Arrangement system and method relating to data network access

• US 6,396,828 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1998
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Liu, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US09/041,506
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352,353,355,356,357,359,360,362,376,465,431
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections

Abstract

An arrangement for providing access between a telecommunications station and a data network. Access support devices are provided which are connected to a server via which a connection can be set-up between a telecommunication station and a data network. A telecommunication station registered with the access support devices can be in a connected mode in which the telecommunications station is connected to the server and an intermediate mode in which the telecommunications station is still registered with the access support devices but in which it is disconnected from the server. The telecommunication station is only connected when data actually is sent to/from the telecommunication station.

Claims

1. An arrangement providing access between a telecommunications station of a telecommunications network and a data network, comprising a server for setting up a connection between the telecommunications station and the data network, access support means connected to the server for switching a telecommunication station registered with said access support means between a connected mode in which the telecommunication station is connected to the server and a semi-connected mode in which the telecommunication station is registered with the access support means and disconnected from the server, wherein while in the semi-connected mode, packetized data destined for the telecommunication station is stored in multi-packet blocks in a storage associated with the access support means and when each of the multi-packet blocks reaches a given capacity, the telecommunication station is called, the connection mode is entered, and the block of packetized data is sent to the telecommunication station.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication station automatically is registered with the access support means when it is connected to the data network.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication station is registered with the access support means through the user giving a command for access support means registration.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a length of each period of semi-connection is given.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication station is registered with the access support means with one or more of its address, its telephone number and its identification.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the access support means switches the telecommunication station from the semi-connected mode to the connected mode without requiring any action from the user.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication station is switched to a disconnected mode if a deregistration request is received in the access support means either from the telecommunication station or from an agent of the data network with which the telecommunication station is registered.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a length of each block is adjustable.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the access support means sets up an association between an IP-address in a foreign agent of the data network with which the telecommunication station is registered and the server.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein a terminal handed over from another network is registered in the access support means.

11. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein a terminal handed over from another network is registered in the access support means.

12. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the access support means control traffic to a telecommunication station from a foreign agent of the data network to the server.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the data network is at least one of the Internet, a LAN, an intranet and an external public data network.

14. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication station is a fixed station communicating with the server which server supports a point-to-point communication protocol.

15. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the telecommunication station is a fixed station communicating with the server which server supports a point-to-point communication protocol.

16. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication station comprises a mobile station of a mobile cellular communications system.

17. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the telecommunication station comprises a mobile station of a mobile cellular communications system.

18. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein location access means are provided for communicating with a home location register in which the mobile station is registered to provide the access support means with information about a current location of the mobile station.

19. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the access support means are integrated with at least one of the server and a mobility support agent.

20. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the access support means are integrated with at least one of the server and a mobility support agent.

21. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the server supports a point-to-point communication protocol.

22. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the given capacity reached for each block is a full length of the block.

23. An access support device for supporting access between a computer connected to a telecommunication station and a data network, wherein the access support device is connected to a server providing connection between the telecommunication station and the data network, and further comprises means for registering a telecommunication station, a telecommunication station registered with said access support device being connected to the server only when data is sent to/from the telecommunication station, and, when no data traffic flows, the telecommunication station is switched to an intermediate mode in which it is disconnected from the server, wherein while in the intermediate mode, packetized data destined for the telecommunication station is stored in multi-packet blocks in a storage associated with the access support means and when each of the multi-packet blocks reaches a given capacity, the telecommunication station is called, the connection mode is entered, and the block of packetized data is sent to the telecommunication station.

24. The access support device of claim 23, wherein a length of the blocks is adjustable.

25. The access support device of claim 23, wherein a fast connection is established with the server without requiring any user identification.

26. The access support device of claim 25, comprising a function block arranged between, or integrated with, the server and mobility support agents of the data network or connected to the data network.

27. The access support device of claim 23, wherein the given capacity reached for each block is a full length of the block.

28. A communications system in which access is provided between mobile and/or fixed telecommunication stations and a data network, the telecommunication station(s) communicating over connection links with a server for connection set-ups, wherein access support means are arranged between or integrated with at least a number of servers and mobility support agents communicating with respective servers, said access support means switching telecommunication stations registered with said access support means between a connected mode in which the telecommunication stations are connected to a server and an intermediate mode in which the telecommunication stations are registered with said access support means but disconnected from said server, the connected mode being used only when data is sent to/from said telecommunication station(s), wherein while in the intermediate mode, packetized data destined for the telecommunication station is stored in multi-packet blocks in a storage associated with the access support means and when each of the multi-packet blocks reaches a given capacity, the telecommunication station is called, the connection mode is entered, and the block of packetized data is sent to the telecommunication station.

29. The communication system of claim 28, wherein the given capacity reached for each block is a full length of the block.

30. The communication system of claim 28, wherein a length of each block is adjustable.

31. A method of sending data between a computer connected to a telecommunication station and a data network, comprising the steps of:

setting up a connection between the telecommunication station and the data network via a server,

registering the telecommunication station with access support means connected to the server,

switching the telecommunication station to an intermediate mode in which the telecommunication station remains registered with the access support means but is disconnected from the server during sessions when no data traffic flows,

storing packetized data destined for the telecommunication station in multi-packet blocks in a storage associated with the access support means,

when each of the multi-packet blocks reaches a given capacity,

calling, the telecommunication station

switching the telecommunication station to a connection mode in which it is connected to the server, and

sending the block of packetized data to the telecommunication station, or else, switching the telecommunication station to the connected mode when data traffic flows, so that the telecommunication station only is connected to the server when data is actually sent to/from the telecommunication station.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the switching from the intermediate mode to the connected mode is done without requiring any user identifying information.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

automatically registering the telecommunication station with the access support means.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

giving a command to enable registration with the access support means.

35. The method of claim 31, comprising the step of:

setting up an association between an IP-address in a foreign agent of the data network and the server, the server being a PPP-server.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the given capacity reached for each block is a full length of the block.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein a length of each block is adjustable.