MANAGEMENT OF ALLOWED CSG LIST AND VPLMN-AUTONOMOUS CSG ROAMING

• US 20110237250A1
• Filed: 06/23/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin Bernard, Subramanian, Ramachandran, Song, Osok
• Application Number:
  US12/821,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237250A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate supporting VPLMN-autonomous CSG roaming in a wireless communication environment. A UE can access a CSG list server associated with a VPLMN. A trust relation can be established between the UE and the CSG list server, for example. Moreover, the CSG list server can update a VPLMN allowed CSG list associated with the VPLMN stored by the UE. Hence, the UE can receive the VPLMN allowed CSG list from the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN. Further, the UE can store the VPLMN allowed CSG list as part of an allowed CSG list. The VPLMN allowed CSG list can include one or more entries associated with the VPLMN. Moreover, the allowed CSG list can be under control of at least one operator and the UE.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

accessing a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list server associated with a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN);

receiving a VPLMN allowed CSG list from the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN; and

storing the VPLMN allowed CSG list as part of an allowed CSG list at a user equipment (UE) to provision the UE in the VPLMN, the VPLMN allowed CSG list comprises one or more entries associated with the VPLMN and the allowed CSG list being under control of at least one operator and the UE.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN when the UE is connected to a base station in the VPLMN.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN when the UE is connected to a base station in a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the VPLMN allowed CSG list from the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN through Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) procedures.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a trust relationship with the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising establishing the trust relationship with the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN using generic bootstrapping architecture (GBA) procedures.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising establishing the trust relationship with the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN using a public-key cryptography standards (PKCS) certificate based mechanism.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising selecting a technique to be utilized for establishing the trust relationship with the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN through negotiation with the CSG list server.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an identity of the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN based upon a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) specific fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting whether to update an entry in the allowed CSG list as a function of an identity of the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN associated with the CSG list server upon receiving the VPLMN allowed CSG list.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) updates an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more entries associated with the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are under control of the UE, a visited operator associated with the VPLMN, and a home operator.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a disparate one or more entries associated with a disparate Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) other than the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are inhibited from being updated by a visited operator associated with the VPLMN.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowed CSG list includes one or more of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) Identifier, a CSG Identifier, a Home Node B Name, or a CSG Type.

16. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

access a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list server associated with a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN);

receive a VPLMN allowed CSG list from the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN; and

store the VPLMN allowed CSG list as part of an allowed CSG list at a user equipment (UE) to provision the UE in the VPLMN, the VPLMN allowed CSG list comprises one or more entries associated with the VPLMN and the allowed CSG list being under control of at least one operator and the UE.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

access the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN when the UE is connected to a base station in the VPLMN.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

access the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN when the UE is connected to a base station in a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN).

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive the VPLMN allowed CSG list from the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN through Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) procedures.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

establish a trust relationship with the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

establish the trust relationship with the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN using at least one of generic bootstrapping architecture (GBA) procedures or a public-key cryptography standards (PKCS) certificate based mechanism.

22. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

select a technique to be utilized for establishing the trust relationship with the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN through negotiation with the CSG list server.

23. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

determine an identity of the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN based upon a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) specific fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

24. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

select whether to update an entry in the allowed CSG list as a function of an identity of the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN.

25. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

update an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN associated with the CSG list server upon receiving the VPLMN allowed CSG list.

26. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, wherein a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) updates an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN.

27. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more entries associated with the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are under control of the UE, a visited operator associated with the VPLMN, and a home operator.

28. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, wherein a disparate one or more entries associated with a disparate Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) other than the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are inhibited from being updated by a visited operator associated with the VPLMN.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

means for accessing a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list server associated with a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN);

means for receiving a VPLMN allowed CSG list from the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN; and

means for storing the VPLMN allowed CSG list as part of an allowed CSG list at a user equipment (UE) to provision the UE in the VPLMN, the VPLMN allowed CSG list comprises one or more entries associated with the VPLMN and the allowed CSG list being under control of at least one operator and the UE.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising means for determining an identity of the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising means for selecting whether to update an entry in the allowed CSG list as a function of an identity of the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) updates an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the one or more entries associated with the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are under control of the UE, a visited operator associated with the VPLMN, and a home operator.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein a disparate one or more entries associated with a disparate Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) other than the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are inhibited from being updated by a visited operator associated with the VPLMN.

35. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to access a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list server associated with a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN);

code for causing at least one computer to receive a VPLMN allowed CSG list from the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN; and

code for causing at least one computer to store the VPLMN allowed CSG list as part of an allowed CSG list at a user equipment (UE) to provision the UE in the VPLMN, the VPLMN allowed CSG list comprises one or more entries associated with the VPLMN and the allowed CSG list being under control of at least one operator and the UE.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to determine an identity of the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to select whether to update an entry in the allowed CSG list as a function of an identity of the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN.

38. An apparatus, comprising:

an access component that accesses a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list server associated with a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN); and

a list management component that receives a VPLMN allowed CSG list from the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN, and stores the VPLMN allowed CSG list as part of an allowed CSG list at a user equipment (UE) to provision the UE in the VPLMN, the VPLMN allowed CSG list comprises one or more entries associated with the VPLMN and the allowed CSG list being under control of at least one operator and the UE.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, the list management component selects whether to update an entry in the allowed CSG list as a function of an identity of the CSG list server associated with the VPLMN.

40. A method, comprising:

establishing a trust relation with a user equipment (UE) associated with a different Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN); and

updating a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) allowed Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list associated with a VPLMN stored by the UE, the VPLMN allowed CSG list being a part of an allowed CSG list under control of at least one operator and the UE.

41. The method of claim 40, the VPLMN allowed CSG list comprises one or more entries associated with the VPLMN.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising establishing the trust relation with the UE when the UE is connected to a base station in the VPLMN.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising establishing the trust relation with the UE when the UE is connected to a base station in a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN).

44. The method of claim 40, further comprising sending the VPLMN allowed CSG list associated with the VPLMN to the UE using Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) procedures.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein the trust relation is established with the UE using generic bootstrapping architecture (GBA) procedures.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein the trust relation is established with the UE using a public-key cryptography standards (PKCS) certificate based mechanism.

47. The method of claim 40, further comprising selecting a technique to be utilized for establishing the trust relation with the UE through negotiation with the UE.

48. The method of claim 40, further comprising updating an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) updates an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN.

50. The method of claim 40, wherein one or more entries associated with the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are under control of the UE, a visited operator associated with the VPLMN, and a home operator.

51. The method of claim 40, wherein one or more entries associated with a disparate PLMN other than the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are inhibited from being updated by a visited operator associated with the VPLMN.

52. The method of claim 40, wherein the allowed CSG list includes one or more of a PLMN Identifier, a CSG Identifier, a Home Node B Name, or a CSG Type.

53. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

establish a trust relation with a user equipment (UE) associated with a different Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN); and

update a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) allowed Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list associated with a VPLMN stored by the UE, the VPLMN allowed CSG list being a part of an allowed CSG list under control of at least one operator and the UE.

54. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 53, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

send the VPLMN allowed CSG list associated with the VPLMN to the UE using Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) procedures.

55. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 53, further comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

update an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN.

56. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 53, wherein a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) updates an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN.

57. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 53, wherein one or more entries associated with the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are under control of the UE, a visited operator associated with the VPLMN, and a home operator.

58. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 53, wherein one or more entries associated with a disparate PLMN other than the VPLMN in the allowed CSG list are inhibited from being updated by a visited operator associated with the VPLMN.

59. An apparatus, comprising:

means for establishing a trust relation with a user equipment (UE) associated with a different Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN); and

means for updating a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) allowed Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list associated with a VPLMN stored by the UE, the VPLMN allowed CSG list being a part of an allowed CSG list under control of at least one operator and the UE.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, further comprising means for sending the VPLMN allowed CSG list associated with the VPLMN to the UE using Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) procedures.

61. The apparatus of claim 59, further comprising means for updating an entry in the allowed CSG list for the VPLMN.

62. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to establish a trust relation with a user equipment (UE) associated with a different Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN); and

code for causing at least one computer to update a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) allowed Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list associated with a VPLMN stored by the UE, the VPLMN allowed CSG list being a part of an allowed CSG list under control of at least one operator and the UE.

63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing at least one computer to send the VPLMN allowed CSG list associated with the VPLMN to the UE using Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) procedures.

64. An apparatus, comprising:

an initialization component that establishes a trust relation with a user equipment (UE) associated with a different Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN); and

an update component that updates a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) allowed Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) list associated with a VPLMN stored by the UE, the VPLMN allowed CSG list being a part of an allowed CSG list under control of at least one operator and the UE.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, the update component sends the VPLMN allowed CSG list associated with the VPLMN to the UE using Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM) procedures.