Methods and apparatus for standalone lte ran using unlicensed frequency band

A method for enabling an establishment of a connection between a wireless device and a core network via an access node of a standalone Long Term Evolution (LTE), Radio Access Network (RAN) using an unlicensed frequency band, the method being performed by the wireless device and comprising:

• receiving a broadcast message in a cell served by the access node, the broadcast message indicating that the access node supports connectivity to at least one core network associated with another RAN than the standalone LTE RAN, and
• transmitting a request to attach to the access node based on the received broadcast message received, for establishing a secure connection for user data between the wireless device and a target core network via the access node.

An access node of a standalone Long Term Evolution (LTE), Radio Access Network (RAN) using an unlicensed frequency band, the access node being configured to enable an establishment of a connection between a wireless device and a core network via the access node, the access node being further configured to:

• transmit a broadcast message in a cell served by the access node, the message indicating that the access node supports connectivity to at least one core network associated with another RAN than the standalone LTE RAN,
• receive a request to attach from a wireless device in the cell, for establishing a secure connection for user data between the wireless device and a target core network via the access node, and
• transmit a request to a target core network node to establish the secure connection.

A wireless device configured to enable an establishment of a connection between the wireless device and a core network via an access node of a standalone Long Term Evolution (LTE), Radio Access Network (RAN) using an unlicensed frequency band, the wireless device being further configured to:

• receive a broadcast message in a cell served by the access node, the message indicating that the access node supports connectivity to at least one core network associated with another RAN than the standalone LTE RAN, and
• transmit a request to attach to the access node based on the broadcast message received, for establishing a secure connection for user data between the wireless device and a target core network via the access node.

An access node of a standalone Long Term Evolution (LTE), Radio Access Network (RAN) using an unlicensed frequency band, the access node being configured to enable an establishment of a connection between a wireless device and a core network via the access node, the access node comprising a transceiver circuit, a processing circuit, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the access node to:

• transmit via the transceiver circuit a broadcast message in a cell served by the access node, the message indicating that the access node supports connectivity to at least one core network associated with another RAN than the standalone LTE RAN,
• receive via the transceiver circuit a request to attach from a wireless device in the cell, for establishing a secure connection for user data between the wireless device and a target core network via the access node, and
• transmit via the transceiver circuit a request to a target core network node to establish the secure connection.

A wireless device configured to enable an establishment of a connection between the wireless device and a core network via an access node of a standalone Long Term Evolution (LTE), Radio Access Network (RAN) using an unlicensed frequency band, the wireless device comprising a transceiver circuit, a processing circuit, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuit, cause the access node to:

• receive via the transceiver circuit a broadcast message in a cell served by the access node, the broadcast message indicating that the access node supports connectivity to at least one core network associated with another RAN than the standalone LTE RAN, and
• transmit via the transceiver circuit a request to attach to the access node based on the broadcast message received, for establishing a secure connection for user data between the wireless device and a target core network via the access node.