SELECTION OF PACKET DATA PROTOCOL CONTEXT FOR HANDOVER FROM CELLULAR NETWORK TO FEMTO CELL

• US 20100128694A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LYFT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Choi-Grogan, Yung Shirley
• Granted Patent: US 8,902,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0027 for a plurality of data sessions of end-to-end connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer end-to-end data connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0044 of quality context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/365 by manual user interaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

System(s) and method(s) are provided to manage packet data protocol (PDP) contexts upon cellular-to-femto handover, wherein femto network has disparate capabilities to support applications with distinct access point names (APNs) and quality of service (QoS) profiles. Based at least on activity factors of applications associated with PDP contexts, a QoS-based ranking of PDP contexts, and subscriber input, cellular network platform selects active PDP contexts to retain and suspend upon handover. A group of active PDP contexts is handed off in accordance with femto coverage capability, with remaining active PDP contexts suspended during handover. When a suspended PDP context, and application associated therewith, is resumed through femto coverage, a PDP context modification is conducted with a new APN and the application is routed to a corresponding femto gateway node and application server. Additionally, femto network platform performs a radio access bearer reconfiguration to meet QoS requirements of the resumed PDP context.

Claims

1. A method that operates in a wireless environment, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a selection of a first set of active packet data protocol (PDP) contexts for handover from cellular to femto coverage and a second set of active PDP contexts for suspension during handover from cellular to femto coverage; and

displaying the selection and prompting for a confirmation or a rejection thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying an indication of a confirmation or a rejection of the selection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of a first set of active PDP contexts includes a ranking of active PDP contexts selected to be suspended upon cellular-to-femto handover, the ranking facilitates a resume sequence of active PDP contexts once a handover PDP context is released.

4. The method of claim 1, when conveying an indication of a rejection, further comprising:

selecting a first group of received PDP contexts for handover and a second group of received PDP contexts for suspension; and

conveying the selection of PDP contexts for handover and suspension.

5. The method of claim 1, the indication of a selection is accomplished through at least one of a pop-up window, a token in an email or instant messenger, or a ringtone accompanied with visual indicia.

6. The method of claim 1, the indication of the confirmation or the rejection is an L-bit (L is a positive integer) word conveyed in one of a control channel, one or more management in-band frames, or a data packet.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein prompting for the confirmation or the rejection is accompanied with aural indicia, including one of a ringtone, or a vibration of a mobile station that receives the indication.

8. A computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform the following acts:

receiving an indication of a selection of a first set of active PDP contexts for handover from cellular to femto coverage and a second set of active PDP contexts for suspension during handover from cellular to femto coverage;

conveying an indication of a confirmation or a rejection of the selection; and

when conveying an indication of a rejection, selecting a first group of received PDP contexts for handover and a second group of received PDP contexts for suspension;

and delivering the selection of PDP contexts for handover and suspension.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein a PDP context selection includes a ranking of active PDP contexts selected to be suspended upon cellular-to-femto handover, the ranking facilitates a resume sequence of active PDP contexts once a handover PDP context is released.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 further having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform the act of displaying the selection and prompting for a confirmation or a rejection thereof.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein displaying the selection and prompting for the confirmation or the rejection thereof includes aural indicia comprising one of a ringtone, or a vibration of a mobile station that receives the indication.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 further having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform the act of conveying the selection of PDP contexts for handover and suspension.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the indication of a selection is received through at least one of a pop-up window, a token in an email or instant messenger, or a ringtone accompanied with visual indicia.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the indication of a confirmation or a rejection is a K-bit (K is a positive integer) word conveyed in one of a control channel, one or more management in-band frames, or a data packet.

15. A wireless device, comprising:

a component that receives an indication of a selection of active PDP contexts to be retained and suspended at a time of cellular-to-femto handover;

a display component that delivers the selection and prompts confirmation or rejection thereof; and

a component that delivers a confirmation or rejection indication of the selection and conveys a subscriber-injected selection of active PDP contexts to be retained and suspended at a time of cellular-to-femto handover.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, further comprising an interface that facilitates to input at least one of a confirmation or rejection of a selection, or a PDP context selection, the input is accomplished through at least one of a key stroke, a screen touch, or a biometric-based gesture.

17. The wireless device of claim 16, the display component delivers the selection and prompts confirmation or rejection thereof via at least one of a pop-up window, a token in an email or instant messenger, or a ringtone accompanied with visual indicia.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, the display component delivers the selection prompts conformation or rejection thereof through aural indicia comprising one of a ringtone or a vibration.

19. The wireless device of claim 15, the confirmation or rejection indication is an L-bit (L is a positive integer) word conveyed in one of a control channel, one or more management in-band frames, or a data packet.

20. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein a PDP context selection includes a ranking of active PDP contexts selected to be suspended upon cellular-to-femto handover, the ranking facilitates a resume sequence of active PDP contexts once a handover PDP context is released.