Versatile system for radio access network session information retrieval
First Claim
1. A radio access network system comprising:
- a second coverage zone control component configured to control a second set of base stations in a second packet data zone and communicatively coupled to a first coverage zone control component by an incumbent messaging system, the first coverage zone control component configured to control a first set of base stations in a first packet data zone and operatively coupled to a packet data serving node; and
an addressing construct adapted to create a unique locator for each coverage zone control component in the radio access network, each unique locator being an internet protocol (IP) address that is used by a corresponding coverage zone control component to communicate with other coverage zone control components across radio access networks, the IP address comprising octets for a vendor identifier (VID), a system identifier (SID), a network identifier (NID), and a packet zone identifier (PZID) of the corresponding coverage zone control component,wherein the second coverage zone control component is further configured to retrieve session information for a packet data session for a mobile station over the incumbent messaging system, the second coverage zone control component communicating with the first coverage zone control component by utilizing the first coverage zone control component'"'"'s unique locator, and wherein the first coverage zone control component'"'"'s unique locator is received by the second coverage zone control component from the mobile station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A session information retrieval system is disclosed that efficiently transfers mobile station session information among certain members of a radio access network. As a mobile station within the network—which is dormant in a first packet data zone of the network—moves to a second packet data zone, a PCF for the second packet zone contacts the PCF for the first packet data zone to retrieve session information for the MS. Having retrieved the MS'"'"'s already-established session information, the second PCF obviates the need to re-establish or re-negotiate session information for the MS. Having forwarded the MS'"'"'s session information to the second PCF, the first PCF may discard the now unneeded session information that would have otherwise been maintained indefinitely—freeing up valuable system resources.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radio access network system comprising:
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a second coverage zone control component configured to control a second set of base stations in a second packet data zone and communicatively coupled to a first coverage zone control component by an incumbent messaging system, the first coverage zone control component configured to control a first set of base stations in a first packet data zone and operatively coupled to a packet data serving node; and an addressing construct adapted to create a unique locator for each coverage zone control component in the radio access network, each unique locator being an internet protocol (IP) address that is used by a corresponding coverage zone control component to communicate with other coverage zone control components across radio access networks, the IP address comprising octets for a vendor identifier (VID), a system identifier (SID), a network identifier (NID), and a packet zone identifier (PZID) of the corresponding coverage zone control component, wherein the second coverage zone control component is further configured to retrieve session information for a packet data session for a mobile station over the incumbent messaging system, the second coverage zone control component communicating with the first coverage zone control component by utilizing the first coverage zone control component'"'"'s unique locator, and wherein the first coverage zone control component'"'"'s unique locator is received by the second coverage zone control component from the mobile station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of retrieving session information for a mobile station in a radio access network, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a second packet control function (PCF), a message that a mobile station has moved into a second packet data zone from a first packet data zone, the second PCF configured to control packet data sessions in a second set of base stations in the second packet data zone, the first PCF configured to control packet data sessions in a first set of base stations in the first packet data zone, the message indicating that the mobile station has an already established packet data session with a first PCF; determining a unique identifier of the first PCF from the message, the unique identifier comprising an internet protocol (IP) address that is used to communicate with a plurality of PCFs across radio access networks, the IP address comprising octets for a vendor identifier (VID), a system identifier (SID), a network identifier (NID), and a packet zone identifier (PZID) of the first PCF; transmitting a request to the first PCF for a session information of the already established packet data session, the request transmitted by the second PCF using the unique identifier of the first PCF; and storing, in the second PCF, the session information that is received from the first PCF. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A radio access network system comprising:
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a second packet control function (PCF) configured to manage packet data sessions for a second set of base stations within a second packet data zone, the second PCF having a second unique identifier and being communicatively coupled to a first PCF that is configured to manage packet data sessions for a first set of base stations within a first packet data zone and has a first unique identifier, the first and second unique identifiers comprising unique addresses in the radio access network, wherein each unique identifier comprises an internet protocol (IP) address that is used by a corresponding PCF to communicate with a plurality of PCFs across radio access networks, the IP address comprising octets for a vendor identifier (VID), a system identifier (SID), a network identifier (NID), and a packet zone identifier (PZID) of the corresponding PCF, wherein the second PCF is further configured to transmit a request to the first PCF for a session information of a mobile station that has entered the second packet data zone from the first packet data zone, the request transmitted utilizing the first PCF'"'"'s unique identifier that was received from the mobile station. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification