Patent ID: 8005076
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of managing a plurality of packet transport channels (PTCs) in a communication system comprising a first communication system and a second wireless generic access communication system, the method comprising: establishing a secure tunnel between a user equipment (UE) and a network controller of the second wireless generic access communication system to securely exchange a plurality of signaling messages between the UE and the network controller, wherein the first communication system comprises a core network and a licensed radio access network, wherein the network controller communicatively couples the second wireless generic access communication system to the core network; activating, at the UE, a separate PTC between the UE and the network controller for each of a plurality of active packet data protocol (PDP) contexts, wherein a separate PTC is activated for a particular PDP context when the UE initiates a data transfer to the network controller and no active PTC exists for the particular PDP context, each separate PTC activated through a set of signaling messages exchanged between the UE and the network controller, wherein the UE and the network controller use a generic access packet switched resources protocol for exchanging the set of signaling messages for packet switched services and a generic access circuit switched resources protocol for exchanging the set of signaling messages for circuit switched services; and starting a PTC timer dedicated to a particular PTC for a particular PDP context whenever a data packet related to the particular PDP context is sent from the UE or received at the UE, expiration of said PTC timer indicating the particular PTC needs to be deactivated.