Support of packet data connectivity in a mobile network
In an embodiment, there is provided a method for the support of packet data connectivity in a mobile network, said mobile network comprising a Radio Access network RAN and a Core Network CN, said method including, in case no connectivity is available between a RAN node and the Core Network, support of said packet data connectivity in a mode referred to as resilient mode wherein said packet data connectivity is provided locally by said RAN node to at least one User Equipment UE in the coverage of said RAN node, referred to as authorized UE, that is authorized to operate in said resilient mode.
1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code;
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
determining if information is received indicating operation of a serving radio access network node in a mode referred to as resilient mode wherein, in case connectivity between said serving radio access network node and a core network is lost, support of packet data connectivity for public safety communications includes providing routing functions locally by said serving radio access network node to apparatuses in the coverage of said serving radio access network node that are authorized to operate in said resilient mode,
determining if operation in said resilient mode is authorized; and,
when information is received indicating operation of said serving radio access network node in said resilient mode, and if said operation in said resilient mode is authorized, starting to operate in said resilient mode.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
using credentials related to said operation in resilient mode, stored in a subscriber identification module associated with said apparatus.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
using credentials related to said operation in resilient mode for authentication of said user apparatus in said resilient mode.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
reverting to a normal mode of operation in case connectivity between said radio access network node and core network is recovered.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
receiving said information indicating operation in said resilient mode, in broadcast system information.
6. A method comprising:
determining if information is received indicating operation of a serving radio access network node in a mode referred to as resilient mode wherein, in case connectivity between said serving radio access network node and a core network is lost, support of packet data connectivity for public safety communications includes providing routing functions locally by said serving radio access network node to user equipments in the coverage of said serving radio access network node that are authorized to operate in said resilient mode,
determining if operation in said resilient mode is authorized; and,
when information is received indicating operation of said serving radio access network node in said resilient mode, and if operation in said resilient mode is authorized, starting to operate in said resilient mode.
7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising:
receiving said information indicating operation in said resilient mode, in broadcast system information.
8. The method according to claim 6 , comprising:
using credentials related to said operation in resilient mode, stored in a subscriber identification module associated with a user equipment.
9. The method according to claim 6 , comprising:
reverting to a normal mode of operation in case connectivity between said radio access network node and core network is recovered.
10. The method according to claim 6 , comprising:
using credentials related to said operation in resilient mode for authentication of an authorized user equipment.