Local call local switching at handover

A method for managing locally switched call connections in wireless communication network, comprising the steps:

• receiving, at a core network node, a first message requesting status change of the locally switched connection at the second user equipment;
• transmitting, in response to the first message, a second message instructing the switching of a user plane data path to a core network path in order to receive user plane data originating from the first user equipment at the second user equipment via the core network path while user plane data from the second user equipment to the first user equipment is transmitted on the locally switched path and uplink via the core network path, wherein the second message comprises a local call local switching status change request, LCLS-Status-Change-Request;
• receiving a fourth message, at the core network node, indicating that the locally switched call connection to the first user equipment is no longer locally switched;
• and
• transmitting, in response to the first message, a fifth message indicating switching of the user plane data path to the core network path has been completed.

A method for managing local call connections in a wireless communication network, comprising the steps:

• receiving a first message at a network node requesting transmission of uplink user plane data from a second user equipment via a core network path to a first user equipment to be handed over;
• receiving a second message at the network node requesting switching of user plane downlink data originating from the first user equipment from a local user plane data path to a core network path, wherein the second message comprises a local call local switching status change request, LCLS-Status-Change-Request;
• and
• transmitting a fourth message in response to the second message, indicating that the locally switched call connection to the first user equipment is still active.

A network node adapted for a wireless communication network, comprising:

• a communication interface adapted for receiving and transmitting data and control information in the wireless communication network;
• a processor configured to analyze and process signals received from the communication interface, the signals comprising a first message indicating that a first user equipment connected via a locally switched call connection has been detected in the target network node and a fourth message indicating that the first user equipment has completed the handover to the target network node, the processor being further configured to generate a fifth message in response to the fourth message received from the communication interface, the fifth message instructing the clearing of the locally switched call connection between the first user equipment and the second user equipment after the first user equipment has been successfully handed over to the target network node and to transmit the fourth message via the communication interface;
• and
• a memory device for storing software code adapted to generate messages transmitted by the processor via the wireless communication network wherein:
• the processor is further configured to generate a second message in response to the received first message and to transmit the second message via the communication interface requesting a status change of the locally switched connection to the second user equipment, such that a user plane data path from the first user equipment to the second user equipment is switched to a core network path in order to receive user plane data originating from the first user equipment via the core network path, wherein the second message comprises a local call local switching status change request, LCLS-Status-Change-Request.

A network node adapted for a wireless communication network, comprising:

• a communication interface adapted for receiving and transmitting data and control information in the wireless communication network;
• a processor configured to analyze and process signals received from the communication interface, the signals comprising a first message indicating a request for change of the local call switching status of a first user equipment which is being handed over and a fourth message indicating that the locally switched call connection to the first user equipment is no longer locally switched;
• and
• a memory device for storing software code adapted to generate messages transmitted by the processor via the wireless communication network wherein:
• the processor is further configured to generate second and fifth messages in response to the first message received and to transmit the second and fifth messages via the communication interface, the second message comprising instructions for switching of a user plane data path to a core network path in order to receive user plane data originating from the first user equipment via the core network path, and the fifth message indicating switching of the user plane data path to the core network path has been completed, wherein the second message comprises a local call local switching status change request, LCLS-Status-Change-Request.

A network node adapted for a wireless communication network, comprising:

• a communication interface adapted for receiving and transmitting data and control information in the wireless communication network;
• a processor configured to analyze and process signals received from the communication interface, the signals comprising a first message requesting transmission of uplink user plane data via a core network path to a first user equipment which is in the process of being handed over to a target network node and a second message requesting switching of user plane data associated with downlink data originating from the first user equipment from a local user plane data path to a core network path, wherein the second message comprises a local call local switching status change request, LCLS-Status-Change-Request;
• and
• a memory device for storing software code adapted to generate messages transmitted by the processor via the wireless communication network wherein:
• the processor is further configured to generate a fourth message in response to the second message received and to transmit the third message via the communication interface, the third message comprising instructions terminating the locally switched call connection to the first user equipment after the handover of the first user equipment has been completed.

A non-transitory computer program product for performing handover in a wireless communication network, comprising instructions sets for:

• receiving, at a core network node, a first message indicating that a first user equipment connected via the locally switched call connection has been detected in a target radio access node;
• transmitting, triggered by the first message, a second message requesting a status change of the locally switched call connection to a second user equipment, such that a user plane data path from the first user equipment to the second user equipment is switched to a core network path, wherein the second message comprises a local call local switching status change request, LCLS-Status-Change-Request;
• receiving, at the core network node, a fourth message indicating that the first user equipment has completed the handover and that the call connection between the handed over first user equipment and the second user equipment cannot be locally switched;
• and
• transmitting, in response to the fourth message, a fifth message instructing the clearing of the locally switched call connection between the first user equipment and the second user equipment, after handover of the first user equipment has been completed.

A non-transitory computer program product for performing handover in a wireless communication network, comprising instructions sets for:

• receiving, at a core network node, a first message requesting status change of the locally switched connection at the second user equipment;
• transmitting, in response to the first message, a second message instructing the switching of a user plane data path to a core network path in order to receive user plane data originating from the first user equipment at the second user equipment via the core network path while user plane data from the second user equipment to the first user equipment is transmitted on the locally switched path and uplink via the core network path, wherein the second message comprises a local call local switching status change request, LCLS-Status-Change-Request;
• receiving a fourth message, at the core network node, indicating that the locally switched call connection to the first user equipment is no longer locally switched;
• and
• transmitting, in response to the first message, a fifth message indicating switching of the user plane data path to the core network path has been completed.

A non-transitory computer program product for performing handover in a wireless communication network, comprising instructions sets for:

• receiving a first message at a network node requesting transmission of uplink user plane data from a second user equipment via a core network path to a first user equipment to be handed over;
• receiving a second message at the network node requesting switching of user plane downlink data originating from the first user equipment from a local user plane data path to a core network path, wherein the second message comprises a local call local switching status change request, LCLS-Status-Change-Request;
• and
• transmitting a fourth message in response to the second message, indicating that the locally switched call connection to the first user equipment is still active.