US 7,924,819 B2Granted

Versatile system for radio access network session information retrieval

AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

InventorWilliam Joseph Semper

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Abstract

A session information retrieval system is disclosed that efficiently transfers mobile station session information among certain members of a radio access network. As a mobile station within the network—which is dormant in a first packet data zone of the network—moves to a second packet data zone, a PCF for the second packet zone contacts the PCF for the first packet data zone to retrieve session information for the MS. Having retrieved the MS's already-established session information, the second PCF obviates the need to re-establish or re-negotiate session information for the MS. Having forwarded the MS's session information to the second PCF, the first PCF may discard the now unneeded session information that would have otherwise been maintained indefinitely—freeing up valuable system resources.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A radio access network system comprising:

a second coverage zone control component configured to control a second set of base stations in a second packet data zone and communicatively coupled to a first coverage zone control component by an incumbent messaging system, the first coverage zone control component configured to control a first set of base stations in a first packet data zone and operatively coupled to a packet data serving node;
and
an addressing construct adapted to create a unique locator for each coverage zone control component in the radio access network, each unique locator being an internet protocol (IP) address that is used by a corresponding coverage zone control component to communicate with other coverage zone control components across radio access networks, the IP address comprising octets for a vendor identifier (VID), a system identifier (SID), a network identifier (NID), and a packet zone identifier (PZID) of the corresponding coverage zone control component,
wherein the second coverage zone control component is further configured to retrieve session information for a packet data session for a mobile station over the incumbent messaging system, the second coverage zone control component communicating with the first coverage zone control component by utilizing the first coverage zone control component's unique locator, and wherein the first coverage zone control component's unique locator is received by the second coverage zone control component from the mobile station.

1 more element

A method of retrieving session information for a mobile station in a radio access network, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a second packet control function (PCF), a message that a mobile station has moved into a second packet data zone from a first packet data zone, the second PCF configured to control packet data sessions in a second set of base stations in the second packet data zone, the first PCF configured to control packet data sessions in a first set of base stations in the first packet data zone, the message indicating that the mobile station has an already established packet data session with a first PCF;
determining a unique identifier of the first PCF from the message, the unique identifier comprising an internet protocol (IP) address that is used to communicate with a plurality of PCFs across radio access networks, the IP address comprising octets for a vendor identifier (VID), a system identifier (SID), a network identifier (NID), and a packet zone identifier (PZID) of the first PCF;
transmitting a request to the first PCF for a session information of the already established packet data session, the request transmitted by the second PCF using the unique identifier of the first PCF;
and
storing, in the second PCF, the session information that is received from the first PCF.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/387,592Filed 23 Mar 2006
Published: US 2007/0223452 A127 Sep 2007
Granted: 12 Apr 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H04W 8/12
Mobility data transfer: between location registers or mobility servers
H04W 80/04
Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation: network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
H04W 80/10
Upper layer protocols: adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol]
H04W
Wireless communication networks