Method and apparatus for address allocation in GPRS networks that facilitates end-to-end security

A method comprising:

• receiving a Create Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context Request message from a Serving General Packet Radio System (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) at a Gateway General Packet Radio System (GPRS) Support Node (GGSN), the Create PDP Context Request Message having an APN (Access Point Name) field containing information that explicitly indicates requesting either a private network address or a public network address to be assigned to a mobile station of the network;
• assigning either a private network address or a public network address to the mobile station based on the information contained in the APN field of the Create PDP Context Request message;
• and
• sending the Create PDP Context Response message from the GGSN to the SGSN containing the information assigning either a private network address or a public network address to the mobile station based on the information contained in the APN field of the Create PDP Context Request message.

An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, the apparatus is configured to:

• receive a Create Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context Request message from a Serving General Packet Radio System (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN), the Create PDP Context Request Message having an APN (Access Point Name) field containing information that explicitly indicates requesting either a private network address or a public network address to be assigned to a mobile station of a network;
• assign either a private network address or a public network address to the mobile station based on the information contained in the APN field of the Create PDP Context Request message;
• and
• send the Create PDP Context Response message to the SGSN containing the information assigning either a private network address or a public network address to the mobile station based on the information contained in the APN field of the Create PDP Context Request message.

An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, the apparatus is configured to:

• receive a Create PDP Context Request message from a Serving General Packet Radio System (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) of a network, the Create PDP Context Request message having an APN (Access Point Name)field containing one or more parameters that explicitly indicates requesting either a private network address or a public network address to be assigned to a mobile station of the network;
• assign either a private network address or a public network address to the mobile station based on the information contained in the APN field of the Create PDP Context Request message;
• and
• send the Create PDP Context Response message to the SGSN containing the information assigning either a private network address or a public network address to the mobile station based on the information contained in the APN field of the Create PDP Context Request message.

A system comprising:

• a Serving General Packet Radio System (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) configured to send a Create Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context Request to a Gateway General Packet Radio System (GPRS) Support Node (GGSN) of a network, the Create PDP Context Request message having an APN (Access Point Name) field containing one or more parameters that explicitly indicates requesting either a private network address or a public network address to be assigned to a mobile station of the network;
• a GGSN configured to send the Create PDP Context Request message to a Border Gateway (BG);
• and
• a BG configured to send a Create PDP Context Response message to the GGSN,
• the SGSN configured to receive the Create PDP Context Response from the GGSN.