Apparatus and method for removing path management

Abstract

An apparatus includes least one processor and at least one memory including a computer program, the at least one memory and the computer program operable to, with the at least one processor, direct the apparatus at least to: identify a mobile station (MS) as a tunneling protocol endpoint; and configure an access bearer for the MS to prevent activation of a path management procedure for an entire data session; wherein the path management procedure comprises at least one of echo request messages, echo response messages, and version not supported messages.

1 . An apparatus comprising
 at least one processor;   at least one memory including a computer program, the at least one memory and the computer program operable to, with the at least one processor, direct the apparatus   at least to:   
       establish a generic access packet switched resources connection, wherein the apparatus is identified as a tunneling protocol endpoint;
 receive, at the apparatus, a request for packet timing control (PTC) activation; 
 initiate, based on the PTC activation request, an access bearer assignment; 
 
       transmit, an acknowledgement to the PTC activation request, wherein the acknowledgment contains at least an access bearer identifier; and 
       receive, at the processor, a PTC complete message indicating the radio access bearer has been established. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the access bearer is a radio access bearer. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tunneling protocol endpoint is a general packet radio service tunneling endpoint. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is further directed to cause transmission of the access bearer to a universal generic access network controller. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tunneling protocol endpoint is a user equipment. 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 establishing a generic access packet switched resources connection, wherein the apparatus is identified as a tunneling protocol endpoint;   receiving, at the apparatus, a request for packet timing control (PTC) activation;   initiating, based on the PTC activation request, an access bearer assignment; from a node in a network;   transmitting, an acknowledgement to the PTC activation request, wherein the acknowledgment contains at least an access bearer identifier; and   receiving, at the processor, a PTC complete message indicating the radio access bearer has been established.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the access bearer is a radio access bearer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tunneling protocol endpoint is a general packet radio service tunneling endpoint. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising causing transmission of the access bearer to a universal generic access network controller. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tunneling protocol endpoint is a user equipment.