Mobility manager in a wireless IP core network

• US 7,110,764 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blair, Dana, Shannon, Michael, Hanzel, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US09/748,759
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

The functions performed by a mobile switching center (MSC) may be divided between two entities. A mobile control function performs mobility management functions such as roaming control, implementing hand-off, and coordinating bearer traffic flow. A call agent performs call control functions such as call setup, call tear down, and advanced call features such as call hold, call waiting, etc. The call agent is preferably unaware of mobile specific interfaces and can support multiple access network types including cable, DSL, PSTN, etc. This provides feature transparency for users as they use devices in each of the access domains.

Claims

1. In a data communication network for supporting mobile users, a method of operating a mobile control function, said method comprising:

exchanging mobile information with a mobile station via a radio access network according to a radio access network protocol;

exchanging call control information with a call agent associated with a call of said mobile station, said call agent configured to perform call control functions including call setup and connection and maintain call state information; and

maintaining connection state information for said mobile station while said mobile station is handled via said radio access network;

wherein said mobile control function is performed in a separate entity from said call agent.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

upon receipt of a handoff request from said radio access network, transferring responsibility for maintaining connection state information to another mobile control function.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein exchanging call control information comprises exchanging call control information via an IP network.

40. The method of claim 1 wherein communication between said mobile control function and said call agent is via an IP control protocol.

4. In a data communication network for supporting mobile users, a method of operating a call agent, said method comprising:

performing call control operations comprising call setup and connection;

exchanging call control information with a first mobile control function responsible for mobility management of a mobile station having a call handled by said call agent; and

maintaining call state information for said mobile station;

wherein said mobile control function is a separate entity from said call agent.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

upon a shift of responsibility for mobility management of said mobile station from said first mobile control function to a second mobile control function, exchanging call control information with said second mobile control function;

continuing to maintain call state information for said mobile station while said second mobile control function maintains connection state information for said mobile station.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said call control information comprises an indication of an inbound call for said mobile station.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said call control information comprises an indication of a dialed call from said mobile station.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein exchanging call control information comprises exchanging call control information via an IP network.

9. For use in a data communication network for supporting mobile users, a computer program product for operating a mobile control function, said product comprising:

code that causes a processor to exchange mobile information with a mobile station via a radio access network according to a radio access network protocol;

code that causes said processor to exchange call control information with a call agent associated with a call of said mobile station, said call agent configured to perform call control functions including call setup and connection and maintain call state information;

code that causes said processor to maintain connection state information for said mobile station while said mobile station is handled via said radio access network; and

a computer-readable storage medium for storing the codes;

wherein said mobile control function is performed in a separate entity from said call agent.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising:

code that, upon receipt of a handoff request from said radio access network, code that causes said processor to transfer responsibility for maintaining connection state information to another mobile control function.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein said code that causes said processor to exchange call control information comprises code that exchanges call control information via an IP network.

12. For use in a data communication network for supporting mobile users, a computer program product for operating a call agent, said product comprising:

code that causes a processor to perform call control operations comprising call setup and connection;

code that causes said a processor to exchange call control information with a first mobile control function responsible for mobility management of a mobile station having a call handled by said call agent;

code that causes said processor to maintain call state information for said mobile station; and

a computer-readable storage medium that stores the codes;

wherein said mobile control function is a separate entity from said call agent.

13. The product of claim 12 further comprising:

code that upon a shift of responsibility for mobility management of said mobile station from said first mobile control function to a second mobile control function, causes said processor to exchange call control information with said second mobile control function; and

code that causes said processor to continue to maintain call state information for said mobile station while said second mobile control function maintains connection state information for said mobile station.

14. The product of claim 12 wherein said call control information comprises an indication of an inbound call for said mobile station.

15. The product of claim 12 wherein said call control information comprises an indication of a dialed call from said mobile station.

16. The product of claim 12 wherein said code that causes said processor to exchange call control information comprises code that causes said processor to exchange call control information via an IP network.

17. For use in a data communication network for supporting mobile users, an apparatus for operating a mobile control function, said method comprising:

a processor that executes software; and

a computer-readable storage medium that stores said software, said software comprising;

code that causes said processor to exchange mobile information with a mobile station via a radio access network according to a radio access network protocol;

code that causes said processor to exchange call control information with a call agent associated with a call of said mobile station, said call agent configured to perform call control functions including call setup and connection and maintain call state information; and

code that causes said processor to maintain connection state information for said mobile station while said mobile station is handled via said radio access network;

wherein said mobile control function is performed in a separate entity from said call agent.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said software further comprises:

code that, upon receipt of a handoff request from said radio access network, that causes said processor to transfer responsibility for maintaining connection state information to another mobile control function.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said code that exchanges call control information comprises code that exchanges call control information via an IP network.

20. For use in a data communication network for supporting mobile users, apparatus for operating a call agent, said apparatus comprising:

a processor that executes software;

a computer-readable storage medium that stores said software, said software comprising;

code that causes said processor to perform call control operations comprising call setup and connection;

code that causes said processor to exchange call control information with a first mobile control function responsible for mobility management of a mobile station having a call handled by said call agent; and

code that causes said processor to maintain call state information for said mobile station;

wherein said mobile control function is a separate entity from said call agent.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said software further comprises:

code that upon a shift of responsibility for mobility management of said mobile station from said first mobile control function to a second mobile control function, causes said processor to exchange call control information with said second mobile control function; and

code that causes said processor to continue to maintain call state information for said mobile station while said second mobile control function maintains connection state information for said mobile station.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said call control information comprises an indication of an inbound call for said mobile station.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said call control information comprises an indication of a dialed call from said mobile station.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said code that exchanges call control information comprises code that exchanges call control information via an IP network.

25. In a data communication network for supporting mobile users, apparatus for operating a mobile control function, said apparatus comprising:

means for exchanging mobile information with a mobile station via a radio access network according to a radio access network protocol;

means for exchanging call control information with a call agent associated with a call of said mobile station, said call agent configured to perform call control functions including call setup and connection and maintain call state information; and

means for maintaining connection state information for said mobile station while said mobile station is handled via said radio access network;

wherein said mobile control function is performed in a separate entity from said call agent.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising:

means for, upon receipt of a handoff request from said radio access network, transferring responsibility for maintaining connection state information to another mobile control function.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said means for exchanging call control information comprises means for exchanging call control information via an IP network.

28. In a data communication network for supporting mobile users, apparatus for operating a call agent, said apparatus comprising:

means for performing call control operations comprising call setup and connection for both mobile and non mobile calls;

means for exchanging call control information with a first mobile control function responsible for mobility management of a mobile station having a call handled by said call agent; and

means for maintaining call state information for said mobile station;

wherein said mobile control function is a separate entity from said call agent.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising:

means for, upon a shift of responsibility for mobility management of said mobile station from said first mobile control function to a second mobile control function, exchanging call control information with said second mobile control function; and

means for continuing to maintain call state information for said mobile station while said second mobile control function maintains connection state information for said mobile station.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said call control information comprises an indication of an inbound call for said mobile station.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said call control information comprises an indication of a dialed call from said mobile station.

32. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means for exchanging call control information comprises means for exchanging call control information via an IP network.

33. A data communication network, comprising:

a mobile control function, which is responsible for mobility management of a mobile station, that exchanges information via a radio access network according to a radio access network protocol and maintains connection state information for said mobile station while said mobile station is handled via said radio access network; and

a call agent capable of performing call control operations comprising call setup and connection, which is associated with a call of said mobile station, that exchanges call control information with said mobile control function and maintaining call state information for said mobile station;

wherein said mobile control function and call agent are separate entities.

34. The network of claim 33 wherein upon receipt of a handoff request from said radio access network, said mobile control function transfers responsibility for maintaining connection state information to another mobile control function.

35. The network of claim 33, wherein said connection state information is mobile registered or session active.

36. The network of claim 33, wherein said call state information is connected, call in progress, releasing, suspend, or busy.

37. The network of claim 33 wherein the mobile control function and the call agent are configured to communicate utilizing an IP control protocol.

38. The network of claim 37 wherein the IP control protocol is a session initiation protocol (SIP).

39. The network of claim 33 wherein the call agent is configured to perform call control operations for mobile and non-mobile calls.