Framework for Supporting Custom Signaling Between a Wireless Device and a Cellular Network

Abstract

This disclosure relates to techniques for providing a framework for supporting custom signaling between a wireless device and a cellular network. A wireless device and a cellular base station may establish a wireless link. The wireless device and the cellular base station may perform custom signaling in accordance with the custom signaling framework.

1 . A method, comprising:
 by a wireless device:   establishing a wireless link with a cellular base station associated with a cellular network; and   performing signaling with the cellular base station, wherein the signaling includes signaling that is custom to the cellular network and that is provided according to a custom signaling framework.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the signaling with the cellular base station further comprises:
 transmitting one or more radio resource control (RRC) or non access stratum (NAS) messages to the cellular base station, wherein at least a portion of the signaling that is custom to the cellular network is included in the one or more RRC or NAS messages transmitted to the cellular base station; and   receiving one or more RRC or NAS messages from the cellular base station, wherein at least a portion of the signaling that is custom to the cellular network is included in the one or more RRC or NAS messages received from the cellular base station.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, specified values and fields of abstract syntax notation (ASN1) messages are configured for use for custom signaling between the wireless device and the cellular base station.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, one or more spare bits or fields of one or more of radio resource control (RRC) or non-access stratum (NAS) messages are configured for use for custom signaling between the wireless device and the cellular base station.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, use of one or more spare bits or fields of one or more of RRC or NAS messages for custom signaling is supported further based at least in part on a third generation partnership program (3GPP) release version of the wireless device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, a custom signature can be appended to one or more of a radio resource control (RRC) message or a non-access stratum (NAS) message between the wireless device and the cellular base station.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor configured to cause a wireless device to:   establish a wireless link with a cellular base station associated with a cellular network; and   transmit first custom signaling information to the cellular base station, wherein the first custom signaling information is transmitted in accordance with a custom signaling framework.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the wireless device to:
 determine to transmit the first custom RRC signaling information to the cellular base station based at least in part on the cellular network associated with the cellular base station, wherein the first custom RRC signaling information is custom to the cellular network associated with the cellular base station.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the wireless device to:
 determine whether the custom signaling framework is supported for the wireless link with the cellular base station based at least in part on third generation partnership program (3GPP) release version information for one or more of the wireless device or the cellular base station.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, one or more values and fields of abstract syntax notation (ASN1) messages are configured for use for custom signaling,   wherein the first custom signaling information is transmitted using one or more values and fields of ASN1 messages that are configured for use for custom signaling.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, one or more spare bits or fields of one or more of radio resource control (RRC) or non-access stratum (NAS) messages are configured for use for custom signaling,   wherein the first custom signaling information is transmitted using one or more spare bits or fields of one or more RRC or NAS messages that are configured for use for custom signaling.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, one or more custom signatures are configured for use for custom signaling when appended to one or more of a radio resource control (RRC) message or a non-access stratum (NAS) message,   wherein the first custom signaling information is transmitted by appending one or more custom signatures that are configured for use for custom signaling to one or more RRC or NAS messages.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the wireless device to:
 receive second custom signaling information from the cellular base station, wherein the second custom signaling information is received in accordance with the custom signaling framework.   
     
     
         14 . A cellular network element associated with a cellular network, comprising:
 an antenna;   a radio operably coupled to the antenna; and   a processor operably coupled to the radio;   wherein the cellular network element is configured to:
 establish a wireless link with a wireless device; and 
 perform custom signaling with the wireless device according to a custom signaling framework. 
   
     
     
         15 . The cellular network element of  claim 14 , wherein the custom signaling is custom to one or more of:
 a third generation partnership program (3GPP) release version of the wireless device;   a 3GPP release version of the cellular network element;   the cellular network; or   a wireless device type of the wireless device;   
     
     
         16 . The cellular network element of  claim 14 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, specified values and fields of abstract syntax notation (ASN1) messages are configured for use for custom signaling, wherein the cellular network element is further configured to:   receive signaling from the wireless device that includes one or more of the specified values and fields of ASN1 messages; and   determine that the signaling received from the wireless device is custom signaling in accordance with the custom signaling framework based at least in part on the signaling including one or more of the specified values and fields of ASN1 messages.   
     
     
         17 . The cellular network element of  claim 14 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, one or more spare bits or fields of one or more of radio resource control (RRC) or non-access stratum (NAS) messages are configured for use for custom signaling, wherein the cellular network element is further configured to:   receive signaling from the wireless device that uses one or more of the spare bits and/or fields configured for use for custom signaling; and   determine that the signaling received from the wireless device is custom signaling in accordance with the custom signaling framework based at least in part on the signaling using one or more of the spare bits and/or fields configured for use for custom signaling.   
     
     
         18 . The cellular network element of  claim 14 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, a custom signature can be appended to a radio resource control (RRC) message between the wireless device and the cellular network, wherein the cellular network element is further configured to:   receive a RRC message from the wireless device that includes a custom signature appended to the RRC message; and   determine that the custom signature appended to the RRC message is custom signaling in accordance with the custom signaling framework.   
     
     
         19 . The cellular network element of  claim 14 ,
 wherein according to the custom signaling framework, a custom signature can be appended to a non access stratum (NAS) message between the wireless device and the cellular network, wherein the cellular network element is further configured to:   receive a NAS message from the wireless device that includes a custom signature appended to the NAS message; and   determine that the custom signature appended to the NAS message is custom signaling in accordance with the custom signaling framework.   
     
     
         20 . The cellular network element of  claim 14 , wherein to perform the custom signaling with the wireless device according to the custom signaling framework, the cellular network element is further configured to:
 transmit signaling to the wireless device that includes one or more of:
 values and fields of abstract syntax notation (ASN1) messages that are configured for use for custom signaling; 
 spare bits or fields of one or more radio resource control (RRC) or non-access stratum (NAS) messages that are configured for use for custom signaling; or 
 a custom signature that is appended to a RRC message or a NAS message and that is configured for use for custom signaling.