Abstract: A technique for transferring network traffic between a radio base station (RBS) node and a gateway (GW) node of a mobile telecommunications network is described. A method embodiment comprises the steps of providing a first transport link and a second transport link between the RBS node and the GW node. The first transport link is configured to transport network traffic of a higher priority and the second transport link is configured to transport network traffic of a lower priority. The method further comprises distributing network traffic over the transport links depending on an assignment between the transport links and priority settings associated with the network traffic.

Abstract: A technique for route optimization in a communication network is provided. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of providing a first data element containing information about first data session between a mobile terminal and a first gateway node and further containing mobility management information regarding the mobile terminal, wherein the first data element is associated with a first network address, providing a second data element containing information about a second data session between the mobile terminal and a second gateway node and further containing mobility management information regarding the mobile terminal, wherein the second data element is associated with a second network address, and switching an association of network traffic with the first data element to an association of network traffic with the second data element in order to optimize the flow of network traffic within the communication network.

Abstract: A telecommunications network, and particularly a mobility management entity (MME) (26) of the telecommunications network, performs negotiation of use of header compression over at least a portion of a backhaul link extending between a base station node (28) and a serving gateway (SGW) (24). In some embodiments the backhaul link comprises a radio link. In certain bearer encapsulation embodiments having radio-interface borne backhaul links a General Packet Radio service Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel traverses between the serving gateway node and a relay base station node. In such bearer encapsulation embodiments the method further comprises handling signaling between the serving gateway node and the relay base station node for negotiating the use of the header compression inside the General Packet Radio service Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel.

Abstract: A mechanism for initiating route optimization in an administrative domain. The mechanism is actualized when traffic is exchanged between at least a first mobile node and a second mobile node, said traffic taking place over at least one Local Mobility Anchor (LMA) within said administrative domain. The traffic exchange between said first and second mobile nodes within the administrative domain is detected followed by a decision to initiate route optimisation for the traffic. Thereafter an optimized route for the traffic, in which the traffic is routed directly between a first and a second mobile access gateway (MAG) serving the first and the second mobile nodes, respectively, is created. A route optimisation update is then sent directly or indirectly, to any uninformed mobile access gateway (MAG), after which the traffic is routed directly between the first and the second MAG. This method for route optimization may be applied in a Proxy Mobile IP (PMIP) context.

Abstract: A method of performing network-based handover control in respect of a mobile node 1 having multi-access capabilities, wherein IP packets are routed to and from the mobile node using a Mobile IP protocol. The method comprises informing a Home Agent 4 within a home network of two or more care-of-addresses available to a mobile node 1, at the Home Agent 4, selecting one of said care-of-addresses, and informing the mobile node of the selection, at the mobile node, performing a handover to the selected care-of-address, and at the Home Agent binding the selected care-of-address to a home address of the mobile node.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in a communications network in which a plurality of accesses are available to a user entity for accessing a network resource, comprising: determining a set of active rules, each rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses, with potential for conflict between the rules of the set concerning which access is most preferred; deriving from the set of active rules network discovery and selection rules a new rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses; and selecting an access for use by the user entity based on the new rule.

Abstract: A technique for registering a mobile terminal with an anchor node and for handling data packets after registration is provided. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of providing support for a plurality of mobility management protocols, wherein the mobility management protocols are deployed in parallel within a protocol stack of an anchor node, receiving, from a mobile terminal, a registration message, and selectively handling the registration message in accordance with the mobility management protocol associated with the registration message.

Abstract: Mobility between access domains in an Internet Protocol (IP) network can be supported by introducing a so-called Mobility Manager (MM) that maintains a database of currently attached devices and their current access domain location. The mobility manager may then detect, for a device registered in the database, a change of access domain from a first access domain to a second access domain by monitoring connection maintenance signaling related to the considered device. The mobility manager should at least obtain an indication of such a change of access domain. In response to a detected change of access domain, the mobility manager arranges for a reconfiguration of the network to forward traffic destined to an IP address of the device in the first access domain to a new location in the second access domain. In this way, the mobility manager allows the device to keep its IP address when moving between access domains.

Abstract: The application relates to a method of controlling packet data traffic of a packet service in a communication network 10, where in accordance with the packet service a communication with a terminal 12 involves a terminal serving entity 101 and a gateway entity 102. Furthermore, a decision entity 103 is provided for performing a decision procedure for deciding whether to process packet data traffic from the terminal 12 in the gateway entity 102 of the network 10, or to tunnel the traffic on to a home communication network 13 of the visiting terminal 12.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device, method, system, and program for facilitating the control in an intermediate telecommunications network (202) of user plane traffic between a visiting node (209, 210), attached to an access network (203), and a home network (201). The intermediate network includes a mobile IP proxy (207) for acting as home agent for the mobile node and relaying user plane packets between the home network and visiting node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the routing of a data packet sent from a first node towards a second node of a telecommunication network. The first node is a mobile node having an associated home network. An access router intercepts the data packet and determines whether the packet relates to a first mode of communication between the first and second nodes in which data packets generally bypass a home agent associated with the first node's home network. In a second mode of communication, home agent packets generally passed through the home agent. The access router drops the packet if the packet relates to the first mode of communication and if dropping the packet is determined to be in accordance with a pre-determined routing policy.