Non-3GPP to 3GPP network handover optimizations

• US 8,457,635 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2009
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sun Patent Trust
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Bachmann, Jens, Ikeda, Shinkichi, Weniger, Kilian, Aramaki, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Marisol
• Application Number:
  US12/812,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20100323700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/437, 455/440
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• 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 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for a handover of a mobile node from a non-3GPP to a 3GPP network, and of a mobile node, which is located in a non-3GPP/3GPP network. The handover is improved by discovering an appropriate MME and registering the mobile node at the discovered MME, in advance. This includes to first determine the location of the mobile node in the non-3GPP network, so as to be able to detect an MME in the vicinity of the mobile node'"'"'s location. The 3GPP contexts are then transmitted to the new MME before the handover is performed. Moreover, the invention teaches to change the Serving-Gateway in the 3GPP network before performing a handover, thereby accelerating the handover. When a handover gets likely, the mobile node'"'"'s location is determined and a new Serving-Gateway is selected. The data path is changed to go via the new Serving-Gateway.

Claims

1. A mobile node for preparing and performing its handover from a non-3GPP network area to a 3GPP network area, wherein the mobile node is attached to the non-3GPP network area, the mobile node comprising:

a processor adapted to determine the location of the mobile node,

the processor further adapted to determine a mobility management entity in the 3GPP network area based on the determined location of the mobile node,

a transmitter adapted to transmit information on the determined mobility management entity to an entity in the 3GPP network area or non-3GPP network area for registering the mobile node at the determined mobility management entity, and

the processor is adapted to perform the handover from the non-3GPP network area to the 3GPP network area while indicating the determined mobility management entity when attaching to the 3GPP network area.

2. The mobile node according to claim 1, wherein the processor uses a location-dependent address of the mobile node for determining the location of the mobile node.

3. The mobile node according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further adapted to trigger radio measurements on the non-3GPP network area or on the 3GPP network area at the location of the mobile node for determining the location of the mobile node.

4. The mobile node according to claim 3, wherein the radio measurements are conducted by an entity in the non-3GPP network area, and the processor is further adapted to instruct the entity in the non-3GPP network area about which radio measurements to conduct.

5. The mobile node according to claim 3, wherein the processor is adapted to calculate a likelihood for a handover of the mobile node from the non-3GPP network area to the 3GPP network area, and wherein the processor triggers the radio measurements when the calculated likelihood for a handover exceeds a predetermined level.

6. The mobile node according to claim 5, further comprising:

a memory adapted to store information on the network deployment of the non-3GPP network area and/or the 3GPP network area, and wherein the likelihood for a handover is calculated based on the stored information on the network deployment at the location of the mobile node, or

a receiver adapted to receive radio signals out of the non-3GPP network area, wherein the processor is further adapted to determine the signal strength of the received radio signal, and the likelihood for a handover of the mobile node increases with a decrease of the determined radio signal strength received out of the non-3GPP network area, or

a memory adapted to store moving patterns of the mobile node in the non-3GPP network area and/or the 3GPP network area, and wherein the processor is adapted to calculate the likelihood for a handover of the mobile node based on the previously stored moving patterns.

7. The mobile node according to claim 3, wherein the mobile node is registered in a previous mobility management entity in the 3GPP network area, and the processor is further adapted to calculate the likelihood for changing the previous mobility management entity to the mobility management entity, wherein the processor triggers the radio measurements when the calculated likelihood for changing the previous mobility management entity exceeds a predetermined level.

8. A method for performing a handover of a mobile node from a non-3GPP network to a 3GPP network, wherein the mobile node is connected to the non-3GPP network, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting, by an entity in the non-3GPP network, a mobility management entity (MME) in the 3GPP network based on a mapping from the current location of the mobile node in the non-3GPP network to corresponding MMEs;

forwarding, by the entity in the non-3GPP network, a message to the mobile node, the message including information on the MME;

switching, by the mobile node, to the 3GPP network; and

;

sending, by the mobile node, a connection request message to an eNodeB in the 3GPP network, the connection request message including the information on the MME.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the entity in the non-3GPP network is a HRPD (High Rate Packet Data) access node.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the entity in the non-3GPP network is a non-3GPP access base station.

11. A mobile node for performing a handover from a non-3GPP network to a 3GPP network, wherein the mobile node is connected to the non-3GPP network, the mobile node comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a message including information on a mobility management entity (MME) from an entity in the non-3GPP network, the MME being selected by the entity in the non-3GPP network, based on a mapping from the current location of the mobile node in the non-3GPP network to corresponding MMEs;

a switching unit configured to switch to the 3GPP network; and

a transmitter configured to send a connection request message to an eNodeB in the 3GPP network, the connection request message including the information on the MME.