Messaging for paging a mobile station in an unlicensed mobile access telecommunications system

Abstract

Techniques for performing messaging between mobile stations (MSs) and UMA network controllers (UNCs) in an unlicensed mobile access network (UMAN). URR (UMA radio resource) messages are exchanged between an MS and one or more UNCs to perform various operations associated with UMAN. The MS may access the UMAN via a wireless access point (AP) that is communicatively coupled to the UNC via an IP network. The URR messages are sent between MSs and UNCs using an Up interface comprising a set of layered protocols over an underlying IP transport.

1 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A method for paging a mobile station (MS) operating in a wireless first communication system comprising a network controller for communicatively coupling the MS to a core network of a second communication system comprising a licensed radio access network, the method comprising:
 establishing a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection between the network controller and the MS via a wireless access point (AP);   sending a paging request message from the network controller to the MS; and   receiving, at the network controller, a paging response message from the MS, wherein each of the paging request and paging response messages comprises a plurality of information elements (IEs) that includes a protocol discriminator, a skip indicator, and a message type from which the corresponding message is to be identified, wherein the paging request message further comprises a mobile identify IE that identifies the MS.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the paging request message further comprises a channel needed IE identifying a channel that is needed. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the paging response message further comprises a ciphering key sequence number IE that specifies a ciphering key sequence number. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the paging response message further comprises a mobile station classmark IE that specifies the capabilities of the MS. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the paging response message further comprises an establishment cause IE. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising:
 receiving, at the network controller, a paging request message over an A-interface from the core network, said paging request message received prior to sending the paging request message to the MS; 
 identifying the MS to be paged based on a mobile identity in the paging request from the core network; and 
 generating the paging request message to be sent to the identified MS. 
 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising:
 receiving, at the network controller, a paging circuit switched (CS) message over a Gb-interface from the core network, said paging CS message received prior to sending the paging request message to the MS; 
 identifying the MS to be paged based on a mobile identity in the paging request from the core network; and 
 generating the paging request message to be sent to the identified MS. 
 
     
     
         66 . A network controller for communicatively coupling a mobile station (MS) operating in a wireless first communication system to a second communication system comprising a licensed radio access network and a core network, the network controller comprising:
 a first network interface comprising an Internet Protocol (IP) network interface;   a second network interface via which messages are to be transmitted to and received from the MS via an access point (AP) communicatively coupled between the network controller and the MS, the second network interface comprising a plurality of layers implemented over the IP network interface;   a third network interface via which the network controller connects to the core network of the second communication system; and   circuits for generating and processing a plurality of messages transmitted over the second interface to support paging of the MS operating in the wireless first communication system, wherein the plurality of messages includes a paging request message sent from the network controller to the MS, and a paging response message received at the network controller from the MS, wherein each of the paging request and paging response messages comprises a plurality of information elements (IEs) that includes a protocol discriminator, a skip indicator, and a message type from which the corresponding message is to be identified, wherein the paging request message further comprises a mobile identify IE that identifies the MS.   
     
     
         67 . The network controller of  claim 66 , wherein the paging request message further comprises a channel needed IE identifying a channel that is needed. 
     
     
         68 . The network controller of  claim 66 , wherein the paging response message further comprises a ciphering key sequence number IE that specifies a ciphering key sequence number. 
     
     
         69 . The network controller of  claim 66 , wherein the paging response message further comprises a mobile station classmark IE that specifies the capabilities of the MS. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the paging response message further comprises an establishment cause IE. 
     
     
         71 . The network controller of  claim 66 , wherein the circuits are further for:
 receiving, at the network controller, a paging request message over an A-interface from the core network, said paging request message received prior to sending the paging request message to the MS;   identifying the MS to be paged based on a mobile identity in the paging request from the core network; and   generating the paging request message to be sent to the MS based on the identification of the MS.   
     
     
         72 . The network controller of  claim 66 , wherein the circuits are further for:
 receiving, at the network controller, a paging circuit switched (CS) message over a Gb-interface from the core network, said paging CS message received prior to sending the paging request message to the MS;   identifying the MS to be paged based on a mobile identity in the paging request from the core network; and   generating the paging request message to be sent to the MS based on the identification of the MS.   
     
     
         73 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for a network controller that communicatively couples a mobile station (MS) operating in a wireless first communication system to a second communication system comprising a licensed radio access network and a core network, the computer program for execution by at least one processor to support paging of the MS, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:
 establishing a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection between the network controller and the MS via a wireless access point (AP);   sending a paging request message from the network controller to the MS; and   receiving, at the network controller, a paging response message from the MS, wherein each of the paging request and paging response messages comprises a plurality of information elements (IEs) that includes a protocol discriminator, a skip indicator, and a message type from which the corresponding message is to be identified, wherein the paging request message further comprises a mobile identify IE that identifies the MS.   
     
     
         74 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 73 , wherein the paging request message further comprises a channel needed IE identifying a channel that is needed. 
     
     
         75 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 73 , wherein the paging response message further comprises a ciphering key sequence number IE that specifies a ciphering key sequence number. 
     
     
         76 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 73 , wherein the paging response message further comprises a mobile station classmark IE that specifies the capabilities of the MS.