Versatile system for radio access network session information retrieval

• US 20070223452A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Semper, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,924,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14

Abstract

A session information retrieval system is disclosed that efficiently transfers mobile station session information among certain members of a radio access network. As a mobile station within the network—which is dormant in a first packet data zone of the network moves to a second packet data zone, a PCF for the second packet zone contacts the PCF for the first packet data zone to retrieve session information for the MS. Having retrieved the MS'"'"'s already-established session information, the second PCF obviates the need to re-establish or re-negotiate session information for the MS. Having forwarded the MS'"'"'s session information to the second PCF, the first PCF may discard the now unneeded session information that would have otherwise been maintained indefinitely—freeing up valuable system resources.

Claims

1. A radio access network system comprising:

a first coverage zone control component;

a second coverage zone control component communicatively coupled to the first coverage zone control component by an incumbent messaging system; and

an addressing construct adapted to establish a unique locator for each coverage zone control component in the system;

wherein the second coverage zone control component is adapted to retrieve session information for a mobile station over the incumbent messaging system, utilizing the first coverage zone control component'"'"'s unique locator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio access network system is based on the TIA-2001-C standard.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the coverage zone control components comprise packet control functions.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the unique locator comprises an IP address.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the IP address comprises octets for packet zone, system and network identifiers.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the IP address comprises an octet for a vendor identifier.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the unique locator comprises a look-up table locator.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the addressing construct comprises an automated software component.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the addressing construct comprises an operator-initiated routine.

10. A method of retrieving session information for a mobile station in a radio access network, comprising the steps of:

establishing a unique address for each coverage zone control component in the radio access network;

broadcasting the unique address for each coverage zone control component within its respective coverage zone;

establishing a data session, having specific session information, between the mobile station and a first coverage zone control component in a first coverage zone;

identifying that the mobile station has moved from the first coverage zone to a second coverage zone;

providing, to a second coverage zone control component in the second coverage zone, data identifying the mobile station and the unique address for the first coverage zone control component; and

transferring the specific session information from the first coverage zone control component to the second coverage zone control component utilizing the data identifying the mobile station and the unique address for the first coverage zone control component.

11. The method of claim 11, wherein the radio access network is a CDMA2000-based network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of establishing a unique address comprises establishing an IP address.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing data identifying the mobile station comprises providing the mobile station'"'"'s international mobile subscriber identity.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing data identifying the mobile station comprises providing the mobile station'"'"'s electronic serial number.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing data identifying the mobile station comprises providing the mobile station'"'"'s mobile equipment identifier.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of establishing a unique address further comprises providing an addressing construct to generate a unique address.

13. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of establishing an IP address further comprises establishing an IP address comprising octets for packet zone, system and network identifiers.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of establishing an IP address further comprises establishing an IP address comprising an octet for a vendor identifier.

19. A CDMA2000-based radio access network comprising:

a first packet control function operatively coupled to a packet data serving node;

a second packet control function operatively coupled to a packet data serving node;

an incumbent messaging system communicatively coupling the first and second packet data serving nodes;

an addressing construct adapted to establish a unique IP address for each packet data serving node; and

a mobile station;

wherein the second packet control function is adapted to retrieve session information for the mobile station over the incumbent messaging system by directing a message to the first packet control function'"'"'s IP address that comprises identification information for the mobile station and the IP address of the second packet control function.