GTP for integration of multiple access

• US 8,315,227 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rydnell, Gunnar, Rommer, Stefan, Boman, Krister
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Ian N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Dung B
• Application Number:
  US12/088,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20080219218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,611 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/144 over a different radio air interface technology
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/00 Network data management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/085 involving hierarchical organized mobility servers, e.g. hierarchical mobile IP [HMIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A network architecture comprising at least one core network, each core network comprising a number of packet data gateway access supporting nodes GASNs handling mobile user station access over an access network, said core network(s) further providing access to one or more global packet data communication networks (IN), and one or more nodes holding subscriber or mobile user station related information. The GASNs are further adapted to support intercommunication over a mobility protocol interface to, at reception of a request for change of access type from a mobile user station, establish information about the previous GASN of the mobile user station, and to, using the established information, update an established communication context concerning the mobile user station or create a new communication context concerning the mobile user station such that mobility between different access network types is enabled for a mobile user station without interruption of an ongoing session.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

at least one core network,

wherein each core network comprises a number of packet data gateway access supporting nodes (GASNs), handling mobile user station access over an access network,

wherein said core network further provides access to one or more global packet data communication networks, and one or more nodes holding subscriber and/or mobile user station related information,

wherein said packet data gateway access supporting nodes are adapted to;

assign an IP-address to accessing mobile user stations,

have at least one access type dependent interface to at least one type of access network,

support inter-communication over a mobility protocol interface,

at reception of a request for change of access type from a mobile user station, establish information about the previous packet data gateway access supporting node of the mobile user station, and

use the established information to update an established communication context concerning the mobile user station or create a new communication context concerning the mobile user station such that mobility between different access network types is enabled for a mobile user station without interruption of an ongoing session, and

in acting as a previous GASN, act as an anchor point for the user after a handover to another access network type, the mobility protocol being used to provide control signaling and user data tunneling between previous and new access support nodes,

wherein at least one of said packet data gateway access supporting nodes is adapted to support access over more than one access network type, and

wherein the intercommunication mobility protocol is Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP).

2. A network system according to claim 1, wherein one or more or each of said packet data gateway access supporting nodes is/are dedicated for access over a particular access network type.

3. A network system according to claim 1,

wherein at least one packet data gateway access supporting node, GASN, is adapted to support access at least over a WLAN and/or a WiMAX and/or a fixed broadband access network, and/or a public Ethernet and/or a 2G or 3G or a S3G and

wherein at least one other packet data gateway access supporting nodes is adapted to support access at least over a WLAN and/or a WiMAX and/or a fixed broadband access network, and/or a public Ethernet and/or a 2G or a 3G or a S3G and

wherein said GASNs support access over different types of access networks.

4. A network system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said GASNs comprises a modified Gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) with an extended functionality or a modified Serving GPRS support node (SGSN), or a modified Packet Data Gateway (PDG)/Tunnel Terminating Gateway (TTG) supporting at least WLAN and/or WiMAX access or a modified PDG supporting fixed broadband access.

5. A network system according to claim 1 wherein the intercommunication mobility protocol comprises GPRS Mobility Managemnt (GMM)/GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP).

6. A network system according to claim 1 wherein an IP address allocated to a user of a mobile user station is unaffected by handover between different access networks or types of access networks.

7. A network system according to claim 1

wherein an access network comprises a WLAN or a fixed broadband access network and

wherein the access type dependent interface comprises an interface for setting up an IP-sec tunnel between the mobile user station and a GASN over an access node of the access network.

8. A network system according to claim 1, wherein a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Inter SGSN Routing Area Update (ISRAU) procedure is adapted to be used for informing a GASN about previous GASN based on routing areas specified for WLAN and/or fixed broadband access networks.

9. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the GASNs are adapted to establish information about previous GASN by means of information included in messages from a mobile user station requesting handover between different access system types.

10. A network system according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for, upon handover from one access system to another for a mobile user station, creating a route between the mobile user station, and the new GASN via the previous GASN, said previous GASN hence forming at least a local anchor GASN.

11. A core network node comprising:

a packet data gateway access supporting node handling mobile user station access over an access network and providing access to external global or local or third party controlled packet data communication networks,

wherein it is adapted to be capable to assign IP addresses to accessing mobile user stations,

wherein it has at least one access type dependent interface to at least one type of access network,

wherein it has a mobility protocol interface supporting communication with other packet data gateway access supporting nodes,

wherein it is adapted to establish information about which was the previous packet data gateway access supporting node for a mobile user station requesting access for establishing, or acquiring user or mobile user station related information, and

wherein it further is adapted to, using the established user or mobile user station related information, update an established communication context concerning the mobile user station with the previous packet data gateway access supporting node or create a new communication context concerning the mobile user station, such that mobility between different access network types is enabled for a mobile user station requesting change of access type without interruption of or affecting an ongoing session or service, and

wherein it is adapted to act at least as a local anchor point for a mobile user station having requested handover to another access network type,

wherein the mobility protocol is used to provide control signaling and user data tunneling between previous and new access support nodes,

wherein the core network node is adapted to support access over more than one access network type, and

wherein the intercommunication mobility protocol is Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP).

12. A core network node according to claim 11,

wherein it has an access type dependent interface supporting WLAN/WiMAX access and

wherein it comprises a modified Packet Data Gateway, PDG.

13. A core network node according to claim 11,

wherein it has an access interface supporting fixed broadband access network access and

wherein it comprises a modified Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS).

14. A core network node according to claim 11,

wherein it has an access type dependent interface supporting 3G radio access network access and/or UTRAN access, and

wherein it comprises a modified/extended Gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) or a modified Combined GPRS Support Node (CGSN) or a multi-access edge node connected to a packet data node.

15. A core network node according to claim 11, wherein it is adapted to establish information about previous GASN through communication with the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) or Home Location Register (HLR)/Authentication Authorization Accounting (AAA) of the mobile user station.

16. A core network node according to claim 11, wherein it is adapted to retrieve information from the mobile user station request concerning previous GASN or that it is adapted to use General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Inter SGSN Routing Area Update (ISRAU) to establish the previous GASN, wherein routing areas are defined for WLAN and for fixed broadband.

17. A method for handling dual or multimode mobile user station access to a core network system comprising one or more core networks, said mobile user station having accessed the one or more core networks over an access network using a first access technology, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

receiving an access request relating to access over a second or new access network in a second or new packet data gateway access supporting node, GASN, during an ongoing session,

establishing, in the second or new packet data gateway access supporting node, information about the previous or first GASN over which the mobile user station previously was provided with access and allocated an IP address,

using a mobility protocol or, using said information about the previous GASN, providing communication between said previous GASN and/or a home GASN of the mobile user station to update an existing, previous communication context, or set up a new communication context,

keeping the previous GASN at least as a local anchor point,

informing the mobile user station that access is provided over said second or new access network, and

providing the mobile user station with access over the new, second, access network without interrupting or affecting the ongoing session, and keeping the same, allocated IP address, and

using the mobility protocol to provide control signaling and tunneling of user data between the previous and new packet data gateway access support nodes,

wherein at least one of said packet data gateway access supporting nodes is adapted to support access over more than one access network type, and

wherein the intercommunication mobility protocol is Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP).

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein packet data gateway access supporting nodes intercommunicate using the mobility protocol, said mobility protocol comprising the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP) or the Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP).

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the establishing step comprises:

sending a request for the address of the previous GASN to a node holding subscriber or mobile user station related information from the second or new GASN, or

establishing from information contained in a message from the mobile user station, the address or identity of the previous GASN or,

implementing the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Inter SGSN Routing Area Update (ISRAU) procedure to establish information about the address or identity of the previous GASN, routing areas being defined for all concerned access networks.