Methods and apparatuses for sharing a radio node
First Claim
1. A method in a radio node (RN) shared by operators of separate cellular networks having operator-specific tracking area plans, the method comprising:
- broadcasting system information that comprises network identities of said cellular networks and multiple operator-specific tracking area codes valid in respective tracking area plans in said cellular networks, each tracking area code being associated with a corresponding network identity in said system information, thereby enabling said operators to use operator-specific tracking area codes for operator-specific tracking areas that include a cell covered by said radio node;
receiving a message from a mobile terminal;
reading a network identity of a preferred cellular network in the received message;
determining an operator-specific tracking area code associated with the read network identity;
establishing a session for the terminal with a core network corresponding to the read network identity; and
sending the operator-specific tracking area code to said core network.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and a radio node (RN) shared by operators of separate cellular networks having operator specific tracking area plans. The radio node (RN) broadcasts (1:1) system information with network identities of the cellular networks (PLMN IDs) and multiple operator specific tracking area codes (TACs) valid in respective tracking area plans of the cellular networks, each tracking area code being associated with a corresponding network identity in the system information. Thereby, the operators are enabled to use their own operator specific tracking area codes for their respective operator specific tracking areas that include a cell (100) covered by the radio node.
4 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method in a radio node (RN) shared by operators of separate cellular networks having operator-specific tracking area plans, the method comprising:
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broadcasting system information that comprises network identities of said cellular networks and multiple operator-specific tracking area codes valid in respective tracking area plans in said cellular networks, each tracking area code being associated with a corresponding network identity in said system information, thereby enabling said operators to use operator-specific tracking area codes for operator-specific tracking areas that include a cell covered by said radio node; receiving a message from a mobile terminal; reading a network identity of a preferred cellular network in the received message; determining an operator-specific tracking area code associated with the read network identity; establishing a session for the terminal with a core network corresponding to the read network identity; and sending the operator-specific tracking area code to said core network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A radio node configured for sharing by operators of separate cellular networks having operator-specific tracking area plans, the radio node comprising:
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a communication circuit configured to; broadcast system information that comprises network identities of said cellular networks and multiple operator-specific tracking area codes valid in respective tracking area plans of said operators, each tracking area code being associated with a corresponding network identity in said system information, thereby enabling said operators to use operator-specific tracking area codes for operator-specific tracking areas that include a cell covered by said radio node; and receive a message from a mobile terminal; and a processing circuit configured to; read a network identity of a preferred cellular network in the received message; determine an operator-specific tracking area code associated with the read network identity; establish, via the communication circuit, a session for the terminal with a core network corresponding to the read network identity; and send, via the communication circuit, the operator-specific tracking area code to said core network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method in a mobile terminal for using a radio node shared by operators of separate cellular networks having operator-specific tracking area plans, the method comprising:
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receiving broadcasted system information that comprises network identities of said cellular networks and multiple operator-specific tracking area codes valid in respective tracking area plans of said operators, each tracking area code being associated with a corresponding network identity in said system information; identifying, among said broadcasted network identities, a network identity of a preferred cellular network; determining a tracking area code associated with the identified network identity; determining whether it is necessary to update a tracking area based on the determined tracking area code; and sending a tracking area update to the radio node directed to a core network of the identified network identity, if a tracking area update was determined to be necessary.
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15. A mobile terminal for using a radio node shared by operators of separate cellular networks having operator-specific tracking area plans, the mobile terminal comprising:
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a communication circuit configured to; receive broadcasted system information that comprises network identities of said cellular networks and multiple operator-specific tracking area codes valid in respective tracking area plans of said operators, each tracking area code being associated with a corresponding network identity in said system information; and a processing circuit configured to; identify, among said broadcasted network identities, a network identity of a preferred cellular network; determine a tracking area code associated with the identified network identity; determine whether it is necessary to update a tracking area based on the determined tracking area code; and send, via the communication circuit, a tracking area update (TAU) to the radio node directed to a core network of the identified network identity, if a tracking area update was determined to be necessary.
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Specification