Abstract: A mobile communication network includes a plurality of access nodes that can serve different roles in support of a communication session with a mobile station. An access node can serve as a connecting node that receives access requests the mobile station, as an anchor node to anchor a radio packet connection with a core network for the communication session; or as a primary node to store session information for the communication session. When the communication session is established, the anchor node for the communication session may select another access node to serve as the primary node. Session information can be stored at both the anchor node and primary node so that data can be delivered to the mobile station if either one of the anchor node and primary node are available. During a communication session, a connecting node receiving a connection request from a dormant mobile station may request session information from the primary node. The radio packet connection may also be moved to the connecting node.

Abstract: In a mobile communication network comprising a plurality of access nodes, session information for a communication session is stored in one access node and may be requested by a peer access node. A requesting access node determines the location of session information based on the mobile station identifier associated with the communication session. If the session information is transferred to the requesting node, the requesting node may allocate a new mobile station identifier to the mobile station for the communication session.

Abstract: A mobile communication network includes a plurality of access nodes that can serve different roles in support of a communication session with a mobile station. An access node can serve as a connecting node that receives access requests the mobile station, as an anchor node to anchor a radio packet connection with a core network for the communication session; or as a primary node to store session information for the communication session. When the communication session is established, the anchor node for the communication session may select another access node to serve as the primary node. Session information can be stored at both the anchor node and primary node so that data can be delivered to the mobile station if either one of the anchor node and primary node are available.

Abstract: A packet control function (PCF) within a wireless communication network, such as a network based on the TIA/EIA/IS-2000 family of standards, manages incoming data for dormant mobile terminals. In response to the PCF receiving incoming data for a dormant mobile terminal, it starts a reactivation timer, begins buffering the incoming data, and initiates reactivation of the mobile terminal. If the network reestablishes connection with the mobile terminal before expiration of the reactivation timer, the PCF transfers buffered data to the mobile terminal; otherwise, it flushes the buffered data and resets the timer. Subsequent incoming data causes this process to repeat, but the timer's expiration period limits the repeat interval. This period limits the frequency at which reactivation is attempted, thus limiting network signaling overhead. Further, the PCF limits the memory needed for buffering incoming data, by discarding data received during the expiration period in excess of a defined buffer limit.

Abstract: A packet control function (PCF) exchanging messages with a packet data serving node (PDSN) in a wireless communication network guards against malicious or erroneous message replay by checking the “reasonableness” of PDSN time stamps in registration messages it receives over its PDSN interface. Received messages that are too old are rejected by the PCF, even if otherwise valid. A configurable time threshold may be set at the PCF that determines the allowable maximum age of a received message. Further, because messages received from the PDSN contain echoed identifier values generated by the PCF, the PCF may implement identifier value function generation that insures no repeated identifier values over a desired interval. The desired interval is set larger than the allowable message age to further guard against attempted message replay.

Abstract: A system, method and node for supporting PDSN load balancing in a CDMA2000 network. A mobile node (MN) sends an origination message to a BSC/PCF that sends a registration request indicating that it supports load balancing according to the invention to the manager part of a PDSN that selects an agent to take care of the connection and redirects the request to it. The agent then validates the request and sends a reply to the BSC/PCF indicating that the initial request has been redirected. The reply also comprises the IP address of the agent. The BSC/PCF then sets up an A10 connection with the agent, and the MN and the agent negotiate a PPP session. There is further a method of setting up a connection between two entities, via a third entity.

Abstract: Higher layer packet (HLP) framing information is transmitted across an air interface only as necessary, utilizing the Radio Link Protocol (RLP). In one embodiment, HLP framing information is transmitted in RLP control frames, between each HLP. In another embodiment, HLP framing information is transmitted in RLP data frames, with the RLP data frames including an indicator of that framing information. In three other embodiments, HLP framing information is transmitted in RLP data frames, and those RLP data frames containing HLP framing information are identified by RLP control frame functions. The control frame functions may comprise unnumbered RLP control frames, RLP data frames numbered using the RLP data frame sequence space but containing no HLP data, or RLP control frames numbered using an alternate sequence space.

Abstract: Higher layer packet (HLP) framing information is transmitted across the air interface only as necessary, utilizing the Radio Link Protocol (RLP). In one embodiment, a new RLP control frame is transmitted between RLP data frames containing data from different HLP, demarking the boundary between the HLP. In another embodiment, a new RLP data frame contains framing information, and an indicator of that framing information. The new RLP data frame is transmitted only when necessary, e.g., when the RLP data frame includes a HLP boundary. When transmitting intermediate HLP fragments, conventional RLP data frames are used, wherein the entire payload is dedicated to user data, and the framing information is transmitted implicitly.

Abstract: A Packet Data Services Node (PDSN) optionally frames user data from an Application IP packet received from a public data network (e.g., the Internet) into a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) frame, and encapsulates the Application IP packet or PPP frame data into one or more Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) frames for further transmission within a wireless communication network. The PDSN additionally inserts into each GRE frame, Application IP packet fragmentation information that indicates whether the Application IP packet or PPP frame terminates in the associated GRE frame. Other network nodes, such as a Packet Control Facility (PCF) or Base Station Controller (BSC), may interpret the fragmentation information and ascertain the boundaries of Application IP packets or PPP frames, using this information to improve network efficiency.

Abstract: An exemplary method and apparatus provide improved dormant handoff of mobile stations having multiple packet data service instances. Each time a dormant IS-2000 mobile station undergoes a packet data mobility event it sends a dormant handoff request to the supporting network for each packet data service instance associated with it. If the mobile station does not have a traffic channel already assigned to it, each dormant handoff request are sent over common access channels. By recognizing that a given mobile station is re-registering multiple service instances for the same mobility event, the network can avoid excess common channel signaling by assigning a traffic channel to the mobile station responsive to receiving the dormant handoff request for its first service instance. Such an assignment causes the mobile station to send dormant handoff requests for any remaining service instances over the assigned traffic channel rather than over the common access channel.

Abstract: A system, method and node for supporting PDSN load balancing in a CDMA2000 network. A mobile node (MN) sends an origination message to a BSC/PCF that sends a registration request indicating that it supports load balancing according to the invention to the manager part of a PDSN that selects an agent to take care of the connection and redirects the request to it. The agent then validates the request and sends a reply to the BSC/PCF indicating that the initial request has been redirected. The reply also comprises the IP address of the agent. The BSC/PCF then sets up an A10 connection with the agent, and the MN and the agent negotiate a PPP session. There is further a method of setting up a connection between two entities, via a third entity.

Abstract: A packet control function (PCF) within a wireless communication network, such as a network based on the TIA/EIA/IS-2000 family of standards, manages incoming data for dormant mobile terminals. In response to the PCF receiving incoming data for a dormant mobile terminal, it starts a reactivation timer, begins buffering the incoming data, and initiates reactivation of the mobile terminal. If the network reestablishes connection with the mobile terminal before expiration of the reactivation timer, the PCF transfers buffered data to the mobile terminal; otherwise, it flushes the buffered data and resets the timer. Subsequent incoming data causes this process to repeat, but the timer's expiration period limits the repeat interval. This period limits the frequency at which reactivation is attempted, thus limiting network signaling overhead. Further, the PCF limits the memory needed for buffering incoming data, by discarding data received during the expiration period in excess of a defined buffer limit.

Abstract: A packet control function (PCF) exchanging messages with a packet data serving node (PDSN) in a wireless communication network guards against malicious or erroneous message replay by checking the “reasonableness” of PDSN time stamps in registration messages it receives over its PDSN interface. Received messages that are too old are rejected by the PCF, even if otherwise valid. A configurable time threshold may be set at the PCF that determines the allowable maximum age of a received message. Further, because messages received from the PDSN contain echoed identifier values generated by the PCF, the PCF may implement identifier value function generation that insures no repeated identifier values over a desired interval. The desired interval is set larger than the allowable message age to further guard against attempted message replay.

Abstract: A packet control function (PCF) in a wireless communication network comprises a scalable architecture allowing independently addressable packet data serving node (PDSN) interfaces to be added as needed or desired. Each interface functions as an independent IP interface supporting data connections between one or more base station controllers (BSCs) supported by the PCF and the PDSN. With this implementation, a single PCF appears to the PDSN as one or more “pseudo PCFs” depending upon the number of IP interfaces implemented in the PCF. Each IP interface supports a given data throughput capacity so that the aggregate data throughput capacity of the PCF may be scaled as a function of the number of IP interfaces implemented within it. Load sharing and fault handling techniques implemented by the PCF further exploit the advantages gained from having multiple IP interfaces with the PDSN.

Abstract: A session controller provides mobility management support in a 1xEVDO wireless communication network, such as one configured in accordance with the TIA/EIA/IS-856 standard. Operating as a logical network entity, the SC maintains location (e.g., a pointing tag) and session information at an access network controller (ANC) granularity, thus allowing it to track access terminal (AT) transfer between ANCs but within subnet boundaries, where a network subnet comprises one or more ANCs. This allows a packet control function (PCF) to maintain location information at a packet zone granularity, thereby reducing mobility management overhead at the PCF. The SC provides updated tag and session information to PCFs, ANCs, and other SCs as needed. Information exchange with other SCs arises, for example, when two or more SCs cooperate to maintain or transfer routing and session information across subnets.