METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURING ADDRESSES AND/OR SECURITY DATA BETWEEN ENBS OF AN LTE ACCESS NETWORK, AND ASSOCIATED MME AND ENB

• US 20100039991A1
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Godin, Philippe, Demarez, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/695 using masks or ranges of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A method is intended for automatically configuring address(es) between eNBs (NBi) of an LTE access network. This method comprises i) transmitting a chosen message to at least one Mobility Management Entity (MME) of a core network connected to the LTE access network, this chosen message including at least one transport layer address of a first eNB (NB1) and/or authentication and/or security data of this first eNB (NB1) for connection to the latter, and ii) relaying within a downlink message an identifier of this first eNB (NB1) and the at least one transport layer address and/or the authentication and/or security data for the connection of this first eNB (NB1) to a set of at least one chosen eNB (NBi).

Claims

1. A method of configuring the address(es) between evolved Node Bs (NBi) of an LTE access network, said method being characterized in that it comprises:

receiving a chosen message at at least one Mobility Management Entity (MME) connected to said LTE access network, said chosen message including at least one transport layer address of a first evolved Node B (NB1) and/or authentication and/or security data of said first evolved Node B (NB1) for connection to the latter, and

relaying within a downlink message an identifier of said first evolved Node B (NB1) and said at least one transport layer address and/or said authentication and/or security data for the connection of said first evolved Node B (NB1) to a set of at least one chosen evolved Node B (NBi).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said chosen message is a setup request message.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said setup request message is a S1 SETUP REQUEST message originating from said first evolved Node B (NB1).

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said chosen message is a dedicated message received from said first evolved Node B (NB1).

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein said dedicated message is received from said first evolved Node B (NB1) after reception of a S1 SETUP REQUEST message.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one transport layer address and/or said authentication and/or security data is/are for X2 establishment of connection to said first evolved Node B (NB1).

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein said downlink message is chosen in a group comprising at least a MME CONFIGURATION UPDATE message, a S1 SETUP RESPONSE message and a dedicated downlink information transfer message.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein said set of chosen evolved Node B(s) (NBi) includes at least one evolved Node B (NBi) that belongs to a tracking area (TA1) to which also belongs said first evolved Node B (NB1).

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein said set of chosen evolved Node B(s) (NBi) further includes at least one evolved Node B (NBi) that belongs to at least one other tracking area (TAj).

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein when a second evolved Node B (NB2) has received a cell identifier representative of a new cell controlled by said first evolved Node B (NB1) from a user equipment (UE), said second evolved Node B (NB2) applies a fixed mask on said received cell identifier to determine the identifier of said first evolved Node B (NB1) and then initiates a connection establishment with said first evolved Node B (NB1) by means of transport layer address(es) and/or authentication and/or security data contained into a received downlink message comprising said determined identifier of this first evolved Node B (NB1).

11. Method according to claim 8, wherein said chosen message further includes a list of identifiers of cells that are controlled by said first evolved Node B (NB1), and said method further comprises relaying within said downlink message said list of cell identifiers to said set of chosen evolved Node B(s) (NBi), and wherein when a second evolved Node B (NB2) has received a cell identifier representative of a new cell controlled by said first evolved Node B (NB1) from a user equipment (UE), said second evolved Node B (NB2) determines amongst received downlink messages the one comprising said received cell identifier and then initiates a connection establishment with the corresponding first evolved Node B (NB1) by means of transport layer address(es) and/or authentication and/or security data contained into said determined downlink message.

12. Mobility Management Entity (MME) for a core network connected to an LTE access network comprising evolved Node Bs (NBi), characterized in that it is arranged, when it receives a chosen message including at least one transport layer address of a first evolved Node B (NB1) and/or authentication and/or security data of said first evolved Node B (NB1), for relaying within a downlink message an identifier of said first evolved Node B (NB1) and said at least one transport layer address and/or said authentication and/or security data for the connection of said first evolved Node B (NB1) to a set of at least one chosen evolved Node B (NBi).

13. Mobility Management Entity according to claim 12, wherein it is arranged for transmitting said downlink messages in the form of either a MME CONFIGURATION UPDATE message, or a S1 SETUP RESPONSE message or else a dedicated downlink information transfer message.

14. Mobility Management Entity according to claim 12, wherein it is arranged for defining said set of chosen evolved Node B(s) (NBi) from evolved Node Bs (NBi) belonging to a tracking area (TAj) to which also belongs said first evolved Node B (NB1).

15. Mobility Management Entity according to claim 14, wherein it is arranged for defining said set of chosen evolved Node B(s) (NBi) from evolved Node Bs (NBi) belonging to a tracking area (TA1) to which also belongs said first evolved Node B (NB1) and to at least one other tracking area (TAj).

16. Mobility Management Entity according to claim 12, wherein it is arranged, when said chosen message further includes a list of identifiers of cells, for relaying within said downlink message said list of cell identifiers to said set of chosen evolved Node B(s) (NBi).

17. Evolved Node B (NBi) for an LTE access network, characterized in that it is arranged, when it receives at least one transport layer address and/or authentication and/or security data and/or a list of cell identifiers and an associated identifier of a first evolved Node B (NB1) within a message, to locally store them for at least a limited duration of time in order to use them to establish a connection towards said first evolved Node B (NB1).