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

• US 9,173,137 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US14/527,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20150049735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 of active packet data protocol contexts and a second set of active packet data protocol contexts from active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the first set is for a transfer from cellular network device coverage to femto network device coverage, wherein the second set is for suspension during the transfer, wherein the selection comprises a ranking of the second set of active packet data protocol contexts based on respective monitored activity factors associated with applications associated with the active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the ranking facilitates a resume sequence for the second set of active packet data protocol contexts in response to an active packet data protocol context for the transfer from the first set being determined to have been terminated, and wherein an activity factor associated with an application associated with an active packet data protocol context indicates whether the application is currently actively engaged in a transaction using the cellular network device coverage;

initiating, by the mobile device, a 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 specifying a resume sequence of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set.

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

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining the first user input confirms the selection, resuming, by the mobile device, at least one of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set according to the ranking in response to a packet data protocol context for the transfer being determined to have been terminated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ranking is further based on respective quality of service ranks associated with the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set.

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

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of active packet data protocol contexts are selected based upon a maximum number of packet data protocol contexts supported by a femto cell in the femto network device coverage.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein a quality of service rank is based upon a packet loss rate.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein a quality of service rank is based upon a block error rate.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein a quality of service rank is based upon a packet error rate.

10. 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 second set of active packet data protocol contexts based on respective monitored activity factors associated with applications associated with the active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the ranking facilitates a resume sequence for the second set of active packet data protocol contexts in response to an active packet data protocol context for the transfer from the first set being determined to have been released, and wherein an activity factor associated with an application associated with an active packet data protocol context indicates whether the application is currently actively employing the cellular network coverage;

displaying the selection;

prompting for first user input confirming the selection; and

in response to the first user input being determined not to confirm the selection, prompting for second user input specifying a resume sequence for the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise conveying the indication to a packet data protocol context management component.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise, in response to determining the first user input does confirm the selection, resuming at least one of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set according to the ranking in response to a packet data protocol context for the transfer being determined to have been terminated.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the ranking is further based on respective quality of service ranks associated with the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the ranking of the second set of active packet data protocol contexts is further based upon historical user input specifying active packet data protocol contexts for previous transfers from a mobile device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first set of active packet data protocol contexts are selected based upon a maximum number of packet data protocol contexts supported by a femto cell in the femto network coverage.

16. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the first set of active packet data protocol contexts are selected based upon a maximum number of packet data protocol contexts supported by a femto cell in the femto service coverage.

17. A wireless device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of 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 associated with applications associated with the active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the ranking facilitates a resume sequence for the second set of active packet data protocol contexts in response to an active packet data protocol context for the transfer from the first set being determined to have ended, and wherein an activity factor associated with an application associated with an active packet data protocol context indicates whether the application is currently actively transceiving using the cellular service coverage;

presenting the selection; and

in response to receiving first data, as a result of prompting for first user input, which does not confirm the selection, prompting for second user input specifying a resume sequence for the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set.

18. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise conveying the indication to a packet data protocol context management computing system remote from the wireless device.

19. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise, in response to receiving second data confirming the selection as a result of the prompting for the first user input, resuming at least one of the active packet data protocol contexts of the second set according to the ranking in response to a packet data protocol context for the transfer being determined to have been terminated.

20. The wireless device of claim 17, wherein the ranking is further based on respective quality of service ranks associated with the second set of active packet data protocol contexts.