Gtp for Integration of Multiple Access

• US 20080219218A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rommer, Stefan, Rydnell, Gunnar, Boman, Krister
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/00 Network data management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/085 involving hierarchical organized mobility servers, e.g. hierarchical mobile IP [HMIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A network architecture comprising at least one core network, each core network comprising a number of packet data gateway access supporting nodes GASNs handling mobile user station access over an access network, said core network(s) further providing access to one or more global packet data communication networks (IN), and one or more nodes holding subscriber or mobile user station related information. The GASNs are further adapted to support intercommunication over a mobility protocol interface to, at reception of a request for change of access type from a mobile user station, establish information about the previous GASN of the mobile user station, and to, using the established information, update an established communication context concerning the mobile user station or create a new communication context concerning the mobile user station such that mobility between different access network types is enabled for a mobile user station without interruption of an ongoing session.

Claims

1. A network system comprising at least one core network, each core network comprising a number of packet data gateway access supporting nodes, handling mobile user station access over an access network, said core network further providing access to one or more global packet data communication networks, and one or more nodes holding subscriber and/or mobile user station related information, wherein said packet data gateway access supporting nodes, GASNs are adapted to be capable to assign an IP-address to accessing mobile user stations, that each of said packet data gateway access supporting nodes has at least one access type dependent interface to at least one type of access network, that said packet data gateway access supporting nodes are adapted to support inter-communication over a mobility protocol interface, said packet data gateway access supporting nodes being adapted to, at reception of a request for change of access type from a mobile user station, establish information about the previous packet data gateway access supporting node of the mobile user station, and in that said packet data gateway access supporting nodes are adapted to, using the established information, update an established communication context concerning the mobile user station or creating a new communication context concerning the mobile user station such that mobility between different access network types is enabled for a mobile user station without interruption of an ongoing session, and in that a GASN acting as a previous GASN is adapted to act as an anchor point for the user after a handover to another access network type, the mobility protocol being used to provide control signaling and user data tunneling between previous and new access support nodes.

2. A network system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said packet data gateway access supporting nodes is adapted to support access over more than one access network type.

3. A network system according to claim 1, wherein one or more or each of said packet data gateway access supporting nodes is/are dedicated for access over a particular access network type.

43. A network system according to claim 1 wherein at least one packet data gateway access supporting node, GASN, is adapted to support access at least over a WLAN and/or a WiMAX and/or a fixed broadband access network, and/or a public Ethernet and/or a 2G or 3G or a S3G and in that at least one other packet data gateway access supporting nodes is adapted to support access at least over a WLAN and/or a WiMAX and/or a fixed broadband access network, e.g. xDSL, and/or a public Ethernet and/or a 2G or a 3G or a S3G and in that said GASNs support access over different types of access networks.

44. A network system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said GASNs comprises a modified GGSN with an extended functionality or a modified SGSN, or a modified PDG/TTG supporting at least WLAN and/or WiMAX access or a modified PDG supporting fixed broadband access.

45. A network system according to claim 1 wherein the intercommunication mobility protocol comprises GMM/GTP.

46. A network system according to claim 1 wherein the intercommunication mobility protocol is MIP.

47. A network system according to claim 1 wherein an IP address allocated to a user of a mobile user station is kept, i.e., is unaffected by handover between different access networks or types of access networks.

48. A network system according to claim 1 wherein an access network comprises a WLAN or a fixed broadband access network and in that the access type dependent interface comprises an interface for setting up an IP-sec tunnel between the mobile user station and a GASN, said GASN e.g. at least comprising the functionality of a modified PDG/TTG or a BRAS respectively, over an access node of the access network, e.g. a WAG or a DSLAM respectively.

49. A network system according to claim 1, wherein a GPRS ISRAU procedure is adapted to be used for informing a GASN about previous GASN based on routing areas specified for WLAN and/or fixed broadband access networks.

50. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the GASNs are adapted to establish information about previous GASN by means of information included in messages from a mobile user station requesting handover between different access system types.

51. A network system according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for, upon handover from one access system to another for a mobile user station, create a route between the mobile user station, and the new GASN via the previous GASN, said previous GASN hence forming at least a local anchor GASN.

4-42. -42. (canceled)

52. A core network node comprising a packet data gateway access supporting node handling mobile user station access over an access network and providing access to external global or local or third party controlled packet data communication networks, e.g. IN, intranets, wherein it is adapted to be capable to assign IP addresses to accessing mobile user stations that it has at least one access type dependent interface to at least one type of access network, that it has a mobility protocol interface supporting communication with other packet data gateway access supporting nodes, that it is adapted to establish information about which was the previous packet data gateway access supporting node for a mobile user station requesting access for establishing, or acquiring user or mobile user station related information, and in that it further is adapted to, using the established user or mobile user station related information, update an established communication context concerning the mobile user station with the previous packet data gateway access supporting node or creating a new communication context concerning the mobile user station, such that mobility between different access network types is enabled for a mobile user station requesting change of access type without interruption of or affecting an ongoing session or service, and in that it is adapted to act at least as a local anchor point for a mobile user station having requested handover to another access network type, the mobility protocol being used to provide control signaling and user data tunneling between previous and new access support nodes.

53. A core network node according to claim 52, wherein it is adapted to support access over more than one access network type, i.e. that it has at least two different access type dependent interfaces to at least two different access network types.

54. A core network node according to claim 52, wherein it has an access type dependent interface supporting WLAN/WiMAX access and in that it comprises a modified Packet Data Gateway, PDG.

55. A core network node according to claim 52, wherein it has an access interface supporting fixed broadband access network access and in that it comprises a modified BRAS.

56. A core network node according to claim 52, wherein it has an access type dependent interface supporting 3G radio access network access, UTRAN access, and in that it comprises a modified/extended GGSN or a modified CGSN or a multi-access edge node connected to a packet data node, e.g. a GGSN, an SGSN or a CGSN with a conventional or modified functionality.

57. A core network node according to claim 52, wherein it is adapted to establish information about previous GASN through communication with the HSS or HLR/AAA of the mobile user station.

58. A core network node according to claim 52, wherein it is adapted to retrieve information from the mobile user station request concerning previous GASN or that it is adapted to use GPRS ISRAU to establish the previous GASN, routing areas being defined for WLAN and for fixed broadband.

59. A method for handling dual or multimode mobile user station access to a core network system comprising one or more core networks, said mobile user station having accessed, i.e. connected or attached to the, or a, core network over an access network using a first access technology, wherein it comprises the steps of:

receiving an access request relating to access over a second or new access network in a second or new packet data gateway access supporting node, GASN, during an ongoing session,

establishing, in the second or new packet data gateway access supporting node, information about the previous or first GASN over which the mobile user station previously was provided with access and allocated an IP address,

using a mobility protocol for, using said information about the previous GASN, provide communication between said previous GASN and/or a home GASN of the mobile user station to update an existing, previous communication context, or set up a new communication context,

keeping the previous GASN at least as a local anchor point,

informing the mobile user station that access is provided over said second or new access network, and

providing the mobile user station with access over the new, second, access network without interrupting or affecting the ongoing session, and keeping the same, allocated IP address, and

using the mobility protocol to provide control signaling and tunneling of user data between the previous and new packet data gateway access support nodes.

60. A method according to claim 59, wherein packet data gateway access supporting nodes intercommunicate using the mobility protocol, said mobility protocol comprising the GPRS GTP protocol or the MIP.

61. A method according to claim 59, wherein the establishing step comprises:

sending a request for the address of the previous GASN to a node holding subscriber or mobile user station related information, e.g., the HSS of the mobile user station, from the second or new GASN, or

establishing from information contained in a message, e.g. the access request message, from the mobile user station, the address or identity of the previous GASN or,

implementing the GPRS ISRAU procedure to establish information about the address or identity of the previous GASN, routing areas being defined for all concerned access networks.