Method and Apparatus for Use in a Communications Network

• US 20110019654A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Papp, Oktavian, Mihaly, Attila, Toth, Zoltan, Harmatos, Janos, Westberg, Lars, Csaszar, Andras
• Granted Patent: US 8,553,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method is provided of enabling access for a terminal (12-1) to a remote network (60) via a mobile network (40). A first connectivity service function (30) is provided as part of the mobile network (40). A second connectivity service function (20) is provided as part of the remote network (60). A third connectivity service function (10) is provided associated with the terminal (12-1). The first connectivity service function (30) is adapted to cooperate in establishing a first layer 2 tunnel (25) between itself (30) and the second connectivity service function (20). The first connectivity service function (30) is also adapted to cooperate in establishing a second layer 2 tunnel (15) between itself (30) and the third connectivity service function (10). The terminal (12-1) thereby has layer 2 access into the remote network (60) through the first and second tunnels (25, 15) using the first, second and third connectivity service functions (30, 20, 10).

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method of enabling access for a terminal to a remote network via a mobile network, the method comprising:

providing a first connectivity service function as part of the mobile network;

providing a second connectivity service function as part of the remote network;

providing a third connectivity service function associated with the terminal; and

at the first connectivity service function;

establishing a first layer 2 tunnel between the first connectivity service function and the second connectivity service function, and a second layer 2 tunnel between the first connectivity service function and the third connectivity service function, to provide the terminal with layer 2 access into the remote network through the first and second tunnels using the first, second and third connectivity service functions; and

establishing virtual switches or bridges to interconnect each such first tunnel established by the first connectivity function to its corresponding second tunnel.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the third connectivity service function is provided in a node separate from the terminal, with the terminal being in communication with the node to access the third connectivity service function.

22. The method of claim 21. where the terminal is connected to a local network, and wherein the third connectivity service function is arranged to provide layer 2 connectivity for a plurality of terminals of the local network.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the third connectivity service function is provided as part of the terminal.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the second connectivity service function is separate from a node in the remote network with which the terminal is communicating through the first and second tunnels.

25. A method of enabling access for a terminal to a remote network via a mobile network, the method comprising:

providing a first connectivity service function as part of the mobile network;

establishing a first layer 2 tunnel between the first connectivity service function and a second connectivity service function provided as part of the remote network;

establishing a second layer 2 tunnel between the first connectivity service function and a third connectivity service function associated with the terminal;

establishing virtual switches or bridges at the first connectivity function to interconnect each such first tunnel established by the first connectivity function to its corresponding second tunnel;

using the virtual switches or bridges to forward layer 2 traffic received at the first connectivity service function and destined for a node in the remote network to the second connectivity service function through the first tunnel; and

using the virtual switches or bridges to forward layer 2 traffic received at the first connectivity service function and destined for the terminal to the third connectivity service function through the second tunnel.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the remote network is an Ethernet-based network and the first and second tunnels are Ethernet tunnels carrying Ethernet packets, and wherein the method comprises tunnelling the Ethernet packets over Internet Protocol (IP) using the Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol (L2TP).

27. A method of enabling access for a terminal to a remote network via a mobile network, the method comprising either:

cooperating to establish a first layer 2 tunnel between a first connectivity service function provided as part of the mobile network and a second connectivity service function provided as part of the remote network, using an apparatus adapted to provide the second connectivity service function in a device of the remote network when the apparatus is in communication with that device;

or

cooperating to establish a second layer 2 tunnel between the first connectivity service function and a third connectivity service function associated with the terminal, using an apparatus adapted to provide the third connectivity service function in a device capable of communication with the terminal when the apparatus is in communication with that device;

wherein the first and second tunnels together provide the terminal with layer 2 access into the remote network using the first, second and third connectivity service functions.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the mobile network is a 3GPP network, and wherein the first connectivity service function is provided as part of a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) or a Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN-GW) of the mobile network.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing an interface in the first connectivity service function that allows administration of the first connectivity service function from a node in the remote network.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising authenticating at least one of the second and third connectivity service functions with the first connectivity service function.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein establishing a tunnel comprises using a pre-established tunnel.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein access for the terminal to the remote network is offered and administered by an operator of the mobile network, and wherein the access is initiated from the terminal side.

33. An apparatus for enabling access for a terminal to a remote network via a mobile network, the apparatus comprising:

a circuit configured to establish a first layer 2 tunnel between a first connectivity service function provided as part of the mobile network and a second connectivity service function provided as part of the remote network;

a circuit configured to establish a second layer 2 tunnel between the first connectivity service function and a third connectivity service function associated with the terminal;

a circuit configured to establish virtual switches or bridges at the first connectivity function to interconnect each such first tunnel established by the first connectivity function to its corresponding second tunnel;

a circuit configured to forward layer 2 traffic received at the first connectivity service function and destined for a node in the remote network to the second connectivity service function through the first tunnel, using the established virtual switches or bridges; and

a circuit configured to forward layer 2 traffic received at the first connectivity service function and destined for the terminal to the third connectivity service function through the second tunnel using the established virtual switches or bridges.

34. An apparatus for enabling access for a terminal to a remote network via a mobile network, the apparatus comprising a circuit configured to either:

cooperate to establish a first layer 2 tunnel between a first connectivity service function provided as part of the mobile network and a second connectivity service function provided as part of the remote network, the apparatus being adapted to provide the second connectivity service function in a device of the remote network when the apparatus is in communication with that device;

or

cooperate to establish a second layer 2 tunnel between the first connectivity service function and a third connectivity service function associated with the terminal, the apparatus being adapted to provide the third connectivity service function in a device capable of communication with the terminal when the apparatus is in communication with that device;

wherein the first and second tunnels together provide the terminal with layer 2 access into the remote network using the first, second and third connectivity service functions.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the circuit is configured to provide at least part of the second or third connectivity service function, by arranging for a program to be installed on the device which, when executed on the device, is adapted to provide the at least part of the second or third connectivity service function.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the circuit itself is adapted to provide at least part of the second or third connectivity service function, in communication with the device.

37. The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the circuit is adapted to configure at least part of the second or third connectivity service function automatically when it is detected that the apparatus has been arranged in communication with the device.

38. The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the apparatus further comprises for a circuit configured to store or determine information relating to the first connectivity service function, the information being for use in configuring the second or third connectivity service function.