Method and apparatus for informing a radio access network of a selected core network from user equipment in a network sharing system

• US 20060183502A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Jeong, Kyeong-In, Lee, Kook-Heui, Lieshout, Gert Jan Van
• Granted Patent: US 9,326,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/560
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks

Abstract

A method of informing a selected CN operator from a UE to a RAN in an NS system where a plurality of CN operators shares the RAN is provided. Upon request of transmission of an IDT, the UE acquires a CN operator ID selected from a multi-ID list broadcasted from a cell in which an RRC connection has been established, and transmits an IDT message with the selected CN operator ID to the RAN. Upon receipt of the IDT message, the RAN determines whether the IDT message includes a selected CN operator ID. In the presence of the selected CN operator ID, the RAN stores the selected CN operator ID in a UE context. In the absence of the selected CN operator ID, the RAN reads a stored selected CN operator ID from the UE context. The RAN then selects a CN operator using the selected CN operator ID.

Claims

1. A method of informing a radio access network (RAN) of a selected core network (CN) operator in a user equipment (UE) in a network sharing (NS) system where a plurality of CN operators share the RAN, the method comprising the steps of:

generating an initial direct transfer (IDT) message to request a signaling connection;

acquiring a CN operator identifier (ID) selected among CN operator IDs in a multi-ID list broadcasted from a cell in which a radio resource control (RRC) connection has been established; and

inserting the selected CN operator ID in the IDT message and transmitting the IDT message to the RAN.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the CN operator IDs comprise public land mobile network (PLMN) IDs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the CN operator ID acquiring step comprises the steps of:

establishing an RRC connection with an RNC managing a current cell in which the UE is located, in the absence of an RRC connection with the current cell; and

choosing one of the CN operator IDs in a multi-ID list broadcast from the current cell after the RRC connection setup.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the CN operator ID acquiring step comprises the step of reading a stored selected CN operator ID, in the presence of an RRC connection with the current cell.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting step comprises the steps of:

determining whether the IDT message is the first IDT message after the RRC connection setup; and

inserting the selected CN operator ID into the IDT message and transmitting the IDT message to the RNC, if the IDT message is the first IDT message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of transmitting to the RNC the IDT message without a CN operator ID, if the IDT message is not the first IDT message.

7. A method of being informed of a core network (CN) operator selected by a user equipment (UE) in a radio access network (RAN) in a network sharing (NS) system where a plurality of CN operators share the RAN, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an initial direct transfer (IDT) message for requesting a signaling connection from the UE;

acquiring a selected CN operator ID from the IDT message;

storing the selected CN operator ID;

choosing a CN operator using the selected CN operator ID; and

connecting the CN operator corresponding to the CN operator ID.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the CN operator IDs comprise public land mobile network (PLMN) IDs.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the acquiring step comprises:

determining whether the IDT message is the first IDT message after a RRC connection setup; and

acquiring the selected CN operator ID from the IDT message, if the IDT message is the first IDT message.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the acquiring step comprises:

determining whether the IDT message is the first IDT message after a RRC connection setup; and

acquiring the selected CN operator ID from a pre-stored CN operator ID, if the IDT message is not the first IDT message.

11. An apparatus for informing a radio access network (RAN) of a core network (CN) operator selected by a user equipment (UE) in a network sharing (NS) system where a plurality of CN operators share the RAN, the apparatus comprising:

a controller for generating an initial direct transfer (IDT) message for requesting a signaling connection and inserting in the IDT message a CN operator identifier (ID) selected among CN operator IDs in a multi-ID list broadcast from a cell with which the UE has established a radio resource control (RRC) connection; and

a transmitter and receiver for transmitting the IDT message to the RAN.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the CN operator IDs comprise public land mobile network (PLMN) IDs.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller controls the transmitter and receiver to establish an RRC connection with an RNC managing a current cell in which the UE is located, in the absence of an RRN connection with the current cell, and selects one of CN operator IDs in a multi-ID list broadcasted from the current cell after the RRC connection setup.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller reads the stored selected CN operator ID from a memory, in the presence of an RRC connection with the current cell.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller determines whether the IDT message is the first IDT message after the RRC connection setup, inserts the selected CN operator ID into the IDT message if the IDT message is the first IDT message, and transmits the IDT message to the transmitter and receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller transmits to the transmitter and receiver the IDT message without a CN operator ID, if the IDT message is not the first IDT message.

17. An apparatus that is informed of a core network (CN) operator selected by a user equipment (UE) in a radio access network (RAN) in a network sharing (NS) system where a plurality of CN operators share the RAN, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving an initial direct transfer (IDT) message for requesting a signaling connection from the UE;

a controller for acquiring a selected CN operator ID from the IDT message, choosing a CN operator using the selected CN operator ID, and controlling connection between the UE and the CN operator corresponding to the CN operator ID;

a memory for storing the selected CN operator ID; and

a transmitter for communicating with the UE and the CN operator.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the CN operator IDs comprise public land mobile network (PLMN) IDs.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller determines whether the IDT message is the first IDT message after a RRC connection setup and acquires the selected CN operator ID from the IDT message, if the IDT message is the first IDT message.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller determines whether the IDT message is the first IDT message after a RRC connection setup and acquires the selected CN operator ID from the memory, if the IDT message is not the first IDT message.