Method and Apparatus for Distributing Temporary ID/Permanent ID Relationships in Enterprise Home Node B System

• US 20100041402A1
• Filed: 08/17/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tao, Patrick, Gupta, Rajeev, Gallagher, Michael D., Khetawat, Amit
• Application Number:
  US12/542,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20100041402A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A method of distributing user equipment identifiers in a communication system that includes a first wireless communications system that has a core network and a second wireless communications system that includes several short range access points using licensed wireless frequencies and a network controller for communicatively coupling a user equipment to the core network. The method sends a temporary identifier of the UE that is allocated by the core network to a first access point. The UE is registered on the first access point. The method receives a register update message from the first access point. The register update message includes a permanent identifier of the UE, a previous temporary identifier of the UE, and the temporary identifier. The method sends a register update message from the network controller to a second access point to cause the second access point to update the previous temporary identifier with the temporary identifier.

Claims

1. A method of distributing user equipment identifiers in a communication system comprising (i) a first wireless communications system comprising a licensed wireless radio access network and a core network and (ii) a second wireless communications system comprising a plurality of short range access points for establishing service regions of the second wireless communications system using licensed wireless frequencies and a network controller for communicatively coupling a user equipment (UE) operating in the service regions to the core network, the method comprising:

sending a temporary identifier of the UE from the network controller to a first access point, wherein said temporary identifier is allocated by the core network, wherein the UE is registered on the first access point; and

receiving, at the network controller, a register update message from said first access point, the register update message comprising a permanent identifier of the UE, a previous temporary identifier of the UE, and said temporary identifier; and

sending a register update message from the network controller to a second access point, said register update message for causing the second access point to update the previous temporary identifier with said temporary identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said register update message is sent to all access points in said plurality of access points other than said first access point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each access point in said plurality of access points has a same group identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first access point stores said temporary identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said temporary identifier comprises a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the permanent identifier comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the register update message comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) associated with the UE, a first temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI), and a second TMSI identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said previous temporary identifier comprises a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a register request message at the network controller from the first access point, the register request message comprising an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the UE.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

sending a deregister request from the network controller to the first access point; and

sending a register accept message to the second access point.

11. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for distributing user equipment identifiers in a communication system comprising (i) a first wireless communications system comprising a licensed wireless radio access network and a core network and (ii) a second wireless communications system comprising a plurality of short range access points for establishing service regions of the second wireless communications system using licensed wireless frequencies and a network controller for communicatively coupling a user equipment (UE) operating in the service regions to the core network, the computer program executable by a processor, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

sending a temporary identifier of the UE from the network controller to a first access point, wherein said temporary identifier is allocated by the core network, wherein the UE is registered on the first access point; and

receiving, at the network controller, a register update message from said first access point, the register update message comprising a permanent identifier of the UE, a previous temporary identifier of the UE, and said temporary identifier; and

sending a register update message from the network controller to a second access point, said register update message for causing the second access point to update the previous temporary identifier with said temporary identifier.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein said register update message is sent to all access points in said plurality of access points other than said first access point.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein each access point in said plurality of access points has a same group identifier.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first access point stores said temporary identifier.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein said temporary identifier comprises a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the permanent identifier comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI).

17. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the register update message comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) associated with the UE, a first temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI), and a second TMSI identifier.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein said previous temporary identifier comprises a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

19. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for receiving a register request message at the network controller from the first access point, the register request message comprising an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the UE.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the computer program further comprises sets of instructions for:

sending a deregister request from the network controller to the first access point; and

sending a register accept message to the second access point.