Selection of a serving node in a wireless communication system

• US 10,470,118 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin Bernard, Faccin, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Application Number:
  US15/823,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20180084490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/065 involving selection of the user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

Some aspects of the disclosure provide various methods, apparatuses and computer-readable medium configured for wireless communication. A method operable at a user equipment (UE) may include transmitting a connection request message configured to request initial connection with a radio access network (RAN) node. The connection request message may include information configured to indicate a service profile of the UE. A method operable at the RAN node may include receiving the connection request message from the UE. The connection request message may include information configured to indicate the service profile of the UE. A method operable at a serving node may include receiving a connection request message from the RAN node. The connection request message may be configured to establish communication with the UE and may include a service profile corresponding to the UE.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication operable at a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

transmitting a connection request message configured to request a connection with a radio access network (RAN) node, the connection request message comprising information configured to indicate a service profile of the UE, the service profile being configured to indicate network behavior in relation to one or more services operational at the UE; and

receiving a connection accept message comprising information configured to identify a serving node selected at least in part based on the service profile of the UE.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a tracking area update (TAU) request message comprising information configured to indicate the service profile of the UE; and

receiving a TAU response accept message comprising information indicating a serving node selected at least in part based on the service profile of the UE.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a connection to the serving node identified in the connection accept message, via the RAN node;

transmitting information to the RAN node indicating a change in the service profile of the UE; and

receiving information from the RAN node, the information configured to identify a new serving node selected at least in part based on the change in the service profile of the UE.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to the transmitting the connection request message, determining that the RAN node is associated with at least one serving node that supports the service profile of the UE.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining comprises:

receiving a broadcast message from the RAN node, comprising information indicating whether at least one serving node associated with the RAN node supports a service profile of the UE.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to the transmitting the connection request message, determining that the RAN node is associated with at least one of a network identifier, a tracking area code, a cell identifier (cell-ID), or a service set identifier (SSID) known to the UE to support the service profile of the UE in accordance with a list of RAN nodes stored in a memory at the UE.

7. A method of wireless communication operable at a radio access network (RAN) node, the method comprising:

receiving a connection request message from a user equipment (UE), the connection request message comprising information configured to indicate a service profile of the UE, the service profile being configured to indicate network behavior in relation to one or more services operational at the UE;

selecting a serving node for the UE at least in part based on the service profile of the UE; and

forwarding the connection request message to the serving node.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

broadcasting a message comprising information indicating supported service profiles of a set of serving nodes associated with the RAN node.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sending a signaling interface setup request message to the serving node, configured to request establishment of a signaling interface between the RAN node and the serving node,

receiving, from the serving node, information relating to capabilities of the serving node to support one or more UE services; and

storing the information in memory.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information relating to the capabilities of the serving node comprises at least one of:

a device type list comprising one or more device types supported by the serving node;

a services list comprising one or more services supported by the serving node;

an initial device identifier prefix list comprising one or more device identifier prefixes supported by the serving node;

a radio access technology (RAT) list comprising one or more RATs supported for access by the serving node;

or

combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 9,

wherein the information relating to the capabilities of the serving node comprises an initial device identifier prefix list comprising one or more device identifier prefixes supported by the serving node,

wherein the connection request message further comprises a device identifier for the UE, and

wherein the selecting the serving node for the UE is further based at least in part on a determination that the UE has an initial identifier that appears in the initial device identifier prefix list.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving information from the UE indicating a change in the service profile of the UE; and

in accordance with a determination that the serving node does not support the change in the service profile of the UE, selecting a new serving node for the UE at least in part based on the change in the service profile of the UE.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting an indication of the new serving node to at least one of the UE or the serving node.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting the serving node for the UE comprises:

determining a set of one or more serving nodes capable of attaching to a UE having the service profile of the UE; and

wherein the selecting the serving node for the UE comprises selecting the serving node from among the set of one or more serving nodes based at least in part on a capacity information element received from each serving node of the set of one or more serving nodes.

15. A method of wireless communication operable at a serving node, the method comprising:

receiving a connection request message from a radio access network (RAN) node, the connection request message configured to establish communication with a user equipment (UE) and comprising a service profile corresponding to the UE, the service profile being configured to indicate network behavior in relation to one or more services operational at the UE;

determining an identifier for the UE, the identifier being a function of the service profile corresponding to the UE; and

transmitting a connection accept message to the RAN node, the connection accept message comprising the identifier for the UE.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a message indicating an update to the service profile corresponding to the UE;

determining that the received message indicates that the UE is no longer supported by the serving node; and

transmitting information to another serving node that supports the updated service profile corresponding to the UE.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting information for the UE to the RAN node to indicate another serving node to the UE.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a signaling interface setup request message from the RAN node, configured to request establishment of a signaling interface between the RAN node and the serving node; and

transmitting a response to the RAN node, comprising information relating to capabilities of the serving node to support one or more service profile.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the information relating to capabilities of the serving node to support one or more service profiles comprises at least one of:

one or more UE services supported by the serving node;

or

one or more device identifier prefixes supported by the serving node.

20. A user equipment (UE) configured for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a radio transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured for;

transmitting, via the radio transceiver, a connection request message configured to request a connection with a radio access network (RAN) node, the connection request message comprising information configured to indicate a service profile of the UE, the service profile being configured to indicate network behavior in relation to one or more services operational at the UE; and

receiving, via the radio transceiver, a connection accept message comprising information configured to identify a serving node selected at least in part based on the service profile of the UE.

21. The UE of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured for:

transmitting, via the radio transceiver, a tracking area update (TAU) request message comprising information configured to indicate the service profile of the UE; and

receiving, via the radio transceiver, a TAU response accept message comprising information indicating a serving node selected at least in part based on the service profile of the UE.

22. The UE of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured for:

prior to transmitting the connection request message, determining that the RAN node is associated with at least one of a network identifier, a tracking area code, a cell identifier (cell-ID), or a service set identifier (SSID) known to the UE to support the service profile of the UE in accordance with a list of RAN nodes stored in a memory at the UE.

23. The UE of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured for:

establishing a connection to the serving node identified in the connection accept message, via the RAN node;

transmitting, via the radio transceiver, information to the RAN node indicating a change in the service profile of the UE; and

receiving, via the radio transceiver, information from the RAN node, the information configured to identify a new serving node selected at least in part based on the change in the service profile of the UE.

24. The UE of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured for:

prior to transmitting the connection request message, determining that the RAN node is associated with at least one serving node that supports the service profile of the UE.

25. The UE of claim 24, wherein the determining comprises:

receiving, via the radio transceiver, a broadcast message from the RAN node, comprising information indicating whether at least one serving node associated with the RAN node supports a service profile of the UE.

26. A radio access network (RAN) node configured for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

a radio transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a backhaul transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured for;

receiving, via the radio transceiver, a connection request message from a user equipment (UE), the connection request message comprising information configured to indicate a service profile of the UE, the service profile being configured to indicate network behavior in relation to one or more services operational at the UE;

selecting a serving node for the UE at least in part based on the service profile of the UE; and

forwarding, via the backhaul transceiver, the connection request message to the serving node.

27. The RAN node of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured for:

broadcasting, via the radio transceiver, a message comprising information indicating supported service profiles of a set of serving nodes associated with the RAN node.

28. The RAN node of claim 26, wherein the processor, being configured for selecting the serving node for the UE, is further configured for:

determining a set of one or more serving nodes capable of attaching to a UE having the service profile of the UE; and

wherein the processor, being configured for selecting the serving node for the UE, is further configured to base the selection of the serving node from among the set of one or more serving nodes, at least in part, on a capacity information element received from each serving node of the set of one or more serving nodes.

29. The RAN node of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured for:

sending, via the backhaul transceiver, a signaling interface setup request message to the serving node, configured to request establishment of a signaling interface between the RAN node and the serving node,

receiving from the serving node, via the backhaul transceiver, information relating to capabilities of the serving node to support one or more UE services; and

storing the information in the memory.

30. The RAN node of claim 29, wherein the information relating to the capabilities of the serving node comprises at least one of:

a device type list comprising one or more device types supported by the serving node;

a services list comprising one or more services supported by the serving node;

an initial device identifier prefix list comprising one or more device identifier prefixes supported by the serving node;

a radio access technology (RAT) list comprising one or more RATs supported for access by the serving node;

or

combinations thereof.

31. The RAN node of claim 29,

wherein the information relating to the capabilities of the serving node comprises an initial device identifier prefix list comprising one or more device identifier prefixes supported by the serving node,

wherein the connection request message further comprises a device identifier for the UE, and

wherein the processor, being configured for selecting the serving node for the UE, is further configured to base the selection of the serving node for the UE at least in part on a determination that the UE has an initial identifier that appears in the initial device identifier prefix list.

32. The RAN node of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured for:

receiving, via the radio transceiver, information from the UE indicating a change in the service profile of the UE; and

in accordance with a determination that the serving node does not support the change in the service profile of the UE, selecting a new serving node for the UE at least in part based on the change in the service profile of the UE.

33. The RAN node of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured for transmitting an indication of the new serving node to at least one of the UE, via the radio transceiver, or the serving node, via the backhaul transceiver.

34. A serving node in a wireless communication network, the serving node comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured for;

receiving, via the transceiver, a connection request message from a radio access network (RAN) node, the connection request message configured to establish communication with a user equipment (UE) and comprising a service profile corresponding to the UE, the service profile being configured to indicate network behavior in relation to one or more services operational at the UE;

determining an identifier for the UE, the identifier being a function of the service profile corresponding to the UE; and

transmitting, via the transceiver, a connection accept message to the RAN node, the connection accept message comprising the identifier for the UE.

35. The serving node of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured for:

receiving, via the transceiver, a signaling interface setup request message from the RAN node, configured to request establishment of a signaling interface between the RAN node and the serving node; and

transmitting, via the transceiver, a response to the RAN node, comprising information relating to capabilities of the serving node to support one or more UE services.

36. The serving node of claim 35, wherein the information relating to capabilities of the serving node to support one or more service profiles comprises at least one of:

one or more UE services supported by the serving node;

or

one or more device identifier prefixes supported by the serving node.

37. The serving node of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured for:

receiving, via the transceiver, a message indicating an update to the service profile corresponding to the UE;

determining that the received message indicates that the UE is no longer supported by the serving node; and

transmitting, via the transceiver, information to another serving node that supports the updated service profile corresponding to the UE.

38. The serving node of claim 37, wherein the processor is further configured for transmitting information for the UE to the RAN node, via the transceiver, to indicate another serving node to the UE.

39. A method of wireless communication operable at a user equipment (UE) configured to have a dynamic service profile associated with one or more services operational at the UE, the method comprising:

transmitting a connection request indicator configured to indicate a connection request attempt to one or more components in a wireless communication network, the connection request attempt comprising information configured to indicate network behavior in relation to one or more services operational at the UE; and

receiving a connection accept indicator comprising information configured to identify a serving node selected at least in part based on the one or more services operational at the UE.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising determining to include a service profile of the UE in the connection request indicator such that the UE is configured to convey one or more services operational at the UE to the one or more components in the wireless communication network.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising periodically receiving one or more updated connection accept indicators such that updates to the serving node are received at the UE.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising receiving the connection accept indicator from a radio access node (RAN) of the network or a base station of the network, wherein the connection accept indicator comprises the serving node selection.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising periodically transmitting the connection request indicator to a RAN node of the network or a BS of the network such that the UE can dynamically update the connection request indicator.

44. In a wireless communication system having dynamic communication conditions with one or more communication devices configured for dynamic communication scenarios, a user equipment (UE) configured for wireless communication, the UE comprising:

transmitter circuitry configured to transmit a connection request indicator, the connection request indicator configured to indicate a connection request attempt to one or more components in a wireless communication network, the connection request attempt comprising information configured to indicate network behavior in relation to one or more services operational at the UE; and

receiver circuitry configured to receive a connection accept indicator comprising information configured to identify a serving node selected at least in part based on the one or more services operational at the UE.

45. The UE of claim 44, further comprising a processor configured to determine to include a service profile of the UE in the connection request indicator such that the UE is configured to convey one or more services operational at the UE to the one or more components in the wireless communication network.

46. The UE of claim 44, further comprising a processor configured to aid the UE to connect to multiple different components in the wireless communication network based on the one or more services operational at the UE.

47. The UE of claim 44, wherein the receiving circuitry receives the connection accept indicator from a radio access node (RAN) of the network or a base station of the network, wherein the connection accept indicator comprises the serving node selection.

48. The UE of claim 44, further comprising a processor and radio frequency (RF) circuitry interface, and wherein the transmitter circuitry and receiving circuitry are coupled to the processor and RF circuitry such that the UE can transmit and receive wireless signals via a wireless medium.