Selection of packet data protocol context for handover from cellular network to femto cell

• US 8,902,850 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LYFT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Choi-Grogan, Yung Shirley
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, STEVE R
• Application Number:
  US12/276,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20100128694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,199 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0027 for a plurality of data sessions of end-to-end connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer end-to-end data connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0044 of quality context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/365 by manual user interaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

System(s) and method(s) are provided to manage packet data protocol (PDP) contexts upon cellular-to-femto handover, wherein femto network has disparate capabilities to support applications with distinct access point names (APNs) and quality of service (QoS) profiles. Based at least on activity factors of applications associated with PDP contexts, a QoS-based ranking of PDP contexts, and subscriber input, cellular network platform selects active PDP contexts to retain and suspend upon handover. A group of active PDP contexts is handed off in accordance with femto coverage capability, with remaining active PDP contexts suspended during handover. When a suspended PDP context, and application associated therewith, is resumed through femto coverage, a PDP context modification is conducted with a new APN and the application is routed to a corresponding femto gateway node and application server. Additionally, femto network platform performs a radio access bearer reconfiguration to meet QoS requirements of the resumed PDP context.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device comprising a processor, an indication of a selection of a first set and a second set of active packet data protocol contexts from a plurality of active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the first set is for a transfer from cellular network device coverage to femto network device coverage and the second set is for suspension during the transfer, wherein the selection comprises a ranking of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set based on respective monitored activity factors indicating an inactive state or an active state associated with the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set, and wherein the ranking facilitates a resume sequence for the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set in response to a packet data protocol context for the transfer being determined to have been terminated;

initiating, by the mobile device, display of the selection;

prompting, by the mobile device, for first user input confirming the selection; and

in response to determining the first user input does not confirm the selection, prompting, by the mobile device, for second user input to specify an active packet data protocol context for the transfer from the plurality of active packet data protocol contexts.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying, by the mobile device, the first user input to a component that manages packet data protocol contexts.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

conveying, by the mobile device, the second user input to a component that manages packet data protocol contexts.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input further specifies another active packet data protocol context for suspension from the plurality of active packet data protocol contexts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection comprises an additional ranking of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set based on respective quality of service ranks associated with the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set, wherein the additional ranking facilitates a resume sequence for the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set in response to the packet data protocol context associated with the transfer being determined to have been terminated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ranking of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set is further based on historical second user input received by the mobile device.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium with executable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a device comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving an indication of a selection of a first set and a second set of active packet data protocol contexts from a third set of active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the first set is for a transfer from cellular network coverage to femto network coverage and the second set is for suspension during the transfer, wherein the selection comprises a ranking of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set based upon respective monitored activity factors indicating an inactive state or an active state associated with the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set, and wherein the ranking facilitates a resume sequence of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set in response to a packet data protocol context of the transfer being determined to have been released;

prompting for first user input confirming the selection; and

in response to receiving the first user input and determining the first user input rejects the selection, requesting second user input indicating an active packet data protocol context for the transfer from the third set of active packet data protocol contexts.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise conveying the first user input to a packet data protocol context management component.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise conveying the second user input to another device managing the third set of packet data protocol contexts.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the second user input further specifies another active packet data protocol context for suspension from the third set of active packet data protocol contexts.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the selection comprises an additional ranking of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set based on respective quality of service ranks associated with the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set, and the additional ranking facilitates a resume sequence of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set in response to the transfer packet data protocol context being determined to have been released.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the ranking of the second set of active packet data protocol contexts is further based upon historical second user input from a mobile device.

13. A wireless device, comprising:

a memory to store executable instructions; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, that facilitates execution of the executable instructions to perform operations, comprising;

receiving an indication of a selection of a first set and a second set of active packet data protocol contexts from active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the first set is for handover from cellular service coverage to femto service coverage and the second set is for suspension during the handover, wherein the selection comprises a ranking of the second set of active packet data protocol contexts based on respective monitored activity factors indicating an inactive state or an active state associated with the second set of active packet data protocol contexts, and the ranking facilitates a resume sequence of the second set of active packet data protocol contexts in response to a packet data protocol context of the handover being determined to have ended;

prompting for first user input to confirm the selection; and

in response to reception of the first user input indicating the selection is not confirmed, prompting for second user input to specify an active packet data protocol context for the handover from the active packet data protocol contexts.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise conveying the second user input to a packet data protocol context management computing system remote from the wireless device.

15. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the second user input further specifies another active packet data protocol context for suspension from the active packet data protocol contexts.

16. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the selection comprises another ranking of the second set of active packet data protocol contexts based on respective quality of service ranks associated with the second set of active packet data protocol contexts, and the other ranking facilitates a resume sequence of the second set of active packet data protocol contexts in response to the packet data protocol context of the handover being determined to have ended.

17. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the ranking of the second set of active packet data protocol contexts is further based upon historical second user input received by the wireless device.