Context transfer in a communication network comprising plural heterogeneous access networks

• US 8,897,257 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Bourgett, Alexander, Bachmann, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasraian, Allahyar
• Application Number:
  US12/707,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20100142484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331, 370/332, 455/439, 455/444
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for a context transfer in a communication network including a plurality of heterogeneous access networks, wherein a mobile terminal is attached to one of the access networks. Further, the present invention relates to a context transfer manager performing the method. Moreover, the present invention relates to a mobile terminal specially adapted to perform the provided method for a context transfer. To facilitate a context transfer between heterogeneous access networks, the present invention introduces a context transfer manager generating at least one context based on capabilities and parameters associated to the mobile terminal and capabilities and parameters of the neighboring access networks taking into account the respective access technology. Further the context transfer manager is common to the heterogeneous access networks in the communication network and performs the context transfers related to a particular mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method for selection of an access network in a communication network comprising a plurality of heterogeneous access networks wherein a mobile terminal is attached to one of the plurality of heterogeneous access networks, the method comprising:

receiving network status information at an access network information transfer manager, wherein the access network information transfer manager is common to the plurality of heterogeneous access networks in the communication network;

receiving location information of the mobile terminal at the access network information transfer manager;

determining by the access network information transfer manager at least one neighboring access network for the mobile terminal based on the received network status information and the received location information;

generating by the access network information transfer manager at least one context for the at least one neighboring access network and the mobile terminal; and

transmitting by the access network information transfer manager the at least one context to each of the at least one neighboring access network and the mobile terminal,

receiving the at least one context at the mobile terminal,

selecting by the mobile terminal the access network among the least one neighboring network based on the at least one context,

wherein the generating of the at least one context is based on capabilities and parameters associated with the mobile terminal and capabilities and parameters of the at least one neighboring access network taking into account access technology, and

wherein the access network information transfer manager common to the plurality of heterogeneous access networks performs a context transfer related to said mobile terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one context comprises a routing policy.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network status information comprises at least one of reached Quality of Service in a network and failure of access to a network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network status information is received from a mobility manager.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least parts of functions of the mobility manager are located at the mobile terminal.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least parts of functions of the mobility manager are located in the communication network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the access network information transfer manager contacts the communication network to investigate a network status.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

preconfiguring by the mobile terminal its network interfaces for the next points of access based on the context.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information of the mobile terminal is based on a geographical location.