Method and Apparatus for Transport of RANAP Messages over the Iuh Interface in a Home Node B System

Abstract

Some embodiments are implemented in a communication system that includes a first communication system comprised of a licensed wireless radio access network and a core network, and a second communication system comprising a plurality of user hosted access points and a network controller. In some embodiments, each access point operates using short range licensed wireless frequencies to establish a service region. In some embodiments, the network controller communicatively couples the core network to the plurality of access points. The method covers communication from the user equipment to an access point or from the core network to a network controller. The method sends of a radio access network application part (RANAP) message by identifying the RANAP message with a first header and encapsulating that message with a second header. The method passes the encapsulated message to its destination using information from the second header.

Description

CLAIM OF BENEFIT TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 046,401, entitled “Mechanisms to Relay or Transfer RANAP Messages between 3 G Home Node-B and the Core Network via the Home Node-B Gateway”, filed Apr. 18, 2008; U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 055,961, entitled “Mechanisms to Transport RANAP Messages between 3 G Home Node-B and the Core Network via the Home Node-B Gateway”, filed May 23, 2008; U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 058,912, entitled “Transport of RANAP Messages over the Iuh Interface”, filed Jun. 4, 2008; U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 080,227, entitled “HNB System Architecture”, filed Jul. 11, 2008; and U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 101,148, entitled, “Support for Closer Subscriber Group (CSG) in Femtocell System”, filed Sep. 29, 2008. The contents of Provisional Applications 61 / 046,401, 61 / 055,961, 61 / 058,912, 61 / 080,227, and 61 / 101,148 are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]T...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a method for integrating a first communication system with a core network of a second communication system using short range licensed wireless frequencies. The first communication system includes access points and a network controller that seamlessly integrates with the core network. The network controller uses standardized messaging and protocols to communicate with the core network while the access points utilize existing user equipment of the second communication system. The method reduces deployment costs and allows for the integration of the first communication system with the second communication system without changing the core network. The patent also describes a computer program for generating a message to send to the network controller to establish a communication session and a computer program for passing RANAP messages to the core network through the network controller."

Problems solved by technology

The wireless transport mechanisms and frequencies employed by typical licensed wireless systems limit both data transfer rates and range.

However, with each upgrade iteration (e.g., 3 G to 4 G), the licensed wireless system providers incur substantial costs from licensing additional bandwidth spectrum to upgrading the existing radio network equipment or core network equipment.

Users also incur equipment costs with each iterative upgrade of the licensed wireless network as new user equipment is needed to take advantage of the new services or improved services of the upgraded network.

The problem with landline connections is that they constrain the mobility of a user.

However, other UMA associated costs remained an obstacle to the large scale adoption of UMA.

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