Wireless communications system having built-in packet data compression and support for enabling non-standard features between network elements

• US 20040008650A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockstar Consortium US LP (Rockstar Consortium Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockstar Bidco LP (Rockstar Consortium Inc.)
• Inventors: Le, Khiem, Saifullah, Yousuf, Swami, Yogesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A mobile station (100) and a compression/decompression node in a wireless network (5), preferably the GGSN 30 (30), agree on whether to apply compression/decompression, and what compression/decompression scheme to use either by pre-configuration (when the GGSN 30 is in the home network of the mobile terminal) or by signalling (when the GGSN 30 is in a visited or a roamed-to network). Additional information, such as a profile-specific dictionary, may be used to increase the compression efficiency, particularly during start-up. Dynamic data can also be accommodated. The compression/decompression may be turned on and off on a packet-by-packet basis, depending on whether the compression actually results in a smaller packet. A compressed/uncompressed indicator bit or bits can be inserted explicitly on a per packet basis, and/or the compressed/uncompressed indication can be derived implicitly. A desired data compression/decompression algorithm, or any desired Proprietary Feature, can be signaled, possible without requiring standardization changes, by using a Packet Data Protocol PDP Context Activation message with a predetermined Access Point Name (APN) message information element that is sent from a first network element to a second network element for at least identifying the desired compression/decompression algorithm. It another embodiment, for the case where Proprietary Feature capability is exchanged between a RAN and a UE network element, a transmission of an extension to a UE Capability Enquiry message is sent to the UE for identifying the Proprietary Feature.

Claims

1. A method for performing data compression in a wireless communications system, comprising:

receiving an original data packet at a network node located between a packet data network and an Internet Protocol (IP) network of the wireless communications system;

compressing the original data packet at the network node; and

transmitting the compressed original data packet through the IP network and through a wireless link to a mobile station.

2. A method as in claim 1, where compressing the original data packet uses at least one of a data compression algorithm and parameters specified in a subscriber profile associated with the mobile station.

3. A method as in claim 1, where compressing the original data packet uses a data compression algorithm that is specified during a signalling exchange with the mobile station.

4. A method as in claim 1, where compressing the original data packet includes first examining the original data packet to determine if it is compressible, and if it is not, transmitting the original data packet to the mobile station without compressing the original data packet.

5. A method as in claim 4, where examining the original data packet comprises detecting explicit information carried by the data packet.

6. A method as in claim 4, where examining the original data packet comprises attempting to compress the original data packet for determining if the original data packet is compressible.

7. A method as in claim 1, where compressing is performed in response to detecting a presence of an Access Point Name (APN) message information element having a predetermined value for specifying that compression be accomplished.

8. A method as in claim 4, further comprising adding a compressed/uncompressed indicator to the transmitted data packet.

9. A method as in claim 4, where the transmitted data packet comprises one of an explicit or an implicit compressed/uncompressed indicator.

10. A method as in claim 9 and further comprising adjusting a size of the data packet to accommodate the explicit compressed/uncompressed indicator.

11. A method as in claim 1, where data compression is selectively enabled and disabled by a signalling exchange between the network node and the mobile station.

12. A method as in claim 1, where compressing the original data packet includes first receiving an indication from the mobile station that the original data packet is compressible.

13. A method as in claim 4, where examining the original data packet comprises detecting information carried by the data packet and, for certain types of data packets, further comprising maintaining state information concerning content carried by the data packets, and compressing or not compressing subsequently received original data packets at least partially in accordance with the state information.

14. A method as in claim 1, where the network node comprises a gateway general packet radio system support node GGSN.

15. A method for performing data compression in a wireless communications system, comprising:

receiving an original data packet at a mobile station;

compressing the original data packet at the mobile station; and

transmitting the compressed original data packet through a wireless link to a network node located between a packet data network and an Internet Protocol (IP) network of the wireless communications system.

16. A method as in claim 15, where compressing the original data packet uses at least one of a data compression algorithm and parameters specified in a subscriber profile associated with the mobile station.

17. A method as in claim 15, where compressing the original data packet uses a data compression algorithm that is specified during a signaling exchange with the mobile station.

18. A method as in claim 15, where compressing the original data packet includes first examining the original data packet to determine if it is compressible, and if it is not, transmitting the original data packet to the network node without compressing the original data packet.

19. A method as in claim 18, where examining the original data packet comprises detecting explicit information carried by the data packet.

20. A method as in claim 18, where examining the original data packet comprises attempting to compress the original data packet for determining if the original data packet is compressible.

21. A method as in claim 15, where compressing is performed in response to detecting a presence of an Access Point Name (APN) message information element having a predetermined value for specifying that compression be accomplished.

22. A method as in claim 18, further comprising adding a compressed/uncompressed indicator to the transmitted data packet.

23. A method as in claim 18, where the transmitted data packet comprises one of an explicit or an implicit compressed/uncompressed indicator.

24. A method as in claim 23, and further comprising adjusting a size of the data packet to accommodate the explicit compressed/uncompressed indicator.

25. A method as in claim 18, where data compression is selectively enabled and disabled by a signalling exchange between the network node and the mobile station.

26. A method as in claim 15, where compressing the original data packet includes first receiving an indication that the original data packet is compressible.

27. A method as in claim 18, where examining the original data packet comprises detecting information carried by the data packet and, for certain types of data packets, further comprising maintaining state information concerning content carried by the data packets, and compressing or not compressing subsequently received original data packets at least partially in accordance with the state information.

28. A method as in claim 15, where the network node comprises a gateway general packet radio system support node GGSN.

29. A method for performing data compression in a wireless communications system, comprising:

at a first network element, determining if a second network element supports a desired data compression/decompression algorithm;

if the determination is positive, receiving an original data packet at the first network element;

compressing the original data packet at the first network element using the desired data compression algorithm;

transmitting the compressed original data packet through a wireless link to the second network element; and

decompressing the compressed data packet at the second network element;

where

the operation of determining if the second network element supports the desired data compression/decompression algorithm uses a Packet Data Protocol PDP Context Activation message with a predetermined Access Point Name (APN) message information element that is sent from the first network element to the second network element for at least identifying the desired compression/decompression algorithm.

30. A method as in claim 29, further comprising performing additional signalling using Packet Data Units PDUs sent between network elements.

31. A method as in claim 29, where if the second network element supports the desired data compression/decompression algorithm the second network element recognizes the predetermined APN and, in response, sends a Create PDP Context Request, with the predetermined APN, to a third network element which, if it supports the desired compression/decompression algorithm, recognizes the predetermined APN and invokes the desired compression/decompression algorithm.

32. A method as in claim 31, where the first network element comprises a mobile station, the second network element comprises a SGSN, and the third network element comprises a GGSN.

33. A method as in claim 31, where the first network element comprises a GGSN, the second network element comprises a SGSN, and the third network element comprises a mobile station.

34. A method as in claim 31, where the first network element comprises a mobile station, the second network element comprises a SGSN, and the third network element comprises a GGSN, and where the SGSN and the GGSN are located in a non-home, roamed-to wireless network of the mobile station.

35. A method for invoking a Proprietary Feature in a wireless communications system, comprising:

at a first network element, determining if a second network element supports a desired Proprietary Feature by sending a Packet Data Protocol PDP Context Activation message with a predetermined Access Point Name (APN) message information element that is sent from the first network element to the second network element for at least identifying the desired Proprietary Feature; and

if the second network element supports the desired Proprietary Feature, sending a Create PDP Context Request, with the predetermined APN, to one of a third network element or to the first network element.

36. A method as in claim 35, further comprising performing additional signalling using Packet Data Units PDUs sent between network elements.

37. A method as in claim 35, where the first network element comprises a mobile station, the second network element comprises a SGSN, and the third network element comprises a GGSN.

38. A method as in claim 35, where the first network element comprises a GGSN, the second network element comprises a SGSN, and the third network element comprises a mobile station.

39. A method as in claim 35, where the first network element comprises a mobile station, the second network element comprises a SGSN, and the third network element comprises a GGSN, where the SGSN and the GGSN are located in a non-home, roamed-to wireless network of the mobile station, and where the desired Proprietary Feature comprises a compression/decompression algorithm.

40. A method as in claim 35, where the first network element comprises a mobile station, the second network element comprises a SGSN, and the third network element comprises a GGSN, and where the desired Proprietary Feature comprises the downloading of a data packet compression/decompression dictionary.

41. A method as in claim 35, where the first network element comprises a mobile station, the second network element comprises a SGSN, and the third network element comprises a GGSN, and where the desired Proprietary Feature comprises a data packet payload compression/decompression algorithm.

42. A method as in claim 35, where the first network element comprises a mobile station, the second network element comprises a SGSN, and the third network element comprises a GGSN, and where the desired Proprietary Feature comprises a data packet header payload compression/decompression algorithm.

43. A method for implementing a Proprietary Feature in a wireless communications system, comprising:

originating a request at a first one of a plurality of network elements to determine if a second network element supports a desired Proprietary Feature, the request comprising a signaling exchange involving at least the first and second network elements, the signaling exchange being accomplished at least in part through a modification to an interpretation of a portion of a first message; and

if the second network element supports the desired Proprietary Feature, signaling the first network node using a second message.

44. A method as in claim 43, where the portion of the first message comprises an Access Point Name APN information element, and where the APN is assigned a special value defined for identifying the desired Proprietary Feature.

45. A method as in claim 44, where the step of originating comprises creating a Packet Data Protocol PDP Context.

46. A method as in claim 44, where the step of originating comprises sending a Request Packet Data Protocol PDP Context Activation message.

47. A method as in claim 44, where the step of originating comprises placing the APN in a Private Extension field of a Packet Data Unit PDU Notification Request message.

48. A method as in claim 43, where the step of originating is accomplished by a gateway general packet radio system support node GGSN or by a serving general packet radio system support node SGSN

49. A method as in claim 48, where the step of originating is performed by the SGSN by using a designated Access Point Name APN in a Request PDP Context Activation message, or where the step of originating is performed by the GGSN by placing the designated APN in a Private Extension field of a PDU Notification Request message.

50. A method as in claim 43, further comprising determining support for the desired Proprietary Feature using a two-way handshaking mechanism between the first and second network elements.

51. A method as in claim 44, further comprising initiating an invocation of the Proprietary Feature by executing a Network Initiated Packet Data Protocol PDP Context Activation with the APN having the special value being placed in a Request PDP Context Activation message to a mobile station, where if the mobile station supports the desired Proprietary Feature, it recognizes the designated APN, and where if the mobile station does not support the desired Proprietary Feature, it does not recognize the designated APN.

52. A method as in claim 44, further comprising initiating an invocation of the desired Proprietary Feature by emulating Packet Data Units PDUs that have arrived from an external network, and sending a PDU Notification Request message to a Serving GPRS Support Node SGSN to begin to initiate Network Initiated PDP Context Activation.

53. A method as in claim 44, where the desired Proprietary Feature comprises data compression.

54. A wireless communication system, comprising:

means for originating a request at a first one of a plurality of network elements to determine if a second network element supports a desired Proprietary Feature, the request comprising a signaling exchange involving at least the first and second network elements, the signaling exchange being accomplished at least in part through a modification to an interpretation of a portion of a first message; and

means at said second network element that is responsive to the second network element supporting the desired Proprietary Feature, for signaling the first network node using a second message.

55. A system as in claim 54, where the portion of the first message comprises an Access Point Name APN information element, and where the APN is assigned a special value defined for identifying the desired Proprietary Feature.

56. A system as in claim 55, where said originating means comprises a Packet Data Protocol PDP Context.

57. A system as in claim 55, where said originating means comprises sending a Request Packet Data Protocol PDP Context Activation message.

58. A system as in claim 55, where said originating means comprises placing the APN in a Private Extension field of a Packet Data Unit PDU Notification Request message.

59. A system as in claim 54, where said originating means comprises part of a gateway general packet radio system support node GGSN or comprises part of a serving general packet radio system support node SGSN

60. A system as in claim 59, where said originating means of said SGSN uses a designated Access Point Name APN that is placed in a Request PDP Context Activation message, and where said originating means of said GGSN uses the designated APN that is placed in a Private Extension field of a PDU Notification Request message.

61. A system as in claim 54, further comprising determining support for the desired Proprietary Feature using a two-way handshaking mechanism between the first and second network elements.

62. A system as in claim 55, further comprising initiating an invocation of the Proprietary Feature by executing a Network Initiated Packet Data Protocol PDP Context Activation with the APN having the special value being placed in a Request PDP Context Activation message to a mobile station, where if the mobile station supports the desired Proprietary Feature, it recognizes the designated APN, and where if the mobile station does not support the desired Proprietary Feature, it does not recognize the designated APN.

63. A system as in claim 55, further comprising means for initiating an invocation of the desired Proprietary Feature by emulating Packet Data Units PDUs that have arrived from an external network, and sending a PDU Notification Request message to a Serving GPRS Support Node SGSN to begin Network Initiated PDP Context Activation.

64. A system as in claim 55, where the desired Proprietary Feature comprises data compression.

65. A method for implementing a Proprietary Feature in a wireless communications system, comprising:

for a case where Proprietary Feature capability is exchanged between a Radio Access Network RAN and a user equipment UE network element, transmitting an extension to a UE Capability Enquiry message to the UE for identifying the Proprietary Feature; and

at a UE that does not support the Proprietary Feature, ignoring the content of the extension, while at a UE that does support the Proprietary Feature, accepting the extension as an enquiry for processing in accordance with the supported Proprietary Feature.

66. A method as in claim 65, where the Proprietary Feature comprises data compression.

67. A method as in claim 65, further comprising sending a random number to the UE;

using an algorithm with the random number when generating a response;

sending the response back to the RAN; and

using the same algorithm with the random number to verify the response for the RAN.

68. A method as in claim 67, where the random number is sent to the UE in a UE Capability Enquiry message.

69. A wireless communications system, said system comprising means for implementing a Proprietary Feature, said implementing means comprising, for a case where Proprietary Feature capability is exchanged between a Radio Access Network RAN and a user equipment UE network element, means for transmitting an extension to a UE Capability Enquiry message to the UE for identifying the Proprietary Feature and means, at a UE that does not support the Proprietary Feature, for ignoring the content of the extension, and means, at a UE that does support the Proprietary Feature, for accepting the extension as an enquiry for processing in accordance with the supported Proprietary Feature.

70. A system as in claim 69, where the Proprietary Feature comprises data compression.

71. A system as in claim 69, further comprising means at said RAN for sending a random number to the UE;

processing means at said UE for executing an algorithm with the random number when generating a response;

means for transmitting the response back to the RAN; and

further processing means for executing the same algorithm with the random number to verify the response for the RAN.

72. A system as in claim 71, where the random number is sent to the UE in a UE Capability Enquiry message.