METHOD OF RELOCATING ACCESS SERVICE NETWORK FUNCTIONAL ENTITIES DURING MOBILITY EVENTS IN WIMAX NETWORKS

• US 20110238834A1
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Nair, Suresh P., Feder, Peretz
• Granted Patent: US 9,769,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0038 of security context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/22 between access point controllers

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of relocating functional entities in access service networks during mobility events. One embodiment of the method includes providing context information representative of two or more functional entities from a source access service network (ASN) to a target ASN. Another embodiment of the method includes receiving context information representative of two or more functional entities at a target ASN from a source ASN. The context information for the functional entities is associated with an access terminal and is provided in response to the source ASN receiving a relocation notification from the target ASN as a result of a handoff request or a location update message.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing context information representative of at least two functional entities from a source access service network (ASN) to a target ASN, wherein the context information for said at least two functional entities is associated with an access terminal and is provided in response to the source ASN receiving a relocation notification or a handoff request from the target ASN.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the context information comprises providing a first message including context information representative of at least two of a paging controller, an access authenticator, and an anchor data path function for the access terminal associated with the relocation notification or the handoff request.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the access terminal is in the idle mode, and wherein providing the first message comprises providing a first message including context information representative of the paging controller and the access authenticator for the access terminal in response to receiving the relocation notification associated with a location update initiated by the access terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising receiving the relocation notification that includes information requesting combined relocation of the paging controller and the access authenticator for the access terminal.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising providing the first message in response to the source ASN determining that the relocation notification indicates a valid location update and determining that the source ASN supports the requested combined relocation.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising denying the request for combined relocation in response to the source ASN determining that the relocation notification does not indicate a valid location update or determining that the source ASN does not support the requested combined relocation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the access terminal is in the active mode, and wherein providing the context information comprises providing context information for an anchor data path function in response to the handoff request, receiving a request for relocation of the anchor authenticator from the source ASN, and providing context information for the anchor authenticator in response to the request for relocation.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving context information representative of at least two functional entities at a target access service network (ASN) from a source ASN, wherein the context information for said at least two functional entities is associated with an access terminal and is received in response to the target ASN providing a relocation notification or a handoff request to the source ASN.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the context information comprises receiving a first message including context information representative of at least two of a paging controller, an access authenticator, and an anchor data path function for the access terminal associated with the relocation notification or the handoff request.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the access terminal is in the idle mode, and wherein receiving the first message comprises receiving a first message including context information representative of the paging controller and the anchor authenticator for the access terminal in response to providing the relocation notification associated with a location update initiated by the access terminal.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising providing the relocation notification to the source ASN in response to receiving the location update from the access terminal.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising providing the relocation notification that includes information requesting combined relocation of the paging controller and the anchor authenticator for the access terminal.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the access terminal is in the active mode, and wherein receiving the context information comprises receiving context information for an anchor data path function in response to the handoff request, providing a request for relocation of the anchor authenticator to the source ASN, and receiving context information for the anchor authenticator in response to the request for relocation.

14. A method, comprising:

moving context information representative of at least two functional entities between a source access service network (ASN) and a target ASN in a single message flow that is initiated by a location update request from an access terminal or a handoff request, wherein the context information for said at least two functional entities is associated with the access terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein routing the context information in the single message flow comprises moving the context information in the single message flow in response to the target ASN requesting combined relocation of said at least two functional entities instead of independent relocation of said at least two functional entities in separate message flows.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein moving the context information comprises transmitting a first message from the source ASN to the target ASN, wherein the first message includes context information representative of at least two of a paging controller, an access authenticator, and an anchor data path function for the access terminal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the access terminal is in the idle mode, and wherein transmitting the first message comprises transmitting a first message including context information representative of the paging controller and the anchor authenticator for the access terminal in response to receiving the location update request.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the access terminal is in the active mode, and wherein transmitting the first message comprises transmitting the first message including context information for an anchor data path function in response to the handoff request, conveying a request for relocation of the anchor authenticator and anchor data path function to the source ASN, and transmitting context information for the anchor authenticator and anchor data path function in response to the request for relocation.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the access terminal is in the active mode, and wherein moving the context information comprises moving the context information in a pull mode, and wherein the target ASN initiates relocation of authenticator and anchor data path functions in the pull mode by transmitting a request to an anchor authenticator in the source ASN.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the access terminal is in the active mode, and wherein moving the context information comprises moving the context information in a push mode, and wherein the source ASN initiates relocation of authenticator and anchor data path functions in the push mode by transmitting a request to an anchor authenticator in the target ASN.