System and method to correlate handover transitions between 3GPP network access and untrusted non-3GPP network access

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring, via a passive network monitoring device, one or more network interfaces between network nodes including a serving gateway (SGW) node, a packet data network gateway (PGW) node, an evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG) node, and a Policy Control and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node and a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) node;

receiving, via the passive network monitoring device, a handover indication for User Equipment (UE) from untrusted non-3GPP network access to 3GPP network access;

receiving, via the passive network monitoring device, a response to an attach request from one or more of the network interfaces, the response including a mobile service internet protocol (MSIP) address and a charging identification (ID) for the UE;

determining, via the passive network monitoring device, the UE is from a single subscriber based on each of the handover indication, the MSIP address of the response and the charging ID of the response; and

correlating information for the UE at each of the one or more network interfaces with the single subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, via the passive network monitoring device, data bearer context information for the UE prior to receiving the attach request;

determining, via the passive network monitoring device, data bearer context information for the UE after receiving the response; and

mapping the data bearer context information determined prior to receiving the attach request to the data bearer context information determined after receiving the response, when the UE is from the single subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, via a passive network monitoring device, a handover indication for the UE further comprises:

receiving a create session request from the network interfaces between the SGW node and the PGW node, the create session request indicating the handover for the UE.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response is a create session response, wherein the MSIP address is indicated in a PDN Address Allocation (PAA) field of the response.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the handover indication for UE from untrusted non-3GPP network access to 3GPP network access is indicated by the received attach request.

6. A method, comprising:

monitoring, via a passive network monitoring device, one or more network interfaces between network nodes including a serving gateway (SGW) node, a packet data network gateway (PGW) node, an evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG) node, and a Policy Control and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node and a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) node;

receiving, via a passive network monitoring device, a handover indication for User Equipment (UE) from 3GPP network access to untrusted non-3GPP network access;

receiving, via the passive network monitoring device, a response to an attach request from one or more of the network interfaces, the response including a mobile service internet protocol (MSIP) address and a charging identification (ID) for the UE;

determining, via the passive network monitoring device, the UE is from a single subscriber based on each of the handover indication, the MSIP of the response and the charging ID of the response; and

correlating information for the UE at each of the one or more network interfaces with the single subscriber.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the handover indication for the UE from 3GPP network access to untrusted non-3GPP network access indicates preservation of session continuity.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the UE is previously allocated to an MSIP address prior to transmitting a handover.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the handover indication for UE from 3GPP network access to untrusted non-3GPP network access is indicated by the received attach request.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining, via the passive network monitoring device, data bearer context information for the UE prior to receiving the attach request;

determining, via the passive network monitoring device, data bearer context information for the UE after receiving the response; and

mapping the data bearer context information determined prior to receiving the attach request to the data bearer context information determined after receiving the response, when the UE is from the single subscriber.

11. An a passive network monitoring device, comprising:

one or more network interfaces configured to communicate in a communication network;

a processor configured to execute one or more processes; and

a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:

monitor one or more network interfaces between network nodes including a serving gateway (SGW) node, a packet data network gateway (PGW) node, an evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG) node, and a Policy Control and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node and a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) node;

receive a handover indication for User Equipment (UE) from untrusted non-3GPP network access to 3GPP network access;

receive a response to an attach request from one or more of the network interfaces, the response including a mobile service internet protocol (MSIP) address and a charging identification (ID) for the UE;

determine the UE is from a single subscriber based on each of the handover indication, the MSIP of the response and the charging ID of the response; and

correlate information for the UE at each of the one or more network interfaces with the single subscriber.

12. The passive network monitoring device of claim 11 , further comprising:

determine data bearer contact information for the UE prior to receiving the attach request;

determine data bearer context information for the UE after receiving the response; and

map the data bearer context information prior to receiving the attach request to the data bearer context information after receiving the response when the UE is from the single subscriber.

13. The passive network monitoring device of claim 11 , wherein the process to receive the handover indication for the user equipment, when executed, is further configured to:

receive a create session request from the network interfaces between the SGW node and the PGW node, the create session request indicating the handover for the UE.

14. The passive network monitoring device of claim 11 , wherein the response is a create session response, wherein the MSIP address is indicated by a PDN Address Allocation (PAA) field of the response.

15. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software, when executed by a processor, configured to:

monitor, via a passive network monitoring device, one or more network interfaces between network nodes including a serving gateway (SGW) node, a packet data network gateway (PGW) node, an evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG) node, and a Policy Control and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node and a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) node;

receive, via the passive network monitoring device, a handover indication for User Equipment (UE) from 3GPP network access to untrusted non-3GPP network access;

receiving, via the passive network monitoring device, a response to an attach request from one or more of the network interfaces, the response including a mobile service internet protocol (MSIP) address and a charging identification (ID) for the UE;

determining, via the passive network monitoring device, the UE is from a single subscriber based on the handover, the MSIP address of the response and the charging ID of the response; and

correlating information for the UE at each of the one or more network interfaces with the single subscriber.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining, via the passive network monitoring device, data bearer context information for the UE prior to receiving the attach request;

determining, via the passive network monitoring device, data bearer context information for the UE after receiving the response; and

mapping the data bearer context information determined prior to receiving the attach request to the data bearer context information determined after receiving the response, when the UE is from the single subscriber.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein receiving, via a passive network monitoring device, a handover indication for the UE further comprises:

receiving a create session request from the network interfaces between the SGW node and the PGW node, the create session request indicating the handover for the UE.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the response is a create session response, wherein the MSIP address is indicated in a PDN Address Allocation (PAA) field of the response.