WO2014146720A1 - Fourniture d'une connexion au réseau en communication - Google Patents

Fourniture d'une connexion au réseau en communication Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014146720A1
WO2014146720A1 PCT/EP2013/056096 EP2013056096W WO2014146720A1 WO 2014146720 A1 WO2014146720 A1 WO 2014146720A1 EP 2013056096 W EP2013056096 W EP 2013056096W WO 2014146720 A1 WO2014146720 A1 WO 2014146720A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user terminal
connection
virtual
home network
virtual user
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2013/056096
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English (en)
Inventor
Kalle Petteri PIETILÄ
Original Assignee
Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy filed Critical Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy
Priority to PCT/EP2013/056096 priority Critical patent/WO2014146720A1/fr
Publication of WO2014146720A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014146720A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/60—Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/04—Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
    • H04W84/042—Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
    • H04W84/045—Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/16—Gateway arrangements

Definitions

  • the exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relate generally to wireless communications networks, and more particularly to providing a network connection to a user terminal.
  • WiFi technology allows an electronic device to exchange data wirelessly over a computer network, including high-speed internet connections.
  • WiFi may be considered to involve any wireless local area network (WLAN) product based on IEEE 802.1 1 standards.
  • a device with a WiFi capability (such as a personal computer, laptop, game console, smartphone, tablet, or digital audio player) connects to a network such as the internet via a wireless network access point (AP).
  • AP wireless network access point
  • a WiFi access point (or hotspot) may have a range of about 20 meters indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspot coverage may comprise of a single room with walls that block radio waves, or an area of several square kilometres by using multiple overlapping access points.
  • An aspect of the invention relates to a method for providing a network connection to a user terminal, comprising starting a virtual user terminal application in the user terminal; establishing a connection between a home network and the user terminal, via a small cell gateway of the home network by utilizing the virtual user terminal application, such that the user terminal establishes an internet connection and the virtual user terminal application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway (femto-GW) of the home network over the internet connection.
  • femto-GW small cell gateway
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to a user terminal comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to start a virtual user terminal application; establish a connection between a home network and the user terminal, via a small cell gateway of the home network by utilizing the virtual user terminal application in the user terminal, such that the user terminal establishes an internet connection and the virtual user terminal application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway of the home network over the internet connection.
  • a still further aspect of the invention relates to a first apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus located in a home network to establish a connection between the home network and a user terminal, by utilizing a virtual user terminal application started in the user terminal, such that an internet connection is established by the user terminal and a connection to the first apparatus is established by the virtual user terminal application over the internet connection.
  • a still further aspect of the invention relates to a second apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to transmit, to a user terminal, installation information on a virtual user terminal application, the virtual user terminal application enabling establishing a connection between a home network and the user terminal, via a small cell gateway of the home network by utilizing the virtual user terminal application installed in the user terminal, such that the user terminal establishes an internet connection and the virtual user terminal application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway of the home network over the internet connection.
  • a still further aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code means configured to perform any of the method steps when the program is run on a computer.
  • a still further aspect of the invention relates to a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code means configured to perform any of the method steps when executed on a computer.
  • a still further aspect of the invention relates to an electromagnetic signal carrying computer-readable instructions for transmitting, from a network apparatus to a user terminal, installation information on a virtual user terminal application, the virtual user terminal application enabling establishing a connection between a home network and the user terminal, via a small cell gateway of the home network by utilizing the virtual user terminal application installed in the user terminal, such that the user terminal establishes an internet connection and the virtual user terminal application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway of the home network over the internet connection.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a dual-SIM UE connected to a foreign operator's network to form a secured IPsec tunnel over a public network;
  • Figure 2 illustrates a system comparison between an exemplary embodiment and an existing solution
  • Figure 3 illustrates a UE - home node-B protocol stack
  • Figure 4 illustrates a virtual UE protocol stack according to an exemplary embodiment
  • Figure 5 shows a simplified block diagram illustrating exemplary apparatuses
  • Figure 6 shows a messaging diagram illustrating an exemplary messaging event according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of a flow chart according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of a flow chart according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • a femtocell refers to a small, low-power cellular base station, designed e.g. for use in a home or small business.
  • a more general term "small cell” may also be used, and the femtocell may be considered as a subset of a small cell concept.
  • the femtocell or small cell connects to a service provider's network via a broadband (such as DSL or cable) connection.
  • the femtocell/small cell concept allows service providers to extend service coverage indoors or at the cell edge, especially where access is otherwise limited or unavailable.
  • the femtocell/small cell concept is applicable to various standards including WCDMA, GSM, CDMA2000, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX, LTE and LTE-A solutions.
  • a term home node-B (HNB) may be used to refer to a 3G femtocell.
  • a term home eNode-B (HeNB) may be used to refer to an LTE (
  • An exemplary embodiment relates to a virtualized mobile UE that directly connects to subscriber's home network without international roaming charges.
  • An exemplary embodiment relates to a 3G or LTE/LTE-A network architecture, international roaming, and femtocell technology.
  • the mobile subscriber international ISDN number (MSISDN) is practically bind to the home country of a user terminal, and using it from abroad is often expensive. For a group of people that continuously live abroad but still like to keep on contact with friends and family at home, this may result in large phone bills. This customer segment is actively looking for a more affordable alternative to keep in touch with their buddies, and they may end up using VoIP services such as Skype.
  • An exemplary embodiment provides an efficient way for a home country operator to win back revenues that are captured by others.
  • Attocell In Ubiquisys's personal femtocell technology "Attocell", a Uu radio interface still exists between a femtocell base station and a physical mobile UE.
  • the femtocell base station is not virtualized either but is real physical HW, although the size of the femtocell base station may be quite small.
  • the BOM costs of that approach are thus considerably higher, a complex HW design is required to build such a device.
  • the mobile UE needs to be set on top of Attocell, and cannot be moved away.
  • Attocell requires a USB connection to a laptop in order to function.
  • a virtualized mobile phone is running as a (SW) service inside a real physical mobile phone, or in any other suitable hosting device (e.g. a laptop) providing internet connectivity.
  • SW a service
  • any other suitable hosting device e.g. a laptop
  • This is achieved by using standardized 3GPP interfaces and by neglecting those interfaces that are not anymore needed when the mobile UE and the femtocell base station (home node-B/home eNode-B) SWs are combined together to form a single unified SW stack.
  • Radio interface related functionality vanishes when both the mobile UE SW and the femtocell SW are running on a same entity.
  • the combined SW stack now forming a virtual UE, may directly interface with a femtocell gateway by using a standardized IPsec-tunnelled luh interface over an ordinary internet connection.
  • Having the virtual UE hosted by the physical UE enables that the virtual UE is able to host a homeland's USIM, while the physical UE may be still running with a foreign USIM.
  • the virtual UE directly interfaces with a homeland network, by using a standard femtocell luh- interface, as if the virtual UE was physically located within borders of the home country.
  • a connection to the homeland's network is over a foreign network's mobile broadband connection which is set up by the physical UE by utilizing the foreign network's own USIM.
  • international roaming fees are avoided and the user is able to benefit from local flat rate service of both of the countries.
  • the hosting UE may need to be of an "enhanced-dual-SIM" model, allowing accessing both USIMs near-simultaneously.
  • An UE- model independent solution may be to place an extra USIM for the virtual UE inside a SD memory card.
  • USIM may be accessed via reading and writing a "magic" file in the SD memory card's file system.
  • UE refers to a USIM-enabled user equipment, a mobile phone for instance.
  • FIG 1 illustrates a situation in which a dual-SIM UE A is connected to a foreign operator's network B which is used to form a secured IPsec tunnel C over a public network (e.g. "internet cloud" J).
  • a home country operator E may recognise that a virtual UE G is served by a femtocell gateway F which is part of a home country network E.
  • IMSI of the virtual mobile phone is hosted by a home network's HLR H.
  • HLR H home network's
  • a virtualized mobile phone runs as a (SW) service inside a real physical mobile phone, or in any other suitable hosting device providing internet connectivity.
  • SW a service
  • This is achieved by using standardized 3GPP interfaces, but neglecting those interfaces that are not anymore needed when the mobile UE and a femtocell base station (home node-B) SWs are combined together to form a single unified protocol stack.
  • the radio interface related functionality vanishes when both the mobile UE SW and the femtocell SW are running on the same entity.
  • the combined SW stack forming the basis of the virtual UE, may directly interface with the femtocell gateway by using the standardized IPsec- tunnelled luh interface over the ordinary internet connection.
  • an integrated SD-card & USIM-combo may be introduced.
  • Ubiquisys's Attocell connects via a USB connection to a laptop PC.
  • a Windows or Linux operating system supports IPsec, just like TCP/IP.
  • Ubiquisys uses IPsec tunnel established from the laptop PC to the femtocell gateway because this is a standard way in 3GPP to connect any home base station to the operator's network.
  • Ubiquisys Attocell enables receiving and making calls in the home country network when being in abroad. However, it is not allowed to borrow someone's licensed radio spectrum, thus in practice it is required that Ubiquisys Attocell's transmission power is kept so low that the mobile phone lays on top of an Attocell device. In other words, in Attocell, the user is not able to pick up the phone from the table when it rings, but needs to use e.g. a Bluetooth headset or hands-free speaker mode.
  • An exemplary embodiment also enables receiving and making calls in the home country network when being in abroad.
  • An exemplary embodiment differs from Ubiquisys Attocell in mobility.
  • An apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment provides better mobility as its functionality is not limited to the very close proximity of an external HW, as it is in Ubiquisys Attocell.
  • An exemplary embodiment also enables avoiding legal concern of unauthorized "borrowing" of licensed radio spectrum as no radio interface is needed.
  • An exemplary embodiment is also more cost effective as it may be realized as a SW alone implementation.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a comparison of use cases regarding an exemplary embodiment and Ubiquisys Attocell.
  • a laptop Y may also be a mobile phone with WiFi or local 3G data capability (the laptop example is shown in Figure 2 to avoid a confusion of having a "mobile in a mobile").
  • Attocell merely concentrates on describing radio interface functionality. It is irrelevant as in an exemplary embodiment there is no radio interface. Attocell also involves different versions of "wireless access devices" that are also irrelevant, as an exemplary embodiment does not include any separate device or gear. In an exemplary embodiment, SW may run on the mobile device with unlimited mobility without any close- proximity/indoors restrictions, and also more affordably.
  • One existing solution is an external "data dongle” with multiple USIM slots, involving an equipment offering wireless data access without roaming fees.
  • the equipment (“Uros” apparatus) is an ordinary mobile hot spot/MiFi dongle but with an extra twist of supporting multiple USIM cards. The user attaches a local USIM for each country s/he plans to visit. When abroad, "Uros" apparatus uses the correct USIM to avoid roaming charges.
  • “Uros” apparatus does not support roaming-free calls. Its scope is limited only to providing wireless internet access affordably, and it is not a home node-B nor does it rely on IPsec.
  • “Uros” apparatus is like a MiFi dongle and MiFi dongles closely resemble the mobile UE with a WiFi-tethering feature available in Android phones, the UE side.
  • “Uros” apparatus is a sort of a multi-SIM UE that is able to connect to home node-B by itself, as UEs do. So, "Uros” does not connect to femto-GW nor does it support luh/IPsec.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a home node-B protocol stack, showing an ordinary protocol stack of HNB and UE.
  • a phone application - in its simplest form, the number Ul to dial in calls - resides on top of an L3 signaling layer.
  • Figure 4 illustrates a virtual UE protocol stack according to an exemplary embodiment, showing a radio interface consisting of RRC, RLC, MAC, Rf interface modules removed, and a L3 signaling layer and a phone application of the UE side moved on top of a RANAP layer.
  • the remaining layers SCTP, HNBAO, RUA, RANAP, MM, CC/SS/SMS and the phone dial application itself are the protocol stack of the virtual UE application that is to be installed on top of e.g. the Android OS as an application.
  • Attocell and an exemplary embodiment partly utilize a similar network infrastructure, i.e. up to a WiFi access point (e.g. of a hotel room, a use case scenario for Attocell).
  • a WiFi access point e.g. of a hotel room, a use case scenario for Attocell.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the differences between Attocell and the virtual UE according to an exemplary embodiment (in addition to having the virtual UE running on a real UE in an exemplary embodiment): Alice is in a hotel room abroad and knowingly having an internet connection. Alice is home sick and she wants to call home but she knows that in this country the local operator may rip her badly.
  • Alice first connects her laptop X to a WiFi network of the hotel, and then plugs Attocell with a USB cable to her laptop. She places her real UE on top of Attocell, and voila, the phone says that she is now connected to the home country network and she is able to call to her mother now. Alice's friend Jill wants to call her mother too. Jill does not have Attocell with her, so instead Jill downloads a virtual UE application from her home country operator's web site and installs it on her laptop Y. On Jill's laptop screen, there may soon be displayed information on (e.g. an image of) a mobile UE that looks like a real one. Jill dials in the number and calls to her mother.
  • Jill wakes up in the morning and she decides to go to the beach. Jill does not want to take her laptop with her, so she installs a virtual UE application onto her phone over WiFi in the same way as she installed it on her laptop in the evening.
  • Alice drops into a local store to buy an affordable prepaid SIM card and she inserts it to her mobile phone.
  • Alice's phone establishes a 3G data connection to a cell near the beach. This does not cost much as the phone is now running on a local prepaid SIM.
  • the phone obtains an internet connection and the virtual UE application running on Alice's phone establishes a connection to the home country femto-GW.
  • An exemplary embodiment is missing the radio interface making it different compared to Ubiquisys Attocell; i.e. an exemplary embodiment is missing a Uu-radio interface.
  • Uros apparatus is an ordinary mobile hot spot/MiFi dongle with an extra twist of supporting multiple USIM cards. The user may attach to a local USIM for each country s/he plans to visit. When abroad, Uros apparatus uses the correct USIM to avoid roaming charges. However, Uros apparatus does not support roaming fee free calls like an exemplary embodiment does. Uros apparatus is only limited to providing wireless internet access affordably.
  • An exemplary embodiment enables receiving and making calls in the home country network when being in abroad.
  • An exemplary embodiment is not limited to the very close proximity of external HW.
  • An exemplary embodiment also enables avoiding legal concern of unauthorized "borrowing" of licensed radio spectrum as no radio interface is needed. It is also more cost effective as it may be a SW alone implantation.
  • An exemplary embodiment involves no radio interface functionality, nor does it include any separate device or gear.
  • An exemplary embodiment may utilize SW, instead of HW home node-B.
  • SW runs on a mobile device providing affordable roaming, but with unlimited mobility (no close-proximity/indoors restriction).
  • An exemplary embodiment may use a Uu interface wrapper.
  • An exemplary embodiment uses an IPsec tunnel and a virtual connection to the femtocell GW.
  • the present invention is applicable to any user terminal, server, gateway, corresponding component, and/or to any communication system or any combination of different communication systems that support network roaming.
  • the communication system may be a fixed communication system or a wireless communication system or a
  • Figure 5 is a simplified system architecture only showing some elements and functional entities, all being logical units whose implementation may differ from what is shown.
  • the connections shown in Figure 5 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the systems also comprise other functions and structures. It should be appreciated that the functions, structures, elements and the protocols used in or for network roaming, are irrelevant to the actual invention. Therefore, they need not to be discussed in more detail here.
  • Figure 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 5 shows a user equipment 501 located in the area of a radio network node 502
  • the user equipment 501 is configured to be in connection with the radio network node 502.
  • the user equipment or UE 501 comprises a controller 503 operationally connected to a memory 504 and a transceiver 505.
  • the controller 503 controls the operation of the user equipment 501 .
  • the memory 504 is configured to store software and data.
  • the transceiver 505 is configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 506 to the radio network node 502.
  • the transceiver 505 is operationally connected to a set of antenna ports 507 connected to an antenna arrangement 508.
  • the antenna arrangement 508 may comprise a set of antennas.
  • the number of antennas may be one to four, for example.
  • the number of antennas is not limited to any particular number.
  • the user equipment 501 may also comprise various other components, such as a user interface, camera, and/or media player. They are not displayed in Figure 5 due to simplicity.
  • the radio network node 502 such as a WLAN access point AP (WiFi access point AP), comprises a controller 509 operationally connected to a memory 510, and a transceiver 51 1 .
  • the controller 509 controls the operation of the radio network node 502.
  • the memory 510 is configured to store software and data.
  • the transceiver 51 1 is configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 506 to the user equipment 501 within the service area of the radio network node 502.
  • the transceiver 51 1 is operationally connected to an antenna arrangement 512.
  • the antenna arrangement 512 may comprise a set of antennas.
  • the number of antennas may be two to four, for example. The number of antennas is not limited to any particular number.
  • the radio network node 502 may be operationally connected (directly or indirectly) to another network element of the communication system, such as a further radio network node, small cell gateway (such as a femtocell gateway (femto-GW)), radio network controller (RNC), a mobility management entity (MME), an MSC server (MSS), a mobile switching centre (MSC), a radio resource management (RRM) node, an operations, administrations and maintenance (OAM) node, a home location register (HLR), a visitor location register (VLR), a serving GPRS support node, gateway GPRS support node (GGSN), serving GPRS support node (SGSN), home subscriber server (HSS), a gateway and/or a server, via an interface.
  • a further radio network node such as a further radio network node, small cell gateway (such as a femtocell gateway (femto-GW)), radio network controller (RNC), a mobility management entity (MME), an MSC
  • the apparatus 501 , 502, femto-GW has been depicted as one entity, different modules and memory may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.
  • the apparatus may also be a user terminal which is a piece of equipment or a device that associates, or is arranged to associate, the user terminal and its user with a subscription and allows a user to interact with a communications system.
  • the user terminal presents information to the user and allows the user to input information.
  • the user terminal may be any terminal capable of receiving information from and/or transmitting information to the network, connectable to the network wirelessly or via a fixed connection.
  • Examples of the user terminals include a personal computer, a game console, a laptop (notebook) computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile station (mobile phone), a smart phone, a tablet, a handset, mp3 player, and a line telephone.
  • the apparatus 501 , 502, femto-GW may generally include a processor, controller, control unit or the like connected to a memory and to various interfaces of the apparatus.
  • the processor is a central processing unit, but the processor may be an additional operation processor.
  • the processor may comprise a computer processor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or other hardware components that have been programmed in such a way to carry out one or more functions of an embodiment.
  • ASIC application-specific integrated circuit
  • FPGA field-programmable gate array
  • the memory 504, 510 may include volatile and/or non-volatile memory and typically stores content, data, or the like.
  • the memory 504, 510 may store computer program code such as software applications or operating systems, information, data, content, or the like for a processor to perform steps associated with operation of the apparatus in accordance with embodiments.
  • the memory may be, for example, random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, or other fixed data memory or storage device. Further, the memory, or part of it, may be removable memory detachably connected to the apparatus.
  • an apparatus implementing one or more functions of a corresponding mobile entity described with an embodiment comprises not only prior art means, but also means for implementing the one or more functions of a corresponding apparatus described with an embodiment and it may comprise separate means for each separate function, or means may be configured to perform two or more functions.
  • these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more apparatuses), firmware (one or more
  • firmware or software implementation can be through modules (e.g. procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein.
  • the software codes may be stored in any suitable, processor/computer-readable data storage medium(s) or memory unit(s) or article(s) of manufacture and executed by one or more processors/computers.
  • the data storage medium or the memory unit may be implemented within the processor/computer or external to the processor/computer, in which case it can be communicatively coupled to the processor/computer via various means as is known in the art.
  • a user terminal UE 501 may install (e.g. in response to recognising a predetermined command from the user or the network) a virtual UE application in the user terminal from a home network in item 601 .
  • the user terminal may start the virtual UE application installed in the user terminal by transmitting a message 603 to a small cell gateway (such as a femtocell gateway femto-GW) located in the home network via an internet access point AP 502 (e.g. WiFi access point or 3G base station) located in the home network or in a the visited network.
  • the access point 502 may forward the message to the small cell gateway.
  • the small cell gateway may respond to the user terminal 501 via the access point 502.
  • a connection is established between the home network and the user terminal 501 , via the small cell gateway, by utilizing the virtual user terminal application installed in the user terminal 501 , wherein the user terminal 501 establishes an internet connection and the virtual UE application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway over the internet connection.
  • the virtual UE application may interface with the small cell gateway e.g. by using a IPsec-tunnelled luh interface (or VPN connection or any other secured or non- secured connection) over the internet connection.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment.
  • the apparatus 501 which may comprise e.g. a user equipment 501 located in the service area of a (home or visited) radio network node 502, may request (e.g. in response to recognising a predetermined command from the user) downloading of a virtual UE application from a home network by transmitting 701 a request message e.g. to a download server located in a home network.
  • the user terminal may receive the virtual UE application transmitted by the download server to the user terminal 501 via an internet access point 502 (e.g. WiFi access point or 3G base station).
  • an internet access point 502 e.g. WiFi access point or 3G base station
  • UE may receive information on an IP address of a small cell gateway (such as a femtocell GW) or other identification information.
  • the user terminal may install the virtual UE application in the user terminal 501 .
  • the user terminal may start the virtual UE application installed in the user terminal 501 , wherein in item 703, a connection is established between the home network and the user terminal 501 , via the small cell gateway, by utilizing the virtual user terminal application downloaded in the user terminal 501 , wherein the user terminal 501 establishes an internet connection and the virtual UE application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway over the internet connection.
  • a 2G data connection, 3G data connection, 4G data connection, LTE connection, LTE-A connection, personal area network (e.g. bluetooth) PAN connection, or a WiFi connection to a cell/access point/base station may be established, by using the virtual UE application.
  • a wired connection such as LAN or Ethernet connection may be established.
  • the virtual UE application may interface with the small cell gateway e.g. by using a IPsec- tunnelled luh interface over the internet connection.
  • FIG 8 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment.
  • the apparatus which may comprise e.g. a small cell gateway (such as a femtocell gateway), may, in item 801 , receive a request for starting a virtual UE application, the request being transmitted from a user terminal 501 , via an internet access point AP 502 (e.g. WiFi access point or 3G base station) located in the home network or in the visited network.
  • AP 502 e.g. WiFi access point or 3G base station
  • the small cell gateway may respond to the user terminal 501 via the access point 502.
  • a connection is established between the home network and the user terminal 501 , via the small cell gateway, by utilizing the virtual user terminal application started in the user terminal 501 , wherein the user terminal 501 establishes an internet connection and the virtual UE application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway over the internet connection.
  • the virtual UE application may interface with the small cell gateway e.g. by using a IPsec-tunnelled luh interface over the internet connection.
  • the downloading/installing of the virtual UE application in the user terminal 501 is not necessarily carried out via the small cell gateway/femtocell gateway, but may be carried out via any other home or visited network apparatus, such as by means of a download server or via a home node-B or home eNode-B or any other suitable network element.
  • the virtual UE application may also be preinstalled/preconfigured in the user terminal 501 during manufacturing, purchasing, and/or operating of the user terminal 501.
  • the user of the user terminal may, for example, download the virtual UE application from the (home) operator's web site.
  • the virtual user terminal application may be specific for the home network (i.e. the network to which the virtual UE application connects to). However, the virtual user terminal application need not be specific for a certain roaming network, but instead the same virtual user terminal application may be used in the home network and different roaming networks (i.e. networks in which the WiFi access point is located).
  • a small cell gateway such as a femtocell gateway, may comprise a security gateway for terminating encrypted IP data connections from femtocells, and a signalling gateway for aggregating and validating signalling traffic, authenticating femtocells and interfacing with mobile network core switches using standard protocols, such as lu.
  • the femtocell gateway may interface the femtocell to the core network, and perform translations to ensure that the femtocells appear as a radio network controller to existing mobile switching centres.
  • small cell gateway used herein is not limited to a femtocell gateway, but instead of/in addition to the femtocell gateway, the term small cell gateway may be used to refer to any other suitable small cell apparatus or other network element capable of interfacing an access point of a small cell to a core network.
  • a small cell gateway such as a femtocell gateway
  • the apparatus operations may be carried out in any other suitable network element capable of interfacing a small cell (access point) to a core network.
  • the home network operator may transmit, to the user terminal, installation information on the virtual user terminal application.
  • the installation information may be transmitted e.g. via short message service (SMS) or email,
  • the installation information may include e.g. instructions and/or a web link to the application
  • a specific file is encrypted to secure exchange of identity data between USIM and the virtual user terminal application.
  • the steps/points, signalling messages and related functions de-scribed above in Figures 1 to 8 are in no absolute chronological order, and some of the steps/points may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the given one. Other functions can also be executed between the steps/points or within the steps/points and other signalling messages sent be-tween the illustrated messages. Some of the steps/points or part of the steps/points can also be left out or replaced by a corresponding step/point or part of the step/point.
  • the apparatus operations illustrate a procedure that may be implemented in one or more physical or logical entities.
  • the signalling messages are only exemplary and may even comprise several separate messages for transmitting the same information. In addition, the messages may also contain other information.
  • a method for providing a network connection to a user terminal comprising starting a virtual user terminal application in the user terminal; establishing a connection between a home network and the user terminal, via a small cell gateway of the home network by utilizing the virtual user terminal application, such that the user terminal establishes an internet connection and the virtual user terminal application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway (femto- GW) of the home network over the internet connection.
  • the internet connection and the connection to the small cell gateway of the home network are established such that the virtual user terminal application interfaces with the small cell gateway over the internet connection.
  • the virtual user terminal application includes information on the home network and is provided by a home network service operator.
  • a method comprising providing displaying information on a virtual user terminal on a display screen of the user terminal to enable a user of the user terminal to establish a call by utilizing the virtual user terminal application in the user terminal.
  • a method comprising establishing in the user terminal a 2G data connection, 3G data connection, 4G data connection, LTE connection, LTE-A connection, personal area network PAN connection, or a WiFi connection to a cell.
  • a method comprising user terminal software protocol stack and small cell base station software protocol stack are combined together to form a unified software protocol stack of a virtual user terminal.
  • a method comprising using the combined unified software protocol stack of the virtual user terminal, to directly interface with the small cell gateway by using a standardized interface secured by using an IPsec protocol or any other secured or non-secured protocol over an ordinary internet connection.
  • a method comprising using, in the user terminal, an enhanced-dual-SIM in order the virtual user terminal application to have its own physical USIM, allowing accessing both USIMs simultaneously.
  • a method comprising using, in a SD memory card of the user terminal, an extra USIM for the virtual user terminal, wherein USIM is accessible via reading and writing a specific file in s SD memory card's file system.
  • a method comprising having the virtual user terminal hosted by a physical user terminal such that the virtual user terminal hosts a home country USIM, and the physical user terminal hosts a visited country USIM, wherein the user terminal is located in a visited network.
  • a method comprising installing, in the user terminal, the virtual user terminal application.
  • a method comprising encrypting a specific file to secure the exchange of identity data between USIM and the virtual user terminal application.
  • a method comprising establishing, in the user terminal, a connection to the home network without a Uu radio interface.
  • a user terminal comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to start a virtual user terminal application; establish a connection between a home network and the user terminal, via a small cell gateway of the home network by utilizing the virtual user terminal application in the user terminal, such that the user terminal establishes an internet connection and the virtual user terminal application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway of the home network over the internet connection.
  • the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to display information on a virtual user terminal on a display screen of the user terminal to enable a user of the user terminal to establish a call by utilizing the virtual user terminal application in the user terminal.
  • the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to establish a 2G data connection, 3G data connection, 4G data connection, LTE connection, LTE-A connection, personal area network PAN connection, or a WiFi connection to a cell.
  • user terminal software protocol stack and small cell base station software protocol stack are combined together to form a unified software protocol stack of a virtual user terminal.
  • the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to use the combined unified software protocol stack of the virtual user terminal, to directly interface with the small cell gateway by using a standardized interface secured by using an IPsec protocol or any other secured or non-secured protocol over an ordinary internet connection.
  • the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to use an enhanced-dual-SIM in order the virtual user terminal application to have its own physical USIM, allowing accessing both USIMs simultaneously.
  • the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to use, in a SD memory card of the user terminal, an extra USIM for the virtual user terminal, wherein USIM is accessible via reading and writing a specific file in s SD memory card's file system.
  • the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to have the virtual user terminal hosted by a physical user terminal such that the virtual user terminal hosts a home country USIM, and the physical user terminal hosts a visited country USIM, the user terminal being located in a visited network.
  • the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to install, in the user terminal, the virtual user terminal application.
  • the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the user terminal to establish a connection to the home network without a Uu radio interface.
  • a first apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus located in a home network to establish a connection between the home network and a user terminal, by utilizing a virtual user terminal application started in the user terminal, such that an internet connection is established by the user terminal and a connection to the first apparatus is established by the virtual user terminal application over the internet connection.
  • the internet connection and the connection to the first apparatus are established such that the virtual user terminal application interfaces with the first apparatus over the internet connection.
  • the first apparatus comprises a small cell gateway, such as a femtocell gateway.
  • a second apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to transmit, to a user terminal, installation information on a virtual user terminal application, the virtual user terminal application enabling establishing a connection between a home network and the user terminal, via a small cell gateway of the home network by utilizing the virtual user terminal application installed in the user terminal, such that the user terminal establishes an internet connection and the virtual user terminal application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway of the home network over the internet connection.
  • the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to transmit, to the user terminal, said installation information via short message service, internet, or email, in response to detecting that the user terminal is roaming in a visited network, wherein the second apparatus is located in the home network.
  • a computer program product comprising program code means configured to perform any of the method steps when the program is run on a computer.
  • a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code means configured to perform any of the method steps when executed on a computer.
  • an electromagnetic signal carrying computer-readable instructions for transmitting, from a network apparatus to a user terminal, installation information on a virtual user terminal application, the virtual user terminal application enabling establishing a connection between a home network and the user terminal, via a small cell gateway of the home network by utilizing the virtual user terminal application installed in the user terminal, such that the user terminal establishes an internet connection and the virtual user terminal application establishes a connection to the small cell gateway of the home network over the internet connection.
  • the electromagnetic signal carries computer-readable instructions for transmitting, from the network apparatus to the user terminal, said installation information via short message service, internet, or email, in response to detecting that the user terminal is roaming in a visited network.

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un procédé qui consiste à lancer, dans un terminal utilisateur (Y), une application de terminal utilisateur virtuel fournie par un opérateur de service de réseau domestique. Une connexion peut être établie entre un réseau domestique et le terminal utilisateur (Y), par l'intermédiaire d'une passerelle de petite cellule (femto-GW) du réseau domestique par utilisation de l'application de terminal utilisateur virtuel installée dans le terminal utilisateur (Y), le terminal utilisateur (Y) établissant une connexion Internet et l'application de terminal utilisateur virtuel établissant une connexion à la passerelle de petite cellule (femto-GW) du réseau domestique, par exemple, de telle sorte que l'application de terminal utilisateur virtuel fait l'interface avec la passerelle de petite cellule (femto-GW) sur la connexion Internet.
PCT/EP2013/056096 2013-03-22 2013-03-22 Fourniture d'une connexion au réseau en communication WO2014146720A1 (fr)

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PCT/EP2013/056096 WO2014146720A1 (fr) 2013-03-22 2013-03-22 Fourniture d'une connexion au réseau en communication

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2013/056096 WO2014146720A1 (fr) 2013-03-22 2013-03-22 Fourniture d'une connexion au réseau en communication

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WO2014146720A1 true WO2014146720A1 (fr) 2014-09-25

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EP2485564A1 (fr) * 2011-02-04 2012-08-08 Alcatel Lucent Femtopasserelle virtuelle pour connecter des femtocellules à un réseau central et procédé correspondante

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CN111756605B (zh) * 2020-06-23 2022-02-25 中国联合网络通信集团有限公司 通信方法、装置及系统

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