METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL IP ACCESS IN A FEMTO CELL OF A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20100278108A1
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Song Yean, Bae, Beom Sik, Lim, Chae Gwon, Choi, Sung Ho
• Granted Patent: US 10,893,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/375 Access point names [APN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2592 using tunnelling or encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a local IP access service to a User Equipment (UE) attached to a femtocell including a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway function in a wireless communication system. A method includes receiving a service request from a User Equipment (UE), transmitting an initial UE message including information on a local gateway to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), storing bearer information carried in an initial context setup request transmitted by the MME, receiving a Packet Data Network (PDN) connectivity request from the UE, forwarding the PDN connectivity request to the MME, receiving a create session request from the MME, and establishing a radio bearer with the local gateway, the local gateway being co-located with the femtocell.

Claims

1. A method for supporting local Internet Protocol (IP) access of a femtocell in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a service request from a User Equipment (UE);

transmitting an initial UE message including information on a local gateway to a Mobility Management Entity (MME);

storing bearer information carried in an initial context setup request transmitted by the MME;

receiving a Packet Data Network (PDN) connectivity request from the UE;

forwarding the PDN connectivity request to the MME;

receiving a create session request from the MME; and

establishing a radio bearer with the local gateway, the local gateway being co-located with the femtocell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial UE message includes information on a local serving gateway and a local PDN gateway.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information on the local serving gateway and the local PDN gateway includes IP addresses of the local serving gateway and the local PDN gateway.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing the radio bearer comprises transmitting the PDN connectivity request from the MME to the local serving gateway.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing the radio bearer comprises establishing a bearer between the local serving gateway and the local PDN gateway.

6. An apparatus for supporting local Internet Protocol (IP) access in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a femtocell that receives a service request from a User Equipment (UE), transmits, an initial UE message including information on a local gateway to a Mobility Management Entity (MME), stores bearer information carried in an initial context setup request transmitted by the MME, receives a Packet Data Network (PDN) connectivity request from the UE, and forwards the PDN connectivity request to the MME;

a local serving gateway that receives a create session request from the MME, and establishes a radio bearer; and

a local PDN gateway that is connected to a PDN with a core network and establishes the radio bearer with the serving gateway.

7. A data path configuration method in a wireless communication system including a femto base station, the method comprising:

establishing, when a User Equipment (UE) is in active state, a first data path connecting the UE, the femto base station, and a local Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway co-located with the femto base station, the local PDN gateway supporting a local Internet Protocol (IP) access function; and

establishing a second data path connecting the UE, the femto base station, a serving gateway, and the local PDN gateway, when the UE transitions from the active state to an idle state.

8. The data path configuration method of claim 7, wherein establishing the first data path comprises:

receiving a PDN connectivity request from the UE; and

setting a data link between the femto base station and the local PDN gateway.

9. The data path configuration method of claim 7, wherein establishing the first data path comprises:

receiving a PDN connectivity request from the UE; and

setting a data link between the femto base station and the local PDN gateway using a control connection established between the MME and the femto base station.

10. The data path configuration method of claim 7, wherein establishing the second data path comprises setting a data link between the local PDN gateway and the local serving gateway for the UE to receive a paging signal.