Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Affirmed Networks Communications Technologies, Inc.

Nortel Networks Corporation

Affirmed Networks, Inc.

Fred Walter Rink

Haibo Qian

Michael Anthony Brown

Jerry Louis Mizell

Steven Currin

Ronald Mark Parker

Paul Boudreaux

Piotr Galecki

Liang Tian

Srinivasan Muralidharan

Bret Bieghler

Kenton Perry Nickell

A transition region can be defined for a first network segment that can provide wireless communication services using a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT and that supports Internet protocol (IP) packet-based voice calls. The transition region can be defined based at least in part on a first coverage area of the first network segment and a second coverage area of a second network segment that does not support IP packet-based voice calls and does not support a first handoff mechanism based on the first RAT. A network node can be notified about an IP packet-based voice call involving a user equipment (UE) that is receiving service from the first network segment using a first RAT. Upon determining that the UE is located within the transition region, the network node can cause the UE to be switched to a second RAT for the IP packet-based voice call.

Minimizing disruption to a voice call in a mobile network that includes different network segments having different capabilities for supporting voice calls

A core network can send first data transmissions to a radio access network (RAN) at a first data rate that is based at least in part on a first RAT policy associated with a first RAT used by the RAN for downlink transmissions to user equipment. The core network can obtain information indicating that the RAN is using a second RAT for the downlink transmissions to the user equipment. The core network can cause a RAT policy that is applied to the data transmissions from the core network to the RAN to be changed from the first RAT policy to a second RAT policy that is associated with the second RAT. The core network can send second data transmissions from the core network to the RAN at a second data rate that is based at least in part on the second RAT policy.

Dynamically adjusting the bandwidth of downlink transmissions based on a radio access technology used by a radio access network

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for network slicers. Network slicers can receive creation request messages and select network slices based on policies. A network slicer can indicate to next hop routers that it has lower routing costs in order to receive messages, and inspect the received messages to identify creation request messages. A network slicer can indicate to a DNS server that it has a higher priority than other network elements, and receive creation request messages based on the higher priority. New creation request messages can be sent to the selected network slices based on received creation request messages. The network can also create and send appropriate response messages to the creation request to establish future communications with the selected network slice.

Systems and methods for network slicing

Example implementations described herein are directed to providing one or more service tags in a Domain name service (DNS) response to indicate the availability of user defined services for a particular peer node in an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). DNS clients can process the DNS response for the service tags and facilitate the selection of peer nodes for a User Equipment (UE) based on the processed service tag(s).

EPC node selection using custom service types

Example implementations are directed to a method and an apparatus for managing one of a plurality of core networks (CNs) sharing a radio access network (RAN), which may receive a RAN resource allocation control type indicator associated with at least one CN of the plurality of CNs. The RAN resource allocation control type indicator be at least one of: a guaranteed minimum allocation of RAN resources, an absolute allocation of RAN resources, and a percentage-based allocation of RAN resources. The method and apparatus may further include determining a RAN resource allotment parameter for the at least one CN of the plurality of CNs. The RAN resource allotment parameter and an identification of the associated at least one CN may be transmitted to a traffic controller such that the at least one CN is allocated an amount of RAN resources based on the resource allotment value may.

Resource control in a shared RAN

Systems and methods are disclosed for a method of assigning resources to eNodeBs in a mobility management entity (MME) pool, including determining a first relative capacity for a first eNodeB based on at least one of latency between the first eNodeB and a first MME and the location of the first eNodeB. A second relative capacity may be determined for a second eNodeB based on at least one of latency between the second eNodeB and the first MME and the location of the second eNodeB. The first and second relative capacities may be indicative of relative capacity values greater than zero. The relative capacities may be provided to the first and second eNodeBs, and a portion of traffic sent from the first and second eNodeBs to the first MME may be based on the first and second relative capacities, respectively.

Flexible load distribution and management in an MME pool

Example implementations described herein are directed to a support node apparatus configured to support a wireless network system. The support node apparatus can be in the form of a mobility management entity and/or a serving general packet radio service. The example implementations directed herein can provide a network resource identifier and/or a globally unique temporary identifier to an associated user equipment to facilitate the transfer of the user equipment from a source support node apparatus to a target support node apparatus. In example implementations, the target support node apparatus can thereby be directly specified by use of the identifier.

Method of directed UE relocation within an MME/SGSN flex pool

Example implementations are directed to systems and methods involving a mobility management entity (MME) pool. In example implementations, the MME of the pool can be configured as a backup for a fraction of subscribers associated with other MME in the pool. Upon detection of the failure of an MME in the pool, the surviving MME messages eNodeBs and other peer network nodes that it will take over the impacted subscribers such that the subscribers do not need to conduct a reattachment process. Multiple MME codes per MME can be used to partition the subscribers for backup, which can thereby lead to geo-redundancy for the MME.

Synchronized MME pool

A home agent and a mobile terminal communicate to facilitate the home agent becoming aware of whether the mobile terminal is notification capable meaning the mobile terminal is able to receive notifications of specified events without an open browser window. If the mobile terminal is notification capable, the home agent provides notifications based upon specified events and conditions. The mobile terminal then provides an indication of the notification to the user even though a browser window is not open for displaying user messages. More specifically, the mobile IP registration process according to a mobile IP protocol is modified to add parameter extensions that allow the mobile terminal to provide this indication that it is notification capable. The home agent is notification capable as well and provides specified notifications to the mobile terminal upon the occurrence of a specified event either in a registration reply or during a data session or call.

Mobile IP notification

A method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a home agent and a mobile terminal that communicate to facilitate the home agent becoming aware of a device type and access technology being used to gain access to a network by way of the home agent so that the home agent may provide appropriate billing and network control. More specifically, the mobile IP registration process according to a mobile IP protocol is modified to add parameter extensions that allow the mobile terminal to provide this information. The two specific parameters that are added include one that defines the access technology and another that defines the device type in the described embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, the extension that defines the access technology includes a mobile IP client that has operator definable configurations that relate to the access technology. The mobile IP client specifies whether a wireless local area network or wireless cellular network is being used and, in one embodiment of the invention, which type of wireless local area network or cellular network is being used.

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Fairview, TX, United States of America

Fred Walter Rink