DATA FLOW MOBILITY

• US 20100208698A1
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaheen, Kamel M., Lu, Guang, Watfa, Mahmoud
• Granted Patent: US 9,042,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• 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 36/005 involving radio access media independent information, e.g. MIH [Media independent Hand-off]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/28 involving a plurality of connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may communicate using a data flow that is defined according to flow identification information (FII). The WTRU may participate in the transfer of the data flow between access networks of diverse radio access technologies. The WTRU may communicate with a mobility function to obtain access network and mobility policy information. The mobility function may be, for example, an Access Network Discovery Function (ANDSF). The mobility policy information may describe the conditions by which the transfer of data flows between access networks may be permitted.

Claims

1. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the WTRU comprising:

a processor configured to make a determination based on mobility policy information to transfer a data flow from a first access network of a first radio access technology (RAT) to a second access network of a second RAT; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a message, the message requesting transfer of the data flow from the first access network to the second access network and including flow identification information associated with the data flow.

2. The WTRU of claim 1 further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the mobility policy information from a mobility function.

3. The WTRU of claim 2 wherein:

the transmitter is further configured to transmit a request for the mobility policy information in response to a trigger condition, wherein the trigger condition relates to at least one of;

a power-up of the WTRU;

expiration of a time period;

a change in a location of the WTRU;

a change of access network of the WTRU;

a change of battery power level of the WTRU;

or a change of applications running on the WTRU; and

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the mobility policy information from the mobility function in response to the request for the mobility policy information.

4. The WTRU of claim 3 wherein the receiver is further configured to receive information defining the trigger condition from the mobility function.

5. The WTRU of claim 2 wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit WTRU status information to the mobility function, and wherein the WTRU status information indicates at least one of:

an access network to which the WTRU is connected;

one or more flow identification information parameters associated with the data flow;

statistics on usage of the mobility policy information by the WTRU;

a preference of the WTRU for an access network;

or a preference of the WTRU for a type of RAT.

6. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the mobility policy information indicates at least one of:

whether data flow mobility between the first access network and the second access network is permitted;

whether multiple Packet Data Network (PDN) connections are permitted on the first access network or the second access network;

a maximum number of PDN connections that are permitted on the first access network or the second access network;

whether a PDN connection is permitted via the first access network or the second access network;

or whether a PDN connection is permitted on a type of RAT.

7. The WTRU of claim 1 wherein the data flow is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) Internet Protocol (IP) flow.

8. A method for use in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

making a determination based on mobility policy information to transfer a data flow from a first access network of a first radio access technology (RAT) to a second access network of a second RAT; and

transmitting a message requesting transfer of the data flow from the first access network to the second access network and including flow identification information associated with the data flow; and

transferring the data flow from the first access network to the second access network.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving the mobility policy information from a mobility function.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting a request for the mobility policy information in response to a trigger condition, wherein the trigger condition relates to at least one of;

a power-up of the WTRU;

expiration of a time period;

a change in a location of the WTRU;

a change of access network of the WTRU;

a change of battery power level of the WTRU;

or a change of applications running on the WTRU; and

wherein the receiving the mobility policy information from the mobility function is performed in response to the request for the mobility policy information.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving information defining the trigger condition from the mobility function.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

transmitting WTRU status information to the mobility function, wherein the WTRU status information indicates at least one of;

an access network to which the WTRU is connected;

one or more flow identification information parameters associated with the data flow;

statistics on usage of the mobility policy information by the WTRU;

a preference of the WTRU for an access network;

or a preference of the WTRU for a type of RAT.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the mobility policy information indicates at least one of:

whether data flow mobility between the first access network and the second access network is permitted;

whether multiple Packet Data Network (PDN) connections are permitted on the first access network or the second access network;

a maximum number of PDN connections that are permitted on the first access network or the second access network;

whether a PDN connection is permitted via the first access network or the second access network;

or whether a PDN connection is permitted on a type of RAT.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the data flow is a Long Term Evolution (LTE) Internet Protocol (IP) flow.

15. A mobility function comprising:

a receiver configured to receive wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) status information from a WTRU;

a processor configured to update mobility policy information based on the WTRU status information, wherein the mobility policy information includes data flow mobility information; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the mobility policy information to the WTRU.

16. The mobility function of claim 15 wherein the WTRU status information indicates at least one of:

an access network to which the WTRU is connected;

flow identification information associated with a data flow used by the WTRU;

statistics on usage of the mobility policy information by the WTRU;

a preference of the WTRU for an access network;

or a preference of the WTRU for a type of radio access technology (RAT).

17. The mobility function of claim 15 wherein the data flow mobility information indicates at least one of:

whether data flow mobility between a first access network and a second access network is permitted;

whether multiple Packet Data Network (PDN) connections are permitted on an access network;

a maximum number of PDN connections that are permitted on an access network;

whether a PDN connection is permitted on an access network;

or whether a PDN connection is permitted on a type of Radio Access Technology (RAT).

18. The mobility function of claim 15, wherein:

the receiver is configured to receive a request for the mobility policy information from the WTRU; and

wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the mobility policy information to the WTRU based on the mobility policy information.

19. The mobility function of claim 18 wherein:

the transmitter is configured to send trigger information to the WTRU, wherein the trigger information indicates a condition upon which the WTRU should send the request for the mobility policy information, and wherein the condition relates to at least one of;

a power-up of the WTRU;

expiration of a time period;

a change in a location of the WTRU;

a change of access network of the WTRU;

a change of battery power level of the WTRU;

or a change of applications running on the WTRU.

20. The mobility function of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to implement Access Network Discovery Function (ANDSF) functionality.