US 12,739,916 B2Granted

Managing a user equipment connection to a wireless network

AssigneeSkylo Technologies, Inc.

InventorsMeghna Agrawal, Andrew Nuttall, Soham Dhiren Desai, Anand Radhakrishnan, Vijay Lewis

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Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for managing a User Equipment (UE) connection to a wireless network are disclosed. One method includes attaching, by a core network, the UE to the wireless network, storing, by the core network, at least a first subset of an attach context and a UE operational data set, wherein the UE stores at least a second subset of the attach context in memory and network operational data sets, wherein the UE transmits packets using the second subset of the attach context and the network operational data sets. The method further comprises receiving, by the core network, the packets from the UE using the first subset of the attach context, and urging by the core network the first subset of the attach context based on the UE network operational data set.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of managing a user equipment (UE) connection to a wireless network that includes a satellite network that includes a satellite base station and a satellite core network, and a terrestrial network that includes a terrestrial base station and a terrestrial core network, comprising:

attaching, by the satellite core network, the UE to the wireless network;
storing, by the satellite core network, at least a first subset of an attach context and a UE operational data set;
wherein the UE stores at least a second subset of the attach context in memory and network operational data sets;
roaming, by the UE, from the satellite network to the terrestrial network comprising:
attaching, by the UE, with the terrestrial base station of the terrestrial network, and completing authentication and security procedures;
maintaining, by the UE, the second subset of the attach context for the satellite network while connecting with the terrestrial network;
sending, by a terrestrial MME (mobility management entity) component of the terrestrial core network, a location update request to an HSS (home subscriber server) of the terrestrial core network;
sending, by the HSS, a cancel location request to the satellite core network indicating that UE is within range with the terrestrial network;
updating, by the satellite core network, a UE availability state to indicate the current location of the UE after receiving a cancel location request;
wherein downstream routing of packets from the wireless network to the UE is through the terrestrial network or the satellite network based on the UE availability state, wherein the UE availability state indicates that the UE is available through the satellite network or the terrestrial network;
maintaining by the satellite core network, the first subset of the attach context and sessions required to enable data transfer between UE and the satellite core network, and keeping a state as context available;
sending, by the satellite core network, a cancel location acknowledgement back to the HSS of the terrestrial core network indicating that the satellite core network has updated the UE availability state;
sending, by the HSS, an update location acknowledgment to the terrestrial MME;
wherein the UE transmits packets to the satellite base station through a satellite using the satellite attach context and the satellite network operational data set, and the UE transmits packets to the terrestrial base station using a terrestrial attach context and the terrestrial network operation data set;
and
receiving, by the satellite core network, the packets from the UE using the first subset of the attach context.

13 more elements

A system that manages a User Equipment (UE) connection to a wireless network that includes a satellite network that includes a satellite base station and a satellite core network, and a terrestrial network that includes a terrestrial base station and a terrestrial core network, comprising:

the satellite base station and the terrestrial base station each configured to facilitate a wireless satellite link between the UE and the wireless network;
a satellite core network configured to:
attach the UE to the wireless network;
store at least a first subset of an attach context and a UE operational data set;
wherein the UE is configured to:
store at least a second subset of the attach context in memory and network operational data sets
roam from the satellite network to the terrestrial network comprising the UE being configured to:
attach with the terrestrial base station of the terrestrial network, and completing authentication and security procedures;
maintain the second subset of the attach context for the satellite network while connecting with the terrestrial network;
wherein a terrestrial MME (mobility management entity) component of the terrestrial core network is configured to send a location update request to an HSS (home subscriber server) of the terrestrial core network;
wherein the HSS is configured to send a cancel location request to the satellite core network indicating that UE is within range with the terrestrial network;
wherein the satellite core network is further configured to:
update a UE availability state to indicate the current location of the UE after receiving a cancel location request;
wherein downstream routing of packets from the wireless network to the UE is through the terrestrial network or the satellite network based on the UE availability state, wherein the UE availability state indicates that the UE is available through the satellite network or the terrestrial network;
maintain the first subset of the attach context and sessions required to enable data transfer between UE and the satellite core network, and keeping a state as context available;
send a cancel location acknowledgement back to the HSS of the terrestrial core network indicating that the satellite core network has updated a UE availability state;
and wherein the HSS is further configured to send an update location acknowledgment to the terrestrial MME;
and wherein the UE is further configured to:
transmit packets to the satellite base station through a satellite using the satellite attach context and the satellite network operational data set, and the UE transmits packets to the terrestrial base station using a terrestrial attach context and the terrestrial network operation data set;
and
wherein the satellite core network is further configured to:
receive the packets from the UE using the first subset of the attach context.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/106,535Filed 7 Feb 2023 · us provisional application
Priority: 29 Jul 2022
Published: US 2024/0040650 A11 Feb 2024
Granted: 15 Sep 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

H04W 76/16
Setup of multiple wireless link connections: involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with…
H04W 88/06
Terminal devices: adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
H04W
Wireless communication networks