# US 11,116,028 B2 · Multi-access data connection in a mobile network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,116,028 B2 - Document ID: US11116028B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/748,536 - Filed: 2020-01-21 - Published: 2020-07-23 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-17 - Assignees: Motorola Mobility LLC - Applicants: Motorola Mobility LLC - Inventors: Apostolis Salkintzis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11116028B2 ## CPC - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W 76/16: Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer - H04L 67/14: Session management (for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066) - H04W 28/0268: {using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] (negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24)} - H04W 28/24: Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service] - H04W 36/14: Reselecting a network or an air interface - H04W 36/22: for handling the traffic - H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W 88/14: Backbone network devices - H04W 92/24: between backbone network devices - 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 Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for establishing a multi-access data connection. One apparatus includes a processor and a transceiver that communicates with one or more network functions in a mobile communication network. The processor receives a first session management request (via an AMF) containing: a second session management request sent by a UE, a first indication that the UE requests a single-access data connection and a second indication that the UE allows the network to upgrade the data connection. The processor determines whether to establish a multi-access data connection for the UE based on the second indication in the first session management request. The processor sends a request to the AMF to establish a data path for each access network with which the UE is registered in response to determining to establish the multi-access data connection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a transceiver that communicates with one or more network functions in a mobile communication network; and a processor that: receives a first session management request via an access management function, the first session management request containing: a second session management request sent by a remote unit, a first indication that the remote unit requests a single-access data connection and a second indication that the remote unit allows the network to upgrade the data connection; determines whether to establish a multi-access data connection for the remote unit based on the second indication in the first session management request, wherein the multi-access data connection is associated with a first access network and a second access network; and sends a request to the access management function to establish a data path for each access network with which the remote unit is registered in response to determining to establish the multi-access data connection, wherein each data path is anchored at a common user plane network function in the mobile communication network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor determines whether the remote unit is registered to the mobile communication network over both the first and the second access networks based on a third indication received from the access management function. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second indication is provided in response to no policy in the remote unit mandating a single-access data connection and in response to no local restriction of the remote unit mandating a single-access data connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor further sends a query to a policy control function for at least one of policy rules with multi-access routing information and policy rules with multi-access quality-of-service (“QoS”) information associated with the requested data connection in response to receiving the first session management request, wherein the query contains the second indication and wherein the processor determines to establish the multi-access data connection based on the at least one of policy rules with multi-access routing information and policy rules with multi-access QoS information received from the policy control function. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the policy control function further queries a data management function to determine whether a network subscription of the remote unit allows a multi-access connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first access network is an access network not defined by 3GPP (“non-3GPP access”) and the second access network is an access network defined by 3GPP (“3GPP access”), and wherein the second session management request is a Packet Data Unit (“PDU”) session establishment request. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second session management request indicates an access traffic steering and splitting capability of the remote unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor further sends a response to the remote unit in response to determining to establish a multi-access data connection, the response indicating establishment of the multi-access data connection. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: receiving a first session management request via an access management function in a mobile communication network, the first session management request containing: a second session management request sent by a remote unit, a first indication that the remote unit requests a single-access data connection, and a second indication that the remote unit allows the network to upgrade the data connection; determining whether to establish a multi-access data connection for the remote unit over a first access network and a second access network, based on the second indication in the first session management request; and sending a request to the access management function to establish a data path for each access network with which the remote unit is registered in response to determining to establish the multi-access data connection, wherein each data path is anchored at a common user plane network function in the mobile communication network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the determination that the remote unit is registered to the mobile communication network over both the first and second access networks is based on a third indication received from the access management function. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the second indication is provided in response to no policy in the remote unit mandating a single-access data connection and in response to no local restriction of the remote unit mandating a single-access data connection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: sending a query to a policy control function for at least one of: policy rules with multi-access routing information and policy rules with multi-access quality-of-service (“QoS”) information associated with the requested data connection in response to receiving the first session management request, wherein the query contains the second indication, wherein determining whether to establish the multi-access data connection comprises determining based on the at least one of: policy rules with multi-access routing information and policy rules with multi-access QoS rules received from the policy control function. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: querying, by the policy control function, a data management function to determine whether a network subscription of the remote unit allows a multi-access connection in response to receiving the first session management request, wherein determining whether to establish a multi-access data connection is based on the network subscription of the remote unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the first access network is an access network not defined by 3GPP (“non-3GPP access”) and the second access network is an access network defined by 3GPP (“3GPP access”), and wherein the second session management request is a Packet Data Unit (“PDU”) session establishment request. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a response to the remote unit in response to determining to establish a multi-access data connection, the response indicating establishment of the multi-access data connection.