NETWORK SHARING AND REVERSE SINGLE RADIO VOICE CALL CONTINUITY

• US 20130315203A1
• Filed: 04/11/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: WONG, Curt, LAHTINEN, Lauri Kalevi
• Granted Patent: US 10,080,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• 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

Certain networks can operate using circuit switched infrastructure, while other networks may operate using infrastructure for the long term evolution (LTE) of the third generation partnership project (3GPP). Devices can operate across the boundaries of these networks. Thus, such devices as well as the networks may benefit from network sharing in reverse single radio voice call continuity. For example, a method may include requesting handover of a user equipment from a source network to a target network. The method may also include providing a network identification corresponding to the source network while requesting the handover. Alternatively, or in addition, a method may include requesting handover of a user equipment from a source network to a target network. The method may also include determining the target network based on a network identification received previously.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

requesting handover of a user equipment from a source network to a target network; and

providing a network identification corresponding to the source network while requesting the handover.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the source network comprises a packet-switched network and the target network comprises a circuit switched network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network identification comprises an identification of a public land mobile network or a source public land mobile network identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the handover request comprises a packet switched to circuit switched handover request comprising the network identification, and wherein the handover request comprises a single radio voice call continuity request from a packet switched network to a circuit switched network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting the handover is performed by a mobility management entity or serving general packet radio service support node and the identification is provided to a mobile switching center.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein handover is requested by the source network and identification is provided to the target network.

5. (canceled)

7-10. -10. (canceled)

12. A method, comprising:

requesting handover of a user equipment from a source network to a target network; and

determining the target network based on a network identification received.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the source network comprises a circuit switched network and the target network comprises a packet switched network.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the network identification comprises a source public land mobile network identification from the packet switched network, or a target public land mobile network identifier.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the handover request is a circuit switched to packet switched handover request comprising the network identification.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the handover comprises a reverse single radio voice call continuity handover.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the handover request is transmitted from a base station controller or radio network controller to a mobile switching center.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the network identification was received with a packet switched to circuit switched handover request and is a network identification of a used source packet switched public land mobile network.

19-32. -32. (canceled)

33. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code,

wherein at the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to

request handover of a user equipment from a source network to a target network; and

provide a network identification corresponding to the source network while requesting the handover.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the source network comprises a packet-switched network and the target network comprises a circuit switched network.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the network identification comprises an identification of a public land mobile network or a source public land mobile network identifier.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the handover request comprises a packet switched to circuit switched handover request comprising the network identification, and wherein the handover request comprises a single radio voice call continuity request from a packet switched network to a circuit switched network.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the request of the handover is performed by a mobility management entity or serving general packet radio service support node and the identification is provided to a mobile switching center.

43. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein handover is requested by the source network and identification is provided to the target network.

44. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobility management entity or a mobile switching center.

37. (canceled)

39-42. -42. (canceled)

45. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory comprising computer program code,

wherein at the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to

request handover of a user equipment from a source network to a target network; and

determine the target network based on a network identification received.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the source network comprises a circuit switched network and the target network comprises a packet switched network.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the network identification comprises a source public land mobile network identification from the packet switched network, or a target public land mobile network identifier.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the handover request is a circuit switched to packet switched handover request comprising the network identification.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the handover comprises a reverse single radio voice call continuity handover.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the handover request is transmitted from a base station controller or radio network controller to a mobile switching center.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the network identification was received with a packet switched to circuit switched handover request and is a network identification of a used source packet switched public land mobile network.

52. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the apparatus comprises a base station controller or a radio network controller.

53-68. -68. (canceled)