METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING A SET OF COMMUNICATIONS CONNECTION RELATED INFORMATION

• US 20070286112A1
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Prakash, Rajat, Ulupinar, Fatih, Horn, Gavin, Bender, Paul E., Agashe, Parag
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/319
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00692 using simultaneous multiple data streams, e.g. cooperative multipoint [CoMP], carrier aggregation [CA] or multiple input multiple output [MIMO] allocation of physical resources in CoMP or in CA H04L5/0035

Abstract

Methods and apparatus related to management of active connections between an access terminal and access points are described. An access terminal maintains and manages active set information. The active set information identifies a set of access points with which the access terminal has an active connection. In some embodiments, the active set information includes allocated resources assigned to the access terminal corresponding to the different access points in the active set. Layer 2 Transport Tunneling is used, in various embodiments, to communicate connection request and/or connection response information, between access points. In some embodiments, the access terminal optionally assists in coordinating MAC resources allocated to the access terminal by different access points.

Claims

1. A method of operating an access terminal in a network, the method comprising:

transmitting a connection request to a first access point with which said access terminal has a connection, said connection request indicating that said access terminal seeks to establish an active connection with a second access point;

receiving a connection response message from said first access point; and

updating, based on the received connection response message, a set of information indicating access points with which said access terminal has an active connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said connection request includes a connection request message and an identifier associated with the connection request message which identifies the second access point.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the connection request message is directed through said first access point to the second access point identified by said identifier.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

prior to transmitting the connection request, generating said connection request message destined for delivery to said second access point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein resource information indicating resources assigned by said first access point to said access terminal is communicated in said connection request.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

prior to transmitting a connection request, determining that a signal from the second access point is above a predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said connection request further includes a list of MAC resources currently assigned to said access terminal by multiple different access points which have an active connection with said access terminal.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said connection response message includes information indicating resources assigned by the second access point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein updating a set of information includes:

storing in said set of information indicating the resources assigned to the access terminal by the second access point.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending a resource update request message to request a change of resources assigned by the first access point.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prior to sending a resource update request message, determining if resources assigned to the access terminal by the second access point are not consistent with resources assigned to the access terminal assigned by the first access point; and

wherein said step of sending a resource update request message is in response to determining that resources assigned to the access terminal by the second access point are not consistent with resources assigned to the access terminal by the first access point.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a response to said resource update request message indicating new resources which have been assigned by said first access point to said access terminal.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said resources assigned by said second access point include a control channel resource and wherein the connection response message includes at least one of a control channel size and a control channel parameter used to indicate information about a control channel resource assigned to said access terminal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said set of information indicating access points with which said access terminal has an active connection is an active connection information set stored in said access terminal, said active connection information set storing a full list of access points with which said access terminal has an active connection, said full list being maintained in said access terminal and not at any other location in said network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said active connection information set includes information corresponding to resources assigned to said access terminal by different access points, said active connection information set including information on assigned resources which is not maintained in a single node anywhere else in said network

16. An access terminal for use in a network, the access terminal comprising:

a wireless transmitter module for transmitting a connection request to a first access point with which said access terminal has a connection, said connection request indicating that said access terminal seeks to establish an active connection with a second access point;

a wireless receiver module for receiving a connection response message from said first access point;

memory including a set of information indicating access points with which said access terminal has an active connection; and

a connection management module for updating, based on the received connection response message, said set of information indicating access points with which said access terminal has an active connection.

17. The access terminal of claim 16, wherein said connection request includes a connection request message and an identifier associated with the connection request message which identifies the second access point.

18. The access terminal of claim 17, wherein said connection request message is directed through said first access point to the second access point identified by said identifier.

19. The access terminal of claim 17 further comprising:

a connection request message generation module for generating a connection request message destined for delivery to said second access point.

20. The access terminal of claim 16, wherein resource information indicating resources assigned by said first access point to said access terminal is communicated in said connection request to said first access point.

21. The access terminal of claim 17, further comprising:

a power measurement module for determining that a signal from the second access point is above a predetermined threshold.

22. The access terminal of claim 17, wherein said connection request further includes a list of MAC resources currently assigned to said access terminal.

23. The access terminal of claim 17, wherein said connection response message includes information indicating resources assigned by the second access point.

24. The access terminal of claim 17, wherein said connection management module

stores, in said set of information, information indicating the resources assigned to the access terminal by the second access point.

25. The access terminal of claim 24, wherein said wireless transmitter module sends a resource update request message to request a change of resources assigned by the first access point.

26. The access terminal of claim 25, further comprising:

an assignment evaluation module for determining if resources assigned to the access terminal by the second access point are not consistent with resources assigned to the access terminal assigned by the first access point; and

a resource update request message control module for controlling sending a resource update request message in response to said assignment evaluation module determining that resources assigned to the access terminal by the second access point are not consistent with resources assigned to the access terminal by the first access point.

27. The access terminal of claim 25, wherein said wireless receiver module also receives a response to said resource update request message indicating new resources which have been assigned by said first access point to said access terminal.

28. The access terminal of claim 27, wherein said connection management module updates said set of information to indicate the new resources assigned by the first access point to the access terminal.

29. The access terminal of claim 25, wherein said resources assigned by said second access point include a control channel resource and wherein the connection response message includes at least one of a control channel size and a control channel parameter used to indicate information about a control channel resource assigned to said access terminal.

30. The access terminal of claim 23, wherein said set of information indicating access points with which said access terminal has an active connection is an active connection information set stored in said access terminal, said active connection information set storing a full list of access points with which said access terminal has an active connection, said full list being maintained in said access terminal and not at any other location in said network.

31. The access terminal of claim 30, wherein said active connection information set includes information corresponding to resources assigned to said access terminal by different access points, said active connection information set including information on assigned resources which is not maintained in a single node anywhere else in said network.

32. An access terminal for use in a network, the access terminal comprising:

wireless transmitter means for transmitting a connection request to a first access point with which said access terminal has a connection, said connection request indicating that said access terminal seeks to establish an active connection with a second access point;

means for receiving a connection response message from said first access point;

memory means including a set of information indicating access points with which said access terminal has an active connection; and

means for updating, based on the received connection response message, said set of information indicating access points with which said access terminal has an active connection.

33. The access terminal of claim 32, wherein said connection request includes an identifier which identifies the second access point.

34. The access terminal of claim 33, wherein said connection response message includes information indicating resources assigned by the second access point.

35. The access terminal of claim 34, wherein said means for updating

stores, in said set of information, information indicating the resources assigned to the access terminal by the second access point.

36. The access terminal of claim 35, wherein said wireless transmitter means sends a resource update request message to request a change of resources assigned by the first access point.

37. An apparatus comprising:

a processor for use in an access terminal, the processor configured to;

transmit a connection request to a first access point with which said access terminal has a connection, said connection request indicating that said access terminal seeks to establish an active connection with a second access point;

receive a connection response message from said first access point; and

update, based on the received connection response message, a set of information indicating access points with which said access terminal has an active connection.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said connection request includes an identifier which identifies the second access point.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said connection response message includes information indicating resources assigned by the second access point.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured to, while updating the set of information:

store in said set of information indicating the resources assigned to the access terminal by the second access point.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein said processor is further configured to:

send a resource update request message to request a change of resources assigned by the first access point.

42. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for operating an access terminal in a network to implement a method for communicating with other communications devices, the method comprising:

transmitting a connection request to a first access point with which said access terminal has a connection, said connection request indicating that said access terminal seeks to establish an active connection with a second access point;

receiving a connection response message from said first access point; and

updating, based on the received connection response message, a set of information indicating access points with which said access terminal has an active connection.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein said connection request includes an identifier which identifies the second access point.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein said connection response message includes information indicating resources assigned by the second access point.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein updating a set of information includes:

storing in said set of information indicating the resources assigned to the access terminal by the second access point.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

sending a resource update request message to request a change of resources assigned by the first access point.

47. A method of operating a first access point, the method comprising:

receiving a connection request from an access terminal with which said first access point has an active connection, said connection request including an identifier corresponding to a second access point with which said access terminal is seeking to establish an active connection;

forwarding at least a portion of the connection request to said second access point;

receiving from the second access point a connection response message; and

forwarding the connection response message to said access terminal.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the forwarded portion of the connection request includes a connection request message and

wherein said forwarding of the portion of the connection request includes using said identifier corresponding to the second access point to determine the destination of the forwarded connection request message.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein information indicating resources assigned by said first access point to said access terminal is communicated to said second access point.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said information indicating resources assigned by said first access point is included in the connection request received from the access terminal.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein said communicated information is communicated with said connection request message and is provided by said first access point.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein said forwarded connection request message includes one of an access terminal identifier and an access terminal address corresponding to said access terminal.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein said portion of the connection request is in the form of a message and wherein forwarding is performed using Layer 2 Transport Tunneling to forward said connection request message to said second access point.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said connection response message is received via a Layer 2 Transport tunnel between said first and second access points.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein said connection response message includes MAC resources assigned to said access terminal by said second access point.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said MAC resources include at least one control channel resource.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

receiving a resource update request message from said access terminal requesting a change of resources assigned to said access terminal by the first access point.

58. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

assigning resources to said access terminal; and

transmitting a response to said resource update request message indicating new resources which have been assigned by said first access point to said access terminal.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the new resources assigned by the first access point to the access terminal are consistent with resources assigned by the second access point to the access terminal.

60. A first access point comprising:

a wireless receiver module for receiving a connection request from an access terminal with which said first access point has an active connection, said connection request including an identifier corresponding to a second access point with which said access terminal is seeking to establish an active connection;

a connection request forwarding module for forwarding at least a portion of the connection request to said second access point;

a network interface module for receiving from the second access point a connection response message; and

a connection response forwarding module for forwarding the connection response message to said access terminal.

61. The first access point of claim 60, wherein the forwarded portion of the connection request includes a connection request message and

wherein said forwarding of the portion of the connection request includes using said identifier corresponding to the second access point to determine the destination of the forwarded connection request message.

62. The first access point of claim 61, wherein information indicating resources assigned by said first access point to said access terminal is communicated to said second access point.

63. The first access point of claim 62 wherein said information indicating resources assigned by said first access point is included in the connection request received from the access terminal.

64. The first access point of claim 62, wherein said communicated information is communicated with said connection request message and is provided by said first access point.

65. The first access point of claim 61, wherein said forwarded connection request message includes one of an access terminal identifier and an access terminal address corresponding to said access terminal.

66. The first access point of claim 60, wherein said portion of the connection request is in the form of a message and wherein forwarding is performed using Layer 2 Transport Tunneling to forward said connection request message to said second access point, said first access point further comprising:

a tunneling module for controlling tunnel operations.

67. The first access point of claim 66, wherein said connection response message is received via a Layer 2 Transport tunnel between said first and second access points.

68. The first access point of claim 66, wherein said connection response message includes MAC resources assigned to said access terminal by said second access point.

69. The first access point of claim 68, wherein said MAC resources include at least one control channel resource.

70. The first access point of claim 68, wherein said wireless receiver module receives a resource update request message from said access terminal requesting a change of resources assigned to said access terminal by the first access point, the first access point further comprising:

a resource update request processing module for processing a received resource update request message.

71. The first access point of claim 68, further comprising:

a resource assignment module for assigning resources to said access terminal; and

a wireless transmitter module for transmitting a response to said resource update request message indicating new resources which have been assigned by said first access point to said access terminal.

72. The first access point of claim 71, wherein the resource assignment module of the first access point assigns new resources to the access terminal which are consistent with resources assigned by the second access point to the access terminal.

73. A first access point comprising:

wireless receiver means for receiving a connection request from an access terminal with which said first access point has an active connection, said connection request including an identifier corresponding to a second access point with which said access terminal is seeking to establish an active connection;

first forwarding means for forwarding at least a portion of the connection request to said second access point;

means for receiving from the second access point a connection response message; and

second forwarding means for forwarding the connection response message to said access terminal.

74. The first access point of claim 73, wherein the forwarded portion of the connection request includes a connection request message and wherein said forwarding of the portion of the connection request includes using said identifier corresponding to the second access point to determine the destination of the forwarded connection request message.

75. The first access point of claim 74, wherein said forwarded connection request message includes one of an access terminal identifier and an access terminal address corresponding to said access terminal.

76. The first access point of claim 73, wherein said portion of the connection request is in the form of a message and wherein forwarding is performed using Layer 2 Transport Tunneling to forward said connection request message to said second access point, said first access point further comprising:

means for controlling tunnel operations.

77. The first access point of claim 76, further comprising:

means for assigning resources to said access terminal; and

means for transmitting a response to said resource update request message indicating new resources which have been assigned by said first access point to said access terminal.

78. An apparatus comprising:

a processor for use in a first access point, the processor configured to;

receive a connection request from an access terminal with which said first access point has an active connection, said connection request including an identifier corresponding to a second access point with which said access terminal is seeking to establish an active connection;

forward at least a portion of the connection request to said second access point;

receive from the second access point a connection response message; and

forward the connection response message to said access terminal.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the forwarded portion of the connection request includes a connection request message and

wherein said forwarding of the connection request includes using said identifier corresponding to the second access point to determine the destination of the forwarded connection request message.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said forwarded connection request message includes one of an access terminal identifier and an access terminal address corresponding to said access terminal.

81. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein said portion of the connection request is in the form of a message and wherein forwarding is performed using Layer 2 Transport Tunneling to forward said connection request message to said second access point.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the processor is further configured to:

assign resources to said access terminal; and

transmit a response to said resource update request message indicating new resources which have been assigned by said first access point to said access terminal.

83. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for operating a first access point to implement a method for communicating with other communications devices, the method comprising:

receiving a connection request from an access terminal with which said first access point has an active connection, said connection request including an identifier corresponding to a second access point with which said access terminal is seeking to establish an active connection;

forwarding at least a portion of the connection request to said second access point;

receiving from the second access point a connection response message; and

forwarding the connection response message to said access terminal.

84. The computer readable medium of claim 83, wherein the forwarded portion of the connection request includes a connection request message and

wherein said forwarding of the connection request includes using said identifier corresponding to the second access point to determine the destination of the forwarded connection request message.

85. The computer readable medium of claim 84, wherein said forwarded connection request message includes one of an access terminal identifier and an access terminal address corresponding to said access terminal.

86. The computer readable medium of claim 83, wherein said portion of the connection request is in the form of a message and wherein forwarding is performed using Layer 2 Transport Tunneling to forward said connection request message to said second access point.

87. The computer readable medium of claim 86, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

assigning resources to said access terminal; and

transmitting a response to said resource update request message indicating new resources which have been assigned by said first access point to said access terminal.

88. A method of operating a second access point, having a connection with a first access point which has an active connection with an access terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a connection request communicated from the first access point to the second access point indicating that said access terminal is seeking to establish a connection with said second access point;

generating a connection response message; and

communicating the connection response to said first access point for forwarding to said access terminal.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein said connection request includes one of:

an access terminal identifier and an address corresponding to a device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising:

retrieving session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein retrieving session information includes:

requesting session information from said device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved; and

receiving session information from said device.

92. The method of claim 90, wherein said device is a third access point.

93. The method of claim 90, further comprising:

assigning MAC resources for the access terminal at the second access point which are consistent with MAC resources currently assigned to the access terminal by the first access point.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein information indicating resources assigned to the access terminal by the first access point is received in the connection request received from the first access point.

95. The method of claim 93, wherein a control channel assigned at the second access point is of the same type as a control channel assigned at the first access point.

96. The method of claim 93, wherein the amount of control channel resources assigned to the access terminal at the first and second access points is the same or substantially the same.

97. The method of claim 91, further comprising:

communicating information about assigned resources to the access terminal by sending a message through the first access point to the access terminal.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein communicating information includes sending said message to said first access point in a Layer 2 tunnel between the second access point and the first access point.

99. A second access point, having a connection with a first access point which has an active connection with an access terminal, the second access point comprising:

an I/O interface module for receiving a connection request communicated from the first access point to the second access point indicating that said access terminal is seeking to establish a connection with said second access point;

a connection response generation module for generating a connection response message; and

wherein said I/O interface module also communicates the connection response to said first access point for forwarding to said access terminal.

100. The second access point of claim 99, wherein said connection request includes one of:

an access terminal identifier and an address corresponding to a device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

101. The second access point of claim 100, further comprising:

a session information module for retrieving session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

102. The second access point of claim 101, wherein said session information module includes:

a request module for requesting session information from said device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved; and

an information recovery module for receiving session information from said device.

103. The second access point of claim 101, wherein said device is a third access point.

104. The second access point of claim 101, further comprising:

a MAC resource assignment module for assigning MAC resources for the access terminal at the second access point which are consistent with MAC resources currently assigned to the access terminal by the first access point.

105. The second access point of claim 104, wherein information indicating resources assigned to the access terminal by the first access point is received in the connection request received from the first access point.

106. The second access point of claim 104, wherein the resource assignment module assigns a control channel assigned at the second access point which is of the same type as a control channel assigned at the first access point.

107. The second access point of claim 104, wherein the resource assignment module assigns an amount of control channel resources assigned to the access terminal at the second access point which is the same or substantially the same as the amount of control channel resources assigned to the access terminal at the first access point.

108. The second access point of claim 102, further comprising:

a resource communication module for communicating information about assigned resources to the access terminal by sending a message through the first access point to the access terminal.

109. The second access point of claim 108, wherein communicating information includes sending said message to said first access point in a Layer 2 tunnel between the second access point and the first access point, the second access point further comprising:

a tunneling module for controlling tunnel creation and tunnel use.

110. A second access point, having a connection with a first access point which has an active connection with an access terminal, the second access point comprising:

I/O interface means for receiving a connection request communicated from the first access point to the second access point indicating that said access terminal is seeking to establish a connection with said second access point;

means for generating a connection response message; and

wherein said I/O interface means also communicates the connection response to said first access point for forwarding to said access terminal.

111. The second access point of claim 110, wherein said connection request includes one of:

an access terminal identifier and an address corresponding to a device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

112. The second access point of claim 111, further comprising:

means for retrieving session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

113. The second access point of claim 112, wherein said means for retrieving includes:

means for requesting session information from said device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved; and

information recovery means for receiving session information from said device.

114. The second access point of claim 112, further comprising:

means for assigning MAC resources for the access terminal at the second access point which are consistent with MAC resources currently assigned to the access terminal by the first access point.

115. An apparatus comprising:

a processor for use in a second access point having a connection with a first access point which has an active connection with an access terminal, the processor configured to;

receive a connection request communicated from the first access point to the second access point indicating that said access terminal is seeking to establish a connection with said second access point;

generate a connection response message; and

communicate the connection response to said first access point for forwarding to said access terminal.

116. The apparatus of claim 115, wherein said connection request includes one of:

an access terminal identifier and an address corresponding to a device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

117. The apparatus of claim 116, wherein the processor is further configured to:

retrieve session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

118. The apparatus of claim 117, wherein the processor is further configured to, while retrieving session information:

request session information from said device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved; and

receive session information from said device.

119. The apparatus of claim 117, wherein the processor is further configured to:

assign MAC resources for the access terminal at the second access point which are consistent with MAC resources currently assigned to the access terminal by the first access point.

120. A computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for operating a second access point, having a connection with a first access point which has an active connection with an access terminal, to implement a method for communicating with other communications devices, the method comprising:

receiving a connection request communicated from the first access point to the second access point indicating that said access terminal is seeking to establish a connection with said second access point;

generating a connection response message; and

communicating the connection response to said first access point for forwarding to said access terminal.

121. The computer readable medium of claim 120, wherein said connection request includes one of:

an access terminal identifier and an address corresponding to a device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

122. The computer readable medium of claim 121, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

retrieving session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved.

123. The computer readable medium of claim 122, wherein retrieving session information includes:

requesting session information from said device holding session information for a communications session in which said access terminal is involved; and

receiving session information from said device.

124. The computer readable medium of claim 122, further embodying machine executable instructions for:

assigning MAC resources for the access terminal at the second access point which are consistent with MAC resources currently assigned to the access terminal by the first access point.