Method and apparatus for indicating that connection enables routing of data between pdn gateway and local gateway

Abstract

A user equipment device (UE) initiates the creation of a dedicated bearer between a local gateway (L-GW) and a packet data network gateway (P-GW). A GTP tunnel is established to connect the L-GW, a serving gateway (S-GW), and the P-GW. The L-GW and P-GW apply Network Address Translation (NAT) and/or Traffic Flow Template (TFT) to route the traffic between the LS and a Service Capability Server/Application Server (SCS/AS). Alternatively, an SCS-initiates the bearer creation, and an SCEF manages the creation of the GTP tunnel connecting. The L-GW may be co-located with an Evolved UTRAN Node B (eNB) and/or connected to multiple eNBs which are not co-located with the L-GW.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the apparatus being connected to a communications network via its communication circuitry, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to send a request to a network entity, the request being a request to a create a connection, the connection being a packet data network connection or a dedicated bearer, where the request comprises an indication that the connection enables the routing of data between a PDN Gateway and a local gateway. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a user equipment, a local gateway, a packet data network gateway, a mobility management entity, a service capability exposure function, an application server, or a service capability server. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connection is a packet data network connection and the request further comprises a local internet protocol access point name. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connection is a dedicated bearer and the request further comprises an IP address of a local server. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a gateway, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the apparatus to apply a network address translation to route traffic between a local server and an application server or a service capabilities server. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the apparatus to apply a traffic flow template to route traffic between the local server and the application server or the service capabilities server. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the apparatus to receive a create bearer response comprising a local gateway bearer ID. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the apparatus to receive a create session response comprising a local gateway bearer ID. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising sending a request to a network entity, the request being a request to a create a connection, the connection being a packet data network connection or a dedicated bearer, where the request comprises an indication that the connection is to enable the routing of data between a PDN Gateway and a local gateway. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method is performed by an apparatus that is a user equipment, a local gateway, a packet data network gateway, a mobility management entity, a service capability exposure function, an application server, or a service capability server. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the connection is a packet data network session and the request further comprises a local internet protocol access point name. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the connection is a dedicated bearer and the request further comprises an IP address of a local server. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising applying a network address translation to route traffic between a local server and an application server or a service capabilities server. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising applying a traffic flow template to route traffic between the local server and the application server or the service capabilities server. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving a create bearer response comprising a local gateway bearer ID. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving a create session response comprising a local gateway bearer ID. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the apparatus being connected to a communications network via its communication circuitry, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
 (a) receive a first message requesting an IP connection between a server and a local network;   (b) send a second message to a core network node requesting the creation of an IP connection between the local network and the server;   (c) receive a reply from the core network node, the reply comprising a local gateway address, a local gateway bearer identifier, or a packet data network gateway identifier; and   (d) send a third message to a packet data network gateway, the third message comprising an indication that the connection is to be bound to a local gateway   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first message comprises the local gateway address, the local gateway bearer identifier, the packet data network gateway identifier, a port number, or a local network IP address. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein and wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the apparatus to operate as a service capability exposure function entity. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the core network node is a mobility management entity.