Local Networks
The invention relates to an apparatus including at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: provide access to a network and needed bearers locally, and obtain offload bearer traffic from an umbrella node under control of the umbrella node in such a manner that a core network sees the offload bearer traffic as internal umbrella node traffic.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
provide access to a network and needed bearers locally, and
obtain offload bearer traffic from an umbrella node under control of the umbrella node in such a manner that a core network sees the offload bearer traffic as internal umbrella node traffic.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the access is provided to the Internet via a local gateway.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the offload bearer traffic is carried out by transferring EPS bearers.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further causing the apparatus to: be coupled to an umbrella node through a local interface supporting radio access bearer (E-RAB) management, context management, non-access stratum (NAS) transport, paging and handover control.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising causing the apparatus to:
maintain the offload bearer traffic under the control of the umbrella node.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the apparatus comprising server, host or node.
7 . (canceled)
8 . An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
offload bearer traffic to a local access point, and
control the offload bearer traffic in such a manner that a core network sees the offload bearer traffic as internal umbrella node traffic.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the offloading of the bearer traffic is carried out by transferring EPS bearers.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising causing the apparatus to:
determine to offload at least part of user device traffic to one or more local access points, and
coordinate the service transfer to the local access point.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising causing the apparatus to:
be coupled to a local access point through a local interface supporting radio access bearer (E-RAB) management, context management, non-access stratum (NAS) transport, paging and handover control.
12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising causing the apparatus to:
control intra-node and/or inter-cell handovers.
13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising causing the apparatus to:
set at least one virtual cell identifier for the local access point for making signaling transparent to the core network.
14 . (canceled)
15 . (canceled)
16 . A method comprising:
providing access to a network and needed bearers locally, and
obtaining offload bearer traffic from an umbrella node under control of the umbrella node in such a manner that a core network sees the offload bearer traffic as internal umbrella node traffic.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the access is provided to the Internet via a local gateway.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the obtaining the offload bearer traffic is carried out by transferring EPS bearers.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
coupling to an umbrella node through a local interface supporting radio access bearer (E-RAB) management, context management, non-access stratum (NAS) transport, paging and handover control.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
maintaining the offload bearer traffic under the control of the umbrella node.
21 . (canceled)
22 . A method comprising:
offloading bearer traffic to a local access point, and
controlling the offload bearer traffic in such a manner that a core network sees the offload bearer traffic as internal umbrella node traffic.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the offloading of the bearer traffic is carried out by transferring EPS bearers.
24 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
determining to offload at least part of user device traffic to one or more local access points, and
coordinating the service transfer to the local access point.
25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
coupling to a local access point through a local interface supporting radio access bearer (E-RAB) management, context management, non-access stratum (NAS) transport, paging and handover control.
26 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
controlling intra-node and/or inter-cell handovers.
27 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
setting at least one virtual cell identifier for the local access point for making signaling transparent to the core network.
28 . (canceled)
29 . A computer program embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program comprising program code for controlling a process to execute a process, the process comprising:
providing access to a network and needed bearers locally, and
obtaining offload bearer traffic from an umbrella node under control of the umbrella node in such a manner that a core network sees the offload bearer traffic as internal umbrella node traffic.
30 . A computer program embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program comprising program code for controlling a process to execute, a process, the process comprising:
offloading bearer traffic to a local access point, and
controlling the offload bearer traffic in such a manner that a core network sees the offload bearer traffic as internal umbrella node traffic.