Establishment of packet data network connection via relay user equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016156404-A1
Application number	US-201314903409-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2013
Priority date	Jul 8, 2013
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various communication systems may benefit from the use of relayed packet data connection. Moreover, such communication systems may benefit from methods and systems for the establishment of a packet data network connection for a proximity services user equipment via a relay user equipment. A method can include establishing a packet data network connection between a relay user equipment and a packet data network gateway. The method can also include establishing a relay connection between a proximity services user equipment and the packet data network gateway. The relay connection can be a connection within the packet data network connection.

First claim

1 . A method, comprising:
establishing a packet data network connection between a relay user equipment and a packet data network gateway; and establishing a relay connection between a proximity services user equipment and the packet data network gateway, wherein the relay connection is a connection within the packet data network connection.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the relay user equipment, layer 2 switching for the proximity services user equipment without acting as an internet protocol router.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the relay user equipment acting as a bridge or proxy for non-access stratum protocol at a proximity services control layer.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
forwarding, by the relay user equipment, non-access stratum messages as is or with adaptations between the proximity services user equipment and a mobility management entity.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a packet data network gateway assigns an internet protocol address or prefix to the proximity service user equipment and the relay user equipment performs no internet protocol level control for the proximity service user equipment.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the relay connection is transparent to nodes between the relay user equipment and a packet data network gateway for the packet data network connection.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing the relay connection comprises requesting a bearer resource modification of the packet data network connection.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the establishing the packet data network connection is performed concurrently with the establishing the relay connection.

9 . A method, comprising:
connecting to a relay user equipment by a proximity services user equipment; establishing a relay connection between the proximity services user equipment and a packet data network gateway, wherein the relay connection is a connection within a packet data network connection between the relay user equipment and the packet data network gateway.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
maintaining a same internet protocol address for the proximity services user equipment when the proximity services user equipment moves away from coverage of the relay user equipment.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
authenticating the relay connection with the packet data network gateway without involving the relay user equipment in authorization of the relay connection.

12 . An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to establish a packet data network connection between a relay user equipment and a packet data network gateway; and establish a relay connection between a proximity services user equipment and the packet data network gateway, wherein the relay connection is a connection within the packet data network connection.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform layer 2 switching for the proximity services user equipment without acting as an internet protocol router.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to act as a bridge or proxy for non-access stratum protocol at a proximity services control layer.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to forward non-access stratum messages as is or with adaptations between the proximity services user equipment and a mobility management entity.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a packet data network gateway assigns an internet protocol address or prefix to the proximity service user equipment and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform no internet protocol level control for the proximity service user equipment.

17 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the relay connection is transparent to nodes between the relay user equipment and a packet data network gateway for the packet data network connection.

18 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to establish the relay connection by requesting a bearer resource modification of the packet data network connection.

19 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to establish the packet data network connection concurrently with establishing the relay connection.

20 . An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to connect to a relay user equipment by a proximity services user equipment; establish a relay connection between the proximity services user equipment and a packet data network gateway, wherein the relay connection is a connection within a packet data network connection between the relay user equipment and the packet data network gateway.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to maintain a same internet protocol address for the proximity services user equipment when the proximity services user equipment moves away from coverage of the relay user equipment.

22 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to authenticate the relay connection with the packet data network gateway without involving the relay user equipment in authorization of the relay connection.

23 . An apparatus, comprising:
means for establishing a packet data network connection between a relay user equipment and a packet data network gateway; and means for establishing a relay connection between a proximity services user equipment and the packet data network gateway, wherein the relay connection is a connection within the packet data network connection.

24 . The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising:
means for performing layer 2 switching for the proximity services user equipment without acting as an internet protocol router.

25 . The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising:
means for acting as a bridge or proxy for non-access stratum protocol at a proximity services control layer.

26 . The apparatus of claim 25 , means for forwarding non-access stratum messages as is or with adaptations between the proximity services user equipment and a mobility management entity.

27 . The a

Assignees

• Nokia Solutions & Networks Oy

Inventors

• Wolfner Gyorgy Tamas
• Wong Curt
• Chandramouli Devaki
• Liebhart Rainer

Classifications

• H04W76/14 Primary

  Direct-mode setup · CPC title

• H04B7/15507 Primary

  Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, (network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04) · CPC title

• H04W76/12

  Setup of transport tunnels · CPC title

• H04W88/16

  Gateway arrangements · CPC title

• H04W88/04

  adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user · CPC title