METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING A CONNECTION BETWEEN NETWORK ELEMENTS

• US 20100135239A1
• Filed: 02/01/2010
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hurtta, Tuija, Koistinen, Janne
• Application Number:
  US12/698,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135239A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels

Abstract

The invention provides a method and system for establishing or handling a connection between a first and a second network element connected to different networks such as GPRS/UMTS and IP-based networks. The connection is established by means of at least one third network element such as a SGSN or GGSN arranged in one of the networks. The third network element is adapted to send, when receiving information on an establishment of a connection, a request to a fourth network element which may be a Call State Control Function (CSCF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), or a Call Processing Server (CPS). The request requests permission for establishing a requested type of connection, or requests a check of a connection parameter, and specifies the first and/or second network element and/or the connection or connection type to be established. The fourth network element returns a response specifying a permission for establishing a connection or connection type, or specifying a connection parameter.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a connection in a two-layer communication network comprising a first communication network layer adapted to establish a communication channel to a terminal and a second communication network layer adapted to establish a session carried on said communication channel, said method comprising the steps of

establishing a session with an identifier,

establishing a communication channel with said identifier,

authorizing said communication channel by said session using said identifier.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said authorizing comprises the steps of:

a network element in said first communication network layer (e.g. GGSN) initiating a request for said authorization at communication channel establishment

a network element in said second communication network layer (e.g. CSCF) performing said authorization.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first communication network layer is a GPRS/UMTS layer, and said second communication network layer is an IP Multimedia Subsystem.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is a User equipment or Mobile Station.

5. A system for establishing a connection in a two-layer communication network comprising a first communication network layer adapted to establish a communication channel to a terminal and a second communication network layer adapted to establish a session carried on said communication channel, said system being adapted:

to establish a session with an identifier,

to establish a communication channel with said identifier,

to authorize said communication channel by said session using said identifier.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein for performing said authorizing:

a network element in said first communication network layer is adapted to initiate a request for said authorization at communication channel establishment

a network element in said second communication network layer is adapted to perform said authorization.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said first communication network layer is a GPRS/UMTS layer, and said second communication network layer is an IP Multimedia Subsystem.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein said terminal is a User equipment or Mobile Station.