Method and apparatus for releasing connection with local GW when UE moves out of the residential/enterprise network coverage

• US 9,301,333 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2011
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Chin, Chen Ho, Choi, Noun, Faccin, Stefano
• Primary Examiner(s): Elpenord, Candal
• Application Number:
  US13/825,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• 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 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/006 in the downlink, i.e. towards the terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method, system and device are provided for managing LIPA and/or SIPTO connection releases when UE moves out of residential/enterprise network coverage in case service continuity is not supported for the LIPA/SIPTO PDN connection(s). To address problems caused by not providing service continuity for LIPA/SIPTO PDN connections, the PDN connection/PDP context created in the HeNB/HNB by the MME/SGSN includes context information related to the UE indicating whether such connection is a LIPA PDN connection PDN connection or not. In addition, each UE may be configured to reconnect or not reconnect to the PDN corresponding to a certain APN or service, depending on how the PDN connection was disconnected by the network.

Claims

1. A user equipment (UE) comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor to, while the UE has at least one Packet Data Network (PDN) connection comprising local internet protocol access (LIPA) connectivity at a first cell having a first Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) identity;

perform a Circuit-Switched Fallback (CSFB) procedure without Packet Switched (PS) handover to move the UE to a second cell;

send a Non Access Stratum (NAS) message to resume Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) service from a third cell having a second CSG identity, where the third cell has no service continuity for the at least one PDN connection; and

receive a DEACTIVATE EPS BEARER CONTEXT REQUEST message to release the at least one PDN connection responsive to the third cell having no service continuity for the at least one PDN connection.

2. The UE of claim 1, where performing the CSFB procedure without PS handover moves the UE to the second cell which is a E-UTRAN cell that is not a CSG cell or that has a CSG identity that is different from the first CSG identity of the first cell.

3. A method for use in a user equipment (UE) having at least one Packet Data Network (PDN) connection comprising local internet protocol access (LIPA) connectivity at a first cell having a first Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) identity, the method comprising:

performing a Circuit-Switched Fallback (CSFB) procedure without Packet Switched (PS) handover to move the UE to a second cell;

sending a Non Access Stratum (NAS) message to resume Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) service from a third cell having a second CSG identity, where the third cell has no service continuity for the at least one PDN connection; and

receiving a DEACTIVATE EPS BEARER CONTEXT REQUEST message to release the at least one PDN connection responsive to the third cell having no service continuity for the at least one PDN connection.

4. The method of claim 3 where the UE comprises a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer, an Access Stratum (AS) layer, and an application layer.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising starting a timer when the UE enters NAS idle mode having at least one active LIPA PDN connection, where the UE sends the NAS message after the timer expires only if the first CSG identity of the first cell and the second CSG identity of the third cell are different.

6. The method of claim 3, where performing the CSFB procedure without PS handover moves the UE to the second cell which is a E-UTRAN cell that is not a CSG cell or that has a CSG identity that is different from the first CSG identity of the first cell.