Wireless communication method and apparatus for performing home Node-B identification and access restriction

• US 9,820,212 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mukherjee, Rajat P., Sammour, Mohammed, Somasundaram, Shankar, Miller, James M., Wang, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Qureshi, Afsar M
• Application Number:
  US15/218,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20160337939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 370331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0033 with transfer of context information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

A method and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), including a universal subscriber identity module (USIM), for identifying a closed subscriber group (CSG) cell are disclosed. The WTRU receives a broadcast from a cell including a cell identifier (ID). If the cell ID is associated with a CSG cell, the WTRU determines whether the CSG ID is programmed in the USIM. The cell broadcast may include a single bit information element (IE) indicating that the cell is a CSG cell. If the cell ID is a CSG ID, the cell ID may further include a plurality of fields which indicate at least one of a country, a region, an operator, and a home evolved Node-B (HeNB) number. The cell broadcast may further include a bit indicating whether the CSG cell is public or private. The cell broadcast may further include a bit indicating that emergency calls are allowed from all users.

Claims

1. A method, implemented in a node of a core network, for restricting access to a closed subscriber group (CSG), the method comprising:

receiving a message including a request for access to the CSG, a CSG identifier (ID) that identifies the CSG and an identity of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);

determining whether to grant access to the CSG to the WTRU based on the CSG ID and subscriber policies associated to the identity of the WTRU; and

restricting access to the CSG based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the node of the core network is a mobility management entity (MME).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the WTRU is granted access to the CSG based on the subscriber policies indicating a subscription to the CSG.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the WTRU is granted access to the CSG based on the subscriber policies indicating access to the CSG is allowed for a limited set of services.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity is an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber policies are stored in a home subscriber server (HSS).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises any of a tracking area update (TAU) request and a non-access stratum (NAS) message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received from a home evolved Node-B (HeNB).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the CSG ID is unique within an operator network.

10. A node of a core network configured to:

receive a message including a request for access to the CSG, a CSG identifier (ID) that identifies the CSG and an identity of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU);

determine whether to grant access to the CSG to the WTRU based on the CSG ID and subscriber policies associated to the identity of the WTRU; and

restrict access to the CSG based on the determination.

11. The node of claim 10, wherein the node of the core network is a mobility management entity (MME).

12. The node of claim 10, wherein the node is configured to grant access to the CSG to the WTRU based on the subscriber policies indicating a subscription to the CSG.

13. The node of claim 10, wherein the node is configured to grant access to the CSG to the WTRU based on the subscriber policies indicating access to the CSG is allowed for a limited set of services.

14. The node of claim 10, wherein the identity is an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) or a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI).

15. The node of claim 10, wherein the subscriber policies are stored in a home subscriber server (HSS).

16. The node of claim 10, wherein the request comprises any of a tracking area update (TAU) request and a non-access stratum (NAS) message.

17. The node of claim 10, wherein the message is received from a home evolved Node-B (HeNB).

18. The node of claim 10, wherein the CSG ID is unique within an operator network.

19. A method for restricting access to a closed subscriber group (CSG), the method comprising:

transmitting a system information message from a cell, wherein the system information message includes a CSG indication and a CSG identifier (CSG ID), wherein the CSG indication indicates the cell is a CSG cell, and wherein the CSG ID identifies the CSG;

receiving, at a home evolved Node-B (HeNB) controlling the cell, from a node of a core network, a list of identities of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) allowed to access the CSG;

maintaining the list of identities at the HeNB;

receiving, at the HeNB, a message including a request for access to the CSG and an identity of a WTRU; and

restricting access to the CSG to the WTRU based on the identity of the WTRU not being listed on the list of identities of the WTRUs allowed to access the CSG.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

transmitting, from a network to the WTRU, a list of allowed CSG IDs.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the list of allowed CSG IDs is transmitted using any of non-access stratum (NAS) signaling and open mobile alliance (OMA) mechanisms.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the list of allowed CSG IDs is transmitted prior to receiving the request for access to the CSG cell.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the system information message further includes an operator code that identifies the operator of the cell.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the CSG indication is one-bit.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the CSG ID includes a plurality of fields that indicate at least one of a country, a region, an operator, and a home evolved Node-B (HeNB) number.

26. A home evolved Node-B (HeNB) configured to control a cell, wherein:

the HeNB comprises a receiver, transmitter and a processor;

the transmitter is configured to transmit a system information message from the cell, wherein the system information message includes a closed subscriber group (CSG) indication and a CSG identifier (CSG ID), wherein the CSG indication indicates the cell is a CSG cell, and wherein the CSG ID identifies the CSG;

the receiver is configured to receive, from a node of a core network, a list of identities of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) allowed to access the CSG;

the processor is configured to maintain the list of identities at the HeNB;

the receiver is configured to receive a message including a request for access to the CSG and an identity of a WTRU; and

the processor in combination with the receiver and transmitter are configured to restrict access to the CSG to the WTRU based on the identity of the WTRU not being listed on the list of identities of the WTRUs allowed to access the CSG.

27. The HeNB of claim 26, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit, to the WTRU, a list of allowed CSG IDs.

28. The HeNB of claim 27, wherein the list of allowed CSG IDs is transmitted using any of non-access stratum (NAS) signaling and open mobile alliance (OMA) mechanisms.

29. The HeNB of claim 27, wherein the list of allowed CSG IDs is transmitted prior to receiving the request for access to the CSG cell.

30. The HeNB of claim 26, wherein the system information message includes an operator code that identifies the operator of the cell.

31. The HeNB of claim 26, wherein the CSG indication is one-bit.

32. The HeNB of claim 26, wherein the CSG ID includes a plurality of fields that indicate at least one of a country, a region, an operator, and a home evolved Node-B (HeNB) number.