Method and Apparatus for Support of Closed Subscriber Group Services 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. Some embodiments provides a method of user equipment registration with a closed subscriber group (CSG) where a network controller receives a registration request for a UE from an access point including an initial non-access stratum (NAS) message from the user equipment and a CSG identifier (CSG-ID). The network controller forwards the NAS and CSG-ID the core network. The method receives, at the network controller, a permanent identifier from the core network and completing registration. The method uses the permanent identity of the UE to complete the ULE registration.

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

[0013]The network controller of some embodiments seamlessly integrates each of the short range licensed wireless service regions with the core network. In some such embodiments, the network controller seamlessly integrates with the core network by using existing Iu interfaces of the core network to communicatively couple each of the service regions to the core network. Accordingly, the network controller of some embodiments uses standardized messaging and protocols to communicate with the core network while utilizing HNB-AN messaging and protocols to communicate with each of the service regions. In this manner, the network controller of some embodiments reduces deployment costs of the HNB-AN within the UMTS core network. Specifically, deployment of the network controller of some embodiments requires no change to the UMTS core network while still providing HNB wireless service that combines the mobility of licensed wireless networks with the quality and speed of landline/broadband services. In some embodiments, the network controllers take o...

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....

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