Connection identifier system and method
A method and system are proposed for establishing a requested connection between a source node and a destination node in a telecommunications network. The system and method are described in relation to a 3GPP network, but are applicable to other types of networks. The method includes generating a source application identifier for the connection within the source node, retrieving a source node identifier for the source node and transmitting the source application identifier and the source node identifier to the destination to provide a source connection identifier for the requested connection between the source node and the destination node.
1. A Mobility Management Entity (MME), configured to operate in accordance with an S1 Application Protocol (S1AP), the MME comprising:
a controller; and
a transceiver;
wherein the controller is configured to control the transceiver:
to communicate with a base station over an S1 interface;
to transmit, to the base station, over the S1 interface, a handover request message for S1AP communication which includes an MME User Equipment S1AP (MME UE S1AP) identity,
wherein the MME UE S1AP identity uniquely identifies a UE over an S1 interface within the MME; and
to receive, from the base station, over the S1 interface, a handover request acknowledgement message for S1AP communication.
2. A method performed by a Mobility Management Entity (MME), wherein the MME is configured to operate in accordance with an S1 Application Protocol (S1AP), the method comprising:
communicating with a base station over an S1 interface;
transmitting, to the base station, over the S1 interface, a handover request message for S1AP communication which includes an MME User Equipment S1AP (MME UE S1AP) identity,
wherein the MME UE S1AP identity uniquely identifies a UE over an S1 interface within the MME; and
receiving, from the base station, over the S1 interface, a handover request acknowledgement message for S1AP communication.
3. A base station, configured to operate in accordance with an S1 Application Protocol (S1AP), the base station comprising:
a controller; and
a transceiver;
wherein the controller is configured to control the transceiver:
to communicate with a Mobility Management Entity (MME) over an S1 interface;
to receive, from the MME, over the S1 interface, a handover request message for S1AP communication which includes an MME User Equipment S1AP (MME UE S1AP) identity,
wherein the MME UE S1AP identity uniquely identifies a UE over an S1 interface within the MME; and
to transmit, to the MME, over the S1 interface, a handover request acknowledgement message for S1AP communication.
4. A method performed by a base station, wherein the base station is configured to operate in accordance with an S1 Application Protocol (S1AP), the method comprising:
communicating with a Mobility Management Entity (MME) over an S1 interface;
receiving, from the MME, over the S1 interface, a handover request message for S1AP communication which includes an MME User Equipment S1AP (MME UE S1AP) identity,
wherein the MME UE S1AP identity uniquely identifies a UE over an S1 interface within the MME; and
transmitting, to the MME, over the S1 interface, a handover request acknowledgement message for S1AP communication.