Access Point Name: Difference between revisions
Undid revision 352448169 by 114.121.90.172 (talk) |
|||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
==APN Resolution== |
==APN Resolution== |
||
APN resolution<ref name =GSMA-IR.33>[http://gsmworld.com/newsroom/document-library/ GSMA PRD IR.33] GSMA PRD IR.33 - "GPRS Roaming Guidelines". </ref> is the process of [[Domain Name System|DNS]] look up to determine the IP address of the GGSN that provides connectivity to the PDN identified by the APN. When a GPRS mobile phone sets up a data connection (which in technical terms is called setting up a primary [[Packet_Data_Protocol#PDP_Context|PDP context]]), it provides the APN to which it wants to connect to. APN resolution is then used to select the GGSN and provide an IP address to |
APN resolution<ref name =GSMA-IR.33>[http://gsmworld.com/newsroom/document-library/ GSMA PRD IR.33] GSMA PRD IR.33 - "GPRS Roaming Guidelines". </ref> is the process of [[Domain Name System|DNS]] look up to determine the IP address of the GGSN that provides connectivity to the PDN identified by the APN. When a GPRS mobile phone sets up a data connection (which in technical terms is called setting up a primary [[Packet_Data_Protocol#PDP_Context|PDP context]]), it provides the APN to which it wants to connect to. APN resolution is then used to select the GGSN and provide an IP address to us |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 15:28, 25 July 2010
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
No issues specified. Please specify issues, or remove this template. |
Access point name (APN) identifies an IP packet data network (PDN), that a mobile data user wants to communicate with. In addition to identifying a PDN, an APN may also be used to define the type of service, (eg connection to wireless application protocol (WAP) server, multimedia messaging service (MMS)), that is provided by the PDN. APN is used in 3GPP data access networks, eg general packet radio service (GPRS), evolved packet core (EPC).
Packet Data Network
The concept of Packet Data Network[1] in 3GPP accesses is illustrated in the accompanying figure. The operator's packet domain network is responsible for providing data connectivity to the mobile user. The user accesses one or more packet data networks (PDN), that either belongs to the operator or is an external network eg internet, corporate intranet, etc. The GGSN separates the operator’s packet domain network from packet data networks (PDN). A GGSN may provide connectivity to one or more PDNs. A user may access a PDN either via a GGSN in the visited operator’s network VPLMN or via a GGSN in its home operator’s network HPLMN. Inter-operator network (GRX)[2] provides IP connectivity between different operators packet domain networks.
Examples of PDNs are:
- Public Internet
- Operator’s private IP network which provides wireless application protocol (WAP) service
- Operator’s private IP network which provides multimedia messaging service (MMS) service
- Corporate intranet.
An APN is used to identify the PDN from which to provide the user’s IP address. It is also used to select a GGSN from which the PDN is accessible.
Structure of an APN
An APN consists of two parts[3] as shown in the accompanying figure.
- Network Identifier: Defines the external network to which the GGSN is connected. Optionally, it may also include the service requested by the user. This part of the APN is mandatory
- Operator Identifier: Defines the specific operator’s packet domain network in which the GGSN is located. This part of the APN is optional. The MCC is the Mobile Country Code and the MNC is the Mobile Network Code which together uniquely identify a mobile network operator.
Examples of APN are:
- Example: internet.mnc012.mcc345.gprs
- Example: internet (NOTE: This APN example does not contain an operator identifier part)
APN Resolution
APN resolution[2] is the process of DNS look up to determine the IP address of the GGSN that provides connectivity to the PDN identified by the APN. When a GPRS mobile phone sets up a data connection (which in technical terms is called setting up a primary PDP context), it provides the APN to which it wants to connect to. APN resolution is then used to select the GGSN and provide an IP address to us
References
- ^ 3GPP TS 29.061 Interworking between the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) supporting packet based services and Packet Data Networks (PDN).
- ^ a b GSMA PRD IR.33 GSMA PRD IR.33 - "GPRS Roaming Guidelines".
- ^ 3GPP TS 23.003 Numbering, addressing and identification.