Enhanced techniques for using core based nodes for state transfer
Methods and apparatus for storing, manipulating, retrieving, and forwarding state, e.g., context and other information, used to support communications sessions with one or more end nodes, e.g., mobile devices, are described. Various features are directed to a mobile node controlling the transfer of state from a first access node to a second access node during a handoff operation thereby eliminating any need for state transfer messages to be transmitted between the second access node and the first access node during handoff. Other features of the invention are directed to the use of a core network node to store state information. State information stored in the core node can be accessed and used by access nodes in cases where a mobile node does not send a state transfer message during a handoff, e.g., because communication with the first access node is lost or because such messages are not supported.
1. A management node for storing state information, comprising:
means for receiving and transmitting state information associated with wireless communication of an end node;
means for storing state information; and
means for determining whether state information, stored on the management node and associated with the end node, should be updated,
wherein the means for determining is configured to compare a first time stamp associated with the current state information with a second time stamp associated with the stored state information and to update, based on the comparison, the stored state information by overwriting the stored state information with current state information associated with the end node.
2. The wireless communication node of claim 1 , wherein the means for determining is configured to reset the first time stamp to an original value if the stored state information is overwritten with the current state information.
3. The wireless communication node of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication node is a core state management node.
4. A management node for storing state information, the management node comprising:
an interface configured to receive and transmit state information associated with wireless communication of an end node; and
circuitry configured to store state information and determine whether state information, stored on the management node and associated with the end node, should be updated,
wherein the circuitry is further configured to compare a first time stamp associated with the current state information with a second time stamp associated with the stored state information and to update by overwriting the stored state information with current state information associated with the end node.
5. The management node of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to reset the first time stamp to an original value if the stored state information is overwritten with the current state information for storage in the circuitry.
6. The management node of claim 4 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to update by storing a current state information associated with the end node in the circuitry without deleting the stored state information.
7. The management node of claim 4 , wherein the interface is further configured to receive an update message from an access node to update the stored state information in the circuitry with a current state information associated with the end node.
8. The management node of claim 4 , further comprising an authentication, authorization and accounting server.
9. A management node for storing state information, the management node comprising:
an interface configured to receive and transmit state information associated with wireless communication of an end node; and
circuitry configured to store state information and determine whether state information, stored on the management node and associated with the end node, should be updated,
wherein the circuitry is further configured to update by overwriting the stored state information with current state information associated with the end node and to generate an update message comprising the current state information, and wherein the interface is further configured to send the update message to a second management node to store the current state information.
10. A management node for storing state information, the management node comprising:
an interface configured to receive and transmit state information associated with wireless communication of an end node; and
circuitry configured to store state information and determine whether state information, stored on the management node and associated with the end node, should be updated,
wherein the interface is further configured to receive an update message from an access node to update the stored state information in the circuitry with a current state information associated with the end node and to send an acknowledgement message to the access node to indicate successful reception of the update message and successful update to the current state information.
11. A management node for storing state information, the management node comprising:
an interface configured to receive and transmit state information associated with wireless communication of an end node; and
circuitry configured to store state information and determine whether state information, stored on the management node and associated with the end node, should be updated,
wherein the interface is further configured to receive an update message from an access node to update the stored state information in the circuitry with a current state information associated with the end node, and
wherein the circuitry is further configured to search the circuitry for the stored state information associated with the end node.
12. The management node of claim 11 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to a generate transfer request message to request for the stored state information from a last access node, wherein the last access node was last to communicate with the management node regarding the end node prior to receiving the update message.
13. A method for storing state information, comprising:
receiving state information associated with wireless communication of an end node;
storing the state information;
determining whether state information, stored on a management node and associated with the end node, should be updated;
comparing a first time stamp associated with the current state information with a second time stamp associated with the stored state information; and
updating, based on the comparison, the stored state information by overwriting the stored state information with current state information associated with the end node.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising resetting the first time stamp to an original value if the stored state information is overwritten with the current state information.
15. A computer-program product comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:
code for receiving and transmitting state information associated with wireless communication of an end node;
code for storing state information; and
code for determining whether state information, stored on a management node and associated with the end node, should be updated;
code for comparing a first time stamp associated with the current state information with a second time stamp associated with the stored state information; and
code for updating, based on the comparison, the stored state information by overwriting the stored state information with current state information associated with the end node.
16. The computer-program product of claim 15 , further comprising code for resetting the first time stamp to an original value if the stored state information is overwritten with the current state information.