Establishment and maintenance of multiple carrier connections

Abstract

A method performed by a mobile station (MS) (300) connected to a supporting wireless wide area network (WWAN) (100) for connecting to a target WWAN (200) while maintaining the connection to the supporting WWAN (100), the method comprising: sending (700) a connection request message to be forwarded by a core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100) to a generic access network controller (214) of a generic access network (GAN) of the target WWAN (200) via another network (400) over a physical uplink channel (302) with a radio access network (RAN) (110) of the supporting WWAN (100); and receiving (704) a connection acceptance message over a physical downlink channel (304) with the RAN (110) of the supporting WWAN (100), which is forwarded by the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100) from the generic access network controller (214) of the GAN of the target WWAN (200) via the other network (400); and after receiving the connection acceptance message, sending (708), over the physical uplink channel (302) with the RAN (110) of the supporting WWAN (100), a handover request message to be forwarded by the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100) to the generic access network controller (214) of the GAN of the target WWAN (200) via the other network (400).

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Cellular networks provide a medium for exchanging information among large populations of mobile devices and various devices connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the Internet. Cellular networks, such as a wireless wide area network (WWAN), are most commonly implemented as an aggregation of numerous individual cells. Each cell provides infrastructure over which signals are sent to and from mobile transceiver devices located within a specific coverage area. When interconnected, the network of cells provides coverage for a large geographic area.

[0002] As mobile transceivers move further away from a cell's transceiver, they may leave the coverage area provided by that cell and enter the coverage area provided by a neighboring cell. During such a movement, it is necessary to perform a cell handover, in which the mobile transceiver stops using the communications infrastructure provided by one cell and begins using the infrastructure provided by the neighboring cell.

[0003] Furthermore, in some areas where the infrastructure provided by a first mobile network is of poor quality or lacks capability with respect to an alternative mobile network, a mobile transceiver device, e.g., a mobile station (MS) or a user equipment (UE), may stop using the communication infrastructure provided by the first mobile network and start using the infrastructure provided by the alternative mobile network.

[0004] US 2010 / 0304737 A1 discloses an apparatus comprising a first radio module that establishes a first wireless connection over a first wireless network with a first network device, a second radio module that establishes a second wireless connection over a second wireless network with a second network device, and a radio control module communicatively coupled to the first and second radio modules. The radio control module is operable to send pre-registration information for a mobile device to the second wireless network when connected to the first wireless network, determine whether to establish a connection to the second wireless network, and establish the second wireless connection over the second wireless network with the second network device using the pre-registration information.

[0005] US 2012 / 0282915 A1 discloses a user device that establishes a first connection with a first carrier network of a first carrier. The first carrier issues a first telephone number used by the user device. The user device also establishes a second connection with a second carrier network of a second carrier. The second carrier issues a second telephone number used by the user device. The user device receives notification of a call from the first carrier network while connected to the first carrier network and the second carrier network.

[0006] US 2009 / 0042576 A1 discloses a method for managing mobility between a non-3GPP radio access technology (RAT) and a 3GPP RAT, comprising the use of services provided by the non-3GPP RAT. Services provided by the 3GPP RAT must be used, and a 3GPP NAS (Non-Access Stratum) state is entered. 3GPP messages are tunneled via the non-3GPP access RAT to the 3GPP EPC network, and a transition is made from the non-3GPP RAT to the 3GPP RAT. A 3GPP NAS state transition and a transition to a second 3GPP NAS state occur.

[0007] The VoLGA Stage 2 V1.7.0 2010-06-14 standard, Voice over LTE via generic access; Stage 2 specification, defines the Stage 2 service description for Voice (and other CS services) over LTE via Generic Access (VoLGA). It describes the VoLGA system concepts, documents the reference architecture, functional units, network interfaces, and high-level procedures. SUMMARY

[0008] Described herein is a method used by a mobile station (MS) connected to a supporting wireless wide area network (WWAN) for connecting to a destination WWAN while maintaining connectivity with the supporting WWAN, the method comprising sending, over a physical uplink channel with a radio access network (RAN) of the supporting WWAN, a connection request message addressed to a network interface of a generic access network (GAN) of the destination WWAN, and receiving a connection acceptance message from the destination WWAN over a physical downlink channel with the RAN of the supporting WWAN.

[0009] Described herein is a method performed by a target wireless wide area network for connecting a mobile station currently connected to a supporting wireless wide area network, the method comprising receiving a connection request message from the MS over a physical uplink channel between the MS and a transceiver of a supporting WWAN and establishing a service uplink channel with the MS and a service downlink channel with the MS, both including a core network gateway of the supporting WWAN.

[0010] Described herein is a method performed by a supporting Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) to which a mobile station (MS) is connected for supporting the connection of the MS to a destination WWAN, the method comprising receiving, from the MS at a transceiver via a physical uplink channel between the transceiver and the MS, a connection request addressed to an access point of a generic access network (GAN) of the destination WWAN, internally forwarding the connection request from the transceiver to a gateway of the core network of the supporting WWAN, sending the connection request from the gateway to the access point of the GAN of the destination WWAN, and supporting a resource control connection between the MS and the destination WWAN, wherein supporting a resource control connection between the MS and the destination WWAN includes: receiving, from the destination WWAN at the gateway of the core network,of one or more network transmissions addressed to the MS, internal forwarding, from the core network gateway to the transceiver, of the one or more network transmissions, sending, from the transceiver to the MS via the physical downlink channel, of the one or more network transmissions, receiving, from the MS at the transceiver via the physical uplink channel, of one or more MS transmissions addressed to the access point of the GAN of the destination WWAN, internal forwarding, from the transceiver of the core network gateway, of the one or more MS transmissions, and sending, from the gateway to the access point of the GAN of the destination WWAN, of the one or more MS transmissions.

[0011] Described herein is a mobile station configured to connect to a generic access network (GAN) of a target WWAN via a radio access network (RAN) of a supporting WWAN, the mobile station comprising a processor configured to construct a connection request addressed to a network interface of the GAN of the target WWAN, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to send the connection request to the RAN of the supporting network via a physical uplink channel with the RAN of the supporting network and to receive a connection acceptance message from the target WWAN via a physical downlink channel with the RAN of the supporting network, the connection acceptance message including a packet data network (PDN) address, and a processor-readable storage medium configured tothat it stores a connection relationship between an identifier of a subscription with the destination WWAN and the PDN address.

[0012] Described herein is a system for connecting a mobile station (MS) connected to a supporting wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a destination WWAN, the system comprising the MS, wherein the MS includes an MS transceiver configured to: send a connection request and resource control connection data to a supporting WWAN transceiver over a physical uplink channel between the MS and the supporting WWAN transceiver, and receive resource control connection data from the supporting WWAN transceiver over a physical downlink channel between the MS and the supporting WWAN transceiver; wherein the supporting WWAN includes: the supporting WWAN transceiver configured to: receive a connection request and resource control connection data from the MS over the physical downlink channel,forwards the connection request and resource control connection data received from the supporting WWAN core network to the MS; wherein the supporting WWAN core network is configured to: receive a connection request and resource control connection data from the supporting WWAN transceiver, forward the connection request and the resource control connection data via a supporting WWAN gateway to an access point to a generic access network (GAN) of a target WWAN, receive the resource control connection data from the GAN of the target WWAN via the supporting WWAN gateway, and forward the resource control connection data received from the GAN of the WWAN to the supporting WWAN transceiver via the supporting WWAN gateway, with a generic access network controller (GANC) configured tothat it: receives the connection request via the supporting WWAN gateway, forwards the connection request to the core network of a target WWAN, sends resource control connection data to the MS via the supporting WWAN gateway, and receives resource control connection data from the MS via the supporting WWAN gateway. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention is explained in more detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. All features described and / or illustrated herein can be used alone or in various combinations in embodiments of the invention. The features and advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the following: Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating network infrastructure components of a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the first wireless network having physical uplink and downlink channels with a mobile station and bearers configured to provide bearer services to the mobile station; Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating network infrastructure components of a first wireless network and a second wireless network, each having bearers configured to provide bearer services to a mobile station, the first wireless network further having physical uplink and downlink channels with the mobile station; Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating network infrastructure components of a first wireless network and a second wireless network, each having bearers configured to provide bearer services to a mobile station, the second wireless network further having physical uplink and downlink channels with the mobile station; Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating network infrastructure components of a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the second wireless network having physical uplink and downlink channels with a mobile station and bearers configured to provide bearer services to the mobile station; Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a destination wireless network performs a connection procedure with a mobile station over a resource control connection tunneled over a supporting wireless network; and Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a supporting wireless network facilitates a connection procedure between a connected mobile station and a destination wireless network. Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a destination station performs a connection procedure with a destination wireless network over a resource control connection tunneled over a supporting wireless network. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Described herein are methods that enable the connection of a mobile station (MS) to a destination wireless network via a physical connection between the MS and a separate wireless network to which the MS was formerly connected. A resource control connection is established between the MS and the destination network during a procedure by which the MS is connected to the destination wireless network. The resource control connection includes an uplink channel between the MS and the destination wireless network, which includes a physical uplink channel between the MS and the supporting network (i.e., the network to which the MS was formerly connected). Similarly, the resource control connection includes a downlink channel between the MS and the destination wireless network, which includes a physical downlink channel between the MS and the supporting network.

[0015] Also described herein are methods that utilize resource control connections between an MS and a destination network to establish service uplink channels, which include a physical uplink channel between the MS and a supporting network, and service downlink channels, which include a physical downlink channel between the MS and a supporting network. These service uplink channels and service downlink channels can be used to provide services from the destination network to the MS. The service uplink channels and service downlink channels are tunneled over the supporting network.

[0016] Also described herein are methods that enable a handover of an MS from a first cell of a destination wireless network to a second cell of the destination wireless network by utilizing physical uplink and physical downlink channels between the MS and a supporting wireless network. A handover initiation message is sent over both the physical uplink channel between the MS and the supporting wireless network and the physical downlink channel between the MS and the supporting wireless network. The handover initiation message is tunneled through the supporting wireless network and triggers the establishment of one or more resource control connections between the MS and the destination wireless network.

[0017] Wireless networks are described herein that establish uplink and downlink channels with a mobile station by using physical uplink and downlink channels between the mobile station and a separate, supporting wireless network. Wireless networks establish uplink and downlink channels with a mobile station by using a resource control connection that includes a tunnel through the supporting wireless network. Wireless networks described herein utilize the tunneled resource control connection to establish uplink and downlink channels that include tunnels through the supporting wireless network. The tunneled resource control connections and the tunneled uplink and downlink channels are tunneled through both the core network portion and the access network portion of the supporting wireless network.The tunneled resource control link and the tunneled uplink and downlink channels include physical uplink and downlink connections between the mobile station and the access network part of the supporting wireless network.

[0018] This describes wireless networks that support uplink and downlink channels between a mobile station and one or more dependent networks. Support networks allocate resources to physical uplink and downlink channels with mobile stations, upon which dependent networks depend for exchanging communications with the mobile stations. Support networks allocate resources to physical uplink and downlink channels that are tunneled through their core networks and support connectivity between mobile stations and dependent networks.

[0019] Described herein are MSs that utilize physical uplink and downlink channels with a first wireless network to connect one or more additional wireless networks and initiate handover procedures with that one or more additional networks. MSs connected to the first wireless network send connection requests over a physical uplink channel with an access network part of the first wireless network. The MSs then establish resource control connections with the one or more additional networks to establish service uplink channels and service downlink channels with the one or more additional wireless networks. The service uplink channels and service downlink channels that are established are tunneled through the core network and the access network of the first wireless network and utilize the physical uplink and downlink channels between the MS and the first wireless network.MSs are described herein that may utilize the service uplink channels and service downlink channels with the one or more additional wireless networks to perform handover procedures with any of the one or more additional networks.

[0020] MSs are described herein that include one or more data structures that store network interface information and network subscription information for multiple wireless networks. MSs described herein may utilize the information stored in such data structures to maintain simultaneous connectivity with multiple wireless networks through a physical connection to only a single wireless network. In this manner, MSs described herein may maintain simultaneous connectivity with multiple wireless networks even if equipped with only a single RF transceiver. MSs described herein may further utilize the information stored in such data structures to simultaneously transmit information to multiple wireless networks through a single RF transceiver and to simultaneously receive information from multiple wireless networks through a single RF transceiver.

[0021] The physical layer of the network between the MS and BSS of the embodiments described herein can be divided into a physical link sublayer (PLL) and a physical RF sublayer (RFL). The RFL performs the modulation and demodulation of the physical waveforms. The carrier frequencies, radio channel structures, and raw channel data rates are specified, as are the transmitter and receiver characteristics and power requirements. The PLL provides services for information transmission over a physical channel between the MS and the network. These functions include the framing of data units, data encoding, and the detection and correction of physical media transmission errors. In alternative embodiments, the physical layer of the network between the MS and BSS described herein can be divided into additional sublayers that together perform the physical layer operations.The systems and methods described herein can be implemented in a variety of environments that have physical layers with a variety of different means for sending information.

[0022] The data link layer of the network between the MS and BSS of the embodiments described herein can also be divided into two separate sublayers. The radio link control / medium access control (RLC / medium access control, MAC) sublayer mediates access to the shared medium between a plurality of MS and the network. The RLC / MAC layer comprises the efficient multiplexing of data and signaling information and performs contention resolution, QoS control (limited), and error handling. The MAC itself can be derived from a synchronized ALOHA protocol and is operated between the MS and BSS. An automatic selective repeat request (SREJ-ARG) mechanism can be applied for retransmitting erroneous frames.In alternative embodiments, the data link layer of the network between the MS and BSS of the embodiments described herein may be divided into additional sublayers that together perform the operations required by the data link layer.

[0023] Fig. 1-4 are block diagrams illustrating network infrastructure components of two separate and standalone wireless wide area networks (WWANs) 100 and 200 connected via the Internet 400, and further illustrating a mobile station (MS) 300. In various embodiments, the first WWAN 100 and the second WWAN 200 may adhere to a variety of wireless network standards, such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard, the Interim Standard 95 (IS-95) standard, the CDMA-2000 standard, and the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. Fig. 1-4, bearer services of WWANs 100 and 200 differ, and thus their configurations and network resource allocations. Various embodiments of the systems described herein may include additional components described in Fig. 1-4 are not described. Similarly, various embodiments of the systems described herein may not include all of the components described in Fig. 1-4. Embodiments of systems described herein may include more than two wireless networks. Embodiments of systems described herein may include only a single network having a generic access network (GAN) component, while other embodiments may include two or more networks including GAN components. Methods described herein may be implemented in various implementations in any of a variety of system embodiments, including those having more than two wireless networks.

[0024] Similarly, Fig. 1-4 a subscription management engine of the MS 300 accesses a subscription information data store containing various configurations in each of the Fig. 1-4. The MS 300 subscription information data store can store different relationships between different network interface parameters and different network subscription profiles in each of the different configurations. In Fig. 2, the subscription information data memory of the MS 300 stores, for example, a Mobile Identification Number (MIN), a Mobile Directory Number (MDN), and a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN) assigned by the WWAN 200. In Fig. 2, the subscription information data store of the MS 300 also stores a connection relationship between the MIN, the MDN, and the MSISDN assigned by the WWAN 200, and an address of a generic access network controller (GANC) 214. In Fig. 3, however, the subscription information data store of the MS 300 also stores an association relationship between the MIN, the MDN and the MSISDN assigned by the WWAN 200 and an address of a component of a second access network 210. In Fig. 2, the subscription information data store of the MS 300 stores a first temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI) assigned by the WWAN 200 and an association relationship between the first TMSI and the MIN, MDN, and MSISDN assigned by the WWAN 200. In Fig. 3, the subscription information data store of the MS 300 stores another TMSI assigned by the WWAN 200 and an association relationship between the first TMSI and either the same MIN, MDN, and MSISDN assigned by the WWAN 200 or another MIN, MDN, and MSISDN assigned by the WWAN 200. In alternative embodiments, other network communications and network subscriptions are stored in the subscription information data store.

[0025] The first WWAN 100 includes a first access network 110 and a first core network 120, while the second WWAN 200 includes a second access network 210 and a second core network 220. The first access network 110 and the second access network 210 each include a plurality of transceivers. The first access network 110 includes transceivers 112A and 112B, and the second access network 210 includes transceivers 212A and 212B. The transceivers are used by the access networks 110 and 210 to provide physical uplink and downlink channels to the mobile station 300 over an air interface.Access networks 110 and 210 provide uplink and downlink channel separation, which may be implemented according to Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency-Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and Orthogonal Frequency Multiple Division Access (OFDMA), depending on the wireless communication standard on which WWANs 100 and 200 are based. Access networks 110 and 210 may also implement downlink channel separation according to alternative resource allocation schemes, such as physical layer resources.

[0026] The MS 300 includes a mobile termination component that supports functions including radio transmission and handover signaling, as well as access to a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). The UICC stores an International Mobile Subscription Identifier (IMSI) and additional data. An International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) code is associated with the mobile termination component and also has access to the subscription information data store. The subscription information data store can be located in the UICC or elsewhere in the MS 300. The subscription information data store includes data structures that contain values corresponding to one or more network interface identifiers of one or more wireless network interfaces, for example, network interfaces of WWANs 100 and 200.The subscription information data store also stores values corresponding to parameters of subscriptions to one or more wireless networks, such as WWANs 100 and 200. The subscription information data store also stores relationships between network interface identifiers. The subscription information data store may also store mapping relationships between specific services provided by WWANs 100 and 200 and specific network gateway identifiers.

[0027] The access network 101 and the access network 201 also include the generic access network controller (GANC) 114 and GANC 214, respectively. The GANC 114 and the GANC 214 contribute to the provision of generic access networks that enable the MS 300 to establish uplink and downlink channels over the Internet 400 with the first WWAN 100 and the second WWAN 200, respectively. The GANCs 114 and 214 thereby enable the MS 300 to utilize services provided by the WWANs 100 and 200 without establishing physical uplink and downlink channels over an air interface. For example, the MS 300 may use a Wi-Fi connection to the Internet to perform a connection procedure to register the WWAN 100 and the WWAN 200 through the gateways supported by the GANC 114 and the GANC 214, respectively.

[0028] The core network 120 and the core network 220 provide gateways, i.e., the first core network gateway 122 and the second core network gateway 222, through which transmissions can be sent to and over the Internet 400 and through which transmissions can be received from the Internet 400. The core networks 120 and 220 also provide services to mobile stations connected to the access networks 110 and 210, respectively. The services provided by the core networks 120 and 220 include authentication, network configuration, network provisioning, service invocation, routing, addressing, data hosting, and error reporting. The core networks 120 and 220 include components that receive connection requests from the MS 300 and issue service requests in response to receiving the connection requests.The service requests issued by core networks 120 and 220 in response to receiving connection requests and handover initiation requests from MS 300 enable the establishment and configuration of network resources. Specifically, components of core networks 120 and 220 issue service requests that establish the assignment of mobile stations to physical uplink channels and physical downlink channels with access networks 110 and 210, respectively.

[0029] In various embodiments, the first WWAN 100 and / or the second WWAN 200 are based on the GSM or UMTS standard. In such embodiments, the first access network 110 and / or the second access network 210 are UMTS radio access networks (UTRANs), and the first core network 120 and / or the second core network 220 are General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) core networks (GPRS CNs). Network infrastructure components forming a UTRAN include Node B, which includes transceivers 112A and 112B (if the first WWAN is based on the GSM or UMTS standard) and transceivers 212A and 212B (if the second WWAN is based on the GSM or UMTS standard). Network infrastructure components that form a GPRS CN include a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN).GPRS CNs support the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) for transmitting packets received from UTRANs to the Internet 400 and to components of the GPRS CN. For example, if a WWAN 100 is based on the GSM or UMTS standard, a transmission received by the first access network 110 from the MS 300 can be forwarded using GTP to a gateway to the Internet 400 located in the first core network 120. GTP includes GTP-C, which is used in the GPRS CN for signaling between GGSNs and SGSNs, GTP-U, which is used for transmitting user data in the GPRS CN and between the UTRAN and the GPRS CN, and GTP, which is used to deliver charging data to a network operator's billing center.

[0030] In various embodiments of the application, the first WWAN 100 and / or the second WWAN 200 are based on the LTE standard. In such embodiments, the first access network 110 and / or the second access network 210 are Evolved UMTS Radio Access Networks (E-UTRANs), and the first core network 120 and / or the second core network 220 are Evolved Packet Cores (EPCs), i.e., System Architecture Evolution (SAE) cores. Network infrastructure components forming an E-UTRAN include Evolved Node Bs (eNBs), which include transceivers 112A and 112B (if the first WWAN is based on the LTE standard) and transceivers 212A and 212B (if the second WWAN 200 is based on the LTE standard). Network infrastructure components that form an EPC include a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Serving Gateway (SGW), and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (PGW).EPCs support the EPC protocol stack for transmitting packets received from E-UTRANs to the Internet 400 and various EPC components. The EPC stack includes MME protocols, SGW protocols, and PGW protocols. The MME protocols include the S1 MME protocol stack for supporting S1 MME interfaces with eNBs, the S11 protocol stack for supporting S11 interfaces with SGWs, the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), and the S1 Application Part (S1AP). SGW protocols include the S11 control plane stack to support S11 interfaces with MMEs, the S5 / S8 control and data plane stack to support S5 / S8 interfaces with PGWs, the S1 data plane stack to support S1 user plane interfaces with eNBs, and the S4 data plane stack to support S4 user plane interfaces between UMTS RNCs and eNB SGWs.The PGW protocols include the S5 / S8 control and data plane stacks to support S5 / S8 interfaces with SGWs. The integrated data plane stack for the S5 / S8 interface consists of IP, UDP, and eGTP-U protocols.

[0031] In various embodiments, the first WWAN 100 may be based on the same wireless communication standard as the second WWAN 200, or the first WWAN 100 may be based on a different wireless communication standard than the WWAN 200. Thus, in various embodiments, network protocols supported by the first WWAN 100 are not supported by the second WWAN 200, while in other embodiments, the network protocols supported by the first WWAN 100 are also supported by the second WWAN 200. Similarly, the first WWAN 100 and the second WWAN 200 may be operated by different service providers.

[0032] Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating network infrastructure components of a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the first wireless network having physical uplink and downlink channels with a mobile station and bearers configured to provide bearer services to the mobile station. Fig. 1, the first WWAN 100 has allocated resources for providing services to the MS 300. In other words, the first WWAN 100 and the MS 300 have previously performed a network connection procedure in which the first WWAN 100 registered the MS 300 and allocated resources to the MS 300 for providing services.

[0033] In the Fig. 1, the first WWAN 100 has established one or more bearer services used to transmit data to and from the MS 300. The established bearer services include or utilize the physical uplink channel 302 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 112A and the physical downlink channel 304 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 112A for data transmission. The established bearer services also include or utilize data structures stored at components of the WWAN 100 for data transmission. In particular, the data structures are stored in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the core network 120 and in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the access network 110. The data structures indicate an assignment of one or more resources of the WWAN 100 to one or more identifiers of the MS 300.The data structures include, for example, a bearer table that maps a Mobile Equipment Identity (MEI) of the MS 300 to the physical uplink channel 302 and the physical downlink channel 304. The bearer table also maps the MEI of the MS 300 to a particular portion of the physical uplink channel 302 and a particular portion of the physical downlink channel 304. Such a bearer table may further include an association or mapping relationship between an IMSI stored in the MS 300 and various resources of the WWAN 100. In addition, the data structures that specify an allocation of the resources of the WWAN 100 may further include a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Service Digital Network Number (MSISDN), a Globally Unique Temporary Identifier (GUTI), assigned to the MS 300.

[0034] In the Fig. 1, the MS 300 has a subscription information data store in which network interface identifiers corresponding to the network interfaces of the WWAN 100 are stored with subscription parameters corresponding to a subscription with the WWAN 100. The subscription information data store of the MS 300 may store a MIN, an MDN, and an MSISDN assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 100, and a relationship between the MSISDN and various access point names (APNs) or a packet data network (PDN) address of the WWAN 100. The subscription information data store of the MS 300 may also store, for example, a plurality of parameters associated with the uplink physical channel 302 and the downlink physical channel 304, and an association relationship between such parameters and a MIN, MDN, or MSISDN assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 100.Certain portions of the subscription information data stored in the MS 300 may be information received after performing a connection procedure between the MS 300 and the WWAN 100.

[0035] Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating network infrastructure components of a first wireless network and a second wireless network, each having bearers configured to provide bearer services to a mobile station, the first wireless network further having physical uplink and downlink channels with the mobile station. Fig. 2, both the first WWAN 100 and the second WWAN 200 have allocated resources for providing services to the MS 300. In other words, the first WWAN 100 and the MS 300 have previously performed a network connection procedure in which the first WWAN 100 registered the MS 300 and allocated resources to the MS 300 for providing services. Similarly, the second WWAN 200 and the MS 300 have previously performed a network connection procedure in which the first WWAN 100 registered the MS 300 and allocated resources to the MS 300 for providing services.

[0036] In the Fig. 2, both the first WWAN 100 and the second WWAN 200 have established one or more bearer services used to transmit data to and from the MS 300. The bearer services established by the WWAN 100 for the MS 300 include or utilize the physical uplink channel 302 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 112A and the physical downlink channel 304 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 112A for data transmission. The bearer services established by the WWAN 100 for the MS 300 also include or utilize data structures stored at components of the WWAN 100 for data transmission. In particular, the data structures are stored in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the core network 120 and in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the access network 110.The data structures specify an assignment of one or more resources of the WWAN 100 to one or more identifiers of the MS 300. The data structures include, for example, a bearer table that maps a Mobile Equipment Identity (MEI) of the MS 300 to the physical uplink channel 302 and the physical downlink channel 304. The bearer table also maps the MEI of the MS 300 to a specific portion of the physical uplink channel 302 and a specific portion of the physical downlink channel 304. The bearer services established by the WWAN 200 for the MS 300 include or utilize a gateway 122 between the WWAN 100 and the Internet 400 for data transmission. The bearer services established by the WWAN 200 for the MS 300 also include data structures stored on components of the WWAN 200 or utilize them for data transmission.Specifically, the data structures are stored in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the core network 220 and in the physical, processor-readable memory of the GANC 214. The data structures specify an assignment of one or more resources of the WWAN 200 to one or more identifiers of the gateway 122 or to one or more identifiers of the MS 300. The data structures include, for example, a bearer table that maps a Mobile Equipment Identity (MEI) of the MS 300 to the GANC 214 and the gateway 122.

[0037] In the Fig. 2, the MS 300 has a subscription information data store in which network interface identifiers corresponding to the network interfaces of the WWAN 100 are stored with subscription parameters corresponding to a subscription with the WWAN 100. Furthermore, the subscription information data store in the MS 300 includes network interface identifiers corresponding to the network interfaces of the WWAN 200 and an association between such interfaces and subscription parameters corresponding to a subscription with the WWAN 200. The subscription information data store of the MS 300 may, for example, store an MSISDN assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 200 and an association relationship between the MSISDN assigned by the WWAN 200 and a network interface parameter corresponding to the GANC 214.Additionally, the subscription information data store of the MS 300 may store an association relationship between the MSISDN assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 200 and a variety of parameters associated with the physical uplink channel 302 and the physical downlink channel 304.

[0038] Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating network infrastructure components of a first wireless network and a second wireless network, each having bearers configured to provide bearer services to a mobile station, the second wireless network further having physical uplink and downlink channels with the mobile station. Fig. 3, both the first WWAN 100 and the second WWAN 200 have allocated resources for providing services to the MS 300. In other words, the first WWAN 100 and the MS 300 have previously performed a network connection procedure in which the first WWAN 100 registered the MS 300 and allocated resources to the MS 300 for providing services.

[0039] Similarly, the second WWAN 200 and the MS 300 have previously performed a network connection procedure in which the first WWAN 100 has registered the MS 300 and allocated resources to the MS 300 for providing services.

[0040] In the Fig. 3, both the first WWAN 100 and the second WWAN 200 have established one or more bearer services used to transmit data to and from the MS 300. The bearer services established by the WWAN 100 for the MS 300 include or utilize a gateway 222 between the WWAN 200 and the Internet 400 for data transmission. The bearer services established by the WWAN 100 for the MS 300 also include or utilize data structures stored at components of the WWAN 100 for data transmission. In particular, the data structures are stored in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the core network 120 and in the physical, processor-readable memory of the GANC 114. The data structures indicate an assignment of one or more resources of the WWAN 100 to one or more identifiers of the gateway 222 or to one or more identifiers of the MS 300.The data structures include, for example, a bearer table that maps a Mobile Equipment Identity (MEI) of the MS 300 to the GANC 114 and the gateway 222. The bearer services established by the WWAN 200 for the MS 300 include or utilize a physical uplink channel 308 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 212A and a physical downlink channel 310 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 212A for data transmission. The bearer services established by the WWAN 200 for the MS 300 also include data structures stored at components of the WWAN 200 or utilize them for data transmission. In particular, the data structures are stored in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the core network 220 and in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the access network 210. The data structures specify an assignment of one or more resources of the WWAN 200 to one or more identifiers of the MS 300.The data structures include, for example, a bearer table that maps a Mobile Equipment Identity (MEI) of the MS 300 to the physical uplink channel 308 and the physical downlink channel 310. The bearer table also maps the MEI of the MS 300 to a specific range of the physical uplink channel 308 and a specific range of the physical downlink channel 310.

[0041] In the Fig. 3, the MS 300 has a subscription information data store in which network interface identifiers corresponding to the network interfaces of the WWANs 100 and 200 are stored and associated with subscription parameters corresponding to subscriptions between the MS 300 and the WWANs 100 and 200. The subscription information data store of the MS 300 may, for example, store an MSISDN assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 100 and an association relationship between the MSISDN assigned by the WWAN 100 and a network interface parameter corresponding to the GANC 114. In addition, the subscription information data store of the MS 300 may store an association relationship between the MSISDN assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 100 and a plurality of parameters associated with the physical uplink channel 308 and the physical downlink channel 310.

[0042] Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating network infrastructure components of a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the second wireless network having physical uplink and downlink channels with a mobile station and bearers configured to provide bearer services to the mobile station. Fig. 4, the first WWAN 200 has allocated resources for providing services to the MS 300. In other words, the first WWAN 200 and the MS 300 have previously performed a network connection procedure in which the first WWAN 200 registered the MS 300 and allocated resources to the MS 300 for providing services. In particular, in the configuration shown in Fig. 4, the first WWAN 200 has established one or more bearer services used to transmit data to and from the MS 300. The established bearer services include or utilize the physical uplink channel 306 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 212A and the physical downlink channel 308 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 212A for data transmission. The established bearer services also include or utilize data structures stored at components of the WWAN 200 for data transmission. In particular, the data structures are stored in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the core network 220 and in the physical, processor-readable memory of the components of the access network 210. The data structures indicate an assignment of one or more resources of the WWAN 200 to one or more identifiers of the MS 300.The data structures include, for example, a bearer table that maps a Mobile Equipment Identity (MEI) of the MS 300 to the physical uplink channel 306 and the physical downlink channel 308. The bearer table also maps the MEI of the MS 300 to a specific range of the physical uplink channel 306 and a specific range of the physical downlink channel 308.

[0043] In the Fig. 1, the MS 300 has a subscription information data store in which network interface identifiers corresponding to the network interfaces of the WWAN 200 are stored with subscription parameters corresponding to a subscription to the WWAN 200. The subscription information data store of the MS 300 may also store, for example, a plurality of parameters associated with the uplink physical channel 308 and the downlink physical channel 310, and an association relationship between such parameters and an MSISDN assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 200.

[0044] The WWANs 100 and 200 can be used by the Fig. 1 shown configuration to that in Fig. 2 after WWAN 200 has performed a connection procedure with MS 300 over a resource control connection tunneled through WWAN 100. Similarly, WWANs 100 and 200 may switch from the configuration shown in Fig. 4 shown configuration to that in Fig. 3 after WWAN 100 has performed a connection procedure with MS 300 over a resource control connection tunneled through WWAN 200.

[0045] This describes systems and methods that facilitate transitions between the Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 configurations (ie from the one shown in Fig. 1 shown configuration to that in Fig. 4 or vice versa), in which intermediate configurations are implemented. Intermediate configurations in such transitions are Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. For example, systems and methods are described here that facilitate transitions between the Fig. 1 shown configuration to that in Fig. 2 shown configuration to that in Fig. 4. Similarly, systems and procedures are described that facilitate transitions between the Fig. 4 shown configuration to that in Fig. 3 shown configuration to that in Fig. 1. This describes alternative systems and procedures that facilitate transitions between the Fig. 1 shown configuration to that in Fig. 3, where an intermediate configuration is implemented, as in Fig. 2. Similarly, systems and methods are described that facilitate transitions between the Fig. 4 shown configuration to that in Fig. 2, where an intermediate configuration is implemented, as in Fig. 3. In such systems and methods, the intermediate configurations provide a position from which the desired final configuration can be reached very quickly, further providing functionality equivalent to that offered by the initial configuration.

[0046] Systems and methods described herein that provide transitions between the various Fig. 1 to 4, which are shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shown intermediate configurations, can maintain the in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 for different time intervals. The duration of such time intervals may be indefinite; for example, it may be determined by the fulfillment of a condition. Alternatively, the duration of such time intervals may be specified. Systems and methods described herein provide for maintaining an intermediate configuration in which MS 300 is concurrently connected to WWANs 100 and 200 for a period of time longer than the duration of a time interval for which WWAN 100 or WWAN 200 requires MS 300 to periodically send a location update request to prevent it from being considered down or unreachable.Systems and methods described herein may also, upon determining that an intermediate configuration has been maintained for a period of time within a threshold duration of a maximum duration that allows the WWAN 100 or the WWAN 200 of a mobile station to remain connected to the GAN, automatically revert from the intermediate configuration to an initial configuration or automatically transition from the intermediate configuration to a final configuration. Such a threshold duration may be defined according to a specified amount of time or according to a number of location request updates transmitted since the mobile station connected to the GAN.Automatic return to the initial configuration or automatic transition to the final configuration can also be triggered by local application usage on the MS 300 or the detection that a particular process or class of processes is running on the MS 300. Automatic transition to the final configuration can also be triggered by a signal strength measurement. For example, if the MS 300 detects that the signal strength from the WWAN 100 is in the range specified in . Fig. 2 configuration is below a threshold, the MS 300 can be switched to the Fig. 4. In some implementations, intermediate configurations may be maintained for more than one hour or more than one day.

[0047] Implementations described herein that provide an automatic return to an initial configuration under such circumstances may also provide a subsequent automatic return to the intermediate configuration or an automatic transition to another intermediate configuration. Implementations that include more than two wireless networks may provide an automatic transition to an intermediate configuration in which a GAN is accessed through a different network than during a previous initial configuration from which an automatic return to the initial configuration was performed. The duration of an interval during which an initial configuration is maintained after an automatic return from an intermediate configuration and before a subsequent transition back to the intermediate condition or to another intermediate condition (e.g.,A return duration (e.g., a return duration) may be determined according to a specified period of time or according to the fulfillment of a condition. A return duration may be determined according to an identity of an executing process, a set of executing processes, and a classification of a currently executing process. A return duration may also be determined according to a duration of a time interval during which the WWAN 100 or the WWAN 200 requires the MS 300 to periodically send a location update request to avoid being considered down or unreachable.

[0048] The WWANs 100 and 200 and the MS 300 can be used by the Fig. 2 shown configuration to that in Fig. 3 configuration after the WWAN 100 has performed a handover procedure in which the MS 300 is reassigned from resources including transceiver 112A to resources including GANC 114, wherein the WWAN 200 simultaneously performs a handover procedure in which the MS 300 is reassigned from resources including GANC 214 to resources including transceiver 212A. To proceed directly from the Fig. 2 shown configuration to that in Fig. 3, the bearers established and configured to provide services to the MS 300 over the physical uplink channel 302 and the physical downlink channel 304 must remain assigned to the MS 300 while the MS 300 sends all data necessary to initiate the handovers at both the WWAN 100 and the WWAN 200. Once all uplink data necessary to complete both handovers has been sent from the MS 300 to the first core network 120 and the second core network 220, and the core network 220 has completed the establishment and configuration of the bearer necessary to provide services to the MS 300 over the physical uplink channel 308 and the physical downlink channel 310, the handover can be performed. Executing the handover in the first WWAN 100 requires that handover downlink data of the MS 300 can be delivered via the second core network gateway 222.The delivery of handoff downlink data from the first WWAN 100 to the MS 300 via the second core network gateway 222 may require the MS 300 to perform a new connection procedure with the WWAN 100 via the second core network gateway 222 and thus via the physical uplink channel 308 and the physical downlink channel 310. Similarly, the WWANs 100 and 200 may differ from the configuration shown in FIG. Fig. 3 shown configuration to that in Fig. 2 skip.

[0049] Depending on the configuration of the first core network 120 and the second core network 220 and the specifics of the configuration and allocation of resources for providing bearer services to the MS 300 for transmitting the handover initiation requests, it may not be possible for the WWANs 100 and 200 to directly access the Fig. 2 shown configuration to that in Fig. 3. Instead, WWANs 100 and 200 may need to be connected via the Fig. 4 when changing from the Fig. 2 shown configuration to that in Fig. 3. For example, the MS 300 may not be able to send sufficient handover initiation data to enable the WWAN 100 to establish dedicated bearers for providing services to the MS 300 via the core network gateway 222 until the MS 300 sends uplink data to the GANC 114 via the core network gateway 222. In addition, during the establishment and configuration of bearers dedicated to providing services to the MS 300 via the uplink physical channel 308 and the downlink physical channel 310, a timeout event may occur during which the first WWAN 100 releases all bearers dedicated to the MS 300. Similarly, WWANs 100 and 200 may be required to establish dedicated bearers for providing services to the MS 300 via the core network gateway 222. Fig. 1 when changing from the Fig. 3 shown configuration to that in Fig. 2 skip.

[0050] The WWANs 100 and 200 and the MS 300 can also be used by Fig. 2 provided configuration to the one in Fig. 4 configuration change after the WWAN 100 has performed a disconnect procedure with the MS 300 immediately before a handover of the MS 300 to the WWAN 200, in which the MS 300 is reassigned from resources including GANC 214 to resources including transceiver 212A. The WWANs 100 and 200 can be similarly Fig. 3 shown configuration to that in Fig. 1 Switch configuration after the WWAN 200 has performed a disconnect procedure with the MS 300 immediately before a handover of the MS 300 to the WWAN 100, in which the MS 300 is reassigned from resources including GANC 114 to resources including transceiver 112A.

[0051] Fig. Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a destination wireless network performs a connection procedure with a mobile station over a resource control connection tunneled over a supporting wireless network. Alternative processes are contemplated that may include processing performed in Fig. 5 is not explicitly identified, and which may not include all processing operations that are Fig. 5 are explicitly identified. Similarly, alternative processes are considered that perform processing that is Fig. 5 is identified in a manner other than by Fig. 5 is specified.

[0052] At 500, the first WWAN is 100, the second WWAN is 200 and the MS is 300 as in Fig. 1 and the second WWAN 200 receives a connection request from the MS 300. The WWAN 200 receives a connection request at the GANC 214. The connection request received at the GANC 214 includes identification information corresponding to the MS 300. If the WWAN 200 complies with the LTE wireless network standard, the connection request received at 500 includes a Mobile Equipment Identity (MEI) of the MS 300 and one or more Globally Unique Temporary IDs (GUTIs) corresponding to the MS 300, a Packet Temporary International Mobile Subscriber Identity (P-TMSI) corresponding to the MS 300, or an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the MS 300. The connection request also includes a connection type identifier indicating that the connection request corresponds to, for example, an initial connection procedure, a handover, or an emergency connection procedure.

[0053] The connection request also includes information related to characteristics of a connection that must be established between the WWAN 200 and the MS 300, or information related to services that must be provided by the WWAN 200 to the MS 300. If the WWAN 200 conforms to the LTE standard, the connection request provides radio resource control (RRC) parameters that include, for example, a selected network indicating a selected Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and a Globally Unique Mobility Management Entity Identifier (GUMMEI) corresponding to a previous connection between the MS 300 and the WWAN 200.

[0054] After receiving the connection request at 500, the GANC 214 stores data included in the request in a data structure stored in a processor-readable memory of the GANC 214 and also forwards the connection request, or portions thereof, to one or more components of the second core network 220. The second core network 220 uses the data forwarded in the request or by the GANC 214 to perform various identification procedures and begin the connection process required to register the MS 300.

[0055] At 502 and 504, the configuration of WWANs 100 and 200 goes to the one defined by Fig. 2. At 502, the WWAN 200 establishes a resource control connection with the MS 300. The resource control connection established at 502 includes the physical uplink channel 302 and the physical downlink channel 304 and is used by the second core network 220 to exchange data transmissions with the MS 300 to perform a variety of functions accompanying the connection. At 502, the second core network 220 performs various registration services, such as identification, verification, authentication, and protocol configuration services. When a second core network 220 requires information from the MS 300 to perform such services, the second core network 220 may send a request to the MS 300 over the resource control connection. The core network 220 may also receive a response from the MS 300 over the resource control connection.

[0056] At 504, the core network 220 allocates resources of the WWAN 200 to the MS 300 or establishes bearers for providing bearer services to the MS 300. The allocation or assignment of resources of the WWAN 200 to the MS 300 involves the construction and configuration of data structures stored in various components of the core network 220. For example, if the WWAN 200 adheres to the LTE standard, data structures recording an allocation of network resources to the MS 300 are located in processor-readable memories of a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Serving Gateway (SGW), and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (PGW). The data structures indicate an allocation of one or more resources of the WWAN 200 to one or more identifiers of the MS 300. The data structures include, for example, a bearer table that maps an MEI of the MS 300 to the first core network gateway 122.The bearer table thereby effectively maps the MEI of the MS 300 to the physical uplink channel 302 and physical downlink channel 304. The mapping or allocation of resources of the WWAN 200 to the MS 300 represents the establishment of a service uplink channel and a service downlink channel between the WWAN 200 and the MS 300. The service uplink channels and service downlink channels, including the first core network gateway 122 and the physical uplink channel 302 and the physical downlink channel 304, respectively, are tunneled over the first WWAN 100.

[0057] Once the core network 220 has allocated the resources of the WWAN 200 to the MS 300 at 504, the core network 220 may periodically perform health checks on the MS 300. Performing the health checks on the MS 300 involves transmitting an health check request response from the core network 220 of the WWAN 200 to the MS 300 over the WWAN 100. The MS 300 sends an health check response message or an health verification message addressed to the GANC 214 over the WWAN 100 to remain actively parked on the WWAN 200. If the MS 300 repeatedly fails to respond to health checks, the WWAN 200 may be configured to release resources allocated to the MS 300. However, the WWAN 200 may be configured not to release them, but instead to maintain the allocation of resources assigned to the MS 300.This enables the MS 300 to remain connected to both the WWAN 100 and the WWAN 200 simultaneously by responding to integrity check requests from the core network 220.

[0058] At 506, the GANC 214 receives a handover initiation request from the MS 300 via the first core network gateway 122. The handover initiation request received by the GANC 214 at 506 is routed through the first core network gateway 122 and an access point of a generic access network (GAN), which is a component of the WWAN 200 and supported by the GANC 214. The handover initiation request provides a handover of the MS from the GAN supported by the GANC 214 to a radio access network (RAN) including the transceiver 212A. The RAN, which includes the transceiver, is a component of the WWAN 200. The handover initiation request received at 506 includes a variety of information.The information included in the handover initiation request received at 506 includes a variety of information related to the current location of the MS 300 and further includes the types of information included in the connection request received at 500.

[0059] At 508, the GANC 214 forwards the handover initiation request to various components of the core network 220 to enable the establishment and configuration of bearers for providing bearer services to the MS 300 via the RAN including the transceiver 212A. At 510, the core network 220 allocates resources of the WWAN 200, including the physical uplink channel 308 and the physical downlink channel 310 (or portions thereof), to the MS 300 and further establishes and configures data structures stored in various components of the core network 220 to support service provision to the MS 300 via the transceiver 212A.For example, if the WWAN 200 complies with the LTE standard, data structures that map the MS 300 to network resources, including the physical uplink channel 308 and the physical downlink channel 310, are located in processor-readable memories of a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Serving Gateway (SGW), and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (PGW).

[0060] At 510, the WWAN 200 sends an indication that the handover is complete to the MS 300 over the physical downlink channel 310. At 512, the WWAN receives a transmission from the MS 300 over the physical uplink channel 308, which is addressed to the GANC 114 of the first WWAN 100. The transmission received by the WWAN at 512 may, in different implementations, be a connection request or a data transmission for enabling the handover of the MS from the RAN, which includes the transceiver 112A, to the GAN supported by the GANC 114. The transmissions sent at 508, 510, and 512 and the operations of the service requests contained therein result in the WWANs 100 and 200 Fig. 3. After 512, the WWAN 100 and the MS 300 may perform a separation procedure, after which the WWANs 100 and 200 may use the Fig. 4 have the configuration shown.

[0061] Fig. Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a mobile station connected to a first cellular network may be simultaneously connected to a second cellular network and thereafter perform handovers in both the first cellular network and the second cellular network. Alternative processes are contemplated that may include processing performed in Fig. 6 is not explicitly identified, and which may not include all processing operations that are Fig. 6. Similarly, alternative processes are being considered that carry out processing that is Fig. 6 is identified in a manner other than by Fig. 6.

[0062] At 600, the access network 110 of the WWAN 100 receives a connection request addressed to an access point of a GAN supported by the GANC 214 of the WWAN 200 from the MS 300 over the physical uplink channel 302 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 112A.

[0063] At 602, the first access network 110 forwards the connection request to the first core network 120. For example, if the WWAN 100 complies with the LTE standard, the first access network 110 is an E-UTRAN that uses the EPC protocol stack to transmit the connection request over the EPC, which is the first core network.

[0064] At 604, the first core network 120 forwards the connection request via the first core network gateway 122 to the GANC 214 over the Internet 400. At 606, the WWAN 100 receives a transmission addressed to the MS 300 from the GANC 214 via the first core network gateway 122 and supports a method for connecting the MS 300 to the WWAN 200. In particular, at 604, the WWAN 100 supports a resource control connection between the MS 300 and the second core network 220 by providing a tunnel between the core network gateway 122 and the transceiver 112A over which the second core network 220 can send and receive data transmissions to and from the MS 300 to provide various services to the MS 300, for example, authentication, identification, verification, and protocol configuration.

[0065] At 608, the WWAN 100 supports a service uplink channel and a service downlink channel between the MS 300 and the WWAN 200. In particular, at 608, the WWAN 100 receives transmissions addressed to the MS 300 at the first core network gateway 122 and provides tunnels between the first core network gateway 122 and the transceiver 112A over which the WWAN 200 and the MS 300 exchange service transmissions.

[0066] At 610, the first access network 110 receives a handover initiation request addressed to the WWAN 200 from the MS 300 over the physical uplink channel 302 between the MS 300 and the transceiver 112A. At 612, the first access network 110 forwards the handover initiation request received at 610 to the first core network 120. At 614, the first core network 120 forwards the handover initiation request to the GANC 214.

[0067] At 616, the access network 110 receives a request to initiate a process for handing over the MS 300 from a source access point of the WWAN 100 to a destination access point of the WWAN 100. Specifically, the access network receives a request to reassign the MS 300 from the RAN including the transceiver 112A (the source access point) to an access point of the GAN supported by the GANC 114 (the destination access point). At 618, the WWAN 100 establishes and configures bearers for providing services to the MS 300 over the GAN supported by the GANC 114. In alternative implementations, the WWAN 100 may not receive the request to initiate a handover procedure from the MS 300 at 616, but may instead receive a connection request from the MS 300 at the GANC 114 via the second core network gateway 222.Thereafter, the first core network 120 initiates a process for connecting the MS 300 via the second core network gateway 222.

[0068] Fig. Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a destination station performs a connection procedure with a destination wireless network over a resource control connection tunneled over a supporting wireless network. Alternative processes are contemplated that may include processing performed in Fig. 7 is not explicitly identified, and which may not include all processing operations that are Fig. 7. Similarly, alternative processes are being considered that carry out processing that is Fig. 7 is identified in a manner other than by Fig. 7.

[0069] At 700 the MS are 300, the first WWAN 100 and the second WWAN 200 as in Fig. 1, and the MS 300 sends a connection request to the WWAN 200 by sending a connection request message addressed to the GANC 214 and the connection request message to the WWAN 100 over the physical uplink channel 302. The connection request message created by the MS 300 at 700 may include one or more of a Mobile Equipment Identity (MEI) of the MS 300 and an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the MS 300. In addition, the connection request may also include a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN) previously assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 200, a Globally Unique Temporary ID (GUTI) previously assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 200, and a Packet Temporary International Mobile Subscriber Identity (P-TMSI) previously assigned to the MS 300 by the WWAN 200.The connection request may also include a connection type identifier indicating that the connection request corresponds, for example, to an initial connection procedure, a handover, or an emergency connection procedure. If the WWAN 200 conforms to the LTE standard, the connection request provides radio resource control (RRC) parameters including, for example, a selected network indicating a selected Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and a Globally Unique Mobility Management Entity Identifier (GUMMEI) corresponding to a previous connection between the MS 300 and the WWAN 200.

[0070] Additionally, the connection request may include a Routing Area Identification (RAI) and various EPS security parameters. In some implementations, the EPS security parameters and other information received by the MS 300 through the WWAN 200 during the connection process may not be included in the initial connection request message sent by the MS 300 to the WWAN 200. Instead, such information may be sent by the MS 300 in response to one or more connection request responses issued by the WWAN 200.

[0071] At 702 to 706 the configuration of the MS 300 and the WWANs 100 and 200 goes to the Fig. 2. At 702, the MS 300 and the WWAN 200 establish a resource control connection including the physical uplink channel 302 and the physical downlink channel 304, and perform authentication and registration procedures across the entire resource control connection. At 702, the MS 300 may record one or more network interface parameters corresponding to the resource control connection with the WWAN 200. For example, the MS 300 may record identifiers corresponding to one or more elements of the core network 220 and the first network gateway 122, and store such identifiers, as well as an association relationship between such identifiers and one or more subscription identifiers of a subscription with the second WWAN 200, as a subscription information data store.The MS 300 may use the network interface parameters recorded in the subscription information data store to address responses to requests received from the WWAN 200 during the procedure performed at 702. For example, the MS 300 may send parameters used by the WWAN 200 in network configuration procedures to the WWAN 200 over the resource control connection.

[0072] At 704, the MS 300 receives a connection acceptance message from the WWAN 200 via the first core network gateway 122. The connection acceptance message received by the MS 300 may include a variety of information corresponding to the bearers established by the WWAN 200 for providing bearer services to the MS 300. For example, if the WWAN 200 conforms to the LTE standard, the connection acceptance message may include data associated with one or more resources of the WWAN 200 allocated by the WWAN 200 for providing services to the MS 300. The connection acceptance message received by the MS 300 at 704 may include one or more access point names (APNs) corresponding to various elements of the WWAN 200 used in providing the bearer services to the MS 300.The connection acceptance message received by the MS 300 at 704 may include, for example, an address of the GUTI 214 and addresses of one or more components of the second core network 220.

[0073] At 706, the MS 300 stores association relationships between various identifiers corresponding to a subscription with the WWAN 200 and various network interfaces corresponding to the service uplink and service downlink channels identified for provision of services to the MS 300 by the WWAN 200. For example, the MS 300 may store one or more identifiers of a subscription with the WWAN 200, e.g., an IMSI, an IMEI, and an MSISDN, one or more identifiers of a network gateway and interfaces used for communication supported by the WWAN 200. At 706, the MS 300 may store an association relationship between subscription identifiers including an IMSI, an IMEI, and an MSISDN, and network interface parameters including identifiers for the uplink physical channel 302, the downlink physical channel 304, the first network gateway 122, and GANC 214.

[0074] After completing 706, but before performing 708, the MS 300 may periodically verify integrity checks requested by the WWAN 200. Verifying the integrity checks requested by the WWAN 200 includes transmitting the integrity verifications to the core network 220 of the WWAN 200 in response to the integrity check requests received from the WWAN 200. In some implementations, the integrity verifications may be sent by the MS 300 to the WWAN 200; that is, the integrity verifications may not respond to a request from the WWAN 200. For example, the MS 300 may be configured to automatically send integrity verification transmissions to the WWAN 200. In the configuration of WWANs 100 and 200 and MS 300 contemplated after completion of 706, MS 300 sends the integrity verifications to core network 220 over physical uplink channel 302.Verifying link integrity by responding to integrity check requests sent by the WWAN 200 to the MS 300 over the physical downlink channel 304 enables the MS 300 to ensure that the WWAN 200 continues to dedicate resources to providing services to the MS 300. This ensures that the MS 300 can quickly perform a handover to a radio access network of the WWAN 200 from a state in which the MS 300 is currently connected to a radio access network of the WWAN 100. In other words, responding to integrity checks issued by the WWAN 200 enables rapid execution of the transition from the configuration defined in . Fig. 2, to which the Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 is shown.

[0075] At 708, the MS 300 sends a handover initiation request to the GANC 214 via the first core network gateway 122. The handover initiation request sent by the MS 300 at 708 is routed through the first core network gateway 122 and an access point of a generic access network (GAN), which is a component of the WWAN 200 and supported by the GANC 214. The handover initiation request provides a handover of the MS 300 from the GAN supported by the GANC 214 to a radio access network (RAN) including the transceiver 212A. The RAN, which includes the transceiver, is a component of the WWAN 200. The handover initiation request sent by the MS 300 at 708 includes a variety of information.The information included in the handover initiation request received at 708 includes a variety of information related to the current location of the MS 300 and the signal strengths of one or more RANs of the WWAN 200 (including a signal strength of the RAN including the transceiver 212A) as measured by the MS 300.

[0076] In addition, one or more identifiers / parameters that were included in the connection request sent by the MS 300 at 700 may also be included in the handover initiation request.

[0077] At 710, the MS 300 sends a handover initiation request to the WWAN 100 over the physical uplink channel 302, in which the MS requests the handover from the radio access network supporting the physical uplink channel 302 and the physical downlink channel 304 to a GAN supported by the GANC 114. The handover initiation request sent by the MS 300 at 710 causes the WWAN 100 to execute a handover preparation procedure in which data belonging to a subscription between the MS 300 and the WWAN 100 is sent from network components supporting the RAN connection with the MS 300 to the network components used to support the GAN connection with the MS 300.

[0078] At 712, the MS 300 receives a handover acknowledgement transmission from the RAN of the WWAN 200 over the downlink physical channel 310. The handover acknowledgement transmission received at 712 may indicate various network interfaces used to provide services to the MS 300 over the RAN of the WWAN 200 after the handover. At 714, the MS 300 updates a subscription data structure that stores identifiers of a subscription with the WWAN 200 and network interfaces with the WWAN 200. For example, the MS 300 may store an association relationship between subscription identifiers, including an IMSI, an IMEI, and an MSISDN, and network interface parameters, including identifiers for the uplink physical channel 308 and the downlink physical channel 310.

[0079] At 716, the MS 300 receives a handover acknowledgement transmission from the GAN supported by the GANC 114 via the second core network gateway 222. The handover acknowledgement transmission received at 716 may indicate various network interfaces used for providing services to the MS 300 via the GAN of the WWAN 100 after the handover. At 718, the MS 300 stores association relationships between various identifiers corresponding to a subscription with the WWAN 100 and various network interfaces corresponding to the service uplink and service downlink channels identified for providing services to the MS 300 through the WWAN 100.For example, the MS 300 may store an association relationship between subscription identifiers including an IMSI, an IMEI, and an MSISDN assigned by the WWAN 100, and network interface parameters including identifiers for the GANC 114, the second network gateway 222, the uplink physical channel 308, and the downlink physical channel 310.

[0080] In various implementations, the execution of the methods referenced at 710 through 718 may not occur in the order presented herein. Instead, the order in which the methods identified at 710 through 718 are performed may be dictated by the ability of the MS 300 to remain connected to the WWAN 100 during the handover from the GAN supported by the GANC 214 to the RAN of the WWAN 200 supporting the uplink physical channel 308 and the downlink physical channel 310. In some implementations, the MS 300 may be disconnected from the WWAN 100 during the execution of the handover in the WWAN 200, and a subsequent reconnection procedure to the first WWAN 100 via the GANC 114 may be required.

[0081] Although the invention is further illustrated and described in the drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be understood as illustrative and exemplary and not restrictive. It is to be understood that changes or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments having any combination of the features from various embodiments described above and below.

[0082] The terms used in the claims should be construed in the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article "a" or "an" or "the" in introducing an element should not be interpreted as excluding a plurality of elements. Similarly, the recitation of "or" should be interpreted as inclusive, such that the recitation of "A or B" does not exclude "A and" unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one, A or B, is intended. Further, the recitation of "at least A, B, or C" should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B, and C, and should not be interpreted to require at least one of each of the listed elements A, B, and C, regardless of whether A, B, and C are connected as a category or otherwise.Furthermore, the recitation of "A, B and / or C" or "at least one of A, B or C" should be interpreted as including any single entity from the listed items, e.g., A, any subset from the listed items, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of items, A, B and C.

Claims

[1] A method performed by a mobile station (MS) (300) connected to a supporting wireless wide area network (WWAN) (100) for connecting to a target WWAN (200) while maintaining the connection to the supporting WWAN (100), the method comprising: sending (700) a connection request message to be forwarded by a core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100) to a generic access network controller (214) of a generic access network (GAN) of the target WWAN (200) via another network (400) over a physical uplink channel (302) with a radio access network (RAN) (110) of the supporting WWAN (100); and receiving (704) a connection acceptance message over a physical downlink channel (304) with the RAN (110) of the supporting WWAN (100) forwarded by the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100) from the generic access network controller (214) of the GAN of the target WWAN (200) over the other network (400); and after receiving the connection acceptance message, sending (708), over the physical uplink channel (302) with the RAN (110) of the supporting WWAN (100), a handover request message to be forwarded by the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100) to the generic access network controller (214) of the GAN of the target WWAN (200) over the other network (400). [2] The method of claim 1, wherein the connection acceptance message comprises a packet data network (PDN) address of the destination WWAN (200). [3] The method of claim 2, further comprising: storing an association relationship between an identifier of a subscription with the target WWAN (200) and the PDN address in a computer-readable storage medium. [4] The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving (712) a transmission confirming a handover of the MS (300) to the RAN (210) of the destination WWAN (200) over a physical downlink channel (310) with a RAN (210) of the destination WWAN (200). [5] The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a link integrity check request from the target WWAN over the physical downlink channel (304) with the RAN (110) of the supporting WWAN (100); and sending, over the physical uplink channel (302) with the RAN (110) of the supporting WWAN (100), a link integrity check addressed to the target WWAN in response to the link integrity check request received from the target WWAN (200) and to ensure that the target WWAN (200) continues to dedicate resources to providing services to the MS (300). [6] The method of claim 4, further comprising: sending a connection request message to be forwarded by a core network gateway (222) of the target WWAN (200) to a generic access network controller (114) of a GAN of the supporting WWAN (100) via the other network (400) over the physical uplink channel (308) with the RAN (210) of the target WWAN (200); and receiving a connection acceptance message over the physical downlink channel (310) with the RAN (210) of the target WWAN (200) forwarded by the core network gateway (222) of the target WWAN (200) from the generic access network controller (114) of the GAN of the supporting WWAN (100) over the other network (400). [7] A method performed by a target Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) (200) for connecting a mobile station (MS) (300) already connected to a supporting WWAN (100), the method comprising: receiving (500) a connection request message from the MS (300) via a physical uplink channel (302) between the MS (300) and a transceiver (112A, 112B) of the supporting WWAN (100), which is forwarded to another network (400) by a core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100); establishing a service uplink channel with the MS (300) and a service downlink channel with the MS (300), both including the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100); and after receiving the connection request message, receiving (506) from the MS (300) over the physical uplink channel (302) between the MS (300) and the transceiver (112A, 112B) of the supporting WWAN (100), a handover request message forwarded by the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100) to the other network (400). [8] The method of claim 7, wherein the service uplink channel with the MS further includes the physical uplink channel (302) between the MS (300) and the supporting WWAN (100); and wherein the service downlink channel with the MS further includes a physical downlink channel (304) between the MS (300) and the supporting WWAN (100). [9] The method of claim 8, wherein establishing the service uplink channel with the MS (300) and the service downlink channel with the MS (300), both including the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100), comprises: configuring a data structure for storing an assignment of an identifier of the MS to an identifier of the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100). [10] The method of claim 9, wherein establishing the service uplink channel with the MS (300) and the service downlink channel with the MS (), both including the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100), further comprises: configuring the data structure to store an assignment of an identifier of the MS to an identifier of a generic access network controller, GANC, (214) of the target WWAN (200). [11] The method of claim 8, wherein establishing the service uplink channel with the MS (300) and the service downlink channel with the MS (300), both including the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100), comprises: establishing (502) a resource control connection with the MS (300) including the physical uplink channel (302) between the MS (300) and the supporting WWAN (100) and the physical downlink channel (304) between the MS (300) and the supporting WWAN (100). [12] The method of claim 9, wherein establishing the service uplink channel with the MS (300) and the service downlink channel with the MS (300), both including the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100), further comprises: sending an identification request to the MS (300) via the resource control connection; and receiving an identification response from the MS (300) via the resource control connection. [13] The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the handover request message from the MS (300) includes receiving a request for a handover of the MS from a generic access network (GAN) access point of the target WWAN (200) to a wireless access point of the target WWAN (200). [14] The method of claim 13, further comprising: performing the handover of the MS (300) from the access point of the GAN of the destination WWAN (200) to the wireless access point of the destination WWAN (200). [15] A mobile station (300) configured to connect to a generic access network (GAN) of a target WWAN (200) via a radio access network (RAN) (110) of a supporting WWAN (100), the mobile station (300) comprising: a processor configured to construct a connection request message addressed to a generic access network controller (214) of the GAN of the target WWAN (200); a radio frequency (RF) transmitter-receiver configured to: sends the connection request message, which is to be forwarded by a core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100) to the generic access network controller (214) of the GAN of the target WWAN (200) via another network (400), via a physical uplink channel (302) with the RAN (110) of the supporting WWAN (100), and receives a connection acceptance message from the target WWAN via a physical downlink channel with the RAN (110) of the supporting network (100), which is forwarded by the core network gateway (122) of the supporting WWAN (100) from the generic access network controller (214) of the GAN of the target WWAN (200) via the other network (400), wherein the connection acceptance message includes a packet data network (PDN) address; and a processor-readable storage medium configured to store an association relationship between an identifier of a subscription to the target WWAN (200) and the PDN address. [16] The mobile station of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to construct a handover request message addressed to the generic access network controller (214) of the GAN of the target WWAN (200), wherein the radio frequency (RF) transceiver is further configured to: the handover request message addressed to the generic access network controller (214) of the target WWAN (200) is sent via a physical uplink channel (302) to the RAN (110) of the supporting network (100), and receives a handover response message from the destination WWAN (200) via a physical downlink channel (310) with a RAN (210) of the destination network (200); and wherein the processor-readable storage medium is further configured to store another association relationship between the identifier of the subscription to the target WWAN (200) and an address of a network interface of the RAN (210) of the target WWAN (200).

Images