Patent ID: 9674878
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A second packet data network gateway (P-GW), located in a second network for supporting user plane data to terminal devices in a wireless communications system that additionally comprises a first network having a first P-GW operably couplable to the second P-GW; the second P-GW comprising a processor located on an integrated circuit and arranged to: check a destination address of received packets from the first P-GW to determine whether the received packets are destined for any of the terminal devices, and in response thereto: extract one or more properties of said received packets if they are destined for any of the terminal devices served with user plane data; or discard received packets that are not destined for the terminal device(s); and determine an operational status of: a backhaul link of the second network, and the first P-GW located in the first network; and in response to determining that both of the backhaul link and first P-GW are available, perform at least one of: trigger deferred signaling between at least one of: a mobile management entity, MME, a serving gateway, S-GW, and the first network; return to a state that determines an operational status of at least one of; the backhaul link, first P-GW; and trigger user plane handling.