Method and Apparatus for User Equipment Registration in a Voice over Long Term Evolution via Generic Access

• US 20090270098A1
• 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: Kodnad, Subhash, Tao, Patrick, Gallagher, Michael D., Padmanabhuni, Sasidhar
• Application Number:
  US12/431,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20090270098A1
• 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 of the present invention provide a method for UE registration for VoLGA services. The method sends a register request message from the UE to the VANC to register the UE with the VANC. The register request message includes location information that identifies an EPS cell upon which the UE has camped. The method receives a register response message at the UE from the VANC. The register response message indicates whether the UE is permitted to access services of the VANC.

Claims

1. In a communication system comprising an evolved packet system (EPS) and a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VOLGA) network controller (VANC) communicatively coupling the EPS to a legacy circuit switched (CS) core network, the EPS comprising an evolved packet core (EPC) and an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) for communicatively coupling a user equipment (UE) to the EPC, wherein the EPC is not capable of providing circuit switched (CS) services for the UE and the legacy circuit switched (CS) core network is capable of providing CS services to the UE, a method of registering a user equipment with the VoLGA communication system for providing CS services for the UE, the method comprising:

sending a register request message from the UE to the VANC to register the UE with the VANC, the register request message comprising location information identifying an EPS cell upon which the UE has camped; and

receiving a register response message at the UE from the VANC, the register response message indicating whether the UE is permitted to access services of the VANC.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the register response is a register accept message indicating that the UE is permitted to access the services of the VANC.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the register accept message comprises at least one of generic access network (GAN) mode indicator, location-area identification (LAI), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) cell identity, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) cell identity, and one or more VoLGA system timer values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the register response is a register reject message indicating that the UE is not permitted to access the services of the VANC.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the register reject message comprises a reject cause indicating a reason for rejecting registration of the UE.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing a secure tunnel between the UE and the VANC prior to sending the register request message.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection between the VANC and the user equipment prior to sending the register request message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a dedicated EPS bearer for the VoLGA signaling channel after sending the register request message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the register request message further comprises an identity of the UE.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the identity of the UE comprises at least one of International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and Globally Unique Temporary Identity (GUTI).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the register request message further comprises a generic access network (GAN) classmark.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the GAN classmark indicates support for VoLGA service.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the VANC is a first VANC, the method further comprising receiving a redirection message from the first VANC to cause the UE to initiate registration with a second VANC.

14. In a communication system comprising an evolved packet system (EPS) and a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VOLGA) network controller (VANC) communicatively coupling the EPS to a legacy circuit switched (CS) core network, the EPS comprising an evolved packet core (EPC) and an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) for communicatively coupling a user equipment (UE) to the EPC, wherein the EPC is not capable of providing circuit switched (CS) services for the UE and the legacy circuit switched (CS) core network is capable of providing CS services to the UE, a method of registering a user equipment with the VoLGA communication system for providing CS services for the UE, the method comprising:

receiving a register request message at the VANC from the UE to register the UE with the VANC, the register request message comprising location information identifying an EPS cell upon which the UE has camped; and

sending a register response message from the VANC to the UE, the register response message indicating whether the UE is permitted to access services of the VANC.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the register response is a register accept message indicating that the UE is permitted to access the services of the VANC.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the register accept message comprises at least one of generic access network (GAN) mode indicator, location-area identification (LAI), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) cell identity, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) cell identity, and one or more VoLGA system timer values.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the register response is a register reject message indicating that the UE is not permitted to access the services of the VANC.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the register reject message comprises a reject cause indicating a reason for rejecting registration of the UE.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising establishing a secure tunnel between the VANC and the UE prior to receiving the register request message.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising establishing a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection between the VANC and the user equipment prior to receiving the register request message.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising requesting a dedicated EPS bearer for the VoLGA signaling channel after receiving the register request message.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the dedicated EPS bearer is established using the Rx interface to a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) of the EPS.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the register request message further comprises an identity of the UE.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the identity of the UE comprises at least one of International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and Globally Unique Temporary Identity (GUTI).

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the register request message further comprises a generic access network (GAN) classmark.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the GAN classmark indicates support for VoLGA service.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the VANC is a first VANC, the method further comprising sending a redirection message from the first VANC to the UE instructing the UE to initiate registration with a second VANC.

28. In a communication system comprising an evolved packet system (EPS) and a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VOLGA) network controller (VANC) communicatively coupling the EPS to a legacy circuit switched (CS) core network, the EPS comprising an evolved packet core (EPC) and an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) for communicatively coupling a user equipment (UE) to the EPC, wherein the EPC is not capable of providing circuit switched (CS) services for the UE and the legacy circuit switched (CS) core network is capable of providing CS services to the UE, a computer readable storage medium of the user equipment storing a computer program, the computer program executable by at least one processor, the computer program comprising:

a set of instructions for sending a register request message from the UE to the VANC to register the UE with the VANC, the register request message comprising location information identifying an EPS cell upon which the UE has camped; and

a set of instructions for receiving a register response message at the UE from the VANC, the register response message indicating whether the UE is permitted to access services of the VANC.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 28 further comprising a set of instructions for establishing a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection between the VANC and the user equipment prior to sending the register request message.

29-33. -33. (canceled)

35-40. -40. (canceled)

41. In a communication system comprising an evolved packet system (EPS) and a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VOLGA) network controller (VANC) communicatively coupling the EPS to a legacy circuit switched (CS) core network, the EPS comprising an evolved packet core (EPC) and an evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) for communicatively coupling a user equipment (UE) to the EPC, wherein the EPC is not capable of providing circuit switched (CS) services for the UE and the legacy circuit switched (CS) core network is capable of providing CS services to the UE, a computer readable storage medium of the VANC storing a computer program, the computer program executable by at least one processor, said computer program comprising:

a set of instructions for receiving a register request message from the UE to register the UE with the VANC, the register request message comprising location information identifying an EPS cell upon which the UE has camped; and

a set of instructions for sending a register response message to the UE, the register response message indicating whether the UE is permitted to access services of the VANC.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 41, further comprising a set of instructions for requesting a dedicated EPS bearer for the VoLGA signaling channel after receiving the register request message.

42-47. -47. (canceled)

49-54. -54. (canceled)