US Patent 7852817 Generic access to the Iu interface

Some embodiments provide a communication system that includes a first licensed wireless communication system, a second generic access network (GAN) that includes a generic access network controller (GANC). The GANC is communicatively coupled to the first communication system through a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) Iu interface. The communication system also includes a user equipment (UE). The GANC includes a UDP protocol layer and a GTP-U protocol layer over the UDP protocol layer of the GANC. The UE includes a UDP protocol layer and a GTP-U protocol layer over said UDP protocol layer of the UE. The UDP protocol layer of the GANC is communicatively coupled to the UDP protocol layer of the UE. The GTP-U protocol layer of the GANC is communicatively coupled to the GTP-U protocol layer of the UE.