Systems, methods, and apparatuses for authorizing utilization of enhanced coverage

• US 10,863,414 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2016
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lindell, Per, Palm, Hakan, Hedman, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US15/160,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20160345212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/34 Selective release of ongoing connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

According to certain embodiments there is disclosed herein a method for authorizing utilization of enhanced coverage. The method comprises receiving a first message indicating that a first wireless device supports one or more enhanced coverage features. The method additionally includes obtaining an identification of the first wireless device. The method further includes obtaining, based on the identification of the first wireless device, an indication of whether the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features or the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features.

Claims

1. A method for authorizing utilization of enhanced coverage, the method comprising:

receiving a first message indicating that a first wireless device is capable of using one or more enhanced coverage features;

obtaining an identification of the first wireless device;

obtaining, based on the identification of the first wireless device, an authorization indication of whether the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features or the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features the authorization indication independent of the capabilities of the first wireless device;

upon obtaining the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features, transmitting an acknowledgement message to the first wireless device notifying the first wireless device that it is authorized to use the one or more enhanced coverage features; and

upon obtaining the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features, transmitting a denial message to the first wireless device notifying the first wireless device that it is not authorized to use the one or more enhanced coverage features even though the wireless device is capable of using the one or more enhanced coverage features.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message was received using a first radio resource, the first radio resource reserved for wireless devices that support enhanced coverage and are using an enhanced coverage feature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features is based on a network operator authorizing the first wireless device to use the one or more enhanced coverage features.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon obtaining the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features, establishing a wireless connection with the first wireless device without using the one or more enhanced coverage features even though the first wireless device is capable of using the one or more enhanced coverage features.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that the first wireless device requires the one or more enhanced coverage features to maintain the wireless connection; and

dropping the wireless connection with the first wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining, based on the identification of the first wireless device, the authorization indication indicating whether the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features or the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features comprises receiving an update location acknowledgement from a home subscriber server.

7. A network node for authorizing utilization of enhanced coverage, the network node comprising:

a wireless interface configured to receive a first message indicating that a first wireless device is capable of using one or more enhanced coverage features;

a processor coupled to the wireless interface and configured to;

obtain an identification of the first wireless device;

obtain, based on the identification of the first wireless device, an authorization indication of whether the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features or the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features the authorization indication independent of the capabilities of the first wireless device;

upon obtaining the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features, transmit an acknowledgement message to the first wireless device notifying the first wireless device that it is authorized to use the one or more enhanced coverage features; and

upon obtaining the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features, transmit a denial message to the first wireless device notifying the first wireless device that it is not authorized to use the one or more enhanced coverage features.

8. The network node of claim 7, wherein the first message was received using a first radio resource, the first radio resource reserved for wireless devices that support enhanced coverage and are using an enhanced coverage feature.

9. The network node of claim 7, wherein the authorization indication that the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features is based on a network operator authorizing the first wireless device to use the one or more enhanced coverage features.

10. The network node of claim 7, wherein the wireless interface is further configured to, upon obtaining the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features, establish a wireless connection with the first wireless device without using the one or more enhanced coverage features even though the first wireless device is capable of using the one or more enhanced coverage features.

11. The network node of claim 10, wherein:

the processor is further configured to determine that the first wireless device requires the one or more enhanced coverage features to maintain the wireless connection; and

the wireless interface is further configured to drop the wireless connection with the first wireless device.

12. The network node of claim 7, wherein:

the wireless interface is further configured to receive an update location acknowledgement from a home subscriber server; and

the processor is further configured to obtain, based on the identification of the first wireless device and the received update location acknowledgement from the home subscriber server, the authorization indication of whether the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features or the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features.

13. A network node for authorizing utilization of enhanced coverage comprising a processor and computer readable storage media, the storage media containing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the network node is operative to:

receive a first message indicating that a first wireless device is capable of using one or more enhanced coverage features;

obtain an identification of the first wireless device;

obtain, based on the identification of the first wireless device, an authorization indication of whether the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features or the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features the authorization indication independent of the capabilities of the first wireless device;

upon obtaining the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features, transmit an acknowledgement message to the first wireless device notifying the first wireless device that it is authorized to use the one or more enhanced coverage features; and

upon obtaining the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features, transmit a denial message to the first wireless device notifying the first wireless device that it is not authorized to use the one or more enhanced coverage features even though the first wireless device is capable of using the one or more enhanced coverage features.

14. The network node of claim 13, wherein the first message was received using a first radio resource, the first radio resource reserved for wireless devices that support enhanced coverage and are using an enhanced coverage feature.

15. The network node of claim 13, wherein the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features is based on a network operator authorizing the first wireless device to use the one or more enhanced coverage features.

16. The network node of claim 13, wherein the network node is further configured to, upon obtaining the authorization indication indicating that the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features, establish a wireless connection with the first wireless device without using the one or more enhanced coverage features even though the first wireless device is capable of using the one or more enhanced coverage features.

17. The network node of claim 16, wherein the network node is further configured to:

determine that the first wireless device requires the one or more enhanced coverage features to maintain the wireless connection; and

drop the wireless connection with the first wireless device.

18. The network node of claim 13, wherein the network node configured to obtain, based on the identification of the first wireless device, the authorization indication indicating whether the first wireless device is authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features or the first wireless device is not authorized to access the one or more enhanced coverage features is further configured to receive an update location acknowledgement from a home subscriber server.