Fast Context Establishment for Interworking in Heterogeneous Network

A method for configuring connection parameters of a connection between a mobile terminal and a target wireless access network in a handover between heterogeneous wireless access networks, wherein the mobile terminal is handed over from an originating wireless access network to a target wireless access network, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a packet data service to the mobile terminal via the originating wireless access network,
• maintaining context information on the packet data service in a network node of a core network connected to at least the originating wireless access network, wherein the context information indicate at least QoS constraints of the packet data service,
• authenticating the mobile terminal at the target wireless access network by an authentication server, and
• establishing a tunnel for transporting data packets associated to the packet data service between the mobile terminal and a packet data gateway in a core network via the target wireless access network, wherein the tunnel is at least associated to QoS constraints,
• wherein the authentication server obtains said context information from said network node maintaining the context information and provides data indicative of the context information to the packet data gateway, and
• the packet data gateway causes a pre-configuration of at least the tunnel's QoS constraints based on the data received from the authentication server before establishing the tunnel.

A packet data gateway located in a core network of a mobile communication system for configuring a connection for a packet data service to be provided to a mobile terminal via a target wireless access network, the mobile terminal being handed over between heterogeneous wireless access networks from an originating wireless access network to said target wireless access network, the packet data gateway comprising:

• communication means for communicating with the mobile terminal and an authentication server in the core network,
• wherein the communication means is further adapted to establish a tunnel between the packet data gateway and the mobile terminal for exchanging data packets of the packet data service via the target wireless access network, the tunnel being at least associated to QoS constraints,
• wherein the communication means is adapted to receive data from the authentication server, the data being indicative of at least QoS constraints of the provided packet data service, and
• configuration means for causing a pre-configuration of at least the tunnel's QoS constraints based on the data received from the authentication server before establishing the tunnel.

A computer readable medium for storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a packet data gateway located in a core network of a mobile communication system, cause the configuration of a connection for a packet data service to be provided to a mobile terminal via a target wireless access network, wherein the mobile terminal being handed over between heterogeneous wireless access networks from an originating wireless access network to said target wireless access network, by:

• communicating with the mobile terminal and an authentication server in the core network,
• establishing a tunnel between the packet data gateway and the mobile terminal for exchanging data packets of the packet data service via the target wireless access network, the tunnel being at least associated to QoS constraints,
• receiving data from the authentication server, the data being indicative of at least QoS constraints of the provided packet data service, and
• causing a pre-configuration of at least the tunnel's QoS constraints based on the data received from the authentication server before establishing the tunnel.