METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING INTER-RADIO-ACCESS-TECHNOLOGIES FOR SERVICES

Abstract

A method and apparatus may receive policy information from a network. The policy information indicates at least one preferred radio-access-technology for a service. The method may also include entering a coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology. The method may also include detecting that the service corresponding to the at least one preferred radio-access-technology is offered in the coverage area. The method may also include initiating a request for setup of the detected service.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a user equipment, policy information from a network, wherein the policy information indicates at least one preferred radio-access-technology for a service; entering a coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology; detecting that the service corresponding to the at least one preferred radio-access-technology is offered in the coverage area; and initiating a request for setup of the detected service.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving the policy information comprises receiving information indicating that the service prefers Long-Term-Evolution, 2G, 3G, and/or 5G.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the entering the coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology comprises entering a coverage area of 5G.

4. The method according to any of claim 1, wherein the service corresponding to the at least one preferred radio-access-technology comprises at least one of vehicle-to-vehicle service, machine-to-machine service, tactile internet service, mobile broadband service, public safety service, industrial control service, railways service, and device-to-device service.

5. 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, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to receive policy information from a network, wherein the policy information indicates at least one preferred radio-access-technology for a service; detect that the service corresponding to the at least one preferred radio-access-technology is offered in a coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology, wherein the detecting occurs when the apparatus has entered the coverage area; and initiate a request for setup of the detected service.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the receiving the policy information comprises receiving information indicating that the service prefers Long-Term-Evolution, 2G, 3G, and/or 5G.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the entering the coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology comprises entering the coverage area of 5G.

8. The apparatus according to any of claim 5, wherein the service corresponding to the at least one preferred radio-access-technology comprises at least one of vehicle-to-vehicle service, machine-to-machine service, tactile internet service, mobile broadband service, public safety service, industrial control service, railways service, and device-to-device service.

9. A computer program, embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform a method according to claim 1.

10. A method, comprising: transmitting, by network node, policy information to a user equipment, wherein the policy information indicates at least one preferred radio-access-technology for a service; and initiating a request for setup of the service, wherein the request is received from the user equipment, the request is transmitted by the user equipment after the user equipment enters a coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology corresponding to the service.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the transmitting the policy information comprises transmitting information indicating that the service prefers Long-Term-Evolution, 2G, 3G, and/or 5G.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the user equipment entering the coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology comprises entering a coverage area of 5G.

13. The method according to any of claim 10, wherein the initiating the request for setup of the service comprises initiating setup of at least one of vehicle-to-vehicle service, machine-to-machine service, tactile internet service, mobile broadband service, public safety service, industrial control service, railways service, and device-to-device service.

14-17. (canceled)

18. A computer program, embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform a method according to claim 10.

19-44. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] For proper understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates an example evolved-packet core architecture.

[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates an example 5G architecture.

[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates an example 5G deployment.

[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates control-plane (C-plane) connectivity of evolved Node Bs involved in dual connectivity.

[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates user-plane (U-plane) connectivity of evolved Node Bs involved in dual connectivity.

[0053] FIG. 6 illustrates example architectures for dual connectivity.

[0054] FIG. 7 illustrates an example use case in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 8 illustrates user-equipment-initiated service setup in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 9 illustrates network-initiated service setup in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0058] FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0059] FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0060] FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0061] FIG. 14 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0062] FIG. 15 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0063] FIG. 16 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0064] FIG. 17 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

[0065] FIG. 18 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] Embodiments of the present invention relate to implementing inter-radio-access-technologies (inter RAT) for different services. Embodiments of the present invention may trigger setup of dual connectivity from one radio-access technology to another radio-access technology (such as from LTE to 5G, from 5G to WiFi, and/or from LTE to WiFi, for example) so that the UE is connected to both radio-access technologies. The setup of dual connectivity may be triggered when a need for a new service is detected. This triggering may ensure that dual connectivity is established “on demand,” and thus resources may be used more efficiently.

[0067] As described in greater detail below, the setup of dual connectivity can be initiated by a user equipment (UE) or by a network. According to a first option, dual connectivity may be initiated by the UE. When the UE is registered for a first radio-access technology (such as being registered for LTE, for example) with the common core network, the UE may receive policy information from the network regarding the preferred radio-access technologies (RATs) for different services. For example, LTE/2G/3G may be preferred for voice, 5G/LTE may be preferred for internet services, and/or 5G may be preferred for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) services.

[0068] Once the UE enters a coverage area of a second radio-access technology (such as a 5G coverage area), the UE may detect that new services (such as V2V services, machine-to-machine services, tactile internet services, mobile broadband services, public safety services, industrial control services, railways services, and device-to-device services, for example) are offered by the network. The UE may know that 5G is preferred for V2V, and the UE may also know that the UE is currently in an area where 5G coverage is available. The UE may know that the UE is in an area where 5G coverage is available based on a measurement report, for example. As such, in one embodiment of the present invention, the UE may initiate requests for service setup, which may trigger setup of a radio-resource-control (RRC) connection in 5G.

[0069] According to a second option, the network may initiate dual connectivity. When the UE is registered for a first radio-access technology (such as being registered for LTE, for example) with the common core network, the UE may receive policy information from the network regarding the preferred RATs for different services. When the network detects a need for a new service (such as with mobile-terminated cases, for example) that can be served only by a certain radio-access technology (such as 5G, for example), then the network can trigger the UE to establish services in 5G using one of the following two methods. In one method, the network may notify the UE via evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). In another method, the network may page the UE via 5G radio, if the UE is connected in E-UTRAN but also listens to a paging channel in 5G.

[0070] In view of the above, embodiments of the present invention may provide the benefit of improving mobility robustness with inter RAT handovers. For example, when the UE loses 5G coverage, the UE may still have a RRC connection in LTE. When the UE enters a 5G area from an LTE area, where LTE is still offered in the 5G area, the UE need not relinquish the LTE connection, thus obtaining more reliable service. As such, a new service setup may be the first trigger for a establishing a 5G connection.

[0071] FIG. 1 illustrates an example evolved-packet core architecture. In general, evolved-packet system (EPS) technologies may be considered to be the successor to general-packet-radio system (GPRS) technologies. EPS may provide a new radio interface and may provide new packet core network functions for broadband-wireless data access. Such EPS core network functions may include a mobility management entity (MME) 100, a packet data network gateway (PDN-GW) 110, and/or a serving gateway (S-GW) 120.

[0072] A common-packet domain core network may be used for radio-access networks (RAN), GSM EDGE radio access networks (GERAN), and/or UMTS terrestrial radio access networks (UTRAN). This common-packet domain core network may also provide general-packet-radio-service (GPRS) services.

[0073] 5G systems may provide new mobile low-latency and ultra-reliable services. Some services, like vehicle-to-vehicle/vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) services, may be more efficiently provided by 5G systems as compared to being provided by other systems. FIG. 2 illustrates an example 5G architecture.

[0074] FIG. 3 illustrates an example 5G deployment. During the early days of 5G deployment, the 5G coverage area will not be expected to be nationwide. As such, it may be desirable to develop a method for enabling 5G devices (such as a UE) to camp in other radio access technologies (such as, for example, LTE) which are widely available, so that the UE does not immediately lose the connection to the network upon losing 5G coverage.

[0075] Traditional inter-RAT handover (HO) was designed for macrocells with larger corresponding coverage areas. As such, frequent mobility (and the corresponding ping-pong effects) was not expected to occur when using the traditional approaches. This means that the border of each RAT is not widely spread over the coverage. However, because 5G cells use high-frequency spectrum (such as cmWave and mmWave), the cell sizes of the 5G cells will generally be small. Also, because 5G may be utilized for throughput booster, the 5G and other RAT borders will generally be much wider, and frequent RAT changes are expected. Thus, it may be desirable to consider methods that improve mobility robustness and reliability.

[0076] Dual connectivity is defined in LTE to increase the capacity per UE. FIG. 4 illustrates a control-plane (C-plane) connectivity of evolved Node Bs involved in dual connectivity. FIG. 5 illustrates user-plane (U-plane) connectivity of evolved Node Bs involved in dual connectivity. FIG. 6 illustrates example architectures for dual connectivity. With dual-connectivity (DC), radio-resource-control (RRC) signalling may be provided by only a master evolved Node B (MeNB) to a UE. The MeNB may be responsible to set up DC and to tear down DC, even though a secondary eNB (SeNB) may tear down DC for local reasons. The MeNB may also decide which bearer is to be served by the SeNB.

[0077] As described above, certain embodiments of the present invention may activate dual connectivity. For example, certain embodiments of the present invention may activate LTE/5G dual connectivity for optimized interworking between LTE and 5G. For Mobile-Originated (MO) cases, a common core network (via, for example, a connection-manager gateway (cMGW)) may provide mapping between services and suitable RATs (such as providing a mapping table, for example), and the UE may trigger a service according to the provided mapping. For Mobile-Terminated (MT) cases, the common core network may provide an indication that a 5G service has to be activated via a legacy RAT to which the UE is currently connected to. This activation can be performed via an Access Stratum (AS) layer or via a non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer. Depending on the availability of 5G, the core network may receive either a positive or a negative feedback per each 5G activation request.

[0078] For MT cases, the core network may page the UE directly while the UE is in the 5G area. Certain embodiments of the present invention may be applicable to LTE and Wi-Fi interworking, as well as to 5G and Wi-Fi interworking.

[0079] Certain embodiments of the present invention may trigger setup of dual connectivity upon detection that a new service may be needed. This triggering may enable establishment of an RRC connection in both RATs, and thus, certain embodiments of the present invention may improve reliability of the connection. Certain embodiments of the present invention may improve the reliability of the connection while ensuring that dual connectivity is established only “on demand.” By ensuring that dual connectivity is established “on demand,” the resources may be used more efficiently.

[0080] FIG. 7 illustrates an example use case in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. With certain embodiments of the present invention, the UE may be served by LTE, and the UE may obtain services that can be offered by the LTE network (such as voice-over-LTE and/or internet services, for example).

[0081] FIG. 8 illustrates user-equipment initiated service setup in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Certain embodiments of the present invention may be directed to a UE-initiated setup of a service that triggers dual connectivity to 5G. When the UE is registered for LTE with the common core network (via a cMGW, for example), the UE receives policy information from the network regarding the preferred RAT information for different services. The received information may be a mapping between access-point-names/service-flow-identifiers (APN/SFID) and preferred RATs. This mapping may indicate that LTE/2G/3G is preferred for voice, that 5G/LTE is preferred for internet services, and/or that 5G is preferred for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) services, for example.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 7, when the UE moves from point A to B, the UE enters a 5G coverage area. In this 5G coverage area, the UE may detect that new V2V services are offered by the network. The UE may determine that new V2V services are offered, for example, based on a service announcement transmitted to the UE by a traffic controller in the area, for example. The UE may also detect that new V2V services are offered based on a trigger from the user as the user initiates a new application that requires setup of V2V services, for example.

[0083] When the UE determines that V2V services are needed, the UE may be aware that 5G is preferred for V2V. The UE may also be aware that the UE is currently in an area where 5G coverage is available. The UE may be aware that the UE is in the area where 5G coverage is available, for example, based on a measurement report. So, the UE may initiate requests for service setup which triggers setup of RRC connections in 5G.

[0084] FIG. 9 illustrates network-initiated service setup in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Certain embodiments of the present invention may be directed to a network-detected service triggering of dual connectivity to 5G. When the UE is registered for LTE with the common core network (via a cMGW, for example), the UE may indicate the UE's preference for 5G services to the core network. So, the core network may perform a subscription check for 5G, and the network may also provide service-based RAT preferences to the UE. Thus, the UE may receive policy information from the network regarding the preferred RATs for different services. This could be a mapping between APN/SFID and preferred RATs. This mapping may indicate that LTE/2G/3G is preferred for voice, that 5G/LTE is preferred for internet services, and/or that 5G is preferred for V2V services, for example.

[0085] The network may remember that the UE is interested in 5G services. When the network detects the need for a new service (such as with mobile-terminated cases, for example) that can be served only in 5G, then the network can trigger the UE to establish services in 5G using one of the following 2 methods.

[0086] With a first method, the network may notify the UE via an E-UTRAN radio network, assuming that the eNB is upgraded. With a second method, the network may page the UE via 5G radio, assuming that the UE is connected in E-UTRAN but also listens to a paging channel in 5G.

[0087] With the first method, an eNB (of the network) triggers the UE to perform 5G measurements and, based on a measurement report, the eNB determines whether the UE is in the 5G coverage area or not. Thus, the eNB may report a positive or negative acknowledgement to the core network. If the UE is in the 5G coverage area, the eNB can request the UE to establish an RRC connection in 5G in order to set up a new service.

[0088] With the second method, the UE is expected to respond to paging via 5G radio (i.e., to establish an RRC connection). The network can then initiate establishment of a new service in the 5G radio network.

[0089] In view of the above, as described above, certain embodiments of the present invention may improve mobility robustness with inter RAT. For example, when the UE loses 5G coverage, the UE may still have an RRC connection in LTE.

[0090] When the UE enters the 5G coverage area from an LTE area (where LTE is still offered in the 5G coverage area), the UE need not relinquish the LTE connection to obtain more reliable service. A new service setup may be the first trigger for establishing the 5G connection. Now, even if the UE loses 5G coverage, the UE still has a radio connection with LTE

[0091] When the UE is in the LTE area and is within the 5G coverage area, the UE need not always have dual RRC connections. Maintaining two RATs all the time may not be resource-efficient from the network's point of view and from the UE's point of view. Thus, service-based dual connectivity triggers may be utilized to provide a more resource-efficient implementation.

[0092] Furthermore, certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a generic solution that can be adopted for interworking in general. The interworking may be interworking between 5G and Wi-Fi, between LTE and Wi-Fi, as service-based dual connectivity may be beneficial for tighter interworking.

[0093] FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The method illustrated in FIG. 10 includes, at 1010, receiving, by a user equipment, policy information from a network. The policy information indicates at least one preferred radio-access-technology for a service. The method may also include, at 1020, entering a coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology. The method may also include, at 1030, detecting that the service corresponding to the at least one preferred radio-access-technology is offered in the coverage area. The method may also include, at 1040, initiating a request for setup of the detected service.

[0094] FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The method illustrated in FIG. 11 includes, at 1110, transmitting policy information to a user equipment. The policy information indicates at least one preferred radio-access-technology for a service. The method may also include, at 1120, initiating a request for setup of the service. The request is received from the user equipment. The request is transmitted by the user equipment after the user equipment enters a coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology corresponding to the service.

[0095] FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The method illustrated in FIG. 12 includes, at 1210, transmitting, by a network node, policy information to a user equipment. The user equipment is registered for a first radio-access technology. The policy information indicates that a second radio-access technology is a preferred radio-access-technology for a service. The method may also include, at 1220, detecting a need for the service. The method may also include, at 1230, triggering the user equipment to establish the service in the second radio-access technology. The first radio-access technology comprises Long-term evolution, and the second radio-access technology comprises 5G.

[0096] FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The method illustrated in FIG. 13 includes, at 1310, receiving, by a user equipment, policy information. The user equipment is registered for a first radio-access technology. The policy information indicates that a second radio-access technology is a preferred radio-access-technology for a service. The method may also include, at 1320, establishing the service in the second radio-access technology. The first radio-access technology may include Long-term evolution, and the second radio-access technology comprises 5G.

[0097] FIG. 14 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be a user equipment, a base station, and/or a cMGW, for example. Apparatus 10 can include a processor 22 for processing information and executing instructions or operations. Processor 22 can be any type of general or specific purpose processor. While a single processor 22 is shown in FIG. 14, multiple processors can be utilized according to other embodiments. Processor 22 can also include one or more of general-purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as examples.

[0098] Apparatus 10 can further include a memory 14, coupled to processor 22, for storing information and instructions that can be executed by processor 22. Memory 14 can be one or more memories and of any type suitable to the local application environment, and can be implemented using any suitable volatile or nonvolatile data storage technology such as a semiconductor-based memory device, a magnetic memory device and system, an optical memory device and system, fixed memory, and removable memory. For example, memory 14 include any combination of random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), static storage such as a magnetic or optical disk, or any other type of non-transitory machine or computer readable media. The instructions stored in memory 14 can include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by processor 22, enable the apparatus 10 to perform tasks as described herein.

[0099] Apparatus 10 can also include one or more antennas (not shown) for transmitting and receiving signals and/or data to and from apparatus 10. Apparatus 10 can further include a transceiver 28 that modulates information on to a carrier waveform for transmission by the antenna(s) and demodulates information received via the antenna(s) for further processing by other elements of apparatus 10. In other embodiments, transceiver 28 can be capable of transmitting and receiving signals or data directly.

[0100] Processor 22 can perform functions associated with the operation of apparatus 10 including, without limitation, precoding of antenna gain/phase parameters, encoding and decoding of individual bits forming a communication message, formatting of information, and overall control of the apparatus 10, including processes related to management of communication resources.

[0101] In an embodiment, memory 14 can store software modules that provide functionality when executed by processor 22. The modules can include an operating system 15 that provides operating system functionality for apparatus 10. The memory can also store one or more functional modules 18, such as an application or program, to provide additional functionality for apparatus 10. The components of apparatus 10 can be implemented in hardware, or as any suitable combination of hardware and software.

[0102] FIG. 15 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Apparatus 1500 can be a network element/entity such as a user equipment, for example. Apparatus 1500 can include a receiving means 1510 that receives policy information from a network. The policy information indicates at least one preferred radio-access-technology for a service. Apparatus 1500 may enter a coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology. Apparatus 1500 may include a detecting means 1520 that detects that the service corresponding to the at least one preferred radio-access-technology is offered in the coverage area. Apparatus 1500 may also include an initiating means 1530 that initiates a request for setup of the detected service.

[0103] FIG. 16 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Apparatus 1600 can be a network element/entity, for example. Apparatus 1600 can include a transmitting means 1610 that transmits policy information to a user equipment. The policy information indicates at least one preferred radio-access-technology for a service. Apparatus 1600 may also include an initiating means 1620 that initiates a request for setup of the service. The request may be received from the user equipment. The request is transmitted by the user equipment after the user equipment enters a coverage area of the at least one preferred radio-access-technology corresponding to the service.

[0104] FIG. 17 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Apparatus 1700 can be a network element/entity, for example. Apparatus 1700 can include a transmitting means 1710 that transmits policy information to a user equipment. The user equipment is registered for a first radio-access technology. The policy information indicates that a second radio-access technology is a preferred radio-access-technology for a service. Apparatus 1700 may also include a detecting means 1720 that detects a need for the service. Apparatus 1700 may also include a triggering means 1730 that triggers the user equipment to establish the service in the second radio-access technology. The first radio-access technology comprises Long-term evolution. The second radio-access technology comprises 5G.

[0105] FIG. 18 illustrates an apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Apparatus 1800 can be a network element/entity such as a user equipment, for example. Apparatus 1800 can include a receiving means 1810 that receives policy information. The user equipment is registered for a first radio-access technology. The policy information indicates that a second radio-access technology is a preferred radio-access-technology for a service. Apparatus 1800 may also include an establishing means 1820 that establishes the service in the second radio-access technology. The first radio-access technology comprises Long-term evolution, and the second radio-access technology comprises 5G.

[0106] The described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages can be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the invention as discussed above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations which are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.