initializing the MIH function;

(b) the WTRU scanning for an access network;

(c) the WTRU detecting beacon frames transmitted by an access network;

(d) the WTRU reading the content of the detected beacon frames if it determines that the beacon frames support MIH information;

(e) the WTRU passing MIH information found in the beacon frames to the MIH function; and

(f) the MIH function processing the MIH information and establishing a communication link with the access network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the WTRU and the access networks implement a fast handover procedure in accordance with mobile Internet protocol version 6 (MIPv6).

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

the WTRU sending a router solicitation message to a current access router (AR);

the current AR sending a router advertisement message to the WTRU;

the WTRU performing measurements for a new AR and making a handover decision;

the WTRU sending a fast binding update to the current AR;

establishing a tunnel between the current AR and the new AR; and

delivering a packet through the new AR.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the WTRU and the access networks implement hierarchy mobile Internet protocol version 6 (HMIPv6).

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a current mobile anchor point (MAP) sending a router advertisement message to the WTRU;

the WTRU receiving the router advertisement from the current MAP;

the MIH function of the WTRU performing measurements for a new MAP and making a handover decision;

the WTRU obtaining at least one care of address (CoA);

the WTRU sending a local binding update to the current MAP;

the WTRU sending a binding update to the new MAP;

the WTRU establishing a tunnel between the WTRU and the new MAP;

the WTRU registering the CoA at a home agent;

the WTRU sending a local binding update to a core network; and

delivering a packet through the new MAP.

6. A wireless communication system for performing a media independent handover (MIH), the system comprising:

a plurality of access networks that are concurrently deployed under different standards, each access network including an MIH function; and

at least one multi-stack wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to support multiple wireless standards and including an MIH function, wherein the MIH functions of the WTRU and the access networks obtain information about system conditions and network topology, and perform a handover from a current access network to another access network upon receipt of an MIH trigger.

7. In a wireless communication system including a plurality of IEEE 802.X networks and Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networks that are concurrently deployed, wherein each of at least one multi-stack wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and the networks include a media independent handover (MIH) function, a method for interworking between at least one of the IEEE 802.X networks and the 3GPP networks, the method comprising:

the MIH function of the WTRU reading MIH information transmitted from the IEEE 802.X network;

the MIH function of the WTRU triggering 3GPP authentication and authorization procedures;

the WTRU obtaining a local internet protocol (IP) address;

the WTRU establishing a tunnel to a packet data gateway (PDG) in a 3GPP core network;

the WTRU constructing a care of address (CoA); and

the WTRU registering the CoA with a home agent of the WTRU, whereby data destined for the WTRU is routed via the home agent through a new tunnel established between the home agent and a foreign agent based on the CoA.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the MIH information is transmitted via a beacon frame.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a special flag is used to indicate that MIH information is supported by the beacon frame.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the MIH information includes at least one of system operator identity, access point name, neighboring maps and system capabilities.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the WTRU and an access gateway of the IEEE 802.X network use an extensible authentication protocol over local area network (LAN) (EAPOL) procedure for 3GPP authentication.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the WTRU derives a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) using a selected PDG, and the WTRU uses the FQDN to determine the IP address of the PDG using the local domain name server (DNS) to establish a WTRU-PDG tunnel.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the WTRU establishes a tunnel directly to the PDG.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

the WTRU establishing a tunnel to a wireless access gateway (WAG); and

the WAG establishing a tunnel to the PDG.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

an access gateway (AG) of the IEEE 802.X network establishes a tunnel to a wireless access gateway (WAG); and

the WAG establishing a tunnel to the PDG.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

the AG establishing a tunnel directly to the PDG.

17. A system for performing a media independent handover (MIH), the system comprising:

a plurality of IEEE 802.X networks;

a plurality of Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networks which are concurrently deployed with the IEEE 802.X networks; and

at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured to access both the IEEE 802.X networks and the 3GPP networks, the WTRU comprising an MIH function for performing handover between the IEEE 802.X networks and 3GPP networks.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the WTRU is configured to read MIH information transmitted from one of the IEEE 802.X networks, trigger 3GPP authentication and authorization procedures based on the MIH information, obtain a local Internet protocol (IP) address, establish a tunnel to a packet data gateway (PDG) in a 3GPP core network, construct a care of address (CoA) and register the CoA with a home agent of the WTRU, whereby data destined for the WTRU is routed via the home agent through a new tunnel established between the home agent and a foreign agent based on the CoA.

19. A wireless communication system comprising:

a plurality of technologically diversified access networks; and

at least one multi-stack wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) including a protocol stack with a media independent handover (MIH) function, wherein the WTRU scans for an access network, detects frames transmitted by an access network, reads the content of the detected beacon frames if it determines that the beacon frames support MIH information, passes MIH information found in the beacon frames to the MIH function, and the MIH function processes the MIH information and establishes a communication link with the access network.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the WTRU and the access networks implement a fast handover procedure in accordance with mobile Internet protocol version 6 (MIPv6).

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising a current access router (AR), wherein the WTRU sends a router solicitation message to the current AR, the current AR sends a router advertisement message to the WTRU, the WTRU performs measurements for a new AR and makes a handover decision, the WTRU obtains a new care of address (CoA), the WTRU sends a fast binding update to the current AR, a tunnel is established between the current AR and the new AR, and a packet is delivered through the new AR.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the WTRU and the access networks implement hierarchy mobile Internet protocol version 6 (HMIPv6).

23. The system of claim 19 further comprising a current mobile anchor point (MAP) which sends a router advertisement message to the WTRU, wherein the WTRU receives the router advertisement from the current MAP, the MIH function of the WTRU performs measurements for a new MAP and makes a handover decision, the WTRU obtains a care of address (CoA), the WTRU sends a local binding update to the current MAP, the WTRU sends a binding update to the new MAP, the WTRU establishes a tunnel between the WTRU and the new MAP, the WTRU registers the CoA at a home agent, the WTRU sends a local binding update to a core network, and a packet is delivered through the new MAP.

24. In a wireless communication system including a plurality of technologically diversified access networks, a multi-stack wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:

a protocol stack including;

a user plane; and

a media independent handover (MIH) management plane in communication with the user plane for managing handovers between the WTRU and different ones of the access networks in response to triggers received from the user plane.

25. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein the protocol stack further comprises at least one technology-specific handover plane.

26. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein the MIH management plane includes:

an MIH higher layer convergence function (HLCF);

a handover function; and

an MIH lower layer convergence function (LLCF).

27. The WTRU of claim 26 wherein the user plane includes:

a mobility management entity;

a physical (PHY) layer; and

a medium access control (MAC) layer.

28. The WTRU of claim 27 wherein the HLCF provides an interface between the handover function and the mobility management entity specific to a particular technology.

29. The WTRU of claim 28 wherein the handover function collects handover events from the HLCF and determines whether a handover is required based on certain criteria.

30. The WTRU of claim 27 wherein the LLCF provides an event service that compiles PHY and MAC layer events specific to a particular technology.

31. The WTRU of claim 27 wherein the LLCF receives handover triggers from the PHY and MAC layers when no handover entity exists.

32. In a wireless communication system including a plurality of technologically diversified access networks, a multi-stack wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) having an integrated circuit (IC) comprising:

a protocol stack including;

a user plane; and

a media independent handover (MIH) management plane in communication with the user plane for managing handovers between the WTRU and different ones of the access networks in response to triggers received from the user plane.

33. The IC of claim 32 wherein the protocol stack further comprises at least one technology-specific handover plane.

34. The IC of claim 32 wherein the MIH management plane includes:

an MIH higher layer convergence function (HLCF);

a handover function; and

an MIH lower layer convergence function (LLCF).

35. The IC of claim 34 wherein the user plane includes:

a mobility management entity;

a physical (PHY) layer; and

a medium access control (MAC) layer.

36. The IC of claim 35 wherein the HLCF provides an interface between the handover function and the mobility management entity specific to a particular technology.

37. The IC of claim 35 wherein the handover function collects handover events from the HLCF and determines whether a handover is required based on certain criteria.

38. The IC of claim 35 wherein the LLCF provides an event service that compiles PHY and MAC layer events specific to a particular technology.

39. The IC of claim 35 wherein the LLCF receives handover triggers from the PHY and MAC layers when no handover entity exists.