GRAN access port addressing method and apparatus

In a Generic Radio Access Network (GRAN) wherein a core network does not support mobility, a method of directing an access attempt by a user terminal having a core network specific part, a GRAN specific part, and an interworking part comprising the steps of:

• attempting to access the core network from the user terminal through a closest one of a plurality of access ports;
• establishing signaling between the interworking part of the terminal and an interworking unit (IWU) at the closest access port to which said core network is connected, wherein a request for signaling is included and transferred, uninterpreted by the GRAN as part of an initial message;
• transferring the core network subscriber identity from the interworking part of the terminal to the IWU at the closest access port;
• checking, at said IWU, to determine if said subscriber identity belongs to the closest access port;
• establishing a connection between the core network specific part of the terminal and the core network if said subscriber identity belongs to said closest access port;
• checking a mapping table in said IWU at the closest access port for the correct access port that maps to the subscriber identity if the subscriber identity does not belong to said closest access port, said mapping table mapping core network subscriber identities to access port addresses;
• rejecting the access attempt if the subscriber identity is not on said mapping table;
• and
• if the subscriber identity is located on said mapping table, performing the steps of:
• retrieving the correct access port address from the table;
• returning the correct access port address to the interworking part of the terminal;
• releasing said signaling between the core network specific part of the terminal and the IWU;
• and
• performing a new access attempt from said terminal, using the correct access port.

In a Generic Radio Access Network (GRAN) wherein a core network does not support mobility, a system used for directing an access attempt by a user terminal having a core network specific part and a GRAN specific part, comprising:

• means for the user terminal attempting to access the core network through a closest one of a plurality of access ports using an initial message to a closest radio network controller (RNC) in the GRAN, said initial message requesting a signaling connection to the core network and wherein a request for signaling is included and transferred. uninterpreted by the GRAN as part of an initial message;
• means for sending a core network subscriber identity of the user terminal as a part of said initial message;
• means for transferring by said RNC the request for a signaling connection, including said core network subscriber identity, to an interworking unit (IWU) at the closest access port, wherein said core network is connected to the closest access port;
• means for said IWU at said closest access port to determine if said subscriber identity belongs to said closest access port;
• means for establishing a connection between the core network specific part of the terminal and the core network if the subscriber identity belongs to the closest access port;
• means for checking a mapping table in said IWU at the closest access port for a correct access port address that corresponds to the subscriber identity, said mapping table mapping core network subscriber identities to access port addresses;
• means for rejecting the access attempt if the subscriber identity is not on the mapping table;
• means for the IWU retrieving the correct access port address from the mapping table if the subscriber identity is on the mapping table;
• means for the IWU returning the correct access port address to the RNC;
• and
• means for the RNC rerouting the access attempt to the correct access port.

In a Generic Radio Access Network (GRAN) wherein a core network does not support mobility, a system for directing an access attempt by a user terminal having a core network specific part, a GRAN specific part, and an interworking part, comprising:

• terminal means for attempting to access the core network through a closest one of a plurality of access ports;
• means for establishing signaling between the interworking part of the terminal and an interworking unit (IWU) at the closest access port, wherein said core network is connected to the closest access port;
• means for the interworking part of the terminal transferring a core network subscriber identity for the user terminal to the IWU at the closest access port;
• means for said IWU to determine if said subscriber identity belongs to the closest access port;
• means for establishing a connection between the core network specific part of the terminal and the core network if the subscriber identity belongs to the closest access port;
• means for checking a mapping table in said IWU at the closest access port for a correct access port address that corresponds to the subscriber identity, said mapping table mapping core network subscriber identities to access port addresses;
• means for rejecting the access attempt if the subscriber identity is not on the mapping table;
• means for retrieving, by said IWU, the correct access port address from the mapping table if the subscriber identity is on the mapping table;
• means for the IWU to return the correct access port address to the interworking part of the terminal;
• means for releasing the signaling between the interworking part of the terminal and the IWU;
• and
• means for said terminal performing a new access attempt, using the correct access port address.