Local switching
The invention proposes to introduce a method for a Radio Access Network for providing “Local Switching” between call legs of a call. Within said method the Radio Access Network receives a call identifier for a leg of a call from a Core Network to be handled by the Radio Access Network. The Radio Access Network stores said received call identifier, compares said received call identifier with stored call identifiers for call legs of calls via said Radio Access Network. If said received call identifier matches a stored call identifier the Radio Access Networks establish local switching of call legs identified by the matching call identifier. In an alternative embodiment, the invention proposes to introduce a method for a Core Network for providing local switching for call legs of a call. Within said method the Core Network receives or generates a call identifier for a leg of a call. The Core Network stores said received call identifier and identifies a respective Radio Access Network for said leg of said call. Thereafter, the Core Network compares said call received identifier with stored call identifiers for call legs of calls via said identified Radio Access Network. If said received call identifier matches a stored call identifier enforce local switching of call legs identified by the matching call identifier. The invention furthermore provides for respective Nodes of the respective Networks employing the invention.
1. A method implemented in a Radio Access Network comprising:
receiving a message from a Core Network, the message comprising a call identifier for a first leg of a call, wherein the call identifier uniquely identifies the first leg of the call;
storing the received call identifier in memory;
comparing the received call identifier with previously stored call identifiers for call legs of calls supported by the Radio Access Network;
receiving, from the Core Network, an indication that Local Switching is not allowed or is no longer allowed for a previously stored call identifier of the previously stored call identifiers; and
responsive to the received call identifier matching the previously stored call identifier, refraining from local switching between the call legs that correspond to the matching call identifiers.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending the Core Network an indication that the Radio Access Network supports Local Switching.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending the Core Network an indication that the Radio Access Network has established Local Switching between the call legs that correspond to the matching call leg identifiers.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the received call identifier from memory once the call leg that corresponds to the received call identifier is terminated.
5. The method of claim 1 , where the received call identifier uniquely identifying the first leg of the call is an identifier unique in the Radio Access Network and the Core Network.
6. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the indication indicates to break local switching for an ongoing call and reestablish the switching of a user plane through the Core Network; and
wherein the refraining from local switching comprises breaking local switching for the ongoing call and reestablishing the switching of a user plane through the Core Network.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication indicates to not establish local switching for an ongoing call and keep switching of a user plane through the Core Network.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication indicates that local switching between call legs in one of an uplink or downlink direction will not be allowed, or is no longer allowed, and User Plane traffic must go through the Core Network while call legs in the opposite direction are allowed to use local switching such that User Plane traffic between the locally switched call legs bypasses the Core Network.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message is a handover message, and the call identifier uniquely identifies the first leg of the call to be handed over to the Radio Access Network.
10. A method implemented in a Core Network comprising:
receiving or generating a first call identifier generated by the Core Network for a leg of a call, wherein the first call identifier uniquely identifies the leg of the call;
storing the first call identifier in memory;
identifying a respective Radio Access Network for the leg of the call;
comparing the first call identifier with previously stored call identifiers for call legs of calls supported by the identified Radio Access Network; and
responsive to the first call identifier matching one of the previously stored call identifiers, sending to the Radio Access Network an indication that local switching between call legs pertaining to the first call identifier is not allowed or is no longer allowed.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
identifying that the identified Radio Access Network supports Local Switching.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
removing the first call identifier from memory responsive to the call leg that corresponds to the first call identifier being terminated.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first call identifier is an identifier unique in the Radio Access Network and the Core Network.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sending the indication is further responsive to determining a particular call phase of the call from a set of call phases.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the particular call phase indicates a recipient of the call has not accepted the call or has not accepted charging for the call.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the receiving or generating is in the course of handover for the leg of the call.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indication indicates to break local switching for an ongoing call and reestablish the switching of a user plane through the Core Network.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indication indicates to not establish local switching for an ongoing call and keep switching of a User Plane through the Core Network.
19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indication indicates that local switching between call legs in one of an uplink or downlink direction will not be allowed, or is no longer allowed, and User Plane traffic must go through the Core Network while call legs in the opposite direction are allowed to use local switching such that User Plane traffic between the locally switched call legs bypasses the Core Network.
20. A Radio Access Network Node comprising:
a receiver circuit configured to receive a message from a Core Network, the message comprising a call identifier for a leg of a call, wherein the call identifier uniquely identifies the first leg of the call;
memory configured to store the received call identifier; and
a control circuit operatively connected to the receiver circuit and the memory, and being configured to:
compare the received call identifier with previously stored call identifiers for call legs of calls supported by the Radio Access Network Node;
determine if the received call identifier matches one of the previously stored call identifiers;
receive, from the Core Network, an indication that Local Switching is not allowed or is no longer allowed for a previously stored call identifier of the previously stored call identifiers; and
responsive to the received call identifier matching the previously stored call identifier, refrain from local switching between the call legs that correspond to the matching call identifiers.
21. The Radio Access Network Node of claim 20 , further comprising:
a transmitter circuit configured to send the Core Network an indication that the Radio Access Network Node supports Local Switching.
22. The Radio Access Network Node of claim 20 , wherein the control circuit is configured to remove the received call identifier from memory once the call leg that corresponds to the received call identifier is terminated.
23. A Core Network Node in a Core Network comprising:
a receiver circuit configured to receive or to generate a first call identifier generated by the Core Network for a leg of a call, wherein the first call identifier uniquely identifies the leg of the call;
memory configured to store the first a first call identifier; and
a control circuit operatively connected to the receiver circuit and the memory, the control circuit being configured to:
identify a respective Radio Access Network for the leg of the call;
compare the first call identifier with previously stored call identifiers for call legs of calls supported by the identified Radio Access Network;
determine if the first call identifier matches one of the previously stored call identifiers; and
responsive to the first call identifier matching one of the previously stored call identifiers, sending to the Radio Access Network an indication that local switching between call legs pertaining to the first call identifier is not allowed or is no longer allowed.
24. The Core Network Node of claim 23 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to identify that the identified Radio Access Network supports Local Switching.
25. The Core Network Node of claim 23 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to remove the first call identifier from memory once the call leg that corresponds to the first call identifier is terminated.