Methods To Facilitate Automatic System Configuration

• US 20100271979A1
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Godin, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US12/729,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20100271979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 between access point and backbone network device

Abstract

An Evolved Packet Core/Mobility Management Entity (EPC/MME) and evolved Node B (eNB) automatically provide a list of key capabilities or features they each support as soon as possible via their shared interface. Therefore, the MME and eNB are each aware of the supported features of the other and what corresponding procedures each can trigger during normal operation. By extension, the approach involves a similar mechanism between peer eNBs over their shared interface. Thus, key capabilities or features supported by the MMEs and/or eNBs are shared to enhance interoperation.

Claims

1. A method to facilitate automatic system configuration comprising:

sending, by an evolved Node B (eNB) to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) via an S1 interface, an indication of which capabilities from a list of eNB capabilities are supported by the eNB;

receiving, by the evolved Node B (eNB) from the Mobility Management Entity (MME) via the S1 interface, an indication of which capabilities from a list of MME capabilities are supported by the MME.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the list of eNB capabilities comprises at least one of:

supports RIM messaging,

supports CDMA2000 connectivity, and

supports self-organizing network (SON) functionality.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the list of MME capabilities comprises at least one of:

supports RIM messaging,

supports CDMA2000 connectivity, and

supports self-organizing network (SON) configuration transfer.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein sending by the eNB to the MME via the S1 interface comprises

sending by the eNB to the MME during setup of the S1 interface.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving by the eNB from the MME via the S1 interface comprises

receiving by the eNB from the MME during setup of the S1 interface.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the indication of which capabilities from the list of MME capabilities are supported by the MME is included in an S1 SETUP RESPONSE message.

7. A method to facilitate automatic system configuration comprising:

sending, by a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to an evolved Node B (eNB) via an S1 interface, an indication of which capabilities from a list of MME capabilities are supported by the MME;

receiving, by the Mobility Management Entity (MME) from the evolved Node B (eNB) via the S1 interface, an indication of which capabilities from a list of eNB capabilities are supported by the eNB.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the list of eNB capabilities comprises at least one of:

supports RIM messaging,

supports CDMA2000 connectivity, and

supports self-organizing network (SON) functionality.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the list of MME capabilities comprises at least one of:

supports RIM messaging,

supports CDMA2000 connectivity, and

supports self-organizing network (SON) configuration transfer.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein sending by the MME to the eNB via the S1 interface comprises

sending by the MME to the eNB during setup of the S1 interface.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein receiving by the MME from the eNB via the S1 interface comprises

receiving by the MME from the eNB during setup of the S1 interface.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the indication of which capabilities from the list of MME capabilities are supported by the MME is included in an S1 SETUP RESPONSE message.

13. A method to facilitate automatic system configuration comprising:

sending, by a first evolved Node B (eNB) to a second evolved Node B (eNB) via an X2 interface, an indication of which capabilities from a list of eNB capabilities are supported by the first eNB;

receiving, by the first evolved Node B (eNB) from the second evolved Node B (eNB) via the X2 interface, an indication of which capabilities from the list of eNB capabilities are supported by the second eNB.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the list of eNB capabilities comprises IMS emergency call support.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein sending by the first eNB to the second eNB via the X2 interface comprises

sending by the first eNB to the second eNB during setup of the X2 interface.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein receiving by the first eNB from the second eNB via the X2 interface comprises

receiving by the first eNB from the second eNB during setup of the X2 interface.