Method and apparatus for performing inter-technology handoff from WLAN to cellular network
First Claim
1. A method to perform a low latency inter-technology handoff of a mobile node (MN) from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a cellular network, comprising:
- transmitting a message from the MN to the WLAN for use by the cellular network, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer with the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN; and
responding to the receipt of the message with a Router Advertisement message that is forwarded towards the MN.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system and computer program are disclosed to perform a low latency inter-technology handoff of a MN from a WLAN to a cellular network. The method includes transmitting a Bearer Context from the MN for use by the cellular network, the Bearer Context containing information required to establish access network bearers in the cellular network for an ongoing Internet session of the MN; and responding to the Bearer Context with a Router Advertisement that is forwarded to the MN. The Bearer Context may be piggybacked on another message, or it may be sent as a separate message. The Bearer Context includes information expressive of: (a) a QoS requirement of an ongoing application or applications of the MN; (b) a unique identity of the MN that is recognizable by the cellular network; (c) parameters to facilitate the creation of a Point-to-Point Protocol state in the cellular network; and (d) parameters to enable establishment of packet filters in the cellular network. The method also includes authenticating and authorizing with the target cellular network for the purpose of executing handoff.
107 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method to perform a low latency inter-technology handoff of a mobile node (MN) from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a cellular network, comprising:
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transmitting a message from the MN to the WLAN for use by the cellular network, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer with the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN; and responding to the receipt of the message with a Router Advertisement message that is forwarded towards the MN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26, 42)
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- 12. A method as in 11, where, in response to receiving the Registration Request message, a query is sent to the home AAA of the MN.
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27. A data communications system comprising a mobile node (MN), a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular network, further comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting a message from the MN to the cellular network via the WLAN, the message comprising information for use in establishing access bearers in the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN; and a unit to respond to the receipt of the message with a Router Advertisement message that is forwarded towards the MN. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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- 33. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for controlling operation of a mobile node (MN) that is operable with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular network, said computer program being responsive to a change in at least one of received WLAN signal strength and signal quality for transmitting a message from the MN to the cellular network via the WLAN, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer in the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN.
- 38. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for controlling operation of a network node of a cellular network, said computer program being responsive to a receipt of a message from a mobile node (MN) that is currently wirelessly coupled to a wireless local area network (WLAN) for initiating the establishment of a cellular network access bearer for the MN, the message comprising information for use in establishing the at least one access bearer in the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN.
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43. A method to perform a low latency inter-technology handoff of a mobile node (MN) from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a cellular network, comprising:
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transmitting a message from the MN to the WLAN for use by the cellular network, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer with the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN, the information comprising information expressive of a QoS requirement of at least one ongoing application of the MN and information expressive of a unique identity of the MN that is recognizable by the cellular network; and responding to the receipt of the message with a response message that is forwarded to the MN, the response message comprising a challenge for authenticating the MN in the cellular network.
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Specification