Claims:
We claim:

1. A method of optimizing utilization of signaling resource during a wireless communication, the method comprising:
establishing by at least one user equipment (UE), radio connections with a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) core network using a primary channel and a secondary channel;
performing by the at least one user equipment (UE), an initial set of communication with the LTE core network using the primary channel and the secondary channel for receiving a first set of information; and
performing one or more communications between the at least one user equipment (UE) and the LTE core network via the secondary channel based on the first set of information.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primary channel is a radio channel between the at least one UE and the LTE core network through an evolved node B (ENB) and a mobility management entity (MME).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary channel is a radio channel between the at least one UE and the LTE core network through a Wi-Fi access point (AP), and a Wi-Fi trusted wireless access gateway (TWAG).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first set of information comprises at least one of a mobility management entity Internet Protocol (MME IP), packet data network gateway identification (PGW ID) and feature support flag.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein establishing by the at least one user equipment (UE), radio connections with the LTE core network using the primary channel and the secondary channel, comprises:
creating a session between a MME and a packet data network gateway (PGW) for sharing the first set of information between the MME and the at least one UE through the primary channel;
sending by the MME, the first set of information received from the PGW along with a MME IP information, to the at least one UE;
creating a session between a TWAG and the PGW for sharing the first set of information with the TWAG through the secondary channel once the first set of information is shared between the PGW and the UE through the primary channel; and
sending by the TWAG, the first set of information received from the PGW, to the at least one UE.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing one or more communications between the at least one user equipment (UE) and the LTE core network via the secondary channel based on the first set of information comprises updating the tracking area information which further comprises:
periodically providing by the at least one UE, the updated tracking area information to a PGW using the secondary channel; and
transmitting by the PGW, the updated tracking area information of the UE to a MME.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing one or more communications between the at least one user equipment (UE) and the LTE core network via the secondary channel based on the first set of information comprises updating location report procedure information which further comprises:
sending by a MME, a request for the location report information of the at least one UE to a PGW;
sharing by the PGW, the request for the location report information with the at least one UE using the secondary channel;
providing by the at least one UE, a response to the request for the location report information to the PGW using the secondary channel; and
sharing by the PGW, the received response to the request for the location report information with the MME.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing one or more communications between the at least one user equipment (UE) and the LTE core network via the secondary channel based on the first set of information comprises executing paging procedure which further comprises:
sending by a MME, a paging request for the at least one UE to a PGW;
sharing by the PGW, the received paging request with the at least one UE via the secondary channel; and
transmitting by the at least one UE, a service request in response to the paging request to the MME.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein performing one or more communications between the at least one user equipment (UE) and the LTE core network via the secondary channel based on the first set of information comprises sending a short message service (SMS) which further comprises:
sending by the at least one UE, the SMS to a PGW via the secondary channel; and
providing by the PGW, the received SMS to a MME.

10. A method of optimizing utilization of signaling resource during a wireless communication, the method comprising:
identifying by an user equipment (UE), an LTE entity in a predefined communication range;
authenticating by the UE, the identified LTE entity in the predefined communication range;
establishing by the UE, a secondary channel with a MME via the authenticated LTE entity and an eNB; and
performing one or more communications between the UE and the MME via the established secondary channel.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein performing one or more communications between the UE and the MME via the established secondary channel comprises updating the tracking area information which further comprises:
periodically sending tracking area update information via the secondary channel.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein performing one or more communications between the UE and the MME via the established secondary channel comprises updating location report information which further comprises:
sending by the MME, a request for the location report information to the UE via the secondary channel; and
providing by the UE, a response to the request for the location report information to the MME via the secondary channel.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein performing one or more communications between the UE and the MME via the established secondary channel comprises executing paging procedure which further comprises:
sending by the MME, a paging request to the UE via the secondary channel;
establishing a connection between the UE and the eNB on receiving the paging request; and
transmitting by the UE, a service request in response to the paging request to the MME via the primary channel.

Dated this the 20th day of January 2016
Signature

KEERTHI J S
Patent agent
Agent for the applicant
, Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
[39 of 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(Section 10; Rule 13)

A METHOD OF OPTIMIZING UTILIZATION OF SIGNALING RESOURCE DURING A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

SAMSUNG R&D INSTITUTE INDIA – BANGALORE Pvt. Ltd.
# 2870, ORION Building, Bagmane Constellation Business Park,
Outer Ring Road, Doddanakundi Circle,
Marathahalli Post,
Bangalore -560037, Karnataka, India
Indian Company

The following Specification particularly describes the invention
and the method it is being performed

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to wireless communication and more particularly relates to a method of optimizing utilization of signaling resource during a wireless communication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wireless communication technologies are used in connection with many devices involving laptop computers, cellular telephones, user equipment, tablets, etc. Wireless communication technologies are tasked with handling increased amounts of data traffic, where the types of data being transported through mobile wireless networks have changed dramatically. Moreover, video file-sharing and other types of usages associated with wired networks have been gradually displacing voice as the dominant traffic in mobile wireless networks. There is a significant challenge for system architects and mobile operator providers to maintain a stable/reliable network environment and to provide optimal performance for their subscribers.

Long-Term Evolution (LTE) enabled devices with dual connectivity to the LTE core network through Wi-Fi hot spots will have multiple bearers such as LTE and Wi-Fi established towards the LTE core network. When the user inactivity in the LTE access is detected, the access bearers will be released. LTE enabled devices need to send periodic messages like Tracking Area Update (TAU) to mobility management entity (MME) and it requires the LTE access connection to be established. Once the connection is established, trigger the TAU and then release the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection. This adds significant signaling message exchanges with the LTE core network periodically. Currently, there is no efficient mechanism to manage dual connectivity with LTE core network that saves considerable signaling resources during wireless communication.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an efficient method to save LTE network resources and power resources in the LTE enabled devices.

The above mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Long-Term Evolution (LTE) enabled devices need to do significant signaling message exchanges with the LTE core network periodically. Currently there is no efficient way to optimize this by utilizing the dual connectivity of the LTE enabled devices with the LTE network through access medium like Wi-Fi. This invention which is mentioned in the below specification talks about utilizing the Wi-Fi connectivity of the UE to transfer such periodic message exchanges to save the battery and signaling resources of the LTE enabled devices and the LTE network respectively.

The various embodiments of the present invention disclose a method of optimizing utilization of signaling resource during a wireless communication. The method comprises establishing by at least one user equipment (UE), radio connections with a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) core network using a primary channel and a secondary channel, performing by the at least one user equipment (UE), an initial set of communication with the LTE core network using the primary channel and the secondary channel for receiving a first set of information, and performing one or more communications between the at least one user equipment (UE) and the LTE core network via the secondary channel based on the first set of information. The primary channel is a radio channel between the at least one UE and the LTE core network through an evolved node B (ENB) and a mobility management entity (MME). The secondary channel is a radio channel between the at least one UE and the LTE core network through a Wi-Fi access point (AP), and a Wi-Fi trusted wireless access gateway (TWAG).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, establishing by the at least one user equipment (UE), radio connections with the LTE core network using the primary channel and the secondary channel, comprises: creating a session between a MME and a packet data network gateway (PGW) for sharing the first set of information between the MME and the at least one UE through the primary channel, sending by the MME, the first set of information received from the PGW along with a MME IP information, to the at least one UE, creating a session between a TWAG and the PGW for sharing the first set of information with the TWAG through the secondary channel once the first set of information is shared between the PGW and the UE through the primary channel, and sending by the TWAG, the first set of information received from the PGW, to the at least one UE.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises identifying by an user equipment (UE), an LTE entity in a predefined communication range, authenticating by the UE, the identified LTE entity in the predefined communication range, establishing by the UE, a secondary channel with a MME via the authenticated LTE entity and an eNB, and performing one or more communications between the UE and the MME via the established secondary channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating optimized signaling resource utilization at Long-Term Evolution (LTE), according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating LTE signaling through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating LTE signaling through LTE M2M device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a signal flow diagram illustrating a method of performing an initial set of communication for receiving a first set of information when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a signal flow diagram illustrating Tracking Area Update (TAU) Procedure when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a signal flow diagram illustrating location report procedure when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a signal flow diagram illustrating paging procedure when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a signal flow diagram illustrating short message service (SMS) procedure when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a signal flow diagram illustrating TAU Procedure when LTE signaling is through LTE M2M device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a signal flow diagram illustrating location report procedure when LTE signaling is through LTE M2M device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a signal flow diagram illustrating paging procedure when LTE signaling is through LTE M2M device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. The present invention can be modified in various forms. Thus, the embodiments of the present invention are only provided to explain more clearly the present invention to the ordinarily skilled in the art of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to indicate like components.

The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram 100 illustrating optimized signaling resource utilization at Long-Term Evolution (LTE), according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention discloses a user equipment (UE) 101 that is enabled to access both the LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity. The LTE and the operator built Wi-Fi access, both are connected to the core network architecture of 3GPP's LTE wireless communication standard which is System Architecture Evolution (SAE). The UE 101 could either use the Wi-Fi route or another LTE enabled device which is already connected to the LTE core network to send periodic messages.

In case of Wi-Fi, the UE 101 is connected to the Wi-Fi access point (AP) 102 which in turn is connected to a Trusted Wireless Access Gateway (TWAG) 103 in the Wi-Fi core. The TWAG 103 is further connected directly to the LTE core network SAEGW 104. The LTE SAEGW 104 is a combination of the two gateways, Serving Gateway (S-GW) and Packet data gateway (P-GW).

In case of LTE enabled device, the UE 101 is interfaced with the LTE enabled device 105 that is already connected to the LTE core network SAEGW 104 through an evolved Node B 106 and an LTE Mobility Management Entity (MME) 107. The MME 107 is the key control-node for the LTE access-network. In order to optimize utilization of signaling resource during a wireless communication, the UE 101 uses Wi-Fi access as mentioned above to send periodic messages to the LTE core network SAEGW 104.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram 200 illustrating LTE signaling through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, the UE 101 comprises a non-access stratum having dual connectivity, where one of the connectivity includes Internet Protocol (IP), Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol and Wi-Fi physical layer, while the other connectivity includes Radio Resource Control (RRC), RLC (Radio Link Control), Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol and LTE physical layer. The Non-access stratum (NAS) manages both the connectivity and handles establishment of connection with the network.

The UE 101 can access Wi-Fi access point (AP) 102 to send and receive signaling messages to and from the LTE core network SAE-GW 104 through the TWAG 103. Additionally, the UE 101 can access LTE network to send and receive signaling messages to and from the LTE core network SAE-GW 104 through the LTE MME 107 and the LTE eNB 106. According to figure 2, the UE 101 sends the periodic messages to the Wi-Fi access point (AP) 102 using the Wi-Fi connectivity. The periodic messages are forwarded to the TWAG 103. The TWAG 103 comprises of GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) and IP that help in forwarding the periodic messages to the LTE core network SAE-GW 104.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication between the UE 101 and the SAE-GW 104 through the LTE eNB 106 and the LTE MME 107 is known as a primary channel. In one embodiment, the wireless communication between the UE 101 and the SAE-GW 104 through Wi-Fi AP 102 and Wi-Fi TWAG 103 is known as a secondary channel.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram 300 illustrating LTE signaling through LTE M2M device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, the UE 101 comprises a non-access stratum having dual connectivity, where one of the connectivity includes Internet Protocol (IP), Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol and Wi-Fi physical layer, while the other connectivity includes Radio Resource Control (RRC), RLC (Radio Link Control), Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol and LTE physical layer. The Non-access stratum (NAS) manages both the connections, and handles establishment of connection with the network.

In case of LTE enabled device, the UE 101 is interfaced with the LTE enabled device 105 which is already connected to the LTE core network SAEGW through the evolved Node B 106 and the LTE MME 107. The LTE MME 107 is the key control-node for the LTE access-network. The UE 101 sends the Signaling messages using the available protocols to the LTE enabled device 105 which then forwards to the evolved Node B 106. The eNB 106 transmits the Signaling messages to the LTE MME 107 thus illustrating the LTE signaling through LTE enabled device 105. In one embodiment, the wireless communication directly between the UE 101 and the LTE MME 107 is known as a primary channel. In one embodiment, the wireless communication between the UE 101 and the LTE MME 107 through the LTE enabled device 105 is known as a secondary channel.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram 400 illustrating a method of performing an initial set of communication for receiving a first set of information which includes MME IP, PGW ID and feature support flag when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 401 a session is created between a MME 107 and a packet data network gateway (PGW) 104 for receiving the session response information from the PGW 104. The session response includes PGW ID and feature support flag. At step 402, the MME 107 sends the information received from the PGW 104 along with MME IP information to the UE 101. At step 403, another session is created between a TWAG 103 and the PGW 104 for receiving the information such as PGW ID and feature support flag, from the PGW 104. At step 404, the TWAG 103 sends a Packet Data Network (PDN) connectivity accept message which includes the PGW ID and the feature support flag to the UE 101, where the UE 101 stores PGW ID and feature support flag received through Wi-Fi network (TWAG).

Figure 5 is a flow diagram 500 illustrating Tracking Area Update (TAU) Procedure when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 501, the UE 101 periodically sends the tracking area update information which includes a MME IP to the TWAG 103. At step 502, the information is then forwarded by the TWAG 103 to the PGW 104. At step 503, the PGW 104 transmits the tracking area update information which is received from the UE 101 to the MME 107.

Figure 6 is a signal flow diagram 600 illustrating location report procedure when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 601, the MME 107 sends a request for the location report information of the UE 101 to the PGW 104. At step 602, the PGW 104 shares the request for the location report information with the TWAG 103. At step 603, the location report information is transmitted by the TWAG 103 to the UE 101. At steps 604 and 605, the UE 101 provides a response to the request for the location report information to the PGW 104 through the TWAG 103. At step 606, the PGW then shares the received response from the UE 101 with the MME 107.

Figure 7 is a flow diagram 700 illustrating paging procedure when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 701, the MME 107 sends a paging request for the UE 101 to the PGW 104. At steps 702 and 703, the PGW 104 shares the received paging request with the UE 101 through the TWAG 103. Once the UE 101 receives the paging request from the MME 107, at step 704, the UE 101 transmits a service request in response to the paging request to the MME 107.

Figure 8 is a flow diagram 800 illustrating short message service (SMS) procedure when LTE signaling is through Wi-Fi network, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 801, the UE 101 sends the uplink NAS transport message which includes MME IP information to the TWAG 103. At step 802, the TWAG 103 shares the received information with the PGW 104. At step 803, the PGW 104 provides the received information to the MME 107.

Figure 9 is a flow diagram 900 illustrating TAU Procedure when LTE signaling is through LTE M2M device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 901, the UE 101 sends a tracking area update information to the LTE enabled device (LTE M2M) 105 which is already connected to the LTE core network. At steps 902 and 903, the LTE enabled device 105 then sends the tracking area update information to the MME 107 through its evolved Node B 106.

Figure 10 is a flow diagram 1000 illustrating location report procedure when LTE signaling is through the LTE M2M device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 1001, the MME 107 sends a request for the location report information to the evolved Node B 106. At steps 1002 and 1003, the evolved Node B 106 forwards the location report information to the UE 101 through the LTE enabled device 105. At step 1004, the UE 101 then provides a response to the LTE enabled device 105, which in turn at steps 1005 and 1006 sends the response provided by the UE 101 to the MME 107 through the evolved Node B 106.

Figure 11 is a flow diagram 1100 illustrating paging procedure when LTE signaling is through the LTE M2M device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, at step 1101, the MME 107 sends a paging request to the evolved Node B 106. At steps 1102 and 1103, the evolved Node B 106 forwards the paging request to the UE 101 through the LTE enabled device 105. At step 1104, a connection is established between the UE 101 and the eNB 106 on receiving the paging request from the MME 107. Once the connection is established, at steps 1105 and 1106, the UE 101 transmits a service request in response to the paging request to the MME 107 through the evolved Node B 106.

Although the invention of the method has been described in connection with the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various substitutions, modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.