Method and Apparatus for Establishing a Session

• US 20100077023A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Eriksson, Anders
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and Domain Name System (DNS) server for establishing a communication session in an Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication network. The DNS server receives a query containing a DNS name of a destination terminal as a search key, and determines whether an IP address for the DNS name is registered with the DNS server. If so, the DNS server returns the registered IP address to the sender of the query. If not, the DNS server sends a wake-up message to the destination terminal which, in response, establishes an IP data session with the communication network. The DNS server then receives an IP address for the destination terminal from an access server or from a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server, and returns the received IP address to the sender of the query.

Claims

1. A method of operating a Domain Name System server, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a query containing as a search key, a Domain Name System name of a destination terminal;

determining whether an IP address for the Domain Name System name is registered with the Domain Name System server;

upon determining that an IP address is registered, returning the registered IP address to the sender of the query; and

upon determining that an IP address is not registered;

causing a wake-up message to be sent to said destination terminal;

receiving an IP address allocated to the destination terminal from an access server responsible for allocating the IP address to said terminal or from a Dynamic Host Control Protocol Server in communication with said access server; and

returning the received IP address to the sender of the query.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving an IP address allocated to the destination terminal includes the Domain Name System server receiving a pushed update from said access server.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving an IP address allocated to the destination terminal includes the Domain Name System server retrieving the IP address from said Dynamic Host Control Protocol server.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said Domain Name System name is one of a Fully Qualified Domain Name, a part of a Fully Qualified Domain Name, and an ENUM mapping of an E.164 number.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said destination terminal is a wireless terminal.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said wake-up message is a Short Message Service message.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wake-up message is a “

Wake-On-LAN”

signal for waking the destination terminal from a suspended or low power mode.

8. A Domain Name System server comprising:

a memory for storing Domain Name System names and associated IP addresses;

a first input for receiving a query containing as a search key, a Domain Name System name of a destination terminal;

a first processor for determining whether an IP address for the Domain Name System name is registered with the Domain Name System server, and, when an IP address is registered, for returning the registered IP address to the sender of the query, and, when an IP address is not registered, for causing a wake-up message to be sent to said destination terminal;

a first output for sending the wake-up message to the destination terminal;

a second input for receiving in response to the wake-up message, an IP address allocated to the destination terminal and sent from an access server responsible for allocating the IP address to said terminal or from a Dynamic Host Control Protocol server in communication with said access server; and

a second output for returning the received IP address to the sender of the query.

9. A method of operating a communication terminal having means for accessing a communication network, the terminal initially operating in a suspended or low power mode, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a wake-up message from a Domain Name System server in the network;

in response to receiving the wake-up message, switching to an active or high power mode and establishing an IP data session with an access server in the communication network that allocates an IP address to the terminal; and

monitoring usage of the established session at a connectivity layer for deciding whether the session should be terminated.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the terminal is a cellular wireless terminal.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said terminal is a GSM or 3G terminal, and said data session is a PDP context, in which case said connectivity layer is the PDP context layer.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said wake-up message is a Short Messaging Service message.

13. (canceled)

14. A method of establishing a data session between a communication network and a destination terminal for the purpose of pushing IP data to the destination terminal from a peer entity, the method comprising:

sending a Domain Name System query from said peer entity to a Domain Name System server, the query containing as a search key, a Domain Name System name of the destination terminal;

determining at the Domain Name System server whether an IP address is registered there for said Domain Name System name;

upon determining that an IP address is registered, sending the registered IP address from the Domain Name System server to said peer entity; and

upon determining that an IP address is not registered, sending a wake-up message from the Domain Name System server to the destination terminal;

upon receipt of the message at said terminal, establishing a data session between the terminal and the network including allocating an IP address to the terminal at an access server and a Dynamic Host Control Protocol server;

sending the allocated IP address to said Domain Name System server from said access server or Dynamic Host Control Protocol server; and

sending the allocated IP address from the Domain Name System server to said peer entity.

15. A communication terminal comprising:

means for selectively operating in a suspended, low power mode or in an active, high power mode;

means for receiving a wake-up message from a Domain Name System server in the network;

a wake-up controller for switching to the active, high power mode in response to receiving the wake-up message;

a connectivity controller for establishing an IP data session with the access server in the communication network; and

a monitor for monitoring usage of the established session at a connectivity layer for deciding whether the session should be terminated.