HK1108542B - Method of use for dual mode wireless transmit/receive unit - Google Patents

Description

Method for use in a dual mode wireless transmit/receive unit

Technical Field

The present invention relates to WTRUs having dual mode capabilities, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for reporting dual mode capabilities and for reporting availability of network interworking.

Background

Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) interwork with general packet radio service/global system for mobile telecommunications/third generation (GPRS/UMTS/3G) networks, such that their current evolution of WLANs has resulted in products (e.g., cards supporting both an 802.11b + GPRS air interface and an 802.11b + UMTS air interface) that contain two radio units in a common housing. These units may be separate cards or may be integrated in one common card.

Hereinafter, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) includes, but is not limited to, a user equipment, a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a paging, or any other type of device capable of operating in a wireless environment. And as mentioned below, a Base Station (BS) includes, but is not limited to, a node-B, a site controller, an Access Point (AP), or any other type of interfacing device capable of operating in a wireless environment.

Currently, the network may not be aware of the dual mode capabilities of the terminal. In addition, the services provided may be dynamically changed based on processing power, memory availability, screen size, bit rate, etc. on the terminal capabilities. For example, a dual mode 802+ GPRS Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) may be capable of receiving a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) over a GPRS or 802 network. However, different differences in these services may be provided depending on the memory space allocated by the wireless terminal. Diversified multimedia services will require larger memory sizes than those available on the PDA. Thus, the same multimedia service can be provided by a reduced set of black and white or colors depending on its terminal capabilities. Likewise, the possibility of network assisted handover (handoff) may also be provided to those terminals indicating dual mode (WLAN/GPRS or WLAN/3G) capability. A mechanism to indicate these capabilities to the existing GPRS/UMTS network would be required.

Furthermore, in network interworking, there is no capability to inform a wireless terminal that it has dual mode radio capability, nor is it capable of relying on one of the networks with which it communicates to perceive its interworking capability in order for the wireless terminal to have enhanced capability to communicate with either of the two networks.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention features a method and apparatus including for enabling a wireless terminal to deliver dual mode capabilities and also provides for a method and apparatus for reporting the interworking capabilities of two networks, wherein the wireless terminal has the additional capability of being served from one of its interworking networks.

Drawings

The invention may be understood by reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a network having integrated Universal Mobile Telephone Service (UMTS) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) networks.

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram showing additional procedures and capabilities for implementing the present invention.

Figure 3 shows an Information Element (IE) of WTRU network capabilities.

Fig. 4 and 5 show Information Elements (IEs) for current and improved network capabilities and Radio Access (RA) capabilities, respectively.

Fig. 4A shows more details of the improved network capability IE of fig. 4.

Fig. 5A 1-5A 2 and 5B show more details of the improved RA capability IE of fig. 5, and fig. 5A shows the manner in which fig. 5A1 and 5A2 are arranged.

Detailed Description

The problem solved by the present invention is a mechanism by which a terminal supporting both GPRS and WLAN or both 3G and WLAN can report its WLAN capabilities to its supported GPRS/UMTS network. At the same time, the present invention may further identify the mechanism by which the 3G network may indicate that 3G or packet switch (switch) domain services are available through the WLAN.

Fig. 1 shows a simple block diagram of a network in which UMTS and WLAN are integrated. WTRUs 12, 14, and 16 communicate with the network via respective radio links (RL-1, RL-2, and RL-3). More specifically, the WTRU 12 communicates with a GSM Radio Access Network (RAN), the WTRU 14 communicates with a 2.5/3G RAN, and the WTRU 16 communicates with a WLAN Access Point (AP). WTRUs 12 and 14 may be cellular telephones and WTRU 16 may be a laptop computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or other similar device with an appropriate card to communicate with the WLAN AP.

The GSM RAN communicates with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) that has the capability to interwork with a regional (location) database, as is well known in the art. The MSC communicates with a Visitor Location Register (VLR) to identify, authenticate, etc. the WTRU 12. The MSC also communicates with a short message service communication gateway mobile switching center/interworking mobile switching center (SMS-GMSC/IW-MSC) to provide services such as Short Message Service (SMS) data. While the Home Location Register (HLR) is a database within the Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) that provides routing information for calls and SMS data for mobile terminals, and is also responsible for maintaining subscriber subscription information distributed to the relevant VLR (note VLR of fig. 1) or GSN (GPRS support node) through additional processing and mobility management procedures such as location area and routing area updates.

The WLAN AP communicates with a packet data gateway/WLAN access gateway (PDG/WAG), and capability information is exchanged between the GSN and the PDG/WAG. Services such as SMS data services are delivered to the PDG/WAG and then to the WTRU 16 via the PDG/WAG and wlan ap. The SMS data is thus transmitted out based on the capabilities of the WTRU 16.

In accordance with the present invention, WTRUs 12 and 14 provide information regarding their capabilities, including WLAN compatibility (compatibility), when each communicates with the network via its associated RAN.

Figure 2 shows an additional procedure incorporating a WLAN capability update. That is, as shown in the procedure of fig. 2, in step S1, the UMTS DUAL MODE WTRU (UMTS DUAL MODE WTRU) powers up (power up) to establish a signaling connection and performs an ATTACH (ATTACH) procedure. In step S2, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) CONNECTION REQUEST message (RRC _ CONNECTION _ REQUEST) is transmitted to the Radio Network Controller (RNC). Admission control and resource availability are performed by the RNC, as shown in step S3, and then an RRC CONNECTION SETUP message (RRC _ CONNECTION _ SETUP) is sent to the dual mode WTRU, as shown in step S4. The WTRU provides an RRC CONNECTION SETUP COMPLETE message (RRC _ CONNECTION _ SETUP _ COMPLETE) to provide WTRU Radio Access (RA) compatibility in step S5, and provides an INITIAL DIRECT TRANSFER message (INITIAL _ DIRECT _ TRANSFER) containing an attach request as well as point-to-multipoint system information (ptmsi), instant message system Information (IM), Network (NW) CAPABILITY (NW _ CAPABILITY) and radio access (RA _ CAPABILITY) CAPABILITY (RA _ CAPABILITY) in step S6. In step S7, the RNC provides a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) with an initial WTRU message: including additional requests for network and radio access capabilities. In addition to the UMTS capabilities, the message also contains WLAN capabilities. In step S8, an authentication and ciphering request and a security mode command are performed, and the WTRU is also authenticated in step S9. Subsequently, the SGSN provides an SGSN WTRU CAPABILITY UPDATE (UPDATE _ WTRU _ CAPABILITY) to the WAG-PDF in step 10, and an ATTACH ACCEPT message (ATTACH _ ACCEPT) to the RNC in step 11, which is then transmitted to the WTRU in step 12.

At step 10, the WTRU capability update sent to the WAG-PDG causes the SGSN to update the WAG, and thus may determine whether the service request can be terminated.

The purpose of the mobile station WTRU network capability information element is to provide the network with WTRU-related information related to GPRS. The contents of the Information Element (IE) may affect the way the network handles the operation of the WTRU. The WTRU network capability information may indicate general WTRU characteristics and is independent of the frequency band of the transmission channel, except as explicitly indicated by the field.

The WTRU network capability is a type 4 Information Element (IE) and has a maximum length of ten octets (octets).

The value part of the WTRU network capability IE is encoded and is shown in figure 3.

Fig. 4 is a comparison of a network capability information element containing the present invention with an existing network capability IE, and fig. 5 is a comparison showing a radio access capability information element (RAC IE) containing the RAC IE of the present invention.

The purpose of the Mobile Station (MS) network capability IE is to provide information to the network that contains information relating to the mobile station (i.e., WTRU) aspects related to GPRS. The contents of which may affect the way the network handles the operation of the mobile station, the MS network capability information indicates the general mobile station characteristics and is independent of the frequency band of the channel on which it is transmitted, except for the explicitly indicated fields. The MS network capability is a type 4 Information Element (IE) and has a maximum of ten octets in length. The value part of the MS network capability IE is encoded and is shown in fig. 3.

Referring to fig. 4, there is shown a network capability IE in a modified manner, where in item (1) of both the existing and new IEs, i.e. the system management capability via dedicated channels, is the same. Whereas item (2), listed in the existing and new IEs, the system management capabilities via GPRS channels are the same. In entry (3) of the existing IE, and entry (6) in the new information element, the universal multi-octet encoding character set (UCS), USC2 sixteen bit encoding support, is the same.

Whereas the Supplementary Service (SS) screening indicator is the same in entry (4) of the existing IE and entry (7) of the new IE. Entry (5) of the existing IE is the same as entry (8) of the new IE, with its support for local service area (SoLSA) capabilities.

In entry (6) of the existing IE, the indicator of the revision level is the same as entry (9) in the new IE. While items (4) and (5) in the new IE, i.e., system management capabilities via WLAN, and Short Message System (SMS) items that identify text only, text and animation, instant messaging service and multimedia service, and others, are provided to the WTRU, which are not provided in the existing IE. Items (7) through (10) in the existing IE are omitted from the new IE and will not be discussed here for simplicity.

Fig. 4A shows more detail of the network capabilities. For example, as shown in fig. 4A, the location service (LCS) add Value (VA) location request notification bit (in binary format) is "0" when not supported and "1" when supported. When the binary bit of the WLAN capability is "1", the WLAN capability is supported, and otherwise, when the binary bit is in the "0" state, the WLAN capability is not supported. A single bit or multiple bits identifying each capability are assigned at a preset location of the IE, which is also the case for RA (radio access) capabilities. Similarly, note that the GPRS Encryption Algorithm (GEA) capability bit is "0" when not supported and "1" when supported.

The purpose of the mobile station radio access (MS RA) capability Information Element (IE) is to provide a radio part that contains information relating to radio aspects related to the mobile station (i.e., WTRU) to the network. The contents of which may affect the way the network handles the operation of the mobile station. The MS RA capability is a type 4 Information Element (IE) and has a maximum length of 52 octets. The value part of the MS RA capability information element is encoded and is shown in fig. 5A and 5B.

Fig. 5 compares the existing and new radio access capability IEs. In items (1) to (4) of the existing IE, i.e., access technology type, access capability, UMTS FDD RA technology capability, and UMTS ts3.84mcps TDD RA technology capability, are the same as in items (1) to (4) of the new IE.

Entries (5) and (6) of the existing IE are omitted from the new IE and will not be discussed here for simplicity. Item (5) of the new IE is an item that does not appear in existing IEs, which is an item that provides WLAN radio access capability to identify the type of remote terminal (e.g., PDA, laptop, phone, etc.), memory size, screen size, processing power, technology version (e.g., 802.11, 802.15, 802.16, etc., and the like), service profile (e.g., SMS text only or text and animation), MMS, IMS, location, MBMS, and the like.

Fig. 5a1 through 5a2 and 5B show more details of the MS RA capability IE. In fig. 5a1 through 5a2, four binary access technology types represent the technology types used for access. Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) is a form of frequency shift keying (frequency shifting) that provides good spectral efficiency. 8PSK is an improved technique in which its carrier is present in one of eight states. FIG. 5B shows fields and binary bits to identify some capabilities. For example, a three-bit field is used to identify the WLAN 802 RA technique, where the technique is identified by a particular combination of binary bits. Note that non-support for WLAN 802.xx technology is denoted as "000" and support for WLAN 802.11b technology is denoted as "001" and the like. In other examples, the CDMA 2000 RA technology capability is "0" when not supported, and "1" when supported.

The dual mode WTRU provides WLAN capability reporting over the UMTS (or GPRS) network depending on whether the dual mode WTRU has WLAN/UMTS or WLAN/GPRS capabilities.

As shown in fig. 2, when the WTRU is powered on, it will first communicate over the UMTS channel and perform a non-access stratum (NAS) "attach" procedure, whereupon the UMTS/WLAN capabilities are exchanged with the network, as shown in fig. 2.

According to embodiments, the user may choose to continue communication with the UMTS network, manually switch to a WLAN channel, or perform an automatic handover (handover) on the WLAN network, if available.

The present invention therefore introduces two new IEs between WTRU and network and WTRU to the existing GPRS/UMTS capability message. The radio access capability information element (RAC IE) is modified to inform the network about the dual mode capabilities of the WTRU card, i.e., GPRS + WLAN or UMTS/WLAN. The Radio Access Capability (RAC) carries all levels of WLAN capability including terminal type (e.g., PDA, laptop, phone, etc.), memory size, screen size, processing power, technology version (e.g., 802.11, 802.15, 802.16, etc., and the like), service profile (e.g., SMS text only or text and animation), MMS, IMS, location, Multicast Broadcast Media Service (MBMS), and the like. The WLAN capability update procedure does not require modification of existing "attach" procedures, but the network capability is modified to inform the dual mode WTRU about the existence of WLAN interworking capabilities and the different types of services that may be provided over the WLAN network.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention described hereinabove.

Claims (5)

1. A method for use in a dual mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

transmitting an Information Element (IE) to a wireless communication network, the IE indicating dual mode capabilities of the WTRU;

notifying the wireless communication network of services that the wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is capable of supporting;

receiving a service provided by the network;

selecting one of the dual modes to receive a service; and

in response to receiving a communication card removably inserted to support one of a plurality of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication protocols, providing a network message identifying the inserted communication card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication protocol comprises an IEEE 802 protocol and the message identifies a protocol supported by the wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the communication protocols include IEEE 802.15 and 802.16.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication protocol comprises an IEEE 802 network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the IE indicating dual mode capabilities of the WTRU is a mobile station Radio Access Capability (RAC) IE.