Method and Apparatus for Activating Transport Channels in a Packet Switched Communication System

• US 20080181204A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tao, Patrick, Gallagher, Michael D., Markovic, Milan, Khetawat, Amit
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• 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

Some embodiments provide a method of registering a user equipment (UE) in a communication system that includes a licensed wireless communication system and a generic access network (GAN) that has a generic access network controller (GANC). The method sends a register request message from the UE to the GANC that indicates a GAN mode capability of A/Gb only for the UE. When the GANC has a GAN mode capability of A/Gb, the GANC registers the UE with the GAN. When the GANC has a GAN mode capability of Iu only, the GANC rejects the register request message. When the GANC has a GAN mode capability of both A/Gb and Iu, the GANC registers the UE based on a set of GANC mode selection rules that the GANC applies for registering UEs with the GAN.

Claims

1-4. -4. (canceled)

5. A method of managing a plurality of packet transport channels (PTCs) in a communication system comprising a licensed wireless first communication system and a second communication system comprising a network controller, the method comprising:

a) activating a separate PTC by a user equipment (UE) between the UE and the network controller for each of a plurality of active packet data protocol (PDP) contexts; and

b) starting a PTC timer dedicated to a particular PTC for a particular PDP context whenever a data packet related to the particular PDP context is sent from the UE or received at the UE, expiration of said timer indicating the PTC needs to be deactivated.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

a) using a same UE endpoint identification for each PTC; and

b) using a same network controller endpoint identification for each PTC.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising deactivating the particular PTC when the PTC timer dedicated to the particular PTC expires.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising sending a request to initiate PTC deactivation from the UE to the network controller when PTC timer dedicated to the particular PTC expires.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving a release message at the UE from the network controller requesting the UE to deactivate the particular PTC.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein a PTC is activated when the UE initiates a data transfer to the network controller.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein a PTC is activated when the network controller initiates a PTC activation procedure.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein a PTC is activated when the UE receives an activate PTC request message from the network controller.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the second communication system is a wireless generic access communication system.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the network controller and the UE use a generic access packet switched resources (GA-PSR) protocol for communicating packet switched signaling and a generic access circuit switched resources (GA-CSR) protocol for communicating circuit switched signaling.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the network controller and the UE use a single generic access radio resource control (GA-RRC) for communicating both packet switched and circuit switched signaling.

16. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for managing a plurality of packet transport channels (PTCS) in a communication system comprising a licensed wireless first communication system and a second communication system comprising a network controller, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) activating a separate PTC by a user equipment (UE) between the UE and the network controller for each of a plurality of active packet data protocol (PDP) contexts; and

b) starting a PTC timer dedicated to a particular PTC for a particular PDP context whenever a data packet related to the particular PDP context is sent from the UE or received at the UE, expiration of said timer indicating the PTC needs to be deactivated.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for:

a) using a same UE endpoint identification for each PTC; and

b) using a same network controller endpoint identification for each PTC.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for deactivating the particular PTC when the PTC timer dedicated to the particular PTC expires.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for sending a request to initiate PTC deactivation from the UE to the network controller when PTC timer dedicated to the particular PTC expires.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for receiving a release message at the UE from the network controller requesting the UE to deactivate the particular PTC.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein a PTC is activated when the UE initiates a data transfer to the network controller.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein a PTC is activated when the network controller initiates a PTC activation procedure.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein a PTC is activated when the UE receives an activate PTC request message from the network controller.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the second communication system is a wireless generic access communication system.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the network controller and the UE use a generic access packet switched resources (GA-PSR) protocol for communicating packet switched signaling and a generic access circuit switched resources (GA-CSR) protocol for communicating circuit switched signaling.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the network controller and the UE use a single generic access radio resource control (GA-RRC) for communicating both packet switched and circuit switched signaling.