VOICE SERVICE IN EVOLVED PACKET SYSTEM

• US 20110002268A1
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Burbidge, Richard Charles, Chin, Chen Ho, Faccin, Stefano, Dwyer, Johanna Lisa
• Granted Patent: US 8,422,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00226 wherein the core network technologies comprise IP multimedia system [IMS], e.g. single radio voice call continuity [SRVCC]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to manage voice service in evolved packet systems are disclosed. An example in a UE with a first indicator related to voice services in an Evolved Packet System (EPS) includes receiving a first Non Access Stratum (NAS) protocol response message with a second indicator and responsive to at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator, cause the UE to select to another radio access technology (RAT).

Claims

1. A method in a UE with a first indicator related to voice services in an Evolved Packet System (EPS), the method comprising:

receiving a first Non Access Stratum (NAS) protocol response message with a second indicator; and

responsive to at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator, causing the UE to select to another radio access technology (RAT).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting to another RAT further comprises disabling evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRAN) cell reselection and evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) cell selection.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the UE to enable cell selection to E-UTRAN cells and E-UTRAN cell reselection based on a third indicator subsequent to receiving a second NAS registration response message with the third indicator

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising cause the UE to enable cell selection and reselection to E-UTRAN cells based on at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the UE to select to another RAT is responsive to both the first indicator and the second indicator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator are Voice Service Indicators (VSIs).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the VSIs are at least one of:

Network provided Voice over IP Multimedia Subsystem (VoIMS) indicators;

UE usage settings; and

User Equipment voice settings.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein one or more of the VSIs are set to:

IMS Voice over PS session supported indication;

IMS Voice over PS session not supported indication;

Voice Centric;

Data Centric;

CS Voice Only;

IMS PS Voice Only;

CS Voice Preferred, IMS Voice Secondary; and

MS Voice Preferred, CS Voice Secondary.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second indicator is at least one of a cause value or a failure indication.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the cause value or the failure indication is set to:

Failure to register UE for circuit switched (CS) or packet switched (PS) services;

or

CS domain not available.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first NAS protocol response message is a NAS registration response message.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein disabling the E-UTRAN cell reselection and the E-UTRAN cell selection further comprises at least one of:

causing the UE to disable E-UTRAN cell reselection subsequent to a combined NAS registration wherein the combined NAS registration failed;

causing the UE to disable E-UTRAN cell reselection subsequent to the UE'"'"'s usage setting changing;

allow the UE to remain in EPS until access to voice services are required and causing the UE to disable E-UTRAN cell reselection subsequent to the UE'"'"'s usage setting changing in response to an event requiring access to voice services;

causing the UE to disable E-UTRAN cell reselection subsequent to an MS registration failing;

retrying MS registration subject to a VSI, subsequent to causing the UE to disable E-UTRAN cell reselection and E-UTRAN cell selection;

or

monitoring the tracking area (TA) of neighboring E-UTRAN cells until a cell with at least one of a different TA/routing area (RA) or a TA outside the UE tracking area identity list is detected.

13. A tangible computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed cause a UE with a first indicator related to voice services in an Evolved Packet System (EPS) to:

receive a first Non Access Stratum (NAS) protocol response message with a second indicator; and

responsive to at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator, select to another radio access technology (RAT).

14. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein selecting to another RAT further comprises disabling evolved universal mobile telecommunications system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRAN) cell reselection and evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) cell selection.

15. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to enable cell selection to E-UTRAN cells and E-UTRAN cell reselection based on a third indicator subsequent to receiving a second NAS registration response message with the third indicator

16. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to enable cell selection and reselection to E-UTRAN cells based on at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator.

17. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to select to another RAT is responsive to both the first indicator and the second indicator.

18. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator are Voice Service Indicators (VSIs).

19. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the VSIs are at least one of:

Network provided Voice over IP Multimedia Subsystem (VoIMS) indicators;

UE usage settings; and

User Equipment voice settings.

20. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein one or more of the VSIs are set to:

IMS Voice over PS session supported indication;

IMS Voice over PS session not supported indication;

Voice Centric;

Data Centric;

CS Voice Only;

IMS PS Voice Only;

CS Voice Preferred, IMS Voice Secondary; and

IMS Voice Preferred, CS Voice Secondary.