Selecting 5G non-standalone architecture capable MME during registration and handover
In one embodiment, a method is performed. A mobility management entity (MME) may determine a network capability. The MME may query a domain name server (DNS) for a plurality of candidate MMEs having the network capability. The MME may select a target MME from the plurality of candidate MMEs.
1. A method comprising:
determining, at a mobility management entity (MME), a network capability of a user equipment (UE), wherein the network capability is obtained by the MME from the UE and the network capability is a fifth generation (5G) non-standalone architecture (NSA) network capability of the UE;
querying a domain name server (DNS) for a plurality of candidate MMEs having the network capability obtained from the UE, wherein the querying includes a service parameter identifying the network capability; and
selecting a target MME from the plurality of candidate MMEs.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining, at the MME, an initial UE message from an evolved node B (eNB) device; and
determining the network capability of the UE based on the initial UE message.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the initial UE message comprises a non-access stratum (NAS) payload, and wherein the method further comprises:
parsing the NAS payload; and
determining the network capability of the UE based on the NAS payload.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending the eNB device a request to redirect the initial UE message to the target MME.
5. The method of claim 1 , method further comprising:
obtaining, at the MME, a handover request for the UE.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein querying the DNS comprises generating a DNS service naming authority pointer (SNAPTR) query.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the DNS SNAPTR query comprises a filter to filter out at least one of the plurality of candidate MMEs that does not have the network capability.
8. A device comprising:
a network interface in communication with a network;
a processor configured to execute computer readable instructions included on a non-transitory memory; and
a non-transitory memory including processor-readable instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the device to
determine a network capability of a user equipment (UE), wherein the network capability is obtained by the device from the UE and the network capability is a fifth generation (5G) non-standalone architecture (NSA) network capability of the UE;
query a domain name server (DNS) for a plurality of candidate mobility management entities (MMEs) having the network capability obtained from the UE, wherein the query includes a service parameter identifying the network capability; and
select a target MME from the plurality of candidate MMEs.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the device to:
obtain an initial UE message from an evolved node B (eNB) device; and
determine the network capability of the UE based on the initial UE message.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the initial UE message comprises a non-access stratum (NAS) payload, and wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the device to:
parse the NAS payload; and
determine the network capability of the UE based on the NAS payload.
11. The device of claim 9 , the processor-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the device to send the eNB device a request to redirect the initial UE message to the target MME.
12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the device to:
obtain a handover request for the UE.
13. The device of claim 8 , wherein querying the DNS comprises generating a DNS service naming authority pointer (SNAPTR) query.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the DNS SNAPTR query comprises a filter to filter out at least one candidate MME that does not have the network capability.
15. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device comprises a mobility management entity (MME).
16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by a computing device with a non-transitory memory and one or more processors, cause the computing device to perform or cause performance of:
determining a network capability of a user equipment (UE), wherein the network capability is obtained by the computing device from the UE and the network capability is a fifth generation (5G) non-standalone architecture (NSA) network capability of the UE;
querying a domain name server (DNS) for a plurality of candidate mobility management entities (MMEs) having the network capability obtained from the UE, wherein the querying includes a service parameter identifying the network capability; and
selecting a target MME from the plurality of candidate MMEs.
17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform or cause performance of:
obtaining an initial UE message from an evolved node B (eNB) device; and
determining the network capability of the UE based on the initial UE message.
18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform or cause performance of:
obtaining a handover request for the UE.
19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein querying the DNS comprises generating a DNS service naming authority pointer (SNAPTR) query.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the DNS SNAPTR query comprises a filter to filter out at least one of the plurality of candidate MMES that does not have the network capability.