# US 11,115,863 B2 · Connection establishement in a cellular network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,115,863 B2 - Document ID: US11115863B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/958,356 - Filed: 2017-12-27 - Published: 2020-12-17 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-27 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Zhong Wang; Peng Lv; Hai Wang; Haiming Bai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11115863B2 ## CPC - H04W 76/10: Connection setup - H04W 76/12: Setup of transport tunnels - H04L 45/74: Address processing for routing - H04L 61/2575: using address mapping retrieval, e.g. simple traversal of user datagram protocol through session traversal utilities for NAT [STUN] - H04L 61/2589: over a relay server, e.g. traversal using relay for network address translation [TURN] - H04W 40/20: based on geographic position or location - H04W 40/246: {Connectivity information discovery} - H04L 61/2514: between local and global IP addresses - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method for communications is proposed. The method may comprise obtaining, by a terminal device, network addresses of another terminal device from a message broker to which the terminal device and the another terminal device are registered. At least one of the terminal device and the another terminal device is connected to a cellular network. The method may further comprise initiating a connectivity check procedure to determine one or more candidate paths through which the terminal device has connectivity to the another terminal device. The one or more candidate paths are from at least two paths associated with the network addresses of the another terminal device. The method may further comprise selecting a path for the terminal device and the another terminal device among the one or more candidate paths, based at least in part on a predefined criterion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: one or more processors; and one or more memories comprising computer program codes, the one or more memories and the computer program codes configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus at least to: obtain network addresses of another apparatus from a message broker to which the apparatus and the another apparatus are registered, wherein at least one of the apparatus and the another apparatus is connected to a cellular network; initiate a connectivity check procedure to determine two or more candidate paths through which the apparatus is able to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the another apparatus, wherein each of the two or more candidate paths are from at least two paths associated with the network addresses of the another apparatus; and select a path for the peer-to-peer connection between the apparatus and the another apparatus among the two or more candidate paths, based at least in part on a predefined criterion, wherein the predefined criterion comprises one or more of (a) delay requirements, (b) a bandwidth requirement, and (c) a reliability requirement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two paths comprise two or more of a local path, a public path and a relay path, and wherein the local path is associated with an internal network address of the another terminal device, and the public path and the relay path are associated with external network addresses of the another terminal device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program codes are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to inquire at least one of network addresses of the terminal device from a server which supports traversal for network address translation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connectivity check procedure is based at least in part on at least one of the following techniques: session traversal utilities for network address translation; and traversal using relays around network address translation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program codes are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to establish the peer-to-peer connection for the terminal device and the another terminal device via the selected path over the cellular network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program codes are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to exchange one or more connection setup messages with the another terminal device through the message broker. ### Claim 7 An apparatus, comprising: one or more processors; and one or more memories comprising computer program codes, the one or more memories and the computer program codes configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus at least to: register a terminal device and another terminal device at the apparatus, wherein at least one of the terminal device and the another terminal device is connected to a cellular network; obtain network addresses of the terminal device from the terminal device; and forward the network addresses of the terminal device to the another terminal device, to enable a path through which the another terminal device is able to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the terminal device to be selected by the another terminal device from at least two candidate paths associated with the network addresses of the terminal device, based at least in part on a predefined criterion, wherein the predefined criterion comprises one or more of (a) delay requirements, (b) a bandwidth requirement, and (c) a reliability requirement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the one or more memories and the computer program codes are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to communicate one or more connection setup messages exchanged between the terminal device and the another terminal device, wherein the one or more connection setup messages are related to establishment of the peer-to-peer connection for the terminal device and the another terminal device. ### Claim 9 An apparatus, comprising: one or more processors; and one or more memories comprising computer program codes, the one or more memories and the computer program codes configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus at least to: receive an address request from the terminal device, wherein the apparatus supports traversal for network address translation; determine at least one of network addresses of the terminal device, based at least in part on the address request; and send a response to the address request to the terminal device, wherein the response comprises the at least one of the network addresses of the terminal device, and wherein the network addresses of the terminal device are applicable to enabling a path through which another terminal device is able to establish a peer-to-peer connection with the terminal device to be selected by the another terminal device from at least two candidate paths associated with the network addresses of the terminal device, based at least in part on a predefined criterion, wherein the predefined criterion comprises one or more of (a) delay requirements, (b) a bandwidth requirement, and (c) a reliability requirement, and wherein at least one of the terminal device and the another terminal device is connected to a cellular network.