Determining the need for a routing area update for packet switched handover in multi-operator core network

A method by a mobile station (MS) for controlling handover of the MS from a source cell of a source Radio Access Network (RAN) operating in packet switched (PS) domain to a target cell of a target RAN operating in PS domain, the target cell supporting multi-operator core network (MOCN), the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving system information transmitted by a node of the source RAN including a selected public land mobile network (PLMN), location area code (LAC) of the target cell, and routing area code (RAC) of the target cell;
• executing handover to the target RAN;
• determining a target routing area identity (RAI) using the selected PLMN, LAC of the target cell, and RAC of the target cell from the system information transmitted by the node of the source RAN;
• comparing the target routing area identity (RAI) to a registered RAI;
• and
• determining whether a routing area update (RAU) is needed in the target RAN based on the comparison of the target RAI to the registered RAI.

A node of a source radio access network (RAN) for controlling handover of a mobile station (MS) from a source cell of the source RAN operating in packet switched (PS) domain to a target cell of a target RAN operating in PS domain, the target RAN supporting multi-operator core network (MOCN), comprising:

• a processor;
• a RAN system information module executed by the processor to transmit system information to the MS, the system information including a selected public land mobile network (PLMN), location area code (LAC) of the target cell, and routing area code (RAC) of the target cell;
• and
• a RAN handover module executed by the processor to send a PS handover command to the MS;

A mobile station (MS) configured for handover from a source cell of a source radio access network (RAN) operating in packet switched (PS) domain to a target cell of a target RAN operating in PS domain, the target RAN supporting multi-operator core network (MOCN), comprising:

• a processor;
• a MS system information module executed by the processor to receive system information transmitted by a node of the source RAN including a selected public land mobile network (PLMN), location area code (LAC) of the target cell, and routing area code (RAC) of the target cell;
• a MS handover module executed by the processor to execute handover to the target RAN;
• a routing area update (RAU) module executed by the processor to determine a target routing area identity (RAI) using the selected PLMN, LAC of the target cell, and RAC of the target cell from the system information transmitted by the node of the source RAN, the RAU module further configured to compare the target routing area identity (RAI) to a registered RAI, and to determine whether a routing area update (RAU) is needed in the target RAN based on the comparison of the target RAI to the registered RAI.