GB2491869A

GB2491869A - Acquiring, storing and utilising network registration information for a plurality of communication networks

Info

Publication number: GB2491869A
Application number: GB201110111A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matti Moisanen; Petri Pelkonen; Samuli Heikkinen
Original assignee: Renesas Mobile Corp
Current assignee: Renesas Electronics Corp
Priority date: 2011-06-15
Filing date: 2011-06-15
Publication date: 2012-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2031-06-15
Also published as: GB201110111D0; GB2491869B

Abstract

Apparatus and method for communication are provided, wherein different radio networks, employing different radio access technologies, can be selected for subsequent communications. One embodiment comprises: acquiring registration information 202 for a plurality of networks each supporting a different radio access technology; selecting a radio access technology 204; and selecting 206 on the basis of the selected radio access technology the network registration information to use when performing network selection. The registration information may be acquired from a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM). Registration information may be received from transmission of base stations of available networks. Information on network topology and/or location of the communication apparatus may be used when selecting which network registration information is used.

Description

Apparatus and method for communication

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to wireless communication networks. Embodiments of the invention relate especially, but not exclusively, to communications systems, networks, apparatus and methods wherein different radio networks, employing different radio access technologies, can be selected.

Background of the Invention

With the ever increasing demand for increasing data rates and higher quality services in the world of mobile communications comes ever increasing demand for better performance of cellular network infrastructures. New systems with new radio access technologies are being developed constantly. Likewise user equipment is developed to support multiple radio access technologies. The same equipment may be used to access different kinds of networks with different radio interfaces.

Typically, in current and future networks, user equipment wishing to communicate with a network must perform a registration to the network. A registration is performed, for example, when user equipment is switched on or when user equipment recovers from a lack of coverage. In a given area there may be multiple networks with multiple radio access technologies present.

To perform a registration, user equipment typically requires registration information of a network. Currently user equipment may be configured to try registration using all access technologies it supports.

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus in a communication system, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: acquire registration information on networks of more than one radio access technologies; select a radio access technology; select on the basis of the selected radio access technology the network registration information to use when performing network selection.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method in a communication system, comprising: acquiring registration information on networks of more than one radio access technologies; selecting a radio access technology; selecting on the basis of the selected radio access technology the network registration information to use when performing network selection.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communications environment; Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an apparatus for applying embodiments of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention are applicable, without limitation, to any kind of system, apparatus or device, for example base station, user terminal or equipment (UE), server, corresponding component, and/or to any communication system or any combination of different communication systems that support the functionality that is described hereinafter.

The protocols used, the specifications of communication systems, servers and user terminals, especially in wireless communication, develop rapidly. Such development may require extra changes to any embodiment described herein.

Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly and they are intended to illustrate, not to restrict, embodiments.

Many different radio protocols and access networks to be used in communications systems exist and are under development. Some examples of different communications systems are global system for mobile communications (GSM), the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN or E-UTRAN), long term evolution (LTE, known also as E-UTRA), long term evolution advanced (LTE-A), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) based on IEEE 802.11 standard, worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), personal communications services (PCS) and systems using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology.

IEEE refers to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Embodiments of the present invention may relate to one or more of these protocols and standards.

Figure 1 illustrates a simplified view of a communications environment showing only some elements and functional entities, all being logical units whose implementation may differ from what is shown. The connections shown in Figure 1 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It would be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the systems would also typically comprise other functions and structures. It should be appreciated that the functions, structures, elements and the protocols used in or for communication are incidental to the operation of the actual invention. Therefore, they need not to be discussed in more detail herein.

The example of Figure 1 comprises two communication systems, 1 OOA and bOB, of two operators. Each system, 100A and bOB, comprises a core network 102A, 102B. In this example, the system 100A comprises more than one radio access network each supporting a different radio access technology (RAT). The system 100A comprises a 3G based network comprising a Radio Network Controller (RNC) 104A and one or more base stations or NodeBs 106 connected to the RNC 1 04A. In addition, the system 100A comprises an LTE or LTE-A based access network comprising Enhanced NodeB (eNodeB) 108 connected to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 11OA of the core network 102A.

In this example, the system 100B comprises an LTE or LTE-A based access network comprising an eNodeB 116 connected to a MME 1 lOB of the respective core network 102B.

Each radio access technology network is defined by Public Land Mobile Network (PLMIN) information. Typically each UE that is operable in a communications system has a home PLMN, which corresponds to the network of the operator to which the user of the UE subscribes.

According to Figure 1, the core networks, 102A and 102B, of the operators each comprise an MME, 1 1OA and 1 lOB, an SAE Gateway (SAE GW), 1 12A and 1 12B, and an Operations, Administration and Management (OAM) system), 1 14A and 1 14B. It should be appreciated that a communication system may also comprise other core network elements besides those illustrated, such as a Gateway Mobile Service Switching Centre (GMSC), a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN), for example.

Furthermore, not all systems necessarily comprise all the above-illustrated elements.

Base stations (also be called eNodeBs) of a communication system may host the functions for Radio Resource Management: Radio Bearer Control, Radio Admission Control, Connection Mobility Control, Dynamic Resource Allocation (scheduling). This applies to LTE or LTE-A based systems. For the 3G based systems, the Radio Network Controller 1 04A may comprise some of the above mentioned functions. The MME llOA, 11OB is responsible for distributing paging messages to the eNodeBs. The SAE GW 112A, 1 12B is an entity configured to act as a gateway between the network and other parts of communication network such as the Internet for example. The SAE GW may be a combination of two gateways, a serving gateway (S-GW) and a packet data network gateway (P-GW).

In addition, Figure 1 shows UE 120 operable in a service area of the base stations 106, 108 and 116.

Figure 1 only illustrates a simplified example. In practice, networks may include more base stations and more cells may be formed by the base stations. The networks of two or more operators may overlap, the sizes and form of the cells may vary from what is depicted, etc. The embodiments are not restricted to networks given above as an example, and a person skilled in the art may apply the solutions proposed herein to other communications networks provided with the necessary properties. For example, the connections between different network elements may be realized with Internet Protocol (IP) connections.

When the UE 120 is switched on or recovers from a lack of coverage it must perform a registration to a network in order to be able to communicate with the network.

Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention. The embodiment starts at step 200.

In step 202, the UE 120 is switched on or it recovers from lack of coverage. It is configured to acquire registration information associated with networks utilising more than one kind of radio access technology. In an embodiment, the UE acquires the information on the different PLMNs, for example, from a memory.

According to the present embodiment, a UE may store information relating to multiple PLIVIINs to which it has been registered. Information on registered PLMINs is access technology/domain specific and can be updated during access technology/domain specific location registration procedures. Registered PLMlNs can be different from each other. For example, 3GPP specifications define separate storage (e.g. EFLOCI, EFp5LQCJ and EFEp5LQCJ in a universal subscriber identity module (USIM)) for different domains and access technologies for registration area information containing registered PLMN. The UE 120 may read the PLMN information from the USIM. However any other method of storing and reading of registered PLMN information can be applied according to other embodiments of the invention.

In addition, the UE 120 may acquire PLMN information by receiving broadcast transmissions 126, 128, 130 from surrounding base stations. Base stations may be configured to transmit system information on a broadcast channel available for UEs.

In an embodiment, the UE 120 is configured to receive information on available RATs using a WLAN connection 132 from a WLAN access point 122.

In an embodiment, the UE 120 is configured to obtain information on the topology of the network or networks surrounding the UE. The UE 120 may then utilise the network topology information when selecting the network.

In an embodiment, the UE is configured to acquire information on the location of the apparatus, and utilise that information when selecting the network.

In step 204, the UE 120 is configured to selects a RAT with which it wishes to communicate. Typically the selection of which RAT to use is an operator specific parameter. In addition, the user of the UE may select a given RAT.

In step 206, the UE 120 is configured to select on the basis of the selected RAT the network registration information to use when performing a network selection.

Thus, the registered PLMIIN to be used can be selected based on the currently selected RAT. As the UE typically comprises registration information on several PLIVINs, the information to be used is selected on the basis of the selected RAT. For example, a PLIVJIN selection from LTE utilizes LTE specific registration information.

The process ends in step 208.

Figure 3 illustrates a simplified example of an apparatus applying embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be user equipment of a communications system.

It should be understood that the apparatus is depicted herein as an example illustrative of some embodiments. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the apparatus may also comprise other functions and/or structures and not all described functions and structures are required. Although the apparatus has been depicted as one entity, different modules and/or memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.

The apparatus in Figure 3 includes control circuitry 300 configured to control at least part of the operation of the apparatus.

The apparatus comprises a memory 302 for storing data. Furthermore the memory may store software 304 executable by the control circuitry 300. The memory may be integrated in the control circuitry.

The apparatus comprises a first transceiver 306A. The first transceiver 306A is operationally connected to the control circuitry 300, and may be connected to an antenna arrangement (not shown). The first transceiver is configured to communicate with base stations of communication systems.

The apparatus further comprises a second transceiver 306B operationally connected to the control circuitry 300, and may be connected to an antenna arrangement (not shown). The second transceiver 306B may be configured to communicate with wireless local area networks. The first and second transceivers may be realized as a single transceiver.

The software 304 comprises a computer program comprising program code adapted to cause the control circuitry 300 of the apparatus to acquire registration information on networks of more than one radio access technology, select a RAT and select, on the basis of the selected RAT, the network registration information to use According to the present embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a user interface 308 operationally connected to the control circuitry 300. The user interface may comprise a display, a keyboard or keypad, a microphone and a speaker, for example. The display may be a touch sensitive display.

The steps and related functions described in the above and attached figures are in no absolute chronological order, and some of the steps may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the given one. Other functions can also be executed between the steps or within the steps. Some of the steps can also be left out or replaced with a corresponding step.

The apparatuses or controllers able to perform the above-described steps may be implemented as an electronic digital computer, which may comprise a working memory (RAM), a central processing unit (CPU), and a system clock. The CPU may comprise a set of registers, an arithmetic logic unit, and a controller. The controller is controlled by a sequence of program instructions transferred to the CPU from the RAM. The controller may contain a number of microinstructions for basic operations.

The implementation of microinstructions may vary depending on the CPU design. The program instructions may be coded by a programming language, which may be a high-level programming language, such as C, Java, etc., or a low-level programming language, such as a machine language, or an assembler. The electronic digital computer may also have an operating system, which may provide system services to a computer program written with the program instructions.

As used in this application, the term circuitry' refers to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s)/software including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition of circuitry' applies to all uses of this term in this application. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry' would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry' would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or another network device.

An embodiment provides a computer program embodied on a distribution medium, comprising program instructions which, when loaded into an electronic apparatus, are configured to control the apparatus to execute the embodiments described above.

The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form, and it may be stored in some sort of carrier, which may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. Such carriers include a record medium, computer memory, read-only memory, and a software distribution package, for example. Depending on the processing power needed, the computer program may be executed in a single electronic digital computer or it may be distributed amongst a number of computers.

The apparatus may also be implemented as one or more integrated circuits, such as application-specific integrated circuits ASIC. Other hardware embodiments are also feasible, such as a circuit built of separate logic components. A hybrid of these different implementations is also feasible. When selecting the method of implementation, a person skilled in the art will consider the requirements set for the size and power consumption of the apparatus, the necessary processing capacity, production costs, and production volumes, for example.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claim.

Claims

Claims 1. A communications apparatus, comprising processing means arranged to: acquire network registration information associated with a plurality of networks each supporting a different radio access technology; select a radio access technology; select, on the basis of the selected radio access technology, the network registration information to use when performing network selection.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing means is arranged to acquire registration information from a universal subscriber identity module.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the processing means is arranged to receive registration information from transmissions of base stations of available networks.
4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processing means is arranged to receive registration information from a wireless transmission.
5. The apparatus of any one of claims ito 4, wherein the processing means is arranged to utilise information on network topology when selecting the network registration information to use.
6. The apparatus of any one of claims i to 5, wherein the processing means is arranged to acquire information on the location of the apparatus, and utilise said information when selecting the network registration information to use.
7. The apparatus of any one of claims i to 6, wherein the processing means is arranged to acquire registration information from a memory.
8. A method in a communication system, comprising: acquiring registration information associated with a plurality of networks each supporting a different radio access technology; selecting a radio access technology; selecting, on the basis of the selected radio access technology, the network registration information to use when performing network selection.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: acquiring registration information from universal subscriber identity module.
10. The method of claim 8 or 9, further comprising: receiving registration information from transmissions of base stations of available networks.
11. The method of any of claims 8 to 10, further comprising: receiving registration information from a wireless transmission.
12. The method of any of claims 8 to 11, further comprising: utilising information on network topology when selecting the network registration information to use.
13. The method of any of claims 8 to 12, further comprising: acquiring information on the location of the apparatus, and utilising information on the location of the apparatus when selecting the network registration information to use.
14. The method of any of claims 8 to 13, further comprising: acquiring registration information from a memory.
15. A computer program comprising program code means adapted to perform any of steps of claim 8 to 14 when the program is run on a computer.