Patent Abstract:
In a wireless communication system, a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) adapted to bundle a plurality of services into radio access bearer (RAB) in an uplink signal and unbundle a plurality of services from a RAB in a downlink signal. The WTRU is adapted to communicate with a plurality of services through a communications tunnel.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/837,534 filed Aug. 14, 2006, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems. In particular, the present invention relates to allocating services to a single radio access bearer and a single packet data protocol context.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Current Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications require that a single Radio Access Bearer (RAB) be allocated per activated service. A packet data protocol (PDP) context activation performed in generalized packet radio service (GPRS) and 3GPP systems is also dedicated to a single bearer service. Primary PDP context activation performs Internet protocol (IP) configuration and the selection of an application point node (APN) associated with session initiation protocol (SIP) signaling. A secondary PDP context activation is needed for each additional bearer service. This means that the three-way handshake process will be repeated over and over for each additional service to be activated, such as e-mail, streaming, web browsing, and the like.  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a radio access bearer and PDP context architecture in accordance with the prior art. Multiple RABs  114 ,  116 ,  118  are established between a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU)  101  and an evolved Node-B (eNB)  108 . Multiple services  102 ,  104 ,  106  are running in the WTRU  101 . Multiple PDP contexts  120 ,  122 ,  124  are established between the eNB  108  and a gateway  110 . Each PDP context  120 ,  122 ,  124  is used to communicate with a separate application service  102 ,  104 ,  106 . The gateway  110  routes the individual services  102 ,  104 ,  106  to an appropriate application node. As shown in  FIG. 1 , service  1   102  is routed to APN 1 . Service  2   104  is routed to APN 2   128  and service  3   106  is routed to APN 5   130 .  
         [0005]     There is a need to simplify the procedure by mapping multiple services into a single RAB and a single generic PDP context.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     In a wireless communication system, a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) is disclosed that is adapted to bundle a plurality of services into a radio access bearer (RAB) in an uplink signal and unbundle a plurality of services from a RAB in a downlink signal. The WTRU is adapted to communicate with a plurality of services through a communication tunnel.  
         [0007]     Furthermore, a method is disclosed for establishing the tunnel, and for the WTRU to communicate across the tunnel with a plurality of applications. The method includes bundling a plurality RABs operating between a WTRU and a base station, and bundling more than one service into a single PDP context between a base station and an AGW. The application gateway preferably unbundles the plurality of services and connects to a plurality of application nodes. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had from the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of example and to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a RAB and PDP context architecture in accordance with the prior art;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a signal flow diagram of generic RAB and PDP context activation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a bundled RAB and bundled PDP context architecture in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a single RAB and single PDP context upstream architecture in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a single RAB and single PDP context downstream architecture in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     When referred to hereafter, the terminology “wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU)” includes but is not limited to a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer, or any other type of user device capable of operating in a wireless environment. When referred to hereafter, the terminology “base station” includes but is not limited to a Node-B, a site controller, an access point (AP), or any other type of interfacing device capable of operating in a wireless environment.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a signal flow diagram of generic RAB and PDP context activation procedure  200  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The procedure  200  includes, at step  201 , a WTRU  202  performs an Attach process to connect to an eNB  204 . The Attach process may include, but is not limited to, generic PDP type, PDP address, a generic RAB service list, a list of application nodes (APNs), and a network layer service application identifier (NSAPI) list. At step  203 , the eNB  204  communicates with a mobility management entity/user plane entity (MME/UPE)  206 , and at step  205 , the MME/UPE validates the Attach request, selects an application, and maps applications to the AGW. At step  207 , the MME/UPE  206  creates a PDP context request which is forwarded to an application gateway (AGW)  208 . The PDP context request may contain a generic PDP type, a PDP address, a service list, a NSAPI list, an APN list and eNB tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID). At step  209 , the AGW  208  creates a PDP context response, in order to establish the tunnel. The PDP context response may contain a PDP type, a PDP address, an APN list, a GTP tunnel establish granted signal, and an AGW TEID. At step  211 , a tunnel is setup between the MME/UPE  206  and the WTRU  202 , including a PDP context and an RAB. The tunnel setup command may include a mobile station international ISDN number (MSIDN), PDP addresses and a generic RAB.  
         [0016]     At step  213 , a trace between the MME/UPE  206  and the eNB  204  is invoked, and, at step  215 , the MME/UPE  206  updates the PDP context information with the AGW  208 . At step  217  the AGW  208  responds to the MME/UPE  206  with a PDP context response. At step  219 , the MME/UPE  206  inserts an AGW address in its PDP context. The MME/UPE  206  also sends the PDP address that it received from the AGW  208 . At step  221  a tunnel is established between the AGW  208  and the eNB  204 . The tunnel may be established by the eNB  204  and the AGW  208  signaling MSIDN, PDP address, eNB TEID and AGW TEID to each other. At steps  223  and step  225 , a PDP context is activated between the MME/UPE  206  and the WTRU  202 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a bundled RAB and bundled PDP context architecture in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Two bundled RABs  320 , 322  exist between the WTRU  302  and the eNB  304 . Multiple services  303 , 305 ,  307 ,  309  are bundled into two PDP contexts  324 , 326  between the eNB  304  and an AGW  308 . An MME/UPE  306  is in control of both the eNB  304  and the AGW  308 . The AGW  308  unbundles the services  303 ,  305 ,  307 ,  309  from the PDP contexts  324 ,  326  and routes them to an appropriate APN.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a single RAB and single PDP context upstream architecture in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Service  1   403 , service  2   405  and service  3   407  are prioritized at the WTRU  402  and communicate with the respective applications through a single RAB  420  to an eNB  404  and with a single PDP context  422  to an AGW  408 . The AGW  408  unbundles the services  403 ,  405 ,  407  from the single PDP context  422  and forwards each service to its appropriate application. Service  1   403  is connected to APN  1   410 , service  2  is connected to APN  2   412  and service  3  is connected to APN  5   418 . In this embodiment, each PDU or SDU preferably contains an indication of priority.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a single RAB and single PDP context downstream architecture in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Service  1   503  is communicating with APN  1   510 . Service  2   505  is communicating with APN  2   512  and service  3   507  is communicating with APN  5   518 . In the downlink, the services are prioritized and bundled at an AGW  508  into a single PDP context  522 . An E-node B  504  transmits the PDP context  522  as a single radio bearer  520  to a WTRU  502 . The WTRU  502  then unbundles the radio bearer signal and processes the multiple services.  
         [0020]     Although the features and elements of the present invention are described in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the preferred embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements of the present invention. The methods or flow charts provided in the present invention may be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmware tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium for execution by a general purpose computer or a processor. Examples of computer-readable storage mediums include a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, and digital versatile disks (DVDs).  
         [0021]     Suitable processors include, by way of example, a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), and/or a state machine.  
         [0022]     A processor in association with software may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU), user equipment (UE), terminal, base station, radio network controller (RNC), or any host computer. The WTRU may be used in conjunction with modules, implemented in hardware and/or software, such as a camera, a video camera module, a videophone, a speakerphone, a vibration device, a speaker, a microphone, a television transceiver, a hands free headset, a keyboard, a Bluetooth® module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit, a digital music player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internet browser, and/or any wireless local area network (WLAN) module.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7