Method and apparatus for transferring state information between communication networks

• US 20040125770A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Pitt, Randall Evans, Zhang, Ruihua
• Application Number:
  US10/335,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20040125770A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for transferring state information between second generation (2G) and third generation (3G) communication networks. More particularly, the invention is directed to a system for allowing the transfer of mobile state information—such as Mobility Management (MM) information, and Packet Data Protocol (PDP) information, Customized Applications for Mobile Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) information and charging/billing information—between 2G (GPRS—General Packet Radio Service) and 3G (UMTS—Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service) systems.

Claims

1. A method for providing an interface between communication networks, the method comprising steps of:

establishing an interface operative to perform signaling on a control plane between a first network and a second network;

detecting movement of a mobile station between a first area corresponding to the first network and a second area corresponding to the second network; and

,

transferring state information from the first network to the second network on a private extension field of the control plane.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first network is a second generation communication network.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first network is a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communication network.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second network is a third generation communication network.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS) communication network.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the establishing of the interface comprises establishing an interface operative to perform the signaling on a General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol-Control Plane (GTP-C) interface.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transferring of state information comprises transferring mobility management (MM) information.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transferring of state information comprises transferring packet data protocol (PDP) information.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transferring of state information comprises transferring Customized Applications for Mobile Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) information.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transferring of state information comprises transferring charging and billing information.

11. A support node system for providing an interface between a first communication network and a second communication network, the system comprising:

a first call processing unit associated with the first communication network;

a second call processing unit associated with the second communication network; and

,

an interface between the first call processing unit and the second call processing unit, the interface operative to perform signaling on a control plane to transfer state information in an extension field of the control plane.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first network is a second generation communication network.

13. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first network is a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communication network.

14. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the second network is a third generation communication network.

15. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the second network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS) communication network.

16. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the interface comprises a General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol-Control Plane (GTP-C) interface.

17. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the state information comprises mobility management (MM) information.

18. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the state information comprises packet data protocol (PDP) information.

19. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the state information comprises Customized Applications for Mobile Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) information.

20. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the state information comprises charging and billing information.

21. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the system is a Serving General packet radio service Support Node (SGSN).

22. The system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a Common Signaling Gateway (CSG) in communication with the first call processing unit and the second call processing unit.

23. A system for providing an interface between communication networks, the system comprising:

means for establishing an interface operative to perform signaling on a control plane between the a first network and a second network;

means for detecting movement of a mobile station between a first area corresponding to the first network and a second area corresponding to the second network; and

,

means for transferring state information from the first network to the second network on a private extension field of the control plane.