Method for joint use of a radio access network by several mobile radio providers

• US 9,386,513 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG), Vici Gig Harbor
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Klatt, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Sams, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US10/565,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20070161373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,360 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.2, 455/445, 370/353
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A method for mobile radio suppliers to provide or share or jointly use a mobile radio access network is provided. Said method is characterized in that a single radio access network (9; 12), which is operated according to UMTS standard, cdma2000 standard, or GSM standard, for example, is jointly used by several mobile radio suppliers. In order to do so, the mobile radio networks comprise a common radio access network but separate core networks. Preferably several PLMN IDs are transmitted by the common radio access network and are made available to the user terminal for selection. The inventive method allows a joint radio access network to be made accessible to different mobile radio suppliers, a mobile radio user selecting one of several transmitted preferably PLMN IDs and using services (CS or PS) via the associated core network of the selected mobile radio operator.

Claims

1. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein network elements of the core network (6, 7;

10, 11) (CN) are used for providing voice connections, whereas other network elements for providing IP connections (packet network) are each provided by the different operators.

2. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein when a connection is requested, the subscriber/the subscriber terminal (13) notifies the radio access network (9;

12) of the different core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) or PLMNs with which the connection is to be set up.

3. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein when a connection is requested, the subscriber/the subscriber terminal (13) notifies the radio access network (9;

12) of the different core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) with which the connection is to be set up, and that this notification occurs with the transmission of the PLMN ID in the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST or the INITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER message in a mobile radio system operating according to a UMTS standard.

4. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein when a connection is requested, the subscriber/the subscriber terminal (13) notifies the radio access network (9;

12) of the different core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) with which the connection is to be set up, and that this notification occurs with the transmission of the PLMN ID in the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST or the INITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER message in a mobile radio system operating according to a UMTS standard, wherein the PLMN identity is provided as MCC+MNC.

5. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein when a connection is requested, the subscriber/the subscriber terminal (13) notifies the radio access network (9;

12) of the different core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) with which the connection is to be set up, and that this notification occurs with the transmission of the network operator ID (PLMN ID) in the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST or the INITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER message in a mobile radio system operating according to a UMTS standard, wherein only a MNC of the PLMN identity is transmitted.

6. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein when a connection is requested, the subscriber/the subscriber terminal (13) notifies the radio access network (9;

12) of the different core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) with which the connection is to be set up, and that this notification occurs with the transmission of the network operation ID (PLMN ID) in the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST or the INITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER message in a mobile radio system operating according to a UMTS standard, wherein the PLMN identity is represented by an integer (1, 2, 3 . . . n) or a bit string (e.g., “

001”

), and the actual PLMN identity is determined from the sequential order of transmission of the different PLMN identities on the BCCH.

7. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein when a connection is requested, the subscriber/the subscriber terminal (13) notifies the radio access network (9;

12) of the different core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) with which the connection is to be set up, and that this notification occurs with the transmission of the network operator ID (PLMN ID) neither in the RRC CONNECTION REQUEST nor the INITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER message in a mobile radio system operating according to a UMTS standard.

8. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein the more than one PLMN ID is transmitted in a System Information Block 1 (SIB1) on the BCCH of a mobile radio system operating according to a UMTS standard or core network information of more than one core network is transmitted within an SIB1.

9. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein a signal represented by a single bit is transmitted on the organization channel (BCCH) of the radio access network (9;

12) to indicate if the radio access network resources administration unit provides the connection request of the subscriber/the subscriber terminal (13) with one of the core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) based on a IMSI of the subscriber terminal (“

default”

selection based on the subscriber IMSI).

10. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein a signal represented by a single bit is transmitted on the organization channel (BCCH) of the radio access network (9;

12) to indicate if the radio network resources administration unit provides the connection request of the subscriber/the subscriber terminal (13) with one of the core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) based on a IMSI of the subscriber terminal (“

default”

selection based on the subscriber IMSI), and the “

default”

signaling is selected based on the IMSI, or the mobile radio network operator ID (e.g., PLMN ID) is transmitted by signaling one bit on the organization channel (BCCH).

11. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein additional PLMN IDs are always transmitted when a subscriber terminal (13) logs on to a mobile radio network for the purpose of registration, actually uses a service, or indicates its actual location to the mobile radio network.

12. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 1) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein the selection of the PLMN or of these core network elements is based on signaling default (yes or no) the selection by the subscriber terminal (13), based on the signaled PLMN ID.

13. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein network elements of the core network (6, 7;

10, 11) (CN) are used for providing voice connections, whereas other network elements for providing IP connections (packet network) are each provided by the different operators;

wherein network elements of the core network (6, 7;

10, 11) (CN) are commonly used for providing voice connections (MSC).

14. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein additional PLMN IDs are always transmitted when a subscriber terminal (13) loss on to a mobile radio network for the purpose of registration, actually uses a service, or indicates its actual location to the mobile radio network;

wherein the service is in the context of a “

PDP context activation”

.

15. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein additional PLMN IDs are always transmitted when a subscriber terminal (13) logs on to a mobile radio network for the purpose of registration, actually uses a service, or indicates its actual location to the mobile radio network;

wherein the actual location to the mobile radio network is for moving subscriber terminals, through location registration procedures.

16. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by the several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided in the radio access network to a mobile radio subscriber (UE or MS) by transmitting more than one mobile radio operator identity, PLMN identity, on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting the more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein the more than one PLMN ID is transmitted in System Information Type 3 (SI3) according to a GSM standard.

17. A method for providing or sharing or jointly using a single mobile radio access network by several mobile radio providers, comprising the steps of:

providing the single mobile radio access network (9;

12) for joint use by several mobile radio providers, wherein for differentiating between a plurality of core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) of the different mobile radio providers, a respective identity of the network operator (PLMN identity) is provided on a single organization channel BCCH;

transmitting on the single organization channel BCCH more than one PLMN identity in a mobile radio system;

wherein when transmitting a connection request to the radio access network (9;

12) the subscriber/the subscriber terminal (13) selects a PLMN identity from the PLMN identities transmitted on the single BCCH channel, with which of the different core networks (6, 7;

10, 11) or PLMNs, respectively, the connection is to be set up, without changing the radio access network (9;

12);

wherein the more than one PLMN ID is transmitted in System Information Type 3 (SI3) according to a GSM standard.