Notifying a mobile terminal device of a change in point of attachment to an IP internetwork to facilitate mobility

• US 6,424,639 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Abrol, Nischal, Lioy, Marcello
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUNKULH, BOB A
• Application Number:
  US09/470,223
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/338, 370/352, 370/389, 370/392, 370/465, 370/469, 455/422, 455/436, 455/439, 455/440
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile packet network call is established over a transmission link, extending between a mobile terminal device and a given interworking function. The transmission link connects the mobile terminal device to a wireless communication device over a first interface and further connects the wireless communication device to the given interworking function over a second interface via a wireless link to a base station. The transmission link further comprises a packet mode in which the traffic channel is up and a dormant mode in which the traffic channel is down while the data link layer link and the network layer link are maintained. Network region identifier information is provided to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device determines when the given interworking function has changed from a first interworking function to a second interworking function by determining when there is a corresponding change in the network region identifier information. The wireless communication device initiates a link control protocol renegotiation with the mobile terminal device when the corresponding change in the network region identifier information has been determined. The mobile terminal device responds to the initiation of the link control protocol, and causes the transmission link to enter the packet mode, and to bring up the traffic channel. The data link layer link is then established with the second interworking function. The mobile terminal device and the second interworking function then negotiate network control protocol options and establish a network layer link. If the second interworking function corresponds to a new foreign agent, the mobile terminal device will then update its IP mobility registration.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a mobile packet network call over a transmission link, said transmission link extending between a mobile terminal device and a given interworking function and connecting said mobile terminal device to a wireless communication device over a first interface and further connecting said wireless communication device to said given interworking function over a second interface via a wireless link to a base station, said given interworking function changing from a first interworking function to a second interworking function, said transmission link comprising a traffic channel, a data link layer link, and a network layer link, said transmission link comprising a packet mode in which said traffic channel is up and a dormant mode in which said traffic channel is down while said data link layer link and said network layer link are maintained;

providing to said wireless communication device network region identifier information when said transmission link is in said dormant mode;

said wireless communication device determining when said given interworking function has changed from said first interworking function to said second interworking function by determining when there is a corresponding change in network region identifier information;

said wireless communication device initiating a link control protocol negotiation with said mobile terminal device when said corresponding change in said network region identifier information has been determined;

said mobile terminal device responding to said initiation of said link control protocol negotiation by forwarding link control protocol packets to said second interworking function via said wireless communication device, causing said transmission link to enter said packet mode and to bring up said traffic channel, said mobile terminal device then establishing a data link layer link with said second interworking function;

after said data link layer link with said second interworking function is established, said mobile terminal device and said second interworking function negotiating network control protocol options and establishing a network layer link between said mobile terminal device and said second interworking function.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein after said data link layer link with said second interworking function is established, said mobile terminal device, when appropriate, updating its IP mobility registration in accordance with said second interworking function.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said data link layer link and said network layer link respectively comprise a PPP link and an IP link.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said packet mode comprises a Connected State pursuant to IS-707.5, and wherein said dormant mode comprises a Dormant/Idle State pursuant to IS-707.5.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said network region identifier information comprises information transmitted over a paging channel of said transmission link.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said network region identifier information comprises one of a packet zone id and a system id/network id (SID/NID) pair.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said initiating a link control protocol negotiation with said mobile terminal device comprises sending a link control protocol (LCP) Configuration Request packet to said mobile terminal device, wherein said mobile terminal device interprets said LCP Configuration Request packet as originating from said second interworking function.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said mobile terminal device determines whether said second interworking function comprises a new foreign agent, and when said second interworking function comprises a new foreign agent, said mobile terminal device performs an IP mobility registration update process.