Identifier for a user equipment in a wireless network

Abstract

It is required to be able to identify a UE in a shared wireless communication network. Within a 5G system a Global Unique Temporary Identifier GUTI can be used for identification of a UE without revealing the user’s permanent identity to the network. However, where a hosting operator and home network for the UE are not in direct communication, the GUTI may not provide enough information for the hosting operator to route communications from the UE. It is proposed to add extra information to form an extended GUTI, GUTI-E to include information relating to the hosting core network serving the UE (620-626). The network receives a registration request from the UE which comprises an extended Subscriber Concealed Identifier (SUCI-E) which identifies a home core network to which the UE is subscribed and a hosting core network serving the UE. When the registration request is received by the home core network it generates the GUTI-E, which is an extended version of a GUTI.

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