# US 9,883,475 B2 · LTE network selection method, device, and system

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- Number: US 9,883,475 B2
- Document ID: US9883475B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/196,456
- Filed: 2016-06-29
- Published: 2016-10-20
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2013-12-31
- Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Xiaobo Wu; Yangming Lv; Guobao Xi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883475B2

## CPC

- H04W 60/005: {Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming}
- H04W 8/02: Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
- H04W 36/00224: {between packet switched [PS] and circuit switched [CS] network technologies, e.g. circuit switched fallback [CSFB]}
- H04W 8/06: Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
- H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

The present invention discloses an LTE network selection method. In a process of implementing CSFB combined registration, an MME of a Long Term Evolution LTE network sends a location area identity LAI to UE, where the LAI includes a PLMN identity of the LTE network, so that after a circuit switched fallback-based voice session ends, the UE preferably returns to the LTE network according to the PLMN identity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An LTE network selection method, comprising:
receiving, by a mobility management entity (MME) of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, a combined registration request message initiated by a user equipment (UE) that is located in the LTE network; and
sending, by the MME, a combined registration accept message to the UE, wherein the combined registration accept message carries a first location area identity (LAI), public land mobile network (PLMN) information in the first LAI comprises a PLMN identity of the LTE network for enabling the UE to select the LTE network to return to according to the PLMN identity after the UE falls back from the LTE network to a circuit switched (CS) domain of a second generation (2G) or third generation (3G) network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein after receiving, by an MME of an LTE network, a combined registration request message initiated by UE that is located in the LTE network, and before sending, by the MME, a combined registration accept message to the UE, the method further comprises:
sending, by the MME, a location update request message to a mobile switching center (MSC) or a visitor location register (VLR) of the 2G or 3G network; and
receiving, by the MME, a location update accept message sent by the MSC or the VLR, wherein the location update accept message carries a second LAI, and PLMN information in the second LAI comprises a PLMN identity of the 2G or 3G network.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, further comprising:
receiving, by the MME, a request message initiated by the UE that is located in the LTE network, wherein the request message is configured to request circuit switched fallback (CSFB);
sending, by the MME, a notification message to an evolved NodeB (eNodeB) according to the request message, wherein the notification message is configured to instruct the eNodeB to move the UE from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network for the CSFB;
receiving, by the MME, a handover required message sent by the eNodeB; and
sending, by the MME, a first handover request message to the MSC or the VLR, wherein the first handover request message is configured to request the MSC or the VLR to hand over the UE from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network for the CSFB.

### Claim 4

An LTE network selection method, comprising:
receiving, by a control device, a location update request message sent by a mobility management entity (MME) of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, wherein the control device is a mobile switching center (MSC) or a visitor location register (VLR) of a second generation (2G) or third generation (3G) network; and
sending, by the control device, a location update accept message to the MME, wherein the location update accept message carries a first location area identity (LAI), public land mobile network (PLMN) information in the first LAI comprises a PLMN identity of the LTE network but not a PLMN identity of the 2G or 3G network, the PLMN identity of the LTE network for enabling a user equipment (UE) to select the LTE network to return to according to the PLMN identity after the UE falls back from the LTE network to a circuit switched (CS) domain of a 2G or 3G network.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, further comprising:
receiving, by the control device, a first handover request message sent by the MME, wherein the first handover request message is configured to request the control device to hand over the UE from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network for circuit switched fallback (CSFB);
sending, by the control device, a third handover request message to a base station of the 2G or 3G network, wherein the third handover request message is configured to request the base station to allocate a CS domain resource for handover of the UE to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network; and
receiving, by the control device, a third handover request response message sent by the base station, wherein the third handover request response message comprises information about the CS domain resource allocated by the base station for the handover of the UE to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network.

### Claim 6

An LTE network selection method, comprising:
sending, by a user equipment (UE) located in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, a combined registration request message to a mobility management entity (MME) of the LTE network;
receiving, by the UE, a combined registration accept message sent by the MME, wherein the combined registration accept message carries a first location area identity (LAI), and public land mobile network (PLMN) information in the first LAI comprises a PLMN identity of the LTE network; and
after the UE falls back from the LTE network to a circuit switched (CS) domain of a second generation (2G) or third generation (3G) network, selecting, by the UE according to the PLMN identity of the LTE network in the LAI, the LTE network to which the UE is to return.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, further comprising:
sending, by the UE, a request message to the MME, wherein the request message is configured to request circuit switched fallback (CSFB);
receiving, by the UE, a handover command sent by an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), wherein the handover command is configured to instruct to hand over the UE from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network for the CSFB; and
falling back, by the UE, from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network according to the handover command.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the combined registration request message is a combined attach request message or a combined tracking area update request message.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the combined registration accept message further carries a tracking area identity (TAI), and PLMN information in the TAI is the PLMN identity of the LTE network.

### Claim 10

A mobility management entity (MME) of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the MME comprising:
computing hardware; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing hardware, cause the MME to:
receive a combined registration request message initiated by a user equipment (UE) that is located in the LTE network, and
send a combined registration accept message to the UE, wherein the combined registration accept message carries a first location area identity (LAI), public land mobile network (PLMN) information in the first LAI comprises a PLMN identity of the LTE network for enabling the UE to select the LTE network to return to according to the PLMN identity after the UE falls back from the LTE network to a circuit switched (CS) domain of a second generation (2G) or third generation (3G) network.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The mobility management entity according to claim 10, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the computing hardware, further cause the MME to:
after receipt, by the MME, of the combined registration request message initiated by UE, and before the combined registration accept message is sent to the UE, send a location update request message to a mobile switching center (MSC) or a visitor location register (VLR) of the 2G or 3G network, and receive a location update accept message sent by the MSC or the VLR, wherein the location update accept message carries a second LAI, and PLMN information in the second LAI comprises a PLMN identity of the 2G or 3G network.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The mobility management entity according to claim 11, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the computing hardware, further cause the MME to:
receive a request message initiated by the UE located in the LTE network, wherein the request message is configured to request circuit switched fallback (CSFB);
send a notification message to an evolved NodeB (eNodeB) according to the request message, wherein the notification message is configured to instruct the eNodeB to move the UE from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network for the CSFB;
receive a handover required message sent by the eNodeB; and
send a first handover request message to the MSC or the VLR, wherein the first handover request message is configured to request the MSC or the VLR to hand over the UE from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network for the CSFB.

### Claim 13

A control device of a second generation (2G) or third generation (3G) network, wherein the control device is a mobile switching center (MSC) or a visitor location register (VLR), the control device comprising:
computing hardware; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing hardware, cause the control device to:
receive a location update request message sent by a mobility management entity (MME) of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, and
send a location update accept message to the MME, wherein the location update accept message carries a first location area identity (LAI), public land mobile network (PLMN) information in the first LAI comprises a PLMN identity of the LTE network but not a PLMN identity of the 2G or 3G network, the PLMN identity of the LTE network for enabling a user equipment (UE) to select the LTE network to return to according to the PLMN identity after the UE falls back from the LTE network to a circuit switched (CS) domain of a 2G or 3G network.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The control device according to claim 13, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the computing hardware, further cause the control device to:
receive a first handover request message sent by the MME, wherein the first handover request message is configured to request the control device to hand over the UE from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network for circuit switched fallback (CSFB);
send a third handover request message to a base station of the 2G or 3G network, wherein the third handover request message is configured to request the base station to allocate a CS domain resource for handover of the UE to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network; and
receive a third handover request response message sent by the base station, wherein the third handover request response message comprises information about the CS domain resource allocated by the base station for the handover of the UE to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The control device according to claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed by the computing hardware, further cause the control device to:
send a first handover response message to the MME, wherein the first handover response message comprises the information about the CS domain resource; and
receive a handover complete message sent by the UE, wherein the handover complete message indicates that the handover of the UE from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network is completed.

### Claim 16

User equipment (UE) that is located in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the UE comprising:
a processor configured to cause the UE to:
send a combined registration request message to a mobility management entity (MME) of the LTE network;
receive a combined registration accept message sent by the MME, wherein the combined registration accept message carries a first location area identity (LAI), and public land mobile network (PLMN) information in the LAI comprises a PLMN identity of the LTE network; and
after the UE falls back from the LTE network to a circuit switched (CS) domain of a second generation (2G) or third generation (3G) network, select, according to the PLMN identity of the LTE network in the LAI received by the UE, the LTE network to which the UE is to return.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The user equipment according to claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
send a request message to the MME, wherein the request message is configured to request circuit switched fallback (CSFB);
receive a handover command sent by an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), wherein the handover command is configured to instruct to hand over the UE from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network for the CSFB; and
fall back from the LTE network to the CS domain of the 2G or 3G network according to the handover command received by the UE.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The user equipment according to claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
receive a redirect message sent by a base station of the 2G or 3G network, wherein the redirect message is configured to instruct the UE to return to the LTE network.