SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING DISCOVERY OF LOCAL SERVICE AVAILABILITY IN LOCAL CELLULAR COVERAGE

• US 20120184266A1
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: FACCIN, Stefano, BAKKER, Jan Hendrik Lucas
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

LIPA PDN Connectivity indicates a PDP Context (in the case of a GERAN or UTRAN femto cell connected to a GPRS core network) or a PDN Connection (in the case of an E-UTRAN femto cell connected to a GPRS core network) that gives access to services located in the local IP network of the femto cell subsystem. SIPTO PDN Connectivity indicates a PDP Context or PDN Connection that allows offload of selected types of IP traffic (e.g. internet traffic) towards a defined IP network close to the UE'"'"'s point of attachment to the access network. Remote PDN Connectivity indicates a regular PDP Context or PDN Connection established neither according to LIPA PDN Connectivity nor SIPTO PDN Connectivity. Systems, devices and methods are described herein that enable the identification of the type of connectivity available to a UE and enable session continuity for local cellular coverage.

Claims

1. A method for use in a user equipment (UE) comprising:

receiving an indication of a type of connectivity provided in a telecommunication cell;

wherein the indication of the type of connectivity provided indicates one of;

local internet protocol access (LIPA) connectivity;

selected internet protocol traffic offload (SIPTO) connectivity;

or remote connectivity.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, upon receiving an indication that LIPA connectivity is provided, providing an indication to the upper layers that the connectivity is provided.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an indication of a type of connectivity provided in a telecommunication cell comprises receiving an indication of a type of connectivity provided in any one of:

a GERAN/UTRAN femto cell;

a GERAN/UTRAN macro cell;

a GERAN/UTRAN CSG cell;

an E-UTRAN femto cell;

an E-UTRAN macro cell;

an E-UTRAN CSG cell;

WLAN cells;

or

non-3GPP cells.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving an indication comprises receiving at least one of:

an indication of whether specific types of connectivity are provided;

or

an indication of whether specific types of connectivity are not provided.

5. The method claim 1 wherein receiving an indication of the type of connectivity provided comprises receiving at least one of:

LIPA connectivity supported;

LIPA connectivity not supported;

SIPTO connectivity supported;

SIPTO connectivity not supported;

remote connectivity supported;

or

remote connectivity not supported.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the indication of a type of connectivity provided occurs in the non-access stratum (NAS) functional layer.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing the indication to upper layers.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving the indication of a type of connectivity occurs during one of:

attachment;

when requesting an additional packet data protocol (PDP) context;

or when requesting a packet data network (PDN) connection.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving the indication of a type of connectivity comprises receiving a message, which is at least one of an ACTIVATE DEFAULT EPS BEARER CONTEXT REQUEST message;

a TRACKING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message;

an ACTIVATE PDP CONTEXT REJECT message;

an ACTIVATE PDP CONTEXT ACCEPT message;

a PDN CONNECTIVITY ACCEPT message;

a PDN CONNECTIVITY REJECT message;

a ROUTING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message;

or a ROUTING AREA UPDATE REJECT message.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving the indication of a type of connectivity includes receiving a Supported Connectivity Type information element in at least one of an ACTIVATE PDP CONTEXT ACCEPT message;

a ROUTING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message;

an ACTIVATE DEFAULT EPS BEARER CONTEXT REQUEST message;

a TRACKING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message;

an ACTIVATE PDP CONTEXT REJECT message;

a PDN CONNECTIVITY ACCEPT message;

a PDN CONNECTIVITY REJECT message;

or a ROUTING AREA UPDATE REJECT message

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting to a connection for which the default EPS bearer context, or default PDP context, was activated with an APN authorized to use LIPA.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the indication of a type of connectivity provided occurs in the access stratum (AS) functional layer.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing the indication to upper layers.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein receiving the indication of a type of connectivity occurs during one or more of:

initial attach to the network;

handover of the UE from a macro cell to a femto cell or a closed subscriber group (CSG) cell;

idle mobility of the UE from a macro cell to a femto cell or a CSG cell;

handover of the UE from a 3GPP macro cell, a 3GPP femto cell, or a 3GPP CSG cell to a non-3GPP access;

or handover of the UE from a non-3GPP access to a 3GPP femto cell or a 3GPP CSG cell.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein receiving the indication of a type of connectivity provided comprises receiving a Supported Connectivity Type indication broadcast over a radio channel.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising, upon receiving the indication of a type of connectivity provided, determining whether or not to establish PDN connections using LIPA.

17. A method for use in a network element comprising:

providing an indication of a type of connectivity provided in a telecommunication cell;

wherein the indication of the type of connectivity provided indicates one of;

local internet protocol access (LIPA) connectivity;

selected internet protocol traffic offload (SIPTO) connectivity or remote connectivity.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the network element is one of a CSG cell;

a HeNB;

or a HNB.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein providing the indication of a type of connectivity provided includes broadcasting a Supported Connectivity Type indication over a radio channel.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the network element is one of a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN).

21. The method of claim 17 wherein providing the indication includes providing the indication if the UE is attaching to a CSG cell;

22. The method of claim 17 wherein providing an indication of a type of connectivity provided in a telecommunication cell comprises providing an indication of a type of connectivity provided in any one of:

a GERAN/UTRAN femto cell;

a GERAN/UTRAN macro cell;

a GERAN/UTRAN CSG cell;

an E-UTRAN femto cell;

an E-UTRAN macro cell;

an E-UTRAN CSG cell;

WLAN cells;

or

non-3GPP cells.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein providing an indication comprises providing at least one of:

an indication of whether specific types of connectivity are provided;

or

an indication of whether specific types of connectivity are not provided.

24. The method claim 17 wherein providing an indication of the type of connectivity provided comprises providing at least one of:

LIPA connectivity supported;

LIPA connectivity not supported;

SIPTO connectivity supported;

SIPTO connectivity not supported;

remote connectivity supported;

or

remote connectivity not supported.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein providing the indication of a type of connectivity provided occurs in the non-access stratum (NAS) functional layer.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising providing the indication to upper layers.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein providing the indication of a type of connectivity occurs during one of:

attachment;

when requesting an additional packet data protocol (PDP) context;

or when requesting a packet data network (PDN) connection.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the indication of a type of connectivity comprises sending at least one of an ACTIVATE DEFAULT EPS BEARER CONTEXT REQUEST message;

a TRACKING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message;

an ACTIVATE PDP CONTEXT REJECT message;

an ACTIVATE PDP CONTEXT ACCEPT message;

a PDN CONNECTIVITY ACCEPT message;

a PDN CONNECTIVITY REJECT message;

a ROUTING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message;

or a ROUTING AREA UPDATE REJECT message.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the indication of a type of connectivity includes providing a Supported Connectivity Type information element in at least one of an ACTIVATE PDP CONTEXT ACCEPT message;

a ROUTING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message;

an ACTIVATE DEFAULT EPS BEARER CONTEXT REQUEST message;

a TRACKING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message;

an ACTIVATE PDP CONTEXT REJECT message;

a PDN CONNECTIVITY ACCEPT message;

a PDN CONNECTIVITY REJECT message;

or a ROUTING AREA UPDATE REJECT message.