GB2465192A

GB2465192A - Controlling connection establishment

Info

Publication number: GB2465192A
Application number: GB0820522A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Craig Bishop; Chen Ho Chin
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-11-10
Filing date: 2008-11-10
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-10
Also published as: GB0820522D0; GB2465192B

Abstract

A method of controlling connection establishment between user equipment and a communication network comprises: allocating at least one access class of a plurality of access classes (e.g. Access Classes 0-9, 11-15) to the user equipment; operating the user equipment to indicate an identity of a communication target with which the user equipment desires to establish a communication connection via the communication network; and using the allocated access class(es) and the target's identity to determine whether to allow establishment of a connection between the user equipment and the communication network. Preferably the user equipment may be operated to determine whether or not to attempt to establish a connection with the network by comparing S2, S3 its allocated access classes with a stored list of class barring information and if the user equipment has at least one access class that is not barred, the user equipment can compare S6 the target identity with identity data stored in the user equipment, and if the comparison S6 indicates that the target identity is allowed (for example, is associated with an unbarred access class) the user equipment can attempt to establish a connection using a connection initiating signal having a first content S7 and if the comparison S6 indicates that the target identity is not allowed (e.g. is not on the list or is not associated with an unbarred access class) the user equipment can attempt to establish a connection using a connection initiating signal having a second content S9. For example, if access classes 0-9 are barred S2 and access classes 11-15 are not barred, the first content S7 may be an establishment cause indicating access class 11-15 and the second content S9 may be an establishment cause not indicating access class 11-15. The use of an establishment cause provides dynamic call barring. The method can prevent a user of a phone with an emergency class from using the phone for personal calls during an emergency. The access class and target identity may also be used for determining the call charge/cost.

Description

CONTROLLING CONNECTION ESTABLISHMENT

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the control of connection establishment between user equipment and a communication network. Certain embodiments are concerned with controlling connection establishment between user equipment and the radio access network for the evolved 3GPP mobile communications system.

Background to the Invention

In UTRAN (3GPP TS 25.331) one method to control the establishment of a Radio Resource Connection from a device is to use Access Class Barring. A description of Access Classes from 3GPP IS 22.011 is as follows: 4.1 Purpose Under certain circumstances, it will be desirable to prevent UE users from making access attempts (including emergency call attempts) or responding to pages in specified areas of a PLMN. Such situations may arise during states of emergency, or where 1 of 2 or more co-located PLMNs has failed.

Broadcast messages should be available on a cell by cell basis indicating the class(es) of subscribers barred from network access. The use of this facility allows the network operator to prevent overload of the access channel under critical conditions. It is not intended that access control be used under normal operating conditions. It should be possible to differentiate access control between CS and PS domains. Details are specified in TS23.122 and TS25.304. Not all RATs need to support this functionality.

4.2 Allocation All UEs are members of one out of ten randomly allocated mobile populations, defined as Access Classes 0 to 9. The population number is stored in the SIM/USIM. In addition, mobiles may be members of one or more out of 5 special categories (Access Classes 11 to 15), also held in the SIM/USIM. These are allocated to specific high priority users as follows. (The enumeration is not meant as a priority sequence): Class 15 -PLMN Staff; -"-14 -Emergency Services; -"-13 -Public Utilities (e.g. water/gas suppliers); 12 -Security Services; 11 -For PLMN Use.

4.3 Operation If the UE is a member of at least one Access Class which corresponds to the permitted classes as signalled over the air interface, and the Access Class is applicable in the serving network, access attempts are allowed. Additionally, in the case of the access network being UTRAN or EUTRAN, the serving network can indicate that UEs are allowed to respond to paging and perform location registration, even if their access class is not permitted. Otherwise access attempts are not allowed. If the UE responded to paging it shall follow the normal defined procedures and react as specified to any network command.

Note: The network operator can take the network load into account when allowing UEs access to the network.

Access Classes are applicable as follows: Classes 0 -9 -Home and Visited PLMNs; Classes 11 and 15 -Home PLMN only if the EHPLMN list is not present or any EHPLMN; Classes 12, 13, 14 -Home PLMN and visited PLMNs of home country only. For this purpose the home country is defined as the country of the MCC part of the IMSI.

Any number of these classes may be barred at any one time.

The following is the requirements for enhanced Access control on E-UTRAN.

The serving network shall broadcast duration of access control and a single barring rate (e.g. percentage value) that commonly applied to Access Classes 0-9 to the UE. The same principle as in UMTS is applied for Access Classes 11-15.

E-UTRAN shall be able to support access attempt based access control (mobile originating, mobile terminating, and location registration), in which indication to the UE is broadcasted to guide the behaviour of UE. E-UTRAN shall be able to form combination of access attempt based controls e.g. mobile originating and mobile terminating, mobile originating, or location registration.

The UE determines the barring status with the information provided from the serving network, and perform the access attempt accordingly. The UE draws a uniform random number between 0 and 1 when initiating connection establishment and compares with the current barring rate to determine whether it is barred or not. When the uniform random number is less than the current barring rate and specific access attempts are indicated allowed, then the access attempts are allowed; otherwise, the access attempts are not allowed.

The random number shall be used for at least 30 seconds." For UTRAN, information relating to the accessibility of a cell for a given Access Class of UE is communicated to the device in the System Information Broadcast. This is used as a crude method to control the number of UE's able to access a cell. If Access Class Barring is invoked in a cell then that cell will not be available for use by UE's whose Access Class is listed as Barred. An overview of this operation is illustrated by figure 1.

This does not take into account the Emergency Call indication AC 10 which is signalled separately to the UE by the network.

Thus, figure 1 illustrates Access Class Barring in UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) and GSM (Global System for Mobile communications). This technique provides only a crude level of control because the information relating to Access Classes Barring is not updated in the UE very frequently. For example, all devices of a given Access Class may be barred for one hour, even if the problem in the network that led to the congestion control measure lasted only for a short time. Conversely, when there is short term heavy demand for resources, e.g. due to the occurrence of an unscheduled emergency event, the network cannot always respond quickly enough through cell level access barring to ensure that those requiring access can get it (e.g. AC 10-15) by blocking those whose need is not so great (e.g. AC 0-9). There is an additional problem in that any device in which the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) has an AC of 11-15 (in addition to the allocated 0-9) will still be able to access the cell even if the call being made is personal, e.g. an by off duty fireman using his work phone to call his wife.

3GPP has for LIE (Long Term Evolution) agreed an approach that attempts to solve the first problem (i.e. infrequent updating of barring information leading to inappropriate barring or non-barring for the current circumstances) from the E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, also referred to the 3GPP work item on the Long Term Evolution) perspective. When the UE requests RRC (Radio Resource Control) Connection Establishment it includes an Establishment Cause field in the connection request/connection initiating signal or message it sends to the network.

3GPP has agreed that for E.-UTRAN this field should include an indication of when the establishment is being requested by a UE with Access Class 11-15 (AC 10 is for emergency calls). This enables the network to control UE access in a similar way to Access Class Barring, but to be invoked more dynamically in order to respond to sudden and perhaps short lived increases in demand. The process for this is shown in figure 2.

Thus, figure 2 illustrates Additional Access Class Barring in E-UTRAN. The technique illustrated in figure 2 represents at least a partial solution to the above-mentioned first problem encountered by the UTRAN Access Barring. For example, it enables the network to bar connection to UEs allocated only access classes in the range 0-9, even when no access class baring information has been sent to the UEs (or in other words, when Access Class 0-9 barring is not currently in place, as far as the UE is concerned).

It does not, however, resolve the second problem of the off-duty fireman calling his wife.

Summary of the Invention

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the invention to solve, mitigate, or obviate, at least partly, at least one of the problems and/or disadvantages associated with the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling connection establishment between user equipment (UE) and a communication network, the method comprising: allocating at least one access class of a plurality of access classes to the user equipment; operating the UE to indicate an identity of a communication target with which the UE can communicate via the network and a desire to establish a communication connection with the target via the communication network; using the allocated access class or classes and the target's identity to determine whether to allow establishment of a connection between the user equipment and the communication network, whereby connection between the UE and the target is controlled.

It will be appreciated that the access class is, in general, any classification, label, data etc. which can be allocated to the UE and used in a decision making process for deciding whether or not to allow the UE to connect with the network. In other words, the access class or classes simply enable differentiations to be made between UEs and/or groups of UE5. In certain embodiments, the access classes may be the access classes 0-9 and 11-15 as used in UTRAN arid EUTRAN, but in alternative embodiments different access classes may, of course, be used, In certain embodiments the access classes may be numbers (i.e. the classification system may be numerical), in others alphabetical, and in others alpha-numeric. However, the access classes are not limited to these examples, and may take other forms in other embodiments.

It will be appreciated that the communication target may take a variety of forms, including (but not limited to): a user; user equipment; a telephone; a mobile telephone or cell phone; a computer; a server; other apparatus; a website; and an IP address. It will be appreciated that the target may also be described as a party, a called party, a participant, or a recipient. The identity of the communication target may be indicated by means of a telephone number, an address, an IP address, or in another way. It will also be appreciated that the user equipment may take a variety of forms, including (but not limited to) a phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computing device etc. Certain embodiments of the invention are directed to methods in which the connection to be established between the user equipment and the communication network is a wireless connection, for example utilising radio signals.

In contrast to the prior art techniques, this method according to the first aspect of the invention uses both the allocated access class or classes and the target's identity to determine whether to allow connection establishment or not. In other words, the method uses the allocated access class or classes together with the target's identity to determine whether to allow establishment of a connection between the user equipment and the communication network. Advantageously, this enables the method to allow the user equipment to attempt to establish a connection or call in certain emergency situations, for example, but by taking into account the identity of the target enables connections to be rejected if the target is not on a priority list, for example. This gives the system as a whole improved control over connection establishment, which can be important in emergency situations especially.

Thus, in the past, proposed techniques resulted in calls from a UE with a high priority Access Class being established, regardless of whether the target UE with which the UE wished to establish communication was a "high priority" identity or not. Certain methods embodying the invention add the ability for the UE to take the target UE identity into consideration when indicating the priority of the call.

In certain embodiments the method further comprises establishing a connection between the UE and the communication network in the event that said establishment is allowed.

In certain embodiments the method further comprises establishing a connection between the UE and target via the communication network in the event that said establishment is allowed.

In certain embodiments the method further comprises providing an indication with the UE, for a user of the UE, in the event that said establishment is not allowed. For example, this indication could be an audible or visible signal or message from the UE (such as a message displayed on a screen or other display means), or a tactile indication. Other forms of indication may be employed in alternative embodiments.

In certain embodiments operating the UE to indicate an identity of a communication target comprises an operation from a list comprising: entering an indication of said target identity using input means of the UE; selecting an indication of said target identity from data stored in the UE; and selecting an indication of said target identity from information displayed on a screen of the UE.

In certain embodiments operating the UE to indicate said desire to establish a communication connection comprises inputting a connection command using input means of the UE.

It will be appreciated that this connection command may take a variety of forms according to the particular user equipment being used and the user interface it provides.

For example, the connection command may take the form of a dial, call or connect command, and this may be input by pressing or otherwise operating an appropriate key V 7 V (hard, soft, or other) or by pressing a key or touching an area of the screen to select an item or operation highlighted or otherwise displayed on the screen. It will be appreciated that these are merely examples, however, and in certain embodiments a variety of other ways of inputting suitable connection commands may be employed.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises using the allocated access class or classes and the target's identity to determine whether to allow said establishment in response to each operation of the UE to indicate a desire to establish a communication connection with the target via the communication network.

Thus, certain embodiments provide the advantage that a check is made as to whether the connection between the UE and the network can be established each and every time the user indicates a desire to make a connection (e.g. call). Again, this gives the ability to exercise finer control over connection establishments than was possible with the prior art techniques, which included techniques in which a relatively crude barring was employed according to barring information sent at some previous time to the UE.

In certain embodiments, this "using" comprises operating the UE to determine whether or not to attempt to establish a connection with the network according to the allocated access class or classes.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises sending a connection initiating signal from the UE to the network for initiating connection establishment between the UE and network in the event that the UE determines to attempt connection establishment.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises sending no connection initiating signal from the UE to the network in the event that the UE determines not to attempt connection establishment.

Thus, in certain embodiments the UE can make an initial determination itself as to whether it should even attempt to initiate connection establishment with the network. It can do this by looking at the access class or classes allocated to it. By having the UE perform this initial determination, the number of call or connection initiating attempts to the network can be reduced, and this can have clear advantages in certain situations such as emergencies.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises operating the UE to provide an indication for a user of the UE in the event that the UE determines not to attempt connection establishment.

This indication may take a variety of forms, and in certain embodiments, for example, may be a message displayed on a screen or other display device of the user equipment to inform the user that connection is not possible at that particular time.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises storing barring information, indicative of at least one access class to be barred from establishing communication with the network, in the UE; and and wherein operating the UE to determine whether or not to attempt to establish a connection with the network according to the allocated access class or classes comprises comparing the allocated access class or classes with the barring information.

In certain embodiments, this barring information can be pre-programmed into the user equipment, and in other embodiments it can be sent to the UE at a later time. It will be appreciated that there are a wide variety of techniques for supplying this information to the UE. For example, in certain embodiments the barring information is provided to the UE from the network in a broadcast (transmitted) signal.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises sending no connection initiating signal from the UE to the network in the event that the or each allocated access class is barred.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises sending a connection initiating signal (which may also be described as a connection request) from the UE to the network in the event that at least one allocated access class is not barred.

Thus, in certain embodiments the network can send a signal to the UE containing information to the effect that connection requests from UE allocated only access classes in the range 0-9 are not allowed for a specified time period, or until further notice.

Alternatively, rather than barring all 0-9 classes the barring information may indicate that a selected one or more access classes are barred, from the range 0-9, or indeed from another range. In general, the barring information is unable in conjunction with the V 9 V allocated class or classes to bar connection to a selected one or more classes. The UE then stores that information. Then, when the user next operates the UE to try to establish a connection the UE can first check to see whether it has been allocated an access class outside the barred range. If it has not been allocated an access class, other than in the range 0-9 then it will not even make an attempt to initiate a connection with the network, and it may be further adapted to inform the user accordingly.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises determining a content of said connection initiating signal according to the identity of the target.

In certain embodiments, this content is the content of an RRC establishment request message, and in particular the establishment cause field in the message.

In certain embodiments, said determining a content comprises comparing the identity of the target with identity data indicative of a plurality of target identities and stored in the UE, and setting said content according to a result of that comparison.

For example the UE may be adapted to see if the target identity is on an "allowed" list stored in the UE. If that identity is on the list, then the message can be set to have a first content. Alternatively, if the identity is not on the list then the connection initiating signal can be arranged to have a second, different content. The network can then determine from the content of the message it receives whether or not the target identity corresponds to an "allowed" target and the network can exercise control accordingly, either establishing a connection with the UE or rejecting the establishment request. For example, if the UE determines that it is allowed to communicate with the particular target, it can set its connection request message to indicate "priority call" in some way.

The network, (e.g. the receiving eNB), on seeing this "priority call" indication can proceed with connection establishment without it having to look at the identity of the target, because the UE has already established that connection is allowed.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises said identity data sending said identity data to the UE and storing said identity data in the UE.

In certain embodiments, said identity data is further indicative of at least one respective access class associated with each of said target identities. 10

In certain embodiments, said determining content comprises determining whether the identity of the target corresponds with one of the plurality of target identities indicated by the identity data and whether the identity of the target has at least one unbarred access class associated with it.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises setting the connection initiating signal to have a first content in the event that the identity of the target corresponds with one of the plurality of target identities indicated by the identity data and the identity of the target has at least one unbarred access class associated with it; and setting the connection initiating signal to have a second content in the event that either the identity of the target does not correspond with any one of the plurality of target identities indicated by the identity data, or the identity of the target does not have at least one unbarred access class associated with it.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises receiving the connection initiating signal from the UE at the network; establishing a connection with the UE in the event that the connection initiating signal contains said first content; and not establishing a connection with the UE in the event that the connection initiating signal contains said second content.

In certain embodiments, the first content comprises an indication of access classes 11-in an Establishment Cause field of the connection initiating signal, and said second content comprises no indication of access classes 11-15 in an Establishment Cause

field.

In certain embodiments, the communication network comprises at least one of a UTRAN network, an EUTRAN network, and a GERAN (GSM EDGE Radio Access Network) network.

In certain embodiments, the plurality of access classes comprises access classes 0-9 and 11-15.

In certain embodiments, the method further comprises using the allocated access class or classes and the target identity to determine a charge for the communication between the UE and the target.

Another aspect of the invention provides a communication system comprising user equipment and a communication network, the system being adapted to carry out a method in accordance with the first aspect.

Another aspect provides a communication network adapted for use in a communication system in accordance with the second aspect.

Another aspect provides user equipment for use in a communication system in accordance with the second aspect.

Another aspect provides apparatus comprising means to implement a method in accordance with the first aspect.

A further aspect provides a computer program comprising instructions arranged, when executed, to implement a method and/or a system in accordance with any other aspect.

Another aspect provides machine-readable storage storing a program in accordance with the above aspect.

Brief Description of Drawins

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a flow chart illustrating access class barring in UTRAN and GSM; Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method incorporating additional access class barring in E-UTRAN; Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method embodying the invention and utilising per call class barring; Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of user equipment embodying the invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a communication system comprising UTRAN and embodying the invention; and Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of part of another communication system embodying the invention and incorporating E-UTRAN.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention Figure 3 illustrates a method emboying the present invention and which may be described as employing per-call class barring. In contrast to previous techniques, this method includes step S6 in which the UE checks the called party identity input by the user against a locally stored list of allowed identities for the Access Class(es) identified on the SIM. If called party identity (e.g. B Party Number, SIP URI, Tel URI, etc.) is associated with the Access Class(es), then the UE indicates AC 11-15 as the establishment cause in the RRC establishment request message. If the called party identity does not correspond with the Access Class(es), the UE does not indicate AC 11-as the establishment cause. The access network may then reject the RRC establishment request.

The allowed called party identities for a given Access Class may be provisioned in the UE by the network operator dependent on the subscription. For example, devices provided to Public Utilities would, in certain embodiments, be provisioned (provided) with a limited set of permitted identities to be called in the event of an incident. This set of identities may be provisioned in a secure area of the handset, or in certain embodiments on the UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card). The identities may, in certain embodiments, be agreed between the subscriber and the service provider (network operator).

These called party identities which are to be considered high priority (in other words, the target identity data) are, in certain embodiments, updateable via over-the-air provisioning, e.g. via OMA DM, USSD, or SMS. The identity data may, therefore, be remotely programmed and stored in the UE.

Referring still to fig. 3, in this method embodying the invention, in step SI the user attempts a call (i.e. attempts to make a connection to a remote party or destination).

The user does this by appropriately operating the user equipment and interacting with the user interface provided by the UE. This can of course comprise touching buttons or portions of a screen, depressing or touching input buttons, selecting from menus etc. After the user has made the initial call attempts (i.e. has indicated the identity of the desired target and has indicated a desire to make that connection), the UE itself in step S2 makes a determination of whether any access class barring is currently in place). In this particular example, the UE determines whether access class barring for access classes 0-9 has been invoked in the current cell of the communication system. If this barring has been invoked then the network will previously have sent barring information to the UE, and the UE will have stored that information. The UE thus can check its memory, and see whether access class barring is currently applicable. If access class barring is currently applicable, then the UE proceeds to step S3. In this step the UE determines whether it has been allocated an access class or classes only in the range 0- 9, or alternatively has it been allocated at least one access class in the range 11-15. In this example, the allocated access class information is stored on the user SIM in the UE.

If the UE in step S3 determines that the UE has only been allocated an access class or classes in the barred range (i.e. 0-9) then the method proceeds to step S4, and the UE does not attempt RRC connection establishment. The sending of a connection initiating message to the network is thus avoided. The UE may be further adapted to provide a suitable indication to the user, that is an indication to the effect that connection is not currently permitted. Alternatively, if step S3 determines that the liE has been allocated at least one access class in the range 11-15, then the method proceeds to step S6.

Here, rather than immediately proceeding to send a request for connection establishment to the network, the liE makes a determination of the content to go in such a message according to the target identity (in this example the called number). In particular, the UE in step S6 determines whether the called number is a number allowed (i.e. associated with) for the non-barred access class or classes allocated to the UE. In this example, the UE determines whether the called number is allowed in connection with access classes 11-15. If the called number is allowed, then the method proceeds to step S7, in which the liE sets the content of the connection request message to indicate access class 11-15 in the establishment cause field of the message. The UE then sends the connection initiating message (or connection request message) to the network, The network then receives that message, and in step S8 RRC connection is established between the UE and network and call set up can proceed. In this way, the UE is permitted to make communication connection with the target (called number). If, in step S6, it is determined that the called number is not an allowed number for access classes 11-15 then the method proceeds to step S9, in which the UE constructs the V 14 connection request message so as not to indicate access class 11-15 in the establishment cause field. The message is then sent to the network, and when the network receives the message it identifies that AC 11-15 is not indicated in the establishment cause, and so rejects the RRC connection establishment request. Again, a suitable indication can be provided to the user. The method comprises the further features that if step S2 determines that no access class barring is currently in place, then it proceeds to step S5 in which the UE determines whether it has been allocated one or more access classes in the range 11-15. If it has been allocated at least one access class in the range 11-15, then the method proceeds to step S6 and the subsequent steps as described above. If step 55 determines that the user equipment has not been allocated any of access classes 11-15 then the method proceeds to step S9 and the subsequent steps as described above. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the method shown in Fig. 3 represents a method in which class barring can be controlled on a per call basis.

It will be appreciated that the establishment cause itself is flexible enough to be used by the network (even RAN) for charging purposes. For instance the network operator may decide not to charge for high priority users making high priority calls., but the off-duty fireman who is also a high priority user should be charged when making a personal call.

Thus, in certain embodiments the method comprises using the allocated access class or classes and (i.e. together with) the target identity to determine a charge for the communication between the UE and the target. Such embodiments provide the ability to implement a more sophisticated charging structure, by employing per-call checking of priority.

There are also instances where ordinary users (falling in the category of AC 0 -9) need to make calls to "special" (high priority) persons. One can think of cases in which civil servants and secretaries to ministers in certain national emergency events have to call certain high ranking people. So, in the event of a national emergency when calls from AC 0-9 would typically be barred, certain embodiments of the invention are able to allow certain such calls by taking into account the target identity (e.g. is the target a "high priority" target to whom all calls should be allowed in the circumstances). As a further refinement, embodiments of the invention may take into account the caller's identity, the access class of the caller, and the target identity when determining whether or not to allow connection establishment. The indication of a "high priority" call by "normal' (i.e. non-priority users (with AC 0-9) can be a distinct advantage in certain circumstances.

It is advantageous, for example, to know who the called party is (the target identity) when determining the setting of the establishment cause.

Referring now to Fig. 4, this shows user equipment embodying the invention and adapted for use in communication systems and methods also embodying the invention.

The UE 10 comprises output means 12, including a screen, and input means 13 comprising a plurality of keys, both connected to processing means 11. The UE 10 further comprises a memory or memory means 14 (which in certain embodiments may include a SIM card) and a transceiver module 15 also connected to the processing means 11. The transceiver module 15 is adapted to transmit and receive wireless radio signals by means of antenna 16.

Referring now to Fig. 5, this shows a communication system embodying the invention.

The system comprises a core network 4 and a UTRAN (UMTS terrestrial radio access network). The UTRAN comprises a plurality of node Bs 2 and radio network controllers (RNC) 3 which make up the UMTS radio access network. The communications network is adapted to carry traffic types including real-time circuit switched and lP based packet switched (PS) traffic types. The UTRAN allows connectivity between the UE 10 and the core network 4. Thus, the UTRAN contains the base stations (the node Bs 2) and the radio network controllers 3 (RNC). The RNCs 3 provide control functionalities for one or more node Bs 2. It will be appreciated that a node B and an RNC can be the same device, although typical implementations have a separate RNC located in a central location serving multiple node Bs. The interface between the RNCs 3 and the node Bs 2 is known as the lub. The RNCs 3 and the corresponding node Bs 2 form the radio network subsystem (RNS). There are four interfaces connecting the UTRAN internally or externally to other functional entities, these interfaces being labelled as lu, Uu, lub, and lur. The lu interface is an external interface that connects the RNCs 3 to the core network 4. The Uu is also external, connecting the node B with the user equipment 10.

The Iub is an internal interface connecting the RNCs 3 with the node Bs 2. There is also an lur interface which is typically an internal interface (but may be an external interface in some network architectures), this lur connecting two RNCs 3 with each other. The communication system illustrated in Fig. 5 is adapted to implement a method embodying the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 6, this shows another communication network embodying the invention and adapted to implement a method of also embodying the invention. The V 16 system comprises an e-UTRAN network, which comprises ENBs 20 interconnected with each other by an X2 interface. Each ENB 20 is connected to the evolved packet core (EPC) network by the so-called Fl interface. On the user plane the Si interface terminates at the serving gateway (S-GW), and on the signalling plane the SI interface terminates at the mobility management entity (MME). The ENBs 20 are terminating points for the control and user plane towards the UEs 20 in the evolved UTRA. The ENBs 20 are adapted to provide wireless communication with the UE 10, and the system is adapted to implement methods embodying the invention for controlling the establishment of connections between the UEs 10 and ENBs 20.

It will be appreciated that certain embodiments of the invention enabling per-call checking of Access Class in cell overload situations. Certain embodiments may be applied to the User Equipment and Radio Access Network for the evolved 3GPP mobile communications system. They may enable the network to prioritise connection establishment from certain devices with increased granularity than is currently possible and thus provide a tool for congestion management in overloaded cells and Radio Access Networks. In certain embodiments the per-RRC connection establishment request checking of priority enables the Access Class to be indicated depending not only on the presence of the AC on the device SIM, but also dependent on the identity of the person being called.

It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like a ROM, whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory such as, for example, RAM, memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium such as, for example, a CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape or the like. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are embodiments of machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a program or programs comprising instructions that, when executed, implement embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing a system or method as claimed in any one of the claims of this specification and a machine-readable storage storing such a program. Still further, such programs may be conveyed electronically via any medium such as a communication signal carried over a wired or wireless connection and embodiments suitably encompass the same.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

it will be also be appreciated that, throughout the description and claims of this specification, language in the general form of "X for Y" (where Y is some action, activity or step and X is some means for carrying out that action, activity or step) encompasses means X adapted or arranged specifically, but not exclusively, to do Y. 18

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of controlling connection establishment between user equipment (UE) and a communication network, the method comprising: allocating at least one access class of a plurality of access classes to the user equipment; operating the UE to indicate an identity of a communication target with which the UE can communicate via the network and a desire to establish a communication connection with the target via the communication network; and using the allocated access class or classes and the target's identity to determine whether to allow establishment of a connection between the user equipment and the communication network, whereby connection between the UE and the target is controlled.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: establishing a connection between the UE and the communication network in the event that said establishment is allowed.
3. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising: establishing a connection between the UE and target via the communication network in the event that said establishment is allowed.
4. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising: providing an indication with the UE, for a user of the UE, in the event that said establishment is not allowed.
5. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein operating the UE to indicate an identity of a communication target comprises an operation from a list comprising: entering an indication of said target identity using input means of the UE; selecting an indication of said target identity from data stored in the UE; and selecting an indication of said target identity from information displayed on a screen of the UE.
6. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein operating the UE to indicate said desire to establish a communication connection comprises inputting a connection command using input means of the UE. V 19
7. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising: using the allocated access class or classes and the target's identity to determine whether to allow said establishment in response to each operation of the UE to indicate a desire to establish a communication connection with the target via the communication network.
8. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said using comprises operating the UE to determine whether or not to attempt to establish a connection with the network according to the allocated access class or classes.
9. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising sending a connection initiating signal from the UE to the network for initiating connection establishment between the UE and network in the event that the UE determines to attempt connection establishment.
10. A method in accordance with any one of claims 8 or 9, further comprising sending no connection initiating signal from the UE to the network in the event that the UE determines not to attempt connection establishment.
11. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising operating the UE to provide an indication for a user of the UE in the event that the UE determines not to attempt connection establishment.
12. A method in accordance with any one of claims 8 to 11, further comprising: storing barring information, indicative of at least one access class to be barred from establishing communication with the network, in the UE; and and wherein operating the UE to determine whether or not to attempt to establish a connection with the network according to the allocated access class or classes comprises comparing the allocated access class or classes with the barring information.
13. A method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising: providing said barring information to the UE from the network.
14. A method in accordance with claim 12 or claim 13, further comprising sending no connection initiating signal from the UE to the network in the event that the or each allocated access class is barred.
15. A method in accordance with any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising sending a connection initiating signal from the UE to the network in the event that at least one allocated access class is not barred.
16. A method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising determining a content of said connection initiating signal according to the identity of the target.
17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said determining a content comprises comparing the identity of the target with identity data indicative of a plurality of target identities and stored in the UE, and setting said content according to a result of that comparison.

(e.g. set message to have first content if identity on an allowed list, second content if not)
18. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising sending said identity data to the UE and storing said identity data in the UE.
19. A method in accordance with claim 17 or claim 18, wherein said identity data is further indicative of at least one respective access class associated with each of said target identities.
20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein said determining a content comprises determining whether the identity of the target corresponds with one of the plurality of target identities indicated by the identity data and whether the identity of the target has at least one unbarred access class associated with it.
21. A method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising: setting the connection initiating signal to have a first content in the event that the identity of the target corresponds with one of the plurality of target identities indicated by the identity data and the identity of the target has at least one unbarred access class associated with it; and setting the connection initiating signal to have a second content in the event that either the identity of the target does not correspond with any one of the plurality of target identities indicated by the identity data, or the identity of the target does not have at least one unbarred access class associated with it.
22. A method in accordance with claim 21, further comprising: receiving the connection initiating signal from the UE at the network; establishing a connection with the UE in the event that the connection initiating signal contains said first content; and not establishing a connection with the UE in the event that the connection initiating signal contains said second content.
23. A method in accordance with claim 21 or claim 22, wherein said first content comprises an indication of access classes 11-15 in an Establishment Cause field of the connection initiating signal, and said second content comprises no indication of accessclasses 11-15 in an Establishment Cause field.
24. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the communication network comprises at least one of a UTRAN network, an EUTRAN network, and a GERAN network.
25. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein said plurality of access classes comprises access classes 0-9 and 11-15.
26. A method in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising using the allocated access class or classes and the target identity to determine a charge for the communication between the UE and the target.
27. A communication system comprising user equipment and a communication network, the system being adapted to carry out a method in accordance with any preceding claim.
28. A communication network adapted for use in a communication system in accordance with claim 27.
29. User equipment adapted for use in a communication system in accordance with claim 27.
30. Apparatus comprising means to implement a method as claimed in any one of claims I to 26.
31. A computer program comprising instructions arranged, when executed, to implement a method as claimed in any preceding claim and/or a system as claimed in any preceding claim.
32. Machine-readable storage storing a program as claimed in claim 31.
33. A method of controlling connection establishment, a communication system, a communication network, user equipment, apparatus, a computer program, or machine-readable storage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.