Apparatus and messages for interworking between unlicensed access network and GPRS network for data services

• US 20050265279A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gupta, Rajeev, Gallagher, Michael, Shi, Jianxiong, Markovic, Milan
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• 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 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Methods for performing various operations via unlicensed mobile access (UMA) radio link control (URLC) messages in an unlicensed mobile access network (UMAN). The UMAN comprises a first radio access network that may be employed for accessing data services provided by a core network comprising a second radio access network. URLC messages are exchanged between mobile stations (MSs) and UMA network controllers (UNCs) to perform various operations associated with the UMAN. An MS may access the UMAN via a wireless access point (AP) that is communicatively coupled to a UNC via an IP network. The URLC messages are sent between MSs and UNCs using an Up interface comprising a set of layered protocols over an underlying IP transport.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating operations in an unlicensed mobile access network (UMAN), comprising:

establishing a dedicated connection between a mobile station (MS) and the UMAN via a UMA network controller (UNC);

establishing a TCP (transmission control protocol) session between the MS and the UNC;

sending unlicensed mobile access (UMA) radio link control (URLC) messages between the MS and the UNC to facilitate corresponding operations, each URLC message including,

a protocol discriminator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transferring GPRS (general packet radio service) signaling and SMS (short message service) messages between the MS and UNC using a URCL DATA message, the URLC DATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing data to be transferred.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the URLC DATA message includes:

a required quality of service IE defining a throughput level used to perform the data transfer operation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the URLC DATA message includes:

a requested radio priority IE to request a relative prioritization of the message..

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the URLC DATA message includes:

a temporary logical link identifier (TLLI) IE.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the URLC DATA message includes:

a packet flow identifier IE containing information identifying a packet flow corresponding to the data transfer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations include paging the MS for GPRS PS services from the UNC using a URLC-PS-PAGE message, the URLC-PS-PAGE message including a Mobile Identity IE from which the MS can be identified.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations include initiating suspension of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) by performing operations including:

sending a URLC-SUSPEND-REQ message from the MS to the UNC; and

initiating, at the UNC, GPRS Suspend operations with a core GPRS network supporting GPRS services that is communicatively-coupled to the UNC.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations include resuming GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) for the MS by:

initiating, at the UNC, a GPRS resume procedure with a core GPRS network; and

sending a URR (UMA Radio Resource)-RELEASE message from the UNC to the MS including a GPRS Resumption IE identifying GPRS is to be resumed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations include performing a downlink flow control procedure between the UNC and the MS by:

detecting downlink flow control conditions for downlink data transfer from the UNC to the MS;

calculating a downlink data rate that may be supported by the downlink flow control conditions; and

sending a URLC-DFC (Downlink Flow Control)-REQ message from the MS to the UNC including an information element specifying a downlink data rate to be employed for the downlink.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an error in a URLC message sent from a UNC to the MS; and

returning a URLC-STATUS message including a URLC Cause information element containing a code identifying the error.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the operations include transferring GPRS user data between the MS and the UNC using a URLC UNITDATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing the GPRS user data and sent over a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transport.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the URLC UNITDATA message is transferred from the MS to the UNC.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the URLC UNITDATA message includes:

a required quality of service IE defining a throughput level used to perform the data transfer operation.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the URLC UNITDATA message includes:

a requested radio priority IE to request a relative prioritization of the message.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the URLC DATA message includes:

a temporary logical link identifier (TLLI) IE.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the URLC DATA message includes:

a packet flow identifier IE containing information identifying a packet flow corresponding to the data transfer.

18. An unlicensed mobile access (UMA) network controller (UNC) to operate in a UMA network (UMAN) comprising a first radio access network, comprising:

a first network interface comprising an IP (Internet Protocol) Network interface;

a second network interface comprising an Up interface, via which UMA messages are to be transmitted to and received from a mobile station (MS) via an access point communicatively coupled between the MS and the UNC, the Up interface including a plurality of layers implemented over the IP network interface;

a third network interface, via which the UNC may be connected to a core network that is accessible to a second radio access network; and

means for generating and/or processing a plurality of UMA radio link control (URLC) messages transmitted over the Up interface to perform corresponding operations,

wherein each of the URLC messages includes a set of basic information elements (IEs) including,

a protocol discriminator;

a skip indicator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified.

19. The UNC of claim 18, further comprising:

means for processing a URCL DATA message sent from an MS to the UNC, the URLC DATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing data to be transferred to the core network via the UNC.

20. The UNC of claim 18, further comprising:

means for generating a URCL DATA message via which data is to be sent to the MS, the URLC DATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing the data.

21. The UNC of claim 18, further comprising:

means for processing a URCL UNITDATA message sent from an MS to the UNC, the URLC UNITDATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing data to be transferred to the core network via the UNC and being sent over a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transport.

22. The UNC of claim 18, further comprising:

means for generating a URCL UNITDATA message via which data is to be sent to the MS, the URLC UNITDATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing the data and to be sent over a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transport.

23. The UNC of claim 18, further comprising:

means for interacting with the core network to process a GPRS PS page request received from the core network; and

means for generating a URLC-PS-PAGE message to page the MS, the URLC-PS-PAGE message including a Mobile Identity identifying the MS.

24. The UNC of claim 18, further comprising:

means for processing a URLC-SUSPEND-REQ message sent from an MS requesting suspension of a URLC transport channel between the UNC and the MS; and

means for interacting with the core network to suspend GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) with the core network.

25. The UNC of claim 18, further comprising:

means for resuming GPRS for the MS by,

initiating, at the UNC, a GPRS resume procedure with a core GPRS network; and

generating and sending a URR (UMA Radio Resource)-RELEASE message from the UNC to the MS including a GPRS Resumption information element identifying GPRS is to be resumed.

26. The UNC of claim 18, further comprising:

means for processing a URLC-DFC (Downlink Flow Control)-REQ message from an MS including an information element specifying a downlink data rate to be employed for a downlink portion of a URLC transport channel between the MS and the UNC; and

means for adjusting the downlink data rate to correspond to the downlink data rate specified in the URLC-DFC-REQ message.

27. The UNC of claim 18, further comprising:

means for detecting an error in a URLC message received from an MS; and

means for generating a URLC-STATUS message including a URLC Cause information element containing a code identifying the error, the URLC-STATUS message to be returned to the MS.

28. A mobile station (MS), comprising:

a first wireless interface, to access a first radio access network;

a second wireless interface, to access a second radio access network comprising an unlicensed mobile access network (UMAN) via an access point (AP) using an unlicensed radio frequency;

an Up interface to communicate with the UMAN via a UMA network controller (UNC) communicatively coupled to the AP via an Internet Protocol (IP) network; and

means for generating and/or processing a plurality of UMA radio link control (URLC) messages transmitted over the Up interface to perform corresponding operations,

wherein each of the URLC messages includes a set of basic information elements (IEs) including,

a protocol discriminator;

a skip indicator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified.

29. The mobile station of claim 28, further comprising:

means for processing a URCL DATA message sent to the MS from a UNC, the URLC DATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing data transferred from the core network via the UNC.

30. The mobile station of claim 28, further comprising:

means for generating a URCL DATA message via which data is to be sent to the core network via a UNC, the URLC DATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing the data.

31. The mobile station of claim 28, further comprising:

means for processing a URCL UNITDATA message sent to the MS from a UNC, the URLC UNITDATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing data transferred from the core network via the UNC and being sent over a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transport.

32. The mobile station of claim 28, further comprising:

means for generating a URCL UNITDATA message via which data is to be sent to the core network via a UNC, the URLC UNITDATA message including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing the data and to be sent over a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transport.

33. The mobile station of claim 28, further comprising:

means for generating a URLC-SUSPEND-REQ message to be sent to a UNC requesting suspension of a GPRS service while in dedicated mode.

34. The mobile station of claim 28, further comprising:

means for detecting downlink flow control conditions for downlink data transfer from a UNC to the MS;

means for calculating a downlink data rate that may be supported by the downlink flow control conditions; and

means for generating a URLC-DFC (Downlink Flow Control)-REQ message including an information element specifying a downlink data rate to be employed for the downlink.

35. The mobile station of claim 28, further comprising:

means for detecting an error in a URLC message received from a UNC; and

means for generating a URLC-STATUS message including a URLC Cause information element containing a code identifying the error, the URLC-STATUS message to be returned to the UNC.

36. A machine-readable medium, to provide respective portions of instructions to be executed on a mobile station (MS) and an unlicensed mobile access (UMA) network controller (UNC) to perform operations including:

generating and processing a plurality of unlicensed mobile access (UMA) radio link control (URLC) messages to be transmitted between the MS and the UNC via an access point (AP) communicatively coupled between the MS and the UNC,

wherein each of the URLC messages includes a set of basic information elements (IEs) including,

a protocol discriminator;

a skip indicator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified.

37. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further providing additional respective portions of instructions to be executed on the MS and the UNC to perform operations including:

sending data from the MS to the UNC using a URCL DATA message, the URLC DATA message generated at the MS and including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing the data, the LLC PDU being extracted from the URLC DATA message at the UNC to obtain the data.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further providing additional respective portions of instructions to be executed on the MS and the UNC to perform operations including:

sending data from the UNC to the MS using a URCL DATA message, the URLC DATA message generated at the UNC and including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing the data, the LLC PDU being extracted from the URLC DATA message at the MS to obtain the data.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further providing additional respective portions of instructions to be executed on the MS and the UNC to perform operations including:

sending data from the MS to the UNC using a URCL UNITDATA message, the URLC UNITDATA message generated at the MS and including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing the data and sent over a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transport, the LLC PDU being extracted from the URLC UNITDATA message at the UNC to obtain the data.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further providing additional respective portions of instructions to be executed on the MS and the UNC to perform operations including:

sending data from the UNC to the MS using a URCL UNITDATA message, the URLC UNITDATA message generated at the UNC and including an encapsulated Logical Link Control Packet Data Unit (LLC PDU) containing the data and sent over a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transport, the LLC PDU being extracted from the URLC UNITDATA message at the MS to obtain the data.

41. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further providing additional instructions to be executed on the UNC to perform operations including:

generating a URLC-PS-PAGE message including a Mobile Identity identifying an MS to be paged; and

sending the URLC-PS-PAGE message to that MS.

42. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further providing additional respective portions of instructions to be executed on the MS and the UNC to perform operations including:

initiating suspension of GPRS service from the MS by generating a URLC-SUSPEND-REQ message and sending it to the UNC; and

initiating, at the UNC, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Suspend operations with a core network.

43. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further providing additional respective portions of instructions to be executed on the MS and the UNC to perform operations including:

resuming GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) for the MS by,

initiating, at the UNC, a GPRS resume procedure with a core GPRS network; and

generating a URR (UMA Radio Resource)-RELEASE message at the UNC and sending it to the MS, the URR-RELEASE message including a GPRS Resumption information element identifying GPRS is to be resumed.

44. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further providing additional respective portions of instructions to be executed on the MS and the UNC to perform operations including:

detecting downlink flow control conditions for downlink data transfer from the UNC to the MS;

calculating a downlink data rate that may be supported by the downlink flow control conditions;

sending a URLC-DFC (Downlink Flow Control)-REQ message from the MS to the UNC including an information element specifying a downlink data rate to be employed for the downlink; and

employing the downlink data rate that is specified for the downlink.

45. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further providing additional respective portions of instructions to be executed on the MS to perform operations including:

detecting an error in a URLC message sent from a UNC to the MS; and

generating a URLC-STATUS message including a URLC Cause information element containing a code identifying the error, the URLC-STATUS message being returned to the UNC.