SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HANDOFFS BETWEEN TECHNOLOGIES

• US 20080205342A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramankutty, Rajesh, Radhakrishnan, Shaji E., Puthiyandyil, Sanil Kumar, Schwartz, Leonard
• Granted Patent: US 8,638,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/087 for preserving data network PoA address despite hand-offs
• 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

Systems and methods for providing a handoff between technologies are disclosed. An intra-technology handoff occurs where the same integrated chassis handles the session for the different access technologies. In an intra-technology handoff, the same IP address and the session can be maintained through the handoff. The mobile node can undergo a handoff without issuing a registration request in some embodiments. An inter-technology handoff occurs from one integrated chassis to another integrated chassis. The integrated chassis can preserve session and context information in a session manager and in a handoff from one access technology to another the same session manager can be chosen with the session and context information remaining intact even though the access technology has changed. The integrated chassis can provide an access technology handoff where the core network does not notice any change and applications running on or delivered to the mobile node are not effected.

Claims

1. An integrated chassis residing in a communication network comprising:

a session manager implemented in a computer readable medium in operative communication with a processor that receives control information and data from a mobile node in a first access technology and sets up a session for the mobile node;

the session communicates with at least one access technology stack that manages packet processing for a particular access technology;

an access technology demux manager implemented in a computer readable medium in operative communication with a processor that selects the session manager assigned to communications received from a mobile node; and

the access technology demux manager selecting the same session manager where an existing session is setup when a handoff occurs and the access technology changes to a second access technology.

2. The integrated chassis of claim 1, further comprising the session renewing identification information used to identify the mobile node on the communication network when the access technology changes from the first access technology to the second access technology.

3. The integrated chassis of claim 1, wherein the identification information is an internet protocol (IP) address.

4. The integrated chassis of claim 1, further comprising a second access technology stack in communication with the session to enable communication over the second access technology with the mobile node and where the second access technology stack implements an access service network gateway (ASNGW).

5. The integrated chassis of claim 1, wherein the second access technology is WiMAX.

6. A network communication method comprising:

receiving a request from a mobile node to begin a session in a first access technology;

in response to the request, providing the mobile node with identification information used to identify the mobile node in a communication network and setting up an access technology stack to manage packet processing in the first access technology and a session to manage identification information and communication with the communication network;

receiving from the mobile node control information and data at the access technology stack;

determining to begin a session in a second access technology; and

providing the same identification information and selecting the same session to manage identification information and communication with the communication network and setting up an access technology stack to manage packet processing in a second access technology.

7. The network communication method of claim 6, wherein the identification information is an internet protocol (IP) address.

8. The network communication method of claim 6, wherein the second access technology is WiMAX and the second access technology stack implements an access service network gateway (ASNGW).