Routing Based on Access Point Name (APN) Information

Abstract

It is desirable for a user equipment (UE) 100 to be able to determine if connecting using an access point name (APN) would result in a home routed or local breakout (LBO) routed connection. With this information, the UE can decide which APNs to use for packet data network (PDN) connections e.g. to ensure that the bearers on the PDN connection are able to carry certain services which are incompatible with home routing or LBO routing, or to ensure that charging is carried out by the home or visited network, as desired (e.g. to avoid roaming fees). Alternatively, the user can be presented with the option of home routing or LBO routing for a connection. In order to provide this information to the UE, modified signalling is proposed, among others, by means of a method of operating a mobility management entity (MME) 200 in a mobile telecommunications network. The MME provides, S103, to a UE a mapping between an APN that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a PGN gateway and a routing type associated with the connection. The routing type is one of home routing and local breakout, LBO, routing. The UE is roaming in a geographical area controlled by the MME.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A method of operating a mobility management entity (MME) in a telecommunications network, the method comprising: providing, to a user equipment (UE), a mapping between an access point name (APN) that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a packet data network (PDN) gateway, and a routing type associated with the connection, wherein the routing type is one of home routing and local breakout (LBO) routing; wherein the UE is roaming in a geographical area controlled by the MME.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing a plurality of such mappings, each mapping being for a different APN.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising, prior to the providing the mapping, detecting establishment of a connection between the UE and the APN.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the mapping is provided within a PDN connectivity accept message sent by the MME during the establishment of a connection between the UE and the APN.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving a routing type query received from the UE, wherein the mapping is provided in response to receipt of the routing type query.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the routing type query indicates the APN.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the providing the mapping comprises sending an Attach Accept message to the UE during attachment of the UE to the MME, the Attach Accept message containing the mapping.

33. A method of operating a user equipment (UE) in a telecommunications network, the method comprising: receiving, from a mobility management entity (MME), a mapping between an access point name (APN) that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a packet data network (PDN) gateway, and a routing type associated with the connection, wherein the routing type is one of home routing and local breakout (LBO) routing; making a connection decision based on the mapping; wherein the UE is roaming in a geographical area controlled by the MME.

34. The method of claim 33: further comprising receiving a plurality of such mappings, each mapping being for a different APN; wherein the connection decision is made based on one or more of the plurality of mappings.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the connection decision comprises selecting one of the APNs for use in establishing a connection for a service.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising sending a routing type query to the MME.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the routing type query specifies the APN.

38. An apparatus configured to operate as a mobility management entity (MME) in a telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the MME is operative to: provide, to a user equipment (UE), a mapping between an access point name (APN) that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a packet data network (PDN) gateway, and a routing type associated with the connection, wherein the routing type is one of home routing and local breakout (LBO) routing; wherein the UE is roaming in a geographical area controlled by the MME

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the instructions are such that the MME is operable to provide a plurality of such mappings, each mapping being for a different APN.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the instructions are such that the MME is operable to: detect establishment of a connection between the UE and the APN; and provide the mapping in response to the detection of the connection between the UE and the APN.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the instructions are such that the MME is operable to provide the mapping within a PDN connectivity accept message sent by the APN connection unit during the establishment of the connection between the UE and the APN.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the instructions are such that the MME is operable to receive a routing type query from the UE, and to provide the mapping in response to receiving the routing type query.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the instructions are such that the MME is operable to identify the APN from the routing type query.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the instructions are such that the MME is operable to provide the mapping by sending an Attach Accept message to the UE during attachment of the UE to the MME, the Attach Accept message containing the mapping.

45. Apparatus configured to operate as a user equipment (UE) in a telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive, from a mobility management entity (MME), when the UE is roaming in a geographical area controlled by the MME, a mapping between an access point name (APN) that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a packet data network (PDN) gateway, and a routing type associated with the connection, wherein the routing type is one of home routing and local breakout (LBO) routing; processing circuitry configured to make a connection decision based on the mapping.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein: the receiver is configured to receive a plurality of such mappings, each mapping being for a different APN; and the processing circuitry is configured to make the connection decision based on one or more of the plurality of mappings.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the connection decision comprises selecting one of the APNs for use in establishing a connection for a service.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising a sender configured to send a routing type query to the MME.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the routing type query specifies the APN.

50. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a computer program product for controlling operation of a mobility management entity (MME) in a telecommunications network, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on processing circuitry of the MME, causes the MME to: provide, to a user equipment (UE), a mapping between an access point name (APN) that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a packet data network (PDN) gateway, and a routing type associated with the connection, wherein the routing type is one of home routing and local breakout (LBO) routing; wherein the UE is roaming in a geographical area controlled by the MME.

51. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a computer program product for controlling a user equipment (UE) in a telecommunications network, the computer program product comprising software instructions which, when run on processing circuitry of the UE, causes the UE to: receive, from a mobility management entity (MME), a mapping between an access point name (APN) that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a packet data network (PDN) gateway, and a routing type associated with the connection, wherein the routing type is one of home routing and local breakout (LBO) routing; make a connection decision based on the mapping; wherein the UE is roaming in a geographical area controlled by the MME.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a network diagram showing a local breakout routed connection;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a network diagram showing a home routed connection;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a signalling diagram showing an initial attachment to the network by a UE;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a signalling diagram showing PDN connection establishment by a UE;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a signalling diagram of a method according to an embodiment;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a signalling diagram of a method according to an embodiment;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a signalling diagram of a method according to an embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a UE according to an embodiment;

[0026] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an MME according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] It is desirable for the UE to be able to determine if connecting using an APN would result in a home routed or LBO routed connection. With this information, the UE can decide which APNs to use for PDN connections e.g. to ensure that the bearers on the PDN connection are able to carry certain services which are incompatible with home routing or LBO routing, or to ensure that charging is carried out by the home or visited network, as desired (e.g. to avoid roaming fees). Alternatively, the user can be presented with the option of home routing or LBO routing for a connection.

[0028] In order to provide this information to the UE, modified signalling is proposed below. This signalling provides the UE with a mapping between one or more APNs and the routing types which would result from connection to each APN. Embodiments are presented which provide this mapping to the UE within existing signalling. Alternatively, the mapping may be provided to the UE within new signalling (i.e. within a message that would not be sent during conventional operation).

[0029] There are four main embodiments considered below: [0030] In the first embodiment, the mapping is provided to the UE during PDN connection establishment, and the mapping relates at least to the APN used during the PDN connection establishment. [0031] In the second embodiment, the mapping is provided to the UE during initial attach to a mobility management entity, MME, and relates to one or more of the APNs available to the UE. [0032] In the third embodiment, the mapping is requested by the UE during or subsequent to initial attach to the MME. [0033] In the fourth embodiment, the mapping is pre-configured into the UE, e.g. into the USIM

[0034] Each embodiment involves a UE 100 and a MME 200 which are modified to implement the embodiment. No modifications are required to other network nodes.

[0035] Turning to the first embodiment, the mapping is provided during PDN connection establishment as shown in FIG. 5. This is equivalent to the signalling shown in FIG. 4, except as noted below. The mapping may be provided to the UE by the MME in the PDN connectivity accept message C7. This may be done each time the UE performs a PDN connection establishment when the UE is in a visited network, or it may only be done if the UE requests such. Alternatively, the UE could request the mapping in a Ciphered Options Response message (not shown in the figures). The mapping will relate to at least the APN which the UE is connecting to (as specified in the PDN connectivity request), and may also relate to other APNs, such as APNs specified by the UE.

[0036] The request for a mapping from the UE and/or the other APNs specified by the UE may be included in new fields of the PDN connectivity request message C1. Alternatively, they may be included in a new message sent by the UE during PDN connection establishment.

[0037] This information may be used by the UE to inform the user of the charging rules which are in effect for the session, or to request an additional PDN connection if the routing is of an undesirable type.

[0038] Considering the second embodiment, the mapping is provided during initial attachment of the UE to the MME as shown in FIG. 6. This is equivalent to the signalling shown in FIG. 3, except as noted below. The mapping is provided to the UE by the MME in the Attach Accept message D9. This may be done each time the UE performs an initial attachment to an MME when the UE is in a visited network, or it may only be done if the UE requests such a mapping. The mapping may relate to all or a subset of the APNs available to the UE, it may relate to a set of APNs specified by the UE, or it may relate to one or more preferred APNs of each routing type (e.g. a preferred home routed APN and a preferred LBO routed APN).

[0039] The request for a mapping from the UE and/or the APNs specified by the UE may be included in new fields of the Attach Request message C1. Alternatively, they may be included in a Ciphered Options Response sent by the UE. As a further alternative, they may be included in a new message sent by the UE during PDN connection establishment.

[0040] This information allows the UE to choose for later PDN connections whether the PDN connection will be home routed or LBO routed. This decision may be presented to the user (e.g. to allow the user to choose between two sets of charging rules), or it may be made on a service specific basis (e.g. to avoid using home routed APNs for services which are only available with LBO routing and vice versa).

[0041] Considering the third embodiment, the mapping is provided in response to receiving a routing type query from the UE. The signalling for this embodiment is shown in FIG. 7. The routing type query E1 may be included within some other message sent from the UE to the MME, or it may be a new message. The query may specify a set of APNs or a single APN for which routing information is desired, and if so the mapping will include information on at least those APNs. The response is provided within a routing type response E2, which may be included within some other message sent from the UE to the MME, or may be a new message.

[0042] Considering the fourth embodiment, the mapping may be provided to the UE prior to the initial attachment to the MME, for example it may be provided in the USIM of the UE. This embodiment requires no extra signalling, but it does not allow APNs to be reassigned, or dynamically assigned to home routed and LBO routed PGWs, since UEs which are unaware of the reassignment would incorrectly conclude whether the APN is home routed or LBO routed.

[0043] The mapping may take various forms. In one example, the mapping may be a list of APNs, specifying for each APN whether it is home routed or LBO routed. This may take the form of a Boolean variable, with “true” indicating home routing, and “false” indicating LBO routing, or vice versa. In a further example, the mapping may comprise two lists, with one list containing APNs which are home routed, and one list containing APNs which are LBO routed. In a further example, the mapping may be a single list of APNs, all of which have one routing type (e.g. all of which are home routed), and it is assumed that any APNs not on the list have the other routing type.

[0044] The UE may use the information within the mapping in various ways.

[0045] The UE may inform the user which routing type is used while roaming. This may be of particular use if there are differing charging rules for LBO and home routing. The user may be able to block the use of either type of APN.

[0046] The UE may select a certain routing type e.g. on the basis of user preferences, or for certain services. Or the UE may use existing connections for certain services, e.g. the UE may use the IMS APN for XCAP/Ut and/or for IMAP/HTTP/XCAP if it determines that the IMS APN is home routed (XCAP requests sent over an LBO routed connection will not reach the home network). This avoids the need for special solutions when the user has turned mobile data off, and the internet APN (usually off when data is off) is configured as an APN for XCAP.

[0047] The UE may decide to use alternative services in some circumstances, e.g. the UE may decide to the RCS IP Call instead of IR.92/IR.94 video call, even if IMS Voice over PS support is indicated by the MME.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of providing routing information to the UE. The UE 100 sends a routing type query to the MME (S101a) or attaches to the MME or a PGW represented by an APN (S101b). The MME 200 receives the routing type query (S102a) or detects the attachment of the UE to the MME or PGW (S102b) as appropriate. In response, the MME 200 provides a mapping between an APN that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a PGW, and a routing type associated with the connection (S103). The UE receives the mapping (S104) and makes a connection decision using the mapping (S105), e.g. selecting or reselecting an APN to connect to on the basis of the routing type associated with the APN in the mapping.

[0049] FIG. 9 is a schematic of a UE 100 according to an embodiment. The UE 100 comprises a receiver 101 and a connection decision unit 102. The receiver is configured to receive, from a mobility management entity, MME, when the UE is roaming in a geographical area controlled by the MME, a mapping between an APN, that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a PDN gateway, and a routing type associated with the connection, the routing type being one of home routing and LBO routing. The connection decision unit 102 is configured to make a connection decision based on said mapping.

[0050] The UE 100 may further comprise a sender 103 configured to send a routing type query to the MME.

[0051] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an MME 200 according to an embodiment. The MME comprises an APN information unit 201. The APN information unit is configured to provide, to a user equipment, UE, a mapping between an access point name, APN, that has been or may be used by the UE to establish a connection to a packet data network, PDN, gateway, and a routing type associated with the connection, the routing type being one of home routing and local breakout, LBO, routing; wherein the UE is roaming in a geographical area controlled by the MME.

[0052] The MME may also comprise an APN connection unit configured to detect establishment of a connection between the UE and the APN, wherein the APN information unit is configured to provide the mapping in response to said detection by the APN connection unit.

[0053] Although the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments as set forth above, it should be understood that these embodiments are illustrative only and that the claims are not limited to those embodiments. Those skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and alternatives in view of the disclosure which are contemplated as falling within the scope of the appended claims. Each feature disclosed or illustrated in the present specification may be incorporated in the invention, whether alone or in any appropriate combination with any other feature disclosed or illustrated herein.