Apparatus and methods for registration and operation in wireless networks
Apparatus and methods for registration of e.g., mobile devices in one or more wireless networks. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide enhanced wireless services which enable operation of a given mobile device (e.g., a 3GPP-compliant UE) within two or more mobile networks (e.g., PLMNs) of respective different operators. In one implementation, the UE operates in dual-registration mode or DRM to allow different interworking between the two networks, and includes independent registration capability to 5GC and EPC infrastructure simultaneously. Accordingly, the UE is provided umbrella 4G/4.5G coverage over one or more small-cell 5G networks, with respective independent operators of each. Enhanced DRM-UEe capability as described herein advantageously allows for service provision (e.g., voice service) and interworking between the macro and small-cell layers of the system without complicated network configuration requirements between the two operating networks.
1. A computerized mobile device configured for use within multiple mobile network environments, the computerized mobile device comprising:
digital processor apparatus;
at least one wireless interface apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and configured for wireless communication with at least a first radio area network (RAN) utilizing a first wireless access technology and a second RAN utilizing a second wireless access technology;
storage apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and comprising a storage medium, the storage medium comprising at least one computer program, the at least one computer program, configured to, when executed on the digital processor apparatus:
establish data communication with a first network management entity associated with the first RAN, the first network management entity associated with a first network operator and a first mobile network; and
establish data communication with a second network management entity associated with the second RAN, the second network management entity associated with a second network operator and a second mobile network;
wherein the data communication with the first network management entity and the data communication with the second network management entity are maintained contemporaneously by the computerized mobile device for transacting user data with each of the first mobile network and the second mobile network; and
subscriber identity module logic in data communication with the digital processor apparatus, the subscriber identity module logic configured to: (i) provide first data relating to a first land mobile network (LMN), the first data enabling the establishment of the data communication with the first network management entity, and (ii) provide second data relating to a second land mobile network (LMN), the second data enabling the establishment of the data communication with the second network management entity.
2. The computerized mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first wireless access technology comprises a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based technology;
the second wireless access technology comprises a 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G-NR)-based technology;
the first mobile network comprises a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) of the computerized mobile device; and
the second mobile network comprises a public land mobile network (PLMN) which the computerized mobile device is visiting.
3. The computerized mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first wireless access technology comprises a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based technology, and the first mobile network comprises a cellular mobile network infrastructure; and
the second wireless access technology comprises a 3GPP New Radio (5G-NR)-based technology, and the second mobile network comprises a small-cell based mobile network infrastructure.
4. The computerized mobile device of claim 3 , wherein:
the first network operator comprises a cellular Mobile Network Operator (MNO);
the second network operator comprises a Multiple Systems Operator (MSO) of a terrestrial hybrid fiber coaxial network; and
the small-cell based mobile network infrastructure of the second mobile network is backhauled at least in part by the terrestrial hybrid fiber coaxial network.
5. The computerized mobile device of claim 3 , wherein a coverage area of the first mobile network both: (i) exceeds that of the second mobile network; and (ii) acts as an umbrella coverage area for the second mobile network such that one or more coverage gaps experienced by the computerized mobile device when using the second wireless access technology during said contemporaneous maintenance are supplemented by the first wireless access technology.
6. The computerized mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first wireless access technology comprises a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based technology, and the first mobile network comprises a cellular mobile network infrastructure configured to provide at least voice telephony services to users thereof;
the second wireless access technology comprises a 3GPP New Radio (5G-NR)-based technology, and the second mobile network comprises a small-cell based mobile network infrastructure configured to provide broadband data services; and
the contemporaneous maintenance enables the provision of the voice telephony services to computerized mobile devices whose users subscribe only to the small-cell based mobile network infrastructure.
7. The computerized mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the contemporaneous maintenance of the data communication with the first network management entity associated with the first RAN and the data communication with the second network management entity associated with the second RAN comprises maintaining at least (i) a first RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection for the data communication with the first network management entity and (ii) a second RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection for the data communication with the second network management entity.
8. The computerized mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:
the computerized mobile device comprises a 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) compliant user equipment (UE);
the first land mobile network (LMN) comprises a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) for the UE; and
the second land mobile network (LMN) comprises a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) for the UE.
9. The computerized mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the subscriber identity module logic is part of a common Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM).
10. The computerized mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the first network management entity and the second network management entity are not affiliated or federated.
11. The computerized mobile device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first wireless access technology comprises a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based technology;
the second wireless access technology comprises a 3GPP New Radio (5G-NR)-based technology; and
the computerized mobile device is further configured to support DRM (Dual Registration Mode) operation.
12. A computerized mobile device configured for use within multiple mobile network environments, the computerized mobile device comprising:
digital processor apparatus;
at least one wireless interface apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and configured for wireless communication with at least a first radio area network (RAN) utilizing a first wireless access technology and a second RAN utilizing a second wireless access technology;
storage apparatus in data communication with the digital processor apparatus and comprising a storage medium, the storage medium comprising at least one computer program, the at least one computer program, configured to, when executed on the digital processor apparatus:
establish data communication with a first network management entity associated with the first RAN, the first network management entity associated with a first network operator and a first mobile network; and
establish data communication with a second network management entity associated with the second RAN, the second network management entity associated with a second network operator and a second mobile network;
wherein:
the data communication with the first network management entity and the data communication with the second network management entity are maintained contemporaneously by the computerized mobile device for transacting user data with each of the first mobile network and the second mobile network; and
a coverage area of the first mobile network both: (i) exceeds that of the second mobile network; and (ii) acts as an umbrella coverage area for the second mobile network such that one or more coverage gaps experienced by the computerized mobile device when using the second wireless access technology during said contemporaneous maintenance are supplemented by the first wireless access technology.
13. The computerized mobile device of claim 12 , wherein:
the first mobile network comprises a first land mobile network (LMN); and
the second mobile network comprises a second LMN.
14. Computerized network apparatus for use within a wireless network infrastructure, the computerized network apparatus comprising:
a mobility management entity (MME) process configured to at least recognize one or more prescribed 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR)-based network migration or transition signals generated from one or more 3GPP 5G NR compliant UE (user equipment) to enable simultaneous operation of the one or more 3GPP 5G NR compliant UE associated with first and second distinct land mobile networks (LMNs);
wherein the computerized network apparatus is configured to utilize at least the 3GPP 5G NR-based network migration or transition signals received from the one or more 3GPP 5G NR compliant UE to cause configuration of indicator data in a transmission to a network management entity process associated with the first LMN; and
wherein the configuration of the indicator data in the transmission to the network management entity process associated with the first LMN comprises causation of the MME to not utilize prescribed attachment data which would otherwise be used by the MME, the non-utilization of the prescribed attachment data resulting in the network management entity process not cancelling an extant registration of the one or more 3GPP 5G NR compliant UE with a 5G NR network entity.
15. The computerized network apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the computerized network apparatus comprises a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) Mobility Management Entity (MME) process, and the network management entity process comprises a 3GPP compliant HSS+UDM (Home Subscriber Service and User Data Management) entity.
16. The computerized network apparatus of claim 14 , wherein:
the first and second distinct (LMNs) are associated with a Fifth Generation Core (5GC) infrastructure and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) infrastructure, respectively; and
the indicator data comprises data indicative that the one or more 3GPP 5G NR compliant UE is moving from the 5GC infrastructure to the EPC infrastructure.
17. Computerized network apparatus for use within a wireless network infrastructure, the computerized network apparatus comprising:
a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) HSS+UDM (Home Subscriber Service and User Data Management) entity configured to maintain a first registration of a user equipment (UE) within a first mobile network and a second registration of the UE with a second mobile network simultaneously, the first mobile network comprising a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) network operated by a first network operator, and the second mobile network comprising a 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR) network operated by a second network operator different from the first network operator;
wherein:
the 3GPP LTE network comprises a second public land mobile network identifier (PLMN ID);
the 3GPP 5G NR network comprises a first PLMN ID;
the maintenance of both the first registration and the second registration simultaneously comprises operation of the UE using both the first PLMN ID and the second PLMN ID; and
the computerized network apparatus comprises logic configured to, when executed, cause operation of the wireless network infrastructure by at least:
identification of the first registration of the UE within the first mobile network;
receipt of data relating to the second registration of the UE within the second mobile network;
an evaluation of the received data relating to the second registration for prescribed data;
a determination that the prescribed data is not present within the received data relating to the second registration; and
based at least on the determination, enablement of the maintenance of both the first registration and the second registration simultaneously.
18. The computerized network apparatus of claim 17 , wherein:
the computerized network apparatus comprises computerized logic configured for data communication with both (i) an MME (mobility management entity) of the 3GPP LTE network, and (ii) an AMF (access and mobility management function) of the 3GPP 5G NR network.
19. The computerized network apparatus of claim 17 , wherein:
the receipt of the data comprises receipt of the data from an AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) of the 3GPP 5G NR network; and
the identification comprises communication with a mobility management entity (MME) of the 3GPP LTE network.
20. The computerized network apparatus of claim 17 , wherein:
the first mobile network comprises a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) of the UE; and
the second mobile network comprises a public land mobile network (PLMN) which the UE is visiting.