Optimization of point-to-point sessions

• US 7,411,927 B1
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhalla, Rajesh, Mukherjee, Arghya T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryman; Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US10/072,055
• Time in Patent Office: 2,380 Days
• Field of Search: 370/409
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of optimizing point-to-point sessions is disclosed. A registration request is received from a mobile node. The mobile node communicates with a current packet controller function serviced by a packet data serving node. Whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier is determined. The previous access network identifier identifies a previous packet controller function. Whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol is determined. Next, whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node is determined. The method concludes by deciding whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to on the determinations.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure operable to perform the following:

communicating, by a packet data serving node, with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receiving, through the tunnel, a registration request from a mobile node, the mobile node communicating with the current packet controller function;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

deciding, at the packet data serving node, whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the registration request comprises a request for service at the packet data serving node.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein deciding whether to negotiate the point-to-point session for the mobile node comprises:

negotiating the point-to-point session if the mobile node did not communicate with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

updating the point-to-point session if the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein deciding whether to negotiate the point-to-point session for the mobile node comprises:

determining whether there is a session context for the mobile node;

negotiating the point-to-point session if there is no session context; and

updating the point-to-point session if there is session context.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the registration request comprises the previous access network identifier further comprises;

determining that the registration request comprises the previous access network identifier; and

identifying the previous packet controller function from the previous access network identifier;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node communicated with the previous packet controller function further comprises;

determining whether the previous packet controller function is serviced by the packet data serving node;

negotiating the point-to-point session if the previous packet controller function is not serviced by the packet data serving node; and

updating the point-to-point session if the previous packet controller function is serviced by the packet data serving node.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the data structure is further operable to perform the following:

generating a table comprising an entry associated with the mobile node, the entry comprising a mobile node identifier, a previous access network identifier, and a current access network identifier.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the data structure is further operable to perform the following:

updating a tunnel connection operable to communicate a plurality of data packets between the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node by updating the entry associated with the mobile node.

8. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure operable to perform the following:

communicating, by a packet data serving node, with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receiving, through the tunnel, a registration request from a mobile node, the mobile node communicating with the current packet controller function;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol or a simple Internet Protocol;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

deciding, at the packet data serving node, whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations;

if the mobile node is serviced by the simple Internet Protocol;

determining whether a first Internet Protocol address associated with the mobile node is the same as a second Internet Protocol address associated with the mobile node, the first Internet Protocol address associated with a message received from the mobile node, the second Internet Protocol address stored at the packet data serving node;

negotiating the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is not the same as the second Internet Protocol address; and

updating the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is the same as the second Internet Protocol address.

9. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure operable to perform the following:

communicating, by a packet data serving node, with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receiving, through the tunnel, a registration request from a mobile node, the mobile node communicating with the current packet controller function;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

deciding, at the packet data serving node, whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the registration request comprises a request for service at the packet data serving node.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein deciding whether to negotiate the point-to-point session for the mobile node comprises:

negotiating the point-to-point session if the mobile node did not communicate with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

updating the point-to-point session if the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein deciding whether to negotiate the point-to-point session for the mobile node comprises:

determining whether there is a session context for the mobile node;

negotiating the point-to-point session if there is no session context; and

updating the point-to-point session if there is session context.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the data structure is further operable to perform the following:

generating a table comprising an entry associated with the mobile node, the entry comprising a mobile node identifier, a previous access network identifier, and a current access network identifier.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the data structure is further operable to perform the following:

updating a tunnel connection operable to communicate a plurality of data packets between the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node by updating the entry associated with the mobile node.

15. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure operable to perform the following:

communicating, by a packet data serving node, with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receiving, through the tunnel, a registration request from a mobile node, the mobile node communicating with the current packet controller function;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol or a simple Internet Protocol;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

deciding, at the packet data serving node, whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations;

if the mobile node is serviced by the simple Internet Protocol;

determining whether a first Internet Protocol address associated with the mobile node is the same as a second Internet Protocol address, the first Internet Protocol address associated with a message received from the mobile node, the second Internet Protocol address stored at the packet data serving node;

negotiating the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is not the same as the second Internet Protocol address; and

updating the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is the same as the second Internet Protocol address.

16. A system for optimizing point-to-point sessions comprising:

at least one packet data serving node operable to;

communicate with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receive, through the tunnel, a registration request from a mobile node, the mobile node communicating with the current packet controller function;

determine whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

determine whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol;

determine whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

decide whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations; and

a plurality of packet controller functions communicating with the at least one packet data serving node.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the registration request comprises a request for service from the at least one packet data serving node.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one packet data serving node is further operable to decide whether to negotiate the point-to-point session for the mobile node by:

negotiating the point-to-point session if the mobile node did not communicate with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

updating the point-to-point session if the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one packet data serving node is further operable to decide whether to negotiate the point-to-point session for the mobile node by:

determining whether there is a session context for the mobile node;

negotiating the point-to-point session if the mobile node did not communicate with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

updating the point-to-point session if the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one packet data serving node is further operable to:

determine whether the registration request comprises the previous access network identifier by;

determining that the registration request comprises the previous access network identifier; and

identifying the previous packet controller function from the previous access network identifier;

determine whether the mobile node communicated with the previous packet controller function by;

determining whether the previous packet controller function is serviced by the packet data serving node;

negotiating the point-to-point session if the previous packet controller function is not serviced by the packet data serving node; and

updating the point-to-point session if the previous packet controller function is serviced by the packet data serving node.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one packet data serving node is further operable to generate a table comprising an entry associated with the mobile node, the entry comprising a mobile node identifier, a previous access network identifier, and a current access network identifier.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one packet data serving node is further operable to update a tunnel connection operable to communicate a plurality of data packets between the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node by updating the entry associated with the mobile node.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the packet controller functions is operable to:

communicate with the at least one packet data serving node; and

store an access network identifier identifying the at least one packet controller function.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one packet data serving node is further operable to establish a tunnel connection to communicate between the at least one packet controller function and the at least one packet data serving node.

25. A system for optimizing point-to-point sessions comprising:

at least one packet data serving node operable to;

communicate with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receive, through the tunnel, a registration request from a mobile node, the mobile node communicating with the current packet controller function;

determine whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

determine whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol or a simple Internet Protocol;

determine whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

decide whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations; and

a plurality of packet controller functions communicating with the at least one packet data serving node; and

the at least one packet data serving node further operable to;

if the mobile node is serviced by the simple Internet Protocol;

determine whether a first Internet Protocol address associated with the mobile node is the same as a second Internet Protocol address associated with the mobile node, the first Internet Protocol address associated with a message received from the mobile node, the second Internet Protocol address stored at the packet data serving node;

negotiate the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is not the same as the second Internet Protocol address; and

update the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is the same as the second Internet Protocol address.

26. A packet data serving node for optimizing point-to-point sessions comprising:

a memory operable to store a table, the table comprising an entry corresponding to a mobile node, the entry comprising;

a mobile station identifier field operable to store a mobile station identifier; and

a previous access network identifier field operable to store a previous access network identifier;

a processor coupled to the memory and operable to;

communicate with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receive a registration request from the mobile node;

determine whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

determine whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol;

determine whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

decide whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations.

27. The packet data serving node of claim 26, wherein the registration request comprises a request for service from the packet data serving node.

28. The packet data serving node of claim 26, wherein the processor is further operable to:

negotiate the point-to-point session if the mobile node did not communicate with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

updating the point-to-point session if the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node.

29. The packet data serving node of claim 26, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether there is a session context for the mobile node;

negotiate the point-to-point session if there is no session context; and

updating the point-to-point session if there is session context.

30. The packet data serving node of claim 26, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether the registration request comprises the previous access network identifier by;

determining that the registration request comprises the previous access network identifier; and

identifying the previous packet controller function;

determine whether the mobile node communicated with the previous packet controller function by;

determining whether the previous packet controller function is serviced by the packet data serving node;

negotiate the point-to-point session if the previous packet controller function is not serviced by the packet data serving node; and

update the point-to-point session if the previous packet controller function is serviced by the packet data serving node.

31. The packet data serving node of claim 26, wherein the processor is further operable to:

identify the mobile station identifier in the registration request; and

retrieve the entry corresponding to the mobile station identifier from the table.

32. A packet data serving node for optimizing point-to-point sessions comprising:

a memory operable to store a table, the table comprising an entry corresponding to a mobile node, the entry comprising;

a mobile station identifier field operable to store a mobile station identifier; and

a previous access network identifier field operable to store a previous access network identifier;

a processor coupled to the memory and operable to;

communicate with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receive a registration request from the mobile node;

determine whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

determine whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol or a simple Internet Protocol;

determine whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

decide whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations;

if the mobile node is serviced by the simple Internet Protocol;

determine whether a first Internet Protocol address associated with the mobile node is the same as a second Internet Protocol address associated with the mobile node, the first Internet Protocol address associated with a message received from the mobile node, the second Internet Protocol address stored in the table;

negotiate the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is not the same as the second Internet Protocol address; and

update the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is the same as the second Internet Protocol address.

33. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure operable to:

communicate, by a packet data serving node, with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receive a registration request from a mobile node;

determine, at the packet data serving node, whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

determine, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol;

determine, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

decide, at the packet data serving node, whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the data structure is operable to decide whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node by:

negotiating the point-to-point session if the mobile node did not communicate with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

updating the point-to-point session if the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the data structure is operable to decide whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node by:

determining whether there is a session context for the mobile node;

negotiating the point-to-point session if there is no session context; and

updating the point-to-point session if there is session context.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the data structure is further operable to:

determine whether the registration request comprises the previous access network identifier by;

determining that the registration request comprises the previous access network identifier; and

identifying the previous packet controller function from the previous access network identifier;

determine whether the mobile node communicated with the previous packet controller function by;

determining whether the previous packet controller function is serviced by the packet data serving node;

negotiate the point-to-point session if the previous packet controller function is not serviced by the packet data serving node; and

update the point-to-point session if the previous packet controller function is serviced by the packet data serving node.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the data structure is further operable to generate a table comprising an entry associated with the mobile node, the entry comprising a mobile node identifier, a previous access network identifier, and a current access network identifier.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the data structure is further operable to update a tunnel connection operable to communicate a plurality of data packets between the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node by updating the entry associated with the mobile node.

39. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure operable to:

communicate, by a packet data serving node, with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receive a registration request from a mobile node;

determine, at the packet data serving node, whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

determine, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol or a simple Internet Protocol;

determine, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

decide, at the packet data serving node, whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations;

if the mobile node is serviced by the simple Internet Protocol;

determine whether a first Internet Protocol address associated with the mobile node is the same as a second Internet Protocol address associated with the mobile node, the first Internet Protocol address associated with a message received from the mobile node, the second Internet Protocol address stored at a packet data serving node;

negotiate the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is not the same as the second Internet Protocol address; and

update the point-to-point session, if the first Internet Protocol address is the same as the second Internet Protocol address.

40. A system for optimizing point-to-point sessions comprising:

means for communicating, by a packet data serving node, with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

means for receiving, through the tunnel, a registration request from a mobile node, the mobile node communicating with the current packet controller function;

a means for determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

a means for determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol;

a means for determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

a means for deciding, at the packet data serving node, whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations.

41. A computer-readable medium encoded with a data structure operable to perform the following:

communicating, by a packet data serving node, with a current packet controller function through a tunnel, the current packet controller function operating as a packet switch that provides a circuit service between the packet data serving node and a base station controller, the tunnel enabling the current packet controller function and the packet data serving node to communicate over an Internet Protocol-based network, the current packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node;

receiving, through the tunnel, a registration request from a mobile node, the mobile node communicating with the current packet controller function;

determining, at a packet data serving node, whether the registration request comprises a previous access network identifier identifying a previous packet controller function;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node is serviced by a mobile Internet Protocol;

determining, at the packet data serving node, whether the mobile node communicated with a previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

deciding, at the packet data serving node, whether to negotiate a point-to-point session for the mobile node in response to the determinations by;

negotiating the point-to-point session if the mobile node did not communicate through the previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node; and

updating the point-to-point session if the mobile node did communicate through the previous packet controller function serviced by the packet data serving node.