Methods and apparatuses for proxying a multi-path protocol connection

A method for communicating a hybrid user equipment, HUE, with an Internet server through a hybrid access gateway, HAG, the HAG being enabled to determine whether the HUE accesses through a mobile or a fixed access network, the method executed at a user plane system and comprising:

• receiving a multi-path, MP, protocol request originated from a HUE;
• initiating an MP session for the MP protocol request;
• transmitting, toward a HAG, the MP protocol request;
• receiving, from the HAG, an MP protocol response and a notification for the MP protocol request;
• if the notification notifies of requiring a proxy function, marking the MP session as proxying further MP protocol requests for the MP session toward the HAG;
• and
• if the notification notifies of not requiring a proxy function, marking the MP session as bypassing the HAG when transmitting further MP protocol requests for the MP session toward the Internet server.

A hybrid access gateway, HAG, for communicating a hybrid user equipment, HUE, with an Internet server through the HAG, the HAG being enabled to determine whether the HUE accesses through a mobile or a fixed access network, the HAG configured to:

• receive, via a receiver from a user plane system, a multi-path, MP, protocol request originated from a HUE;
• initiate an MP session for the MP protocol request;
• transmit, via a transmitter toward an Internet server, the MP protocol request;
• receive, via the receiver from the Internet server, a protocol response;
• if the protocol response is a single-path, SP, protocol response:
• activate a proxy function for the MP session;
• and
• transmit, via the transmitter toward the user plane system, an MP protocol response corresponding to the received SP protocol response and a notification of requiring a proxy function;
• and
• if the protocol response is an MP protocol response:
• deactivate a proxy function for the MP session;
• and
• transmit, via the transmitter toward the user plane system, the received MP protocol response and a notification of not requiring a proxy function.

A user plane system for communicating a hybrid user equipment, HUE, with an Internet server through a hybrid access gateway, HAG, the HAG being enabled to determine whether the HUE accesses through a mobile or a fixed access network, the user plane system configured to:

• receive, via a receiver, a multi-path, MP, protocol request originated from a HUE;
• initiate an MP session for the MP protocol request;
• transmit, via a transmitter toward a HAG, the MP protocol request;
• receive, via the receiver from the HAG, an MP protocol response and a notification for the MP protocol request;
• if the notification notifies of requiring a proxy function, mark the MP session as proxying further MP protocol requests for the MP session toward the HAG;
• and
• if the notification notifies of not requiring a proxy function, mark the MP session as bypassing the HAG when transmitting further MP protocol requests for the MP session toward the Internet server.