Enhanced Acess Control in LTE Advanced Systems

• US 20130045706A1
• Filed: 08/14/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HFI Innovation, Inc. (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsu, Chia-Chun
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks

Abstract

An enhanced access control method is proposed for machine-type communications (MTC) in a 3GPP LTE-Advanced network. An MTC device is configured for enhanced access barring (EAB). When the MTC device attempts access to the network, the NAS layer checks whether EAB is applicable for the MTC device. If yes, then the NAS layer forwards EAB configuration to the AS layer for further EAB control. Based on the EAB configuration, a base station broadcasts EAB information to UEs via system information block. The EAB information indicates whether barring is applied to a number of EAB categories and a number of access classes. Based on the EAB information, the MTC devices performs EAB for access attempt to RRC. If access is not barred under EAB, then the MTC device further performs ACB for access attempt to RRC.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

acquiring enhanced access barring (EAB) information from a base station by a Machine-Type Communications (MTC) device in a mobile communication network, wherein the EAB information indicates whether barring is applied to a number of EAB categories and a number of access classes broadcasted via a system information block;

performing enhanced access barring by the MTC device for radio resource control (RRC) connection based on the EAB information; and

performing access class barring (ACB) for RRC connection if the MTC device is configured for ACB and is not barred by the enhanced access barring.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an EAB category is associated with a roaming status of the MTC device in a public land mobile network (PLMN).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the MTC device stores a population number in a Subscriber Identity Module or Universal Subscriber Identity Module (SIM/USIM), and wherein the population number is mapped to a corresponding access class.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the MTC device checks schedule information in SIB1 to decide if the EAB information in SIB14 is available.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the MTC device reacquires SIB1 and SIB14 for updated EAB information, and wherein the MTC device performs enhanced access barring for RRC connection using the updated EAB information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the MTC device is configured for EAB by an Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) Device Management (DM) server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the EAB information further comprises a public land mobile network (PLMN) ID and associated barring parameters including a barring factor and a barring time.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether EAB is applicable to the MTC device, wherein the MTC device is applicable for EAB only if the MTC device is configured for EAB.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the MTC device is not applicable for EAB if the MTC device belongs to one of a special access classes 11-15 or if the access attempt belongs to an emergency call.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the MTC device is applicable for EAB if an establishment cause indicates a mobile originated (MO) signaling or MO data.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the MTC device is applicable for EAB if an establishment cause indicates a delay tolerant access.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving an enhanced access barring (EAB) configuration from a mobility management entity by a base station in a mobile communication network, wherein the EAB configuration indicates a percentage of traffic to be barred and an EAB category to be barred;

determining EAB information for a plurality of user equipments (UEs) based on the EAB configuration, wherein the EAB information indicates whether barring is applied based on one of EAB categories and a number of access classes; and

broadcasting the EAB information to the plurality of UEs via a system information block.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the EAB category is associated with a roaming status of a UE in a public land mobile network (PLMN).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the percentage of traffic is matched to the number of access classes, and wherein each access class is associated with a corresponding group of UEs.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a UE stores a population number in a Subscriber Identity Module or Universal Subscriber Identity Module (SIM/USIM), and wherein the population number is mapped to a corresponding access class.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the base station indicates the EAB information become available or removed via a pre-defined tag on a paging channel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the base station indicates updated EAB information via the same tag value on the paging channel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the base station determines a first number of access classes in the EAB information, and wherein the base station determines a second number of access classes in the updated EAB information.

19. A method, comprising:

determining, by a mobility management entity (MME), whether enhanced access barring (EAB) is applicable to a base station serving a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a mobile communication network;

determining EAB configuration by the MME if EAB is applicable, wherein the EAB configuration indicates a percentage of traffic to be barred for EAB and an EAB category to be barred; and

forwarding the EAB configuration to the base station if EAB is applicable.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each EAB category is associated with a roaming status of a UE in a public land mobile network (PLMN).

21. The method of claim 19, wherein EAB is applicable if a UE served by the base station is configured for EAB, and if the UE does not have a special access class, and if access attempts by the UE is non-emergent and are delay-tolerant.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the MME forwards the EAB configuration only to concerned base stations associated with a specific area.