Serving gateway extensions for inter-system mobility

An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:

• establish a first packet data network (PDN) connection on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection via a first interface with a user equipment (UE);
• establish a second PDN connection on a cellular access network connection via a second interface with the UE, wherein the second PDN connection established on the second interface is associated with the first PDN connection established on the first interface;
• obtain rules to enable switching between the WLAN connection for the UE and the cellular access network connection for the UE, wherein the apparatus is in a core network and wherein switching between the WLAN connection for the UE and the cellular connection for the UE does not require setting up or ending a connection at a data network;
• and
• receive a multi-connection indication that the second PDN connection established on the second interface is associated with the first PDN connection established on the first interface, wherein the multi-connection indication indicates to the UE that the UE can use a single IP address to send packets through the cellular access network connection, or through the WLAN connection, or simultaneously through both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection.

A method for use by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a processor and memory, and wherein the apparatus further includes computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the apparatus, perform the method comprising:

• receiving a first request to create a first packet data network (PDN) connection, via a first interface, through a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection from a user equipment (UE);
• receiving a second request to create a second PDN connection, via a second interface, through a cellular access network connection from the UE, wherein a multi-connection indication is included in the second request and the multi-connection indication indicates that the second PDN connection is associated with the first interface and the second interface, wherein the multi-connection indication indicates to the UE that the UE can use a single IP address to send packets through the cellular access network connection, or through the WLAN connection, or simultaneously through both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection;
• and
• obtaining rules to enable switching between the cellular access network connection and WLAN connection, wherein the apparatus is in a core network.

A method for use by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a processor and memory, and wherein the apparatus further includes computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the apparatus, perform the method comprising:

• establishing a first packet data network (PDN) connection on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection via a first interface with a user equipment (UE);
• establishing a second PDN connection on a cellular access network connection via a second interface with the UE, wherein the second PDN connection established on the second interface is associated with the first PDN connection established on the first interface;
• obtaining rules to enable switching between the WLAN connection for the UE and the cellular access network connection for the UE, wherein the apparatus is in a core network and wherein switching between the WLAN connection for the UE and the cellular connection for the UE does not require setting up or ending a connection at a data network;
• and
• receiving a multi-connection indication that the second PDN connection established on the second interface is associated with the first PDN connection established on the first interface, wherein the multi-connection indication indicates to the UE that the UE can use a single IP address to send packets through the cellular access network connection, or through the WLAN connection, or simultaneously through both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection.