CELLULAR HANDOVER

• US 20170347298A1
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Published: 11/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: BROWN, Ruth, CUEVAS, Maria
• Granted Patent: US 10,856,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength

Abstract

In a cellular communications network, user equipment connected to a base station, the active mode handover behavior of the base station for selecting handover targets is set to be different from idle mode reselection. The MME provides its eNodeBs with supplemental information about other PLMNs which can be considered for handover in accordance with dynamic criteria such as the time, location, subscriber group, etc to allow dynamic handover to other PLMNs in accordance with the commercial agreements.

Claims

1. A method of inter network cellular device handover between a plurality of cellular communications networks, each network having at least one base station carrying an identifier for its respective network, the method comprising a base station of one of the networks performing the following:

requesting a measurement report from a connected cellular device;

accessing a permissions list associated with the cellular device, the list defining permissions for handover to different cellular networks;

determining which cellular networks are permitted in accordance with the permissions and current operating parameters of the cellular device;

selecting a target base station of a different cellular network; and

establishing communication with the selected base station to handover the cellular device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of permissions lists are available and further comprising selecting one of the permissions list in accordance with a subscriber group associated with the cellular device.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein permissions lists include rules relating to access in accordance with the time of day.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein permissions lists include rules relating to access in accordance with the attributes of a data session operating on the cellular device with any external network resources.

5. Apparatus for providing inter network cellular device handover between a plurality of cellular communications networks, each network having at least one base station carrying an identifier for its respective network, the apparatus being connected to a cellular devices and comprising:

means for requesting a measurement report from the connected cellular device;

accessing means for accessing a permissions list associated with the cellular device, the list defining permissions for handover to different cellular networks;

means for determining which cellular networks are permitted in accordance with the permissions and current operating parameters of the cellular device;

means for selecting a target base station of a different cellular network; and

handover means for establishing communication with the selected base station to handover the cellular device.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of permissions lists are available and further comprising selecting one of the permissions list in accordance with a subscriber group associated with the cellular device.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein permissions lists include rules relating to access in accordance with the time of day.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein permissions lists include rules relating to access in accordance with the attributes of a data session operating on the cellular device with any external network resources.