Method and apparatus for establishing a communication connection

#This invention relates to the field of communications. More particularly, methods and apparatus are provided for establishing a communication connection between a device and a communication network.

#The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP™) is a collaboration among several telecommunications standards bodies to provide standards for mobile communications, particularly for GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) networks and devices. Some of the specifications issued by 3GPP include GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution), W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) and LTE™ (Long Term Evolution).

#LTE is a standard for wireless communication designed to provide high-speed data access for mobile telephones and other devices (e.g., tablet computers). LTE implements a flat IP (Internet Protocol) architecture to provide lower latency compared to earlier (e.g., 2G and 3G) architectures. Therefore, all communication services, including voice and data, are carried by IP, although it provides fall-back capability to circuit-switched technology for voice connections, and is interoperable with previous generations of mobile communication technology.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an LTE communication environment in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the exchange of messages between user equipment and an LTE network, in order to place the equipment in the EMM_REGISTERED state, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

#FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of establishing a communication attachment or connection with an LTE network, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

#The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

#In embodiments of the invention described herein, methods and apparatus are provided for facilitating a communication attachment or connection between user equipment (e.g., a mobile communication device, a remote sensor or data terminal, unattended machinery, a recreational or amusement device) and a compatible communication network. Specific embodiments of the invention are described below as they may be implemented in environments comprising smart phones, tablets or other mobile devices communicating with GSM (Global System for Mobile communication), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and/or other existing radio access networks (RAN), but other types of user equipment and communication networks may be involved in other embodiments of the invention.

#The LTE™ (Long Term Evolution) specification promulgated by 3GPP™ (the 3rd Generation Partnership Project) restricts user equipment (UE) to two signaling states with reference to the Evolved Packet System (EPS) network and the EMM (EPS Mobility Management): EMM_DEREGISTERED and EMM_REGISTERED. In the EMM_DEREGISTERED state, a UE has no signaling connection with or attachment to the EPS, and therefore has no immediate access to data or voice services (e.g., the UE is camped or powered off), but in the EMM_REGISTERED state, it does. A UE typically enters the EMM_REGISTERED state when it powers on or initiates a new data service connection.