# US 9,883,441 B2 · Method and apparatus to route packet flows over two transport radios > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,883,441 B2 - Document ID: US9883441B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/357,182 - Filed: 2011-11-10 - Published: 2014-12-18 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-10 - Assignees: Nokia Technologies Oy - Applicants: Mika Rinne; Jarkko Koskela; Sami Kekki - Inventors: Mika Rinne; Jarkko Koskela; Sami Kekki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883441B2 ## CPC - H04L 45/16: Multipoint routing - H04L 45/245: {Link aggregation, e.g. trunking} - H04L 47/34: ensuring sequence integrity, e.g. using sequence numbers - H04W 12/0431: Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement - H04W 36/22: for handling the traffic - H04W 40/02: Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A method includes receiving packets of a flow at a packet data convergence protocol layer; and based on at least one criterion, routing the flow to one or both of at least one cellular transport radio and a wireless local area network transport radio. Another method includes receiving at a packet data network gateway from an S 1 interface a dynamic host configuration protocol request for a station; one of creating an internet protocol configuration for the station or generating another dynamic host configuration protocol request to a dynamic host configuration protocol server to obtain the internet protocol configuration; and delivering the internet protocol configuration to the station. Apparatus for performing the methods are also disclosed, as are computer-readable program storage devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: receiving packets of a flow at a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, wherein the PDCP layer includes at least one cellular transport radio in a first eNB associated with an LTE c-Plane, and an LTE u-Plane and a wireless local area network transport radio; and based on at least one criterion, routing the flow internal to the packet data convergence protocol layer to one or both of the at least one cellular transport radio and the wireless local area network transport radio, wherein the wireless local area network transport radio provides offload capacity and is included in a different eNB to the first eNB, and wherein a same PDCP sequence number string is configured to be used in both instances for consecutive IP packets of a packet flow for transporting the IP packets via the at least one cellular transport radio and the wireless local area network transport radio. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the at least one cellular transport radio is compliant with a long term evolution (LTE) standard and the wireless local area network transport radio is compliant with at least one of an IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standard, LTE, or a local area evolved 3GPP standard. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where a security key sequence is also the same for the packet flow. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where a first security key sequence is used for the first packet flow and where a second security key sequence is used for the second packet flow. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where a first PDCP sequence number string is used for consecutive IP packets of a first packet flow transported via the at least one cellular transport radio, and where a second PDCP sequence number string is used for consecutive IP packets of a second packet flow transported via the wireless local area network transport radio. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the at least one criterion is provided from a mobility management entity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the at least one criterion is based on one or both of network load and traffic flows of a user device that comprises the at least one cellular transport radio and wireless local area network transport radio. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the at least one cellular transport radio functions as a primary cell and where the wireless local area network transport radio functions as a secondary cell having an extension carrier. ### Claim 9 An apparatus, comprising: at least one data processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and computer program code are configured, with the at least one data processor, to cause the apparatus at least to receive packets of a flow at a (PDCP) layer, wherein the PDCP layer includes at least one cellular transport radio in a first eNB associated with an LTE c-Plane, and an LTE u-Plane and a wireless local area network transport radio and, based on at least one criterion, to route the flow internal to the packet data convergence protocol layer to one or both of the at least one cellular transport radio and the wireless local area network transport radio, wherein the wireless local area network transport radio provides offload capacity and is included in a different eNB to the first eNB, and wherein a same PDCP sequence number string is configured to be used in both instances for consecutive IP packets of a packet flow for transporting the IP packets via the at least one cellular transport radio and the wireless local area network transport radio. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, where the at least one cellular transport radio is compliant with a long term evolution (LTE) standard and the wireless local area network transport radio is compliant with at least one of an IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standard, LTE, or a local area evolved 3GPP standard. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, where a security key sequence is also the same for the packet flow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, where a first security key sequence is used for the first packet flow and where a second security key sequence is used for the second packet flow. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, where a first PDCP sequence number string is used for consecutive IP packets of a first packet flow transported via the at least one cellular transport radio, and where a second PDCP sequence number string is used for consecutive IP packets of a second packet flow transported via the wireless local area network transport radio. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, where the at least one criterion is provided from a mobility management entity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, where the at least one criterion is based on one or both of network load and traffic flows of a user device that comprises the at least one cellular transport radio and wireless local area network transport radio. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, where the at least one cellular transport radio functions as a primary cell and where the wireless local area network transport radio functions as a secondary cell having an extension carrier. ### Claim 17 A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising code for: receiving packets of a flow at a (PDCP) layer, wherein the PDCP layer includes at least one cellular transport radio in a first eNB associated with an LTE c-Plane, and an LTE u-Plane and a wireless local area network transport radio; and based on at least one criterion, routing the flow internal to the packet data convergence protocol layer to one or both of the at least one cellular transport radio and the wireless local area network transport radio, wherein the wireless local area network transport radio provides offload capacity and is included in a different eNB to the first eNB, and wherein a same PDCP sequence number string is configured to be used in both instances for consecutive IP packets of a packet flow for transporting the IP packets via the at least one cellular transport radio and the wireless local area network transport radio. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer program product according to claim 17, where a security key sequence is also the same for the packet flow. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer program product according to claim 17, where a first security key sequence is used for the first packet flow and where a second security key sequence is used for the second packet flow. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The computer program product according to claim 17, where a first PDCP sequence number string is used for consecutive IP packets of a first packet flow transported via the at least one cellular transport radio, and where a second PDCP sequence number string is used for consecutive IP packets of a second packet flow transported via the wireless local area network transport radio.