System and method for supporting GAN service request capability in a wireless user equipment (UE) device

• US 10,278,187 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Buckley, Adrian, Bumiller, George Baldwin, Carpenter, Paul Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): D Agosta, Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US15/131,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20160234849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0083 Determination of parameters used for hand-off, e.g. generation or modification of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices

Abstract

In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for supporting wireless access network service request capability in a user equipment (UE) device that is operable in wide area cellular network (WACN) bands as well as in wireless access network bands (e.g., GAN bands and/or UMA bands). The UE device includes capability for gaining Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity with a wireless access network node (e.g., a GAN controller (GANC) or UMA network controller (UNC)). Thereafter, the UE device is operable to initiate a registration request message towards the wireless access network node, wherein the registration request message includes at least one information element pertaining to wireless access network services required by the UE device.

Claims

1. A network messaging method, comprising:

gaining Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity by a user equipment (UE) device with respect to a wireless access network node disposed in a network environment that is comprised of a wireless access network (AN) space operable to be coupled to a wide area cellular network (WACN) space, wherein the WACN space includes one or more WACNs, wherein said wireless access network node comprises an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) network controller (UNC);

initiating a registration request message by said UE device towards said wireless access network node, wherein said registration request message includes location information associated with said UE device and at least one information element pertaining to AN services required by said UE device, wherein said registration request message is initiated towards said wireless access network node after a successful discovery procedure or a failed registration with a serving access network node;

receiving, at said UE device from said wireless access network node, a response message comprising a list of available WACNs based on the location information associated with said UE device and the AN services required by said UE, wherein the list of available WACNs is from the one or more WACNs of the WACN space coupled to said wireless access network node;

selecting, by said UE device, a WACN from the list of available WACNs; and

storing a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) in said UE device, said FQDN for facilitating a Domain Name Query (DNS) with respect to an IP address of said wireless access network node.

2. The network messaging method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless access network node comprises a generic access network controller (GANC).

3. The network messaging method as recited in claim 2, wherein said GANC is a default GANC whose information is stored in said UE device.

4. The network messaging method as recited in claim 1, wherein said UNC is a default UNC whose information is stored in said UE device.

5. A user equipment (UE) device, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled with the memory and configured to;

gain Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity with respect to a wireless access network node disposed in a network environment that is comprised of a wireless access network (AN) space operable to be coupled to a wide area cellular network (WACN) space, wherein the WACN space includes one or more WACNs, wherein said wireless access network node comprises an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) network controller (UNC);

initiate a registration request message towards said wireless access network node, wherein said registration request message includes location information associated with said UE device and at least one information element pertaining to AN services required by said UE device, wherein said registration request message is initiated towards said wireless access network node after a successful discovery procedure or a failed registration with a serving access network node;

receive, at said UE device from said wireless access network node, a response message comprising a list of available WACNs based on the location information associated with said UE device and the AN services required by said UE, wherein the list of available WACNs is from the one or more WACNs of the WACN space coupled to said wireless access network node;

select, by said UE device, a WACN from the list of available WACNs; and

store a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) in said UE device, said FQDN for facilitating a Domain Name Query (DNS) with respect to an IP address of said wireless access network node.

6. The UE device as recited in claim 5, wherein said wireless access network node comprises a generic access network controller (GANC).

7. The UE device as recited in claim 6, wherein said GANC is a default GANC whose information is stored in said UE device.

8. The UE device as recited in claim 5, wherein said UNC is a default UNC whose information is stored in said UE device.

9. The UE device as recited in claim 5, further includes means for storing an IP address in said UE device, said IP address for identifying said wireless access network node.

10. A network system, comprising:

a wireless access network node disposed in a network environment that is comprised of a wireless access network (AN) space operable to be coupled to a wide area cellular network (WACN) space, wherein the WACN space includes one or more WACNs, wherein said wireless access network node comprises an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) network controller (UNC); and

a user equipment (UE) device configured to;

gain Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity with said wireless access network node;

initiate a registration request message towards said wireless access network node, wherein said registration request message includes location information associated with said UE device and at least one information element pertaining to wireless access services required by said UE device, wherein said registration request message is initiated towards said wireless access network node after a successful discovery procedure or a failed registration with a serving access network node;

receive, from said wireless access network node, a response message comprising a list of available WACNs based on the location information associated with said UE device and the AN services required by said UE, wherein the list of available WACNs is from the one or more WACNs of the WACN space coupled to said wireless access network node;

select a WACN from the list of available WACNs; and

store a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) in said UE device, said FQDN for facilitating a Domain Name Query (DNS) with respect to an IP address of said wireless access network node.

11. The network system as recited in claim 10, wherein said wireless access network node comprises a generic access network controller (GANC).

12. The network system as recited in claim 11, wherein said GANC is a default GANC whose information is stored in said UE device.

13. The network system as recited in claim 10, wherein said wireless access network node comprises an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) network controller (UNC).