METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USER EQUIPMENT REGISTRATION

• US 20080076420A1
• Filed: 09/22/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tao, Patrick, Gupta, Rajeev, Markovic, Milan, Khetawat, Amit, Gallagher, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• 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

Abstract

Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system that includes a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller that can communicatively couple the FAP to the first wireless communication system. In some embodiments, the network controller can communicatively couple to the first wireless communication system through a UTRAN Iu interface. In some embodiments, the FAP can communicatively couple to a user equipment using a short-range licensed wireless frequency. Some embodiments provide a method of performing a user equipment (UE) registration. The method establishes a unique connection dedicated to the UE between the FAP and the network controller. The method receives a register request message at the network controller from the FAP through the dedicated connection.

Claims

1. A method of performing a user equipment (UE) registration in a communication system comprising a first wireless communication system and a second wireless communication system comprising a Femtocell access point (FAP) and a network controller for communicatively coupling the FAP to the first wireless communication system, the method comprising:

a) establishing a unique connection dedicated to the UE between the FAP and the network controller; and

b) receiving a register request message at the network controller from the FAP through the dedicated connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the register request message comprises an identification of the FAP and an identification of the UE.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a register accept message from the network controller to the FAP.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a location update request at the network controller, said location update request received at the FAP from the UE and forwarded to the network controller.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the forwarding of the location update request comprises receiving a direct transfer message at the network controller, the direct transfer message encapsulating a location update non access stratum (NAS) protocol data unit (PDU).

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the network controller forwarding the location update request to the first wireless communication system.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

a) receiving a location update accept message at the network controller, the location update accept message indicating the UE is authenticated by the first wireless communication system; and

b) forwarding the location update accept message from the network controller to the FAP.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the identification of the FAP comprises an international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI) of the FAP.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the identification of the UE comprises an international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI) of the UE.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the register request message further comprises a generic IP access network attachment point information and a registration type, the registration type identifying the UE as a registering device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection dedicated to the UE between the FAP and the network controller is a TCP connection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is communicatively coupled to the FAP using a short-range licensed wireless frequency.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is a first UE and the connection is a first connection, the method further comprising:

a) determining that a second UE needs to register with the network controller; and

b) establishing a second unique connection dedicated to the second UE between the FAP and the network controller through which the FAP and the network controller exchange a set of signaling messages;

wherein the second connection is different than the first connection.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless communication system is a generic access network (GAN), wherein the network controller is a generic access network controller (GANC).

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the network controller is communicatively coupled to the first wireless communication system through a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) Iu interface.