Serving gateway extensions for inter-system mobility
Methods, devices, and systems related to serving gateway extensions for inter-system mobility in integrated small Cell and WiFi networks. An SGW may be extended into a common intermediate gateway for both LTE and WiFi access. A GTP-based “SI a” interface between a TWAN and an SGW is introduced. The STa interface between TWAN and 3 GPP AAA server/proxy is extended to enable selection of an SGW for establishment of the disclosed S1a interface. The extended SGW and protocols may be used to optimize inter-system mobility between LTE small cells and trusted WiFi. SGW and PDN Gateway (PGW) functionality is disclosed to support GTP-based IP flow mobility via multi-access (LTE and WiFi) connectivity to the same packet data network (PDN). Non-access stratum (NAS), EAP, and GTP-C protocols may also be extended to include a “multi-connection” indication in addition to existing “handover” indication.
1. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
receive a first request to create a first packet data network (PDN) connection, via a first interface, through a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection from a user equipment (UE);
receive a second request to create a second PDN connection, via a second interface, through a cellular access network connection from the UE, wherein a multi-connection indication is included in the second request and the multi-connection indication indicates that the second PDN connection is associated with the first interface and the second interface, wherein the multi-connection indication indicates to the UE that the UE can use a single IP address to send packets through the cellular access network connection, or through the WLAN connection, or simultaneously through both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection; and
obtain rules to enable switching between the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection, wherein the apparatus is in a core network.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a user plane function.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
transmit user traffic over the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
determine, based on one or more policies, whether user traffic should be routed over the cellular access network connection, or over the WLAN connection, or simultaneously over both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an AAA server/proxy determines that the apparatus has capacity to connect to the WLAN and indicates this capacity to the WLAN.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
receive, from the UE, data via the WLAN connection, via the cellular access network connection, or simultaneously via both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection, based on the multi-connection indication.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first PDN connection and the second PDN connection are created to route data between the data network and the UE over the cellular access network connection or the WLAN connection, or simultaneously over both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection.
8. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
establish a first packet data network (PDN) connection on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection via a first interface with a user equipment (UE);
establish a second PDN connection on a cellular access network connection via a second interface with the UE, wherein the second PDN connection established on the second interface is associated with the first PDN connection established on the first interface;
obtain rules to enable switching between the WLAN connection for the UE and the cellular access network connection for the UE, wherein the apparatus is in a core network and wherein switching between the WLAN connection for the UE and the cellular connection for the UE does not require setting up or ending a connection at a data network; and
receive a multi-connection indication that the second PDN connection established on the second interface is associated with the first PDN connection established on the first interface, wherein the multi-connection indication indicates to the UE that the UE can use a single IP address to send packets through the cellular access network connection, or through the WLAN connection, or simultaneously through both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein fourth interface between the WLAN and an AAA server is extended to allow selection of the apparatus for the WLAN connection.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the AAA server updates an HSS when the connection at the data network is made through the apparatus from the WLAN.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein an AAA server/proxy determines that the apparatus has capacity to connect to the WLAN and indicates the capacity to the WLAN.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
receive, from the UE, data via the WLAN connection, via the cellular connection, or simultaneously via both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection, based on the multi-connection indication.
13. A method for use by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a processor and memory, and wherein the apparatus further includes computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the apparatus, perform the method comprising:
receiving a first request to create a first packet data network (PDN) connection, via a first interface, through a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection from a user equipment (UE);
receiving a second request to create a second PDN connection, via a second interface, through a cellular access network connection from the UE, wherein a multi-connection indication is included in the second request and the multi-connection indication indicates that the second PDN connection is associated with the first interface and the second interface, wherein the multi-connection indication indicates to the UE that the UE can use a single IP address to send packets through the cellular access network connection, or through the WLAN connection, or simultaneously through both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection; and
obtaining rules to enable switching between the cellular access network connection and WLAN connection, wherein the apparatus is in a core network.
14. A method for use by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a processor and memory, and wherein the apparatus further includes computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the apparatus, perform the method comprising:
establishing a first packet data network (PDN) connection on a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection via a first interface with a user equipment (UE);
establishing a second PDN connection on a cellular access network connection via a second interface with the UE, wherein the second PDN connection established on the second interface is associated with the first PDN connection established on the first interface;
obtaining rules to enable switching between the WLAN connection for the UE and the cellular access network connection for the UE, wherein the apparatus is in a core network and wherein switching between the WLAN connection for the UE and the cellular connection for the UE does not require setting up or ending a connection at a data network; and
receiving a multi-connection indication that the second PDN connection established on the second interface is associated with the first PDN connection established on the first interface, wherein the multi-connection indication indicates to the UE that the UE can use a single IP address to send packets through the cellular access network connection, or through the WLAN connection, or simultaneously through both the cellular access network connection and the WLAN connection.