Caching architecture for streaming data between base stations in mobile networks
First Claim
1. A target network element configured to act as a caching server for sending data in a session to a mobile terminal in a packet data network, the target network element comprising:
- a communications system comprising a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, configured to;
receive a handover request from a source network element in the network, the handover request instructing the target network element to continue the session previously handled by the source network element;
receive a control message from a control server, the control message comprising a content identifier for identifying content data packets stored in a cache storage unit associated with the target network element, a session identifier for identifying the session, and initial session state parameters for identifying a current session state in the source network element; and
retrieve the content data packets from the cache storage unit;
a local storage medium operatively connected to the communications system for storing session-independent parameters and the received initial session state parameters; and
a packet header generator operatively connected to the communications system and local storage medium, and configured to populate a header of each retrieved content data packet with header parameters calculated using the session-independent parameters together with the received initial session state parameters and session identifier;
wherein the communications system is further configured to send the content data packets towards the terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for handing over a terminal connection. A handover request is sent from a source base station to a target base station. A first control message (including a session identifier for identifying the session, and current parameters for the session) is also sent from the source base station to a control server. If the target base station is associated with a cache storage unit containing the content data, a second control message (including a session identifier for identifying the session, and current parameters) is sent from the control server to the target base station. At the target base station, the content data packets are retrieved from the cache storage unit, and a header of each retrieved content data packet is populated with parameters calculated using the received current parameters and session identifier. The content data packets are then sent from the base station towards the terminal.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A target network element configured to act as a caching server for sending data in a session to a mobile terminal in a packet data network, the target network element comprising:
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a communications system comprising a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, configured to; receive a handover request from a source network element in the network, the handover request instructing the target network element to continue the session previously handled by the source network element; receive a control message from a control server, the control message comprising a content identifier for identifying content data packets stored in a cache storage unit associated with the target network element, a session identifier for identifying the session, and initial session state parameters for identifying a current session state in the source network element; and retrieve the content data packets from the cache storage unit; a local storage medium operatively connected to the communications system for storing session-independent parameters and the received initial session state parameters; and a packet header generator operatively connected to the communications system and local storage medium, and configured to populate a header of each retrieved content data packet with header parameters calculated using the session-independent parameters together with the received initial session state parameters and session identifier; wherein the communications system is further configured to send the content data packets towards the terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A source network element configured to act as a caching server for sending data in a session to a mobile terminal in a packet data network, the source network element comprising:
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a local storage medium for storing session-independent parameters and current session state parameters; a communications system comprising a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, the communications system being operatively connected to the local storage medium and configured to; retrieve content data packets from a cache storage unit associated with the source network element; identify that the terminal has moved within range of a target network element in the network; send a handover request to the target network element, the handover request instructing the target network element to continue the session; and send a session state message to a control server, the session state message comprising the current session state parameters and a session identifier for identifying the session; and a packet header generator operatively connected to the communications system and local storage medium, and configured to populate a header of each retrieved content data packet with header parameters calculated using the session-independent parameters and current state parameters; wherein the communications system is further configured to send the content data packets towards the terminal until handover to the target network element is complete. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for transmitting data through one or more packet data networks, the system comprising a target network element configured to act as a caching server for sending data in a session to a mobile terminal in a packet data network, the target network element comprising:
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a communications system comprising a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, the communications system being configured to; receive a handover request from a source network element in the network, the handover request instructing the target network element to continue the session previously handled by the source network element; receive a control message from a control server, the control message comprising a content identifier for identifying content data packets stored in a cache storage unit associated with the target network element, a session identifier for identifying the session, and initial session state parameters for identifying a current session state in the source network element; and retrieve the content data packets from the cache storage unit; a local storage medium operatively connected to the communications system for storing session-independent parameters and the received initial session state parameters; and a packet header generator operatively connected to the communications system and local storage medium, and configured to populate a header of each retrieved content data packet with header parameters calculated using the session-independent parameters together with the received initial session state parameters and session identifier; wherein the communications system is further configured to send the content data packets towards the terminal; and
the control server.
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Specification