Wireless mobility gateway

• US 20070091862A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Athonet S.R.L. (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Inventors: Ioannidis, Efstathios
• Granted Patent: US 8,824,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, Wireless Mobility Gateway (MOGW) method and apparatus determines whether a wireless connection has been requested by a mobile terminal. As a consequence it performs security functions to authenticate the mobile user and grant access. If requested by the mobile user it then also creates a wireless connection to allow it to perform IP packet transmission and reception and therefore make use of mobile data services. The MOGW is able to directly route packets to Internet and Corporate Networks, thus rendering the whole mobile network more efficient and simpler to construct and manage. The MOGW generates a special tunnel identifier to identify the wireless connection that must be contained in all packets received from the RAN. The MOGW generates such a tunnel identifier by concatenating a number of values that characterize the connection. Therefore, simply by reading this tunnel identifier, the MOGW can more efficiently forward packets appropriately. The Mobility protocol and function between MOGWs allows Mobile terminals to easily move between geographical areas served by different MOGWs.

Claims

1. A method of routing data packets comprising:

Assigning an identifier to a wireless connection between a mobile device (UE) and a radio access network;

transmitting the identifier to the radio access network;

assigning a data network address to the mobile device; and

providing at least one forwarding table comprising information for forwarding data packets to and from the mobile device, the information including the data network address and the identifier.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

tagging a data packet with the identifier; and

transmitting the data packet according to the at least one forwarding table.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the identifier is a general packet radio system (GPRS) tunnelling protocol (GTP) tunnel identifier.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the identifier comprises:

an interface identifier which comprises a physical interface identifier and a logical interface identifier for respectively identifying a physical interface and a logical interface of a telecommunications system; and

a connection identifier for identifying a wireless connection on the physical interface and logical interfaces;

wherein the identifier optionally comprises;

a format identifier for identifying sizes of the interface index and the connection identifier;

a Quality of Service identifier for describing the quality of the wireless connection; and

/or

a security identifier for identifying whether the wireless connection requires ingress filtering security.

6. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the data network address is an internet protocol (IP) address and the IP address is version 4 or 6, and wherein assigning the IP address comprises choosing the IP address from a set of IP addresses associated with physical and logical interfaces of the identifier.

7. A method according to claim 1 or 3, comprising:

determining a number of unassigned data network addresses; and

if the number of unassigned data network addresses falls below a threshold number, requesting to be provided with additional data network addresses from an address allocation server.

8. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the data network address is an internet protocol (IP) address and the IP address is represented using a 64 bit value comprising the first 64 bits of an IPv6 address or 32-bits of an IPv4 address;

and, optionally, the IP address further comprises an IPv6 link-local prefix, an identifier for identifying a logical interface and an IPv4 address.

9. A method according to claim 1 or 3, comprising:

receiving a data packet with a tag identifying the mobile device; and

forwarding the data packet using the tag; and

/or

receiving a data packet;

adding a tag identifying the mobile device to the data packet;

transmitting a data packet with a tag identifying the mobile device.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tag is the identifier.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the tag is included in:

an IPv6 extension header of the data packet or

a user datagram protocol (UDP) or transmission control protocol (TCP) packet, the tag being placed before payload of the UDP or TCP packet.

12. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the forwarding table includes:

the data network address, and

the identifier,

and the forwarding table optionally further includes any one or more of the following;

optional information for identifying a lower layer transport for forwarding the packets,

an optional security flag for identifying whether ingress filtering is to be performed on data packets,

an optional secondary packet data control (PDP) context flag for identifying whether further filtering is required to determine on which wireless connection the packets are to be forwarded,

an optional logical interface identifier for identifying a logical interface of a telecommunications system,

optional information for describing a tunnelling mechanism to be used for forwarding the packets, and/or

optional information for identifying a physical interface on which the packets are to be forwarded.

13. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the at least one forwarding table comprises a set of forwarding tables comprising;

a data network interface (Gi) forwarding table comprising information for forwarding packets received on a data network interface (Gi),

an access point name (APN) forwarding table comprising information regarding each APN,

a core network interface (Gn) forwarding table comprising information for forwarding packets received on a core network interface (Gn),

an access interface to data network interface (Iu-to-Gi) forwarding table comprising information for forwarding packets received on an access interface (Iu) and destined for packet data networks (PDNs) or mobility gateways (MOGW) on the packet data network interface (Gi),

an access interface to core network interface (Iu-to-Gn) forwarding table comprising information for forwarding packets received on the access interface (Iu) and destined for serving GPRS support nodes (SGSNs) or gateway GPRS support nodes (GGSNs) on the core network interface (Gn),

a router advertisement forwarding table comprising information for IPv6 neighbor discovery functions, and/or

an inter mobility gateway (MOGW) connection mapping table and/or inter-MOGW source IP address mapping table used for forwarding packets based on their IP source address.

14. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the forwarding table includes information for forwarding packets received via a data network interface (Gi) to radio access networks (RANs), mobility gateways (MOGWs) and serving GPRS support nodes (SGSNs), and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving data packets via the data network interface (Gi); and

identifying which of the data packets should be forwarded to one or more of the RANs, which of the data packets should be forwarded to one or more of the MOGWs and/or which of the data packets should be forwarded to one or more of the SGSNs.

15. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the forwarding table includes information for forwarding packets received on an access interface (Iu) and destined for the packet data networks (PDNs) or mobility gateways (MOGWs) on the data network interface (Gi) or gateway GPRS support nodes on the core network interface (Gn), and the wherein method further comprises:

receiving data packets via the access interface (Iu); and

identifying which of the data packets should be forwarded to one or more PDNs, which packets should be forwarded to a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) and which of said packets should be forwarded to one or more MOGWs.

16. A method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the forwarding table including information for forwarding packets received on a core network interface (Gn), and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving packets via the core network interface (Gn); and

identifying which of said packets should be forwarded to one or more radio access networks (RANs) and which of said packets should be forwarded to one or more packet data networks (PDNs).

17. A method according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising:

detecting movement of the mobile device from the radio access network to a another radio access network;

receiving a first message from a mobility gateway associated with the other radio access network, the first message comprising the identifier and a request for creation of a data packet tunnel;

transmitting a second message to the mobility gateway for acknowledging creation of the data packet tunnel;

transmitting data packets intended for said mobile device to the mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel; and

receiving data packets originating from the mobile device from the mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel.

18. A method according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising:

detecting movement of the mobile device to the radio access network from a another radio access network;

transmitting a message to a mobility gateway associated with the other radio access network, said message comprising the identifier and a request for creation of a data packet tunnel;

receiving a message from the mobility gateway for acknowledging creation of the data packet tunnel;

transmitting data packets originating from the mobile device to the mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel; and

receiving data packets intended for the mobile device from the mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel.

19. A method according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising:

detecting movement of the mobile device from the radio access network to another radio access network;

transmitting a message to a mobility gateway associated with the other radio access network, said message comprising information related to the mobile device and requesting the mobility gateway to establish wireless connections for said mobile device;

receiving a message from the mobility gateway, said message comprising the identifier and a request for creation of a data packet tunnel;

transmitting a message to the mobility gateway for acknowledging creation of the data packet tunnel;

transmitting data packets intended for said mobile device to the mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel; and

receiving data packets originating from the mobile device from the mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel.

20. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

communicating with the mobility gateway using messages via a data network interface (Gi).

21. A method according to claim 17, wherein detecting movement of the mobile device from the radio access network to another radio access network comprises the mobility gateway receiving a routing area update message and/or a serving radio network subsystem (SRNS) relocation required message.

22. A method according to claim 18, wherein the data packet tunnel comprises the identifier.

23. A method according to claim 18, wherein said message comprises:

a message identifier,

the identifier,

information for describing the data packet tunnel;

information for describing the wireless connection.

24. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting a router advertisement including a new IPv6 prefix to the mobile device.

25. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to terminate the data packet tunnel; and

terminating the wireless connection.

26. A method according to claim 18, wherein the mobile device is associated with a corporate entity and he method further comprises:

acting as a mobile IP mobile node;

sending a binding update or registration message in accordance with mobile IP protocol to a corporate function, the binding update or region message identifying the mobile device and the corporate entity.

27. A method according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising:

communicating with packet switched devices in accordance with third generation universal mobile telecommunications services (UMTS) standards and GTP protocol.

28. A method according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising:

receiving a request from a server device regarding whether two mobile devices are located in the same geographical area; and

if two mobile devices are located in the same geographical area, transmitting response which includes information relating to the geographical area of said mobile devices.

29. A method according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising:

identifying the mobile device using an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or a mobile subscriber integrated services digital network (MSISDN) number.

30. A method of routing data in a communications system comprising first and second mobility gateways associated with first and second radio access networks respectively, the method comprising:

the first mobility gateway routing data packets according to claim 1 or 3, and the second mobility gateway;

detecting movement of the mobile device from the first radio access network to the second radio access network;

transmitting a message to the first mobility gateway, said message comprising the identifier and a request for creation of a data packet tunnel;

receiving a message from the first mobility gateway for acknowledging creation of the data packet tunnel;

receiving data packets intended for said mobile device from the first mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel; and

transmitting data packets originating from the mobile device from the first mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel.

33. A computer program which when executed by a router causes the router to perform the method according to claim 1, or 31.

3. A method of routing data packets, the method comprising:

tagging a data packet with an identifier assigned to a wireless connection between a mobile device and a radio access network, the identifier having been transmitted to the radio access network; and

transmitting a data packet according to at least one forwarding table comprising information for forwarding data packets to and from the mobile device, the information including a data network address and the identifier.

31. A method of operating a first mobility gateway associated with a first radio access network, the method comprising:

receiving a routing area update (RAU) message from a mobile device, the message identifying a second mobility gateway associated with a second radio access network;

sending a message to the second mobility gateway, said message comprising an identifier assigned to a wireless connection between the mobile device and the second radio access network and a request for creation of a data packet tunnel;

receiving data packets intended for said mobile device from the second mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel; and

transmitting data packets originating from the mobile device to the second mobility gateway via said data packet tunnel.

32. A method according to claim 31, further comprising:

determining the number of data packets transmitted and/or received falls below a predetermined threshold and, if so, transmitting an instruction to the second mobility gateway to terminate the tunnel.

34. A system for routing data packets comprising:

means for assigning an identifier to a wireless connection between a mobile device and a radio access network;

means for communicating the identifier to the radio access network;

means for assigning a network address to the mobile device;

providing at least one forwarding table comprising information for forwarding data packets to and from the mobile device, the information comprising the network address and the identifier.

35. A system according to claim 34 wherein said system is a router.

36. A system according to claim 34, flier comprising:

means for tagging a data packet with the identifier; and

means for transmitting the data packet according to the at least one forwarding table and the identifier; and

/or

means for receiving a tagged data packet; and

means for processing the data packet according to the at least one forwarding table and the identifier.

37. A system according to claim 34, further comprising:

an access interface (Iu) or a base station controller interface (Gb) configured to be connectable to at least one radio access networks;

a data network interface (Gi) configured to be connectable to at least one packet data network;

an authentication interface (Gr) configured to be connectable to at least one home location register (HLR); and

an optional core network interface (Gn) configured to be connectable to at least one serving GPRS support node (SGSN) or gateway GPRS support node (GGSN).

38. A system according to claim 34, further comprising;

a plurality of interface cards or blades;

wherein the forwarding table is divided between and stored on one or more interface cards or blades and a controlling means for creating and updating the forwarding table is stored on another interface card.

39. A system according to claim 34, further comprising:

controlling means for creating and updating the forwarding table;

forwarding means for forwarding packets;

internal application server means for running applications accessible to mobile devices and;

corporate forwarding means for forwarding packets for corporate networks.

40. A system according to claim 39, further comprising a plurality of devices, wherein a first of the devices includes one of the means and a second of the devices, different from the first device, includes another, different means.

41. A system according to claim 34, wherein the controlling means is configured to communicate with a controller in the radio access network and the forwarding means is configured to communicate with a user traffic entity in the radio access network.

42. A system according to claim 34, wherein the controlling means is configured to receive and process signalling messages and to create and update the forwarding table.

43. A system according to claim 34, wherein the forwarding means comprise an access interface (Iu) forwarding means, a data network interface (Gi) forwarding means and core network interface (Gn) forwarding means.

44. A device according to claim 40, wherein the means are distributed on different interface cards or blades.

45. A system or device according to claim 40, wherein signaling messages conform to second and third generation mobile phone standards and include one or more of the following messages:

attach, detach, routing area update, activate PDP context, deactivate PDP context, SRNS relocation and Iu release messages.

46. A system or device according to claim 40, wherein the controlling means is configured to request the forwarding means to inform the controlling function when the forwarding means receives data packets having a given network addresses.

47. A system according to claim 40, wherein the forwarding means is configured,

to receive a data packet and to remove the identifier from the data packet and/or

to insert the identifier into a data packet and to transmit the data packet.

48. A system or device according to claim 40, wherein:

the controlling means is configured to receive a request to activate a wireless connection for a mobile device;

the controlling means is configured to send a mobile IP binding update request or registration request to the corporate means, wherein the request includes a home address corresponding to an address requested by the mobile device;

the corporate means is configured to assign the home address to the mobile device and to send a binding acknowledge or registration reply to the control means upon receiving the binding update request or registration request; and

the system is configured to create a tunnel between the forwarding means and the corporate means to transmit packets to and from the mobile device.

49. A system or device according to claim 48, wherein the corporate means is configured to operates according to a mobile IP home agent and the control means and forwarding means are configured to operate together as a mobile IP mobile node.

50. A system or device according to claim 48, wherein the binding update message comprises a corporate identifier which identifies the corporate entity with which the mobile device is affiliated, the corporate identifier usable by the corporate means to assign a home address.

51. A system or device according to claim 50, wherein the corporate identifier is usable as a means of distinguishing packets belonging to mobile devices affiliated to different corporate entities by using the corporate identifier in a GRE tunnel header, in an IPv6 tunnel utilizing an IPv6 option header or in an Ethernet VLAN tag.

52. A system or device according to claim 40, wherein the internal server means is configured to execute applications including local mobile application services and databases.

53. A system according to claim 34, comprising:

a radio access network including a radio network controller and node B in accordance with a third generation UMTS standard.

54. A system according to claim 34, comprising:

a radio access network including base station controller in accordance to second generation GSM standard and/or EDGE standard.