Handover messaging in an unlicensed mobile access telecommunications system

• US 8,165,585 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallagher, Michael D., Gupta, Rajeev, Markovic, Milan, Shi, Jianxiong (Jason), Baranowski, Joseph G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US12/476,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20100003983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Methods and messages for performing handovers between an unlicensed mobile access network (UMAN) comprising a first radio access network and a second radio access network. URR (UMA radio resource) handover messages are exchanged between a mobile station (MS) and a UMA network controller (UNC) operating in the UMAN. The MS may access the UMAN via a wireless access point (AP) that is communicatively coupled to the UNC via an IP network. The URR handover messages are sent between the MS and the UNC using an Up interface comprising a set of layered protocols over an underlying IP transport. The handover methods include both handover from a UMAN to the second radio access network, and handover from the second radio access network to the UMAN.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium is a physical storage medium and not propagated signals, the computer readable medium storing a computer program for directing a mobile equipment to perform a handover from a first radio access network comprising an unlicensed wireless system to a second radio access network, the computer program executable by a processor, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

establishing a dedicated connection between the mobile equipment and the unlicensed wireless system via an unlicensed network controller;

determining that a handover from the unlicensed wireless system is applicable;

sending a HANDOVER REQUIRED message from the mobile equipment to the unlicensed network controller; and

receiving a HANDOVER COMMAND message at the mobile equipment from the unlicensed network controller, wherein each of the HANDOVER REQUIRED message and the HANDOVER COMMAND message includes a set of basic information elements (IEs) including;

a protocol discriminator;

a skip indicator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified,

wherein the HANDOVER REQUIRED message further includes at least one IE that identifies one or more cells operating in the second radio access network to which the mobile equipment may connect to complete the handover from the unlicensed wireless system.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the HANDOVER COMMAND message further includes:

at least one IE comprising information to support handover to the second radio access network.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the second radio access network comprises a GERAN (GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) Radio Access Network).

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising sets of instructions for:

determining that a handover from the unlicensed wireless system is not successfully completed; and

sending a HANDOVER FAILURE message from the mobile equipment to the unlicensed network controller, the HANDOVER FAILURE message including the set of basic IEs and further including a radio resource Cause IE having a value from which a cause for a failure can be identified.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the unlicensed network controller services a plurality of service regions of the unlicensed wireless system and the mobile equipment is located at a particular service region, wherein sending the HANDOVER REQUIRED message comprises sending the message from the particular service region to the unlicensed network controller.

6. A computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium is a physical storage medium and not propagated signals, the computer readable medium storing a computer program for directing a mobile equipment to perform a handover from a first radio access network to a second radio access network comprising an unlicensed wireless system, the computer program executable by a processor, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

establishing a connection between the mobile equipment and the unlicensed wireless system via an unlicensed network controller;

registering into the unlicensed wireless system via the unlicensed network controller;

sending a HANDOVER ACCESS message from the mobile equipment to the unlicensed network controller;

establishing a channel between the mobile equipment and the unlicensed network controller;

sending a HANDOVER COMPLETE message from the mobile equipment to the unlicensed network controller, wherein each of the HANDOVER ACCESS message and the HANDOVER COMPLETE message includes a set of basic information elements (IEs) including;

a protocol discriminator;

a skip indicator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified,

wherein the HANDOVER ACCESS message further includes an IE comprising an embedded HANDOVER COMMAND layer 3 message.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the first radio access network comprises a GERAN (GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) Radio Access Network).

8. A computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium is a physical storage medium and not propagated signals, the computer readable medium storing a computer program for directing an unlicensed network controller to operate in an unlicensed wireless system comprising a first radio access network, the computer program executable by at least one processor, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

providing a first network interface comprising an IP (Internet Protocol) network interface;

providing a second network interface comprising a Up interface, via which unlicensed wireless system messages are to be transmitted to and received from a mobile equipment via an access point communicatively coupled between the unlicensed network controller and the mobile equipment, the Up interface including a plurality of layers implemented over the IP network interface;

providing a third network interface, via which the unlicensed network controller may be connected to a core network that is accessible to a second radio access network; and

providing means for generating and processing a plurality of messages transmitted over the Up interface to perform handovers between the unlicensed wireless system and the second radio access network including;

a HANDOVER REQUIRED message;

a HANDOVER COMMAND message; and

a HANDOVER COMPLETE message,

wherein each of the HANDOVER REQUIRED message, the HANDOVER COMMAND message, and the HANDOVER COMPLETE message includes a set of basic information elements (IEs) including;

a protocol discriminator;

a skip indicator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the HANDOVER REQUIRED message further includes at least one IE that identifies one or more cells operating in the second radio access network to which the mobile equipment may connect to complete a handover from the unlicensed wireless system.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the HANDOVER COMMAND message further includes at least one IE comprising information to support handover to the second radio access network.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8 further comprising providing means for processing a HANDOVER ACCESS message received from the mobile equipment via the Up interface, the HANDOVER ACCESS message including:

a protocol discriminator IE;

a skip indicator IE;

a message type IE via which the HANDOVER ACCESS message may be identified; and

an IE comprising an embedded HANDOVER COMMAND layer 3 message.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the second network interface comprises a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) interface.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the unlicensed wireless system further comprises a plurality of service regions serviced by the unlicensed network controller.

14. A computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium is a physical storage medium and not propagated signals, the computer readable medium storing a computer program for directing a mobile equipment, the computer program executable by at least one processor, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

providing a first wireless interface, to access a first radio access network;

providing a second wireless interface, to access a second radio access network comprising an unlicensed wireless system via an access point (AP) using an unlicensed radio frequency;

providing a Up interface to communicate with the unlicensed wireless system via an unlicensed network controller communicatively coupled to the AP via an Internet Protocol (IP) network; and

generating and processing a plurality of messages transmitted over the Up interface to perform handovers between the first wireless network and the unlicensed wireless system including;

a HANDOVER REQUIRED message;

a HANDOVER COMMAND message; and

a HANDOVER COMPLETE message,

wherein each of the HANDOVER REQUIRED message, the HANDOVER COMMAND message, and the HANDOVER COMPLETE message includes a set of basic information elements (IEs) including;

a protocol discriminator;

a skip indicator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the HANDOVER REQUIRED message further includes at least one IE that identifies one or more cells operating in the first radio access network to which the mobile equipment may connect to complete a handover from the unlicensed wireless system.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the HANDOVER COMMAND message further includes:

at least one information element comprising information to support handover from the first radio access network to the unlicensed wireless system.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the HANDOVER COMMAND message further includes:

at least one information element comprising information to support handover from the unlicensed wireless system to the first radio access network.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising sets of instructions for generating a HANDOVER ACCESS message including:

a protocol discriminator IE;

a skip indicator IE;

a message type IE via which the HANDOVER ACCESS message may be identified; and

an IE comprising an embedded HANDOVER COMMAND layer 3 message.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising means for generating a HANDOVER FAILURE message including:

a protocol discriminator IE;

a skip indicator IE; and

a message type IE via which the HANDOVER FAILURE message may be identified.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first radio access network comprises a GERAN (GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) Radio Access Network).

21. A method for performing a handover from a first radio access network comprising an unlicensed wireless system to a second radio access network, the method comprising:

establishing a dedicated connection between the unlicensed wireless system and a mobile equipment via an unlicensed network controller;

sending an UPLINK QUALITY INDICATION message from the unlicensed network controller to the mobile equipment;

receiving a HANDOVER REQUIRED message at the unlicensed network controller from the mobile equipment; and

sending a HANDOVER COMMAND message from the unlicensed network controller to the mobile equipment,

wherein each of the HANDOVER REQUIRED message and the HANDOVER COMMAND message includes a set of basic information elements (IEs) including;

a protocol discriminator;

a skip indicator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified,

wherein the HANDOVER REQUIRED message further includes at least one IE that identifies one or more cells operating in the second radio access network to which the mobile equipment may connect to complete the handover from the unlicensed wireless system.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the HANDOVER COMMAND message further includes:

at least one information element comprising information to support handover to the second radio access network.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the second radio access network comprises a GERAN (GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) Edge Radio Access Network).

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

determining a handover from the unlicensed wireless system was not successfully completed; and

generating at and sending a HANDOVER FAILURE message from the mobile equipment to the unlicensed network controller, the HANDOVER FAILURE message including the set of basic IEs and

further including a radio resource Cause IE having a value from which a cause for a failure can be identified.

25. A method for performing a handover from a first radio access network to a second radio access network comprising an unlicensed wireless system, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between a mobile equipment and the unlicensed wireless system via an unlicensed network controller;

receiving a HANDOVER ACCESS message at the unlicensed network controller from the mobile equipment;

establishing a channel between the unlicensed network controller and the mobile equipment;

receiving a HANDOVER COMPLETE message at the unlicensed network controller from the mobile equipment, wherein each of the HANDOVER ACCESS message and the HANDOVER COMPLETE message includes a set of basic information elements (IEs) including;

a protocol discriminator;

a skip indicator; and

a message type via which the message may be identified,

wherein the HANDOVER ACCESS message further includes an IE comprising an embedded HANDOVER COMMAND layer 3 message.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first radio access network comprises a GERAN (GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) Edge Radio Access Network).

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

sending a HANDOVER COMMAND message including appropriate IEs comprising information via which the mobile equipment can establish a dedicated connection with the unlicensed wireless system from the unlicensed network controller to the mobile equipment in response to registration of the mobile equipment into the unlicensed wireless system.