# US 11,452,007 B1 · Wireless communication handovers for non-third generation partnership project (non-3GPP) access nodes

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- Number: US 11,452,007 B1
- Document ID: US11452007B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/203,086
- Filed: 2021-03-16
- Published: 2022-09-22
- Granted: 2022-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-16
- Assignees: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
- Applicants: T-Mobile Innovations LLC
- Inventors: Lyle T. Bertz; Robert Keith Butler; Brian David Waters
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11452007B1

## CPC

- H04W 36/0033: {with transfer of context information}
- H04W 36/00226: {wherein the core network technologies comprise IP multimedia system [IMS], e.g. single radio voice call continuity [SRVCC]}
- H04W 36/13: {Cell handover without a predetermined boundary, e.g. virtual cells}
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

A wireless communication network hands-in inbound User Equipment (UE) from a source communication network to a non-Third Partnership Project (non-3GPP) access node. In the wireless communication network, a Network Exposure Function (NEF) receives inbound UE context from the source communication network. An Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) detects when the inbound UE attaches to the non-3GPP access node to hand-in from the source communication network and responsively transfers a UE context request for the inbound UE to the NEF. The NEF transfers the inbound UE context to the AMF in response to the UE context request. The AMF transfers network signaling to one or more network functions to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating a wireless communication network to hand-in inbound User Equipment (UE) from a source communication network to a non-Third Partnership Project (non-3GPP) access node, the method comprising:
a Network Exposure Function (NEF) receiving inbound UE context from the source communication network;
an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) detecting when the inbound UE attaches to the non-3GPP access node to hand-in from the source communication network, and in response, transferring a UE context request for the inbound UE to the NEF;
the NEF transferring the inbound UE context to the AMF in response to the UE context request; and
the AMF receiving the inbound UE context and transferring network signaling to one or more network functions to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
the AMF detecting when an outbound UE de-attaches from the non-3GPP access node to hand-out to a target communication network, and in response, transferring outbound UE context for the outbound UE to the NEF; and
the NEF receiving the outbound UE context for the UE and transferring the outbound UE context for the UE to the target communication network.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
the NEF receiving user instructions for the hand-in from an Application Function (AF);
the NEF transferring the user instructions to the AMF responsive to the UE context request; and
the AMF transferring the user instructions to the inbound UE in N1 signaling.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the AMF transferring N1 signaling to the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the NEF receiving the inbound UE context from the source communication network and transferring the inbound UE context to the AMF comprises the NEF translating the inbound UE context from the source communication network into the inbound UE context for the AMF.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the AMF transferring the network signaling to the one or more network functions to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context comprises the AMF transferring N2 signaling to a non-3GPP Interworking Function (IWF) to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the AMF transferring the network signaling to the one or more network functions to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context comprises the AMF transferring N2 signaling to a Trusted Non-3GPP Gateway Function (TNGF) to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the AMF transferring the network signaling to the one or more network functions to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context comprises the AMF transferring N11 signaling to a Session Management Function (SMF) to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the NEF receiving the inbound UE context from the source communication network comprises the NEF receiving the inbound UE context from a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) in the source communication network.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the non-3GPP access node comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI) access node.

### Claim 11

A wireless communication network comprising:
a Network Exposure Function (NEF) configured to receive inbound UE context from the source communication network;
an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) configured to detect when the inbound UE attaches to the non-3GPP access node to hand-in from the source communication network, and in response, transfer a UE context request for the inbound UE to the NEF;
the NEF configured to transfer the inbound UE context to the AMF in response to the UE context request; and
the AMF configured to receive the inbound UE context and transfer network signaling to one or more network functions to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The wireless communication network of claim 11 further comprising:
the AMF configured to detect when an outbound UE de-attaches from the non-3GPP access node to hand-out to a target communication network, and in response, transfer outbound UE context for the outbound UE to the NEF; and
the NEF configured to receive the outbound UE context for the UE and transfer the outbound UE context for the UE to the target communication network.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The wireless communication network of claim 11 further comprising:
the NEF configured to receive user instructions for the hand-in from an Application Function (AF);
the NEF configured to transfer the user instructions to the AMF responsive to the UE context request; and
the AMF configured to transfer the user instructions to the inbound UE in N1 signaling.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The wireless communication network of claim 11 further comprising the AMF configured to transfer N1 signaling to the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The wireless communication network of claim 11 wherein the NEF is configured to translate the inbound UE context from the source communication network into the inbound UE context for the AMF.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The wireless communication network of claim 11 wherein the AMF is configured to transfer N2 signaling to a non-3GPP Interworking Function (IWF) to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The wireless communication network of claim 11 wherein the AMF is configured to transfer N2 signaling to a Trusted Non-3GPP Gateway Function (TNGF) to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The wireless communication network of claim 11 wherein the AMF is configured to transfer N11 signaling to a Session Management Function (SMF) to serve the inbound UE based on the inbound UE context.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The wireless communication network of claim 11 wherein the NEF is configured to receive the inbound UE context from a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) in the source communication network.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The wireless communication network of claim 11 wherein the non-3GPP access node comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI) access node.