Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Cisco Technology, Inc.

Ericsson Ab

Renhua Wen

Suraj Jaiswal

Anand K Oswal

Alfred C Lindem, Iii

Rajeev Gupta

Sachin Desai

Chandru Sargor

Bhaskar Bhupalam

Arghya T Mukherjee

Brian Russell Kean

Virendra K Malaviya

Ather Sayeed Kanak

Saikrishnan Gopalakrishnan

Namrata Limaye

Dawei Wang

Hancang Wang

Vaibhav Lade

Techniques are described for providing a proactive indication of a disruption of a network session. In one example, a network session is established between a first endpoint and a second endpoint based on a connection-oriented protocol. One or more network attributes associated with the network session are stored in a persistent storage. The one or more network attributes may be obtained from the persistent storage when the network session is disrupted. A proactive indication that the network session has been disrupted may be provided to the second endpoint based on the one or more network attributes.

Proactive indication of network session disruption

According to one embodiment, a method for performing reconciliation sync includes a first network device configured as an active inter-chassis redundancy (ICR) device in response to detecting a switchover request while performing a bulk sync transitioning to serving as the standby ICR device and performing a reconciliation sync while serving as the standby ICR device, the reconciliation sync comprises starting a transmission of session records that failed to be transmitted during the bulk sync to the second network device. According to one embodiment, a method for performing reconciliation sync includes a first network device configured as a standby ICR device receiving a plurality of session records from a second network device of the ICR system. The method further includes updating a global version number based on record version numbers of the received plurality of session records, and maintaining local session records based on the received plurality of session records.

Reconciliation protocol after ICR switchover during bulk sync

A network element that acts as a local mobility anchor (LMA) in a communications network efficiently distributes signaling messages using a data plane and a control plane having a plurality of processes executing on a plurality of processing units. When a network connection ID of a received signaling message is not mapped to a host process in a steering table, the signaling message is sent to a process in the control plane. A second process is assigned to be the host process for the network connection, and the steering table is updated to indicate this assignment. Upon receipt of a second signaling message with the network connection ID, it is efficiently sent to the second process because of the updated steering table. A mobility access gateway (MAG) also utilizes a steering table with network connection ID to host process mappings to efficiently distribute signaling messages.

Method and apparatus for efficient signaling message processing in a communications network

Empty GRE packets are used to provide in-order delivery of data packets for a session to a UE during inter-RAT handover. In particular, an empty GRE packet sent from a source gateway in a source RAN to a target gateway in a target RAN indicates to the target gateway the end of forwarded data packets from the source gateway. The target gateway sends data packets received from the source gateway to the UE until the empty GRE packet is received. Upon receipt of the empty GRE packet, the target gateway begins sending data packets received directly from a home network gateway to the UE.

Inter-rat handover control using empty GRE packets

An empty GRE packet along with a sequence number provides in-order delivery of data packets for a session to a UE during inter-RAT handover. In particular, an empty GRE packet sent from a source gateway in a source RAN (Radio Access Network) to a target gateway in a target RAN includes a sequence number to indicate to the target gateway the end of forwarded data packets from the source gateway. The target gateway sends data packets received from the source gateway to the UE until the empty GRE packet with the expected sequence number is received. Upon receipt of the empty GRE packet containing the expected sequence number, the target gateway begins sending data packets received directly from a home network gateway to the UE.

Inter-RAT handover control using sequence numbers

Empty GRE packets are used to ensure in-order delivery of data packets for a session to a UE during intra-EUTRAN handover involving SGW relocation. In particular, a PGW sends an empty GRE packet per PDN session of the UE to a source SGW upon handover execution to indicate the end of pre-handover data packets delivered to the source SGW. Upon receipt of the empty GRE packet, the source SGW generates an end marker packet, and sends it to the source eNodeB. The source eNodeB forwards buffered, pre-handover data packets not delivered to the UE, followed by the end marker packet, to the target eNodeB, either directly (X2 interface) or indirectly (GTP-U tunnel between source and target SGWs). The target eNodeB then sends the pre-handover data packets, and post-handover data packets delivered to it by the PGW, to the UE in order, in reliance on the end marker packet.

3G LTE intra-EUTRAN handover control using empty GRE packets

Virtually partition control and line cards of network element into virtual partition A and virtual partition B, each including a control card and a line card. Redistribute sessions serviced by cards of virtual partition A to cards of virtual partition B. Then change software on, at least, line card of virtual partition A, while cards of virtual partition B service sessions, including sessions redistributed from cards of virtual partition A. Next redistribute sessions serviced by cards of virtual partition B to cards of virtual partition A. Then change software on line card of virtual partition B and control card of virtual partition B, while cards of virtual partition A service sessions including sessions redistributed from cards of virtual partition B. Next eliminate virtual partitions and redistribute portion of sessions currently serviced by cards of virtual partition A to cards of virtual partition B.

In-service software upgrade of control and line cards of network element

A method within network element, for directing traffic away from cards of first virtual partition, before changing software on cards of first virtual partition, until after cards of first virtual partition have session data, while network element services sessions. Redistribute sessions, serviced by cards of first virtual partition, to cards of second virtual partition. Each of virtual partitions has control card and line card. Direct traffic away from cards of first virtual partition, prior to taking line card of first virtual partition offline. After redistributing sessions, change software on line card of first virtual partition, while cards of second virtual partition service sessions, including redistributed sessions. After changing software, synchronize session data, for sessions serviced by cards of second virtual partition to cards of first virtual partition. Traffic is directed away from cards before changing software on line card, and until after synchronizing session data to cards of first partition.

In-service software upgrade on cards of virtual partition of network element that includes directing traffic away from cards of virtual partition

Methods and apparatus for maintaining access point names (APNs) at a centralized location for distribution to gateway nodes are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for maintaining service profile information includes receiving the service profile information from a server arrangement that is substantially external to a node. The server arrangement and the node are associated with a network that supports a general packet radio service (GPRS) protocol. The method also includes storing the service profile information in a memory of the node.

Dynamic configuration of access point names in gateways

A method for managing a plurality of subscriber sessions tied to mobile devices in a router, each subscriber session of the plurality of subscriber sessions assigned to a line card in the router, the line card implementing a data plane entity and a control card implementing a control plane entity, the method comprising: redistributing each subscriber session in the plurality of subscriber sessions assigned to a failed line card in the router to minimize packets lost and maximize subscriber session retention, redistributing including classifying each subscriber session in the plurality of subscriber sessions into a plurality of priority queues, in response to detection of the failed line card, transferring each subscriber session in the plurality of subscriber sessions assigned to the failed line card to one of a plurality of operating line cards in priority queue order.

Session resilience prioritization queuing mechanism to minimize and eliminate packet loss

Techniques for security association management on a home and foreign agent are described. In one embodiment, in response to a first mobile network registration request from a mobile node, a remote authentication facility is accessed to retrieve a security association for the mobile node for authenticating and providing a first network connectivity to the mobile node, wherein the security association is associated with a lifespan. The security association is inserted in a local security association database (SADB) to create a security association entry, wherein the security association entry includes the lifespan. A second mobile network registration request from the mobile node after the first connectivity is terminated is received and the security association entry in the local SADB that corresponds to the mobile node is used to provide authentication of the mobile node without having to access the remote authentication facility again if the lifespan associated with the security association entry is valid.

Optimized security association database management on home/foreign agent

A method and apparatus for hierarchical redundancy for a distributed control plane. In one embodiment of the invention, control plane processes are distributed among a plurality of processing entities including an active primary control processing entity and multiple secondary processing entities. Each of the secondary processing entities performs a dual role; an active role and a standby role. An application redundancy manager (ARM) instantiated on the active primary control processing entity manages the redundancy services for the secondary processing entities. For each secondary processing entity, the ARM selects one of the secondary processing entities to act as a backup for another one of the secondary processing entities. Upon a failure of one of the secondary processing entities, the ARM causes the secondary processing entity backing up the failed secondary processing entity to transition its standby role to an active role regarding the services provided by the failed secondary processing entity.

Hierarchical redundancy for a distributed control plane

A method and apparatus for a distributed control plane. In one embodiment of the invention, a primary control card distributes control plane process instances among one or more secondary cards, including a secondary control card and/or one or more Advanced Service Engine (ASE) cards. The primary control card associates particular control messages with particular control plane process instances. Upon a line card receiving a control message that is associated with a particular control plane instance, the line card forwards the control message directly to that particular control plane instance.

Method and apparatus for a distributed control plane

A method for executing authentication in a network environment is provided that includes retrieving a group profile from an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server in response to receiving a request from a first end user and locally caching the group profile. A service may be provided to the first end user based on information included within the group profile and associated with the first end user. A request may be received from a second end user. It is then determined if the second end user is included within the group profile such that in cases where the second end user is included in the group profile the group profile can be locally cached in order to provide a service to the second end user without having to communicate with the AAA server.

Growing community of inventors

San Ramon, CA, United States of America

Renhua Wen