CORE NETWORK NODE SELECTION IN RADIOCOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS HAVING HOME GATEWAYS

• US 20110176530A1
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Vikberg, Jari, Nylander, Tomas, Rune, Johan
• Granted Patent: US 10,045,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0009 for a plurality of users or terminals, e.g. group communication or moving wireless networks user group management H04W4/08; processing of subscriber group data H04W8/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00222 between different packet switched [PS] network technologies, e.g. transferring data sessions between LTE and WLAN or LTE and 5G
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for improving communications systems which use home gateways or the like. This can be obtained by avoiding potentially frequent inter-MME (intra-MME pool) context transfers. This can then reduce unnecessary or redundant signalling.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a core network node for establishment of a connection in a radiocommunication system comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a home gateway, a connection establishment message without an S-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (S-TMSI); and

selecting, based upon information in a field in said connection establishment message, said core network node for establishment of said connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said information in said field is one of a Globally Unique Mobility Management Entity Identity (GUMMEI) and a Mobility Management Entity Code (MMEC).

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining if a first MME Group Identity (MMEGI) from said information matches a second MMEGI of a core network node pool; and

if said first MMEGI matches said second MMEGI then selecting said core network node for said connection of a user equipment (UE) from said information, and

if said first MMEGI does not match said second MMEGI then selecting said core network node for said connection of said UE based on a default algorithm.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE to said selected core network node.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said connection establishment message is an S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE with an attached non-access stratum (NAS) message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

extracting a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) from said attached NAS message, wherein said GUTI includes a GUMMEI which includes said first MMEGI.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said connection establishment message is an S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE with one of:

a GUMMEI field included outside of an attached non-access stratum (NAS) message and an MME Code (MMEC) field included outside of an attached non-access stratum (NAS) message; and

if said S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE includes said GUMMEI field, then extracting said MMEC field from said GUMMEI field.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting said core network node using said MMEC.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

removing one of said included GUMMEI or said included MMEC from said S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE before forwarding said S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE to said selected core network node.

19. The communications node of claim 1, wherein said communications node is a home gateway.

10. A communications node for selecting a core network node for establishment of a connection in a radiocommunication system comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive a connection establishment message without an S-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (S-TMSI); and

a processor configured to select, based upon information in a field in said connection establishment message, said core network node for establishment of said connection.

11. The communications node of claim 10, wherein said information in said field is one of a Globally Unique Mobility Management Entity Identity (GUMMEI) and a Mobility Management Entity Code (MMEC).

12. The communications node of claim 11, wherein said processor is configured to determine if a first MME Group Identity (MMEGI) from said information matches a second MMEGI of a core network node pool, and

if said first MMEGI matches said second MMEGI then said processor is configured to select said core network node for said connection of a user equipment (UE) from said information, and

if said first MMEGI does not match said second MMEGI then said processor is configured to select said core network node for said connection of said UE based on a default algorithm.

13. The communications node of claim 10, wherein said communications interface is configured to transmit an S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE to said selected core network node.

14. The communications node of claim 12, wherein said connection establishment message is an S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE with an attached non-access stratum (NAS) message.

15. The communications node of claim 14, wherein said communications node is configured to extract a globally unique temporary identity (GUTI) from said attached NAS message, wherein said GUTI includes a GUMMEI which includes said first MMEGI.

16. The communications node of claim 10, wherein said connection establishment message is an S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE with one of a GUMMEI field included outside of an attached non-access stratum (NAS) message and an MME Code (MMEC) field included outside of an attached non-access stratum (NAS) message, and wherein if said S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE includes said GUMMEI field, then said processor is configured to extract said MMEC field from said GUMMEI field.

17. The communications node of claim 16, wherein said processor is configured to select said core network node based upon said MMEC.

18. The communications node of claim 16, wherein said communications node is configured to remove one of said included GUMMEI or said included MMEC from said S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE before forwarding said S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE to said selected core network node.

20. A method for selecting a core network node for establishment of a connection in a radiocommunication system comprising the steps of:

transmitting, from a home base station, a connection establishment message, wherein said connection establishment message includes information in a field disposed outside of an attached non-access stratum (NAS) message which information is usable for selection of said core network node.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said connection establishment message is an S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE and said information in said field is one of a Globally Unique Mobility Management Entity Identity (GUMMEI) and a Mobility Management Entity Code (MMEC).

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a connection message from a user equipment (UE);

extracting, by said home base station, said GUMMEI from said connection message; and

if said MMEC is to be included in said connection establishment message to be transmitted by said home base station, then extracting said MMEC from said GUMMEI.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said connection message is an RRCConnectionSetupComplete message.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said one of said GUMMEI and said MMEC is included in said connection establishment message only if a first MMEGI in the GUMMEI matches a second MMEGI previously received during an interface establishment procedure.

25. A communications node for selecting a core network node for establishment of a connection in a radiocommunication system comprising:

a communications interface configured to transmit, from a home base station, a connection establishment message, wherein said connection establishment message includes information in a field disposed outside of an attached non-access stratum (NAS) message, which information is usable for selection of said core network node.

26. The communications node of claim 25, wherein said connection establishment message is an S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE and said information in said field is one of a Globally Unique Mobility Management Entity Identity (GUMMEI) and a Mobility Management Entity Code (MMEC).

27. The communications node of claim 26, wherein said communications node is configured to extract said GUMMEI from a connection message received from a user equipment (UE) and, if said MMEC is to be included in said connection establishment message, said MMEC is first extracted from said GUMMEI.

28. The communications node of claim 27, wherein said received connection message is an RRCConnectionSetupComplete message.

29. The communications node of claim 27, wherein said communications interface is configured to include one of said GUMMEI and said MMEC in said connection establishment message only if a first MMEGI in the GUMMEI matches a second MMEGI previously received during an interface establishment procedure.

30. The communications node of claim 25, wherein said communications node is a home base station.