Method and Apparatus for Exchanging User Equipment and Network Controller Capabilities in a Communication System

• US 20080305793A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amit Khetawat, Michael D. Gallagher, Milan Marković, Patrick Tao
• Original Assignee: Amit Khetawat, Michael D. Gallagher, Milan Marković, Patrick Tao
• Inventors: Tao, Patrick, Gallagher, Michael D., Markovic, Milan, Khetawat, Amit
• Application Number:
  US11/927,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20080305793A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• 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 provide a method of registering a user equipment (UE) in a communication system that includes a licensed wireless communication system and a generic access network (GAN) that has a generic access network controller (GANC). The method sends a register request message from the UE to the GANC that indicates a GAN mode capability of A/Gb only for the UE. When the GANC has a GAN mode capability of A/Gb, the GANC registers the UE with the GAN. When the GANC has a GAN mode capability of Iu only, the GANC rejects the register request message. When the GANC has a GAN mode capability of both A/Gb and Iu, the GANC registers the UE based on a set of GANC mode selection rules that the GANC applies for registering UEs with the GAN.

Claims

1-4. -4. (canceled)

5. A method of registering a user equipment (UE) in a communication system comprising a first communication system comprising a network controller, the network controller communicatively coupling the first communication system to a licensed wireless second communication system, the method comprising:

a) receiving at the network controller a register request message comprising an indication of generic access (GA) modes for communicating with the second communication system, said GA modes comprising an A/Gb mode and an Iu mode, an A/Gb mode network controller being capable of communicating with the second communication system through an A/Gb interface and an Iu mode network controller being capable of communicating with the second communication system through an Iu interface; and

b) registering the UE with the network controller when the network controller determines that the register request is acceptable.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising sending a register accept message to the UE, the register accept message comprising a selected GA mode, said selected GA mode comprising at least one of an A/Gb mode and an Iu mode.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the Iu interface is for communicatively coupling a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) to the second communication system.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the register request message comprises a Classmark information entity comprising said GA modes.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the A/Gb interface is for communicatively coupling a GSM/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) communicatively to the second communication system.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising rejecting said register request message when the network controller determines that the register request is not acceptable.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein rejecting said register request comprises sending a register reject message comprising a rejection cause to the UE.

12. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for registering a user equipment (UE) in a communication system comprising a first communication system comprising a network controller, the network controller communicatively coupling the first communication system to a licensed wireless second communication system, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) receiving at the network controller a register request message comprising an indication of generic access (GA) modes for communicating with the second communication system, said GA modes comprising an A/Gb mode and an Iu mode, an A/Gb mode network controller being capable of communicating with the second communication system through an A/Gb interface and an Iu mode network controller being capable of communicating with the second communication system through an Iu interface; and

b) registering the UE with the network controller when the network controller determines that the register request is acceptable.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for sending a register accept message to the UE, the register accept message comprising a selected GA mode, said selected GA mode comprising at least one of an A/Gb mode and an Iu mode.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the Iu interface is for communicatively coupling a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) to the second communication system.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the register request message comprises a Classmark information entity comprising said GA modes.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the A/Gb interface is for communicatively coupling a GSM/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) communicatively to the second communication system.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for rejecting said register request message when the network controller determines that the register request is not acceptable.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein rejecting said register request comprises sending a register reject message comprising a rejection cause to the UE.