IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,774,090
Granted Patent B2
US 8,774,090 · App. 12/985,170 · Granted Jul 8, 2014

Method and apparatus for detach handling in multiple access wireless communications

Inventors: Gerardo Giaretta (San Diego, CA); Patrick Stupar (Nuremberg, DE); Haipeng Jin (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,774,090
App. No.
12/985,170
Granted
Jul 8, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate detaching one of a plurality of network connections to ensure state information is retained at one or more network nodes. For a device initiated detach, the device can transmit a handover message related to performing a handover of one network connection to another active network connection, as opposed to explicitly detaching the network connection. This can cause at least some state information, such as a gateway identifier, to be retained in one or more network nodes. For a network initiated detach, a gateway can provision state information to a state information server following receiving a routing tunnel termination message to ensure state information deleted as a part of the detach is re-provisioned to the state information server.

Claims (44)

1. A method for detaching one of multiple connections to one or more wireless networks, comprising:

communicating over a plurality of network connections that each provide access to a gateway;

determining to detach at least one of the plurality of network connections;

performing a handover of one or more flows related to the at least one of the plurality of network connections to a different one of the plurality of network connections; and

transmitting a handover message related to performing a handover of the at least one of the plurality of network connections to the different one of the plurality of network connections instead of detaching,

wherein detaching results in removal of state information at a network device and handover results in maintenance of the state information at the network device; and

subsequently reattaching the at least one of the plurality of network connections, and receiving an assignment to the gateway from a state information server based at least in part on an identifier retained based at least in part on transmitting the handover message instead of detaching.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the handover message includes transmitting a dual stack mobile internet protocol handover message, the at least one of the plurality of network connections is a third generation partnership project network, and the different one of the plurality of network connections is a wireless local area network.

3. An apparatus for detaching one of multiple connections to one or more wireless networks, comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

communicate over a plurality of network connections that each provide access to a gateway;

determine to detach at least one of the plurality of network connections;

perform a handover of one or more flows related to the at least one of the plurality of network connections to a different one of the plurality of network connections; and

transmit a handover message related to performing a handover of the at least one of the plurality of network connections to the different one of the plurality of network connections instead of detaching;

wherein detaching results in removal of state information at a network device and handover results in maintenance of the state information at the network device; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor;

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to subsequently reattach the at least one of the plurality of network connections, and receive an assignment to the gateway from a state information server based at least in part on an identifier retained based at least in part on transmitting the handover message instead of detaching.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the handover message includes a dual stack mobile internet protocol handover message, the at least one of the plurality of network connections is a third generation partnership project network, and the different one of the plurality of network connections is a wireless local area network.

5. An apparatus for detaching one of multiple connections to a wireless network, comprising:

means for communicating over a plurality of network connections that each provide access to a gateway;

means for determining to detach at least one of the plurality of network connections; and

means for transmitting a handover message related to performing a handover of the at least one of the plurality of network connections to a different one of the plurality of network connections instead of detaching,

wherein the means for communicating performs a handover of one or more flows related to the at least one of the plurality of network connections to the different one of the plurality of network connections,

wherein detaching results in removal of state information at a network device and handover results in maintenance of the state information at the network device,

wherein the means for communicating subsequently reattaches the at least one of the plurality of network connections, and

receives an assignment to the gateway from a state information server based at least in part on an identifier retained based at least in part on transmitting the handover message instead of detaching.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the handover message is a dual stack mobile internet protocol handover message, the one of the plurality of network connections is a third generation partnership project network, and the different one of the plurality of network connections is a wireless local area network.

7. A computer program product for detaching one of multiple connections to one or more wireless networks, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

code for causing at least one computer to communicate over a plurality of network connections that each provide access to a gateway;

code for causing the at least one computer to determine to detach at least one of the plurality of network connections;

code for causing the at least one computer to perform a handover of one or more flows related to the at least one of the plurality of network connections to a different one of the plurality of network connections; and

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit a handover message related to performing a handover of the at least one of the plurality of network connections to the different one of the plurality of network connections instead of detaching,

wherein detaching results in removal of state information at a network device and handover results in maintenance of the state information at the network device;

wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to subsequently reattach the at least one of the plurality of network connections, and receive an assignment to the gateway from a state information server based at least in part on an identifier retained based at least in part on transmitting the handover message instead of detaching.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the handover message includes a dual stack mobile internet protocol handover message, the one of the plurality of network connections is a third generation partnership project network, and the different one of the plurality of network connections is a wireless local area network.

9. An apparatus for detaching one of multiple connections to a wireless network, comprising:

a network communicating component for communicating over a plurality of network connections that each provide access to a gateway;

a detachment determining component for determining to detach at least one of the plurality of network connections; and

a handover message provisioning component for transmitting a handover message related to performing a handover of the at least one of the plurality of network connections to a different one of the plurality of network connections instead of detaching,

wherein the network communicating component performs a handover of one or more flows related to the at least one of the plurality of network connections to the different one of the plurality of network connections,

wherein detaching results in removal of state information at a network device and handover results in maintenance of the state information at the network device;

wherein the network communicating component subsequently reattaches the at least one of the plurality of network connections, and receives an assignment to the gateway from a state information server based at least in part on an identifier retained based at least in part on the handover message provisioning component transmitting the handover message instead of detaching.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the handover message includes a dual stack mobile internet protocol handover message, the one of the plurality of network connections is a third generation partnership project network, and the different one of the plurality of network connections is a wireless local area network.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2011
From: GIARETTA, GERARDO; STUPAR, PATRICK; JIN, HAIPENG
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 025856/0286 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61293539 · Jan 8, 2010
Related Publication 20120008551A1 · Jan 12, 2012