Intelligent real access point name (APN) selection using virtual APNS
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a mobile device, a first access request for a service through a first access network, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
creating a session using the real access point, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;
receiving at a second virtual access point name, from the mobile device, a second access request for the service through a second access network including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;
determining that the session is still active for the service based upon the session identifier; and
maintaining continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second access network using the session identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a first access request is received from a mobile device. The access request may be received through a first access medium for a virtual access point name (APN). A session is created with a service using a first real access point name (APN) for the mobile device. A second access request is received through a second type of access medium. The request may be received through a second virtual APN. A session is determined that is active for the mobile device through the first access medium and the second access request is assigned the first real APN even though the request is received through a second access medium. The continuity of the connection may then be maintained because the first real APN is still being used. In this case, a handoff of the connection from the first access network to the second access network is performed while the connection to the service is maintained through the first real APN.
31 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a mobile device, a first access request for a service through a first access network, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
creating a session using the real access point, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;
receiving at a second virtual access point name, from the mobile device, a second access request for the service through a second access network including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;
determining that the session is still active for the service based upon the session identifier; and
maintaining continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second access network using the session identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a mobile device, a first access request for a service through a first access network, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
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5. A method comprising:
- receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a network device, a first access request for a service, the first access request being sent by a mobile device through a first communication medium, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
sending the real access point address to the network device to allow the network device to create a session using the real access point address, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;
receiving at a second virtual access point name, from the network device, a second access request for the mobile device, the second access request being sent by the mobile device through a second communication medium including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;
determining that the session is still active for the service at the real access point based upon the session identifier; and
sending the real access point address and information for the session that is active to the network device to allow the network device to maintain continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second communication medium using the session identifier. - View Dependent Claims (6)
- receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a network device, a first access request for a service, the first access request being sent by a mobile device through a first communication medium, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
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7. An apparatus comprising:
- one or more processors; and
logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to;
receive at a first virtual access point name, from a mobile device, a first access request for a service through a first access network, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
create a session using the real access point in a plurality of real access points for the mobile device, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;
receive at a second virtual access point name, from the mobile device, a second access request for the service through a second access network including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;
determine that the session is still active for the service based upon the session identifier; and
maintain continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second access network using the session identifier. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
- one or more processors; and
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11. An apparatus comprising:
- one or more processors; and
logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to;
receive at a first virtual access point name, from a network device, a first access request for a service, the first access request being sent by a mobile device through a first communication medium, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
send the real access point address to the network device to allow the network device to create a session using the real access point address, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;
receive at a second virtual access point name, from the network device, a second access request for the mobile device, the second access request being sent by the mobile device through a second communication medium including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;
determine that the session is still active for the service at the real access point based upon the session identifier; and
send the real access point address and information for the session that is active to the network device to allow the network device to maintain continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second communication medium using the session identifier. - View Dependent Claims (12)
- one or more processors; and
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13. An apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a mobile device, a first access request for a service through a first access network, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
means for creating a session using the real access point, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;
means for receiving at a second virtual access point name, from the mobile device, a second access request for the service through a second access network including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;
means for determining that the session is still active for the service based upon the session identifier; and
means for maintaining continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second access network using the session identifier.
- means for receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a mobile device, a first access request for a service through a first access network, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
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14. An apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a network device, a first access request for a service, the first access request being sent by a mobile device through a first communication medium, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
means for sending the real access point address to the network device to allow the network device to create a session using the real access point address, the session having a session identifier associated therewith for uniquely identifying the session;
means for receiving at a second virtual access point name, from the network device, a second access request for the mobile device, the second access request being sent by the mobile device through a second communication medium including the session identifier allowing identification of a session that is still alive;
means for determining that the session is still active for the service at the real access point based upon the session identifier; and
means for sending the real access point address and information for the session that is active to the network device to allow the network device to maintain continuity of the session by connecting the mobile device to the real access point through the second communication medium using the session identifier.
- means for receiving at a first virtual access point name, from a network device, a first access request for a service, the first access request being sent by a mobile device through a first communication medium, wherein the first access request includes a virtual access point address, which is subsequently translated to a real access point address associated with a real access point, and an identifier for the mobile device;
Specification