Method and Apparatus for User Equipment Registration Updates Triggered by a Tracking Area Change

• US 20090270097A1
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tao, Patrick, Gallagher, Michael D., Kodnad, Subhash, Padmanabhuni, Sasidhar
• Application Number:
  US12/431,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20090270097A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method for updating registration information of a user equipment (UE) in a communication system that includes several evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRANs) that communicatively couple the UE to a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VoLGA) network controller (VANC). The method receives a message at the UE from the VANC including a list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC, each tracking area identified by a tracking area identifier (TAI). The method stores the list of E-UTRAN tracking areas at the UE. The method sends a register update message that includes a TAI of a particular E-UTRAN tracking area from the UE to the VANC when the UE moves into the particular E-UTRAN tracking area and the particular E-UTRAN TAI is not in the list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC.

Claims

1. A method for updating registration information of a user equipment (UE) in a communication system comprising a plurality of evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRANs) communicatively coupling the UE to a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VOLGA) network controller (VANC), the method comprising:

receiving a message at the UE from the VANC, the message comprising a list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC, each tracking area identified by a tracking area identifier (TAI);

storing the list of E-UTRAN tracking areas at the UE; and

sending a register update message comprising a TAI of a particular E-UTRAN tracking area from the UE to the VANC when the UE moves into the particular E-UTRAN tracking area and the particular E-UTRAN TAI is not in the list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending a register update message is associated with a periodic location area update.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the register update message is a registration update uplink message.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a second message comprising a new GAN cell identification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a registration update downlink message.

6. A method for updating registration information of a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VOLGA) network controller (VANC) in a communication system comprising a plurality of evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRANs) communicatively coupling a User Equipment (UE) to a VANC, the method comprising:

sending a message from the VANC to the UE, the message comprising a list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC, each tracking area identified by a tracking area identifier (TAI); and

receiving at the VANC a register update message comprising a TAI of a particular E-UTRAN tracking area from the UE, said update message received when the UE moves into the particular E-UTRAN tracking area and the particular E-UTRAN TAI is not in the list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the register update message is associated with a periodic location area update.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the register update message is a registration update uplink message.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the register message is a registration update downlink message.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising sending the particular UE a second message comprising a new GAN cell identification.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising redirecting the UE to a second VANC, the second VANC serving the tracking area the UE is currently located in.

12. The method of claim 6 further comprising deregistering the UE.

13. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing new VoLGA system information to the UE.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said VoLGA system information comprises a new location area identifier (LAI).

15. In a communication system comprising a plurality of evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRANs) communicatively coupling a user equipment to a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VOLGA) network controller (VANC), a computer readable storage medium of the UE storing a computer program, the computer program executable by at least one processor, the computer program comprising:

a set of instructions for receiving a message at the UE from the VANC, the message comprising a list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC, each tracking area identified by a tracking area identifier (TAI);

a set of instructions for storing the list of E-UTRAN tracking areas at the UE; and

a set of instructions for sending a register update message comprising a TAI of a particular E-UTRAN tracking area from the UE to the VANC when the UE moves into the particular E-UTRAN tracking area and the particular E-UTRAN TAI is not in the list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the sending a register update message is associated with a periodic location area update.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the register update message is a registration update uplink message.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising a set of instructions for receiving a second message comprising a new GAN cell identification.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the message is a registration update downlink message.

20. In a communication system comprising a plurality of evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRANs) communicatively coupling a User Equipment (UE) to a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VOLGA) network controller (VANC), a computer readable storage medium of the VANC storing a computer program, the computer program executable by at least one processor, the computer program comprising:

a set of instructions for sending a message to the UE from the VANC, the message comprising a list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC, each tracking area identified by a tracking area identifier (TAI); and

a set of instructions for receiving a register update message comprising a TAI of a particular E-UTRAN tracking area from the UE, when the UE moves into the particular E-UTRAN tracking area and the particular E-UTRAN TAI is not in the list of E-UTRAN tracking areas (TAs) served by the VANC.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the register update message is associated with a periodic location area update.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the register update message is a registration update uplink message.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the register message is a registration update downlink message.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 20 further comprising a set of instructions for sending the particular UE a second message comprising a new GAN cell identification.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 20 further comprising a set of instructions for redirecting the UE to a second VANC, the second VANC serving the tracking area the UE is currently located in.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 20 further comprising a set of instructions for deregistering the UE.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 20 further comprising a set of instructions for providing new VoLGA system information to the UE.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein said VoLGA system information comprises a new location area identifier (LAI).