Methods and apparatus for the utilization of core based nodes for state transfer
First Claim
1. A communications method for use in a communications system including a first access node, a second access node, a network node, and a moible node, the method comprising:
- communicating state information corresponding to the mobile node between the first access node and the second access node in response to a signal received by the first access node;
wherein said step of communicating state information between the first access node and the second access node includes;
operating the first access node to communicate said state information to the network node;
operating the network node to store said state information; and
operating the network node to communicate said state information to said second access node, said step of operating the network node to communicate said state information to said second access node including;
operating the network node to transmit said state information to said second access node in response to a signal received by said network node from said second access node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for storing, manipulating, retrieving, and forwarding state, e.g., context and other information, used to support communications sessions with one or more end nodes, e.g., mobile devices, are described. Various features are directed to a mobile node controlling the transfer of state from a first access node to a second access node during a handoff operation thereby eliminating any need for state transfer messages to be transmitted between the second access node and the first access node during handoff. Other features of the invention are directed to the use of a core network node to store state information. State information stored in the core node can be accessed and used by access nodes in cases where a mobile node does not send a state transfer message during a handoff, e.g., because communication with the first access node is lost or because such messages are not supported.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A communications method for use in a communications system including a first access node, a second access node, a network node, and a moible node, the method comprising:
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communicating state information corresponding to the mobile node between the first access node and the second access node in response to a signal received by the first access node; wherein said step of communicating state information between the first access node and the second access node includes; operating the first access node to communicate said state information to the network node; operating the network node to store said state information; and operating the network node to communicate said state information to said second access node, said step of operating the network node to communicate said state information to said second access node including;
operating the network node to transmit said state information to said second access node in response to a signal received by said network node from said second access node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of implementing a communications system including an end node, a first access node, a second access node and a first network node coupled to said first and second access nodes, said end node being coupled to at least one access node through which said end node can communicate with elements of said communication system, the method comprising:
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storing state information in said network node which can be used by either of said first and second access nodes to support communications with said end node; updating the state information stored in said network node with state information supplied by the first access node in response to a trigger event, said trigger event being an event in the group of events consisting of;
receipt by said first access node of a signal;
a request for a state information update from said network node; and
a detection of a loss of communication with said end node; andoperating the second access node to use at least some of said stored state information to support a communications session involving said end node following a handoff of said end node from said first access node to said second access node; operating said second access node to receive a signal from said end node indicating that state information corresponding to said end node should be retrieved; and operating said second access node to transmit a message requesting state information corresponding to said end node; wherein operating said second access node to transmit a message requesting state information corresponding to said end node includes transmitting a message from said second access node to said first network node. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of supporting handoffs from a first access node to a second access node in a communications network including said first and second access nodes, a mobile node, and a first network node coupled to said first and second access nodes, the method comprising:
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storing state information corresponding to said mobile node in both said first access node and said first network node; updating the state information corresponding to said mobile node stored in said first network node with state information obtained from said first access node; supplying said updated state information stored in said first network node to said second access node as part of a handoff of said mobile node from said first access node to said second access node; and operating said first access node to receive a state update request message from said first network node and to respond thereto by transmitting state information corresponding to said mobile node to said first network node. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A communications system for use with a mobile node, the communications system comprising:
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a first access node; a second access node; a network node; wherein said first access node includes; a receiver module for receiving signals; and a transmitter module for communicating state information; and a control module for controlling the first access node to communicate state information corresponding to the mobile node between the first access node and the second access node in response to a signal received by the first access node, said communicating state information between the first access node and the second access node including using said transmitter module to communicate said state information to the network node; and wherein said network node includes; a receiver module for receiving signals from other nodes; a memory module for storing said state information; and a network node management module for controlling the network node to communicate said state information to said second access node by transmitting said state information to said second access node in response to a signal received by said network node from said second access node. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A communications system for use with a mobile node, the communications system comprising:
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a first access node; a second access node; a network node; wherein said first access node includes; access node receiver means for receiving signals; and access node transmitter means for communicating state information; and access node control means for controlling the first access node to communicate state information corresponding to the mobile node between the first access node and the second access node in response to a signal received by the first access node, said communicating state information between the first access node and the second access node including using said access node transmitter means to communicate said state information to the network node; and wherein said network node includes; network node receiver means for receiving signals from other nodes; memory means for storing said state information; and network node management means for controlling the network node to communicate said state information to said second access node by transmitting said state information to said second access node in response to a signal received by said network node from said second access node. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer readable medium, embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a communications system to implement a communications method, the communications system including a first access node, a second access node and a first network node coupled to said first and second access nodes, an end node being coupled to at least one access node through which said end node can communicate with elements of said communication system, the method comprising:
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storing state information in said network node which can be used by either of said first and second access nodes to support communications with said end node; updating the state information stored in said network node with state information supplied by the first access node in response to a trigger event, said trigger event being an event in the group of events consisting of;
receipt by said first access node of a signal, a request for a state information update from said network node, and a detection of a loss of communication with said end node;operating the second access node to use at least some of said stored state information to support a communications session involving said end node following a handoff of said end node from said first access node to said second access node; operating said second access node to receive a signal from said end node indicating that state information corresponding to said end node should be retrieved; operating said second access node to transmit a message requesting state information corresponding to said end node; and wherein operating said second access node to transmit a message requesting state information corresponding to said end node includes transmitting a message from said second access node to said first network node.
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28. A communications system for communicating with an end node, the communications system including:
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a first access node; a second access node; and a first network node coupled to said first and second access nodes, said end node having a communications link with at least one access node through which said end node can communicate with elements of said communication system; wherein said network node includes; a network node memory module for storing state information in said network node which can be used by either of said first and second access nodes to support communications with said end node; a state management module for updating the state information stored in said network node with state information supplied by the first access node in response to a trigger event, said trigger event being an event in the group of events consisting of;
receipt by said first access node of a signal;
a request for a state information update from said network node; and
a detection of a loss of communication with said end node; andwherein said second access node includes; an access node control module for controlling the second access node to use at least some of said stored state information to support a communications session involving said end node following a handoff of said end node from said first access node to said second access node; a receiver module for receiving a signal from said end node indicating that state information corresponding to said end node should be retrieved; and a transmitter module for transmitting a message requesting state information corresponding to said end node; and wherein controlling said second access node to transmit a message requesting state information corresponding to said end node includes controlling the transmitter module to transmit a message from said second access node to said first network node. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A communications system for communicating with an end node, the communications system including:
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a first access node; a second access node; and a first network node coupled to said first and second access nodes, said end node having a communications link with at least one access node through which said end node can communicate with elements of said communication system; wherein said network node includes; network node memory means for storing state information in said network node which can be used by either of said first and second access nodes to support communications with said end node; state management means for updating the state information stored in said network node with state information supplied by the first access node in response to a trigger event, said trigger event being an event in the group of events consisting of;
receipt by said first access node of a signal;
a request for astate information update from said network node; and
a detection of a loss of communication with said end node; andwherein said second access node includes; access node control means for controlling the second access node to use at least some of said stored state information to support a communications session involving said end node following a handoff of said end node from said first access node to said second access node; receiver means for receiving a signal from said end node indicating that state information corresponding to said end node should be retrieved; and transmitter means for transmitting a message requesting state information corresponding to said end node; and wherein controlling said second access node to transmit a message requesting state information corresponding to said end node includes controlling the transmitter means to transmit a message from said second access node to said first network node. - View Dependent Claims (31)
wherein said system further includes a second network node, said second network node being in said second network region and coupling said first network node to said second access node; and wherein transmitting a message requesting state information corresponding to said end node includes transmitting a message from said second access node to said second network node.
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Specification