Patent ID: 9001782
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: extracting a locally unique identifier from a downlink packet received at a concentrator component from an access point, wherein the concentrator component is located between a mobility management entity (MME), the access point, and a disparate access point; determining, at the concentrator component, a mobile device identifier and a disparate access point identifier related to the locally unique identifier; replacing the locally unique identifier in the downlink packet with the mobile device identifier; transmitting the downlink packet from the concentrator component to the disparate access point related to the disparate access point identifier, without involving the MME; receiving, at the concentrator component, a handover command from a first access point downstream from the concentrator component, wherein the handover command facilitates handing over communication of a mobile device identified by the mobile device identifier from the first access point downstream from the concentrator component to a second access point downstream from the concentrator component; determining whether the first access point and the second access point are both associated with the MME based on a routing table in the concentrator component that stores an association between the locally unique identifier, the mobile device identifier, a first access point identifier of the first downstream access point, and a second access point identifier of the second access point; and forwarding, by the concentrator component, the handover command to the second access point when the first access point and the second access point are both associated with the MME.