Determining the need for a routing area update for packet switched handover in multi-operator core network

• US 10,568,006 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Diachina, John Walter, Schliwa-Bertling, Paul, Karlsson, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Huq, Obaidul
• Application Number:
  US15/167,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20160277979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 370310, 370328, 370329, 370331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/12 Reselecting a serving backbone network switching or routing node
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A method is implemented by a controller functioning as a node in a source Radio Access Network (RAN) to control handover of a mobile station (MS), where the handover of the MS is from a source cell of the source RAN operating in packet switched (PS) domain to a target cell of a target RAN operating in PS domain. The target RAN supports multi-operator core network (MOCN). The method includes transmitting a system information 3 (SI3) message by the node to the MS, the SI3 message including a selected public land mobile network (PLMN) of the target cell, and transmitting a PS handover command to the MS subsequent to transmitting the SI3 message.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a controller functioning as a node in a source Radio Access Network (RAN) to control handover of a mobile station (MS) from a source cell of the source RAN operating in a packet switched (PS) domain to a target cell of a target RAN operating in the PS domain, the target RAN supporting multi-operator core network (MOCN), the method comprising:

transmitting a system information 3 (SI3) message by the node to the MS, the SI3 message including a selected public land mobile network (PLMN) of the target cell for the handover, where the selected PLMN has been selected for the MS to utilize at the target cell; and

transmitting a PS handover command to the MS by the node subsequent to transmitting the SI3 message, the PS handover command to transition the MS to the target cell and to utilize the selected PLMN.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SI3 message includes a location area code (LAC) of the target cell, and routing area code (RAC) of the target cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the SI3 message is sent on a Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the node is a base station controller (BSC) of the source RAN.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected PLMN is a PLMN that is managed by one of a plurality of different operators of the MOCN supported in the target cell.

6. A method implemented by a mobile station (MS) for controlling handover of the MS from a source cell of a source Radio Access Network (RAN) operating in a packet switched (PS) domain to a target cell of a target RAN operating in the PS domain, the target cell supporting multi-operator core network (MOCN), the method comprising:

receiving a system information 3 (SI3) message transmitted by a node of the source RAN including a selected public land mobile network (PLMN) of the target cell;

executing handover to the target RAN;

determining a target routing area identity (RAI) using the selected PLMN from the SI3 message transmitted by the node of the source RAN;

comparing the target routing area identity (RAI) to a registered RAI; and

determining whether a routing area update (RAU) is needed in the target RAN based on a comparison of the target RAI to the registered RAI.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the SI3 message includes a location area code (LAC) of the target cell, and routing area code (RAC) of the target cell.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the registered RAI is determined using a LAC of the source cell, a RAC of the source cell, and a registered PLMN of the MS.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected PLMN is a PLMN that is managed by one of a plurality of different operators of the MOCN supported in the target cell.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

communicating a RAU request message towards the target RAN in response to determining that a RAU is needed in the target RAN.

11. A controller functioning as a node of a source radio access network (RAN) for controlling handover of a mobile station (MS) from a source cell of the source RAN operating in a packet switched (PS) domain to a target cell of a target RAN operating in the PS domain, the target RAN supporting multi-operator core network (MOCN), the controller comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein a RAN system information module and a RAN handover module; and

a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the processor to execute the RAN system information module and the RAN handover module, the RAN system information module to transmit a system information 3 (SI3) message to the MS, the SI3 message including a selected public land mobile network (PLMN) of the target cell for the handover, where the selected PLMN has been selected for the MS to utilize at the target cell, the RAN handover module to transmit a PS handover command to the MS, the PS handover command to transition the MS to the target cell and to utilize the selected PLMN.

12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the SI3 message includes a location area code (LAC) of the target cell, and routing area code (RAC) of the target cell.

13. The controller of claim 11, wherein the SI3 message is sent on a Packet Associated Control Channel (PACCH).

14. The controller of claim 11, wherein the controller is a base station controller (BSC) of the source RAN.

15. The controller of claim 11, wherein the selected PLMN is a PLMN that is managed by one of a plurality of different operators of the MOCN supported in the target cell.

16. A mobile station (MS) configured for handover from a source cell of a source radio access network (RAN) operating in a packet switched (PS) domain to a target cell of a target RAN operating in the PS domain, the target RAN supporting multi-operator core network (MOCN), the MS comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein a MS system information module, a MS handover module and a routing area update (RAU) module and

a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer readable medium, the processor to execute the MS system information module, MS handover module, and RAU module, the MS system information module to receive a system information 3 (SI3) message transmitted by a node of the source RAN including a selected public land mobile network (PLMN) of the target cell, the MS handover module to execute handover to the target RAN, and the RAU module to determine a target routing area identity (RAI) using the selected PLMN of the target cell from the SI3 message transmitted by the node of the source RAN, the RAU module further to compare the target RAI to a registered RAI, and to determine whether a RAU is needed in the target RAN based on a comparison of the target RAI to the registered RAI.

17. The MS of claim 16, wherein the SI3 message includes a location area code (LAC) of the target cell, and routing area code (RAC) of the target cell.

18. The MS of claim 17, wherein the registered RAI is determined using a LAC of the source cell, a RAC of the source cell, and a registered PLMN of the MS.

19. The MS of claim 16, wherein the selected PLMN is a PLMN that is managed by one of a plurality of different operators of the MOCN supported in the target cell.

20. The MS of claim 16, wherein the RAU module is further configured to:

communicate a RAU request message toward the target RAN in response to determining that a RAU is needed in the target RAN.