Merged packet service and mobile internet protocol

Details Merged packet service and mobile internet protocol Merged packet service and mobile internet protocol

1999-06-15

2004-03-23

Gelin, Jean Alland (Department: 2681)

Multiplex communications

Communication over free space

Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...

C370S401000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06711147

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to management techniques for a wireless communications network and, more particularly, to a system and method for providing wireless communications by merging packet service and mobile internet protocol.
BACKGROUND
There are many emerging trends in the communications world, including the increase in mobile network technology and the rise in packet data networks. There are many types of mobile network technology, including global systems mobile (“GSM”), code division multiple access (“CDMA”), time division multiple access (“TDMA”), and advanced mobile phone service (“AMPS”). Likewise, there are many types of packet data technology, such as asynchronous transfer mechanism (“ATM”) and internet protocol (“IP”). A packet, or datagram, is a transmission method in which sections of a message are transmitted in scattered order and then re-ordered at a receiving node.
It is often desired to establish or maintain a connection that utilizes mobile network technology and packet data technology. For example, a global packet radio services (“GPRS”) technology is being developed to implement packet data technology for GSM networks. Separately, certain IP networks are being developed to support mobile, or wireless, communications (hereinafter referred to as “mobile IP”). Although the move to mobile IP technology is desirable, it has not merged well with conventional mobile technology.
GPRS
GPRS is an emerging GSM phase 2+ packet radio standard, similar to cellular digital packet data. It provides more efficient usage of the GSM radio interface because mobile units, or mobile nodes, can share a common radio channel. GPRS also provides direct interworking to the transmission control protocol IP (e.g. , the Internet), X.25 standard networks, and connectionless-mode network service networks for point-to-point services and point-to-multipoint services (e.g. , broadcast and group calls). GPRS supports concurrent operation with existing GSM services for circuit-switched speech, circuit-switched data and the service management system (“SMS” or “the intelligent network”) and is considered a long term replacement for signaling system 7 based SMS.
Consider for example
FIG. 1
a
of the drawings. The reference numeral
10
refers, in general, to a simplified conventional GSM network that supports the GPRS standard, hereinafter referred to as a “GPRS network.” The GPRS network
10
allows a node such as a mobile node
12
to communicate with a packet network
14
, such as the Internet, to further connect with a host
15
. The host
15
is a correspondent node which may be either mobile or stationary. The GPRS network
10
also allows the mobile node
12
to communicate with a circuit switched network such as the public switched telephone network (“PSTN,” not shown). The mobile node
12
contains the necessary components to establish a wireless connection to a second/third generation (2G/3G) radio access network, represented by a base station
16
. The base station
16
provides a voice link, a data link, and a control link to various nodes of the network
10
.
For conventional wireless telephone calls, the base station
16
creates a voice and control link to a mobile switching center (“MSC”)
18
, which provides a voice link to a telephone network such as the PSTN. The MSC
18
includes a visitor location register (“VLR”)
18
a
and is connected via a control link to other nodes such as a home location register (“HLR”)
20
and a SMS
22
. The HLR
20
is enhanced to include GPRS subscription data for use in the GPRS elements discussed below. The SMS
22
may be a gateway MSC, for example, and may further link to other nodes, as well known in the art. The SMS
22
, HLR
20
, and MSC
18
are all interconnected via a mobile application protocol (“MAP”) interface.
For packet data calls, the network
10
includes several GPRS network elements, including GPRS support nodes (“GSNs”). A serving GSN (“SGSN”)
30
is connected to the base station
16
via a signaling and data transfer interface
32
. The SGSN
30
is also connected to the MSC/VLR
18
,
18
a
via a signaling interface
34
, to the SMS
22
via a signaling and data transfer interface
36
, and to the HLR
20
via a signaling interface
38
. The SGSN
30
is further connected to a gateway GSN (“GGSN”)
40
via a signaling and data transfer interface
42
and to a GGSN
44
via a signaling and data transfer interface
46
. The GGSN
40
is further connected to the packet network
14
via a signaling and data transfer interface
48
and the GGSN
44
is connected to a public land mobile network (“PLMN,” not shown).
Referring also to
FIG. 1
b
, the SGSN
30
includes various modules to perform mobility management and authentication procedures. It also routes packet data as required. Like the VLR
18
a
, the SGSN
30
stores only a subset of subscriber data normally available at the HLR
20
. For the sake of example, the SGSN
30
includes an originating call handler (or “OCH”)
50
and a terminating call handler (or “TCH”)
52
. The OCH
50
handles exchanges with an originating agency while the TCH
52
handles exchanges with the terminating agency. Both the OCH
50
and the TCH
52
are configured to handle messages formatted in accordance with a predetermined industry standard GPRS protocol. It is understood that the OCH
50
and the TCH
52
are representative of various modules that perform messaging and other protocol functions.
The GGSNs
40
,
44
provide functionality similar to a conventional gateway MSC, except that the GGSNs support packet data. The GGSNs
40
,
44
use a packet data protocol which contains IP routing information. The routing information is used to “tunnel” data from the mobile node
12
to the current point of attachment. A tunnel is a path followed by a packet while it is encapsulated. While encapsulated, a packet is routed to a node where it is decapsulated and forwarded to its ultimate destination.
The GPRS elements
30
,
40
, and
44
are arranged according to “routing areas,” which are subsets of a GSM “location area.” When a mobile node enters a routing area, it performs one or more registrations. There are three types of routing area registrations: 1) Routing Area Updating is when a mobile node enters a new routing area; 2) GPRS Attach/Detach indicates mobile node activation and prevents paging a mobile node when it is not active; and 3) Periodic Routing Area Update ensures that regular radio contact is maintained by the mobile node. Upon registration, the SGSN serving the new routing area updates the “context” of the mobile node. The context includes a GPRS Packet Data Protocol (“PDP”), which is part of the mobile node's address. The PDP context is updated so that the GGSN in the old routing area will send packets to the new SGSN. Other parts of the context may include various identifiers, an access point name, and so forth.
Mobile IP
Mobile IP is an emerging “layer
3
” type protocol that allows a mobile node to establish a wireless connection to an IP network. mobile IP essentially has three major subsystems. First, a discovery mechanism provides mobile nodes with new attachment points (new IP addresses) as they move within the IP network. Second, when the mobile node learns its new IP address, it registers it with its “home network.” A home network is a network, possibly virtual, that has a network prefix matching that of the mobile node's “home address.” A home address is an IP address that is assigned for an extended period of time to a mobile node. It remains unchanged regardless of where the mobile node is attached. Standard IP routing mechanisms will deliver packets destined to a mobile node's home address to the mobile node's home network.
A third subsystem is that mobile IP allows data to be directed to the mobile node when it is away from its home network by using the registered IP address. For the sake of reference, mobile IP is discussed in greater detail in the book Charles E. Perkins,
MOBILE
IP: D
ESIGN
P
RINCIPLES AND

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