AN APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR SERVICE CONTINUITY BETWEEN UMTS NETWORK AND WLAN NETWORK

摘要

An apparatus and a method for service continuity between a UMTS(Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) network and a WLAN(Wireless LAN) are provided to offer a seamless service in case a mobile station moves between a 3GPP(Third Generation Partnership Project) network and a non-3GPP network. An apparatus for service continuity between a UMTS network and a WLAN comprises the first node, the second node, and an IWG(InterWorking Gateway)(250). The first node, or an SGSN(Serving GPRS Support Node)(220), takes charge of packet data transfer with a mobile station(100) within service area of the UMTS network. The second node, or a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node)(230), serves as a wireless gateway between the SGSN(220) and a packet data network(400), and allocates the first address to the mobile station(100) through the SGSN(220) for data communication with the packet data network(400). The IWG(250), when the mobile station(100) moves from the UMTS network to the WLAN, establishes tunneling with the GGSN(230) through the packet data network(400), and provides a seamless service to the mobile station(100) by using the first address.