IP Library Granted Patent US 9,979,562
Granted Patent B2
US 9,979,562 · App. 14/722,418 · Granted May 22, 2018

Network function virtualization requirements to service a long term evolution (LTE) network

Inventors: Ronald R. Marquardt (Woodinville, WA); Lyle Walter Paczkowski (Mission Hills, KS); Arun Rajagopal (Leawood, KS)
Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
H04L12/4679G06F9/45558H04W48/18H04W76/02G06F2009/45595H04L12/4641H04W60/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,979,562
App. No.
14/722,418
Granted
May 22, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A Long Term Evolution (LTE) User Equipment (UE) determines an enhanced communication requirement. In response, the LTE UE determines one or more Network Function Virtualization (NFV) requirements for an LTE network. The LTE UE wirelessly attaches to the LTE network. In response, LTE UE wirelessly transfers a first Non-Access Stratum (NAS) file indicating the NFV requirements to the LTE network. The LTE UE receives and processes a second NAS file from the LTE network to determine if the LTE network can service the NFV requirements. If the LTE network can service the NFV requirements, then LTE UE wirelessly exchanges data over the LTE network.

Claims (27)

1. A method of operating a Long Term Evolution (LTE) User Equipment (UE) comprising:

determining an enhanced communication requirement, and in response, determining one or more Network Function Virtualization (NFV) requirements for an LTE network;

wirelessly attaching to the LTE network, and in response, wirelessly transferring a first Non-Access Stratum (NAS) file indicating the NFV requirements to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the LTE network;

receiving and processing a second NAS file from the MME in the LTE network to determine if the LTE network can service the NFV requirements, and if the LTE network can service the NFV requirements, then wirelessly exchanging data over the LTE network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein wirelessly attaching to the LTE network comprises transferring an establishment cause indicating that the NAS file will indicate the NFV requirements.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV Access Point Name (APN) and wherein wirelessly exchanging the data over the LTE network comprises wirelessly exchanging the data using on the NFV APN.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV data center and wherein wirelessly exchanging the data over the LTE network comprises wirelessly exchanging the data using on the NFV data center.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV server blade and wherein wirelessly exchanging the data over the LTE network comprises wirelessly exchanging the data using on the NFV server blade.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV time slice and wherein wirelessly exchanging the data over the LTE network comprises wirelessly exchanging the data using on the NFV time slice.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV memory block and wherein wirelessly exchanging the data over the LTE network comprises wirelessly exchanging the data using on the NFV memory block.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining at least one trusted LTE eNodeB and wherein wirelessly attaching to the LTE network comprises attaching to at least one trusted LTE eNodeB responsive to the enhanced communication requirement.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining at least one trusted LTE carrier frequency and wherein wirelessly attaching to the LTE network comprises attaching using the at least one trusted LTE carrier frequency responsive to the enhanced communication requirement.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining trusted LTE subcarrier frequencies and wherein wirelessly attaching to the LTE network comprises attaching using the trusted LTE subcarrier frequencies responsive to the enhanced communication requirement.

11. A Long Term Evolution (LTE) User Equipment (UE) comprising:

a data processing system configured to determine an enhanced communication requirement, and in response, to determine one or more Network Function Virtualization (NFV) requirements for an LTE network;

a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly attach to the LTE network and wirelessly transfer a first Non-Access Stratum (NAS) file indicating the NFV requirements to the LTE network;

the wireless transceiver configured to receive a second NAS file from the LTE network;

the data processing system configured to process the second NAS file to determine if the LTE network can service the NFV requirements and to direct the wireless transceiver to wirelessly exchange data over the LTE network if the LTE network can service the NFV requirements.

12. The LTE UE of claim 11 wherein the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly attach to the LTE network comprises the wireless transceiver configured to transfer an establishment cause indicating that the NAS file will indicate the NFV requirements.

13. The LTE UE of claim 11 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV Access Point Name (APN) and wherein the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data over the LTE network comprises the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data using on the NFV APN.

14. The LTE UE of claim 11 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV data center and wherein the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data over the LTE network comprises the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data using on the NFV data center.

15. The LTE UE of claim 11 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV server blade and wherein the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data over the LTE network comprises the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data using on the NFV server blade.

16. The LTE UE of claim 11 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV time slice and wherein the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data over the LTE network comprises wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data using on the NFV time slice.

17. The LTE UE of claim 11 wherein the NFV requirements indicate an NFV memory block and wherein the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data over the LTE network comprises the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly exchange the data using on the NFV memory block.

18. The LTE UE of claim 11 further comprising the data processing system configured to determine at least one trusted LTE eNodeB and wherein the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly attach to the LTE network comprises the wireless transceiver configured to attach to at least one trusted LTE eNodeB responsive to the enhanced communication requirement.

19. The LTE UE of claim 11 further comprising the data processing system configured to determine at least one trusted LTE carrier frequency and wherein the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly attach to the LTE network comprises the wireless transceiver configured to attach using the at least one trusted LTE carrier frequency responsive to the enhanced communication requirement.

20. The LTE UE of claim 11 further comprising the data processing system configured to determine trusted LTE subcarrier frequencies and wherein the wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly attach to the LTE network comprises the wireless transceiver configured to attach using the trusted LTE subcarrier frequencies responsive to the enhanced communication requirement.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 055604/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 052969/0475 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041895/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2015
From: MARQUARDT, RONALD R.; PACZKOWSKI, LYLE WALTER; RAJAGOPAL, ARUN
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 035782/0728 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160352537A1 · Dec 1, 2016