Paging in extended coverage

Abstract

A method performed by a radio access network node for paging of a communication device in a coverage area, served by the radio access network node, in a communications network, the method comprising: receiving (401) a page request from a core network node, wherein the page request comprises an indication of a support level of the communication device (140), which support level indicates whether or not the communication device (140) supports a specific mode of operation of a RAT; and determining (402), based on the indication of the support level of the communication device, and based on a capability of the coverage area to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT, a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area, or not to page the communication device in the coverage area.

Claims

1. A method performed by a radio access network node for paging of a communication device in a coverage area served by the radio access network node, the method comprising: receiving, from a core network node, a page request comprising an indication of a support level of the communication device, the support level indicating whether or not the communication device supports a specific mode of operation of a Radio Access Technology (RAT), wherein the indication of the support level is an indication of whether or not the communication device: only supports Extended-Coverage Global System for Mobile communications Internet of Things (EC-GSM-IoT) mode of operation, or only supports General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) and/or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) mode of operation, or supports both the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation and the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation; and determining, based on the indication of the support level of the communication device, and based on a capability of the coverage area to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT, one of the following: a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area; or not to page the communication device in the coverage area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: paging the communication device on the determined channel.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device supports only the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation, and wherein the method comprises determining to page the communication device on a legacy Paging Channel (PCH) in the coverage area, if the coverage area supports the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device only supports the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, and wherein the method comprises determining to page the communication device on an Extended Coverage Paging Channel (EC-PCH) in the coverage area, if the coverage area supports the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device supports both the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation and the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, and wherein the method comprises: determining to page the communication device on an Extended Coverage Paging Channel (EC-PCH) in the coverage area, if the coverage area supports only the ECGSM-IoT mode of operation, determining to page the communication device on the EC-PCH in the coverage area, if: the coverage area supports both the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation and the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation; and the page request comprises a downlink coverage class of the communication device; and determining to page the communication device on a legacy Paging Channel (PCH) in the coverage area, if the coverage area supports only the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the page request is performed by receiving a PAGING-PS protocol data unit (PDU).

7. A radio access network node for paging of a communication device in a coverage area, served by the radio access network node, wherein the radio access network node comprises: at least one processor; and a computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the radio access network node to: receive a page request, from a core network node, comprising an indication of a support level of the communication device, the support level indicating whether or not the communication device supports a specific mode of operation of a Radio Access Technology (RAT), wherein the indication of the support level is an indication of whether or not the communication device: only supports Extended-Coverage Global System for Mobile communications Internet of Things (EC-GSM-IoT) mode of operation, or only supports General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) and/or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) mode of operation, or supports both the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation and the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation; and determine, based on the indication of the support level of the communication device, and based on a capability of the coverage area to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT, one of the following: a channel for paging the communication device in the coverage area; or not to page the communication device in the coverage area.

8. The radio access network node according to claim 7, wherein execution of the instructions further configures the radio access network node to: page the communication device on the determined channel.

9. The radio access network node according to claim 7, wherein the communication device supports only the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation, and wherein execution of the instructions further configures the radio access network node to determine to page the communication device on a legacy Paging Channel (PCH) in the coverage area, if the coverage area supports the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation.

10. The radio access network node according to claim 7, wherein the communication device only supports the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, and wherein execution of the instructions further configures the radio access network node to determine to page the communication device on an Extended Coverage Paging Channel (EC-PCH) in the coverage area, if the coverage area supports the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation.

11. The radio access network node according to claim 7, wherein the communication device supports both the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation and the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, and wherein execution of the instructions further configures the radio access network node to: determine to page the communication device on an Extended Coverage Paging Channel (EC-PCH) in the coverage area, if the coverage area supports only the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation; determine to page the communication device on the EC-PCH in the coverage area, if: the coverage area supports both the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation and the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation; and the page request comprises a downlink coverage class of the communication device; and determine to page the communication device on a legacy Paging Channel (PCH) in the coverage area, if the coverage area supports only the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation.

12. The radio access network node according to claim 7, wherein execution of the instructions further configures the radio access network node to receive the page request by receiving a PAGING-PS protocol data unit (PDU).

13. A method performed by a core network node for paging of a communication device in a communications network, the method comprising: obtaining an indication of a support level of the communication device, the support level indicating whether or not the communication device supports a specific mode of operation of a Radio Access Technology (RAT), wherein the indication of the support level is an indication of whether or not the communication device: only supports Extended-Coverage Global System for Mobile communications Internet of Things (EC-GSM-IoT) mode of operation, or only supports General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) and/or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) mode of operation, or supports both the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation and the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation; and transmitting, to a radio access network node, a page request comprising the indication of the support level of the communication device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein transmitting the page request comprises transmitting a PAGING-PS protocol data unit (PDU).

15. A core network node for paging of a communication device in a communications network, wherein the core network node comprises: at least one processor; and a computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the core network node to: obtain an indication of a support level of the communication device, the support level indicating whether or not the communication device supports a specific mode of operation of a Radio Access Technology (RAT), wherein the indication of the support level is an indication of whether or not the communication device: only supports Extended-Coverage Global System for Mobile communications Internet of Things (EC-GSM-IoT) mode of operation, or only supports General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) and/or Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) mode of operation, or supports both the EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation and the GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation; and transmit, to a radio access network node, a page request comprising the indication of the support level of the communication device.

16. The core network node according to claim 15, wherein execution of the instructions further configures the core network node to transmit the page request by transmitting a PAGING-PS protocol data unit (PDU).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Examples of embodiments herein are described in more detail with reference to attached drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a communications network.

(3) FIG. 2a is a combined signalling diagram and flow chart illustrating embodiments of a method.

(4) FIG. 2b is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments herein.

(5) FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting embodiments of a method performed by a core network node.

(6) FIG. 4a is a flowchart depicting embodiments of a method performed by a radio access network node.

(7) FIG. 4b is a flowchart depicting further embodiments of a method performed by the radio access network node.

(8) FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments of a core network node.

(9) FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments of a radio access network node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Embodiments herein may be implemented in one or more communications networks whereof FIG. 1 depicts parts of a communications network 101. The communications network 101 may be a telecommunications network or similar, such as a wireless communications network also known as a radio communications network. The communication network 101 may comprise one or more RAN and one or more CN.

(11) The communications network 101 may operate according to a specific RAT. The wireless communication network 101 is exemplified herein as a GSM network.

(12) Even though GSM/EDGE will be used herein as examples of the RAT it may be possible to apply the embodiments described herein to other RATs. Such RATs may e.g. in particular be Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT), formerly known as Narrow Band LTE (NB-LTE) and NB Cellular system support for ultra-low complexity and low throughput Internet of Things NB-CIoT, as defined in 3GPP Technical Report 45.820 on Cellular system support for ultra-low complexity and low throughput Internet of Things (CIoT), chapter 7.3 and 7A. Other NAS protocols may be used such as the NAS protocol for Evolved Packet System described in 3GPP TS 24.301 v13.3.0, Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals; Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) protocol for Evolved Packet System (EPS); Stage 3.

(13) The communication network 101 may use a number of other different technologies, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), just to mention a few possible implementations.

(14) In the communications network 101, network nodes capable of communicating with communication devices operate. For example, a radio access network node 111 capable of communicating with communication devices operates in the communications network 101. The radio access network node 111 is configured to operate in the communications network 101.

(15) In some embodiments the radio access network node 111 comprises several physical network nodes. For example, in some embodiments applicable to GSM the radio access network node 111 is a BSS also referred to as a Base Station Subsystem. Then the radio access network node 111 may comprise a first radio access network node 112 and a second radio access network node 113. The first radio access network node 112 may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and the second radio access network node 113 may be a Base Station Controller (BSC) or a Packet Control Unit (PCU). The first radio access network node 112 may also be referred to as a radio base station and e.g. a NodeB, an eNB, eNode B, Access Point Base Station, base station router, or any other network unit capable of communicating with communication devices.

(16) In some other embodiments the radio access network node 111 is or comprises a radio access network node that communicates with the communication devices via another radio access network node. In this case the radio access network node 111 may for example be a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in an UMTS network. The RNC is not shown in FIG. 1.

(17) FIG. 1 further illustrates coverage areas of the radio access network. A coverage area is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio access network, e.g. by the first radio access network node 111, for communication with communication devices located therein. E.g. the first radio access network node 112 provides radio coverage in a first coverage area 121, such as a first cell. In FIG. 1 the first radio access network node 112 further provides radio coverage in a second coverage area 122, such as a second cell.

(18) A coverage area is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by network node equipment such as WiFi AP equipment, base station equipment at a base station site or at remote locations in Remote Radio Units (RRU). The first radio access network node 112 is an example of such network node equipment.

(19) As mentioned above eDRX and legacy GPRS/EGPRS operation may be deployed in all coverage areas within a Routing Area while EC-GSM-IoT may be deployed on a coverage area level basis. In other words within a coverage area of the radio access network node 111, such as a Routing Area, there may be coverage areas supporting eDRX but not EC-GSM-IoT.

(20) In embodiments herein, the first and second coverage areas 121, 122 may each support different RATs and/or different modes of operation of a RAT. For example, in a scenario herein the first coverage area 121 supports EC-GSM-IoT, while the second coverage area 122 only supports GPRS/EGPRS. Other scenarios may also be described below.

(21) FIG. 1 further illustrates a core network node 115, such as a SGSN, being responsible for the delivery of data packets from and to the communication devices, such as mobile stations, within its geographical service area. Its tasks may comprise packet routing and transfer, mobility management (attach/detach and location management), logical link management, and authentication and charging functions. The location register of the SGSN stores location information, e.g., current coverage area, current Visitor Location Register (VLR), and user profiles, e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), address(es), used in the packet data network of all GPRS users registered with it.

(22) The radio access network node 111 may communicate with communication devices, such as a communication device 140, e.g. when located in the first coverage area 121 served by the first radio access network node 112.

(23) The communication device 140, which also may be known as a mobile station, wireless device, a wireless communications device, a user equipment and/or a wireless terminal, is capable of communicating with the communications network 101.

(24) There may of course be more than one communications device that communicates with the wireless communications networks.

(25) It should be understood by the person skilled in the art that communication device is a non-limiting term and it refers to any type of device communicating with a radio network node, such as a radio access network node, in a cellular or mobile communication system.

(26) The communication device 140 may e.g. be a mobile terminal, a mobile phone, a computer such as e.g. a laptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or a tablet computer, sometimes referred to as a surf plate, with wireless capability, or any other radio network unit capable to communicate over a radio link in a wireless communications network.

(27) Further examples of the communication device 140 may be Machine Communication (MTC) device, Machine to Machine (M2M) device, a Device to Device (D2D) terminal, or node, target device, device to device UE, MTC UE or UE capable of machine to machine communication, iPAD, tablet, smart phone, Laptop Embedded equipment (LEE), Laptop Mounted Equipment (LME), USB dongles, sensor, relay, mobile tablets or even a small base station.

(28) As mentioned above, EC-GSM-IoT may be introduced as a software update on legacy GPRS/EPGRS terminals, such as the communication device 140. In particular this means that initially there will be communication devices, such as the communication device 140, supporting both legacy GPRS/EGPRS mode as well as EC-GSM-IoT mode. As such, depending on device capability there will be limitations regarding which mode that may be used in a coverage area that supports only one or both of these modes.

(29) In some embodiments herein the communication device 140 supports GPRS/EGPRS. In some other embodiments herein the communication device 140 supports EC-GSM-IoT. In yet some further embodiments herein the communication device 140 supports both EC-GSM-IoT and GPRS/EGPRS.

(30) Embodiments below will be exemplified with GSM/EDGE as the communications network 101. The core network node 115 will be exemplified with an SGSN, but generally it may be another core network node serving the communication device 140 as well. For example for NB-IoT the applicable core network node may also be an MME. The radio access network node 111 is exemplified with a BSS and the communication device 140 will be exemplified with a mobile station, sometimes also referred to as the device.

(31) It should be noted that the following embodiments are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments.

(32) In a scenario herein the communication device 140 has moved from the first coverage area 121 to the second coverage area 122. This is indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1.

(33) The radio access network node 111 may control a set of coverage areas, such as a set of cells, wherein some coverage areas support EC-GSM-IoT and some only support legacy GPRS/EGPRS or some support both EC-GSM-IoT+legacy GPRS/EGPRS. For example, the radio access network node 111 may control the first coverage area 121 and the second coverage area 122.

(34) In embodiments wherein the coverage areas 121, 122 are exemplified with cells, the radio access network node 111 may control the first cell and the second cell. Within the set of cells some cells support EC-GSM-IoT and some only support legacy GPRS/EGPRS or some support both EC-GSM-IoT+legacy GPRS/EGPRS.

(35) Embodiments herein solve or reduce at least some of the problems mentioned above by adding an indication in a page request sent from the core network node 115 to the radio access network node 111 that identifies the support level of the communication device 140, i.e. whether legacy GPRS/EGPRS is supported or not and whether EC-GSM-IoT is supported or not. As mentioned above, the paging message lets the RAN, e.g. the radio access network node 111, and the communication device 140 know that the core network node 115 is looking for the communication device 140.

(36) If the indicator indicates that an EC-GSM-IoT device, such as the communication device 140, also supports legacy GPRS/EGPRS operation then the radio access network node 111 will know if there is any point in paging the communication device 140 in coverage areas, such as cells, where only GPRS/EGPRS and/or eDRX is supported but not EC-GSM-IoT. That is the radio access network node 111 will know if the communication device 140 listens to a paging channel that is supported by the coverage areas where only eDRX is supported but not EC-GSM-IoT.

(37) Similarly, if the indicator indicates that the communication device 140 supports EC-GSM-IoT then the radio access network node 111 will know that the paging request message shall be sent on the EC-PCH channels in coverage areas, such as cells where both eDRX and EC-GSM-IoT is supported, i.e. where both GPRS/EGPRS and EC-GSM-IoT is supported.

(38) Actions for paging of the communication device 140 in the communications network 101 according to embodiments herein will now be described in relation to FIG. 2a, and with continued reference to FIG. 1.

(39) Action 201a

(40) The communication device 140 may transmit a coverage class, of the communication device 140 to the radio access network node 111, e.g. in a RACH request or uplink LLC PDU.

(41) This may be done, by the communication device 140, in order for the radio access network node 111 to use the correct coverage class when transmitting a subsequent page across the air interface.

(42) Action 201b

(43) As mentioned above, the core network node 115 may be provided with the coverage class information for the communication device 140 by the radio access network node 111, e.g. in an UL-UNITDATA PDU comprising the uplink LLC PDU sent by the communication device 140 in action 201a. In this way the core network node 115 may later in action 204 control which specific set of EC-PCH radio resources the radio access network node 111 uses for sending a page on the radio interface.

(44) Action 201b is related to action 301 below.

(45) Action 202a

(46) The communication device 140 may provide an indication of a support level of the communication device 140, such as an indication of whether or not the communication device 140 supports legacy GPRS/EGPRS or EC-GSM-IoT or both to the core network node 115. This indication may be provided transparently via the radio access network node 111, e.g. at Routing Area Update in a legacy MS Radio Access Capability (RAC) IE or in a new EC-GSM-IoT MS RAC IE.

(47) In this way the core network node 115 may later in action 204 control which channel the radio access network node 111 shall use for paging the communication device 140 by including the support level of the communication device 140 in a page request.

(48) Action 202b

(49) As mentioned above in action 202a, the radio access network node 111 may obtain the indication of the support level of the communication device 140 from the communication device 140. In that case the radio access network node 111 may transparently relay the indication of the support level to the core network node 115, e.g. at Routing Area Update in the legacy MS RAC IE or in the new EC-GSM-IoT MS RAC IE mentioned above.

(50) Action 202b is related to action 202a above and action 302 below.

(51) Action 203a

(52) The core network node 115 may determine to send a page request 220 to the communication device 140 via the radio access network node 111. For example the core network node 115 may have obtained a paging trigger for the communication device 140 due to an incoming call. FIG. 2b illustrates an example of the page request 220. The page request may e.g. be a PAGING-PS PDU-message.

(53) The page request 220 comprises an indication of a support level 221 of the communication device 140. That is, the indication of the support level 221 identifies the support level of the communication device 140. For example, the indication of the support level 221 may be the indication of whether or not the communication device 140 supports legacy GPRS/EGPRS or EC-GSM-IoT or both.

(54) Since the page request 220 comprises the indication of the support level 221 of the communication device 140 the core network node 115 enables the radio access network node 111 to determine a channel to use for paging the communication device 140 based on the indication of the support level of the communication device 140. By doing so paging failure is avoided in the communications network 101.

(55) Action 203a is related to action 303 below.

(56) Action 203b

(57) The page request 220 may comprise an indication of a coverage capability 222 of the communication device 140. For example, the core network node 115 may determine whether to include the coverage class information in the page request 220 to the radio access network node 111, such as in a PAGING-PS PDU.

(58) By including the coverage capability 222 the core network node controls which specific set of EC-PCH radio resources the radio access network node 111 uses for sending a page on the radio interface.

(59) Action 203b is related to action 303 below.

(60) Action 204

(61) The core network node 115 transmits the page request 220 to the radio access network node 111.

(62) The page request 220, such as the PAGING-PS PDU, may further comprise cell identities 223 of cells in which the radio access network node 111 shall page the communication device 140.

(63) The page request 220 may further comprise an eDRX cycle 224.

(64) The specific set of radio resources that the radio access network node 111 use on the EC-PCH when sending the corresponding page on the radio interface may be further based on the cell identities 223 and on the eDRX cycle 224.

(65) As an alternative the complete legacy MS RAC IE or the new EC-GSM-IoT MS RAC IE may be comprised in the PAGING-PS PDU sent from the core network node 115 to the radio access network node 111.

(66) Action 204 is related to actions 304 and 401 below.

(67) Action 205

(68) The radio access network node 111 determines a channel to use for paging the communication device 140 based on the indication of the support level 221 of the communication device 140.

(69) The radio access network node 111 may determine the channel to use for paging the communication device 140 further based on the indication of the coverage capability 222, such as the coverage class of the communication device 140, and further based on the cell identities 223.

(70) As mentioned above in action 204, the specific set of EC-PCH radio resources to use when sending the corresponding page on the radio interface may be based on the above indications.

(71) Thus, based on the information provided to the radio access network node 111 in the page request 220 the radio access network node 111 knows whether the communication device 140 supports legacy GPRS/EGPRS operation and/or EC-GSM-IoT. Thus the radio access network node 111 knows whether there is any point in paging the communication device 140 in coverage areas, such as cells where only GPRS/EGPRS and/or eDRX is supported but not EC-GSM-IoT. Further, since the page request comprises the indication of the support level 221, the radio access network node 111 knows on which channel, PCH or EC-PCH, to send the paging request message when the page request 220 does not include any coverage class specific information. For example, if the communication device 140 supports EC-GSM-IoT, and the second coverage area 122 only supports GPRS/EGPRS, then there is no point in paging the communication device 140 on the PCH in the second coverage area 122. Further examples will be given below.

(72) Action 205 is related to action 402 below.

(73) Action 206

(74) In embodiments wherein a channel for paging the communication device 140 has been determined the radio access network node 111 pages the communication device 140 on the determined channel. That is, the radio access network node 111 transmits a page request to the communication device 140 on the determined channel.

(75) Action 206 is related to action 403 below.

(76) Embodiments relating to a method performed by the core network node 115 for paging of the communication device 140 in the communications network 101 will now be described with reference to a flowchart in FIG. 3 and with continued reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2b.

(77) Action 301

(78) The core network node 115 may obtain an indication of the coverage capability 222, such as the coverage class, of the communication device 140. The indication of the coverage capability 222 may be received from e.g. the radio access network node 111. The coverage class may comprise an UL Coverage Class and a DL Coverage Class.

(79) Action 301 is related to actions 201a and 201b above.

(80) Action 302

(81) The core network node 115 obtains an indication of the support level 221 of the communication device 140. The support level indicates whether or not the communication device 140 supports the specific mode of operation of the Radio Access Technology, RAT.

(82) The indication of the support level 221 may be an indication of whether or not the communication device 140: only supports EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, or only supports GPRS, and/or EGPRS, mode of operation, or supports both EC-GSM-IoT and GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation.

(83) In other words, the indication of the support level may be an indication of whether or not the communication device 140 supports paging on the EC-PCH or the PCH.

(84) The indication of the support level may be received from e.g. the radio access network node 111.

(85) Action 302 is related to actions 202a and 202b above.

(86) Action 303

(87) The core network node 115 may determine to send the page request 220 to the communication device 140 via the radio access network node 111.

(88) The core network node 115 may further determine whether to include the indication of the coverage capability 222 in the page request 220 to the radio access network node 111, such as in the Paging-PS PDU.

(89) Action 303 is related to actions 203a and 203b above.

(90) Action 304

(91) The core network node 115 transmits the page request 220 to the radio access network node 111. The page request 220 comprises the indication of the support level of the communication device 140.

(92) Since the page request 220 comprises the indication of the support level of the communication device 140 the core network node 115 enables the radio access network node 111 to determine the channel to use for paging the communication device 140 based on the indication of the support level of the communication device 140. By doing so paging failure is avoided in the communications network 101.

(93) Transmitting the page request 220 may performed by transmitting the PAGING-PS POU-message, where PS is an abbreviation for Packet Switched. Furthermore, PDU is used herein as an abbreviation for protocol data unit, as defined in 3GPP TR 21.905 (Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications) that is referenced by various other 3GPP documents identified herein, including 3GPP TR 45.820 and 3GPP TS 24.301.

(94) The page request 220 may further comprise the indication of the coverage capability 222 of the communication device 140. The coverage capability may be taken into account by the radio access network node 111 when it determines which channel, such as which logical channel, to use for paging.

(95) The page request 220 may further comprise an indication of an identity of the coverage area, such as the second coverage area 122, in which coverage area the paging shall be performed.

(96) The indicated coverage area may comprise coverage areas that support different modes of operation of the RAT. For example, coverage areas supporting only EC-GSM-IoT, coverage areas supporting only legacy GPRS/EGPRS and coverage areas supporting both modes of operation.

(97) The page request 220 may further comprise an indication of the discontinuous receive cycle 224 associated with the communication device 140. The discontinuous receive cycle 224 may be an extended discontinuous receive cycle, such as an eDRX cycle. The discontinuous receive cycle 224 indicates in which paging group the paging message should be sent to the communication device 140, i.e. when in time it is to be sent.

(98) Action 304 is related to action 204 above and to action 404 below.

(99) Embodiments herein will now be described with reference to FIG. 4 which illustrates a flowchart that describe methods performed by the radio access network node 111 for paging of the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122, served by the radio access network node 111, in the communications network 101.

(100) Action 401

(101) The radio access network node 111 receives the page request 220 from the core network node 115. The page request 220 comprises the indication of the support level of the communication device 140. The support level indicates whether or not the communication device 140 supports the specific mode of operation of the RAT.

(102) As mentioned above, the indication of the support level may be an indication of whether or not the communication device 140: only supports EC-GSM-IoT, mode of operation, or only supports General Packet Radio Services, GPRS, and/or EGPRS, mode of operation, or supports both EC-GSM-IoT and GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation.

(103) In some embodiments receiving the page request 220 is performed by receiving the PAGING-PS PDU.

(104) Action 401 is related to action 204 above.

(105) Action 402

(106) The radio access network node 111 determines, based on the indication of the support level 221 of the communication device 140, and based on the capability of the coverage area 121, 122 to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT, the channel EC-PCH, PCH for paging the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122, or not to page the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122.

(107) Action 402 is related to action 205 above.

(108) Action 402a

(109) In some embodiments the communication device 140 supports only GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation, then the radio access network node 111 determines to page the communication device 140 on the PCH, in the coverage area 121, 122, if the coverage area 121, 122 supports GPRS and/or EGPRS.

(110) In some other embodiments the communication device 140 only supports EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, then the radio access network node 111 determines to page the communication device 140 on the EC-PCH, in the coverage area 121, 122, if the coverage area 121, 122 supports EC-GSM-IoT.

(111) In yet some other embodiments the communication device 140 supports both GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation and EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, then the radio access network node 111 determines to page the communication device 140 on the EC-PCH in the coverage area 121, 122, if the coverage area 121, 122 supports only EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, and to page the communication device 140 on the PCH in the coverage area 121, 122, if the coverage area 121, 122 supports only GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation.

(112) In some further embodiments the communication device 140 supports both GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation and EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation. Then the radio access network node 111 determines to page the communication device 140 on the EC-PCH in the coverage area 121, 122 if the coverage area 121, 122 supports both EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation and GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation, and if the page request 220 comprises a downlink coverage class of the communication device 140.

(113) Action 402a is related to action 205 above.

(114) Action 402b

(115) As mentioned above, in some embodiments the radio access network node 111 determines, based on the indication of the support level 221 of the communication device 140, and based on the capability of the coverage area 121, 122 to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT not to page the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122.

(116) Action 402b is related to action 205 above.

(117) Action 403

(118) The radio access network node 111 may page the communication device 140 on the determined channel EC-PCH, PCH.

(119) However, if the indication of the support level 221 of the communication device 140 is not compatible with the capability of the coverage area 121, 122 then the radio access network node 111 may refrain from paging the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122. That is, if the radio access network node 111 has determined not to page the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122 in action 402b above, then the radio access network node 111 does not page the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122.

(120) Action 403 is related to action 206 above.

(121) In summary, embodiments herein solve or reduce at least some of the problems mentioned above by adding an indication in a page request sent from the core network node 115 to the radio access network node 111 that identifies the support level of the communication device 140, e.g. whether legacy GPRS/EGPRS is supported or not and whether EC-GSM-IoT is supported or not.

(122) In some following embodiments, coverage areas will be exemplified with cells.

(123) In some embodiments the downlink coverage class information is only included in the PAGING-PS PDU when the core network node 115 requests the radio access network node 111 to page using the EC-PCH for a specific subset of cells indicated by the PAGING-PS PDU. I.e. when the PAGING-PS PDU comprises downlink coverage class information it will specifically identify the subset of cells for which the radio access network node 111 is to send paging request messages using the EC-PCH and using the indicated coverage class.

(124) When the radio access network node 111 receives the page request 220 the radio access network node 111 takes into account its knowledge of cell capability plus device related information, such as IMSI, eDRX cycle length in use, DL coverage class and the indicator indicating whether or not the communication device 140 supports legacy GPRS/EGPRS and/or EC-GSM-IoT. Alternatively the complete legacy MS RAC IE or the new EC-GSM-IoT MS RAC IE may be taken into account. In that way, the radio access network node 111 may determine how to proceed as shown in Table 1 below.

(125) If the core network node 115 knows that none of the cells managed by a given radio access network node 111 receiving the PAGING-PS PDU, supports EC-GSM-IoT, then the DL coverage class may be excluded. However, the core network node 115 may leave it up to the radio access network node 111 to make this determination and so it may always be included as long as the core network node 115 has knowledge of the DL coverage class of the communication device 140 being paged. The radio access network node 111 decides to page the communication device 140 using the PCH or the EC-PCH or not to page at all, based on the support level of the communication device 140, and based on the support level of the cell. This is summarised in Table 1 below.

(126) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Paging decisions in radio access network node 111 Cell supports Cell supports Cell supports eDRX + EC-GSM-IoT eDRX + legacy eDRX + legacy (but not legacy GPRS/EGPRS (but not GPRS/EGPRS and GPRS/EGPRS EC-GSM-IoT) EC-GSM-IoT) Device Page requests No page requests Page request supports eDRX + EC- sent on EC-PCH are sent on radio interface sent on EC-PCH GSM-IoT (but not legacy GPRS/EGPRS) Device Page requests Page requests sent Page request supports eDRX + EC- sent on EC-PCH on PCH sent on EC-PCH if GSM-IoT + legacy PAGING-PS PDU GPRS/EGPRS message comprises the downlink coverage class Device No page requests Page requests sent Page request supports eDRX + are sent on radio on PCH sent on PCH legacy interface GPRS/EGPRS (but not EC-GSM-IoT)

(127) If the PAGING-PS PDU message is only addressed to one cell managed by the radio access network node 111, then the core network node 115 explicitly indicates that the paging message shall be sent to that cell by addressing that specific cell in the PAGING-PS PDU. In this case several options disclosed below are possible.

(128) The core network node 115 may send PAGING-PS PDUs to multiple radio access network nodes 111 where the number of cells managed by any given radio access network node 111 ranges from 1 to N, where N is a positive integer. Then the core network node 115 is free to indicate that only one cell should be paged when sending the PAGING-PS PDU to the specific radio access network node 111 as the precise location of a target device, such as the communication device 140, is not known at the time when the core network node 115 triggers paging. A) If the PAGING-PS PDU message comprises the downlink coverage class and the indicated cell supports EC-GSM-IoT then the radio access network node 111 shall page the communication device 140 using the EC-PCH of the cell indicated by the PAGING-PS PDU and use the indicated downlink coverage class information. The radio access network node 111 may optionally widen the paging area indicated by the core network node 115 in an implementation specific manner. The radio access network node 111 may optionally also send paging request messages on the PCH in neighboring cells only supporting legacy GPRS/EGPRS if it determines that the communication device 140 also supports legacy GPRS/EGPRS. B) If the PAGING-PS PDU message does not comprise downlink coverage class information then the radio access network node 111 shall page the communication device 140 using the PCH of at least the cell indicated by the PAGING-PS PDU if that cell supports legacy GPRS/EGPRS but not EC-GSM-IoT. The radio access network node 111 may optionally page the communication device 140 on the EC-PCH in neighboring cells supporting EC-GSM-IoT if the PAGING-PS PDU indicates that the communication device 140 also supports EC-GSM-IoT and on the PCH in neighboring cells only supporting legacy GPRS/EGPRS.

(129) If the PAGING-PS PDU does not include downlink coverage class information and the indicated area is the Routing Area or BSS area, i.e. several cells, the radio access network node 111 may first determine the support level of the communication device 140, before sending the page. A) If the communication device 140 supports only legacy GPRS/EGPRS then the paging request message from the BSS should be sent on the PCH in all cells supporting legacy GPRS/EGPRS and not at all in cells supporting EC-GSM-IoT. B) If the communication device 140 only supports EC-GSM-IoT then the paging request message should be sent on the EC-PCH in cells supporting either only EC-GSM-IoT or both EC-GSM-IoT and legacy GPRS/EGPRS and not at all in cells only supporting legacy GPRS/EGPRS. C) If the communication device 140 supports both legacy GPRS/EGPRS and EC-GSM-IoT the paging request message should be sent on EC-PCH in cells supporting EC-GSM-IoT and on the PCH in cells were only legacy GPRS/EGPRS is supported.

(130) Embodiments described above apply to the specific case where there are multiple coverage areas, such as cells, comprised in the paging area, e.g. the Routing Area, managed by one or more radio access network nodes 111.

Advantages of Embodiments Herein

(131) An advantage of embodiments herein is an improved paging success rate and/or less waste of paging resources.

(132) The method for paging of the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122, served by the radio access network node 111, in the communications network 101 described above, may be performed by the core network nod 115. The core network node 115 may comprise the modules depicted in FIG. 5 for paging of a communication device 140.

(133) The core network node 115 is configured to, e.g. by means of the obtaining module 510 configured to, obtain an indication of a support level 221 of the communication device 140, which support level indicates whether or not the communication device 140 supports a specific mode of operation of the RAT.

(134) Thus action 301 may be performed by means such as the obtaining module 510 in the core network node 115. The determining module 520 may be implemented by the processor 580 in the core network node 115, optionally in combination with a receiver 560b, in the core network node 115.

(135) Further, action 303 above to determine to send the page request 220 to the communication device 140 may be performed by means such as a determining module 520 in the core network node 115. The determining module 520 may be implemented by the processor 580 in the core network node 115.

(136) The core network node 115 is further configured to, e.g. by means of a transmitting module 530a configured to, transmit, a page request 220 to a radio access network node 111, wherein the page request 220 comprises the indication of the support level of the communication device 140.

(137) The core network node 115 may further be configured to, e.g. by means of the transmitting module 530a configured to, transmit the page request 220 by being configured to transmit a PAGING-PS PDU.

(138) Thus action 304 may be performed by means such as the transmitting module 530a in the core network node 115. The transmitting module 530a may be implemented by the transmitter 560a, in the core network node 115.

(139) The method for paging of the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122, served by the radio access network node 111, in the communications network 101 described above, may be performed by the radio network node 111. The radio network node 111 may comprise the modules depicted in FIG. 6 for paging of a communication device 140.

(140) The radio network node 111 is configured to, e.g. by means of an obtaining module 610 configured to, receive a page request 220 from a core network node 115, wherein the page request 220 comprises an indication 221 of a support level of the communication device 140, which support level indicates whether or not the communication device 140 supports a specific mode of operation of the RAT.

(141) The radio network node 111 may be configured to, e.g. by means of the obtaining module 610 configured to, receive the page request 220 by being configured to receive a PAGING-PS PDU.

(142) The obtaining module 610 may be implemented by a processor 680 in the radio access network node 111.

(143) The radio network node 111 is further configured to, e.g. by means of the determining module 620 configured to, determine, based on the indication of the support level 221 of the communication device 140, and based on a capability of the coverage area 121, 122 to support the specific mode of operation of the RAT, a channel EC-PCH, PCH for paging the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122, or not to page the communication device 140 in the coverage area 121, 122.

(144) In some embodiments the communication device 140 supports only GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation. Then the radio network node 111 is further configured to, e.g. by means of the determining module 620 configured to, determine to page the communication device 140 on a Paging Channel, PCH, in the coverage area 121, 122, if the coverage area 121, 122 supports GPRS and/or EGPRS.

(145) In some other embodiments the communication device 140 only supports EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation. Then the radio network node 111 is further configured to, e.g. by means of the determining module 620 configured to, determine to page the communication device 140 on an Extended Coverage PCH, EC-PCH, in the coverage area 121, 122, if the coverage area 121, 122 supports EC-GSM-IoT.

(146) In yet some other embodiments the communication device 140 supports both GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation and EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation. Then the radio network node 111 is further configured to, e.g. by means of the determining module 620 configured to, determine to page the communication device 140 on an EC-PCH in the coverage area 121, 122, if the coverage area 121, 122 supports only EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, and determine to page the communication device 140 on a PCH in the coverage area 121, 122, if the coverage area 121, 122 supports only GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation.

(147) Further, if the communication device 140 supports both GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation and EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation, and the coverage area 121, 122 supports both EC-GSM-IoT mode of operation and GPRS and/or EGPRS mode of operation, and if the page request 220 comprises a downlink coverage class of the communication device 140, then the radio network node 111 is further configured to, e.g. by means of the determining module 620 configured to, determine to page the communication device 140 on the EC-PCH in the coverage area 121, 122.

(148) The determining module 620 may be implemented by the processor 680 in the radio access network node 111.

(149) The radio network node 111 may further be configured to, e.g. by means of the paging module 630 configured to, page the communication device 140 on the determined channel EC-PCH, PCH.

(150) The paging module 630 may be implemented by the processor 680 in the radio access network node 111.

(151) The embodiments herein may be implemented through one or more processors, such as the processor 580 in the core network node 115 depicted in FIG. 5, and the processor 680 in the radio access network node 111 depicted in FIG. 6 together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product 591, 691, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code 592, 692, for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the core network node 115 and the radio access network node 111. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the core network node 115 and radio access network node 111.

(152) Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the core network node 115 and the radio access network node 111 may be implemented by means of a computer program product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the network node 115 and the radio access network node 111. The computer program product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium, having stored there on the computer program, may comprise the instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the core network node 115 and the radio access network node 111. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

(153) The core network node 115 and the radio access network node 111 may further each comprise a memory 590, 690, comprising one or more memory units. The memory 590, 690 is arranged to be used to store obtained information such as coverage class, support level, coverage area IDs, timers, eDRX, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the core network node 115 and the radio access network node 111.

(154) When using the word comprise or comprising it shall be interpreted as non-limiting, i.e. meaning consist at least of.

(155) Modifications and other embodiments of the disclosed embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiment(s) is/are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

(156) Therefore, the above embodiments should not be taken as limiting the scope, which is defined by the appending claims.

(157) Note that although terminology from 3GPP EC-GSM-IoT has been used in this disclosure to exemplify the embodiments herein, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein to only the aforementioned network types. Other wireless network types may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered within this disclosure.

(158) Also note that terminology such as a first radio access network node and a second radio access network node should be considered to be non-limiting and does in particular not imply a certain hierarchical relation between the two.