Method in a communication network

• US 6,317,421 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Nilsson, Torsten, Wilhelmsson, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US09/558,757
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/352, 370/328, 370/338, 370/349, 455/445, 455/456, 455/432, 455/433, 455/422, 455/435, 455/457, 455/458, 455/426, 455/517, 455/525, 709/227
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 between access point and backbone network device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

The present invention is related to a method of configuring an interface between a serving GPRS support node and a base station system. Allocation (401) of a new network service entitiy identifier is requested. In response to said request, a new network service entity identifier is automatically allocated (402) according to a predefined rule ensuring that the new network service entity identifier is unique within the serving GPRS support node. Data structures in the serving GPRS support node and the base station system are automatically initiated (403) by registering the allocated new network service entity identifier in said data structures.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an interface between a serving GPRS support node (502) and a base station system (504) in a communication network (501) supporting general packet radio service, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting (401) allocation of a new network service entity identifier;

automatically allocating (402) a new network service entity identifier according to a predefined rule ensuring that the new network service entity identifier is unique within the serving GPRS support node (502);

automatically initiating (403) data structures (1001, 701, 801, 901) in the serving GPRS support node (502) and the base station system (504) by registering the allocated new network service entity identifier in said data structures.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said requesting step (401) includes transmitting a signal (S603) to a network service entity identifier administrator (502).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the network service entity identifier administrator is included in the serving GPRS support node (502).

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said signal (S603) is transmitted from the base station system (504) to the serving GPRS support node (502).

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein said signal (S603) includes a network service entity identifier information element set to a value indicating a request for allocation of a network service entity identifier.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of automatically detecting a need for allocation of a new network service entity identifier and said requesting step (401) is automatically initiated upon said detecting.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said detecting step is performed in connection with configuring a new packet data cell in the base station system (504).