Method and apparatus for providing access to a packet data network

A wireless communication unit comprising:

• a transceiver circuitry arranged to enable communication with a cellular communication network;
• and
• a signal processing logic module arranged to request access to a packet data network via the cellular communication network;
• wherein the signal processing logic module is further arranged to:
• determine whether the wireless communication unit is connected to a femto cell access point of the cellular communication network;
• and
• if the wireless communication unit is connected to the femto cell access point of the cellular communication network, the signal processing logic module is arranged to transmit a request to access the packet data network comprising at least one from the group consisting of:
• an identifier corresponding to a gateway interface of the femto cell access point, an address corresponding to a gateway logic module of the femto cell access point, and a substantially generic address corresponding to gateway logic modules of access points.

A network element of a cellular communication network, the network element comprising a signal processing logic module arranged to receive requests to access a packet data network from wireless communication units and to initiate access activation in response thereto;

• wherein the signal processing logic module comprises a gateway router logic module, and upon receipt of a request to access a packet data network from a wireless communication unit within a femto cell, the gateway router logic module is arranged to:
• identify a femto access point supporting the femto cell within which the wireless communication unit is located;
• and
• obtain an address for a gateway interface of the identified femto access point with which the signal processing logic module is to initiate access activation.

A method for providing access to a packet data network, the method comprising, at an access point:

• receiving a request to access the data packet network, the request comprising an identifier that corresponds to a remote gateway interface;
• modifying the request to comprise an identifier that corresponds to a local gateway interface;
• and
• forwarding the modified request on to a core network element.

A method for providing a wireless communication unit with access to a packet data network, the method comprising, at the wireless communication unit:

• determining whether the wireless communication unit is connected to a femto cell access point of a cellular communication network;
• and
• if the wireless communication unit is connected to the femto cell access point of the cellular communication network,
• transmitting a request to access the packet data network wherein the request comprises an identifier that corresponds to a gateway interface of the femto cell access point.

A method for providing access to a packet data network, the method comprising, at a network element:

• receiving a request to access the packet data network from a wireless communication unit within a femto cell;
• identifying a femto access point that supports the femto cell within which the wireless communication unit is located;
• obtaining an address for a gateway interface of the identified femto access point;
• and
• initiating access creation using the obtained femto access point gateway interface address.

A non-transitory computer-readable product having executable program code stored therein for programming signal processing logic to perform a method for providing access to a packet data network, the program code operable for, when executed at an access point:

• receiving a request to access the packet data network at a femto access point, the request comprising an identifier corresponding to a remote gateway interface;
• modifying the request to comprise a local identifier corresponding to a local gateway interface;
• and
• forwarding the modified request on to a core network element.

A non-transitory computer-readable product having executable program code stored therein for programming signal processing logic to perform a method for providing access to a packet data network, the program code operable for, when executed at a network element:

• receiving a request to access the packet data network from a wireless communication unit within a femto cell;
• identifying a femto access point supporting the femto cell within which the wireless communication unit is located;
• retrieving an address for a gateway interface of the identified femto access point;
• and
• initiating access activation using the obtained femto access point gateway interface address.