Method and apparatus for communicating a subscriber message

• US 6,754,492 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stammers, Timothy P., Smith, Malcolm M.
• Primary Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/925,113
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 370/353, 370/356, 370/314, 370/338, 370/352, 370/349, 370/351, 370/355, 370/401, 370/467, 455/445, 455/435.1, 455/426.1, 455/433, 455/466, 455/414.1, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/556.1, 455/560, 455/561
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) and a core packet network that allows registration of mobile devices. A temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) assigned to the mobile device includes, at least in part, an address of a mobility control function (MCF) currently serving the mobile device. Components in the system use the TMDI to direct messages to the appropriate MCF.

Claims

1. A method for communicating a subscriber message between a radio access network and a core packet network, the method comprising:

receiving a first message from the radio access network;

extracting a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) from the first message; and

generating, based at least on the TMDI, a second message with an address field comprising;

a first part designating a pool of a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a second part designating a selected MCF to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the second message to the selected MCF in the core packet network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises a communication from a mobile device currently registered to receive mobile communication services from the core packet network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first message comprises subscriber information and the TMDI in the data field; and

the second message comprises at least a portion of the TMDI in the address field and the subscriber information in the data field.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of receiving, extracting, and generating are performed at a radio network controller.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of receiving, extracting, and generating are performed at a router associated with the core packet network and coupled to the MCFs.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the component operates as a portion of a radio network controller.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the component operates as a portion of a core packet network.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the interface is further operable to communicate the second message to the selected MCF in the core packet network.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first message comprises a communication from a mobile device currently registered to receive mobile communication services from the core packet network.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the first message comprises subscriber information and the TMDI in the data field; and

the second message comprises at least a portion of the TMDI in the address field and the subscriber information in the data field.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the component operates as a portion of a radio network controller.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the component operates as a portion of a core packet network.

14. A system for providing a distributed mobility control function to a plurality of mobile devices, comprising:

a component operable to receive a plurality of first messages originated by a plurality of mobile devices, each first message including a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) in a data field, the component operable to generate a plurality of second messages based on at least the TMDIs of the plurality of first messages, each second message including an address field comprising;

a first part designating a pool of a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a second part designating a selected MCF to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating a local identifier of the mobile device; and

the plurality of MCFs coupled to the component and operable to receive the second messages.

15. An apparatus for communicating a subscriber message between a radio access network and a core packet network, the apparatus comprising:

an interface operable to receive a first message from the radio access network; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to extract a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) from the first message, the processor further operable to generate, based at least on the TMDI, a second message with an address field comprising;

a first part designating a pool of a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a second part designating a selected MCF to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating the mobile device.

16. An apparatus for communicating a subscriber message between a radio access network and a core packet network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first message from the radio access network;

means for extracting a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) from the first message; and

means for generating, based at least on the TMDI, a second message with an address field comprising;

a first part designating a pool of a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a second part designating a selected MCF to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating the mobile device.

17. Logic encoded in media for communicating a subscriber message between a radio access network and a core packet network, the logic operable to:

receive a first message from the radio access network;

extract a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) from the first message; and

generate, based at least on the TMDI, a second message with an address field comprising;

a first part designating a pool of a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a second part designating a selected MCF to service the mobile device; and

a third part designating the mobile device.

18. The logic of claim 17, wherein the logic is further operable to communicate the second message to the selected MCF in the core packet network.

19. The logic of claim 17, wherein the first message comprises a communication from a mobile device currently registered to receive mobile communication services from the core packet network.

20. The logic of claim 17, wherein:

the first message comprises subscriber information and the TMDI in the data field; and

the second message comprises at least a portion of the TMDI in the third part of the address field and the subscriber information in the data field.

21. The logic of claim 17, wherein the steps of receiving, extracting, and generating are performed at a radio network controller.

22. The logic of claim 17, wherein the steps of receiving, extracting, and generating are performed at a router associated with the core network and coupled to the MCFs.

23. A method for communicating a subscriber message between a radio access network and a core packet network, the method comprising:

receiving a first message from the radio access network;

extracting a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) from the first message; and

generating, based at least on the TMDI, a second message with an address field that includes a 128-bit Internet protocol address comprising;

a first part designating a core packet network;

a second part designating a selected one of a plurality of pools within the core packet network, each pool comprising a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a third part designating a selected MCF in the selected pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a fourth part designating a local identifier of the mobile device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising communicating the second message to the selected MCF in the core packet network.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the first message comprises a communication from a mobile device currently registered to receive mobile communication services from the core packet network.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the first message comprises subscriber information and identifies the selected MCF in the data field; and

the second message identifies the selected MCF in the address field and includes the subscriber information in the data field.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the steps of receiving, extracting, and generating are performed at a radio network controller.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the steps of receiving, extracting, and generating are performed at a router associated with the core network and coupled to the MCFs.

29. A system for providing a distributed mobility control function to a plurality of mobile devices, comprising:

a component operable to receive a plurality of first messages originated by a plurality of mobile devices, each first message including a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) in a data field, the component operable to generate a plurality of second messages based on at least the TMDIs of the plurality of first messages, each second message including a 128-bit Internet protocol address comprising;

a first part designating a core packet network;

a second part designating a selected one of a plurality of mobility control function (MCF) pools within the core packet network, each pool comprising a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a third part designating a selected MCF in the selected MCF pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a fourth part designating a local identifier of the mobile device; and

the plurality of MCF pools coupled to the component and operable to receive the second messages.

30. An apparatus for communicating a subscriber message between a radio access network and a core packet network, the apparatus comprising:

an interface operable to receive a first message from the radio access network; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to extract a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) from the first message, the processor further operable to generate, based at least on the TMDI, a second message with an address field comprising;

a first part designating a core packet network;

a second part designating a selected one of a plurality of pools within the core packet network, each pool comprising a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a third part designating a selected MCF in the selected pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a fourth part designating the mobile device.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the interface is further operable to communicate the second message to the selected MCF in the core packet network.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first message comprises a communication from a mobile device currently registered to receive mobile communication services from the core packet network.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

the first message comprises subscriber information and the TMDI in the data field; and

the second message identifies the selected MCF in the address field and includes the subscriber information in the data field.

34. An apparatus for communicating a subscriber message between a radio access network and a core packet network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first message from the radio access network;

means for extracting a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) from the first message; and

means for generating, based at least on the TMDI, a second message with an address field comprising;

a first part designating a core packet network;

a second part designating a selected one of a plurality of pools within the core packet network, each pool comprising a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a third part designating a selected MCF in the selected pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a fourth part designating a local identifier of the mobile device.

35. Logic encoded in media for communicating a subscriber message between a radio access network and a core network packet network, the logic operable to:

receive a first message from the radio access network;

extract a temporary mobile device identifier (TMDI) from the first message; and

generate, based at least on the TMDI, a second message with an address field that includes a 128-bit Internet protocol address comprising;

a first part designating a core packet network;

a second part designating a selected one of a plurality of pools within the core packet network, each pool comprising a plurality of mobility control functions (MCFs);

a third part designating a selected MCF in the selected pool of the core packet network to service the mobile device; and

a fourth part designating the mobile device.

36. The logic of claim 35, wherein the logic is further operable to communicate the second message to the selected MCF in the core packet network.

37. The logic of claim 35, wherein the first message comprises a communication from a mobile device currently registered to receive mobile communication services from the core packet network.

38. The logic of claim 35, wherein:

the first message comprises subscriber information and the TMDI in the data field; and

the second message identifies the selected MCF in the address field and includes the subscriber information in the data field.

39. The logic of claim 35, wherein the steps of receiving, extracting, and generating are performed at a radio network controller.

40. The logic of claim 35, wherein the steps of receiving, extracting, and generating are performed at a router associated with the core network and coupled to the MCFs.