Apparatus and method of user equipment relocation

• US 8,675,499 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Xu, Lixiang, Liang, Huarui
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ANDREW CHUNG CHEUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/068,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20110267963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 370/242, 370/252, 370/328, 370/331, 455/41.2, 455/422.1, 455/423, 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/438
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

A method for relocating User Equipment (UE). The method includes a Source Home Node B (S-HNB) sending a Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP) Relocation Required message and a RANAP Relocation Request message encapsulated in a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message to an HNB gateway (HNB GW). The method also includes the HNB GW sending the RANAP Relocation Request message encapsulated in a RUA Direct Transfer message or in a RUA Connection message to a target HNB (T-HNB). The relocation method may have several advantages. For example, the HNB GW is not required to store a large amount of UE Context, thereby reducing the burden of the HNB GW. The interaction with the CN is decreased, thereby reducing the burden of the CN. The HNB GW is not required to construct RANAP relocation messages, thereby reducing the complexity of the HNB GW.

Claims

1. A method for relocating User Equipment (UE) by a Home Node B Gateway (HNB GW) in a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP) Relocation Request message from a Source Home Node B (S-HNB);

transmitting the RANAP Relocation Request message to a target HNB (T-HNB);

receiving a RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message from the T-HNB;

constructing a RANAP Relocation Command message and transmitting the constructed RANAP Relocation Command message to the S-HNB;

receiving a RANAP Relocation Complete message from the T-HNB; and

constructing, by the HNB GW, a RANAP Iu Release Command message and transmitting the constructed RANAP Iu Release Command message to the S-HNB,

wherein both the S-HNB and the T-HNB are directly connected to the HNB GW.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after transmitting the RANAP Relocation Request message to the T-HNB, receiving at least one of the RANAP Relocation Command message and the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message from the T-HNB;

transmitting at least one of the RANAP Relocation Command message and the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message to the S-HNB; and

receiving at least one of the RANAP Relocation Complete message and a RANAP Iu Release Command message from the T-HNB.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the RANAP Relocation Request message, the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message, the RANAP Relocation Command message, the RANAP Relocation Complete message, and the RANAP Iu Release Command message are transmitted or received via a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message, and the RANAP Relocation Request message transmitted to the T-HNB is transmitted via the RUA Direct Transfer message and a RUA Connection message.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

after transmitting the RANAP Relocation Command message to the S-HNB, receiving the RANAP Relocation Complete message or a RANAP Iu Release Command message from the T-HNB via a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message; and

transmitting one of;

the RANAP Iu Release Command message encapsulated in a RUA Direct Transfer message to the S-HNB, and the RANAP Iu Release Command message to the S-HNB directly via a RUA Direct Transfer message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the RANAP Relocation Request message, the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message, the RANAP Relocation Command message, and the RANAP Relocation Complete message are transmitted or received by encapsulating in a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message, and the RANAP Relocation Request message transmitted to the T-HNB is transmitted by encapsulating in the RUA Direct Transfer message and a RUA Connection message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the RANAP Relocation Request message, the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message, the RANAP Relocation Command message, the RANAP Relocation Complete message, and the RANAP Iu Release Command message are transmitted or received by encapsulating in a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message, and the RANAP Relocation Request message transmitted to the T-HNB is transmitted by encapsulating in the RUA Direct Transfer message and a RUA Connection message.

7. A method for relocating User Equipment (UE) by a Home Node B Gateway (HNB GW) in a communication system when the UE is in a Cell forward Access Channel (Cell_FACH) state, the method comprising:

receiving a first UE Signaling Transfer message from a target Home Node B (T-HNB);

transmitting a Cell Update message and a second UE Signaling Transfer message to a Source HNB (S-HNB), the second UE Signaling Transfer message comprising a Location Area Identity (LAI) of a target cell where the UE is, a Route Area Code (RAC), a cell identity of the target cell, and a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) identity of the target cell; and

receiving at least one of a Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP) Relocation Required message and a RANAP Relocation Request message from the S-HNB.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

performing access control of the UE according to an access mode of T-HNB cells, and

when the access control of the UE fails, receiving a first UE signaling Transfer Failure Notification message,

wherein the first UE Signaling Transfer Failure Notification message comprises a Cell Update message.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

after receiving the first UE Signaling Transfer message, performing access control of the UE according to an access mode of T-HNB cells.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the RANAP Relocation Request message is transmitted or received by encapsulating in a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message.

11. A Home Node B Gateway (HNB GW) configured to relocate User Equipment (UE) in a communication system, the HNB GW comprising:

a receiver configured to;

receive a Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP) Relocation Request message from a Source Home Node B (S-HNB),

receive a RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message from a target HNB (T-HNB), and

receive a RANAP Relocation Complete message from the T-HNB;

a transmitter configured to transmit the RANAP Relocation Request message to the T-HNB, transmit a RANAP Relocation Command message to the S-HNB, and transmit a RANAP Iu Release Command message to the S-HNB; and

a controller configured to construct the RANAP Relocation Command message and construct the RANAP Iu Release Command message,

wherein both the S-HNB and the T-HNB are directly connected to the HNB GW.

12. The HNB GW of claim 11, wherein the receiver receives at least one of the RANAP Relocation Command message and the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message from the T-HNB, and receives at least one of the RANAP Relocation Complete message and a RANAP Iu Release Command message from the T-HNB, and

wherein the transmitter transmits at least one of the RANAP Relocation Command message and the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message to the S-HNB.

13. The HNB GW of claim 12, wherein the RANAP Relocation Request message, the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message, the RANAP Relocation Command message, the RANAP Relocation Complete message, and the RANAP Iu Release Command message are transmitted or received via a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message, and the RANAP Relocation Request message transmitted to the T-HNB is transmitted via the RUA Direct Transfer message and a RUA Connection message.

14. The HNB GW of claim 12, wherein the receiver receives the RANAP Relocation Complete message or a RANAP Iu Release Command message from the T-HNB via a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message, and

wherein the transmitter transmits one of:

the RANAP Iu Release Command message encapsulated in a RUA Direct Transfer message to the S-HNB, and the RANAP Iu Release Command message to the S-HNB directly via a RUA Direct Transfer message.

15. The HNB GW of claim 13, wherein the RANAP Relocation Request message, the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message, the RANAP Relocation Command message, and the RANAP Relocation Complete message are transmitted or received by encapsulating in a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message, and the RANAP Relocation Request message transmitted to the T-HNB is transmitted by encapsulating in the RUA Direct Transfer message and a RUA Connection message.

16. The HNB GW of claim 13, wherein the RANAP Relocation Request message, the RANAP Relocation Request Acknowledge message, the RANAP Relocation Command message, the RANAP Relocation Complete message, and the RANAP Iu Release Command message are transmitted or received by encapsulating in a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message, and the RANAP Relocation Request message transmitted to the T-HNB is transmitted by encapsulating in the RUA Direct Transfer message and a RUA Connection message.

17. A Home Node B Gateway (HNB GW) configured to relocate User Equipment (UE) in a communication system when the UE is in a Cell forward Access Channel (Cell_FACH) state, the HNB GW comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first UE Signaling Transfer message from a target Home Node B (T-HNB), and receive at least one of;

a Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP) Relocation Required message and a RANAP Relocation Request message from a Source HNB;

a transmitter configured to transmit a Cell Update message and a second UE Signaling Transfer message to the S-HNB, the second UE Signaling Transfer message comprising a Location Area Identity (LAI) of a target cell where the UE is, a Route Area Code (RAC), a cell identity of the target cell, and a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) identity of the target cell; and

a controller configured to initiate the relocation procedure of the UE by receiving at least one of;

the RANAP Relocation Required message and the RANAP Relocation Request message.

18. The T-HNB of claim 17, wherein the controller performs access control of the UE according to an access mode of T-HNB cells, and when the access control of the UE fails, the transmitter transmits a first UE Information Transfer Failure Notification message,

wherein the first UE Signaling Transfer Failure Notification message comprises a Cell Update message.

19. The HNB GW of claim 17, wherein the controller perform access control of the UE according to an access mode of T-HNB cells.

20. The HNB GW of claim 17, wherein the RANAP Relocation Request message is transmitted or received by encapsulating in a RANAP User Adaptation (RUA) Direct Transfer message.