Network apparatus and process to determine the connection context for connections used for (local) offloading

摘要

A method, system and device are provided for managing LIPA and/or SIPTO connection releases by providing predetermined context information in either the context request message or response thereto exchanged between source and target Mobility Management Entity (MME) devices to allow the appropriate MME device to determine if LIPA service continuity is provided or not.

主权项

1. A first network element capable of offloading user plane traffic, the first network element comprising:
a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
receive a first message comprising a first NAS request message that is received from a UE, the first message including one or more first indicators, the one or more first indicators comprising a first identifier of a third network element that is part of a local network;send a context request message to a second network element, wherein the first network element is different from each of the second network element and the UE;receive a response to the context request message, the response including information for one or more Packet Data Network (PDN) connections, the response including one or more second indicators associated with at least one of the one or more PDN connections, the one or more second indicators comprising a second identifier of the third network element that is part of a local network;compare the one or more first indicators with the one or more second indicators, wherein the comparing comprises determining whether the first identifier matches the second identifier;in response to determining that the first identifier does not match the second identifier, send a second message to the UE, wherein the second message is at least one of (a) a response to the first NAS request message or a second NAS request message or (b) a third message associated with performing a Detach Procedure initiated by the first network element; andin response to determining that the first identifier matches the second identifier, determine that dedicated bearers or a secondary Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context for user plane traffic routed to a local gateway are not supported, wherein the one or more PDN connections are activated subsequent to receiving a request from a fourth network element that is part of a local network, and wherein the request from the fourth network element comprises another NAS message from the UE and the one or more second indicators.