Abstract: An embodiment method for session handling for a connection between an UE and a network includes establishing, at a first distributed EPC, user and IP sessions over the connection through the first distributed EPC. The first distributed EPC includes a first PGW at which the IP session is anchored. The method also includes holding original IP resources and releasing original connection resources for the sessions at the first distributed EPC when the UE moves beyond the first distributed EPC to a second distributed EPC. The method then establishes a tunnel between the first PGW and a second PGW for the second distributed EPC. The tunnel utilizes the original IP resources and new connection resources at the second distributed EPC. The method then routes data from the tunnel, through the first PGW, and to the network.

Abstract: A method for connection rehoming by a user equipment includes attaching to a first network attachment point (AP) and establishing a first connection to a first packet data network (PDN) interface, and moving from the first network AP to a second network AP. The method includes discovering a first cost associated with the first connection is high, and rehoming the first connection, thereby establishing a second connection coupling the UE to a second network AP and to a second PDN interface, wherein a second cost associated with the second connection is low.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to perform a method for optimized route mobility. The method includes determining that a mobile node moves from a first network to a second network. The method also includes, in response to determining the movement of the mobile node, receiving, at an access/gateway router of the second network, a prefix delegation message from a router of the first network, the prefix delegation message configured for movement of an IP prefix associated with a communication session of the mobile node from the first network to the second network, the prefix delegation message comprising the IP prefix previously allocated to the first network. The method further includes updating a routing table to reflect the moved IP prefix.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising granting a user restricted access at a reduced rate without authenticating the user, attempting to authenticate the user, and granting the user unrestricted access at a full rate if the user authentication is successful. Included is a method comprising authenticating a user device, a user line, or both using a first communication, and authenticating a user using a second communication separate from the first communication. Also included is an apparatus comprising an access node (AN) configured to couple to an access network and communicate with a user equipment (UE) via the access network, wherein the UE is authenticated using either line authentication or device authentication based on the access network.

Abstract: A method for managing prefixes of a mobile node (MN) includes receiving a servable prefix and a cost associated with the servable prefix from a first router serving the MN, wherein the servable prefix is one of a plurality of prefixes assigned to the MN that is servable by the first router, deciding whether to release the servable prefix through the first router in accordance with the cost associated with the servable prefix, and releasing the servable prefix when the MN has decided to release the servable prefix.

Abstract: An embodiment method for network detection and selection includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a network detection and selection policy including a load threshold element, the UE further receiving load information element from an access network (AN), and applying the network detection and selection policy to the AN.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to perform a method for mobility management. The method includes establishing a first Packet Data Network (PDN) connection between a user equipment (UE) and a first Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) associated with a first group of Serving Gateways (SGW) within a first geographical area; establishing communication with a handover destination SGW associated with a second PGW, the second PGW associated with a second group of SGWs within a second geographical area; and upon a determination that the UE moves from the first geographical area to the second geographical area, establishing a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel connection between the first PGW and the handover destination SGW, and updating the first PDN connection to use the GTP tunnel connection between the first PGW and the handover destination SGW.

Abstract: Internet protocol (IP) address allocations in distributed EPC networks can be published to an IP address registry maintained at the central EPC entity in order to facilitate the routing of authentication authorization, and accounting (AAA) signaling of third party networks throughout the distributed EPC network architecture. The address allocations can be published directly to an address registry maintained by the central EPC entity, or indirectly via a cloud management server. Additionally, latencies associated with UE authentication in distributed EPC network architectures can be mitigated by triggering communication of the authentication or authorization profile upon reception of an update location request (ULR) message at the central EPC network entity.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system related to a packet data network (PDN) connection for a radio access network (RAN) are provided. The PDN connections between eNB of the RAN and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) are forward though Ethernet switching network. A controller at Evolved Packet Core (EPC) site such as EPC controller or centralized switch controller is configured to configure flow table entries along the transport path from eNB to a gateway of the EPC.

Abstract: A method comprising sending a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) message comprising an Identity Association for Prefix Delegation (IA_PD) Prefix option comprising a Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) prefix and a length of the IPv6 prefix to a device having a media access control (MAC) address, receiving from the device a packet comprising a source MAC address and a source IPv6 address, and dropping the packet when the MAC address is equal to the source MAC address and the leftmost bits of the source IPv6 address defined by the length are not equal to the IPv6 prefix.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a local mobility anchor (LMA) configured to forward a flow to a mobile node (MN) via a first mobile access gateway (MAG) in a first network and via a second MAG in a second network, and to bind the flow to the second MAG from the first MAG, wherein the first MAG is configured to manage the MN mobility in the first network and the second MAG is configured to manage the MN mobility in the second network, wherein the first MAG sends a binding update comprising a flow description information to the LMA, and wherein the LMA replies to the binding update with a binding acknowledgement.

Abstract: An embodiment method for session handling for a connection between an UE and a network includes establishing, at a first distributed EPC, user and IP sessions over the connection through the first distributed EPC. The first distributed EPC includes a first PGW at which the IP session is anchored. The method also includes holding original IP resources and releasing original connection resources for the sessions at the first distributed EPC when the UE moves beyond the first distributed EPC to a second distributed EPC. The method then establishes a tunnel between the first PGW and a second PGW for the second distributed EPC. The tunnel utilizes the original IP resources and new connection resources at the second distributed EPC. The method then routes data from the tunnel, through the first PGW, and to the network.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided for accessing a wireless network. The embodiments enable establishing and releasing session resources in a wireless local area network (WLAN) corresponding to packet data network (PDN) connections in a 3 GPP enhanced packet core (EPC). In an embodiment, a method in a network component for establishing a control channel with a user equipment (UE) includes setting up, by the network component, a link layer channel, sending, by the network component, an identifier of the link layer channel to the UE; and communicating, by the network component, with the UE over the link layer channel using a WLAN control protocol (WLCP), wherein the WLAN comprises a trusted WLAN Access Network (TWAN).

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a mechanism for supporting multiple 3GPP Packet Data Network (PDN) connections over a WLAN. Multiple gateway interfaces, each corresponding to a different PDN, are established over a single connection , via the WLAN, between a UE and an access gateway. A PDN access configuration protocol (PACP) is provided to configure the association between the IP interface on the access gateway and the corresponding 3GPP PDN/APN connection, and exchange the PDN setup between the UE and the access gateway. The PACP mechanisms allow signaling APN information and associating corresponding IP context at the access gateway, setting up and tearing down connection context between the UE and PDN gateway (P-GW), and supporting session continuity when the UE moves to another access gateway. The mechanisms support using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) for IPv4 and Neighbor Discovery for IPv6.

Abstract: A system comprising an access node (AN) coupled to a plurality of service providers (SPs) and a host and configured to forward a plurality of services between the SPs and the host using a plurality of first connections between the AN and the host and a plurality of second connections between the AN and the SPs, and a router gateway (RG) positioned between the host and the AN and coupled to the AN via an access line that comprises the first connections, wherein the AN translates a plurality of first identifiers for the first connections to a plurality of second identifiers for the second connections to route the services appropriately between the host and the SPs over the first connections and the corresponding second connections.

Abstract: Included are devices, systems, and methods which may be employed in an access network. An access node (AN) may be configured to communicate with a residential gateway (RG) via the access network. The AN may also be configured to encapsulate a router solicitation (RS) from the RG with a header comprising an access identifier associated with the RG. The AN may send the encapsulated RS to an Internet Protocol (IP) edge. The AN may also be configured to receive a responsive router advertisement (RA) from the IP edge and may forward the RA to the RG based on the access identifier.

Abstract: Methods and system for simplified Protocol for Carrying Authentication for Network Access (sPANA) are disclosed. In the broadband architecture such as Broadband forum or WiMAX forum, a Network Access server (NAS) is one IP hop away from a user. Therefore, it is possible to relax the need in PANA to obtain an IP address prior to authentication. A PANA client (PaC) may use an unspecified IP address (e.g. 0.0.0.0 in TPv4) as a source address for authentication. A PANA Authentication Agent (PAA) may use an IP broadcast address as a network layer destination address (e.g. 0xffffffff). The present invention defines PANA Attribute-Value Pairs (AVPs) and procedures that allow a Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) exchange to occur in PANA. The PANA CHAP support may facilitate smooth migration from Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) sessions to IP sessions in a DSL Broadband network environment. The sPANA can be desirably compatible with the PANA.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of configuring multiple per user access connections includes receiving, by an access gateway (AG) from an access point (AP), a first extensible authentication protocol (EAP) message including a first capability of a user equipment (UE) and transmitting, by the AG to an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server, a second EAP message including the first capability of the UE and indication second capability of the AG. The method also includes receiving, by the AG from the AAA server, and an AAA message including a negotiated connection capability version and AAA message parameters and transmitting, by AG to the AP, a third EAP message including the negotiated connection capability version.

Abstract: A system comprising an access node (AN) coupled to a plurality of service providers (SPs) and a host and configured to forward a plurality of services between the SPs and the host using a plurality of first connections between the AN and the host and a plurality of second connections between the AN and the SPs, and a router gateway (RG) positioned between the host and the AN and coupled to the AN via an access line that comprises the first connections, wherein the AN translates a plurality of first identifiers for the first connections to a plurality of second identifiers for the second connections to route the services appropriately between the host and the SPs over the first connections and the corresponding second connections.

Abstract: An embodiment method for network detection and selection includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a network detection and selection policy including a load threshold element, the UE further receiving load information element from an access network (AN), and applying the network detection and selection policy to the AN.