Intelligent real access point name (APN) selection using virtual APNS

• US 8,605,662 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shatzkamer, Kevin, Grayson, Mark, Panda, Biswaranjan, Forster, Richard Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): YI, ALEXANDER J.
• Application Number:
  US11/781,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20090023426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/328, 370/228, 370/217, 370/338, 370/235, 370/255, 370/221, 370/401, 370/315, 370/310.2, 370/331, 455/414.1, 455/436, 455/438, 455/439, 455/444, 455/449, 455/440, 726/5, 713/183, 709/228
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/12 Reselecting a serving backbone network switching or routing node
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/125 involving different types of service backbones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

In one embodiment, a first access request is received from a mobile device. The access request may be received through a first access medium for a virtual access point name (APN). A session is created with a service using a first real access point name (APN) for the mobile device. A second access request is received through a second type of access medium. The request may be received through a second virtual APN. A session is determined that is active for the mobile device through the first access medium and the second access request is assigned the first real APN even though the request is received through a second access medium. The continuity of the connection may then be maintained because the first real APN is still being used. In this case, a handoff of the connection from the first access network to the second access network is performed while the connection to the service is maintained through the first real APN.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a mobile device, a first access request for a service through a first access network, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;

creating a session using the real access point, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;

receiving at a second virtual access point name, from the mobile device, a second access request for the service through a second access network including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;

determining that the session is still active for the service based upon the session identifier; and

maintaining continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second access network using the session identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request to a device with information for the second access request; and

receiving a response from the device indicating the determined session that was created and the real access point to use.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the request is an authentication request to an AAA server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a handoff from a connection through the first access network to a connection through the second access network for the mobile device while maintaining continuity of the session.

5. A method comprising:

receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a network device, a first access request for a service, the first access request being sent by a mobile device through a first communication medium, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;

sending the real access point address to the network device to allow the network device to create a session using the real access point address, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;

receiving at a second virtual access point name, from the network device, a second access request for the mobile device, the second access request being sent by the mobile device through a second communication medium including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;

determining that the session is still active for the service at the real access point based upon the session identifier; and

sending the real access point address and information for the session that is active to the network device to allow the network device to maintain continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second communication medium using the session identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

starting an accounting record for the service when the first access request is received;

determining if the accounting record for service has been closed; and

determining that the session is still active if the accounting record has not been closed.

7. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to;

receive at a first virtual access point name, from a mobile device, a first access request for a service through a first access network, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;

create a session using the real access point in a plurality of real access points for the mobile device, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;

receive at a second virtual access point name, from the mobile device, a second access request for the service through a second access network including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;

determine that the session is still active for the service based upon the session identifier; and

maintain continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second access network using the session identifier.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

send a request to a device with information for the second access request; and

receive a response from the device indicating the determined session that was created and the real access point to use.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the request is an authentication request to an AAA server.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to perform a handoff from a connection through the first access network to a connection through the second access network for the mobile device while maintaining continuity of the session.

11. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to;

receive at a first virtual access point name, from a network device, a first access request for a service, the first access request being sent by a mobile device through a first communication medium, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;

send the real access point address to the network device to allow the network device to create a session using the real access point address, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;

receive at a second virtual access point name, from the network device, a second access request for the mobile device, the second access request being sent by the mobile device through a second communication medium including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;

determine that the session is still active for the service at the real access point based upon the session identifier; and

send the real access point address and information for the session that is active to the network device to allow the network device to maintain continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second communication medium using the session identifier.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the logic when executed is further operable to:

start an accounting record for the service when the first access request is received;

determine if the accounting record for service has been closed; and

determine that the session for the service is still active if the accounting record has not been closed.

13. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a mobile device, a first access request for a service through a first access network, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;

means for creating a session using the real access point, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;

means for receiving at a second virtual access point name, from the mobile device, a second access request for the service through a second access network including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;

means for determining that the session is still active for the service based upon the session identifier; and

means for maintaining continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second access network using the session identifier.

14. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a network device, a first access request for a service, the first access request being sent by a mobile device through a first communication medium, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;

means for sending the real access point address to the network device to allow the network device to create a session using the real access point address, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;

means for receiving at a second virtual access point name, from the network device, a second access request for the mobile device, the second access request being sent by the mobile device through a second communication medium including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;

means for determining that the session is still active for the service at the real access point based upon the session identifier; and

means for sending the real access point address and information for the session that is active to the network device to allow the network device to maintain continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second communication medium using the session identifier.