Virtual mobility anchor for network sharing
First Claim
1. A virtual mobility anchor network element comprising:
- a network interface implemented at least partially in hardware; and
a processor implemented at least partially in hardware;
wherein the virtual mobility anchor network element is configured to;
establish a first Internet Protocol (IP) address for a mobile device; and
provide the IP address to a first packet gateway (PGW) node of a first mobile network operator (MNO) in response to a request for the IP address for the mobile device,wherein the network interface is configured to receive, from a second PGW node of a second MNO, a second request for an IP address for the mobile device, wherein the virtual mobility anchor network element is configured to provide the first IP address to the second PGW in response to the second request for an IP address for the mobile device, and wherein the second request comprises a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) request message.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are directed to a virtual mobility anchor network element to receive, from a packet gateway (PGW) node, a request for an internet protocol (IP) address for a mobile device, establish an IP address for the mobile device; and provide the IP address to the PGW node in response to the request for the IP address for the mobile device. The virtual mobility anchor network element is configured to receive IP traffic from a network location; determine a target destination for the IP traffic based on a destination IP address, the destination IP address comprising the second IP address; and forward the IP traffic to the PGW node associated with the destination IP address. The virtual mobility anchor network element is also configured to receive IP traffic from the PGW node; determine a target destination for the IP traffic; and route the IP traffic to the target destination.
25 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A virtual mobility anchor network element comprising:
-
a network interface implemented at least partially in hardware; and a processor implemented at least partially in hardware; wherein the virtual mobility anchor network element is configured to; establish a first Internet Protocol (IP) address for a mobile device; and provide the IP address to a first packet gateway (PGW) node of a first mobile network operator (MNO) in response to a request for the IP address for the mobile device, wherein the network interface is configured to receive, from a second PGW node of a second MNO, a second request for an IP address for the mobile device, wherein the virtual mobility anchor network element is configured to provide the first IP address to the second PGW in response to the second request for an IP address for the mobile device, and wherein the second request comprises a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) request message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method performed by a virtual mobility anchor network element implemented at least partially in hardware, the method comprising:
-
receiving, from a first PGW node of a first MNO, a request for an IP address for a mobile device; establishing a first IP address for the mobile device; providing the first IP address to the first PGW node in response to the request for the IP address for the mobile device; receiving, from a second PGW node of a second MNO, a second request for an IP address for the mobile device; and providing the first IP address to the second PGW in response to the second request for an IP address for the mobile device, wherein the second request comprises a DHCP request message. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A mobile virtual network comprising:
-
a home subscriber server (HSS) implemented at least partially in hardware, the HSS comprising a database of subscribers and, for each subscriber, information about authorized cellular networks each subscriber is authorized to connect to, the HSS configured to; receive a request for authentication of a user equipment (UE) to connect to a cellular network from a mobility management entity associated with the cellular network; and determine that the UE is authorized to connect to the cellular network; and a virtual mobility anchor network element implemented at least partially in hardware configured to; establish a first IP address for the UE; and provide the IP address to a first PGW node of a first MNO in response to a request for the IP address for the UE, wherein the virtual mobility anchor network element comprises a network interface configured to receive, from a second PGW node of a second MNO, a second request for an IP address for the UE, wherein the virtual mobility anchor network element is configured to provide the first IP address to the second PGW in response to the second request for an IP address for the UE, and wherein the second request comprises a DHCP request message. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification