IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,641,507
Granted Patent B2
US 12,641,507 · App. 17/917,722 · Granted May 26, 2026

First node, second node, third node and methods performed thereby for handling roaming information

Inventors: Afshin Abtin (Sollentuna, SE); Ralf Keller (Würselen, DE); Ann-Christine Sander (Skepplanda, SE)
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
H04W36/32H04W36/08H04W36/0022
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,641,507
App. No.
17/917,722
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, performed by a first node, for handling roaming information. The first node operates in a first communications network. The first node determines a mobility procedure to be used for a device from a second communications network while roaming into the first communications network. The mobility procedure is related to at least one of: a) an Evolved Packet System (EPS) fallback procedure for a non-emergency service, and b) an Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure. Determining the mobility procedure is based on a preference of the second communications network. The first node then initiates providing an indication of the determined mobility procedure to a second node, which receives the indication and enables usage of the indicated mobility procedure. A third node sends a first indication to the first node indicating the preference.

Claims (59)

1 . A method, performed by a first node, for handling roaming information, the first node operating in a first communications network the method comprising:

receiving a first indication from a third node operating in a second communications network, the first indication indicating a preference of the second communications network for a mobility procedure to be used;

determining, based on the received first indication, a mobility procedure to be used for a device from the second communications network while roaming into the first communications network, the mobility procedure being related to at least one of:

a) an Evolved Packet System, EPS, fallback procedure for a non-emergency service; and

b) an Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure, determining the mobility procedure being based on the preference of the second communications network; and

initiating providing an indication of the determined mobility procedure to a second node operating in the first communications network.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mobility procedure is one of: a redirect method and an inter system handover method.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the third node manages one of a Unified data management, UDM, and a Session Management Function, SMF.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the mobility procedure is further based on at least one of:

a roaming agreement between the first communications network and the second communications network; and

a roaming status of the device.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first node provides the indication based on at least one of:

a service request received from the device, wherein the mobility procedure is related to the Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure;

a first performance of at least one of a Protocol Data Unit, PDU, session setup and PDU session modification for voice, wherein the mobility procedure is related to the Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure using a Quality of Service, QoS; and

a second performance of at least one of a PDU session setup and PDU session modification for voice, wherein the mobility procedure is related to the fallback to EPS procedure for non-emergency service.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the first node provides the indication based on at least one of: a) the service request received from the device and b) the first performance, and wherein the first node provides the indication based on at least one of:

an interaction of the device with the first communications network for establishment of a PDU session for IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, services; and

a registration of the device with the first node.

7 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the first node provides the indication based on at least the service request received from the device, and wherein the first node provides the indication when providing an N2 request for Emergency call back to the second node, the N2 request being based on the received request from the device.

8 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the first node provides the indication based on the second performance, and wherein the first node provides the indication based on at least one of:

a PDU session modification to setup a QoS flow for IMS voice; and

an IMS PDU session setup.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first node manages an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, and the second node manages a Next Generation Radio Access Network node.

10 . A method, performed by a second node, for handling roaming information, the second node operating in a first communications network, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from a first node operating in the first communications network, the indication indicating a mobility procedure to be used for a device from a second communications network while roaming into the first communications network, the mobility procedure being related to at least one of:

a) an Evolved Packet System, EPS, fallback procedure for a non-emergency service; and

b) an Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure, determining the mobility procedure being based on a preference of the second communications network for a mobility procedure to be used;

the receiving of the indication being based on at least one of:

a service request from the device, wherein the mobility procedure is related to the Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure;

a first performance of at least one of a Protocol Data Unit, PDU, session setup and PDU session modification for voice, wherein the mobility procedure is related to the Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure using a Quality of Service, QoS; and

a second performance of at least one of a PDU session setup and PDU session modification for voice, wherein the mobility procedure is related to the fallback to EPS procedure for non-emergency service; and

enabling usage of the indicated mobility procedure for the device.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the mobility procedure is one of: a redirect method and an inter system handover method.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the indicated mobility procedure is further based on at least one of:

a roaming agreement between the first communications network and the second communications network; and

a roaming status of the device.

13 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the second node receives the indication based on at least one of: a) the service request from the device and b) the first performance, and wherein the second node receives the indication based on at least one of:

an interaction of the device with the first communications network for establishment of a PDU session for IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, services, and

a registration of the device with the first node.

14 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the second node receives the indication based on at least the service request from the device, and wherein the second node receives the indication when receiving an N2 request for Emergency call back to the second node, the N2 request being based on the request from the device.

15 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the second node receives the indication based on the second performance, and wherein the second node receives the indication based on at least one of:

a PDU session modification to setup a QoS flow for IMS voice; and

an IMS PDU session setup.

16 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the second node manages a Next Generation Radio Access Network node, and the first node manages an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF.

17 . A first node, for handling roaming information, the first node being configured to operate in a first communications network, the first node being further configured to:

receive a first indication from a third node operating in a second communications network, the first indication indicating a preference of the second communications network for a mobility procedure to be used;

determine, based on the received first indication, a mobility procedure to be used for a device from the second communications network while roaming into the first communications network, the mobility procedure being configured to be related to at least one of:

a) an Evolved Packet System, EPS, fallback procedure for a non-emergency service; and

b) an Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure, to determine the mobility procedure being configured to be based on the preference of the second communications network; and

initiate providing an indication of the mobility procedure configured to be determined, to a second node configured to operate in the first communications network.

18 . A second node, for handling roaming information, the second node configured to operate in a first communications network, the second node being further configured to:

receive an indication from a first node configured to operate in the first communications network, the indication being further configured to indicate a mobility procedure to be used for a device from a second communications network while roaming into the first communications network, the mobility procedure being configured to be related to at least one of:

a) an Evolved Packet System, EPS, fallback procedure for a non-emergency service; and

b) an Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure, to determine the mobility procedure being configured to be based on a preference of the second communications network for a mobility procedure to be used;

the receiving of the indication being based on at least one of:

a service request from the device, wherein the mobility procedure is related to the Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure;

a first performance of at least one of a Protocol Data Unit, PDU, session setup and PDU session modification for voice, wherein the mobility procedure is related to the Emergency Service fallback to EPS procedure using a Quality of Service, QoS; and

a second performance of at least one of a PDU session setup and PDU session modification for voice, wherein the mobility procedure is related to the fallback to EPS procedure for non-emergency service; and

enable usage of the mobility procedure configured to be indicated, for the device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2022
From: ABTIN, AFSHIN; KELLER, RALF; SANDER, ANN-CHRISTINE
To: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
Reel/Frame 061717/0679 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230164659A1 · May 25, 2023
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