(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0111180 A1
`Hogan et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Aug. 15, 2002
`
`US 2002O111180A1
`
`(54) COORDINATED SUBSCRIBER ACCESS
`HANDLING FOR SHARED NETWORK
`SUPPORT
`(76) Inventors: Billy Hogan, Dublin (IE); Erik
`Slotboom, Neede (NL)
`Correspondence Address:
`NXON & VANDERHYE PC.
`8th Floor
`1100 North Glebe Road
`Arlington, VA 22201 (US)
`(21) Appl. No.:
`10/068,001
`(22) Filed:
`Feb. 8, 2002
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/329,503, filed on Oct.
`17, 2001. Provisional application No. 60/330,708,
`filed on Oct. 29, 2001. Provisional application No.
`60/268,065, filed on Feb. 13, 2001. Provisional appli
`cation No. 60/301,442, filed on Jun. 29, 2001.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl. .................................................... H04Q 7/20
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................................ 455/518; 455/519
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`To facilitate, e.g., determination of access rights in a shared
`network context, a telecommunications network transmits,
`in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an access group
`eligibility message (300-2) to a user equipment unit (30).
`The access group eligibility message enables the user equip
`ment unit to ascertain, on a basis of access group to which
`
`UMTS 10
`
`18
`
`the user equipment unit belongs, whether the user equipment
`unit is eligible to operate in a cell for which the acceSS group
`eligibility message is transmitted. The telecommunications
`network also includes a core network node (18, 20) which,
`upon receipt of request for/from the user equipment unit,
`classifies the user equipment unit in at least one of plural
`acceSS groups. Further, the core network node generates, for
`transmission to the user equipment unit through the radio
`acceSS network, an acceSS group classification message
`(300-1) which advises the user equipment unit as to which
`of the plural acceSS groups the user equipment unit belongs.
`Upon receipt of the acceSS group classification message, the
`user equipment unit Stores an access group classification
`obtained from the access group classification message in a
`memory (102) at the user equipment unit. In illustrated
`embodiments, the acceSS group classification message can,
`as appropriate, be one of a location update response and a
`location update reject message, either of which can include
`the access group classification. In accordance with one
`aspect of the present invention, an access controller (100) of
`the user equipment unit (upon receiving the access group
`eligibility message) compares the Stored access group clas
`sification with contents of the access group eligibility mes
`Sage to determine whether the user equipment unit is
`allowed access to the cell for which the acceSS group
`eligibility message is transmitted. This determination thus
`allows the user equipment unit to make a decision whether
`or not it has access rights in a particular cell, and thereby
`addresses access rights in complex network configurations
`Such as a shared network situation. Further, the present
`invention provides an access rights determination Scheme
`generally applicable to a user equipment unit regardless of
`whether it is in the IDLE mode or in one of the following
`states of the CONNECTED mode: CELL FACH state;
`CELL PCH state; and URA PCH state.
`GED
`
`PSTN/IDSN)-
`
`12
`
`14
`
`
`
`
`
`CORE
`NETWORK
`
`MSC
`
`CLASSIFICAON
`CONTROLER
`V
`1108
`
`CASSFICAON
`CONTROLER
`11020
`
`
`
`UMTSTERRESTRIAL
`RADIO ACCESS
`NETWORK (UTRAN)
`
`as
`1
`
`(RADIO NETWORK
`CONTROLLER)
`
`RNC
`(RADiO NETWORK
`CONTROLLER)
`
`
`
`ACCESS
`CONTROLER
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 1 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002. Sheet 1 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HETTIOHINOO | |___/
`
`09
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 2 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002 Sheet 2 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`(ONH)
`HETTIOH_LNO O
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`v.
`
`
`
`SSE OOV/
`
`HETTIOH ! NOO
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 3 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002 Sheet 3 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 4 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002 Sheet 4 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`—
`
`
`/*SSHOOV (JEHO I.S
`
`
`~JH_LINA SLNEJ NO?)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 5 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002. Sheet 5 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`? ??????????
`
`---- G-?
`
`
`
`CJE NAOTIT\/
`
`?ON
`
`(JENNOTIT\/
`
`ON
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 6 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002 Sheet 6 0f 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`E.3
`
`NS
`
`\\ZOF<O_n:wm<AO
`
`>EO_>_m:2
`
`wwm00<
`
`29207525
`
`
`
`imemszMo%
`
`
`J-\/Emmfio99.209M4mgmmméN2.5-52.mm:
`
`2920:,deJ»/\/7/N:95EmiommsmVim-mx/EEjoEzooo:EozfimzS/ZOESEmm/fiommoo
`
`$95339;V<mE<
`
`
`
`AminomoMERE:
`
`‘I.)x\3-meaomooE
`
`_.,Wm-m
`
`\.IA\.rm-Jm,A
`
`z<m+nv
`
`
`
`,I
`
`
`
`mmmoo<.
`
`EjoEzoomm
`
`\i-”50%OS/
`
`\MmmmEommsm_----.\-
`cm25momfrog
`
`xmozfimzE352
`
`m5:
`
`éEmEmm:
`
`99$
`
`Dell Inc., EX. 1028
`
`Page 7 of 33
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 7 of 33
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002 Sheet 7 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`HET OHJ NOO
`
`XHOM LHN H-J
`HHOO9 |
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SS-JOO\f
`
`HETTIOHIJ NOO
`
`! E
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 8 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002. Sheet 8 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`___---| NOI IVO|-HISSVTO
`
`kHOWNEW
`
`
`
`SSE OO\/
`
`HETTO}} | NOOi.Z8
`
`~~~~<!-- º,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 9 of 33
`
`

`

`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`HETTOH LNO O
`
`Å HOWN-HWN
`
`
`
`
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 10 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002 Sheet 10 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 11 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002 Sheet 11 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 12 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002. Sheet 12 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`TIETO NI CIENNOTTV
`
`En <- O = SNO||LSOd <–—|0||||
`
`209S|SV9
`
`
`
`
`
`C?EI-JISSVTO SI ET HOIHN\ N | Sc}(\OHO NOI LOI HILSEHNO
`
`||9-kg-L|8
`
`
`
`
`
`CJE WHO-H HEcd
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 13 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002 Sheet 13 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`… 908
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 14 of 33
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002 Sheet 14 0f 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`mIE211011111/M
`
`51111115.11
`
`/:E
`
`
`
`TE;mhzmkzoo
`
`mm<n__>_OO
`
`mo<mmm=2@3908W
`
`QDOEOmwm00<
`
`m.91
`
`av101:51:3\
`
`
`1011.51:jmoV@302c.1105ova
`mmmV/z\zo,:<o_1_mw<d21295<1:1:95
`
`
`
`
`/\\</.\
`
`Dell Inc., EX. 1028
`
`Page 15 0f33
`
`wzoammi
`
`
`
`fimeO<QmEOhmZO_.r<O_n:wm,<u_OwQmeomm
`
`
`
`>mO_>_m:>_
`
`
`4<_m._xmmmmm:x”:2:
`
`xmozfimzmmmoo<lf\1
`92¢WVmo<mmm§1
`>\/\/AIR.
`
`x/xE1563113010@302W113
`
`EMF/15%?
`
`my?.........................
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`QDOEGmmmOQ<
`
`>.:4_m_03m
`
`m;V.-ma”Noama0,
`
`12/11::
`
`
`
`EMISOEHZOOwmeO<
`
`
`
`GAO
`ZOC<OF=mw<AO>>wZ
`
`
`VEO>>FwZFmijmFZOOmmOOxmwflfigmvwzm:
`
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 15 of 33
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Aug. 15, 2002. Sheet 15 of 15
`
`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SSHOOV CHÍ TOHO NÍVLOEJO
`
`
`
`NOISHE/\ C13HO LS NIVLEOTTERO O LN|| CJE/\OWN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 16 of 33
`
`

`

`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`Aug. 15, 2002
`
`COORDINATED SUBSCRIBER ACCESS
`HANDLING FOR SHARED NETWORKSUPPORT
`
`BACKGROUND
`0001. This application claims the benefit and priority of
`the following (all of which are incorporated herein by
`reference in their entirety): U.S. Provisional Patent Appli
`cation No. 60/329,503, filed Oct. 17, 2001, entitled “Coor
`dinated Subscriber Access Handling For Shared Network
`Support'; and, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
`60/330,708, filed Oct. 29, 2001, entitled “Coordinated Sub
`scriber Access Handling For Shared Network Support'. This
`application is related to the following (all of which are
`incorporated herein by reference in their entirety): U.S.
`Provisional Patent Application No. 60/268,065, filed Feb.
`13, 2001, entitled “Handover In A Shared Radio Access
`Network Environment Using Subscriber Dependent Neigh
`bor Cell Lists”; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
`60/301,442, filed Jun. 29, 2001, entitled “Partial Support of
`Mobility Between Radio Access Networks”; U.S. Patent
`Application No. 09/932,447, filed Aug. 20, 2001, entitled
`“Transmission of Filtering/Filtered Information Over the Iur
`Interface”; U.S. Patent Application No.
`(attorney
`docket: 2380-599), filed Feb. 13, 2001, entitled “Handover
`In A Shared Radio Access Network Environment Using
`Subscriber Dependent Neighbor Cell Lists”; and, U.S.
`Patent Application No. (attorney docket: 2380-601), filed
`Feb. 13, 2002, entitled “Partial Support of Mobility Between
`Radio Access Networks'.
`0002) 1. Field of the Invention
`0003. This invention pertains to telecommunications, and
`particularly to the Structure and operation of shared tele
`communication networks.
`0004 2. Related Art and Other Considerations
`0005. In a typical cellular radio system, mobile user
`equipment units (UES) communicate via a radio access
`network (RAN) to one or more core networks. The user
`equipment units (UES) can be mobile stations Such as mobile
`telephones (“cellular” telephones) and laptops with mobile
`termination, and thus can be, for example, portable, pocket,
`hand-held, computer-included, or car-mounted mobile
`devices which communicate Voice and/or data with radio
`access network.
`0006 The radio access network (RAN) covers a geo
`graphical area which is divided into cell areas, with each cell
`area being Served by a base Station. A cell is a geographical
`area where radio coverage is provided by the radio base
`Station equipment at a base Station site. Each cell is identi
`fied by a unique identity, which is broadcast in the cell. The
`base stations communicate over the air interface (e.g., radio
`frequencies) with the user equipment units (UE) within
`range of the base Stations. In the radio access network,
`Several base Stations are typically connected (e.g., by land
`lines or microwave) to a radio network controller (RNC).
`The radio network controller, also Sometimes termed a base
`Station controller (BSC), Supervises and coordinates various
`activities of the plural base Stations connected thereto. The
`radio network controllers are typically connected to one or
`more core networks.
`0007 One example of a radio access network is the
`Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS) Terrestrial
`
`Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The UMTS is a third
`generation System which in Some respects builds upon the
`radio access technology known as Global System for Mobile
`communications (GSM) developed in Europe. UTRAN is
`essentially a radio access network providing wideband code
`division multiple access (WCDMA) to user equipment units
`(UES). The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has
`undertaken to evolve further the UTRAN and GSM-based
`radio access network technologies.
`0008. As those skilled in the art appreciate, in W-CDMA
`technology a common frequency band allows Simultaneous
`communication between a user equipment unit (UE) and
`plural base Stations. Signals occupying the common fre
`quency band are discriminated at the receiving Station
`through spread spectrum CDMA waveform properties based
`on the use of a high speed, pseudo-noise (PN) code. These
`high Speed PN codes are used to modulate Signals transmit
`ted from the base Stations and the user equipment units
`(UES). Transmitter stations using different PN codes (or a
`PN code offset in time) produce signals that can be sepa
`rately demodulated at a receiving station. The high speed PN
`modulation also allows the receiving Station to advanta
`geously generate a received signal from a single transmitting
`Station by combining Several distinct propagation paths of
`the transmitted Signal. In CDMA, therefore, a user equip
`ment unit (UE) need not switch frequency when handoff of
`a connection is made from one cell to another. As a result,
`a destination cell can Support a connection to a user equip
`ment unit (UE) at the same time the origination cell con
`tinues to Service the connection. Since the user equipment
`unit (UE) is always communicating through at least one cell
`during handover, there is no disruption to the call. Hence, the
`term "soft handover.” In contrast to hard handover, Soft
`handover is a “make-before-break Switching operation.
`0009. The Universal Mobile Telecommunications
`(UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN)
`accommodates both circuit Switched and packet Switched
`connections. In this regard, in UTRAN the circuit switched
`connections involve a radio network controller (RNC) com
`municating with a mobile switching center (MSC), which in
`turn is connected to a connection-oriented, external core
`network, which may be (for example) the Public Switched
`Telephone Network (PSTN) and/or the Integrated Services
`Digital Network (ISDN). On the other hand, in UTRAN the
`packet Switched connections involve the radio network
`controller communicating with a Serving GPRS Support
`Node (SGSN) which in turn is connected through a back
`bone network and a Gateway GPRS Support node (GGSN)
`to packet-Switched networks (e.g., the Internet, X.25 exter
`nal networks). MSCs and GSNs are in contact with a Home
`Location Register (HRL), which is a database of subscriber
`information.
`0010. There are several interfaces of interest in the
`UTRAN. The interface between the radio network control
`lers (RNCs) and the core network(s) is termed the “Iu”
`interface. The interface between a radio network controller
`(RNC) and its base stations (BSS) is termed the “Iub”
`interface. The interface between the user equipment unit
`(UE) and the base stations is known as the “air interface” or
`the “radio interface' or “Uul interface'. In Some instances, a
`connection involves both a Serving or Source RNC (SRNC)
`and a target or drift RNC (DRNC), with the SRNC control
`ling the connection but with one or more diversity legs of the
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 17 of 33
`
`

`

`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`Aug. 15, 2002
`
`connection being handling by the DRNC. An Inter-RNC
`transport link can be utilized for the transport of control and
`data signals between Source RNC and a Drift or Target
`RNC, and can be either a direct link or a logical link as
`described, for example, in International Application Number
`PCT/US94/12419 (International Publication Number WO
`95/15665). An interface between radio network controllers
`(e.g., between a Serving RNC SRNC and a Drift RNC
`DRNC) is termed the “Iur” interface.
`0011. The radio network controller (RNC) controls the
`UTRAN. In fulfilling its control role, the RNC manages
`resources of the UTRAN. Such resources managed by the
`RNC include (among others) the downlink (DL) power
`transmitted by the base stations; the uplink (UL) interference
`perceived by the base Stations, and the hardware situated at
`the base Stations.
`0012 Those skilled in the art appreciate that, with respect
`to a certain RAN-UE connection, an RNC can either have
`the role of a serving RNC (SRNC) or the role of a drift RNC
`(DRNC). If an RNC is a serving RNC (SRNC), the RNC is
`in charge of the connection with the user equipment unit
`(UE), e.g., it has full control of the connection within the
`radio access network (RAN). A serving RNC (SRNC) is
`connected to the core network. On the other hand, if an RNC
`is a drift RNC (DRNC), its supports the serving RNC
`(SRNC) by supplying radio resources (within the cells
`controlled by the drift RNC (DRNC)) needed for a connec
`tion with the user equipment unit (UE). A System which
`includes the drift radio network controller (DRNC) and the
`base stations controlled over the Iub Interface by the drift
`radio network controller (DRNC) is herein referenced as a
`DRNC subsystem or DRNS. An RNC is said to be the
`Controlling RNC (CRNC) for the base stations connected to
`it by an Iub interface. This CRNC role is not UE specific.
`The CRNC is, among other things, responsible for handling
`radio resource management for the cells in the base Stations
`connected to it by the Ilub interface.
`0013 The UTRAN interfaces (Iu, Iur and Iub) have two
`planes, namely, a control plane (CP) and a user plane (UP).
`In order to control the UTRAN, the radio network applica
`tion in the different nodes communicate by using the control
`plane protocols. The RANAP is a control plane protocol for
`the In interface; the RNSAP is a control plane protocol for
`the Iur interface; and NBAP is a control plane protocol for
`the Ilub interface. The control plane protocols are transported
`over reliable signaling bearers. The transport of data
`received/transmitted on the radio interface occurs in the user
`plane (UP). In the user plane, the data is transported over
`unreliable transport bearers. The Serving radio network
`controller (SRNC) is responsible for establishing the nec
`essary transport bearers between the Serving radio network
`controller (SRNC) and the drift radio network controller
`(DRNC).
`0.014.
`It has recently been contemplated that two or more
`operators can share network infrastructure, e.g., share a
`UTRAN in a particular geographical area. In the shared
`network all of the UTRAN resources are shared, e.g. RNCs,
`node-Bs, cells, etc., and can be used equally by Subscribers
`of both Sharing operators. Using Shared networks, operators
`can reduce the cost of network build-out. But shared net
`WorkS also engender many Scenarios presenting technical
`challenges, including Scenarios where Subscribers require
`
`different access rights when moving between shared net
`WorkS and non-shared networks, or moving within shared
`networks.
`0015 Various techniques for handling access rights have
`been proposed generally, Some of which have been Sug
`gested for third generation WCDMA networks (some having
`been set forth in specifications of the Third Generation
`Partnership Project (3GPP)). Four broad categories of such
`proposals, briefly discussed below, are: (1) equivalent
`PLMNs; (2) forbidden access areas; (3) Subscriber groups
`(to Support Selective handover); and (4) roaming restriction
`groups (to allow roaming restrictions).
`0016. The equivalent PLMN proposal essentially
`involves a user equipment unit (UE) treating various
`PLMNs as equivalent for the purposes of handover and cell
`reselection. Equivalent PLMNs are described, e.g., in 3GPP
`TS 25.304.
`0017 Forbidden location areas are those location areas
`which are forbidden for a user equipment unit (UE) to
`access. Forbidden location areas are described, e.g., in 3GPP
`TS 25.304 and 3GPP TS 24.008.
`0018. The Subscriber group proposals involves subscriber
`groups which, along with their compositions, are typically
`pre-agreed among operators, so that (for example) each
`operator knows which Subscriber can be included in a
`particular Subscriber group. For example, a first Subscriber
`group (SG) could comprise all Subscribers of a first operator,
`and all Subscribers that have roaming agreements with that
`operator. Operators, and thus a Subscriber group can be
`defined or expressed, for example, as one or more IMSI
`PLMNS.
`0019. As used herein, the term “IMSI-PLMN” means the
`PLMN which has been extracted from the IMSI of a user
`equipment unit (it being kept in mind that the IMSI of many
`user equipment units will have the same IMSI-PLMN). The
`international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is stored in
`the RNC for each connected mode user equipment unit. The
`international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is received in
`the RNC from the core network (CN) in a RANAP COM
`MON ID message when a radio resource control (RRC)
`connection is Setup. The international mobile Subscriber
`identity (IMSI) which comprises not more than fifteen
`digits comprises three components: a mobile country code
`(MCC) three digits); a mobile network code (MNC) two or
`three digits; and a mobile Subscriber identification number
`(MSIN). The home-public land mobile network (HPLMN)
`id HPLMNid of the user equipment unit can be extracted
`from the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI). In
`this regard, the HPLMNid of the user equipment unit is the
`mobile country code (MCC)+the mobile network code
`(MNC).
`0020 Heretofore subscriber groups have been proposed
`to Support Selective handover. Selective handover is a tech
`nique which involves filtering out the cells that are not
`possible/permitted (or not preferred) for handover for a
`given user equipment unit, and only Sending the list of
`allowed neighbor cells to the user equipment unit, So that the
`user equipment unit can measure on those cells, and Send the
`results to the RNC. The RNC will then choose a cell to
`which to handover to based on the measured results. Selec
`tive handover is described, e.g., in U.S. Patent Application
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 18 of 33
`
`

`

`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`Aug. 15, 2002
`
`No. 09/932,447, filed Aug. 20, 2001, entitled “Transmission
`of Filtering/Filtered Information Over the Iur Interface”,
`which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
`0021 Roaming restriction groups have been employed in
`GSM, but are not currently passed over any interface, nor are
`they described in any technical Specification.
`0022 Various problems arise in implementing these pro
`posals. One Such problem is lack of uniformity or alignment
`of Solutions for UES in the IDLE mode on the one hand, and
`UES in the CONNECTED MODE on the other hand. Within
`Connected Mode there are four different states: CELL DCH
`state; CELL FACH state; CELL PCH state; and
`URA PCH state. As described, e.g., in U.S. Provisional
`Patent Application No. 60/317,970, filed Sep. 10, 2001,
`entitled “RECOVERY OF MOBILE STATION(S) IN CON
`NECTED MODE UPON RNC FAILURE" (which is incor
`porated herein by reference in its entirety), each State reflects
`a different level of activity.
`0023. An illustrative example of such misalignment
`occurs in the context of a proposal involving forbidden
`location areas. Such proposal requires that an IDLE mode
`user equipment unit (UE) perform a location update in a
`given area to find out whether the user equipment unit (UE)
`is allowed acceSS in that area or not. Performing a location
`update for an IDLE mode user equipment unit (UE) requires
`that a radio resource control (RRC) connection be set up in
`the UTRAN, and Signaling performed from the user equip
`ment unit (UE) towards the core network (CN). If the user
`equipment unit (UE) is not allowed in the area, the user
`equipment unit (UE) is So informed by the core network in
`a location area update reject message. When the location
`area update reject message is received, the user equipment
`unit (UE) updates a location area forbidden list which the
`user equipment unit (UE) maintains, and the RRC connec
`tion to the UTRAN is released.
`0024. The actions taken when a CONNECTED mode
`user equipment unit (UE) in the CELL FACH state; the
`CELL PCH state; and the URA PCH state without an
`updated location area forbidden list enters a forbidden area
`for that user equipment unit (UE) differ from the above
`described actions for an IDLE mode user equipment unit
`(UE). The CONNECTED mode user equipment unit (UE)
`must perform either a cell update or a URA update in the
`forbidden cell, and be rejected in the UTRAN (based on a
`subscriber group check performed in the UTRAN, or some
`equivalent check based on the user equipment unit's IMSI
`PLMN performed in UTRAN), after which the user equip
`ment unit (UE) goes into IDLE mode. In the IDLE mode the
`user equipment unit (UE) performs a location area update in
`the location area towards the core network. Upon receipt of
`a location area update reject message, the user equipment
`unit (UE) updates its location area forbidden list and tries to
`register in a new location area.
`0.025
`Proposals such as the foregoing dealing with access
`rights in shared networks thus involve considerable signal
`ing for the mere purpose of informing a user equipment unit
`(UE) that it is not allowed to operate in a particular area.
`Moreover, various of these proposals can also lead to a
`CONNECTED mode user equipment unit (UE) having its
`RRC connection released unnecessarily.
`0026. What is needed, therefore, and an object of the
`present invention, is a technique to determine access rights
`
`for a user equipment unit (UE) in a shared network context
`with minimal signaling overhead.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY
`0027. To facilitate, e.g., determination of access rights in
`a shared network context, a telecommunications network
`transmits, in a broadcast channel over an air interface, an
`acceSS group eligibility message to a user equipment unit.
`The access group eligibility message enables the user equip
`ment unit to ascertain, on a basis of access group to which
`the user equipment unit belongs, whether the user equipment
`unit is eligible to operate in a cell for which the acceSS group
`eligibility message is transmitted. The access group eligi
`bility message can be generated by a radio acceSS network
`node.
`0028. The telecommunications network also includes a
`core network node which, upon receipt of request for/from
`the user equipment unit, classifies the user equipment unit in
`at least one of plural access groups. Further, the core
`network node generates, for transmission to the user equip
`ment unit through the radio acceSS network, an access group
`classification message which advises the user equipment
`unit as to which of the plural access groups the user
`equipment unit belongs. Upon receipt of the access group
`classification message, the user equipment unit Stores an
`acceSS group classification obtained from the access group
`classification message in a memory at the user equipment
`unit. In illustrated embodiments, the acceSS group classifi
`cation message can, as appropriate, be one of a location
`update response and a location update reject message, either
`of which can include the access group classification.
`0029. In accordance with one aspect of the present inven
`tion, the user equipment unit (upon receiving the access
`group eligibility message) compares the stored access group
`classification with contents of the access group eligibility
`message to determine whether the user equipment unit is
`allowed access to the cell for which the acceSS group
`eligibility message is transmitted. This determination thus
`allows the user equipment unit to make a decision whether
`or not it has access rights in a particular cell, and thereby
`addresses access rights in complex network configurations
`Such as a shared network situation. Further, the present
`invention provides an access rights determination Scheme
`generally applicable to a user equipment unit regardless of
`whether it is in the IDLE mode or in one of the following
`states of the CONNECTED mode: CELL FACH state;
`CELL PCH state; and URA PCH state.
`0030 Upon entering a new cell which involves a transi
`tion to a new location area, the user equipment unit checks
`the access group eligibility message transmitted for the new
`cell in order to compare the Stored access group classifica
`tion with contents of the acceSS group eligibility message to
`determine whether the user equipment unit is allowed access
`to the new cell. By contrast, upon entering a new cell which
`does not involve a transition to a new location area, the user
`equipment unit need not check the access group eligibility
`message to determine whether the user equipment unit is
`allowed access to the new cell.
`0031) Both the access group classification message and
`the access group eligibility message can take various forms.
`For example, in one implementation, the acceSS group can
`be a Subscriber group. In Such implementation, the acceSS
`
`Dell Inc., Ex. 1028
`Page 19 of 33
`
`

`

`US 2002/0111180 A1
`
`Aug. 15, 2002
`
`group classification message becomes a Subscriber group
`classification message which advises into which Subscriber
`group the user equipment unit is classified. Concomitantly,
`the access group eligibility message becomes a Subscriber
`group eligibility message which indicates what Subscriber
`groups are eligible to operate in the cell for which the
`Subscriber group eligibility message is transmitted. In
`another example implementation, the access group can be a
`restriction group. In Such implementation, the access group
`classification message becomes a restriction group classifi
`cation message which advises into which restriction
`group(S) the user equipment unit is classified. Concomi
`tantly, the acceSS group eligibility message becomes a
`restriction group ineligibility message which indicates what
`restriction groups are not eligible to operate in the cell for
`which the restriction group eligibility message is transmit
`ted.
`0032. In one example format, the access group eligibility
`message includes a bitmap which indicates eligibility for
`plural access groups (e.g., which Subscriber groups or
`restriction groups are permitted/refused in the cell). In one
`example generic implementation of the invention the acceSS
`group eligibility message includes a first bitmap which
`indicates eligibility for the plural acceSS groups, while the
`access group classification message includes a Second bit
`map which advises the user equipment unit as to which of
`the plural access groups the user equipment unit belongs.
`The user equipment unit performs a logical operation with
`respect to the first bitmap and the Second bitmap to deter
`mine whether the user equipment unit is allowed access to
`the cell for which the acceSS group eligibility message is
`transmitted. In first example Specific implementation the
`first bitmap indicates which of plural Subscriber groups are
`eligible and the Second bitmap indicates to which one(s) of
`plural Subscriber groups the user equipment unit belongs. In
`a Second example specific implementation the first bitmap
`indicates which of plural restriction groups are ineligible and
`the Second bitmap indicates to which one(s) of plural
`restriction groups the user equipment unit belongs. In both
`example specific implementations, the user equipment unit
`performs a logical AND operation between corresponding
`bit positions of the first bitmap and the second bitmap.
`0033. In one of its aspects, the present invention also
`accommodates changes of acceSS group classification by a
`core network. To this end, the access group classification
`message includes the acceSS group classification and
`(optionally) a version field associated with the access group
`classification. If the core network changes the access group
`classification, in a Subsequent core network message the
`core network can advise the user equipment unit regarding
`a revised acceSS group classification and a version field
`asSociated with the acceSS group classification carried by the
`Subsequent core network message. By comparing the con
`tents of the version field associated with the access group
`classification and the version field associated with the acceSS
`group classification carried by the Subsequent core network
`message, the user equipment unit can determine whether the
`user equipment unit should update its Stored access group
`classification.
`0034.
`In another of its aspects, the present invention
`accommodates movement of a user equipment unit into a
`cell of another core network which has a different acceSS
`group classification than the core node (the “previous core
`
`network”) which provided the user equipment unit with the
`user equipment unit's currently Stored acceSS group classi
`fication. Here again the access group classification message
`includes both the access group classification and (optionally)
`a version field associated with the access group classifica
`tion. Upon entering a new cell associated with a Second core
`network, the user equipment unit receives an access group
`eligibility message transmitted for the new cell. The access
`group eligibility message transmitted for the new cell
`includes a version field associated with the contents of the
`acceSS group eligibility message transmitted for the new
`cell. The user equipment unit determines, by comparing
`contents of the version field associated with the access group
`classification and the version field associa