Notification and trigger for service layers and applications in a small cell network
In current approaches to M2M architectures, no interworking application programming interfaces (API's) are exposed to the service layers that are in the local network. Thus, a service layer might not able to make various requests including, for example, that devices be triggered, that the service layer receive notifications when devices are connected to the network, and that the service layer receive notifications when devices are no longer connected to the network. Described herein is a small cell architecture that provides an interworking interface to applications and service layers that reside in the local small cell network. For example, a small cell or eNB may send a notification, for example to a Local Security Capability Exposure Function (L-SCEF) or a core network function, when a UE attaches to or disconnects from a local network.
1. A base station comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the base station being connected to a local network via its communication circuitry, the base station further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the base station which, when executed by the processor of the base station, cause the base station to perform operations comprising:
receiving a connection notification request, the connection notification request indicating that a node, the node being a node of the local network, be notified when a user equipment (UE) connects to the local network,
wherein the connection notification request comprises an identifier of the local network, an application server identifier, the identifier of the local network comprising a local gateway address or a local home network identifier, and
wherein the UE is capable of connecting to the local network via a local base station;
the operations further comprising sending a notification when the UE attaches to the local base station and there is a local IP network available to the UE, the notification comprising the application server identifier and an identifier of the UE.
2. The base station as recited in claim 1 , the base station further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor of the base station, cause the base station to perform further operations comprising sending a notification when the UE disconnects from the local network.
3. The base station as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base station is authorized to send the notification by a core network function.
4. The base station as recited in claim 3 , wherein the authorization to send the notification and information related thereto is received in an Initial Context Setup/Attach Accept message, a Tracking Area Update Accept Message, or a Path Switch Request Acknowledge message.
5. The base station as recited in claim 4 , wherein subscription information associated with the UE indicates to the core network function that the base station is authorized to send the notification.
6. The base station as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base station is authorized to send the notification by an administrator associated with the local network.
7. The base station as recited in claim 1 , the base station further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor of the base station, cause the base station to perform further operations comprising:
receiving a trigger request to trigger the UE, the trigger request indicating an access point name associated with the local network, such that the UE establishes a local IP access connection with the local network.
8. The base station as recited in claim 7 , the base station further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor of the base station, cause the base station to perform further operations comprising forwarding the trigger request to a core network function for delivery to the UE.
9. The base station as recited in claim 8 , the base station further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor of the base station, cause the base station to perform further operations comprising formatting the trigger request for the core network function as an NAS PDU or an SMS over NAS PDU.
10. The base station as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base station is a small cell, eNodeB, NodeB, Home eNodeB, or Home NodeB.
11. The base station of claim 1 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the base station to receive an authorization to send, to a plurality of nodes within the local network, notifications and information related to the UE.