IP Library Granted Patent US 8,032,133
Granted Patent B2
US 8,032,133 · App. 11/143,720 · Granted Oct 4, 2011

Selecting a network entity

Assignee: Nokia Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,032,133
App. No.
11/143,720
Granted
Oct 4, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method selects a network entity in a communication system. The method includes receiving, in a controller entity of an unlicensed radio spectrum access network, location information of a communication device connected to one of the unlicensed radio spectrum access network and another access network. The method further includes determining a routing area indication based on the location information. The method further includes selecting, based on the routing area indication, a serving network entity, which provides services for the communication device using at least the unlicensed radio spectrum access network and the another radio access network. Furthermore, a computer program, a controller entity and a communication system are configured to execute the method.

Claims (51)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving location information of a communicator connected to an unlicensed radio spectrum access network or another radio access network;

determining a routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on said location information, wherein the determining comprises selecting the routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on another routing area identity of said another radio access network;

obtaining a mapping of the routing area identity to an internet protocol address of a serving network entity from a domain name server; and

selecting, in a circuit switched part of a controller of the unlicensed radio spectrum access network, the serving network entity using the internet protocol address of the serving network entity, the serving network entity comprising a packet switched part of an unlicensed network controller separate from the circuit switched part, wherein the selecting is based on the mapping of the routing area identity to the internet protocol address of the serving network entity, and

wherein the serving network entity is configured to provide services for said communicator using at least said unlicensed radio spectrum access network and said another radio access network.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving at least one of a cell global identifier, a routing area code and a routing area identity.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting comprises causing a query for the internet protocol address of the serving network entity to be performed using the routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein causing the query to be performed comprises causing the query to be performed from a directory name service.

5. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving the internet protocol address of the serving network entity and using said internet protocol address to select the serving network entity.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

directing providing of said services with a serving general packet radio service support node.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving said location information in one of an unlicensed mobile access network controller and a mobile switching center.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the packet switched part is integrated in a serving general packet radio service support node, wherein the serving general packet radio service support node provides said services.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

causing the packet switched part and the circuit switched part of the unlicensed mobile access network controller to be connected with an interface.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

receiving location information of a communicator connected to the unlicensed radio spectrum access network or another radio access network;

determining a routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on said location information, wherein the determining comprises selecting the routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on another routing area identity of said another radio access network;

obtaining a mapping of the routing area identity to an internet protocol address of the serving network entity from a domain name server; and

selecting, in a circuit switched part of a controller of an unlicensed radio spectrum access network, the serving network entity using the internet protocol address of the serving network entity, the serving network entity comprising a packet switched part of an unlicensed network controller separate from the circuit switched part, wherein the selecting is based on the mapping of the routing area identity to the internet protocol address of the serving network entity, and wherein the serving network entity is configured to provide services for said communicator using at least said unlicensed radio spectrum access network and said another radio access network.

11. 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:

receive location information of a communicator connected to an unlicensed radio spectrum access network or another radio access network;

determine a routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on said location information, wherein being caused to determine the routing area identity comprises selecting the routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on another routing area identity of said another radio access network;

obtain a mapping of the routing area identity to an internet protocol address of the serving network entity from a domain name server; and

select, in a circuit switched part of the unlicensed radio spectrum access network controller, the serving network entity using the internet protocol address of the serving network entity, the serving network entity comprising a packet switched part of an unlicensed network controller, separate from the circuit switched part, wherein the selecting is based on the mapping of the routing area identity to the internet protocol address of the serving network entity, and wherein the serving network entity is configured to provide services for said communicator using at least said unlicensed radio spectrum access network and said another radio access network.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the location information comprises at least one of a cell global identifier, a routing area code and a routing area identity.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform a query for the internet protocol address of the serving network entity using the routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform the query from a directory name service.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to receive the internet protocol address of the serving network entity, and to select the serving network entity using said internet protocol address.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the serving network entity comprises a serving general packet radio service support node.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the apparatus comprises an unlicensed mobile access network controller or a mobile switching center.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the packet switched part is integrated in a serving general packet radio service support node, wherein the serving general packet radio service support node is configured to provide said services.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the packet switched part and the circuit switched part of the unlicensed mobile access network controller are connected with an interface.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a circuit switched part of an unlicensed radio spectrum access network controller, wherein the circuit switched part comprises:

receiving means for receiving location information of a communicator connected to an unlicensed radio spectrum access network or another radio access network;

determining means for determining a routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on said location information, wherein the determining means comprises means for selecting the routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on another routing area identity of said another radio access network;

means for obtaining a mapping of the routing area identity to an internet protocol address of the serving network entity from a domain name server; and

selecting means for selecting the serving network entity using the internet protocol address of the serving network entity, the serving network entity comprising a packet switched part of an unlicensed network controller separate from the circuit switched part, wherein the selecting is based on the mapping of the routing area identity to the internet protocol address of the serving network entity, and wherein the serving network entity is configured to provide services for said communicator using at least said unlicensed radio spectrum access network and said another radio access network.

21. A system, comprising:

a serving network entity configured to provide services for at least an unlicensed mobile access network and another radio access network, wherein the serving network entity comprises at least one packet switched part of an unlicensed mobile access network controller; and

a circuit switched part of an unlicensed radio spectrum access network controller, wherein the circuit switched part is configured to:

receive location information of a communicator connected to an unlicensed radio spectrum access network or another radio access network,

determine a routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on said location information, wherein being configured to determine the routing area identity comprises being configured to select the routing area identity for the unlicensed radio spectrum access network based on another routing area identity of said another radio access network,

obtain a mapping of the routing area identity to an internet protocol address of the serving network entity from a domain name server, and

select the serving network entity using the internet protocol address of the serving network entity;

wherein the serving network entity comprises a packet switched part of an unlicensed network controller, separate from the circuit switched part;

wherein the selecting performed by the circuit switched part is based on the mapping of the routing area identity to the internet protocol address of the serving network entity; and

wherein the serving network entity is configured to provide services for said communicator using at least said unlicensed radio spectrum access network and the another radio access network.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2021
From: TERRIER SSC, LLC
To: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056526/0093 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2021
From: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
To: OT WSOU TERRIER HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056990/0081 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2019
From: OCO OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, L.P. (F/K/A OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND LP
To: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 049246/0405 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2019
From: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
To: BP FUNDING TRUST, SERIES SPL-VI
Reel/Frame 049235/0068 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2017
From: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
To: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 043953/0822 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2017
From: WSOU INVESTMENTS, LLC
To: OMEGA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND, LP
Reel/Frame 043966/0574 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2015
From: NOKIA CORPORATION
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 035442/0976 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2005
From: NIEMELA, TUOMAS; HUOMO, MIIKKA; VIRTANEN, JARMO
To: NOKIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016660/0226 →
Priority Claims (1)
FI 20050369 · Apr 12, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060229068A1 · Oct 12, 2006