Generic access to the Iu interface

• US 7,912,004 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khetawat, Amit, Markovle, Milan, Tao, Patrick, Gallagher, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khan; Mehmood B
• Application Number:
  US11/778,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20080043669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,347 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/431, 455/450, 455/509
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/14 between access point controllers and backbone network device

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method of activating a packet transport channel (PTC) in a communication system that includes a first licensed wireless communication system and a second generic access network (GAN) that has a generic access network controller (GANC). The GANC is communicatively coupled to the first communication system through a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) Iu interface. The method sends a GA-PSR activate PTC request message from the GANC to a user equipment (UE). The message comprises a terminal endpoint identifier (TEID) that the GANC assigns to the UE. The message also receives a GA-PSR activate PTC acknowledge message from the UE at the GANC.

Claims

1. A method of activating a packet transport channel (PTC) in a communication system comprising a first licensed wireless communication system and a second generic access network (GAN) comprising a generic access network controller (GANC), wherein the GANC is communicatively coupled to the first communication system through a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) Iu interface, the method comprising:

receiving a radio access bearer (RAB) assignment request message at the GANC from the first licensed wireless communication system, wherein the RAB assignment request message comprises a radio access bearer identification (RAB-ID), a core network (CN) transport layer address, and a CN Iu transport association endpoint identifier;

sending a message requesting activation of the PTC from the GANC to a user equipment (UE), wherein the message comprises an endpoint identifier that the GANC assigns to the UE, a GANC IP address, and the RAB-ID;

receiving a message at the GANC from the UE, the message acknowledging activation of the PTC;

setting, at the GANC, a radio access network (RAN) IP address to an IP address of the UE;

setting, at the GANC, a RAN endpoint identifier to the endpoint identifier that the GANC assigns to the UE; and

sending a RAB assignment response message from the GANC to the first licensed wireless communication system, wherein the RAB assignment response message comprises the RAB-ID, the RAN endpoint identifier, and the RAN IP address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message requesting activation of the PTC further comprises a GANC endpoint identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the GANC sets the GANC IP address to the CN transport layer address before sending the message requesting activation of the PTC.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the GANC sets the GANC endpoint identifier to the CN Iu transport association endpoint identifier before sending the message requesting activation of the PTC.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending an activate complete message from the GANC to the UE, the activate complete message for the UE to transition to a PTC-ACTIVE substate and to start a PTC timer.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising receiving, at the GANC, uplink user data from the UE and downlink user data from a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN).

4. A method of activating a packet transport channel (PTC) in a communication system comprising a first licensed wireless communication system and a second generic access network (GAN) comprising a generic access network controller (GANC), wherein the GANC is communicatively coupled to the first communication system through a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) Iu interface, the method comprising:

receiving a radio access bearer (RAB) assignment request message at the GANC from the first licensed wireless communication system, wherein the RAB assignment request message comprises a radio access bearer identification (RAB-ID), a core network (CN) transport layer address, and a CN Iu transport association endpoint identifier;

sending a message requesting activation of the PTC from the GANC to a user equipment (UE), wherein the message comprises an endpoint identifier that the GANC assigns to the UE, a GANC IP address, and the RAB-ID;

receiving a message at the GANC from the UE, the message acknowledging activation of the PTC from the UE;

assigning, at the GANC, a local address as a radio access network (RAN) IP address;

assigning, at the GANC, a GANC allocated endpoint identifier as a RAN endpoint identifier; and

sending a RAB assignment response message from the GANC to the first licensed wireless communication system, wherein the RAB assignment response message comprises the RAB-ID, the RAN endpoint identifier, and the RAN IP address.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the GANC sets the GANC IP address to an IP address local to the GANC before sending the message requesting activation of the PTC.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the message requesting activation of the PTC further comprises a GANC endpoint identifier, wherein the GANC sets the GANC endpoint identifier to a GANC allocated endpoint identifier before sending the message requesting activation of the PTC.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for execution, the computer program for activating a packet transport channel (PTC) in a communication system comprising a first licensed wireless communication system and a second generic access network (GAN) comprising a generic access network controller (GANC), wherein the GANC is communicatively coupled to the first communication system through a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) Iu interface, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

receiving a radio access bearer (RAB) assignment request message at the GANC from the first licensed wireless communication system, wherein the RAB assignment request message comprises a radio access bearer identification (RAB-ID), a core network (CN) transport layer address, and a CN Iu transport association endpoint identifier;

sending a message requesting activation of the PTC from the GANC to a user equipment (UE), wherein the message comprises an endpoint identifier that the GANC assigns to the UE, a GANC IP address, and the RAB-ID;

receiving a message at the GANC from the UE, the message acknowledging activation of the PTC;

setting, at the GANC, a radio access network (RAN) IP address to an IP address of the UE;

setting, at the GANC, a RAN endpoint identifier to the endpoint identifier that the GANC assigns to the UE; and

sending a RAB assignment response message from the GANC to the first licensed wireless communication system, wherein the RAB assignment response message comprises the RAB-ID, the RAN endpoint identifier, and the RAN IP address.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the computer program further comprises sets of instructions for setting the GANC IP address by the GANC to the CN transport layer address before sending the message requesting activation of the PTC.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the message requesting activation of the PTC further comprises a GANC endpoint identifier.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the computer program further comprises sets of instructions for setting the GANC endpoint identifier by the GAN to the CN Iu transport association endpoint identifier before sending the message requesting activation of the PTC.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for sending an activate complete message from the GANC to the UE, the activate complete message for the UE to transition to a PTC-ACTIVE substate and to start a PTC timer.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for receiving, at the GANC, uplink user data from the UE and downlink user data from a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN).

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for execution, the computer program for activating a packet transport channel (PTC) in a communication system comprising a first licensed wireless communication system and a second generic access network (GAN) comprising a generic access network controller (GANC), wherein the GANC is communicatively coupled to the first communication system through a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) Iu interface, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

receiving a radio access bearer (RAB) assignment request message at the GANC from the first licensed wireless communication system, wherein the RAB assignment request message comprises a radio access bearer identification (RAB-ID), a core network (CN) transport layer address, and a CN Iu transport association endpoint identifier;

sending a message requesting activation of the PTC from the GANC to a user equipment (UE), wherein the message comprises an endpoint identifier that the GANC assigns to the UE, a GANC IP address, and the RAB-ID;

receiving a message at the GANC from the UE, the message acknowledging activation of the PTC;

assigning, at the GANC, a local address as a radio access network (RAN) IP address;

assigning, at the GANC, a GANC allocated endpoint identifier as a RAN endpoint identifier; and

sending a RAB assignment response message from the GANC to the first licensed wireless communication system, wherein the RAB assignment response message comprises the RAB-ID, the RAN endpoint identifier, and the RAN IP address.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer program further comprises sets of instructions for setting the GANC IP address by the GANC to an IP address local to the GANC before sending the message requesting activation of the PTC.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the message requesting activation of the PTC further comprises a GANC endpoint identifier, wherein the computer program further comprises sets of instructions for setting the GANC endpoint identifier by the GANC to a GANC allocated endpoint identifier before sending the message requesting activation of the PTC.