System and method for session restoration at geo-redundant gateways

A non-transitory computer readable medium including software instructions which, when executed by a processer, manages a backup service gateway (SGW) associated with a primary SGW, the instructions comprising:

• periodically receiving from the primary SGW at least a portion of corresponding UE session state information, the received portion of session state information being sufficient to enable the backup SGW to indicate to an inquiring management entity that UE having an active session supported by the primary SGW are in a live state;
• and
• in response to a failure of the primary SGW, the backup SGW assuming management of IP addresses and paths associated with said primary SGW and transmitting a Downlink Data Notification (DDN) toward a Mobility Management Entity (MME) for each of said UEs having an active session supported by the failed primary SGW to detach from the network and reattach to the network, wherein each DDN causes the MME to send a detach request with a reattach request code to the respective UE.

A computer program product comprising computer instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory which, when executed by a processor in a computing device, adapt the operation of the computing device to manage a backup service gateway (SGW) associated with a primary SGW, the instructions comprising:

• periodically receiving from the primary SGW at least a portion of corresponding UE session state information, the received portion of session state information being sufficient to enable the backup SGW to indicate to an inquiring management entity that UE having an active session supported by the primary SGW are in a live state;
• and
• in response to a failure of the primary SGW, the backup SGW assuming management of IP addresses and paths associated with said primary SGW and transmitting a Downlink Data Notification (DDN) toward a Mobility Management Entity (MME) for each of said UEs having an active session supported by the failed primary SGW to detach from the network and reattach to the network, wherein each DDN causes the MME to send a detach request with a reattach request code to the respective UE.