Methods, apparatus and systems for enabling managed remote access

A method for managing a session implemented by an Access Point for serving a Wireless Transmitter/Receiver Unit (WTRU) moving between first and second Radio Access Technologies (RATs), the method comprising:

• receiving, by the Access Point from a network entity, context information;
• and
• on condition that the WTRU has a session routed over the first RAT and the WTRU becomes idle:
• (1) maintaining, by the AP in accordance with the received context information, a control plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU, and
• (2) suspending the user plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU prior to expiry of a timer.

A method implemented by a Network Entity (NE) for serving a Wireless Transmitter/Receiver Unit (WTRU) moving between first and second Radio Access Technologies (RATs), the method comprising:

• determining, by the NE, whether the WTRU has a session routed over the first RAT and the WTRU has become idle;
• and
• on condition that the WTRU has a session routed over the first RAT and the WTRU becomes idle:
• sending, by the NE to a first Access Point (AP), context information to maintain by the first AP in accordance with the context information, a control plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU, and suspend the user plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU prior to expiry of a timer, and
• sending, by the NE to a second AP, further context information to establish by the second AP in accordance with the further context information, a user plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU.

An Access Point configured to serve a Wireless Transmitter/Receiver Unit (WTRU) moving between first and second Radio Access Technologies (RATs), comprising:

• a timer,
• a transceiver configured to receive from a network entity context information
• a processor, in communication with the transceiver, and configured to, on condition that the WTRU has a session routed over the first RAT and the WTRU becomes idle:
• (1) maintain, in accordance with the received context information, a control plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU, and (2) suspend the user plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU prior to expiry of the timer.

A Network Entity (NE) configured to serve a Wireless Transmitter/Receiver Unit (WTRU) moving between first and second Radio Access Technologies (RATs), comprising:

• a transceiver;
• a processor, in communication with the transceiver, the processor being configured to determine whether the WTRU has a session routed over the first RAT and the WTRU has become idle;
• and
• on condition that the WTRU has a session routed over the first RAT and the WTRU becomes idle, the transceiver is configured to:
• send to a first Access Point, context information to maintain by the first AP in accordance with the context information, a control plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU, and suspend the user plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU prior to expiry of a timer, and
• send to a second AP, further context information to establish by the second AP in accordance with the further context information, a user plane connection for the session associated with the WTRU.