US 2019/0159157 A1Published application

Single registration mode support for interworking between 5gc and epc

AssigneeIntel IP Corporation

InventorVivek G. Gupta

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Abstract

Systems and methods of enabling intersystem changes between 4G and 5G are described. The UE in single registration mode handles default EPS bearer contexts and PDU session contexts as if the N26 interface were supported before making the determination whether N26 interface is supported or not during an initial EPS Attach procedure. After determining that the N26 interface is unsupported, the UE maps active PDU session contexts to default EPS bearer contexts and modifies the PDU session context state from active to inactive before completing the intersystem change. The UE either acts as if the N26 interface were supported and loses all the PDN connections or PDU sessions during the intersystem change, or enters a modified single registration mode in which the states of the EPC and 5G system are partially isolated from each other during the intersystem change.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An apparatus of a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry, wherein the UE is configured for operation in either a single registration mode or for operation in a dual registration mode,
wherein a common registration for Evolved Packet System (EPS) Mobility Management (EMM) of an evolved packet core network (EPC) and 5th generation Mobility Management (5GMM) of a core network (5GC) is maintained in the single registration mode, the EPC is accessed in an S1 mode and the 5GC is accessed in an N1 mode;
during an intersystem change from N1 mode to S1 mode, the processing circuitry is arranged to, prior to performance of an Attach procedure, map a protocol data unit (PDU) session context to a default EPS bearer context of a packet data network (PDN) connection and set a state of the default EPS bearer context, wherein:
the default EPS bearer context is activated during the Attach procedure by transmission of a PDN CONNECTIVITY REQUEST message with request type set to “handover”, or
the default EPS bearer context is activated after the Attach procedure is performed by initiation of a stand-alone PDN connectivity procedure with request type set to “handover” in another PDN CONNECTIVITY REQUEST message;
and
during an intersystem change from S1 mode to N1 mode, the processing circuitry is arranged to map a default EPS bearer context of the PDN connection to a corresponding PDU session and set a state of the PDU session,
wherein after the state of the PDU session is set, a mobility registration update procedure is performed with the 5GC, and, after registration in the N1 mode, a PDU session establishment procedure with request type set to “existing PDU session” is initiated to transfer the PDN connection;
and
a memory arranged to store the mapped EPS bearer context.

7 more elements

A computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), the one or more processors to configure the UE to, when the instructions are executed:

operate in a single registration mode in which the UE maintains a common registration for Evolved Packet System (EPS) Mobility Management (EMM) of an evolved packet core network (EPC) and 5th generation Mobility Management (5GMM) of a core network (5GC);
access the EPC in an S1 mode and access the 5GC in an N1 mode;
during an intersystem change from N1 mode to S1 mode:
perform an Attach procedure or tracking area update (TAU) procedure with the EPC,
if the Attach procedure is performed:
prior to performance of the Attach procedure, map a protocol data unit (PDU) session context to a default EPS bearer context of a packet data network (PDN) connection and set a state of the default EPS bearer context, and
during or after the Attach procedure is performed, activate the default EPS bearer context;
and
during an intersystem change from S1 mode to N1 mode:
map a default EPS bearer context of the PDN connection to a corresponding PDU session and set a state of the PDU session;
initiate a mobility registration update procedure with the 5GC, and
initiate a PDU session establishment procedure with request type set to “existing PDU session” to transfer the PDN connection.

9 more elements

An apparatus of a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry, wherein the UE is configured for operation in either a single registration mode or for operation in a dual registration mode, wherein, when configured for operation in the single registration mode in which the processing circuitry configures the UE to maintain a common registration for Evolved Packet System (EPS) Mobility Management (EMM) of an evolved packet core network (EPC) and 5th generation Mobility Management (5GMM) of a core network (5GC), the processing circuitry is arranged to configure the UE to:
determine whether interworking without an N26 interface being supported exists based on an indication from the EPC or 5GC;
if the indication indicates that interworking without the N26 interface is supported, during an intersystem change from N1 mode to S1 mode map a protocol data unit (PDU) session to a default EPS bearer context of a packet data network (PDN) connection and set a state of the default EPS bearer context, an Attach procedure initiated thereafter, or
if the indication indicates that interworking without the N26 interface is not supported, a tracking area update (TAU) procedure is performed;
and
during the intersystem change from S1 mode to N1 mode, map the default EPS bearer context of the PDU connection to a corresponding PDU session and set the state of the PDU session, a registration procedure for mobility and periodic registration update indicating “mobility registration updating” being initiated thereafter;
and
a memory arranged to store a mapping of the PDU session to the default EPS bearer context.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/195,147Filed 19 Nov 2018
Priority: 20 Nov 2017
Published: 23 May 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04W 60/005
Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration: multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming
H04W 8/02
Network data management: processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location…
H04W 36/0033
For data sessions of end-to-end connection: with transfer of context information
H04W 36/1443
Over a different radio air interface technology: between licensed networks