Inter-working Unit for IPv6 over IPv4 GPRS Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current GPRS networks operating with IPv4 protocol cannot communicate internet packets according to IPv6 protocol, limiting user equipment's ability to access IPv6-only services like IMS, as they require native IPv6 bearers without conversion.
Innovation Solution
A telecommunications system with a mobile user equipment and an inter-working unit that operates with both IPv6 and IPv4 protocol stacks, enabling protocol translation or tunnelling to facilitate communication of IPv6 packets over IPv4 networks, and vice versa, allowing IPv6 communication through existing IPv4 GPRS networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If GPRS network operates with IPv4 protocol only, then network infrastructure cost is reduced and existing network can be maintained, but user equipment cannot access IPv6-only services such as IMS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inter-working unit as an intermediary component that performs protocol translation between IPv6 and IPv4. This unit acts as a mediator that enables IPv6 packets to be communicated over IPv4 networks by converting the protocol format, thus allowing user equipment to access IPv6 services without requiring the entire network infrastructure to be upgraded to IPv6
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network into different functional components: user equipment with dual protocol stacks, inter-working units for protocol translation, and core network elements. This segmentation allows IPv6 functionality to be introduced at specific points without requiring comprehensive network upgrade, enabling gradual adoption while maintaining IPv4 infrastructure
2Adaptability or versatility
If user equipment implements dual protocol stacks for both IPv6 and IPv4, then ability to access both IPv4 and IPv6 services is improved, but device complexity and memory usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The user equipment is designed with universal dual protocol stacks that can handle both IPv4 and IPv6 communications. This multi-functionality allows the device to operate on either protocol depending on network availability and service requirements, providing flexibility without requiring separate hardware configurations for different protocol environments
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol translation is implemented at inter-working unit, then IPv6 services become accessible over IPv4 networks, but processing overhead and translation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inter-working unit serves as a dedicated intermediary that handles the complex protocol translation tasks, isolating this complexity from both the user equipment and the core network. The unit maintains translation tables and state information to facilitate efficient conversion between IPv6 and IPv4 packets, reducing the processing burden on other network elements
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present invention there is provided a telecommunications system for providing a facility for communicating internet packet data in accordance with a first internet protocol (IPV6). The system comprises a user equipment, the user equipment including a first internet protocol stack operable in accordance with a first internet protocol (IPV6) and a second internet protocol stack operable in accordance with a second internet protocol (IPV4). The system includes a packet radio system (GPRS) network operable to communicate internet packet data in accordance with the second internet protocol (IPV4), and an inter-working. The inter-working unit is operable in association with the user equipment to represent internet packet data according to the first internet protocol (IPV6) as internet packet data according to the second internet protocol (IPV4) for communication via the packet radio system network (GPRS). The inter-working-unit is operable to represent internet packet data received from the packet radio system network (GPRS) in the form of internet packet data according to the second internet protocol (IPV4) as internet packet data according to the first internet protocol (IPV6) for communication to the user equipment. The inter-working unit acquires from the second internet protocol stack an address for representing the internet packet data according to the first internet protocol as internet packet data according to the second internet protocol. The inter-working unit also acquires from the first internet protocol stack an address for representing the internet packet data according to the second internet protocol as internet packet data according to the first internet protocol. A corresponding inter-working unit is provided for reciprocal communication of internet packet data to and from the packet radio system network (GPRS).Embodiments of the present invention can provide a facility for a user equipment to run application programs which require the use of internet protocol communications according to one internet protocol using a packet radio system network which has been arranged to communicate internet packet data according to a different internet protocol.