Interdigital Patent Holdings, Inc.

Convida Wireless, LLC

Interdigital Technology Corporation

Ipla Holdings Inc.

John L Tomici

Michael F Starsinic

Qing Li

Prabhakar Chitrapu

Alexander Reznik

Paul L Russell, Jr

Chunxuan Ye

Catherine M Livet

Ahmed Mohamed

Kushanava Laha

Guang Lu

Juan Carlos Zuniga

John Cartmell

Dale N Seed

Oscar Lopez-Torres

Rocco Di Girolamo

Martino M Freda

Jean-Louis Gauvreau

Arty Chandra

Vincent Roy

Alpaslan Demir

Michelle Perras

Athmane X Touag

Milan Patel

Nicholas J Podias

Kenneth F Lynch

Scott C Hergenhan

Reeteshkumar Varshney

Aravind Kamarajugadda

Onkarnath Upadhyay

Murali Reddiboyana

Chonggang Wang

Shamim Akbar Rahman

Joseph M Murray

Mathilde Benveniste

Ravikumar V Pragada

Samian Kaur

Angelo A Cuffaro

Brian Gregory Kiernan

Maged Zaki

Yuying Dai

Bartosz Balazinski

Maged M Zaki

Hao Jin

Ayaskant Rath

Usman Ehtesham Gul

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 andGPP AAA server/proxy is extended to enable selection of an SGW for establishment of the disclosed Sla 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.

Serving gateway extensions for inter-system mobility

Systems and methods are disclosed for inter-system mobility in integrated LTE and trusted WLAN access networks (TWAN). An X2' interface, adapted for both control plane and user plane communications, exists between an eNB and WLAN access point. A WLAN that has a UE attached thereto that is communicating with an EPC communicates over the X2′ interface with an C(H)eNB to handover communications from the WLAN to the (H)eNB. Similarly, an (H)eNB that has a UE attached thereto communicates over the X2′ interface with a WLAN to handover communications from the (H)eNB to the WLAN.

Handover in integrated small cell and WiFi networks via an extended X2 interface

Systems, methods, and apparatus embodiments are described herein for controlling policy in integrated small cell and Wi-Fi networks (ISWNs). It is recognized herein that multiple actors within an ISWN may have needs or preferences that conflict with each other, and that the best way of reconciling those conflicting needs is not always to simply give one actor preference over another. As described herein, optimum management decisions may be dynamically based on current network conditions and preferences of multiple actors.

Dynamic policy control

A mapping service in the mobile core network located after a packet data network gateway examines content requests from user equipment across a first PDN connection to determine if content associated with the content request is cached at an edge server outside of the packet data network. If the content from the packet data network is cached at the edge server, the mapping service redirects the user equipment to request the content from the edge server across a second PDN connection. By using a mapping service located after the packet data network gateway, the content requests may have already passed restrictions such as parental controls.

Mapping service for local content redirection

A system comprises an integrated small cell and WiFi (ISW) gateway (GW). The ISW GW is integrated with a mobility management entity (MME) and serving gateway (SGW) and has interfaces with both a 3GPP access network and a TWAN. The ISW GW operates as a common control gateway and a common user gateway for both LTE networks and TWANs. User equipment (UE) by means of the ISW GW is able to access the capabilities of a packet data network (PDN) through either the LTE network or TWAN. Further, the ISW GW provides for an existing communication connection between a UE and a PDN to be handed over from one of the LTE network or TWAN to the other. Still further, the ISW GW supports simultaneously maintaining two communication paths, one via the LTE network and one via the TWAN, between a UE and a packet network.

Inter-system handover and multi-connectivity via an integrated small cell and WiFi gateway

Applicants disclose an inter-system mobility anchor control point that is adapted to initiate handover of an existing communication connection in an integrated small cell and WiFi (ISW) network. The inter-system mobility anchor control point is communicatively coupled to both an HeNB/LTE network and trusted WLAN access network (TWAN) and adapted to operate as a common control plane entity for both HeNB/LTE and TWAN access. The mobility anchor control point may be a mobility management entity (MME) or an integrated small cell and WLAN gateway (ISW GW). The mobility anchor control point is adapted to request and receive measurement data relating to the operations of the HeNB network and WLAN. Based upon the measurement data, the mobility anchor control point determines whether an existing communication path via one of the HeNB/LTE network and WLAN should be handed over to the other of the networks.

Network-initiated handover in integrated small cell and WiFi networks

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 &#x201c;handover&#x201d; indication.

Access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) policies are extended to include a wireless local area network quality of service (Qos) parameter in order to create a ANDSF based QoS. This may be used by user equipment to set the uplink 802.11e User Priority (UP) for offloaded or evolved packet core-routed WiFi traffic.

Mobile network operator control of WLAN QoS via ANDSF

A mobile network operator (MNO) may control WiFi QoS. 3GPP has specified control mechanisms for various levels of quality of service (QoS) over the cellular access and core network. Embodiments described herein provide differentiation of WiFi QoS based on MNO requirements. In particular, extensible authentication protocol (EAP) and diameter messages may be extended to include a wireless local area network QoS parameter. This may be used by user equipment to set the uplink 802.11e User Priority (UP) for offloaded or evolved packet core-routed WiFi traffic.

Mobile network operator (MNO) control of WiFi QOS via EAP/diameter

Network initiated handover in integrated small cell and WiFi networks

Systems and methods for providing multiple connections or interfaces at the same time may be disclosed herein. For example, in an embodiment, a first RRC connection may be established between a wireless transmit and receive unit (WTRU) or user equipment (UE) and a network node such as an eNB and a second RRC connection may be established between the WTRU or UE and the network node such as the eNB or another network node such as another eNB. The first RRC connection and the second RRC connections may then be maintained in parallel (e.g. at the same time).

Systems and methods for establishing and maintaining multiple cellular connections and/or interfaces

The quality of service of access to an evolved packet core network provided to a user equipment via a trusted wireless local area network is controlled by a mobile network operator via the provision of a quality of service policy to various network devices, monitoring of the character of data flows to and from the user equipment, and adjustment of differentiated service code point marking and 802.11.e user priority according to the policy.

Mobile network operator (MNO) control of WiFi QoS based on traffic detection and DSCP mapping in trusted WLAN access and networks

A system comprises an integrated small cell and WiFi (ISW) gateway (GW). The ISW GW is integrated with a mobility management entity (MME) and serving gateway (SGW) and has interfaces with both a 3 GPP access network and a TWAN. The ISW GW operates as a common control gateway and a common user gateway for both LTE networks and TWANs. User equipment (UE) by means of the ISW GW is able to access the capabilities of a packet data network (PDN) through either the LTE network or TWAN. Further, the ISW GW provides for an existing communication connection between a UE and a PDN to be handed over from one of the LTE network or TWAN to the other. Still further, the ISW GW supports simultaneously maintaining two communication paths, one via the LTE network and one via the TWAN, between a UE and a packet network.

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Southold, NY, United States of America

John L Tomici