Granted Patent B2

US 8,064,907 · App. 12/431,747 · Granted Nov 22, 2011

Abstract

Claims (42)

1. A method of associating Mobile Management Entities (MMEs) of an evolved packet system (EPS) and Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VoLGA) network controllers (VANCs), the method comprising:

at a serving VANC, receiving a registration message from a user equipment (UE), the registration message comprising an assigned Globally Unique Temporary Identity (GUTI) of the UE, the serving VANC provisioned with MME-to-VANC mapping information;

extracting an identification of a MME from the GUTI;

determining an associated VANC based on the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information; and

sending a message from the serving VANC to the associated VANC, the message indicating that the serving VANC is now serving the UE.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information is related to network topology.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information is determined by the serving VANC's ability to service a particular UE.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mapping information is determined by a service area of a VoLGA communication system associated with the serving VANC.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MME-to-VANC mapping information is one-to-one.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MME-to-VANC mapping information is many-to-one.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

at the associated VANC, storing the indication that the serving VANC is now serving the UE;

at the associated VANC, receiving a request from the MME for a particular UE;

at the associated VANC, finding the serving VANC information associated with the particular UE; and

forwarding the MME request from the associated VANC to the serving VANC associated with the particular UE.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said MME request is a handover request from the serving VANC.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information is related to network topology.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information is determined by the serving VANC's ability to service a particular UE.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mapping information is determined by a service area of a VoLGA communication system associated with the serving VANC.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the MME-to-VANC mapping information is one-to-one.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the MME-to-VANC mapping information is many-to-one.

14. A computer readable storage medium of a Voice over long term evolution (LTE) via Generic Access (VoLGA) network controller (VANC) storing a computer program for associating Mobile Management Entities (MMEs) of an evolved packet system (EPS) and VANCs, the computer program executable by at least one processor, the computer program comprising:

a set of instructions for receiving a registration message from a user equipment (UE), the registration message comprising an assigned Globally Unique Temporary Identity (GUTI) of the UE, the VANC provisioned with MME-to-VANC mapping information;

a set of instructions for extracting an identification of a MME from the GUTI;

a set of instructions for determining an associated VANC based on the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information; and

a set of instructions for sending a message from the VANC to the associated VANC, the message indicating that the VANC is now serving the UE.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information is related to network topology.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information is determined by the VANC's ability to service a particular UE.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the mapping information is determined by a service area of a VoLGA communication system associated with the VANC.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the MME-to-VANC mapping information is one-to-one.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the MME-to-VANC mapping information is many-to-one.

20. The computer readable mediume of claim 14 , the computer program further comprising:

a set of instructions for storing the indication that the VANC is now serving the UE;

a set of instructions for receiving a request from the MME for the UE;

a set of instructions for finding the VANC information associated with the UE; and

a set of instructions for forwarding the MME request from the VANC to another VANC associated with the UE.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 , wherein said MME request is a handover request from the VANC.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information is related to network topology.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the provisioned MME-to-VANC mapping information is determined by the VANC's ability to service a particular UE.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the mapping information is determined by a service area of a VoLGA communication system associated with the VANC.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the MME-to-VANC mapping information is one-to-one.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the MME-to-VANC mapping information is many-to-one.

Assignments (12)