Telecommunications apparatus and method
A telecommunications system for communicating internet packet data in accordance with a first internet protocol (IPV6) via a packet radio network operable in accordance a second internet protocol (IPV4) includes a user equipment operable to request a bearer for communicating internet protocol data according to the second internet protocol (IPV4) to and from a gateway support node of the packet radio network. The gateway support node is operable to establish a tunnelling protocol bearer for communicating the internet packet data to and from the user equipment across the packet radio network. The user equipment is operable in combination with the gateway support node to form an address which is compatible with the first internet protocol (IPv6). The address includes an interface identifier having a tunnel end identifier of the tunnelling protocol bearer which ends at the gateway support node of the packet radio network. The internet packet data is communicated to and from a correspondent node via the gateway support node and the established bearer using internet protocol address which is compatible with the first internet protocol (Ipv6).
1. A user equipment operable to request a bearer for communicating internet protocol data according to a second internet protocol to and from a gateway support node of a packet radio network, wherein the user equipment is operable in combination with the gateway support node, the user equipment comprising:
a processor to form an address which is compatible with a first internet protocol, the address including an interface identifier having a tunnel end identifier of the tunneling protocol bearer, said tunneling protocol bearer being established for communicating the internet packet data to and from the user equipment across the packet radio network and ending at the gateway support node of the packet radio network, and
a transceiver to communicate the internet packet data to and from a correspondent node via the established tunneling protocol bearer using an internet protocol address which is compatible with the first internet protocol.
2. The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the interface identifier of the address includes a company identifier indicative of an operator of the packet radio network, wherein the address is formed by the processor in combination with the gateway support node.
3. The user equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the interface identifier of the address includes an internet protocol address according to the second internet protocol, wherein the address is formed by the processor in combination with the gateway support node.
4. A method for requesting a bearer for communicating internet protocol data according to a second internet protocol to and from a gateway support node of a packet radio network in a user equipment, wherein the user equipment is operable in combination with the gateway support node, the method comprising:
forming an address which is compatible with a first internet protocol, the address including an interface identifier having a tunnel end identifier of the tunneling protocol bearer, said tunneling protocol bearer being established for communicating the internet packet data to and from the user equipment across the packet radio network and ending at the gateway support node of the packet radio network, and
communicating the internet packet data to and from a correspondent node via the established tunneling protocol bearer using an internet protocol address which is compatible with the first internet protocol.
5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:
forming the addressed by a processor in combination with the gateway support node; and
including a company identifier indicative of an operator of the packet radio network with the interface identifier of the address.
6. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:
forming the addressed by a processor in combination with the gateway support node; and
including an internet protocol address according to the second internet protocol with the interface identifier of the address.