Broadcasting Public Warning Messages Over N3GPP Access Node of a Non-3GPP Network

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of enabling a provision of public warning system, PWS, messages to a user equipment, UE, device via a non-3GPP radio network, the method comprising establishing an internet protocol security, IPSec, tunnel connection from the UE device to a non-3GPP interworking function, N3IWF, via a non-3GPP, N3GPP, radio access technology, requesting from a first core network, CN, entity a provision of public warning system, PWS, messages; and providing the first CN entity with information about a location of the UE device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of enabling a provision of a public warning system (PWS) message to a user equipment (UE) device via a non-3G PP radio network of a first network, the method comprising:
 establishing an internet protocol security (IPSec) tunnel connection to the UE device from a non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF) via a non-3GPP (N3GPP) radio access technology;   receiving from the UE device at the first network capability information, the capability information informing about a capability of the UE device to receive PWS messaging, wherein the capability information may optionally indicate a desire of a user of the UE device to receive such messaging;   receiving from the UE device at the first network information about a location of the UE device which is in a coverage area of a second network;   transmitting by the first network to the second network a request for delivery of a PWS message, the request comprising location information relating to a notification area of a PWS message;   the first network receiving an acknowledgement of the request informing about the second network forwarding the requested PWS message to the first network; and   receiving at the first network from the second network a PWS message and information about a notification area related to the PWS message,   determining by the first network that the notification area related to the received PWS message includes a location of the UE device and transmitting to the UE device the PWS message via the IPSec tunnel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of transmitting by the first network to the second network the request for delivery of a PWS message includes
 determining from the information about a location of the UE device the location information relating to a notification area of PWS messages.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the information about the location of the UE device is received in at least one of:
 a cell identification of a cell from the UE device received via a 3GPP access;   a tracking area identification the UE device received via a 3GPP access;   a geographical position of the UE device obtained using signals transmitted by satellite; and   an internet protocol, IP, address.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the PWS messages are transmitted by source specific IP multicast or any source IP multicast. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the PWS messages are transmitted by source specific IP multicast or any source IP multicast. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first network includes an authentication and mobility function, AMF, and wherein the AMF subscribes the UE device to one of a multicast channel and a multicast group specific for PWS messages for an area including the location of the UE device. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first network includes an authentication and mobility function, AMF, and wherein the AMF subscribes the UE device to one of a multicast channel and a multicast group specific for PWS messages for an area including the location of the UE device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coverage area of the second network does not geographically overlap with a coverage area of the first network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first network acknowledges to the UE device the delivery of the requested PWS message. 
     
     
         10 . A network adapted to transmit a public warning system (PWS) message from a network entity to a user equipment (UE) device over an internet protocol security (IPSec) tunnel connection from a non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF) of a mobile communication network in connection with the network entity to the UE device via a non-3GPP (N3GPP) radio access technology, the network being adapted
 to receive capability information from the UE device, the capability information informing about a capability of the UE device to receive PWS messaging, wherein the capability information may optionally indicate a desire of a user of the UE device to receive such messaging;   to receive location information from the UE device, the location information informing about a location of the UE device;   to subscribe the UE device to a group to which PWS messages are provided by the network based on a notification area relating to the group, the notification area comprising the location of the UE device, and   to transmit to the UE device a PWS message having a source or a target address relating to an area comprising the notification area of the alert message via the IPSec tunnel, as a result of the subscribing the UE device.   
     
     
         11 . The network according to  claim 10 , wherein the network includes an authentication and mobility function (AMF) and wherein the AMF subscribes the UE device to the group to which PWS messages are provided by the network. 
     
     
         12 . The network according to  claim 10 , wherein the network entity is arranged to transmit to the UE device confirmation information confirming registration of the UE device to a PWS message delivery service.