Packet data network connectivity domain selection and bearer setup

• US 20080254768A1
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stefano Faccin
• Original Assignee: Stefano Faccin
• Inventors: Faccin, Stefano
• Application Number:
  US12/152,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254768A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/654 International mobile subscriber identity [IMSI] numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5053 Lease time; Renewal aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A network device includes a receive module that receives a PDN descriptor that includes at least one of a PDN identifier and a PDN gateway identifier from a remote device before bearer setup of the remote device by the network device. A control module generates a reply signal that indicates the bearer setup based on the PDN descriptor. A transmit module transmits the reply signal to the remote device.

Claims

1. A network device comprising:

a receive module that receives a PDN descriptor that includes at least one of a PDN identifier and a PDN gateway identifier from a remote device before bearer setup of the remote device by the network device;

a control module that generates a reply signal that indicates said bearer setup based on said PDN descriptor; and

a transmit module that transmits said reply signal to said remote device.

2. The network device of claim 1 wherein said bearer setup includes at least one of attachment and Internet protocol (IP) connectivity setup of the remote device.

3. The network device of claim 2 wherein said attachment includes authentication and authorization of the network device.

4. The network device of claim 3 wherein said attachment includes at least one of generation of a bearer context, registration of the network device, and a binding update of the remote device.

5. The network device of claim 4 wherein said bearer context includes an address for an Internet session of the remote device.

6. The network device of claim 2 wherein said IP connectivity setup includes at least one of a serving gateway, a packet data gateway, and a PDN gateway.

7. The network device of claim 1 wherein said control module enables said bearer setup based on selection of at least one of a PDN and a PDN gateway, and

wherein said selection is based on said PDN descriptor.

8. The network device of claim 7 wherein said control module includes at least one of a mobility management entity control module, a serving gateway control module, and a home subscriber server control module, and

wherein said control module selects said at least one of a PDN and a PDN gateway based on said PDN descriptor.

9. The network device of claim 1 wherein said PDN descriptor includes said PDN gateway identifier;

and

wherein said PDN gateway identifier identifies a PDN gateway in a network of the network device.

10. The network device of claim 9 wherein said control module establishes a tunnel for communication with said PDN gateway based on said reply signal.

11. The network device of claim 1 wherein said PDN descriptor is indicative of a connectivity domain and Internet protocol services selected by the network device.

12. The network device of claim 1 wherein said PDN descriptor includes an Internet protocol (IP) service identifier.

13. The network device of claim 1 wherein said PDN descriptor includes an index value, and

wherein said control module determines at least one of a PDN, a PDN gateway, PDN connection data, and bearer data based on said index value.

14. The network device of claim 1 wherein said receive module receives a transfer function output based on an index value, and

wherein said control module determines at least one of a PDN, a PDN gateway, PDN connection data, and bearer data based on said transfer function output.

15. The network device of claim 1 wherein said receive module receives a transfer function output based on at least one of a PDN identifier, a PDN gateway identifier, and an Internet service identifier, and

wherein said control module determines at least one of a PDN, a PDN gateway, PDN connection data, and bearer data based on said transfer function output.

16. The network device of claim 15 wherein said transfer function includes a hashing transfer function.

17. The network device of claim 15 wherein said receive module receives an index value based on said transfer function value, and

wherein said control module determines at least one of a PDN, a PDN gateway, PDN connection data, and bearer data based on said index value.

18. The network device of claim 1 wherein said receive module receives at least one of an access point name and a domain name that includes said PDN descriptor, and

wherein said transmit module transmits said reply signal based on said at least one of an access point name and a domain name.

19. The network device of claim 1 wherein said receive module receives said PDN descriptor during an attachment procedure of the remote device.

20. The network device of claim 1 wherein said control module generates a bearer context request based on said PDN descriptor,

wherein said transmit module transmits said bearer context request to at least one of a serving gateway and a PDN gateway;

and

wherein said receive module receives a bearer context response based on said bearer context request signal.

21. The network device of claim 1 wherein said receive module receives an attachment request signal that includes said PDN descriptor, and

wherein said transmit module transmits an attachment accept signal generated by a mobility management entity based on said attachment request signal.

22. The network device of claim 1 wherein said receive module receives said PDN descriptor during authentication of the remote device by a network that is remote to said remote device.

23. The network device of claim 1 wherein said receive module receives said PDN descriptor during a registration of the remote device with the network device.

24. The network device of claim 1 wherein said transmit module transmits a registration reply signal based on selection of at least one of a PDN and a PDN gateway corresponding to identifiers of said PDN descriptor.

25. The network device of claim 1 wherein said transmit module transmits a binding acknowledgement signal based on selection of at least one of a PDN and a PDN gateway corresponding to identifiers of said PDN descriptor.