Charter Communications Operating, LLC

Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)

Yildirim Sahin

Curt C Wong

Maulik Vijay Vaidya

Amitav Mukherjee

Umamaheswar Achari Kakinada

Loudon Lee Campbell

Paul L Russell, Jr

A residential gateway (RG), e.g., a 5G-RG, indicates its support for ECN marking for L4S in uplink and/or downlink via a PDU session request message, e.g., a PDU session establishment request message, communicated from the RG via a 3GPP radio access network (RAN) to a core network, e.g., a 5GC. The indication, in some embodiments, is provided in either: a Session Management (SM) capability field, e.g., a 5GSM capability field, or as a new indication, which is included as part of a N1 SM container. A RG may, and sometimes does, determine congestion in its buffers/queues and perform ECN marking and report if traffic congestion is being experienced within its own buffers/queues for uplink and/or downlink traffic. In some such embodiments, both an RG and a RAN can, and sometimes do, perform ECN marking for L4S simultaneously in both directions (i.e. uplink and downlink).

Methods and apparatus relating to residential gateway support for low latency, low loss and scalable throughput (L4S) service in a system including an AMF

A base station generates, e.g., based on current UE and current system information, a UE specific paging priority list for an idle or inactive mode UE identifying a set of (small cell base) stations which are to be used to subsequently page the UE. The base station communicates the paging priority list to the UE in a radio resource control release message. In some embodiments, the release message further conveys information indicating a maximum paging monitoring duration and/or a maximum number of paging cells to be monitored. The UE receives the release message and transitions into idle or inactive mode. The UE uses the communicated information to perform efficient paging, identifying which small cells are potential sources of a paging signal, and determine how long to monitor for a paging signal.

Paging related methods and apparatus

Apparatus and methods for registration of e.g., mobile devices in one or more wireless networks. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide enhanced wireless services which enable operation of a given mobile device (e.g., a 3GPP-compliant UE) within two or more mobile networks (e.g., PLMNs) of respective different operators. In one implementation, the UE operates in dual-registration mode or DRM to allow different interworking between the two networks, and includes independent registration capability to 5GC and EPC infrastructure simultaneously. Accordingly, the UE is provided umbrella 4G/4.5G coverage over one or more small-cell 5G networks, with respective independent operators of each. Enhanced DRM-UEe capability as described herein advantageously allows for service provision (e.g., voice service) and interworking between the macro and small-cell layers of the system without complicated network configuration requirements between the two operating networks.

Apparatus and methods for registration and operation in wireless networks

A communications system includes a non-MUSIM enhanced PLMN and a MUSIM enhanced PLMN. The MUSIM enhanced PLMN includes a novel Multi-Path (MP) Proxy node. The MP Proxy Node is controlled to switch between two alternative DL data flow paths to facilitate graceful path changeovers. Downlink (DL) data flow toward the non MUSIM enhanced network (e.g., PLMN-A) is based on the interaction between the MUSIM UE and the MUSIM enhanced network (e.g., PLMN-B) together with the novel MultiPath (MP) Proxy node.

Methods and apparatus for supporting efficient multi-universal subscriber identify module (musim) user equipment (ue) operation using a multi-path proxy

Apparatus and methods for interworking a user device in one or more wireless networks. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide enhanced wireless services which enable operation of a given user device (e.g., a mobile 3GPP-compliant UE) within two or more mobile networks (e.g., PLMNs), such as a macro network and micro network. In one implementation, the UE contains multiple SIM cards to enable connection to different networks simultaneously. Accordingly, the UE can roam between two different networks seamlessly, regardless of whether the operators of each are independent or the same operator. Enhanced network capability as described herein advantageously allows for interworking between the macro and micro (e.g., small-cell) layers of the system without complicated network configuration requirements between the two operating networks as required under the prior art.

Apparatus and methods for interworking in wireless networks

Methods and apparatus for providing bandwidth which can be used to support network connectivity and to obtain services from elements in a network, e.g., 5G network, are described. In various embodiments a DOCSIS link is connects a residential gateway at a customer premises to devices outside the customer premises, e.g., to devices in a 5G network or another network. Devices which support EAP authentication are provided with their dedicated bandwidth over the DOCSIS link. Devices which do not support EAP authentication, e,g, WiFi devices, share bandwidth to which a subscriber residing at the customer premise subscribes. Devices which support EAP authentication are provided reserved resources corresponding to a subscription associated with the individual device thereby allowing a user of a device which supports EAP authentication to obtain more bandwidth than is normally provided to a visited premises based on the service subscription associated with the visiting device.

Methods and apparatus for supporting devices of different types using a residential gateway

A 5G network having a multi-path transport protocol (MPTP) proxy external to the user plane function (UPF). The session management function (SMF) provides address information of the external MPTP proxy to user equipment (UE) and distributes access traffic steering, switching, and splitting (ATSSS)-related rules to the UE, the UPF, and the external MPTP proxy. The external MPTP proxy receives, from the UPF, (i) 3GPP uplink data transmitted by the UE via a 3GPP radio access network (RAN) and (ii) non-3GPP uplink data transmitted by the UE via a non-3GPP RAN, combines the 3GPP and non-3GPP uplink data to form network uplink data for a data network. The external MPTP proxy also divides received network downlink data into 3GPP downlink data and non-3GPP downlink data, and provides the 3GPP and non-3GPP downlink data to the UPF for transmission to the UE via the 3GPP RAN and the non-3GPP RAN, respectively.

5G network having an external multi-path transport protocol proxy node

Apparatus and methods for prioritizing spectrum and controlling data traffic steering within a wireless network. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide enhanced wireless services which allow network operators to prioritize utilization of spectrum for their subscribers. In one variant, an enhanced 3GPP UE Route Selection Policy (URSP) framework is provided for a UE connected to 5G wireless network, which allows the UE to use one or more prioritized 3GPP spectrum Band Class(es) based on one or more selection criterion or preconditions. In another variant, UE location information is used to dynamically update a data traffic steering mode or other functionality of an enhanced ATSSS (Access Traffic Steering, Switching, and Splitting) rule framework is described for dynamic control of steering or routing functionality, including between 3GPP- and non-3GPP network accesses for the data traffic.

Apparatus and methods for generating and distributing policy in wireless networks

Methods and apparatus for supporting efficient Multi-Universal Subscriber Identify Module (MUSIM) user equipment (UE) operation using a Multi-Path Proxy

Apparatus and methods for managed or 'intelligent' paging of a user device in one or more wireless networks. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods provide enhanced wireless services which enable prioritized paging operations of a given user device (e.g., a mobile 3GPP-compliant UE) within two or more mobile networks (e.g., PLMNs) when the UE is operating in a 'dual' mode such as 3GPP 5G NR dual-SIM, dual standby (DSDS) mode. In one implementation, the UE contains multiple SIM cards to enable connection to different PLMNs simultaneously, such that paging associated with one network can be managed and prioritized as needed when the UE is actively utilizing another network.

Apparatus and methods for enhanced paging in wireless networks

A radio access network (RAN) for a wireless communication network transmits, to user equipment (UE), information about NPN services provided by a non-public network (NPN) supported by the wireless network, where the UE is not subscribed to the NPN. In some embodiments, the NPN service information is periodically broadcasted to the UE; in other embodiments, the information is transmitted in response to receiving a request from the UE. In response to receiving the NPN service information, the UE transmits and the RAN receives an on-boarding request from the UE to on-board the UE to the NPN, which the RAN forwards to an on-boarding network (OBN) of the wireless network. In response, the RAN receives NPN credentials for the UE from the OBN, which the RAN forwards to the UE, which uses the NPN credentials to register to the NPN, thereby enabling the non-subscribing UE to subscribe to the NPN.

Service announcements in wireless communication systems

A communication management resource receives notification of a registration request associated with user equipment present in a wireless network environment. In response to receiving the registration request, the communication management resource executes a roaming management function on behalf of the user equipment. Via the roaming management function, the communication management resource manages roaming of the user equipment in the wireless network environment. Using an SoR type mechanism as described herein allows a PLMN/SNPN operator to control their subscribers to what roaming SNPN network that they should select/reselect during wireless registration and at any time after registration based on the type of wireless services.

Growing community of inventors

Englewood, CO, United States of America

Yildirim Sahin