Method of, and devices for, establishing a signalling connection between a remote user equipment, ue, and a telecommunication network via a relay capable ue

Abstract

A method of establishing a signalling connection between a remote User Equipment, UE, and a telecommunication network via a relay capable UE, wherein said relay capable UE has established user plane connectivity to an intermediate node comprised by said telecommunication network and is arranged for supporting establishment of said connection for said remote UE, said method comprising the steps of receiving a registration message over said user plane forwarded by said relay capable UE and originating from said remote UE for registering said remote UE to said telecommunication network, forwarding said registration message to a Mobility Management Function comprised by said telecommunication network and receiving a registration accept message from said Mobility Management Function for accepting registration of said remote UE to said telecommunication network, and forwarding said registration accept message to said remote UE via said relay capable UE.

1 . A method of establishing a signalling connection between a remote User Equipment, UE, and a telecommunication network via a relay capable UE, wherein said relay capable UE has established user plane connectivity to an intermediate node comprised by said telecommunication network and is arranged for supporting establishment of said connection for said remote UE, said method comprising:
 receiving a registration message over said user plane forwarded by said relay capable UE and originating from said remote UE for registering said remote UE to said telecommunication network;   forwarding said registration message to a Mobility Management Function comprised by said telecommunication network;   receiving a registration accept message from said Mobility Management Function for accepting registration of said remote UE to said telecommunication network, and forwarding said registration accept message to said remote UE via said relay capable UE.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said registration message comprises an identification of an identity of said remote UE, wherein said method further comprises:
 translating said identification of said identity of said remote UE to said identity of said remote UE and inserting said identity of said remote UE into said registration message to be forwarded to said Mobility Management Function.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said method comprises:
 establishing a secure connection between said remote UE and said intermediate node over said relay capable UE. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said method comprises:
 receiving, by said remote UE, from said relay capable UE, a tracking area identification for indicating a tracking area of said relay capable UE; 
 inserting, by said remote UE, said tracking area identification in said registration message. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 conveying subsequent signalling messages between said remote UE and said Mobility Management Function using said established signalling connection by transmitting said subsequent signalling messages over a control plane between said relay capable UE and said Mobility Management Function.   
     
     
         6 . An intermediate node arranged for supporting establishment of a signalling connection between a remote UE and a telecommunication network via a relay capable UE, wherein said intermediate node is arranged for having user plane connectivity between said relay capable UE and said intermediate node, said intermediate node comprising:
 a receiver;   a transmitter;   at least one processor configured to   use said receiver for receiving a registration message over a user plane, which registration message is forwarded by said relay capable UE and originating from said remote UE for registering said remote UE to said telecommunication network;   use said transmitter for forwarding said registration message to a Mobility Management Function comprised by said telecommunication network;   use said receiver for receiving a registration accept message from said mobility Management Function for accepting registration of said remote UE to said telecommunication network, and   use said transmitter for forwarding said registration accept message to said remote UE via said relay capable UE.   
     
     
         7 . An intermediate node in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said registration message comprises an identification of an identity of said remote UE, wherein said at least one processor is further arranged for translating said identification of said identity of said remote UE to said identity of said remote UE, and for inserting said identity of said remote UE in said registration message to be forwarded to said Mobility Management Function. 
     
     
         8 . An intermediate node in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said at least one processor is further arranged for establishing a secure connection between said remote UE and said intermediate node over said relay capable UE. 
     
     
         9 . A remote User Equipment, UE, arranged for establishing a signalling connection to a telecommunication network via a relay capable UE, said remote UE comprising:
 a receiver;   a transmitter;   at least one processor configured to   discover said relay capable UE and to establish a direct connection to said relay capable UE;   use said transmitter for transmitting a registration message to said intermediate node, via said relay capable UE, for registering said remote UE in said telecommunication network;   use said receiver for receiving an registration accept message for accepting registration of said remote UE to said telecommunication network.   
     
     
         10 . A remote UE in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said at least one processor is further configured to insert, in said registration message, an identification of said identity of said remote UE, which identification translates to an identity of said remote UE. 
     
     
         11 . A remote UE in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said at least one processor is further configured for establishing a secure connection between said remote UE and said intermediate node over said relay capable UE. 
     
     
         12 . A remote UE in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said at least one processor is further configured to
 use said receiver for receiving, from said relay capable UE, a tracking area identification for indicating a tracking area of said relay capable UE, and 
 insert said tracking area identification in said registration message. 
 
     
     
         13 . A relay capable User Equipment, UE, for acting as a relay for a remote UE towards a telecommunication network, said relay capable UE comprising:
 a receiver;   a transmitter;   at least one processor configured to   establish a direct connection to said remote UE;   use said receiver for receiving a signalling message from said remote UE, wherein said signalling message is intended for a Mobility Management Function comprised by said telecommunication network;   determine that said signalling message is to be transmitted to an intermediate node in said telecommunication network over a user plane associated with said relay capable UE;   use said transmitter for transmitting said signalling message over said user plane to said intermediate node.   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method according to any of the  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A telecommunication network for supporting establishment of a direct connection between a remote User Equipment, UE, and said telecommunication network via a relay capable UE, wherein said relay capable UE has established user plane connectivity to an intermediate node comprised by said telecommunication network and is arranged for supporting establishment of said direct connection for said remote UE, said telecommunication network comprising an intermediate node in accordance with  claim 6 .