Selection mobility agent in access network

• US 6,980,801 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Muhonen, Ahti, Soininen, Jonne
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US09/980,781
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/435.1, 455/432.1, 455/436, 455/439, 455/433, 370/338, 370/349, 370352-356, 370/278, 370/328, 370/329, 709/220, 709/222
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/065 involving selection of the user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

In an access network which supports macro mobility management, an access node checks during an attach procedure of a mobile station whether the mobile has macro mobility capability, i.e., whether there is a potential need for a macro mobility services. If there is no macro mobility capability, a normal attach procedure is preformed. However, if there is macro mobility capability, the access node selects a suitable mobility entity to the mobile station, sends the identity of the selected mobility entity to the mobile station and requests the initiation of a packet protocol context activation in the system.

Claims

1. A method of indicating a macro mobility entity in an access system comprising a plurality of mobile stations, access nodes, and at least one mobility entity arranged to provide macro mobility management services to the mobile stations while registered to the access system, said method comprising

initiating an attach procedure to one of said access nodes by a mobile station,

reacting to said mobile station having IP capability by

initiating at said access node a selection of a macro mobility entity for said mobile station, and

sending the identity of said selected macro mobility entity to said mobile station in association with an access context establishment.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising sending to said mobile station a request to initiate activation of a packet protocol context for said mobile station in said access system.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising checking at said access node, in response to said initiation of the attach procedure, whether said mobile station has macro mobility capability.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising sending the identity of said selected mobility entity to said mobile station in said request.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising initiating an activation of the packet protocol context by said mobile station having an associated mobile node in order set up a connection to said selected mobility entity, if a registration according to the macro mobility management is desired.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising

said macro mobility management being Mobile IP type mobility management, and

sending an agent advertisement message from said selected mobility agent to said mobile node over said connection, said agent advertisement message enabling said mobile node to initiate Mobile IP registration.

7. A method according to claim 1, comprising checking said macro mobility capability of said mobile station on the basis of subscriber data stored in a subscriber data base or information provided by said mobile station in said attach procedure.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said macro mobility capability is indicated by a classmark information of said mobile station.

9. A method according to claim 1 or 7, wherein selected mobility entity is a foreign agent associated with one of said gateway nodes in said packet access network.

10. A method according to claim 1 or 7, wherein said identity includes a mobile entity address.

11. A method according to claim 1 or 7, wherein the access system is a radio system, such as GPRS or UMTS.

12. A packet access system, comprising

a plurality of mobile stations, at least some of said mobile stations supporting macro layer mobility,

access nodes,

at least one mobility entity arranged to provide macro mobility management services,

said access nodes being responsive to said mobile station having the macro mobility capability to

initiate a selection of a macro mobility entity for said mobile station, and

send an identity of said selected macro mobility entity to said mobile station.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said access nodes are responsive to said mobile station having the macro mobility capability to initiate activation of a packet protocol context for said mobile station in said access system.

14. A system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said access nodes are responsive to an attach request received from a mobile station to check whether the mobile station has macro mobility capability.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein said access node sends the identity of said selected mobility entity to said mobile station in said request.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein said mobile station, when having an associated mobile node and desiring a macro mobility registration, is arranged to initiate activation of the packet protocol context in order set up a connection to said selected mobility entity according to said identity.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein said access nodes are arranged to check said macro mobility capability of said mobile station on the basis of subscriber data stored in a subscriber data base or information provided by said mobile station in said attach procedure.

20. A system according to claim 12, wherein said macro layer mobility is Mobile Internet Protocol.

18. An access node for a packet access system comprising a plurality of mobile stations, at least some of said mobile stations supporting macro mobility, access nodes serving said mobile stations within respective parts of the packet access system, and at least two macro mobility entities being arranged to provide macro mobility management services to the mobile stations while registered to the access system, said access node comprising

means, responsive to said mobile station having the macro mobility capability, for selecting at said access node a macro mobility entity for said mobile station, and for

sending an identity of said selected macro mobility entity to said mobile station in association with an access context establishment.

19. An access node according to claim 18, comprising means for checking whether a mobile station accessing the system via said access node has macro mobility capability.