Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with systems and methods for network communications. In one example, a cellular telecommunications network includes a radio access network with multiple geographically distributed cells, and further includes a core network for providing cellular telecommunications network functions to devices registered therewith over a cellular telecommunications network bearer. The cellular telecommunications network is adapted to provide core network cellular telecommunications network functions to devices registered therewith over a non-cellular telecommunications network bearer via another access network including a plurality of access points. Further, the core network is configured to receive an identifier of said other access network when a device communicates with the core via an access point and selects a charge for providing telecommunications services in dependence upon the value of that identifier.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns methods and systems for network communications. In one example of such a method, respective groups of cells are first allocated to respective location regions. Next, respective indicators are received from various devices, indicating the identity of the cell occupied by the corresponding device. Additionally, a database is maintained that includes information concerning the location region occupied by each device. In operation, when a device switches from a radio access network to another access network, the other access network receives the indicator of the identity of the cell occupied by the device and, in dependence thereon, selects the location region which the device is deemed to occupy by a core network.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with systems and methods for network communications. In one example, a cellular telecommunications network includes a radio access network with multiple geographically distributed cells, and further includes a core network for providing cellular telecommunications network functions to devices registered therewith over a cellular telecommunications network bearer. The cellular telecommunications network is adapted to provide core network cellular telecommunications network functions to devices registered therewith over a non-cellular telecommunications network bearer via another access network including a plurality of access points. Further, the core network is configured to receive an identifier of said other access network when a device communicates with the core via an access point and selects a charge for providing telecommunications services in dependence upon the value of that identifier.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns systems and methods for location updating in communications networks. In one example, when a device initiates a connection to an access network, by way of which a communications network is adapted to provide core network GSM functions to devices registered therewith over a non-GSM bearer, a core network interrogates the device to obtain, if available, data indicative of the cell occupied thereby, interrogates the core network to obtain, if available, an indicator of the identity of the cell occupied by the device, obtains, if available, data indicative of the location of the access point with which the device communicates, and, in dependence on that location, selects an access controller for communicating with the access point or instructs the device to attempt to connect to the GSM radio access network.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns systems and methods for implementing location based services in communications networks. In one example, when the GMLC of a telecommunications network receives a request for the location of a mobile terminal, an SMLC is interrogated to obtain therefrom, if available, data indicative of the location of the relevant mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may be caused to selectively switch between a GSM radio access network and another access network if no location information is derivable from one of the access networks currently used by the device.