An inter-working unit with a protocol conversion or protocol encapsulation function, for use with dual stack user equipment on a packet radio network

摘要

According to the present invention there is provided a telecommunications system for providing a facility for communicating internet packet data in accordance with a first internet protocol (IPV6). The system comprises a user equipment, the user equipment including a first internet protocol stack operable in accordance with a first internet protocol (IPV6) and a second internet protocol stack operable in accordance with a second internet protocol (IPV4). The system includes a packet radio system (GPRS) network operable to communicate internet packet data in accordance with the second internet protocol (IPV4), and an inter-working unit. The inter-working unit acquires from the second internet protocol stack an address for representing the internet packet data according to the first internet protocol as internet packet data according to the second internet protocol for communication via the packet radio system network (GPRS). The inter-working unit also acquires from the first internet protocol stack an address for representing the internet packet data according to the second internet protocol as internet packet data according to the first internet protocol for communication to the user equipment.