Abstract: The invention provides for a wireless communications terminal (502), and related system and method, for wirelessly communicating with a network (504, 506). The terminal (502) is arranged to transmit, as part of a wireless connection establishment procedure for forming a wireless connection between the terminal (502) and the network (504, 506), wireless-connection establishment signalling (510) including a small-data indicator to indicate to the network (504) that transmission of an amount of data below a threshold value is required from the terminal (502) by way of the wireless connection to the network (504, 506).

Abstract: A wireless terminal can communicate with two radio access networks (RAN) (304, 306) of different types. The wireless terminal can register simultaneously with a RAN of the first type and a RAN of the second type and can wirelessly connect to a RAN of either the first type or the second type in a connected state. The wireless terminal when registered with both a first RAN and a second RAN and when wirelessly connected to the first RAN in the connected state, receives a mobility signal via the first RAN indicating a RAN of the second type and, in response to receiving the mobility signal and in response to being so registered with the first RAN and second RAN, transmits an access trigger signal (417). The access trigger signal indicates that the wireless terminal is to be connected to the second RAN in the connected state.

Abstract: The invention provides for a wireless communications terminal (502), and related system and method, for wirelessly communicating with a network (504, 506). The terminal (502) is arranged to transmit, as part of a wireless connection establishment procedure for forming a wireless connection between the terminal (502) and the network (504, 506), wireless-connection establishment signaling (510) including a small-data indicator to indicate to the network (504) that transmission of an amount of data below a threshold value is required from the terminal (502) by way of the wireless connection to the network (504, 506).

Abstract: The invention provides for mobile radio communications device (10) for operation within a mobile radio communications network and arranged to employ one of a plurality of possible power saving modes, and arranged to send non-access stratum or access stratum signalling (14) to the network including an indication of at least one of the said plurality of possible power saving modes, and responsive to which indication the network (12) is arranged to return confirmation (16) of the power saving mode to be employed by the mobile radio communications device (10), the mobile radio communications device (10) further being arranged to receive the said confirmation (16) and to initiate operation of the confirmed power-saving mode (26; 38; 44).

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a home subscriber server, ‘HSS’, of a communication network, receives, from a service capability exposure function, ‘SCEF’, at least one communication pattern parameter set together with an associated validity time, stores the at least one communication pattern parameter set, and when the validity time for a communication pattern parameter set stored in the HSS expires, autonomously deletes the associated communication pattern parameter set.

Abstract: The invention describes a solution for configuration of policy and other QoS parameters for the non-IP data transmission path over SCEF. Policy enforcement in UL and DL are proposed to avoid the excessive data transmission to/from IoT or M2M devices.

Abstract: A system (1) is disclosed in which a network entity determines whether a radio bearer should be maintained or released for a communications device (2). The communications device (2) establishes the radio bearer via a base station (5) of the communications system (1) and communicates data using the established radio bearer. The communications device (2) determines whether any further data is to be sent or received and/or whether a user-plane connection is required. The communications device (2) then provides information to the network entity identifying a result of said determination for use in determining whether the radio bearer should be maintained or released.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for dynamic switching between a control plane data transmission and user plane data transmission avoiding the Detach and consecutive re-attach procedure or TAU procedure. In particular the decision for switch between the different transmission schemes is based on various criteria like the size of the data packet or on total amount of data, etc.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for supporting a registration procedure for an inbound roamer user equipment, ‘UE’, in a visited public land mobile network, ‘VPLMN’ that includes a transceiver and a controller. The controller is configured to: control the transceiver to receive, from a communicator of the VPLMN, a request for authentication information; retrieve the authentication information from a communicator of a home public land mobile network, ‘HPLMN’; and control the transceiver to transmit the authentication information to the serving CSCF of the VPLMN for use in the registration procedure.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of controlling a mobile terminated procedure between a mobile terminal device and a network node device of a mobile radio communications network, and to a related terminal device, and particularly concerning a change in network node connection as part of a Circuit Switched Fallback procedure, and including the step of transmitting a connection-maintaining request such as a follow-on-request from the terminal device to the network node device during the mobile terminated procedure and seeking to maintain connectivity with the network node device so as to allow for a post location update procedure arriving from the network.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for detecting an inability to serve a UE in the selected serving node due to mismatch between the UE's DCN-related indication and the UE's DCN-related subscription and/or the UE's capabilities and/or due to serving node congestion. The method allows to update the UE's DCN configuration information, so that the UE can be assigned to an appropriate DCN during the next RRC/NAS request procedure.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of selecting a Dedicated Core Network (DCN) based on assisting indication by mobile terminals, and including the step of configuring the RAN Nodes of the mobile network with the DCN Types of the serving EPC Nodes so that the RAN Nodes can map the DCN selection assisting information from the connecting mobile terminals with the right dedicated EPC Node. This allows for the RAN Node to connect the mobile terminals with EPC Node of the mobile terminal's dedication at initial attach and then keep the mobile terminals on the same DCN. Thus, a re-routing of mobile terminals NAS message from one EPC Node to another EPC node is avoided. The invention also allows for a flexible and dynamic change of the EPC Nodes dedication based on operator's configuration and policy. Additionally, the invention allows for DCN access restriction control by broadcasting of the supported DCN Types by the RAN Node.

Abstract: A communication entity includes a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF). The P-CSCF includes a transceiver and a controller. The transceiver is operable to receive a register request from a user equipment (UE) in a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN). The controller is operable to: retrieve a network identifier (PLMN ID) for the VPLMN by requesting the PLMN ID where the UE is currently located from a Policy Control Rule Function (PCRF); access a database to obtain a list of local emergency numbers for the VPLMN; and include the retrieved PLMN ID in the register request before forwarding the register request to a Call Session Control Function (CSCF).

Abstract: A wireless terminal can communicate with a first network of first type and a second network of second different type. The wireless terminal performs a packet-domain attachment to the first network and initiates a ready timer indicating that the wireless terminal is in an attached state and has recently sent data to the first network. The wireless terminal initiates an inter-system change from the first network to the second network whereby the wireless terminal becomes registered to the second network. Advantageously the wireless terminal has means for rendering the ready timer ineffective when the inter-system change is performed. The network apparatus has means for initiating its own ready timer dependent on the attachment occurring, this ready timer also indicating that the wireless terminal is in an attached state and has recently sent data to the first network.

Abstract: A system (1) is disclosed in which a network entity determines whether a radio bearer should be maintained or released for a communications device (2). The communications device (2) establishes the radio bearer via a base station (5) of the communications system (1) and communicates data using the established radio bearer. The communications device (2) determines whether any further data is to be sent or received and/or whether a user-plane connection is required. The communications device (2) then provides information to the network entity identifying a result of said determination for use in determining whether the radio bearer should be maintained or released.

Abstract: A wireless terminal can communicate with two radio access networks (RAN) (304, 306) of different types. The wireless terminal can register simultaneously with a RAN of the first type and a RAN of the second type and can wirelessly connect to a RAN of either the first type or the second type in a connected state. The wireless terminal when registered with both a first RAN and a second RAN and when wirelessly connected to the first RAN in the connected state, receives a mobility signal via the first RAN indicating a RAN of the second type and, in response to receiving the mobility signal and in response to being so registered with the first RAN and second RAN, transmits an access trigger signal (417). The access trigger signal indicates that the wireless terminal is to be connected to the second RAN in the connected state.

Abstract: A communication system for supporting machine type communication within a cellular communication network is described in which a communication device is allocated a permanent offline area in which the communication device is expected to be located whilst not attached for communication within the network. The communication device identifies a cell in which the communication device is currently located and determines whether or not the cell forms part of the permanent offline area or a temporary offline area that comprises a previously visited cell that is not part of the permanent offline area. If these areas do not comprise the cell in which the communication device is currently located, the communication device attaches to the network and communicates information identifying the cell in which the communication device is currently located to the network.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed in which a home subscriber server, ‘HSS’, of a communication network, receives, from a service capability exposure function, ‘SCEF’, at least one communication pattern parameter set together with an associated validity time, stores the at least one communication pattern parameter set, and when the validity time for a communication pattern parameter set stored in the HSS expires, autonomously deletes the associated communication pattern parameter set.

Abstract: The invention provides for a wireless communications terminal (502), and related system and method, for wirelessly communicating with a network (504, 506). The terminal (502) is arranged to transmit, as part of a wireless connection establishment procedure for forming a wireless connection between the terminal (502) and the network (504, 506), wireless-connection establishment signalling (510) including a small-data indicator to indicate to the network (504) that transmission of an amount of data below a threshold value is required from the terminal (502) by way of the wireless connection to the network (504, 506).

Abstract: A wireless terminal can communicate with a first network of first type and a second network of second different type. The wireless terminal performs a packet-domain attachment to the first network and initiates a ready timer indicating that the wireless terminal is in an attached state and has recently sent data to the first network. The wireless terminal initiates an inter-system change from the first network to the second network whereby the wireless terminal becomes registered to the second network. Advantageously the wireless terminal has means for rendering the ready timer ineffective when the inter-system change is performed. The network apparatus has means for initiating its own ready timer dependent on the attachment occurring, this ready timer also indicating that the wireless terminal is in an attached state and has recently sent data to the first network.