Coordinated subscriber access handling for shared network support
First Claim
1. A telecommunications network comprising a radio access network which generates and transmits, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group eligibility message which enables a user equipment unit which receives the access group eligibility message to make a determination whether the user equipment unit is eligible to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the determination involving a comparison of access group eligibility information transmitted in the access group message and an access group classification information, the access group classification information having been generated by a core network node which classified the user equipment unit into at least one of plural access groups;
- wherein the user equipment unit stores the access group classification information obtained from an access group classification message in a memory at the user equipment unit;
wherein the user equipment unit upon receiving the access group eligibility message compares the stored access group classification with contents of the access group eligibility message to determine on a basis of an access group to which the user equipment unit belongs as indicated by the access group classification information whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to the cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted; and
wherein the access group eligibility message includes a first bitmap which indicates eligibility for the plural access groups;
wherein the access group classification message includes a second bitmap which advises the user equipment unit as to which of the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To facilitate, e.g., determination of access rights in a shared network context, a telecommunications network transmits, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group eligibility message to a user equipment unit. The access group eligibility message enables the user equipment unit to ascertain, on a basis of access group to which the user equipment unit belongs, whether the user equipment unit is eligible to operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted. The telecommunications network also includes a core network node which, classifies the user equipment unit in at least one of plural access groups. Further, the core network node generates an access group classification message which advises the user equipment unit as to which of the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs. Upon receipt of the access group classification message, the user equipment unit stores an access group classification obtained from the access group classification message in a memory at the user equipment unit. An access controller of the user equipment unit (upon receiving the access group eligibility message) compares the stored access group classification with contents of the access group eligibility message to determine whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to the cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A telecommunications network comprising a radio access network which generates and transmits, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group eligibility message which enables a user equipment unit which receives the access group eligibility message to make a determination whether the user equipment unit is eligible to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the determination involving a comparison of access group eligibility information transmitted in the access group message and an access group classification information, the access group classification information having been generated by a core network node which classified the user equipment unit into at least one of plural access groups;
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wherein the user equipment unit stores the access group classification information obtained from an access group classification message in a memory at the user equipment unit; wherein the user equipment unit upon receiving the access group eligibility message compares the stored access group classification with contents of the access group eligibility message to determine on a basis of an access group to which the user equipment unit belongs as indicated by the access group classification information whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to the cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted; and wherein the access group eligibility message includes a first bitmap which indicates eligibility for the plural access groups;
wherein the access group classification message includes a second bitmap which advises the user equipment unit as to which of the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A telecommunications network comprising a radio access network which generates and transmits, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group eligibility message which enables a user equipment unit which receives the access group eligibility message to make a determination whether the user equipment unit is eligible to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the determination involving a comparison of access group eligibility information transmitted in the access group message and an access group classification, the access group classification having been generated by a core network node which classified the user equipment unit into at least one of plural access groups;
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wherein the access group classification message is one of a location update response and a location update reject message which includes the access group classification and a version field associated with the access group classification; wherein upon receiving a subsequent core network message in the form of one of a location update response or location update reject message, the subsequent core network message including a potentially revised access group classification and a version field associated with the access group classification carried by the subsequent core network message, the user equipment unit determines, by comparing contents of the version field associated with the access group classification and the version field associated with the access group classification carried by the subsequent core network message, whether the user equipment unit should update its stored access group classification.
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16. A telecommunications network comprising a radio access network which generates and transmits, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group eligibility message which enables a user equipment unit which receives the access group eligibility message to make a determination whether the user equipment unit is eligible to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the determination involving a comparison of access group eligibility information transmitted in the access group message and an access group classification, the access group classification having been generated by a core network node which classified the user equipment unit into at least one of plural access groups
wherein the access group classification message generated by the core network includes the access group classification and a version field associated with the access group classification; wherein upon entering a new cell associated with a second core network, the user equipment unit receives an access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell, the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell including a version field associated with the contents of the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell, and wherein the user equipment unit determines, by comparing contents of the version field associated with the access group classification and the version field associated with the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell, whether the user equipment unit should update its stored access group classification.
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17. A user equipment unit which receives over an air interface an access group classification message and an access group eligibility message, the access group classification message being generated by a core network node for advising the user equipment unit as to which of the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs, the access group eligibility message being generated by a radio access network node for specifying eligibility of plural access groups to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the user equipment unit comprising:
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an access controller which stores an access group classification information obtained from the access group eligibility message and which compares the stored access group classification with contents of the access group eligibility message to determine on a basis of an access group to which the user equipment unit belongs as indicated by the access group classification information whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to the cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted; wherein the access group eligibility message includes a bitmap which indicates eligibility for plural access groups; wherein the access group eligibility message includes a first bitmap which indicates eligibility for the plural access groups;
wherein the access group classification message includes a second bitmap which advises the user equipment unit as to which of the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs; andwherein the user equipment unit performs a logical operation with respect to the first bitmap and the second bitmap to determine whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to the cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A user equipment unit which receives over an air interface an access group classification message and an access group eligibility message, the access group classification message being generated by a core network node for advising the user equipment unit as to which of the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs, the access group eligibility message being generated by a radio access network node for specifying eligibility of plural access groups to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the user equipment unit comprising:
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an access controller which stores an access group classification obtained from the access group eligibility message and which compares the stored access group classification with contents of the access group eligibility message to determine whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to the cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted; wherein the access group classification message includes the access group classification and a version field associated with the access group classification; wherein upon receiving a subsequent core network message, the subsequent core network message including a potentially revised access group classification and a version field associated with the access group classification carried by the subsequent core network message, the access controller determines, by comparing contents of the version field associated with the access group classification and the version field associated with the access group classification carried by the subsequent core network message, whether the user equipment unit should update its stored access group classification.
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28. A user equipment unit which receives over an air interface an access group classification message and an access group eligibility message, the access group classification message being generated by a core network node for advising the user equipment unit as to which of the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs, the access group eligibility message being generated by a radio access network node for specifying eligibility of plural access groups to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the user equipment unit comprising:
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an access controller which stores an access group classification obtained from the access group eligibility message and which compares the stored access group classification with contents of the access group eligibility message to determine whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to the cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted; wherein the access group classification message includes the access group classification and a version field associated with the access group classification; wherein upon entering a new cell associated with a second core network, the user equipment unit receives an access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell, the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell including a version field associated with the contents of the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell, and wherein the access controller determines, by comparing contents of the version field associated with the access group classification and the version field associated with the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell, whether the user equipment unit should update its stored access group classification.
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29. A method of operating a telecommunications network comprising:
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transmitting, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group eligibility message generated by a radio access network; receiving the access group eligibility message at a user equipment unit;
the user equipment unit using the access group eligibility message to make a determination on a basis of an access group to which the user equipment unit belongs as indicated by access group classification information whether the user equipment unit is eligible to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the determination involving a comparison of access group eligibility information transmitted in the access group message and the access group classification information which is generated by a core network node;further comprising storing in a memory at the user equipment unit the access group classification information obtained from an access group classification message; the user equipment unit, upon receiving the access group eligibility message, comparing the stored access group classification information with contents of the access group eligibility message to determine whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to the cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted; and including in the access group eligibility message a first bitmap which indicates eligibility for the plural access groups; and
including in the access group classification message a second bitmap which advises the user equipment unit as to which of the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of operating a telecommunications network comprising:
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transmitting, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group eligibility message generated by a radio access network; receiving the access group eligibility message at a user equipment unit; the user equipment unit using the access group eligibility message to make a determination whether the user equipment unit is eligible to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the determination involving a comparison of access group eligibility information transmitted in the access group message and an access group classification which is generated by a core network node; including in an access group classification message the access group classification and a version field associated with the access group classification; the user equipment unit receiving a subsequent core network message in the form of one of a location update response or location update reject message, the subsequent core network message including a potentially revised access group classification and a version field associated with the access group classification carried by the subsequent core network message; the user equipment unit determining, by comparing contents of the version field associated with the access group classification and the version field associated with the access group classification carried by the subsequent core network message, whether the user equipment unit should update its stored access group classification.
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46. A method of operating a telecommunications network comprising:
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transmitting, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group eligibility message generated by a radio access network; receiving the access group eligibility message at a user equipment unit; the user equipment unit using the access group eligibility message to make a determination whether the user equipment unit is eligible to operate or not operate in a cell for which the access group eligibility message is transmitted, the determination involving a comparison of access group eligibility information transmitted in the access group message and an access group classification which is generated by a core network node; wherein an access group classification message generated by the core network includes the access group classification and a version field associated with the access group classification; upon the user equipment unit entering a new cell associated with a second core network; the user equipment unit receiving an access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell, the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell including a version field associated with the contents of the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell; and the user equipment unit determining, by comparing contents of the version field associated with the access group classification and the version field associated with the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell, whether the user equipment unit should update its stored access group classification.
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Specification