Dynamic switching of access mode of access network device

Abstract

Devices, methods, apparatuses and computer program products for dynamic switching of access mode of access network device are provided. In a method, a user device receives a measurement request from a first access network device to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device. The user device receives information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode. Before expiry of the access mode timer, the user device transmits a measurement report associated with the at least one second access network device based on the received measurement request to the first access network device.

Description

DYNAMIC SWITCHING OF ACCESS MODE OF ACCESS NETWORK DEVICEFIELD

[0001] Various example embodiments generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for dynamic switching of an access mode of an access network device.BACKGROUND

[0002] Due to constant and consistent increase in a number of user devices such as user equipment (UEs), a network operator may seek several ways or opportunities to provide enough services to the user devices. For example, the operator may use femto deployment to offload the traffic from a macro access network device (such as a macro gNB) to a femto access network device. The femto access network device may also be referred to as a femto, a femto node, a femto device or a femto access point (AP).

[0003] A femto may have different access modes, for example, including an open mode (also referred as an open access mode), a closed mode (also referred as a closed access mode) and a hybrid mode (also referred as a hybrid access mode). In the closed mode, the femto only serves user devices, such as user equipment (UEs), which belong to one of closed access groups (CAGs) associated with the femto. That is, the femto is unavailable to some user devices which do not belong to a closed access group (CAG) associated with the femto. When the femto operates in the open mode, any user device, for example, either belonging to the CAG or not belonging to the CAG, is allowed to access the femto (unless that user is a “CAG-only” user). When the femto operates in the hybrid mode, any user device is allowed to access the femto, but some types of user devices may be prioritized. For example, a user device belong to a CAG associated with the femto in the hybrid mode is prioritized over a user device not belongs to any of the CAGs of the femto.SUMMARY

[0004] According to some aspects, there is provided the subject matter of the independent claims. Some further aspects are defined in the dependent claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, where:

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments can be implemented.

[0007] FIG. 2A illustrates a signaling diagram showing an example process for dynamic switching of an access mode of an access network device according to some example embodiments.

[0008] FIG. 2B illustrates example scenarios between different access modes according to some example embodiments.

[0009] FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate an example process for dynamic switching of an access mode of an access network device according to some example embodiments.

[0010] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another example process for dynamic switching of an access mode of an access network device according to some example embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates another example process for dynamic switching of an access mode of an access network device according to some example embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 6A to 6C illustrate another example process for dynamic switching of an access mode of an access network device according to some example embodiments.

[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates another signaling diagram showing an example process for dynamic switching of an access mode of an access network device according to some example embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 8 illustrates another example process for dynamic switching of an access mode of an access network device according to some example embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a user device in accordance with some example embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a first access network device in accordance with some example embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at a network device in accordance with some example embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of another example method implemented at a user device in accordance with some other example embodiments.

[0019] FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of another example method implemented at a first access network device in accordance with some other example embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart of example method implemented at a core network device in accordance with some other example embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart of another example method implemented at a network device in accordance with some other example embodiments.

[0022] FIG. 16 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of the computer readable medium which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Principles of example embodiments will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0025] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0026] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0027] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” ..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they donot limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0028] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0029] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0030] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0031] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but thesoftware may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0032] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0033] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE- Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a user device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), 5G-Advanced, the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple- Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope to only the aforementioned system.

[0034] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a user device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may comprise a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit(RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a home gNB (HgNB), a pico, a nonterrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, the network device may utilize a radio access network (RAN) split architecture where the network device includes a Central Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU).

[0035] The network device may also comprise a network device of a core network which may be any computing device or computing system that includes hardware (e.g., at least one processor and at least one memory) and software of one or more network functions of a core network. Examples of core network nodes may include functions of one or more of an access and mobility management function (AMF), a unified data repository (UDR), a policy control function (PCF) or a network exposure function (NEF).

[0036] The term “user device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehiclemounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The user device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “user device”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 in which exampleembodiments can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, there may be a user device 110, such as a UE, which can communicate with a network 120. The network 120 may include a plurality of network devices, for example, including one or more access network devices, one or more core network devices, and one or more other network devices.

[0038] For example, as shown, in the network 120, a first access network device 121 and one or more second access network devices 122 are neighboring, and each of the first access network device 121 and the second access network devices 122 provides one or more small or macro cells in which the user device 110 can be served by the network device 121 or 122. In a mobility scenario, as the user device 110 in a cell provided by the first access network device 121 moves towards a neighbor cell provided by the second access network device 122, a handover from the first access network device 121 to the second network device 122 may be triggered for the user device 110. In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may operate as a femto access network device (or a femto) providing a femto cell. The second access network device 122 may operate as a femto, or an access network device providing a macrocell (such as a macro gNB).

[0039] In some example embodiments, a transmission direction from the first access network device 121 or the second access network device 122 to the user device 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL). A transmission direction from the user device 110 to the first access network device 121 or the second access network device 122 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the first access network device 121 or the second access network device 122 is a Tx device (or a transmitter) and the user device 110 is a Rx device (or a receiver). In UL, the user device 110 is a Tx device (or a transmitter) and the first access network device 121 or the second access network device 122 is a Rx device (or a receiver).

[0040] The network 120 may further include a core network device 123 which may communicate with the first access network device 121 and the second access network device 122, for example, to provide control and management functions to the first access network device 121 and the second access network device 122. In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may operate as an AMF. In addition, the network 120 may include one or more network devices 124 that can communicate with the core network device 123 and / or the first access network device 121 and / or the second access network device 122. In some implementations, the network device 124 may operate as another core network device. In some other implementations, the network device 124 may operate as other network devices than a core network device, such as a third-party application function (AF) and an operation administration and maintenance (OAM) function, whichmay provide any assistant functions to the core network device 123 and / or the first access network device 121 and / or the second access network device 122. Communications between the network devices 121 , 122, 123 and 124 may be via wired and / or wireless connections.

[0041] Due to constant and consistent increase in the number of the user devices, a network operator may use enterprise or residential femto deployment to offload the traffic from macro gNBs to femto. In some implementations, the femto may operate in the closed mode, and the user devices allowed for a given CAG identifier (ID) associated with a femto can access the femto. Such user devices may be also referred to CAG member user devices. Due to the closed mode of the femto, the user devices not allowed for the CAG ID (also referred to non-CAG member user devices) may not be able to connect to the femto even if the femto is underutilized or not used at all by the member user devices. There may be non-optimal resource utilization or waste of resources while the femto owner or the member user devices are not in coverage of a femto node.

[0042] For another example, as residential femto deployment increases, the network operator may change an access mode of a residential femto. Such a femto may also be referred to as a HgNB. In some implementations, the operator may switch the access mode between a closed mode, a hybrid mode and an open mode based on practical needs. For example, if the operator needs to change the access mode of the femto, the femto may need to be out of operation and obtain configuration information of the access mode and other necessary information from the operator or an 0AM function (shortly an 0AM).

[0043] In accordance with some example embodiments, there is provided a solution for dynamic switching of an access mode of an access network device. A network device (which may be the core network device 123 or a network device comprising the 0AM function) sends information about switching an access mode of an access network device (which may be the first access network device 121 , such as the femto) from a first mode into a second mode (e.g. from the open mode to the closed mode). Based on the information about the switching, the access network device switches the access mode from the first mode into the second mode.

[0044] At a user device (which may be the user device 110), the user device may detect an upcoming mode switch by receiving a notification that the access mode is to be switched or receiving information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the access network device (which may be the first access network device 121). Then, as a response to the upcoming mode switch, the user device transmits a measurement report associated with neighbor cells of at least one further access network device (which may be the second network device 122),to the access network device before the upcoming mode switch.

[0045] By way of example, the first access network device 121 may transmit the notification that the access mode is to be switched from the first mode into the second mode to the user device 110. In some example embodiments, the first mode may not be the closed mode, and the second mode may be the closed mode. The first access network device 121 may further transmit an indication for at least one condition to trigger a measurement report associated with neighbor cells of at least one second access network device 122 to the user device 110. The at least one condition may include the access mode of the first access network device being to be switched into the closed mode. Based on the indication, the user device 110 may transmit the measurement report to the access network device after receiving the notification that the first access network device 121 is to be switched to the closed mode. Some example implementations for dynamic switching of the access mode of the first access network device 121 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6C.

[0046] FIG. 2A illustrates a signaling diagram showing an example process 200 for receiving the notification of switching the access mode at the user device 110 according to some example embodiments. The process 200 involves the user device 110, the first access network device 121 (such as the femto), the second access network device 122 (such as a neighbor femto or gNB of the first access network device 121), a core network device 123 and a plurality of other network devices (e.g. the network device 124 in FIG. 1) including a first network device 201 and a second network device 202.

[0047] As is shown in FIG. 2A, the core network device 123 sends (225) information about switching an access mode of the first access network device 123 from a first mode into a second mode, to the first access network device 121 . Correspondingly, the first access network device 121 receives (227) the information about switching an access mode from the core network device 123. For example, the information about the switching may comprise an indication to switch the access mode from the first mode to the second mode.

[0048] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may operate in one of a closed mode, an open mode and a hybrid mode and switch between the closed mode, the open mode and the hybrid mode. In some example embodiments, if the first access network device 121 is operating in the closed mode, the first access network device 121 may only serve user devices which belong to one of CAGs associated with the first access network device 121. If the user device 110 does not belong to any of the CAGs associated with the first access network device121 , the user device 110 may not be able to connect to the first access network device 121 operating in the closed mode. That is, in the closed mode, the first access network device 121 may be unavailable to the user device 110 if the user device 110 does not belong to a CAG associated with the first access network device 121 .

[0049] Then, the first access network device 121 transmits (229), to the user device 110, a notification that the access mode is to be switched into the second mode and switches (257) the access mode from the first mode into the second mode based on the received information about the switching. In the example, the first mode is not closed and the second mode is closed. The first access node may also start a “handover timer” when sending the notification, and decide to accept measurement reports from non-CAG UEs until the expiry of this handover timer. Correspondingly, the user device 110 receives (231) the notification from the first access network device 121. For example, the notification may be received via any suitable signaling or message, for example, including at least one of: a system information block (SIB), or media access control (MAC) signaling, or downlink control information (DCI).

[0050] The notification may be implemented in any suitable way. In some embodiments, the notification may indicate which access mode the first access network device 121 is to be switched into, by using a CAG ID associated with the first access network device 121. For example, if the notification does not include the CAG ID, the notification may indicate that the access mode is to be switched to an open mode.

[0051] Some other parameters may also be used to notify the access mode to be switched into. For example, a parameter cellReservedForOtherUse may be used to indicate whether the access mode is to be switched to a hybrid mode or a closed mode by setting the parameter as false or true. By way of example, table 1 shows an example of using the CAG ID and the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse to notify the access mode.Table 1

[0052] As shown in Table 1 , if the CAG ID is not present and the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse is set as false, an open mode may be notified. If the CAG ID is present and the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse is set as false, a hybrid mode may be notified. If theCAG ID is present and the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse is set as true, a closed mode may be notified. It is to be understood that any other parameters than the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse, which is new or existing, may be used to indicate the access mode.

[0053] FIG. 2B shows different scenarios of switching the access mode between the closed mode, the open mode and the hybrid mode according to some example embodiments.

[0054] In scenario 1 as shown in FIG. 2B, if the access mode is switched from the closed mode to the open mode, the first access network device 121 may receive (263) an access mode change request to change the closed mode to the open mode, from the core network device 123 or other network devices 124 such as a network device comprising the OAM function. Based on the access mode change request, the first access network device 121 may configure (265) a trigger to send an SIB message without CAG IDs and with the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as false. Then, the first access network device 121 may transmit (267), to the user device 110, the SIB message without CAG IDs and with the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as false. Correspondingly, the user device 110 may receive (269) the SIB message from the first access network device 121. The user device 110 may connect (271) to the first access network device 121 by reading the SIB message and observing no CAG ID(s) present and the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as false, which means any of the UE(s) may connect to the first access network device 121.

[0055] It is to be understood that the use of the SIB message for sending the notification is only an example. In some other example embodiments, the notification may be sent via other parameters in a MAC CE or a DCI message. When compared to SIB notification, such MAC CE or DCI may provide for a faster and dynamic UE-specific notification.

[0056] In the scenario 2 as shown in FIG. 2B, if the access mode is switched from the closed mode to the hybrid mode, the first access network device 121 may receive (273) an access mode change request to change the closed mode to the hybrid mode, from the core network device 123 or a network device comprising the OAM function. Based on the access mode change request, the first access network device 121 may configure (275) a trigger to send an SIB message with CAG IDs and with the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as false. Then, the first access network device 121 may transmit (277), to the user device 110, the SIB message with CAG IDs and with the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as false. Correspondingly, the user device 110 may receive (279) the SIB message from the first access network device 121 . The user device 110 may connect (281) to the first access network device 121 by reading the SIB message and observingthe CAG I D(s) present and the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as false which means any of the UE(s) may connect to the first access network device 121 .

[0057] As shown in the scenario 3 in FIG. 2B, if the access mode is switched from the open or hybrid mode to the closed mode, the first access network device 121 may receive (283) an access mode change request to change the open or hybrid mode to the closed mode, from the core network device 123 or a network device comprising the OAM function. Based on the access mode change request, the first access network device 121 may configure (285) a trigger to send an SIB message with CAG IDs and with the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as true. Then, the first access network device 121 may transmit (287), to the user device 110, the SIB message with CAG IDs and with the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as true. Correspondingly, the user device 110 may receive (289) the SIB message from the first access network device 121 . Then, if the first access network device 121 operating in the closed mode is unavailable to the user device 110 (e.g. the non-CAG member UE), the user device 110 may trigger (291 ) a measurement report associated with the neighbor cells of the at least second network device 122 to the first access network device 121. Some example embodiments related to the measurement report will be described in the following paragraphs. If the first access network device 121 operating in the closed mode is available to the user device 110 (e.g. the CAG member UE), the user device 110 may connect (291) to the first access network device 121 and continue to obtain the service from the first access network device 121.

[0058] In some example embodiments, the information about the switching may comprise information about an access mode timer associated with the first mode. For example, the access mode timer may indicate a duration of the first mode, denoted by Ti. In other words, the access mode timer Ti may indicate until what time the first access network device 121 may operate in the first mode. Subsequently, the first access network device 121 may switch to the second mode. In the case that an indication to switch the access mode from the first mode to the second mode is sent to the first access network device 121 , a timer value of the access mode timer may be optional.

[0059] If the first access network device receives (227) the information about the access mode timer and transmits (229) the notification, the first access network device 121 may start (233) a handover timer and determine to switch (257) the access mode from the first mode to the second mode responsive to expiry of the access mode timer. In addition, the first access network device 121 may end (258) the handover timer. In other words, upon expiry of the access mode timer, the first mode is switched to the second mode.

[0060] In one example, if the first access node receives the access mode timer, in one example it may deliver this access mode timer to the user device, so that the user device can trigger measurement reports before expiry of the access mode timer and can be handed over to a neighboring target cell before the first access network device is closed.

[0061] In a second example shown in fig 2A it may store and run this access mode timer without sending the access mode timer to the user device, and send (229) the notification before its expiry. In such case, the user devices may trigger measurement reports before expiry of the timer as well and can be handed over to a neighboring target cell before the first access network device is closed. The non-CAG user devices may be conditioned to send such measurement report substantially immediately after receiving a notification that the current serving femto cell will be closed soon.

[0062] In yet one embodiment, where the access mode timer is not provided to the user device, the femto may send a notification of access mode switch to the user equipment upon expiry of the access mode timer (that is run at the femto). However, the femto node may trigger another timer, a handover timer, when sending the notification (i.e. in this embodiment when closing the cell for nonCAG UEs). The femto may apply the handover timer so that the femto still accepts measurement reports from non-CAG UEs until the expiry of the handover timer. In this way, even if the femto is closed for the non-CAG UEs otherwise, the non-CAG UEs know that they can still send measurement reports which is beneficial because then the non-CAG UEs may still be handed over to a neighboring cell without losing connectivity and without the nonCAG UE needing to perform cell re-selections.

[0063] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may send (259) an indication that the access mode is switched to the second mode to the core network device 123. Correspondingly, the core network device 123 may receive (261) the indication that the access mode is switched to the second mode from the first access network device 121. For example, if the core network device 123 is a network device comprising the AMF, the indication that the access mode is switched to the second mode may be sent via an AMF configuration update message.

[0064] In addition to the core network device 123, or as an alternative, the first access network device 121 may send such an indication to an OAM function (also referred to as an OAM). In this case, the indication that the access mode is switched to the second mode may be sent by the first access network device 121 via an RAN parameter provision message.

[0065] In this way, the access mode of the first access network device 121 may be switcheddynamically based on the information about switching the access mode from the core network device 123 or other network device such as an 0AM, for example, including the indication to switch the access mode and optionally the associated timer value of the access mode timer. Thus, in the example embodiments where the first access network device 121 operates as a femto, the network operator may obtain an opportunity to offload traffic from a macro gNB to a femto device when the access mode of the femto device is switched to the open or hybrid mode. For example, the enterprise femto owner may share the resources when a femto is underutilized or even not in use with staff or customers. More resources are available for the operator to cater to its subscribers who are not in the proximity of the femto. In addition, residents not having a femto Access Point (AP) may obtain strong enough signal from a femto AP of their neighbors if the femto AP of their neighbor is operating in the open or hybrid mode instead of the closed mode.

[0066] Some example processes for switching the access mode dynamically will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C. In processes 300A to 300C as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the user device 110 may operate as a UE 301 , the first access network device 121 may operate as a femto 302, the core network device 123 may operate as an AMF 303, the network device 124 may operate as an 0AM 304.

[0067] Reference is first made to FIG. 3A which shows an example process 300A for switching the access mode from the closed mode to the open mode according to some example embodiments. As shown in FIG. 3A, the femto 302 may operate (305) in the closed mode and serve the CAG member UEs. In some example embodiments, in option A, the AMF 303 may send (307), to the femto 302, an AMF configuration update message which may include the information about switching the access mode. The information about switching the access mode may include an indication that the access mode is to be switched into the open mode. In addition, the AMF configuration update message may optionally also include the access mode timer which may indicate the duration until the switch happens into the open mode. Correspondingly, the femto 302 may receive (309) the AMF configuration update message from the AMF 303.

[0068] In some other example embodiments, in option B, the CAM 304 may send (311), to the femto 302, a RAN parameter provision message which may include the information about switching the access mode. The information may include the indication that the access mode is to be switched into the open mode and optionally the timer indicating the duration until the switch happens into the open mode. Correspondingly, the femto 302 may receive (313) the RAN parameter provision message from the CAM 304.

[0069] The femto 302 may configure (315) the access mode as the open mode at the expiry of the access mode timer based on the received information. Then, the femto 302 transmits (317), to the AMF 303, an NGAP AMF configuration update acknowledge character (ACK) message or an NGAP RAN configuration update message which may include an indication that the access mode has been switched into the open mode. Correspondingly, the AMF 303 may receive (319) the AMF configuration update ACK message or an NGAP RAN configuration update message from the femto 302.

[0070] The femto 302 may transmit (321), to the UE 301, an SIB message with a notification that the access mode is the open mode. Correspondingly, the UE 301 may receive (323) the SIB message with the notification from the femto 302. For example, as shown in T able 1 , the notification may include the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as false with absence of the CAG ID associated with the femto 302, to indicate the open mode. In this mode, both the CAG member UEs and the non-CAG member UEs may connect to the femto 302.

[0071] Then, the femto 302 may serve (325) both the CAG member UEs and the non-CAG member UEs and may obtain an instruction from the operator for offloading the traffic from another access network device such as a macro gNB.

[0072] FIG. 3B shows an example process 300B for switching the access mode from the closed mode to the hybrid mode according to some example embodiments. As shown in FIG. 3B, in the process 300B, the femto 302 may operate (305) in the closed mode and serve the CAG member UEs. In some example embodiments, in option A, the AMF 303 may send (329), to the femto 302, an AMF configuration update message which may include the information about switching the access mode. The information may include an indication that the access mode is to be switched into the hybrid mode. Optionally, the AMF configuration update message may also include the access mode timer which may indicate the duration until the switch into the hybrid mode. Correspondingly, the femto 302 may receive (331) the AMF configuration update message from the AMF 303. In some other example embodiments, in option B, the OAM 304 may send (333), to the femto 302, the RAN parameter provision message which may include the information about switching the access mode. The information about switching the access mode may include the indication that the access mode is to be switched into the hybrid mode and optionally the access mode timer indicating the duration until the switch into the hybrid mode. Correspondingly, the femto 302 may receive (335) the RAN parameter provision message from the OAM 304.

[0073] The femto 302 may configure (337) the access mode as the hybrid mode at the expiry ofthe access mode timer based on the received information. Then, the femto 302 may transmit (339), to the UE 301 , an SIB message with the notification that the access mode is the hybrid mode. Correspondingly, the UE 301 may receive (341) the SIB message with the notification from the femto 302. For example, based on Table 1 , the notification may include the CAG ID associated with the femto 302 and include the parameter cel I Reserved ForOth erUse set as false, to indicate the hybrid mode. In this mode, the CAG member UEs may be prioritized to connect to the femto 302 over the non-CAG member UEs.

[0074] Then, the femto 302 may serve (325) the CAG member UEs (but higher priority) and optionally the non-CAG member UEs and may obtain an instruction from the operator for offloading the traffic from another access network device such as the macro gNB.

[0075] FIG. 3C shows an example process 300C for switching the access mode from the open or hybrid mode to the closed mode according to some example embodiments. As shown in FIG. 3C, in the process 300C, the femto 302 may operate (345) in the open or hybrid mode and serve the CAG member UEs and optionally the non-CAG member UEs. In some example embodiments, in option A, the AMF 303 may send (347), to the femto 302, an AMF configuration update message which may include the information about switching the access mode. The AMF configuration update message may include an indication that the access mode is to be switched into the closed mode. Optionally, the AMF configuration update message may also include the access mode timer which may indicate the duration until the switch into the closed mode. Correspondingly, the femto 302 may receive (349) the AMF configuration update message from the AMF 303. In some other example embodiments, in option B, the OAM 304 may send (351), to the femto 302, a RAN parameter provision message which may include the information about switching the access mode. The RAN parameter provision message may include the indication that the access mode is to be switched into the closed mode and optionally the access mode timer indicating the duration until the switch into the closed mode. Correspondingly, the femto 302 may receive (353) the RAN parameter provision message from the OAM 304.

[0076] The femto 302 may configure (355) the access mode as the closed mode at the expiry of the access mode timer based on the received information. Then, the femto 302 may transmit (357), to the UE 301 , an SIB message with a notification that the access mode is to be switched into the closed mode. Correspondingly, the UE 301 may receive (359) the SIB message with the notification from the femto 302. For example, based on Table 1 , the notification may include the CAG ID associated with the femto 302 and include the parameter cellReservedForOtherUse set as true, toindicate the closed mode. In this mode, the non-CAG member UEs are unavailable to connect to the femto 302. Then, the femto 302 may serve (361) the CAG member UE(s).

[0077] In the scenario shown in FIG. 3C, if the femto 302 is switched into the closed mode, non- CAG member UEs may need to re-access to another access network device. In this case, on-going UE calls may be abruptly dropped. In some example embodiments, if the first access network device 121 is unavailable to the user device 110, the on-going sessions of the user device 110 may be handed over to one of the second access network devices 122 for session continuity.

[0078] Such a handover may be triggered based on a measurement report from the user device 110. In reference to FIG. 2A, the first access network device 121 may transmit (235) in a measurement request, to the user device 110, an indication for at least one condition to trigger a measurement report associated with neighbor cells of at least one second access network device 122. The at least one condition includes the access mode of the first access network device 121 being to be switched into the closed mode.

[0079] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may transmit (235) the indication for the at least one condition to the user device 110 before the core network device 123 sends (225) the information about switching the access mode of the first access network device 121 from the first mode into the second mode. In some other example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may transmit (235) the indication to the user device 110 after the core network device 123 sends (225) the information, and before the first access network device 121 sends (229), to the user device 110, the notification that the access mode is to be switched into the second mode. In some other example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may transmit (235) the indication to the user device 110 after the first access network device 121 sends (229), to the user device 110, the notification that the access mode is to be switched into the second mode.

[0080] Correspondingly, the user device 110 may receive (237), from the first access network device 121 , the indication for the at least one condition to trigger the measurement report. Then, responsive to a notification that the access mode is to be switched into the close mode, received (231) from the first access network device 121 , the user device 110 may transmit (239) the measurement report associated with the neighbor cells of the at least one second network device 122, to the first access network device 121 based on the received indication for the at least one condition. Correspondingly, the first access network device 121 may receive (241) the measurement report from the user device 110. For example, the first mode is not closed, and thesecond mode is closed. The user device 110 transmits (239) the measurement report which is received (241 ) by the first access node 121 , and then the first access node 121 may use it to decide a handover of the user device 110 to the second access node 122.

[0081] In some example embodiments, after the first access network device 121 transmits (229) the notification, the first access network device 121 may switch (257) the access mode from the first mode into the second mode. For example, if the first mode is not closed and the second mode is the closed, the first access network device 121 may prevent non-CAG member UEs to try to access the cell. In an embodiment, there may then be a “grace period” for the first access network device 121 to still accept measurement reports from the non-CAG members UEs, even after having changed the access mode to closed for the non-CAG members. This grace period may correspond to a running period of the handover timer. In this case, the first access network device 121 may switch (257) the access mode before the non-CAG member UEs send (239) the measurement reports. In some embodiments, the non-CAG members UEs may be informed or configured about the grace period to do the measurement by the first access network device beforehand, or the length of the grace period may be known from specifications. The notification may be sent as one of SIB, DCI or MAC CE, for example.

[0082] In some embodiments, the notification may indicate that the access mode is soon switched from the first mode into the second mode. This notification may be sent as one of SIB, DCI or MAC CE, for example. The length of “soon” can be predetermined in specifications, or informed to the user device in the notification. Or the length needs not be defined, as the non-CAG members are configured such that when receiving such notification, the non-CAG members know that they need to trigger measurements of neighbor cells (if such have not yet been done) and trigger a measurement report to the femto substantially immediately after receiving the notification. Then, the non-CAG member UEs may send (239) the measurement reports, and after some time (e.g. expiry of the access mode timer), the first access network device 121 may switch (257) the access mode. In this way, the first access network device 121 may switch (257) the access mode only after the non-CAG members UE have sent (239) the measurement reports and been handed over to other cell(s). In an embodiment, when the first access network device 121 changes the mode, the first access network device 121 may send another notification to the user device about that. This second indication can be sent via SIB, for example. In some embodiments, the non-CAG members UEs may be informed or configured about the grace period to do the measurement by the first access network device beforehand.

[0083] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may determine (255) whether to initiate a handover of the user device 110 to a neighbor cell belonging to one of the at least one second access network device 122, based on the measurement report. In some example embodiments, the handover may be initiated based on a “handover timer” (a running period of which may correspond to the grace period for the first access network device 121 to accept the measurement reports after the first access network device 121 having already switched to closed mode). For example, the first access network device 121 may start (233) a handover timer with a duration denoted by T2 after transmitting (229) the notification to the user device 110. The handover may be initiated until the timer T2 is expired, assuming suitable candidate target have been identified for the non-CAG UE by the received measurement report.

[0084] Some example processes for the handover of the user device 110 to a neighbor cell of the second access network device 122 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4B.

[0085] In an example process 400A as shown in FIG. 4A, the UE 301 which belongs to non-CAG member UEs may be configured with a trigger for performing measurements and transmitting a measurement report, for example, via an RRC signaling message The trigger may rely on the notification received by the UE 301 via a broadcast SIB or a MAC control element (CE) or DCI.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 4A, the femto 402 may be in the open or hybrid mode so that the femto 402 may serve (401) the CAG member UEs and optionally the non-CAG member UEs for a given duration. Then, the femto 402 may transmit (403), to the user device 110, an RRC reconfiguration message including a measurement configuration or a measurement request to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device 122. The RRC reconfiguration message may include a trigger for the measurement report or include a condition to trigger the measurement report. Correspondingly, the user device 110 may receive (405) the RRC reconfiguration message from the femto 402.

[0087] In some example embodiments, the femto 402 may send the notification before or upon receiving the indication to switch the access mode. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, in option A, the femto 402 may trigger (407) an SIB message or a MAC CE message to indicate the change of the access mode into the closed mode, to non-CAG member UE(s) upon the expiry of the access mode timer T1. In option B, the AMF 303 or the CAM 304 may send (409), to the femto 402, an indication of the change of the access mode into the closed mode. Correspondingly, the femto 402 may receive (411) the indication of the change of the access mode into the closed mode, from the AMF 303 or the CAM 304. Responsive to the received indication, the femto 402 may trigger (413)the SIB message or the MAC CE message or DCI to indicate the change of the access mode into the closed mode, to non-CAG member UE(s). This is shown in step step (415) where the femto 302 may transmit the SIB message or the MAC CE message or DCI to the UE 301 .

[0088] Correspondingly, the UE 301 may receive (417) as a notification the SIB message or the MAC CE message or DCI from the femto 302. Based on the received RRC reconfiguration message, the UE 301 may trigger (419) the measurement report associated with the neighbor cells of at least one second access network device 122 if the SIB message broadcasts that the access mode is to be switched to the closed mode or the MAC CE message or DCI indicates the same. Then, the UE 301 may transmit (421) the measurement report to the femto 302. Correspondingly, the femto 302 may receive (423) the measurement report from the UE 301 before the access mode is switched to the closed mode or during grace period. Then, based on the received measurement report, the femto 302 may decide (425) for non-CAG member UE(s) with ongoing services suitable handovers to neighbor cell(s) for service continuity.

[0089] Different from the process 400A in FIG. 4A, in an example process 400B as shown in FIG. 4B, the UE 301 which belongs to the non-CAG member UE, may be triggered to perform measurements of the neighbor cell and report the measurement results by a measurement request for the measurement report received from the femto 302.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 4B, after the femto 302 determines to switch the access mode into the closed mode, the femto 302 may transmit (431), to the UE 301 , an RRC reconfiguration message with a measurement request to configure the measurements of the neighbor cells and request for the measurement report. The RRC reconfiguration message may be transmitted (431 ) before the time of switching of the access mode or after the switch but still during the grace period, for example, after the SIB or MAC CE message is transmitted to the UE 301 to indicate the change of the access mode into the closed mode. Alternatively, the RRC reconfiguration message may be transmitted (431) before or at other time which is early enough to enable the femto 302 to trigger a handover of the UE 301 to a suitable neighbor cell. Correspondingly, the UE 301 may receive (433) the RRC reconfiguration message with the measurement request from the femto 302 and trigger (435) the measurement report related to neighboring cell measurements.

[0091] Other operations and / or features related to the process 400A as described above with reference to FIG. 4A are likewise applicable in the process 400B and have similar effects. For the purpose of simplification, the details will not be repeated.

[0092] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may determine (261) whether to initiate the handover of the user device 110 further based on an indication of handover capacity from at least one second access network device 122. Still with reference to FIG. 2A, the first access network device 121 may send (243), to the second access network device 122, an indication that the access mode has been switched to the second mode (such as the closed mode). Correspondingly, the second access network device 122 may receive (245) the indication that the access mode has been switched to the second mode, from the first access network device 121. In this way, the neighbor access network devices such as femtos or macro gNBs may be informed about the change of the access mode and take the access mode into account for the future mobility decisions at the neighbor access network devices.

[0093] In some example embodiments, after receiving (245) the indication that the access mode has been switched or that it will be switched, the second access network device 122 may send (251), to the first access network device 121 , an indication of handover capacity including quota information about whether the further (e.g. second) access network device 122 is capable of accepting handover of one or more user devices. Correspondingly, the first access network device121 may receive (253) the indication of handover capacity from the further access network device 122. By way of example, in the example embodiments where the user device 110 operates as a UE, the first access network device 121 operates as a femto and the second access network device122 operates as a macro gNB, the indication of handover capacity may include the resource quota information or UE quota information that the macro gNB may accept the handover (HO) of the UEs from a femto cell provided by the femto. Based on the handover capacity of the second access network device 122, the first access network device 121 may determine whether the user device 110 and / or how many user devices will be handed over to the access network device 122, thereby improving the handover success and efficiency.

[0094] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may send (247), to the second access network device 122, information about an access mode timer associated with the first mode to the second access network device 122. Correspondingly, the second access network device 122 may receive (249) the information about the access mode timer from the first access network device 121. For example, the information about the access mode timer may indicate the duration of the first mode (i.e. the time point at which the first access network device switches from the first mode to the second mode) and thus the second access network device 122 may take the duration of the first mode into account to determine whether to accept user devices from the cell of the first access network device 121 .

[0095] Some example interaction process between the first access network device 121 and the second access network device 122 will be described below with reference to FIG. 5. In an example process 500 as shown in FIG. 5, the first access network device 121 may operate as the femto 302, and the second access network device 122 may operate as a neighbor NR femto or gNB 501.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 5, the femto 302 may switch (511) from the open or hybrid mode to the closed mode. Then, the femto 302 may send (513), to the neighbor NR femto or gNB 501 , an XnAP RAN configuration update message with the indication that the access mode has been or will be switched from the open or hybrid mode into the closed mode and optionally the access mode timer. Correspondingly, the neighbor NR femto or gNB 501 may receive (515) the XnAP RAN configuration update message from the femto 302. For example, the access mode timer may indicate the time point when the switch will take place, and the neighbor NR femto or gNB 501 may determine to accept the UEs from the femto cell before the access mode timer expires.

[0097] Then, based on the received XnAP RAN configuration update message, the neighbor NR femto or gNB 501 may store (517) the new access mode and take it into account in the future. In other words, the neighbor NR femto or gNB 501 may consider this new access mode for the future mobility decisions. After that, the neighbor NR femto or gNB 501 may send (519) an XnAP RAN configuration update ACK with information about the handover capacity of the UEs that the neighbor NR femto or gNB 501 may accept. Correspondingly, the femto 302 may receive (521) the XnAP RAN configuration update ACK from the neighbor NR femto or gNB 501.

[0098] As described above with reference to FIG. 2A, the information about switching the access mode may be sent (225) from the core network device 123 to the first access network device 121 . The core network device 123 may operate as the AMF. In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may obtain the information about switching the access mode from another core network device or other network devices which may operate as the CAM and / or the AF.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 2A, the core network device 123 may receive (215) a request (referred to as a first request) for switching the access mode from the first mode to the second mode, from the first network device 201 which may be an example of the network device 124 in FIG. 1 and operate as a PCF. Responsive to the first request, the core network device 123 may send (225) the information about switching the access mode from the first mode to the second mode to the first access network device 121. In some example embodiments, the first request may include the information about the switching.

[0100] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may send (221) a response to the first request to the first network device 201. Correspondingly, the first network device 201 may receive (223) the response to the first request from the core network device 123. The first request from the first network device 201 to the core network device 123 may be carried in any suitable message. Some example embodiments in this regard will be described in the following paragraphs with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the first request sent (213) from the first network device 201 to the core network device 123 may be received (211) by the first network device 201 from the second network device 202 which may operate another core network or other network devices. The second network device 202 may send (209) the first request to the first network device 201 in response to receiving a request from the first network device 201 .

[0102] For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the first network device (which may comprise a PCF) may send (205) a request (referred to as a second request) for subscription to a change of the access mode of the first access network device 121 to the second network device 202 (which may comprise a UDR). Correspondingly, the second network device 202 may receive (207) the second request from the first network device 201 and send (209) the first request to the first network device 201 responsive to the second request. Correspondingly, the first network device 201 may receive (211) the first request from the second network device 202 and then send (213) the first request to the core network device 123.

[0103] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may send (203) an identifier associated with the first access network device 121 to the first network device 201 . Correspondingly, the first network device 201 may receive (205) the identifier from the core network device 123. The first network device 201 may use the received identifier to send (205) the second request for subscription to a change of the access mode of the first access network device 121 to the second network device 202.

[0104] The above interactions between the core network device 123, the first network device 201 and the second network device 202 may enable the dynamic switching of the access mode of the first access network device 121 with no involvement of a network operator or an owner of the first access network device 121. As a result, network resources may be saved, and network capacity may be improved.

[0105] Various network devices may participate in the dynamic switching of the access mode ofthe first access network device 121 . Some example communication processes between the various network devices will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C. In example communication processes 600A to 600C as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, an authorized administer or CAG owner or the 0AM 304 comprising the AF 604 may create an AF request to change the access mode. For example, the AF request may include one or more of the following parameters: a CAG ID, a gNB ID, a HgNB ID, a user device ID, a geographical location or tracking area, and validity time.

[0106] Reference is first made to FIG. 6A which shows the example communication process 600A between the AMF 303, a PCF 601 , a UDR 602, an NEF 603 and an AF 604 according to some example embodiments. In this example, the first request for switching the access mode of the first access network device 121 communicated between the core network device 123, the first network device 201 and the second network device 202 as described above with reference to FIG. 2A may be transferred based on an NEF service, Nnef_AMInfluence, which may be used to influence access and mobility (AM) policy.

[0107] In the process 600A, the input parameters from the AF 604 may include an “any UE” indication and a wildcard data network name or single network slice selection assistance information (a DNN or S-NSSAI) in order to apply the AM policy independent of any specific UE and DNN / S-NSSAI. In an example, the “access mode” may be stored or updated in the UDR 602 as part of "application data" and "AM influence information". In addition, the duration or time validity of the given access mode may be defined based on the existing AM influence request expiry that corresponds to a timer on how long this policy may last, where the system behavior upon expiration of this timer may be reverting to the state before receiving an AM influence request.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 6A, in the process 600A, the AMF 303 (as an example of the core network device 123) may send (605) an ID that may be used to identify the femto 302 (as an example of the first access network device 121) as part of policy association to the PCF 601 (as an example of the first network device 201). For example, during UE protocol data unit (PDU) session establ ishment / registration / service request for a UE (as an example of the user device 110) accessing via an access network device (or an access node) such as the femto 302 that uses a CAG concept, the AMF 303 may provide an access node ID e.g., a femto ID, a HgNB ID, a cell ID, that may be used to identify the access node using CAG concept (e.g., the femto 302) as part of policy association to the PCF 601 . The policy association sent to the PCF 601 may be part of an existing policy message e.g., AM policy, or a specific policy that may be defined for the accessnode. The PCF 601 may store an AMF ID to identify the AMF 303 that serves the provided access node ID.

[0109] In some example embodiments, the message from the AMF 303 to the PCF 601 with the access node ID may be sent if the AMF 303 receives a next generation application protocol (NGAP) setup message. In this case, the AMF 303 may send this message to an operator-configured PCF that is independent of a UE and / or DNN / S-NSSAI. In some other example embodiments, the message from the AMF 303 to the PCF 601 may include a subscription permanent identifier / generic public subscription identifier (SUPI / GPSI) that represents a femto node / owner subscription. The UDR 602 (as an example of the second network device 202) may be pre-configured with such femto subscription which has the femto ID or the HgNB ID, a femto serial number and an access mode.

[0110] Correspondingly, the PCF 601 may receive (607) the ID from the AMF 303 and send (609) an Nudr_DM_Subscribe message including the access mode and the ID to the UDR 602. For example, the PCF 602 may subscribe to the UDR 603 for a change of an access mode (also referred to as an access mode change) for the given access node ID or subscription information. Correspondingly, the UDR 602 may receive (611) the Nudr_DM_Subscribe message from the PCF 601.

[0111] The AF 604 which may belong to an authorized administer / femto or CAG owner / OAM may create (613) an AF request on access mode change. Then, the AF 604 may send (615) an Nnef_AMInfluence_Create / Update request message including the access mode, the ID and the access mode timer. For example, the AF 604 may send a request for the access mode change, for the access node that uses the CAG concept (such as the femto 302). The request may be provided by an Nnef_AMInfluence service, an Nnef_ParameterProvisioning service or as part of a service dedicated to the access mode change. The given request may include the change of the access mode from: the closed access mode to the open or hybrid access mode; or the open or hybrid access mode to the closed access mode. In addition, the request may further include the access mode timer that represents the time point at which the access mode should be switched (i.e. duration that the current access mode should still be maintained.

[0112] Correspondingly, the NEF 603 may receive (617) the Nnef_AMInfluence_Create / Update request message from the AF 604 and store / update (619) the information on the access mode as the non-UE / non-Session parameter / Femto ID to the UDR 602. In this scenario, the NEF 603 may be considered as an example of the core network device 123, and the AF 604 may be consideredas an example of the first network device 201. Alternatively, the UDR 602 may be considered as an example of the core network device 123, the NEF 603 may be considered as an example of the first network device 201 , and the AF 604 may be considered as an example of the second network device 202. For example, the NEF 603 may authorize the Nnef_AMInfluence_Create / Update request and store / update the information on the access mode change as a UE / subscription-related parameter (in case the subscription information is used) or a non-UE / non-session / AN node-specific parameter (in case the access node ID is used) to the UDR 602. Correspondingly, the UDR 602 store / update (621 ) the information on the access mode as the non-UE / non-Session parameter / Femto ID from the NEF 603. Then, the NEF 603 may send (623) an Nnef_AMInfluence_Create / Update response message to the AF 604. Correspondingly, the AF 604 may receive (625) the Nnef_AMInfluence_Create / Update response message from the NEF 603.

[0113] The UDR 602 may send (627) a Nudr_DM_Notify message including the access mode change, the ID and the access mode timer to the PCF 601 . In this scenario, the PCF 601 may be considered as an example of the core network device 123, and the UDR 602 may be considered as an example of the first network device 201. For example, the UDR 602 may send a notification regarding the change of the access mode together with the timer to the PCF 601 that has already subscribed for the given access node ID or the subscription information. Correspondingly, the PCF601 may receive (629) the Nudr_DM_Notify message from the UDR 602.

[0114] After receiving (629) the Nudr_DM_Notify message from the UDR 602, the PCF 601 may send (631) the access mode change, the ID and the access mode timer to the AMF 303. Thus, the AMF 303 may receive (633) the access mode change, the ID and the access mode timer from PCF 601. In this scenario, the AMF 303 may be considered as an example of the core network device 123, the PCF 601 may be considered as an example of the first network device 201 , and the UDR602 may be considered as an example of the second network device 202.

[0115] FIG. 6B shows the example communication process 600B between the AMF 304 and the AF 604 according to some example embodiments. In this example, the AMF 303 may be an example of the core network device 123, and the AF 604 may be an example of the first network device 201.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 6B, in the process 600B, the AF 604 which may belong to an authorized administer / femto or CAG owner / OAM may send (635) an AMF service to create / update the access mode to the AMF 304. For example, the AF 604 may be a trusted third-party AF, or an AF residing at the CAM 304 and may send a request for the access mode change directly to the AMF 303 thathas established the NGAP with the access node using the CAG concept (e.g. the femto 302). This may be achieved via a dedicated AMF service from the AF 604 to the AMF 303 e.g., a service dedicated to the change of the access mode of an access node / CAG cell.

[0117] There may be a direct interface between the AMF 303 and the AF 604. With the direct interface, the communications between the AMF 303 and the AF 604 may be more efficient. Correspondingly, the AMF 304 may receive (637) the AMF service from the AF 604. Then, the AMF 304 may send (639) an AMF service create / update response to the AF 604. Correspondingly, the AF 604 may receive (641) the AMF service create / update response from the AMF 304.

[0118] FIG. 6C shows the example communication process 600C between the AMF 303, a PCF 601 , a UDR 602, an NEF 603 and an AF 604 according to some example embodiments.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 6C, in the process 600C, the UDR 602 (as an example of the second network device 202) may be configured (642) with femto subscription to a femto which has a femto ID / HgNB ID, or a femto serial number and access mode. The AMF 603 (as an example of the core network device 123) may send (643) an Npcf_AMPolicyControl UpdateNotify Subscribe message to the PCF 601 (as an example of the first network device 201). For example, the AMF 603 may subscribe to changes in the AM policy related information in the UDR 602 using Npcf_AMPolicyControl UpdateNotify Subscribe application programming interface (API). Correspondingly, the PCF 601 may receive (645) the Npcf_AMPolicyControl UpdateNotify Subscribe message from the AMF 603. The AF 604 may create (647) an AF request to provision an indication of the access mode being open and / or the timer value of the access mode timer.

[0120] The AF 604 may send (649) an Nnef_ParameterProvision_Update message including the HgNB ID, an indication of the access mode being open and the access mode timer to the NEF 603. Correspondingly, the NEF 603 may receive (651) the Nnef_ParameterProvision_Update Request message from the AF 604. In this scenario, the NEF 603 may be considered as an example of the core network device 123, and the AF 604 may be considered as an example of the first network device 201.

[0121] After receiving (651) the Nnef_ParameterProvision_Update Request message from the AF 604, the NEF 603 may send (653) an Nudr_DataRepository Create / Update / Delete Request message including the HgNB ID, the indication of the access mode being open and the access mode timer to the UDR 602. Correspondingly, the UDR 602 may receive (655) the Nudr_DataRepository Create / Update / Delete Request message from the NEF 603. Then, the UDR602 may update (657) the access mode being open for the indicated HgNB ID with the access mode timer. In this scenario, the UDR 602 may be considered as an example of the core network device 123, the NEF 603 may be considered as an example of the first network device 201 , and the AF 604 may be considered as an example of the second network device 202.

[0122] The UDR 602 may send (659) an Nudr_DataRepository Create / Update / Delete Response message to the NEF 603. Correspondingly, the NEF 603 may receive (661) the Nudr_DataRepository Create / Update / Delete Response message from the UDR 602. The NEF 603 may send (663) an Nnef_ParameterProvision_Update Response message to the AF 604. Correspondingly, the AF 604 may receive (665) the Nnef_ParameterProvision_Update Response message from the NEF 603.

[0123] The UDR 602 may send (667) an Npcf_AMPolicyControl Update Request message including the HgNB ID, the indication of the access mode being open and the access mode timer to the PCF 601. Correspondingly, the PCF 601 may receive (669) the Npcf_AMPolicyControl Update Request message from the UDR 602. In this scenario, the PCF 601 may be considered as an example of the core network device 123, and the UDR 602 may be considered as an example of the first network device 201 .

[0124] After receiving (669) the Npcf_AMPolicyControl Update Request message from the UDR 602, the PCF 601 may send (671) an Npcf_AMPolicyControl Update Response message to the UDR 602. Correspondingly, the UDR 602 may receive (673) the Npcf_AMPolicyControl Update Response message from the PCF 601. The PCF 601 may send (675) an Npcf_AMPolicyControl UpdateNotify message including the HgNB ID, the indication of the access mode being open and the access mode timer to the AMF 304. Correspondingly, the AMF 304 may receive (677) the Npcf_AMPolicyControl UpdateNotify message from the PCF 601. In this scenario, the AMF 304 may be considered as an example of the core network device 123, the PCF 601 may be considered as an example of the first network device 201 , and the UDR 602 may be considered as an example of the second network device 202.

[0125] As mentioned above, the user device 110 may detect the mode switch by receiving a notification that the access mode is to be switched. In some other example embodiments, the user device 110 may detect the upcoming mode switch and send the measurement report based on the received information about the access mode timer. Some example implementations in this regard will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0126] FIG. 7 illustrates a signaling diagram showing an example process 700 for triggering the measurement report based on the access mode timer according to some example embodiments. The process 700 involves the user device 110, the first access network device 121 (such as the femto), the network device 701 which may operate as a core network device comprising the AMF 303 or the OAM 304, and the AF 604.

[0127] As is shown in FIG. 7, the first access network device 121 transmits (703) a measurement request to the user device 110 to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device 122. Correspondingly, the user device 110 receives (705) the measurement request from the first access network device 121. The user device 110 also receives (723, 731 ) the information about the access mode timer for switching an access mode of the access network device into a closed mode. Based on the information about the access mode timer, the user device 110 may transmit (733) a measurement report associated with the at least second network device 122 to the first access network device 121 before expiry of the access mode timer or when the expiry of the access mode timer is nearing. Correspondingly, the first access network device 121 may receive (735) the measurement report from the user device 110. Then, based on the received measurement report, the first access network device 121 may determine (737) whether to initiate a handover of the user device 110 to a neighbor cell.

[0128] In some example embodiments, the information about the access mode timer may be obtained by the user device 110 from the first access network device 121 . For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in option A, the user device 110 may receive (723) the information about the access mode timer from the first access network device 121. In some example embodiments, the information about the access mode timer may be comprised in the measurement request.

[0129] In this option, the first access network device 121 may obtain the information about the access mode timer from the network device 701 (which may comprise an AMF or an OAM). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the network device 701 may send (715) the information about the access mode timer to the first access network device 121. Correspondingly, the first access network device 121 may receive (717) the information about the access mode timer from the network device 701. Then, the first access network device 121 may transmit (721) the information about the access mode timer to the user device 110 and may switch (739) the access mode to the closed mode upon expiry of the access mode timer.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the information about the access mode timer may be obtained by the user device 110 from the network device 701 (which may comprise an AMF or anOAM). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in option B, the user device 110 may transmit (725) a registration request to the network device 701. Correspondingly, the network device 701 may receive (727) the registration request from the user device 110. Then, the network device 701 may transmit (729) a registration accept including the information about the access mode timer to the user device 110. Correspondingly, the user device 110 may receive (731) the registration accept from the network device 701.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the network device 701 may obtain the information about the access mode timer from the AF 604. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the AF 604 may send (707) the information about the access mode timer to the network device 701 directly or via an intermediate device. For example, in the example embodiments where the network device 701 operates as an AMF, the information about the access mode timer may be received from the AF 604 via the PCF 601. Correspondingly, the network device 701 may receive (709) the information about the access mode timer from the AF 604 via the PCF 601. In some example embodiments, the AF 604 may further send (711) the indication that the access mode is to be switched to the closed mode, to the network device 701 . Correspondingly, the network device 701 may receive (713), from the AF 604, the indication that the access mode is to be switched to the closed mode.

[0132] An example process for triggering the measurement report based on the access mode timer will be described below with reference to FIG. 8. In an example process 800 as shown in FIG. 8, the user device 110 may operate as the UE 301 , the first access network device 121 may operate as the femto 302, the network device 701 may operate as the AMF 303.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 8, in the process 800, the AF 604 may send (801) a request for an access mode change to the AMF 303, for example, via the PCF 601. Correspondingly, the AMF 303 may receive (803) the request for the access mode change from the AF 604. The femto 302 may start (805) operating in the open or hybrid mode. The UE 301 may be in the proximity of femto 302 (807), and thus attempt for registration. The UE 301 may send (809) a registration request to the AMF 303. Correspondingly, the AMF 303 may receive (811) the registration request from the UE 301. Then, the AMF 303 may send (813) a registration accept or a registration accept message including the access mode timer for non-CAG member UE(s).

[0134] Correspondingly, the UE 301 may receive (815) the registration accept message and read (817) a parameter of the access mode timer from the registration accept message and start the timer. Then, the UE 301 may trigger (819) measurement reports before the access mode timer expiries and transmit (821) the measurement report to the femto 302. Correspondingly, the femto302 may receive (823) the measurement report from the UE 301 and start (825) a handover decision.

[0135] It is noted that some operations and / or features related to the processes as described above with reference to FIG. 2A to 6C (e.g. the operations and / or features between the first access network device 121 and the core network device 123 or between the first access network device 121 and the second access network device 122) are likewise applicable in the processes 700 and 800 and have similar effects. For the purpose of simplification, the details will not be repeated.

[0136] FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of an example method 900 implemented at a user device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 900 will be described from the perspective of the user device 110 in FIG. 1.

[0137] At block 910, the user device 110 receives a measurement request from a first access network device 121 to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device 122.

[0138] At block 920, the user device 110 receives information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode.

[0139] At block 930, before expiry of the access mode timer, the user device 110 transmits, to the first access network device 121 , a measurement report associated with the at least one second access network device based on the received measurement request.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the access mode timer may be received from the first access network device 121.

[0141] In some example embodiments, the access mode timer may be comprised in the measurement request.

[0142] In some example embodiments, the access mode timer may be received from a core network device 123.

[0143] In some example embodiments, the user device 110 may send a registration request to the core network device 123; and may receive a registration accept from the core network device 123, where the information about the access mode timer is included in the registration accept.

[0144] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may comprise an AMF.

[0145] In some example embodiments, the user device 110 may not belong to a CAG associated with the first access network device 121.

[0146] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 operating in the closed mode may be unavailable to the user device 110.

[0147] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may comprise a femto access network device.

[0148] In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the method 900 (for example, the user device 110 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 900 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The apparatus may be implemented as or included in the user device 110 in FIG. 1 .

[0149] FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of an example method 1000 implemented at a first access network device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1000 will be described from the perspective of the first access network device 121 in FIG. 1.

[0150] At block 1010, the first access network device 121 sends, to a user device 110, a measurement request to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device 122.

[0151] At block 1020, the first access network device 121 receives, from a network device, information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device 121 into a closed mode.

[0152] At block 1030, responsive to expiry of the access mode timer, the first access network device 121 switches the access mode into the closed mode.

[0153] At block 1040, the first access network device 121 receives, from the user device 110, before the expiry of the access mode timer a measurement report associated with at least one second access network device 122 based on the measurement request.

[0154] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may determine, based on the received measurement report, whether to initiate a handover of the user device 110 to the at least one second access network device 122.

[0155] In some example embodiments, the network device may comprise at least one of: an AMF, a core network device 123, or an OAM function.

[0156] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may transmit, to the user device 110, the information about the access mode timer.

[0157] In some example embodiments, the information about the access mode timer transmitted to the user device 110 may be comprised in the measurement request.

[0158] In some example embodiments, the user device 110 may not belong to a CAG associated with the first access network device 121.

[0159] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 operating in the closed mode may be unavailable to the user device 110.

[0160] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may comprise a femto access network device.

[0161] In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the method 1000 (for example, the first access network device 121 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1000 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first access network device 121 in FIG. 1.

[0162] FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of an example method 1100 implemented at a network device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The network device may operate as the core network device 123 or the network device 124 in FIG. 1.

[0163] At block 1110, the core network device 123 sends, to at least one of a first access network device 121 or a user device 110, information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device 121 into a closed mode.

[0164] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may comprise an AMF.

[0165] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may receive, from an AF, the information about the access timer and an indication that the first access mode is to be switched to the closed mode.

[0166] In some example embodiments, the information about the access timer and the indicationmay be received from the AF via a PCF.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may receive a registration request from the user device 110; and may send a registration accept to the user device 110, where the information about the access mode timer is included in the registration accept.

[0168] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may comprise an OAM function.

[0169] In some example embodiments, the user device 110 may not belong to a CAG associated with the first access network device 121.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 operating in the closed mode may be unavailable to the user device 110.

[0171] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may comprise a femto access network device.

[0172] In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the method 1100 (for example, the core network device 123 or the network device 124 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1100 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The apparatus may be implemented as or included in the core network device 123 or the network device 124 in FIG. 1.

[0173] FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of an example method 1200 implemented at a user device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1200 will be described from the perspective of the user device 110 in FIG. 1.

[0174] At block 1210, the user device 110 receives, from a first access network device 121 , an indication for at least one condition to trigger a measurement report associated with neighbor cells of at least one second access network device 122, the at least one condition including that an access mode of the first access network device 121 has been or is to be switched into a closed mode.

[0175] At block 1220, the user device 110 receives a notification that the access mode has been or is to be switched into the closed mode.

[0176] At block 1230, responsive to the notification, the user device 110 transmits themeasurement report associated with the neighbor cells of the at least second network device 122 to the first access network device 121 based on the received indication.

[0177] In some example embodiments, the measurement report may be transmitted by the first apparatus during a predefined time period, based on receiving the notification that the access mode has been or is to be switched into the closed mode.

[0178] In some example embodiments, the indication may be received via an RRC signaling message.

[0179] In some example embodiments, the notification may be received via at least one of: an SIB, or MAC signaling, or DCI.

[0180] In some example embodiments, the user device 110 may not belong to a CAG associated with the first access network device 121.

[0181] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 operating in the closed mode may be unavailable to the user device 110.

[0182] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may comprise a femto access network device.

[0183] In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the method 1200 (for example, the user device 110 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1200 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The apparatus may be implemented as or included in the user device 110 in FIG. 1 .

[0184] FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of an example method 1300 implemented at a first access network device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1300 will be described from the perspective of the first access network device 121 in FIG. 1.

[0185] At block 1310, the first access network device 121 receives, from a network device, information about switching an access mode of the first access network device 121 from a first mode into a second mode.

[0186] At block 1320, the first access network device 121 transmits, to a user device 110, a notification that the access mode has been or is to be switched into the second mode.

[0187] At block 1330, the first access network device 121 receives, from the user device 110, a measurement report associated with at least one second access network device 122, the measurement report being responsive to the notification transmitted to the user device 110.

[0188] At block 1340, the first access network device 121 switches the access mode from the first mode into the second mode based on the information about the switching.

[0189] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may transmit, to the user device 110, an indication for at least one condition to trigger a measurement report associated with neighbor cells of the at least one second access network device 122, the at least one condition including that an access mode of the first access network device 121 has been or is to be switched into a closed mode.

[0190] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may determine whether to initiate a handover of the user device 110 to a neighbor cell belonging to one of the at least one second access network device 122, based on the measurement report.

[0191] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may start a handover timer after transmitting the notification to the user device 110, where the handover is initiated based on the received measurement reports until the handover timer is expired.

[0192] In some example embodiments, the information about the switching may comprise an indication to switch the access mode from the first mode to the second mode.

[0193] In some example embodiments, the information about the switching may comprise information about an access mode timer associated with the first mode, and responsive to expiry of the access mode timer, the first access network device 121 may determine to switch the access mode from the first mode to the second mode.

[0194] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may send, to the network device, an indication that the access mode has been switched to the second mode.

[0195] In some example embodiments, the network device may comprise at least one of: a core network device 123, or an OAM function.

[0196] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may send, to the at least one second access network device 122, an indication that the access mode has been switched to the second mode, where the at least one second access network device 122 is a neighbor of the first access network device 121.

[0197] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may send, to the at least one second access network device 122, information about an access mode timer associated with the second mode, the access mode timer indicating when the first access network device switches the access mode from the first mode to the second mode.

[0198] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may receive, from the at least one second access network device 122, after sending the indication that the access mode has been or will be switched, an indication of handover capacity including quota information about whether the respective second access network device 122 is capable of accepting a handover of one or more user devices 110 from the first access network device 121 .

[0199] In some example embodiments, the user device 110 may not belong to a CAG associated with the first access network device 121.

[0200] In some example embodiments, the second mode may be a closed mode, and the first access network device 121 operating in the closed mode may be unavailable to the user device 110.

[0201] In some example embodiments, the first access network device may comprise a femto access network device.

[0202] In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the method 1300 (for example, the first access network device 121 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1300 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first access network device 121 in FIG. 1.

[0203] FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of an example method 1400 implemented at a core network device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1400 will be described from the perspective of the core network device 123 in FIG. 1.

[0204] At block 1410, the core network device 123 receives, from a network device 124, a first request for switching an access mode of a first access network device 121 from a first mode to a second mode.

[0205] At block 1420, responsive to the first request, the core network device 123 sends, to thefirst access network device 121 , information about switching the access mode from the first mode to the second mode.

[0206] In some example embodiments, the information about the switching may comprise an indication to switch the access mode from the first mode into the second mode.

[0207] In some example embodiments, the information about the switching may comprise information about an access mode timer associated with the first mode, where upon expiry of the access mode timer, the first mode may be to be switched to the second mode.

[0208] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may receive, from the first access network device 121 , an indication that the access mode has been switched to the second mode.

[0209] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may comprise an AMF.

[0210] In some example embodiments, the network device 124 may comprise at least one of a PCF, an OAM function or an AF.

[0211] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may send, to the network device 124, an identifier associated with the first access network device 121.

[0212] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may comprise a femto access network device.

[0213] In some example embodiments, the first mode may be not a closed mode, and the second mode may be the closed mode, and where the first access network device 121 operating in the closed mode may be unavailable to a user device 110 not belonging to a CAG supported by the first access network device 121.

[0214] In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the method 1400 (for example, the core network device 123 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1400 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The apparatus may be implemented as or included in the core network device 123 in FIG. 1.

[0215] FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of an example method 1500 implemented at a network device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1500 will be described from the perspective of the network device 124 inFIG. 1.

[0216] At block 1510, the network device 124 sends, to a core network device 123, a first request for switching an access mode of a first access network device 121 from a first mode to a second mode.

[0217] In some example embodiments, the first request may comprise information about an access mode timer associated with the first mode, the access mode timer indicating when the first access network device switches the access mode from the first mode to the second mode.

[0218] In some example embodiments, the core network device 123 may comprise an AMF.

[0219] In some example embodiments, the network device 124 may comprise at least one of an OAM function, an AF, or a PCF.

[0220] In some example embodiments, the network device 124 may receive, from the core network device 123, a response to the first request.

[0221] In some example embodiments, the network device 124 may receive, from the core network device 123, an identifier associated with the first access network device 121.

[0222] In some example embodiments, the network device 124 may send, to a UDR, a second request for subscription to a change of the access mode of the first access network device 121 ; and may receive the first request from the UDR, where the first request received from the UDR is responsive to the second request.

[0223] In some example embodiments, the network device 124 may comprise an AF, and the core network device 123 comprises an NEF.

[0224] In some example embodiments, the network device 124 may comprise an NEF, and the core network device 123 comprises a UDR, and the network device 124 may receive the first request from an AF.

[0225] In some example embodiments, the network device 124 may comprise a UDR, and the core network device 123 comprises a PCF, and the network device 124 may receive the first request from an NEF.

[0226] In some example embodiments, the network device 124 may receive, from the core network device 123, a second request for subscription to a change of the access mode of the first access network device 121 , where the first request is sent responsive to the second request.

[0227] In some example embodiments, the first access network device 121 may comprise a femto access network device.

[0228] In some example embodiments, the first mode may be not a closed mode, and the second mode may be the closed mode, and where the first access network device operating in the closed mode may be unavailable to a user device 110 not belonging to a CAG supported by the first access network device 121.

[0229] In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the method 1500 (for example, the network device 124 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1500 and / or any of the described one or more example embodiments thereof. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The apparatus may be implemented as or included in the network device 124 in FIG. 1.

[0230] FIG. 16 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1600 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1600 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the user device 110 or the first access network device 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 1600 includes one or more processors 1610, one or more memories 1620 coupled to the processor 1610, and one or more communication modules 1640 coupled to the processor 1610.

[0231] The communication module 1640 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 1640 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 1640 may include at least one antenna.

[0232] The processor 1610 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1600 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0233] The memory 1620 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a ReadOnly Memory (ROM) 1624, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 1622 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0234] A computer program 1630 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1610. The instructions of the program 1630 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 1630 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1624. The processor 1610 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 1630 into the RAM 1622.

[0235] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 1630 so that the device 1600 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2A to FIG. 15. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0236] In some example embodiments, the program 1630 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 1600 (such as in the memory 1620) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 1600. The device 1600 may load the program 1630 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 1622 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0237] FIG. 17 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1700 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1700 has the program 1630 stored thereon.

[0238] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that theblock, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as nonlimiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0239] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0240] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0241] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0242] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0243] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the example embodiments, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0244] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A user device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user device at least to: receive a measurement request from a first access network device to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device; receive information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode; and before expiry of the access mode timer, transmit, to the first access network device, a measurement report associated with the at least one second access network device based on the received measurement request.

2. The user device of claim 1 , wherein the access mode timer is received from the first access network device.

3. The user device of claim 2, wherein the access mode timer is comprised in the measurement request.

4. The user device of claim 1 , wherein the access mode timer is received from a core network device.

5. The user device of claim 4, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the user device to: send a registration request to the core network device; and receive a registration accept from the core network device, wherein the information about the access mode timer is included in the registration accept.

6. The user device of claim 4 or 5, wherein the core network device comprises an access and mobility management function (AMF).

7. The user device of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the user device does not belong to a closed access group (CAG) associated with the first access network device.

8. The user device of claim 7, wherein the first access network device operating in the closed mode is unavailable to the user device.

9. The user device of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first access network device comprises a femto access network device.

10. A first access network device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first access network device at least to: send, to a user device, a measurement request to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device; receive, from a network device, information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode; responsive to expiry of the access mode timer, switch the access mode into the closed mode; and receive, from the user device, before the expiry of the access mode timer a measurement report associated with at least one second access network device based on the measurement request.11 . The first access network device of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first access network device to:determine, based on the received measurement report, whether to initiate a handover of the user device to the at least one second access network device.

12. The first access network device of any of claims 10 to 11 , wherein the network device comprises at least one of: an access and mobility management function (AMF), a core network device, or an operation administration and maintenance (0AM) function.

13. The first access network device of any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the first access network device to: transmit, to the user device, the information about the access mode timer.

14. The first access network device of claim 13, wherein the information about the access mode timer transmitted to the user device is comprised in the measurement request.

15. The first access network device of any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the user device does not belong to a closed access group (CAG) associated with the first access network device.

16. The first access network device of claim 15, wherein the first access network device operating in the closed mode is unavailable to the user device.

17. The first access network device of any of claims 10 to 16, wherein the first access network device comprises a femto access network device.

18. A network device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor,cause the network device at least to: send, to at least one of a first access network device or a user device, information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode.

19. The network device of claim 18, wherein the network device comprises an access and mobility management function (AMF).

20. The network device of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the network device to: receive, from an application function (AF), the information about the access timer and an indication that the first access mode is to be switched to the closed mode.

21. The network device of claim 20, wherein the information about the access timer and the indication is received from the AF via a policy control function (PCF).

22. The network device of any of claims 19 to 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the network device to: receive a registration request from the user device; and send a registration accept to the user device, wherein the information about the access mode timer is included in the registration accept.

23. The network device of claim 18, wherein the network device comprises an operation administration and maintenance (0AM) function.

24. The network device of any of claims 18 to 23, wherein the user device does not belong to a closed access group (CAG) associated with the first access network device.

25. The network device of claim 24, wherein the first access network device operating in the closed mode is unavailable to the user device.

26. The network device of any of claims 18 to 25, wherein the first access network device comprises a femto access network device.

27. A method comprising: at a user device, receiving a measurement request from a first access network device to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device; receiving information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode; and before expiry of the access mode time, transmitting, to the first access network device, a measurement report associated with the at least one second access network device based on the received measurement request.

28. A method comprising: at a first access network device, sending, to a user device, a measurement request to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device; receiving, from a network device, information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode; responsive to expiry of the access mode timer, switching the access mode into the closed mode; and receiving, from the user device, before the expiry of the access mode timer a measurement report associated with at least one second access network device based on the measurement request.

29. A method comprising: at a network device, sending, to at least one of a first access network device or a user device, information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode.

30. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a measurement request from a first access network device to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device; means for receiving information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode; and means for before expiry of the access mode time, transmitting, to the first access network device, a measurement report associated with the at least one second access network device based on the received measurement request.

31. An apparatus comprising: means for sending, to a user device, a measurement request to configure measurements of neighbor cells of at least one second access network device; means for receiving, from a network device, information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode; means for, responsive to expiry of the access mode timer, switching the access mode into the closed mode; and means for receiving, from the user device, before the expiry of the access mode timer a measurement report associated with at least one second access network device based on the measurement request.

32. An apparatus comprising: means for sending, to at least one of a first access network device or a user device,information about an access mode timer for switching an access mode of the first access network device into a closed mode.

33. A computer program product tangibly stored in a computer storage medium and including computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions, when executed by a device, causing the device to perform the method of claim 27 or the method of claim 28 or the method of claim 29.

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