Systems and methods for mobility management in a distributed packet core system of a software-defined network

摘要

A distributed packet-core system of a software-defined network (SDN packet core system) contains several interconnected local mobility domains (LMDs). Each LMD contains several radio access technology-specific (RAT-specific) frontend modules associated with at least one RAT, and a mobility manager. Each RAT-specific front-end module is configured to handle RAT-internal and LMD-internal mobility events, switching the connectivity of client devices between two radio access points coupled to the LMD and associated with a first common RAT, which also supports this RAT associated with the specific front-end module. The mobility manager interfaces with the front-end modules and is configured to handle RAT-internal and LMD-wide mobility events. The mobility manager may also be configured to handle RAT spanning and LMD internal mobility events if the SDN packet core system supports more than one RAT.