Maintaining current cell location information in a cellular access network

A method of providing a core network (56) with a current cell location of a User Equipment, UE, (27) operating in a Circuit Switched Services over LTE Generic Radio Access Network in which a plurality of LTE cells are associated with an LTE Tracking Area, TA, and wherein when the UE registers with a Generic Access Network Controller, GANC, (35) from a first LTE cell, the GANC selects a first GAN Cell Global Identifier, GAN-CGI, associated with the first LTE cell for reporting the location of the UE to the core network, the method comprising the steps of:

• reporting (16/5) by the UE to the GANC that the UE has moved from the first LTE cell to a second LTE cell;
• determining (16/6) by the GANC, whether the UE should be served by a second GANC based on the reported second LTE cell or associated TA;
• upon determining that the UE should be served by a second GANC, redirecting (16/6) the UE report to the second GANC;
• selecting (16/8) by the second GANG, a second GAN-CGI associated with the second LTE cell;
• and
• reporting (16/8) by the second GANC, the second GAN-CGI to the core network.

A method of providing a core network (56) with a current cell location of a User Equipment, UE, (27) operating in a Circuit Switched Services over LTE Generic Radio Access Network, the method comprising the steps of:

• the UE detecting a triggering event, wherein the triggering event comprises the UE moving from a first LTE cell to a second LTE cell within a single LTE Tracking Area, TA;
• in response to detecting the triggering event, the UE reporting the UE's current LTE cell to a Generic Access Network Controller, GANC (35);
• and
• the GANC (35) reporting to the core network 956), a GAN Cell Global Identifier, GAN-CGI, associated with the UE's current LTE cell.

A system for providing a core network (56) with a current cell location of a User Equipment, UE, operating in a Circuit Switched Services over LTE Generic Radio Access Network, the system comprising:

• a UE (27);
• and
• a Generic Radio Access Network Controller, GANC (35);
• wherein the UE includes:
• a triggering event detector (51) for detecting when a triggering event has occurred and for generating a notification that the event has occurred, wherein the triggering event comprises the UE moving from a first LTE cell to a second LTE cell within a single LTE Tracking Area, TA;
• and
• a current LTE cell transmitter (52) for sending an indication of the UE's current LTE cell to the GANC (35) in response to the notification from the triggering event detector (51);
• and
• wherein the GANC (35) includes:
• a current LTE cell receiver (53) for receiving the indication of the UE's current LTE cell from the UE;
• a mapping unit (54) for determining a GAN Cell Global Identifier, GAN-CGI, associated with the UE's current LTE cell;
• and
• a GAN-CGI reporting unit (55) for reporting the GAN-CGI to the core network.

A Generic Radio Access Network Controller, GANG, (35) for providing a core network (56) with a current cell location of a User Equipment, UE, (27) operating in a Circuit Switched Services over LTE Generic Radio Access Network, the GANC comprising:

• a current LTE cell receiver (53) for receiving an indication of the UE's current LTE cell from the UE whenever a triggering event occurs, wherein the triggering event comprises the UE moving from a first LTE cell to a second LTE cell within a single LTE Tracking Area, TA;
• a mapping unit (54) for determining a GAN Cell Global Identifier, GAN-CGI, associated with the UE's current LTE cell;
• and
• a GAN-CGI reporting unit (55) for reporting the GAN-CGI to the core network.