Registration messaging in an unlicensed mobile access telecommunications system

• US 7,974,624 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shi, Jianxiong (Jason), Baranowski, Joseph G., Gupta, Rajeev, Gallagher, Michael D., Markovic, Milan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lai; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/930,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/426.1, 4554321-444, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Methods and messages for performing registration of mobile stations (MS) in an unlicensed mobile access network (UMAN). URR (UMA radio resource) registration messages are exchanged between an MS and a UMA network controller (UNC) operating in the UMAN to register the MS. The MS may access the UMAN via a wireless access point (AP) that is communicatively coupled to the UNC via an IP network. The URR registration messages are sent between the MS and the UNC using an Up interface comprising a set of layered protocols over an underlying IP transport.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a secure link between a telecommunication device and a network controller of a first communication network, the network controller for communicatively coupling the telecommunication device to a licensed wireless second communication network to allow a communication session between the telecommunication device and the second communication network;

sending a plurality of registration messages between the telecommunication device and the network controller over the secure link, the plurality of registration messages comprising a register request message sent from the telecommunication device to the network controller and a register acknowledgement message received at the telecommunication device from the network controller, said register request message comprising a set of basic information elements and a set of operating parameters for the telecommunication device, said register acknowledgement message comprising the set of basic information elements and a set of operating parameters for the first communication network, the set of operating parameters for the first communication network comprising a location area identifier for identifying a plurality of service regions of the first communication network and a cell identifier for identifying a particular service region of the first communication network in which the telecommunication device is located; and

from the telecommunication device, sending a register update message to the network controller over the secure link, wherein the register update message comprises a set of updated operating parameters of the telecommunication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the secure link comprises a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) session between the telecommunication device and the network controller.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of basic information elements comprises a protocol discriminator, a skip indicator, and a message type via which the message may be identified.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of operating parameters for the telecommunication device comprises a mobile identity via which the telecommunication device is identified and a state information element for defining an operating state of the telecommunication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first communication network further comprises an access point for wirelessly communicatively coupling the telecommunication device to the network controller, wherein the set of operating parameters for the telecommunication device further comprises a media access control (MAC) address of the access point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving of the register acknowledgement message occurs when the telecommunication device is authorized to access the first communication network, the method further comprising receiving a register reject message at the telecommunication device when the telecommunication device is not authorized to access the first communication network, wherein the register reject message comprises the set of basic information elements and a cause parameter for specifying a reason for rejection.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cause parameter also specifies a redirect address for redirecting the telecommunication device to a different network controller of the first communication network, wherein the redirect address for redirecting the telecommunication device comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the different network controller.

8. A method comprising:

at a telecommunication device, identifying a network controller of a first communication network, the network controller for communicatively coupling the telecommunication device to a licensed wireless second communication network to allow a communication session between the telecommunication device and the second communication network;

establishing a secure link with the network controller;

from the telecommunication device, sending a register request message to the network controller over the secure link, the register request message comprising a set of basic information elements and a set of operating parameters for the telecommunication device;

at the telecommunication device, receiving a register acknowledgement message from the network controller, the register acknowledgement message comprising the set of basic information elements and a set of operating parameters for the first communication network, the set of operating parameters for the first communication network comprising a location area identifier for identifying a plurality of service regions of the first communication network and a cell identifier for identifying a particular service region of the first communication network in which the telecommunication device is located; and

at the telecommunication device, receiving a register update message from the network controller over the secure link, wherein the register update message comprises updated network information for the first communication network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the network controller comprises performing a domain name system query to identify an Internet Protocol (IP) address for communicating with said network controller.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the network controller comprises identifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a last network controller via which the telecommunication device connected to the first communication network.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying the network controller comprises identifying a default Internet Protocol (IP) address of a network controller to which the telecommunication device initially connects when registering for service with the first communication network.

12. A method comprising:

at a network controller of a first communication network that communicatively couples a plurality of service regions of the first communication network to a licensed wireless second communication network, receiving a register request message from a telecommunication device in a particular service region of the first communication network;

determining from the register request message whether the telecommunication device in the particular service region is permitted access to the first communication network;

when the telecommunication device is not authorized to access the first communication network, sending a register reject message from the network controller to the telecommunication device, wherein the register reject message comprises a set of basic information elements and a cause parameter for specifying a reason for rejection; and

when the telecommunication device is authorized to access the first communication network, sending a register acknowledgement message from the network controller to the telecommunication device, the register acknowledgement message comprising the set of basic information elements and a set of operating parameters for the first communication network, the set of operating parameters for the first communication network comprising a location area identifier for identifying the plurality of service regions of the first communication network and a cell identifier for identifying the particular service region of the first communication network in which the telecommunication device is located.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the set of basic information elements comprises a protocol discriminator, a skip indicator, and a message type via which the message may be identified.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the cause parameter comprises a redirect address for redirecting the telecommunication device to a different network controller, wherein the redirect address comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the different network controller.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the cause parameter comprises a rejection due to network congestion.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the cause parameter comprises a rejection due to the telecommunication device accessing an access point of the first communication network through which said telecommunication device is not authorized to access, said access point for wirelessly coupling the telecommunication device at the particular service region to the network controller.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the cause parameter comprises a rejection due to an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of the telecommunication device not being allowed for service in the first communication network.

18. A method comprising:

at a network controller of a first communication network that communicatively couples a plurality of service regions of the first communication network to a licensed wireless second communication network, registering a telecommunication device at a particular service region of the first communication network to access services of the first communication network;

from the network controller, sending a register acknowledgement message to the telecommunication device, the register acknowledgement message comprising a set of basic information elements and a set of operating parameters for the first communication network, the set of operating parameters for the first communication network comprising a location area identifier for identifying the plurality of service regions of the first communication network and a cell identifier for identifying the particular service region of the first communication network in which the telecommunication device is located; and

at the network controller, receiving a register update message from the telecommunication device, wherein the register update message comprises the set of basic information elements and a set of updated operating parameters of the telecommunication device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of service regions comprises an access point for communicatively coupling a telecommunication device to the network controller, wherein the set of updated operating parameters of the telecommunication device comprises an identifier for identifying a different access point of a different service region when the telecommunication device changes first communication network service regions, wherein the identifier for identifying the different access point comprises a media access control (MAC) address of the different access point.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the set of updated operating parameters of the telecommunication device comprises a location area identifier and a cell identifier for identifying a service region of the licensed wireless second communication network when the telecommunication device changes second communication network service regions.

21. A method comprising:

at a network controller of a first communication network that communicatively couples a plurality of service regions of the first communication network to a licensed wireless second communication network, registering a telecommunication device at a particular service region of the first communication network to access services of the first communication network;

from the network controller, sending a register acknowledgement message to the telecommunication device, the register acknowledgement message comprising a set of basic information elements and a set of operating parameters for the first communication network, the set of operating parameters for the first communication network comprising a location area identifier for identifying the plurality of service regions of the first communication network and a cell identifier for identifying the particular service region of the first communication network in which the telecommunication device is located;

at the network controller, detecting an update event initiated by the second communication network; and

from the network controller, sending a register update message to the telecommunication device, wherein the register update message comprises the set of basic information elements and updated network information for the first communication network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the register update message comprises a location area identifier when a location area identifier for the particular service region is changed.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the register update message comprises a cell identifier when a cell identifier for the particular service region is changed.