Method, apparatus, and system for enabling communication between second generation and third generation packet data networks

• US 6,853,648 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2000
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Krstanovski, Tony, Hjelmgren, Klas, Rönneke, Hans, Sundell, Hans-Olof
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, CLEMENCE S
• Application Number:
  US09/657,685
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/465, 370/466, 370/328, 370/467
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Communication is enabled between a first network in which control functions and user functions are combined in a first node and a second network in which user functions are implemented in a second node, and control functions are implemented in a third node. A determination is made whether data received contains control data. If so the control data is extracted from the received data and is forwarded to the third-node in which control functions are handled. The control data is used for resource handling. The extraction and forwarding may be performed in the first, second, or third node, or at any surface in between. If the received data does not contain control data, the data will be forwarded to the second node. The first network may be a second generation data packet network, e.g., a Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, and the second network may be a third generation packet data network., e.g., a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network.

Claims

1. A method for enabling communication between a first network in which control functions and user functions are combined in a first node and a second network in which control functions and user functions are separately implemented in second and third nodes, respectively, wherein the first node in a second generation Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) node, the second node is a third generation GPRS support node server and the third node is a third generation GPRS support node gateway, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication in the second node;

determining whether the received communication contains control data;

if the received communication contains control data, extracting control data from the received communication utilizing a GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) splitter;

forwarding the control data to the second node for processing and resource handling; and

processing user data from the communication in the third node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the received communication does not contain control data, the received communication is processed by the third node and then forwarded to the first node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of extracting and forwarding control data are performed in the third node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network is a second generation packet data network, and the second network is a third generation packet data network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first network is a second generation Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, and the second network is a third generation Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network.

6. An apparatus for enabling communication between a first network in which control functions and user functions are combined in a first node and a second network in which control functions and user functions are separately implemented in second and third nodes, respectively, wherein the first node is a second generation Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) node, the second node is a third generation GPRS support node gateway and the third node is a third generation GPRS support node gateway, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver in the third node for receiving a communication;

a detector for detecting whether the received communication contains control data;

a GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) splitter for extracting detected control data from the received communication; and

forwarding the control data to the second node for resource handling, wherein user data from the communication is processed in the third node.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein if the received communication does not contain control data, the received communication is forwarded by the third node to the first node.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the protocol splitter is included in the third node.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first network is a second generation packet data network, and the second network is third generation packet data network.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first network is a second generation Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, and the second network is a third generation Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network.