DORMANT SESSION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH HANDOVER

• US 20080259876A1
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Mildh, Gunnar, Touati, Samy, Qiang, Zu, Lundstrom, Anders, Lima, Octavio
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration

Abstract

Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for selectively transmitting a pre-registration, re-registration or de-registration initiation message associated with handing off user equipment between different access systems, e.g., a long term evolution (LTE) system and a high rate packet data (HRPD) system, to reduce dormant sessions. The decision to selectively transmit initiation messages is typically performed by a dormant session management function (DSMF).

Claims

1. A method for selectively transmitting an initiation message, associated with handover of a user equipment (UE) from a long term evolution (LTE) radio access network (RAN) to a high rate packet data (HRPD) RAN, by a communication node comprising:

receiving inputs at said communication node;

determining, based upon said received inputs, whether to transmit said initiation message; and

selectively transmitting said initiation message based upon said determination, wherein said initiation message is one of a pre-registration, a re-registration and a de-registration message and includes a neighbor list, a UE location and a UE status.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said inputs include at least one of measurements from said UE, pre-configured instructions, target network requirements and UE location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said measurements are at least one of signal strength, signal quality and distance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiation message is a pre-registration initiation message, wherein said pre-registration initiation message is initiated when said communication node determines that said UE is in an ongoing data session and said UE is within HRPD RAN coverage.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said pre-registration message is initiated based upon at least one of capabilities of said UE and services said UE is currently using.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiation message is a re-registration initiation message, wherein said re-registration initiation message is initiated when said communication node determines that said UE has changed coverage zones.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiation message is a de-registration initiation message, wherein said de-registration initiation message is initiated when said communication node determines that said UE moves away from coverage by said HRPD RAN.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said communications node is a dormant session management function (DSMF).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said DSMF is co-located with a mobility management entity (MME).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said DSMF is co-located with an evolved Node B (eNB).

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing said inputs at said communications node;

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said inputs are at least one of signal strength, signal quality and distance.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said initiation message is at least one of a broadcast message and a point-to-point message.

14. A method for selectively transmitting a message from a user equipment (UE) in communications with a long term access (LTE) radio access network (RAN) comprising:

receiving an initiation message, wherein said initiation message is one of a pre-registration, re-registration and de-registration initiation message;

determining, based on said received initiation message, to perform one of pre-registration, re-registration and de-registration; and

selectively transmitting at least one message based upon said step of determining.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein performing one of pre-registration, re-registration and de-registration further comprises:

performing pre-registration comprising;

transmitting said at least one message to establish and maintain a dormant session between said UE and a high packet rate data (HRPD) RAN; and

maintaining attachment to said LTE RAN.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein performing one of pre-registration, re-registration and de-registration further comprises:

performing re-registration comprising;

transmitting said at least one message to establish and maintain a dormant session between said UE and a high packet rate data (HRPD) RAN; and

maintaining attachment to said LTE RAN.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein performing one of pre-registration, re-registration and de-registration further comprises:

performing de-registration comprising;

transmitting said at least one message to disassociate said UE from a high packet rate data (HRPD) RAN.

18. A method for transmitting an initiation message, associated with handover of a user equipment (UE) from a long term evolution (LTE) radio access network (RAN) to a high rate packet data (HRPD) RAN, by a communication node comprising:

receiving said initiation message, wherein said initiation message is one of pre-registration, re-registration and de-registration initiation message and includes a neighbor list, a UE location and a UE status; and

transmitting a message toward said UE.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said communication node is a mobility management entity (MME).

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said communication node is an evolved Node-B (eNB).

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said initiation message is a pre-registration initiation message, wherein said pre-registration initiation message is initiated when a dormant session management function (DSMF) node determines that said UE is in an ongoing data session and said UE is within HRPD RAN coverage.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said pre-registration message is initiated based upon at least one of capabilities of said UE and services said UE is currently using.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said initiation message is a re-registration initiation message, wherein said re-registration initiation message is initiated when a dormant session management function (DSMF) node determines that said UE has changed coverage zones.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said initiation message is a de-registration initiation message, wherein said de-registration initiation message is initiated when a dormant session management function (DSMF) node determines that said UE moves away from coverage by said HRPD RAN.

25. A communication node comprising:

a communications interface for receiving inputs;

memory for storing said inputs;

a processor for determining, based upon said inputs, whether to transmit an initiation message, wherein said communication node selectively transmits said initiation message, and further wherein said initiation message is one of a pre-registration, a re-registration and a de-registration initiation message and includes a neighbor list, a user equipment (UE) location and a UE status.

26. The communication node of claim 25, wherein said inputs include at least one of measurements from said UE, pre-configured instructions, target network requirements and UE location.

27. The communication node of claim 26, wherein said measurements are at least one of signal strength, signal quality and distance.

28. The communication node of claim 25, wherein said communication node is a dormant session management function node (DSMF).

29. The communication node of claim 28, wherein said DSMF is co-located with a mobility management entity (MME).

30. The communication node of claim 28, wherein said DSMF is co-located with an evolved Node B (eNB).

31. The communication node of claim 25, wherein said initiation message is a pre-registration initiation message, wherein said pre-registration initiation message is initiated when said communication node determines that said UE is in an ongoing data session and said UE is within HRPD RAN coverage.

32. The communication node of claim 31, wherein said pre-registration message is initiated based upon at least one of capabilities of said UE and services said UE is currently using.

33. The communication node of claim 25, wherein said initiation message is a re-registration initiation message, wherein said re-registration initiation message is initiated when said communication node determines that said UE has changed coverage zones.

34. The communication node of claim 25, wherein said initiation message is a de-registration initiation message, wherein said de-registration initiation message is initiated when said communication node determines that said UE moves away from coverage by said HRPD RAN.