Access control for machine-type communication devices
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
InventorsJohn Diachina, Paul Schliwa-Bertling, Andreas Bergström, Claes-Göran Persson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device type-dependent approach to access control is used to independently control network access by machine-type communication (MTC) and non-MTC devices. A plurality of access classes are defined for each device type. The base station selectively controls access to the network by each device type by sending an access control mask for each defined device type to the wireless terminals within the network.
Claims20
An access control method implemented by a wireless terminal in a mobile communication network, the method comprising:
- determining an device type for wireless terminal for the access attempt;
- and
- selecting an access control mask from a set of access control masks based on the device type, each access control mask comprising a plurality of access control bits indicating whether respective access classes for the corresponding device type are allowed to access the communication network;
- determining an access class for the wireless terminal;
- controlling access to the network by the wireless terminal in dependence on the access control bit in the selected access control mask corresponding to the access class of the wireless terminal.
A wireless terminal comprising:
- a transceiver circuit for communicating with a base station in a communication network;
- a processing circuit connected to the transceiver circuit for controlling access to the communication network by the wireless terminal, the processing circuit including an access control processor configured to:
- determine a device type for the wireless terminal for an access attempt;
- select an access control mask from a set of access control masks based on the device type, each access control mask comprising a plurality of access control bits indicating whether respective access classes for the corresponding device type are allowed to access the communication network;
- determine an access class for the wireless terminal;
- and
- control access to the network by the wireless terminal in dependence on the access control bit in the selected access control mask corresponding to the access class of the wireless terminal.
A method implemented by a base station for controlling access to a communication network by wireless terminals, the method comprising:
- determining a first access control mask for a first device type, the first access control mask comprising a plurality of first access control bits for corresponding access classes for the first device type;
- transmitting the first access control mask to one or more wireless terminals;
- determining a second access control mask for a second device type, the second access control mask comprising a plurality of second access control bits for corresponding access classes for the second device type;
- and
- transmitting the second access control mask to the wireless terminals.
A base station in a communication network, the base station comprising:
- a transceiver circuit for communicating with one or more wireless terminals;
- a processing circuit connected to the transceiver circuit for controlling access to the a communication network by the wireless terminals, the processing circuit including an access control processor configured to:
- determine a first access control mask for a first device type, the first access control mask comprising a plurality of first access control bits for corresponding access classes for the first device type;
- transmit the first access control mask to one or more wireless terminals;
- determine a second access control mask for a second device type, the second access control mask comprising a plurality of second access control bits for corresponding access classes for the second device type;
- aid
- transmit the second access control mask to the wireless terminals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.