System and method for handoffs between technologies

• US 8,638,747 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Radhakrishnan, Shaji E., Puthiyandyil, Sanil Kumar, Ramankutty, Rajesh, Schwartz, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): LI, GUANG W
• Application Number:
  US12/028,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20080205342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/087 for preserving data network PoA address despite hand-offs
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a handoff between technologies are disclosed. An intra-technology handoff occurs where the same integrated chassis handles the session for the different access technologies. In an intra-technology handoff, the same IP address and the session can be maintained through the handoff. The mobile node can undergo a handoff without issuing a registration request in some embodiments. An inter-technology handoff occurs from one integrated chassis to another integrated chassis. The integrated chassis can preserve session and context information in a session manager and in a handoff from one access technology to another the same session manager can be chosen with the session and context information remaining intact even though the access technology has changed. The integrated chassis can provide an access technology handoff where the core network does not notice any change and applications running on or delivered to the mobile node are not effected.

Claims

1. An integrated chassis residing in a communication network comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing instructions and in operable communication with the processor;

a plurality of session managers implemented in a computer-readable medium, the plurality of session managers in operative communication with and sharing the processor, the plurality of session managers for receiving control information and data from a mobile node in a first access technology and for setting up a session for the mobile node with the first access technology, each of the plurality of session managers configured for communicating with a first access technology stack and at least a second access technology stack to manage packet processing for either of the first or at least a second access technology to enable communication with the mobile node, wherein the second access technology stack implements an access service network gateway (ASNGW); and

an access technology demux manager implemented in the computer-readable medium in operative communication with the processor for selecting for the session an assigned session manager from among the plurality of session managers for communicating with the mobile node with the first access technology,

the access technology demux manager, in response to a handoff to a second access technology, for selecting the same assigned session manager from among the plurality of session managers where an existing session is set up in the first access technology such that the mobile node changes to a second access technology and retains the same assigned session manager.

2. The integrated chassis of claim 1, wherein the session retains identical identification information used to identify the mobile node on the communication network when the access technology changes from the first access technology to the second access technology.

3. The integrated chassis of claim 2, wherein the identification information is an internet protocol (IP) address.

4. The integrated chassis of claim 1, wherein the first access technology is one of 3GPP and 3GPP2, and the second access technology is WiMAX.

5. The integrated chassis of claim 1, wherein the first access technology is a cellular access technology and the second access technology is a wireless local area network.

6. The integrated chassis of claim 1, further comprising the assigned session manager for mapping a session to the mobile node in the chassis.

7. The integrated chassis of claim 1, further comprising the assigned session manager for providing access to the mobile node using a single IP address that is preserved across the handoff, and wherein the handoff is transparent to the IP core network.

8. A network communication method comprising:

receiving a request from a mobile node at a gateway to begin a session in a first access technology;

in response to the request, providing the mobile node with identification information used to identify the mobile node in a communication network and setting up a first access technology stack to manage packet processing in the first access technology and a session instance with an assigned session manager selected from among a plurality of session managers implemented in software and which reside at the gateway to manage identification information and communication with the communication network, the session managers each configured for communicating with the first access technology or a second access technology;

receiving from the mobile node control information and data at the first access technology stack;

while the mobile node is communicating in a session with the first access technology, determining to begin a session with the mobile node in response to a handover to the second access technology; and

at the gateway, providing the same identification information and selecting the same session instance with the same assigned session manager to manage identification information and communication with the communication network and setting up a second access technology stack to manage packet processing in the second access technology to enable communication with the mobile node, wherein the second access technology stack implements an access service network gateway (ASNGW).

9. The network communication method of claim 8, wherein the identification information is an internet protocol (IP) address.

10. The network communication method of claim 8, wherein the second access technology is WiMAX.

11. The network communication method of claim 8, wherein the first access technology is a cellular access technology and the second access technology is a wireless local area network.

12. The network communication method of claim 8, further comprising mapping a session to the mobile node at the gateway.

13. The network communication method of claim 8, further comprising the gateway providing access to the mobile node using a single IP address that is preserved after a handoff from the first access technology to the second access technology, and wherein the handoff is transparent to the IP core network.

14. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request from a mobile node at a gateway to begin a session in a first access technology;

in response to the request, providing the mobile node with identification information used to identify the mobile node in a communication network and setting up a first access technology stack to manage packet processing in the first access technology and a session instance with an assigned session manager selected from among a plurality of session managers implemented in software and which reside at the gateway to manage identification information and communication with the communication network, the session managers each configured for communicating with the first access technology or a second access technology;

receiving from the mobile node control information and data at the first access technology stack;

determining to begin a session with the mobile node in response to a handover to the second access technology; and

at the gateway, providing the same identification information and selecting the same assigned session manager from among the plurality of session managers to manage identification information and communication with the communication network and setting up a second access technology stack to manage packet processing in the second access technology to enable communication with the mobile node, wherein the second access technology stack implements an access service network gateway (ASNGW).

15. The logic of claim 14, wherein the identification information is an internet protocol (IP) address.

16. The logic of claim 14, wherein the first access technology is one of 3GPP and 3GPP2, and the second access technology is WiMAX.

17. The logic of claim 14, wherein the first access technology is a cellular access technology and the second access technology is a wireless local area network.

18. The logic of claim 14, the operations further comprising mapping a session to the mobile node at the gateway.

19. The logic of claim 14, the operations further comprising the gateway providing access to the mobile node using a single IP address that is preserved after a handoff from the first access technology to the second access technology, and wherein the handoff is transparent to the IP core network.