Patent ID: 10070357

Abstract:
Techniques described herein may enable Evolved Packet Core (EPC) devices (e.g., Mobility Management Entities (MMEs), Serving Gateways (SGWs), or Packet Data Network Gateways (PGWs)) to transfer a connection with a User Equipment (UE) from one EPC device to another EPC device without a break in service for the UE. The transfer may occur in response to an EPC device being overloaded, an EPC device being added or removed from a logical group of EPC devices, or in response one EPC device becoming more appropriate for the UE than another EPC device (e.g., due to a change in the geographic location of the UE). EPC devices may be implemented as virtual network functions, and the transfer of the UE may occur while the UE is in an active mode or an idle mode.