US7280505B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for performing inter-technology handoff from WLAN to cellular network
Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
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Filing: 2003-06-19
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Granted: 2007-10-09
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Expires: 2023-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A method, system and computer program are disclosed to perform a low latency inter-technology handoff of a MN from a WLAN to a cellular network. The method includes transmitting a Bearer Context from the MN for use by the cellular network, the Bearer Context containing information required to establish access network bearers in the cellular network for an ongoing Internet session of the MN; and responding to the Bearer Context with a Router Advertisement that is forwarded to the MN. The Bearer Context may be piggybacked on another message, or it may be sent as a separate message. The Bearer Context includes information expressive of: (a) a QoS requirement of an ongoing application or applications of the MN; (b) a unique identity of the MN that is recognizable by the cellular network; (c) parameters to facilitate the creation of a Point-to-Point Protocol state in the cellular network; and (d) parameters to enable establishment of packet filters in the cellular network. The method also includes authenticating and authorizing with the target cellular network for the purpose of executing handoff.
Inventors
- 👤 Hemant Chaskar
- 👤 Govind Krishnamurthi
- 👤 Dirk Trossen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/0005; H04W36/0011; H04W36/0019; H04W36/16; H04W36/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method to perform a low latency inter-technology handoff of a mobile node (MN) from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a cellular network, comprising: transmitting a message from the MN to the WLAN for use by the cellular network, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer with the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN; and responding to the receipt of the message with a Router Advertisement message that is forwarded towards the MN.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method to perform a low latency inter-technology handoff of a mobile node (MN) from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a cellular network, comprising: transmitting a message from the MN to the WLAN for use by the cellular network, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer with the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN; and responding to the receipt of the message with a Router Advertisement message that is forwarded towards the MN.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the message is piggybacked on another message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the message comprises information expressive of a QoS requirement of at least one ongoing application of the MN.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the message comprises information expressive of a unique identity of the MN that is recognizable by the cellular network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the message comprises information expressive of parameters to facilitate the creation of a Point-to-Point Protocol state in the cellular network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the message comprises information expressive of parameters to enable establishment of packet filters in the cellular network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the message is piggybacked on a Router Solicitation message that is sent from an access router (AR) in response to receiving a Proxy Solicitation Request message from the MN.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 7 , where the Router Advertisement is sent to the AR, which in response sends a Proxy Router Advertisement to the MN.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 8 , where the Router Advertisement comprises a challenge for authentication and authorization purposes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 8 , where the MN responds to the Proxy Router Advertisement by sending a Registration Request message to the cellular network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as in claim 10 , where the Proxy Router Advertisement comprises a challenge for authentication and authorization purposes, and where the Registration Request message comprises information for identifying a home Authentication, Authorization, Accounting (AAA) function of the MN in the cellular network, and a response to the challenge received in the Proxy Router Advertisement.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
26 words
A method as in 11 , where, in response to receiving the Registration Request message, a query is sent to the home AAA of the MN.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
26 words
A method as in 11 , where, in response to receiving the Registration Request message, a query is sent to the home AAA of the MN.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 12 , where the query is sent via a visited AAA either directly or via at least one intermediate broker AAA.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 12 , where the query sent to the home AAA comprises information that indicates the challenge sent to the MN, and the response to the challenge received from the MN, for use by the home AAA in authenticating the MN.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 14 , where the query sent to the home AAA comprises information that indicates the access service requested by the MN.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 14 , further comprising, in response to successfully authenticating the MN, sending a success indication from the home AAA for authorizing access by the MN.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 16 , where the success indication further comprises a ticket sent in clear text and in a form encrypted using a shared secret between the home AAA and the MN.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 17 , where the clear text form of the ticket is stored in a cellular network node and where the encrypted ticket is sent to the MN via the AR.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 18 , further comprising sending an acknowledgment (ACK) from the MN to the cellular network, the ACK comprising the clear text ticket.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 19 , in response to receiving the clear text ticket from the MN, further comprising performing access bearer setup in the cellular network for establishing at least one access bearer for the MN.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 20 , further in response to receiving the clear text ticket from the MN, registering the MN with the HA and, upon receiving a Registration Reply from the HA, forwarding the Registration Reply from the cellular network to the MN upon an established access bearer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as in claim 17 , further comprising generating a session key at the home AAA as clear text and in an encrypted form, using the shared secret between the MN and the home AAA, storing the clear text session key in a cellular network node, and forwarding the encrypted form of the session key to the MN for use by the MN in at least one of authenticating and encrypting future message transactions with the cellular network.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the message is sent by the MN in an encrypted form using a shared secret between the MN and a home Authentication, Authorization, Accounting (AAA) function of the MN in the cellular network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 1 , where communication between the MN and the cellular network comprises a HI/HACK (Handover Initiate/Handover ACK) message exchange, and where the message is piggybacked on the HI message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 24 , where the cellular network responds to a receipt of the message with a Mobile Node-Foreign Agent (MN-FA) challenge extension that is piggybacked on the HACK message.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 1 , where the MN transmits the message in response to a change in at least one of WLAN-related signal strength, signal quality and other information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
87 words
A data communications system comprising a mobile node (MN), a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular network, further comprising: a transmitter for transmitting a message from the MN to the cellular network via the WLAN, the message comprising information for use in establishing access bearers in the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN; and a unit to respond to the receipt of the message with a Router Advertisement message that is forwarded towards the MN.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
87 words
A data communications system comprising a mobile node (MN), a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular network, further comprising: a transmitter for transmitting a message from the MN to the cellular network via the WLAN, the message comprising information for use in establishing access bearers in the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN; and a unit to respond to the receipt of the message with a Router Advertisement message that is forwarded towards the MN.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 27 , where the message is piggybacked on another message.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as in claim 28 , where the message is piggybacked on a Router Solicitation message that is sent from an access router (AR) in response to receiving a Proxy Solicitation Request message from the MN.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as in claim 28 , where communication between the MN and the cellular network comprises a HI/HACK (Handover Initiate/Handover ACK) message exchange, where the message is piggybacked on a HI message, and where the cellular network responds to a receipt of the message with a Mobile Node-Foreign Agent (MN-FA) challenge extension that is piggybacked on a HACK message.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system as in claim 27 , where the message comprises information expressive of at least one of a QoS requirement of at least one ongoing application of the MN, a unique identity of the MN that is recognizable by the cellular network, parameters to facilitate the creation of a Point-to-Point Protocol state in the cellular network, and parameters to enable establishment of packet filters in the cellular network.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 27 , where the message is received by a Packet Data Support Node (PDSN).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for controlling operation of a mobile node (MN) that is operable with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular network, said computer program being responsive to a change in at least one of received WLAN signal strength and signal quality for transmitting a message from the MN to the cellular network via the WLAN, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer in the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for controlling operation of a mobile node (MN) that is operable with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular network, said computer program being responsive to a change in at least one of received WLAN signal strength and signal quality for transmitting a message from the MN to the cellular network via the WLAN, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer in the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer program as in claim 33 , where the message is piggybacked on another message.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer program as in claim 34 , where the message is piggybacked on a Router Solicitation message that is sent from an access router (AR) in response to receiving a Proxy Solicitation Request message from the MN.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computer program as in claim 34 , where communication between the MN and the cellular network comprises a HI/HACK (Handover Initiate/Handover ACK) message exchange, where the message is piggybacked on a HI message, and where the cellular network responds to a receipt of the message with a Mobile Node-Foreign Agent (MN-FA) challenge extension that is piggybacked on a HACK message.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
70 words
A computer program as in claim 33 , where the message comprises information expressive of at least one of a QoS requirement of at least one ongoing application of the MN, a unique identity of the MN that is recognizable by the cellular network, parameters to facilitate the creation of a Point-to-Point Protocol state in the cellular network, and parameters to enable establishment of packet filters in the cellular network.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for controlling operation of a network node of a cellular network, said computer program being responsive to a receipt of a message from a mobile node (MN) that is currently wirelessly coupled to a wireless local area network (WLAN) for initiating the establishment of a cellular network access bearer for the MN, the message comprising information for use in establishing the at least one access bearer in the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for controlling operation of a network node of a cellular network, said computer program being responsive to a receipt of a message from a mobile node (MN) that is currently wirelessly coupled to a wireless local area network (WLAN) for initiating the establishment of a cellular network access bearer for the MN, the message comprising information for use in establishing the at least one access bearer in the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer program as in claim 38 , where the cellular network node comprises a packet data support node (PDSN).
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer program as in claim 39 , where the cellular network comprises a cdma2000 cellular network.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer program as in claim 38 , where said cellular network node responds to the receipt of the message by sending a Router Advertisement message that comprises a Mobile Node-Foreign Agent challenge extension message towards the MN.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 26 , where the other information comprises geographical coverage information.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
139 words
A method to perform a low latency inter-technology handoff of a mobile node (MN) from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a cellular network, comprising: transmitting a message from the MN to the WLAN for use by the cellular network, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer with the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN, the information comprising information expressive of a QoS requirement of at least one ongoing application of the MN and information expressive of a unique identity of the MN that is recognizable by the cellular network; and responding to the receipt of the message with a response message that is forwarded to the MN, the response message comprising a challenge for authenticating the MN in the cellular network.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
139 words
A method to perform a low latency inter-technology handoff of a mobile node (MN) from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a cellular network, comprising: transmitting a message from the MN to the WLAN for use by the cellular network, the message comprising information for use in establishing at least one access bearer with the cellular network for an ongoing packet data session of the MN being conducted through the WLAN, the information comprising information expressive of a QoS requirement of at least one ongoing application of the MN and information expressive of a unique identity of the MN that is recognizable by the cellular network; and responding to the receipt of the message with a response message that is forwarded to the MN, the response message comprising a challenge for authenticating the MN in the cellular network.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-10-08 | 2011-04-09 | 2011-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-10-08 | 2015-04-09 | 2015-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-10-08 | 2019-04-09 | 2019-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |