Method and system for establishing a connection between network elements

• US 7,684,786 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2007
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hurtta, Tuija, Koistinen, Janne
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US11/826,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20070259661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/432.1, 370/238, 370/349, 370/400, 709/219, 709/225, 709/234, 709/247, 713/169, 713/171, 707/9, 707/247
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels

Abstract

A method and system for establishing or handling a connection between a first and a second network element connected to different networks such as GPRS/UMTS and IP-based networks is provided. The connection is established by means of at least one third network element such as a SGSN or GGSN arranged in one of the networks. The third network element is adapted to send, when receiving information on an establishment of a connection, a request to a fourth network element which may be a Call State Control Function (CSCF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), or a Call Processing Server (CPS). The request requests permission for establishing a requested type of connection, or requests a check of a connection parameter, and specifies the first and/or second network element and/or the connection or connection type to be established. The fourth network element returns a response specifying a permission for establishing a connection or connection type, or specifying a connection parameter.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing, by a processor, a session with an identifier associated with the session or with a communication channel, wherein a network element in a first communication network layer is configured to establish said communication channel with said identifier; and

authorizing, by the processor, said communication channel by said session using said identifier.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing said session in a second communication network layer or an internet protocol multimedia subsystem.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

authorizing said communication channel by mapping a request comprising the identifier received from the first communication network layer, and an authorization comprising the identifier received from a second communication network layer.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the identifier is a common identifier of the first and the second communication network layer.

5. A method, comprising:

establishing, by a processor, a communication channel with an identifier associated with the communication channel or with a session, wherein a network element in a first communication network layer is configured to establish said session with the identifier, and to authorize said communication channel by said session using said identifier.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

initiating a request for said authorization at communication channel establishment.

7. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

establishing the communication channel in a second communication network layer or a general packet radio service/universal mobile telecommunications service.

8. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

establishing said communication channel to a terminal, a user equipment, or a mobile station.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the identifier is a common identifier of the first and the second communication network layer.