Patent ID: 8611901
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: at a controller apparatus configured to control a plurality of radio access point devices operating within their respective coverage areas of a wireless cellular communication network to serve wireless user devices, generating a plurality of first identifiers used for communications on behalf of corresponding wireless user devices between the controller apparatus and respective radio access point devices, wherein each first identifier identifies a wireless user device and a radio access point device to which the wireless user device is associated; mapping each first identifier to a corresponding one of a plurality of second identifiers for communications exchanged on behalf of the wireless user devices between the controller apparatus and a gateway apparatus in the wireless cellular communication network, wherein each second identifier identifies a wireless user device and a radio access point device to which the wireless user device is associated; re-mapping a new first identifier to an existing second identifier when a particular wireless user device has handed over from a first radio access point device to a second radio access point device without notifying the gateway apparatus that the particular wireless user device has handed over from the first radio access point device to the second radio access point device such that the gateway apparatus is not aware of the new first identifier associated with the user device, and such that the re-mapping causes the gateway apparatus to use the existing second identifier for communications exchanged on behalf of the particular wireless user device; when it is determined that the particular wireless user device has handed over from the first radio access point device to the second radio access point device, assigning the new first identifier for messages exchanged between the controller apparatus and the second radio access point device on behalf of the particular wireless user device, wherein the new first identifier indicates that the particular wireless user device is associated at the second radio access point device; storing in a memory at the controller apparatus, data for the plurality of first identifiers and the plurality of second identifiers and representing the mapping between respective ones of the first identifiers with respective ones of the second identifiers; and updating the memory when the particular wireless user device has handed over from the first radio access point device to the second radio access point device.