Bandwidth management, aggregation and internet protocol flow mobility across multiple-access technologies

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods for bandwidth management, aggregation and internet protocol (“IP”) flow mobility (“IFOM”) across multiple-access technologies are provided. Included is a method that includes selecting, from a packet data network (“PDN”) connection formed through a plurality of access systems communicatively coupled with a wireless transmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”), an access system over which to transport a flow of internet protocol (“IP”) traffic to and/or from the WTRU. The method may also include sending, to the WTRU, a request to associate the flow of IP traffic with the selected access system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 selecting, from a packet data network (“PDN”) connection formed through a plurality of access systems of a network communicatively coupled with a wireless transmit and/or receive unit, an access system over which to transport a flow of internet protocol (“IP”) traffic to, from or to and from the WTRU; and   sending, to the WTRU, a request to associate the flow of IP traffic with the selected access system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting an access system comprises selecting the access system responsive to an event. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein sending a request to associate the flow of IP traffic with the selected access system comprises sending the request responsive to an event. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the event comprises a condition associated with any of the network and PDN connection. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising monitoring the network for the event. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 awaiting a response to the request sent to the WTRU;   receiving, from the WTRU, a second request to associate the flow of IP traffic with a second access system of the plurality of access systems; and   responsive to a priority associated with the first request being subordinate to a priority associated with the second request, sending, to the WTRU, an acceptance of the second request.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 awaiting a response to the request sent to the WTRU;   receiving, from the WTRU, a second request to modify the first request;   sending, to the WTRU, a third request comprising a modification to the first request; and   receiving, in responsive to the third request, an acceptance of the third request.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second request and the modification to the first request comprises a request to associate the flow of IP traffic with a second access system of the plurality of access systems. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: obtaining, at a network entity of the network prior to sending the request, a token whose possession is required to send the request to associate to the WTRU. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting, from the PDN connection, a second access system over which to transport a sub-flow of the flow of IP traffic to, from or to and from the WTRU; and   sending, to the WTRU, a second request to (i) associate the sub-flow with the second selected access system the second care-of address and (ii) de-associate such sub-flow from the first selected access system.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising sending, to the WTRU, information for reordering of packets to facilitate reconstruction of the flow of traffic. 
     
     
         12 . A method for performing bandwidth management (“BWM”) in a network comprising first and second access systems configured in accordance with first and second access technologies, respectively, the method comprising:
 establishing a local internet protocol (“IP”) connection via an access node of the first access system; 
 establishing a direct tunnel between the access node and a local gateway (“LGW”) of the first access system; and 
 establishing an IP connection between the LGW and a gateway of a mobile core network (“MCN”). 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein establishing the local IP connection comprises establishing a first wireless link with a wireless transmit/receive unit (“WTRU”), and the method further comprises:
 registering the WTRU with a local home agent (“L-HA”) of the network in connection with the local IP connection; 
 establishing a second wireless link with a access node of the second access system; 
 adding the second wireless link to the L-HA; and 
 managing the first and second wireless links in connection with transport of traffic via the L-HA. 
 
     
     
         14 . A system for performing bandwidth management (“BWM”) in a network comprising first and second access systems configured in accordance with first and second access technologies, respectively, the system comprising:
 a wireless transmit/receive unit (“WTRU”) comprising a BWM application; 
 a first access node of the first access system; 
 a second access node of the second access system; 
 a local gateway (“LGW”) of the network; 
 a direct tunnel established between the second access node and the LGW; 
 a local Internet protocol (“IP”) connection established via the first access node and the second access node; 
 a first wireless link between the WTRU and the first access node; 
 a second wireless link between the WTRU and the second access node; 
 an IP connection established between the LGW and a gateway of a mobile core network (MCN); and 
 a local home agent (“L-HA”) of the network adapted to (i) register the WTRU therewith in connection with the local IP connection, and (ii) manage first and second wireless links. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a local WLAN access gateway (“WAG”) in communication with the second access node and the L-HA.