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

• US 9,763,145 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• 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:
  US15/344,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20170055182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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

Packet data protocol (PDP) contexts are managed 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:

presenting, by a mobile device comprising a processor, a selection of a first group of active packet data protocol contexts and a second group of active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the first group is for a transfer from cellular network device coverage to femto network device coverage, wherein the second group is for suspension during the transfer, and wherein the active packet data protocol contexts in the second group are ranked for resumption in response to an active packet data protocol context from the first group being determined to have been terminated;

prompting, by the mobile device, for first user input to indicate whether the selection has been confirmed; 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 group to be performed in response to the active packet data protocol context from the first group being determined to have been terminated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a first device, and further comprising conveying, by the mobile device, data representative of the selection to a second device that manages packet data protocol contexts.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a first device, and further comprising conveying, by the mobile device, data representative of the resume sequence to a second device that manages packet data protocol contexts.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining the first user input confirms the selection and in response to the active packet data protocol context from the first group being determined to have been terminated, resuming, by the mobile device, an active packet data protocol context of the second group according to the ranking.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining the first user input does not confirm the selection, receiving, by the mobile device, the second user input specifying the resume sequence.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, in response to determining the first user input confirms the selection and in response to the active packet data protocol context from the first group being determined to have been terminated, resuming, by the mobile device, an active packet data protocol context of the second group according to the resume sequence.

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

8. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

displaying a selection of first active packet data protocol contexts and second active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the first active packet data protocol contexts are for a transfer from a first coverage of a cellular network device to a second coverage of a femto network device, wherein the second active packet data protocol contexts are for suspension during the transfer, and wherein the second active packet data protocol contexts are ranked for being resumed following suspension of an active packet data protocol context from the first active packet data protocol contexts;

receiving first user input representative of whether the selection is confirmed; and

in response to determining the first user input does not confirm the selection, receiving, by the mobile device, second user input specifying a resume sequence of the second active packet data protocol contexts to be performed following the suspension of the first active packet data protocol context.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise conveying the selection to a component that manages packet data protocol contexts.

10. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise conveying the resume sequence to a component that manages packet data protocol contexts.

11. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the active packet data protocol context is a first active packet data protocol context, and wherein the operations further comprise, in response to determining the first user input confirms the selection and in response to the suspension of the first active packet data protocol context from the first packet data protocol contexts, resuming a second packet data protocol context of the second active packet data protocol contexts according to the ranking.

12. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the receiving the second user input comprises, in response to determining the first user input does not confirm the selection, receiving the second user input specifying the resume sequence.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the active packet data protocol context is a first active packet data protocol context, and wherein the operations further comprise, in response to determining the first user input confirms the selection and in response to the suspension of the first active packet data protocol context, resuming a second active packet data protocol context of the second active packet data protocol contexts according to the resume sequence.

14. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the ranking of the second active packet data protocol contexts is further based on historical user input specifying previous active packet data protocol contexts for previous transfers received by the mobile device.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

initiating, by a wireless device comprising a processor, a display of a selection of first active packet data protocol contexts and second active packet data protocol contexts, wherein the first active packet data protocol contexts are for a transfer from cellular network device coverage to femto network device coverage, wherein the second active packet data protocol contexts are for suspension during the transfer, and wherein the second active packet data protocol contexts are ranked for being resumed following inactivation of a first active packet data protocol context of the first active packet data protocol contexts;

obtaining, by the wireless device, first user input to determine whether the selection is confirmed; and

in response to determining the first user input does not confirm the selection, prompting, by the wireless device, for second user input specifying a resume sequence of the second active packet data protocol contexts to be performed following the inactivation of the first active packet data protocol context.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise conveying, by the wireless device, the selection to a network device that manages packet data protocol contexts.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise conveying, by the wireless device, the resume sequence to a network device that manages packet data protocol contexts.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise, in response to determining the first user input confirms the selection and in response to the inactivation of the first active packet data protocol context, resuming, by the wireless device, a second active packet data protocol context of the second active packet data protocol contexts according to the ranking.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the obtaining the first user input comprises, in response to determining the first user input does not confirm the selection, receiving, by the wireless device, the second user input specifying the resume sequence.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise, in response to determining the first user input confirms the selection and in response to the inactivation of the first active packet data protocol context, resuming, by the wireless device, a second active packet data protocol context of the second active packet data protocol contexts according to the resume sequence.