Abstract: Systems and methods relating to a cellular communications system having an architecture in which Serving Gateway (SGW) user plane functionality is separated from SGW control plane functionality are disclosed. In some embodiments, a cellular communications system having an architecture in which SGW user plane functionality is separated from SGW control plane functionality comprises a Serving Gateway Control plane entity (SGW-C) partitioned into a plurality of virtual SGW-Cs that correspond to a respective plurality of SGW User Plane (SGW-UP) service areas. The cellular communications system further comprises a plurality of SGW-UP pools each comprising one or more SGW User entities (SGW-Us), wherein each SGW-UP pool serves a respective one of the plurality of SGW-UP service areas. In this manner, the coordination problem between Tracking Areas (TAs) and the SGW-UP service areas is avoided.

Abstract: A method performed by an AMF is provided. The method includes determining an elapsed time value (?RAN). The method further includes determining whether the elapsed time value is less than a negotiated NAS periodic timer (?NAS-per). The AMF is configured such that, as a result of the AMF determining that ?RAN<?NAS-per, the AMF transitions the UE to CM-IDLE state and starts a NAS periodic timer with a value equal to ?NAS-per??RAN.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method performed by a wireless communication device, WCD. The method comprises: receiving a base station message transmitted by a base station; and determining whether the received base station message includes information indicating that Non Access Stratum, NAS, type requests are supported by the base station, and also to a method in a base station communicating with a wireless communication device, WCD, residing in a cell served by the base station, the method comprising: generating, by the base station, a message comprising system information; transmitting, by the base station, the message comprising the system information, wherein the system information comprises information indicating that Non Access Stratum, NAS, type requests are supported by the base station.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a base station, user equipment and Mobility Management Entity, and corresponding methods, for providing handling during a combined Single Radio Voice Call Continuity and Packet Switched Handover procedure.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method in a RAN node for determining which operator that should serve a device when it has been handed over from a source network to a target shared network. When the device has been handed over to the target shared network, the RAN node transmits, to a non-registered CN node in a non-registered domain, a request for an identity of the device. The RAN node transmits a request, to CN nodes in a registered domain, for a serving operator which has registered the device. The RAN node receives information indicating the serving operator. The RAN node determines that the same serving operator which served the identified device in the registered domain should also serve the device in the non-registered domain.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method in a first target CN node for handling handover of a wireless device from a source CN node to another CN node. The first target CN node receives, from the source CN node, a request message to hand over the wireless device. The first target CN node determines that the first target CN node is unsuitable for handover. The first target CN node determines if there is at least one candidate second target CN node suitable for handover. The first target CN node determines whether the request message should be forwarded to the at least one candidate second target CN node or whether the source CN node should be informed regarding if there is at least one candidate second target CN node that is suitable.

Abstract: It is presented a method for error handling during a Mobile Terminated, MT, call to a User Equipment, UE, in a cellular system. The method is performed by a network device being an alternative Mobility Management Entity, MME, of the cellular system. The method comprises the steps of: failing to forward a paging request to a serving MME, at which the UE is registered; and paging the UE using a Circuit Switched, CS, paging. A corresponding network device, User Equipment, computer program and computer program product are also presented.

Abstract: There is provided a method for providing support capability of a core network (CN) node. The method is performed by the CN node. The method comprises setting up a connection to a radio access network (RAN) node. The method comprises, in response thereto, providing an indication regarding whether the CN node supports at least one of operator coordinated area (OCA) and query to the RAN node, according to which indication the CN node provides information to be used by the RAN node for selecting a serving operator such that the same operator is selected for the wireless device in both Circuit Switched (CS) domain and in Packet Switch (PS) domain.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and a Visitor Location Register (VLR) node, as well as corresponding methods therein, for monitoring a VLR node registration of a wireless device The MME is currently serving.

Abstract: There is provided radio access network (RAN) fallback support indication of a wireless device. A mobility management node receives RAN fallback support indication parameters of the wireless device from a RAN node. The mobility management node sends the RAN fallback support indication parameters of the wireless device to at least one of a target core network node of the wireless device and a target RAN node of the wireless device.

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method in a RAN node for determining which operator that should serve a device when it has been handed over from a source network to a target shared network. When the device has been handed over to the target shared network, the RAN node transmits, to a non-registered CN node in a non-registered domain, a request for an identity of the device. The RAN node transmits a request, to CN nodes in a registered domain, for a serving operator which has registered the device. The RAN node receives information indicating the serving operator. The RAN node determines that the same serving operator which served the identified device in the registered domain should also serve the device in the non-registered domain.

Abstract: User equipment control is restored in the presence of communication link failure between a network node that provides control of packet switched connections and a network node that provides control of circuit switched connections. A communication service is provided to a UE by a Serving MME and a Serving MSC in a communication system. Upon detecting that one or more links that enable communication between the Serving MME and the Serving MSC have failed, another MME and/or MSC are/is identified within the network that have/has fully operational links with the Serving MSC and/or Serving MME. The identified MME and/or MSC are/is established as a Relaying MME and/or Relaying MSC. Control of the UE continues with MME/MSC messaging being directed to the Relaying node(s), and the Relaying node(s) relaying the messages to their serving counterparts (Relaying MME relays to Serving MME, Relaying MSC relays to Serving MSC).

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method in a RAN node (305) for determining which operator that should serve a device (301) when it has been handed over from a source network to a target shared network (300). When the device (301) has been handed over to the target shared network (300), the RAN node (305) transmits, to a non-registered CN node (312) in a non-registered domain (300nr), a request for an identity of the device (301). The RAN node (305) transmits a request, to CN nodes (310) in a registered domain (300r), for a serving operator which has registered the device (301). The RAN node (305) receives information indicating the serving operator. The RAN node (305) determines that the same serving operator which served the identified device in the registered domain (300r) should also serve the device (301) in the non-registered domain (300nr).

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and a Visitor Location Register (VLR) node, as well as corresponding methods therein, for monitoring a VLR node registration of a wireless device The MME is currently serving.

Abstract: User equipment control is restored in the presence of communication link failure between a network node that provides control of packet switched connections and a network node that provides control of circuit switched connections. A communication service is provided to a UE by a Serving MME and a Serving MSC in a communication system. Upon detecting that one or more links that enable communication between the Serving MME and the Serving MSC have failed, another MME and/or MSC are/is identified within the network that have/has fully operational links with the Serving MSC and/or Serving MME. The identified MME and/or MSC are/is established as a Relaying MME and/or Relaying MSC. Control of the UE continues with MME/MSC messaging being directed to the Relaying node(s), and the Relaying node(s) relaying the messages to their serving counterparts (Relaying MME relays to Serving MME, Relaying MSC relays to Serving MSC).

Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to a method in a first target CN node for handling handover of a wireless device from a source CN node to another CN node. The first target CN node receives, from the source CN node, a request message to hand over the wireless device. The first target CN node determines that the first target CN node is unsuitable for handover. The first target CN node determines if there is at least one candidate second target CN node suitable for handover. The first target CN node determines whether the request message should be forwarded to the at least one candidate second target CN node or whether the source CN node should be informed regarding if there is at least one candidate second target CN node that is suitable.

Abstract: A gateway node is configured to act as a gateway of a core network to one or more external Packet Data Networks, PDNs, and configured to provide connectivity for radio terminals served by the first gateway node to one or more of the PDNs, and configured to exchange information with one or more other network gateway nodes to provide a network gateway pool. The method comprises: obtaining pool information comprising information indicative of the external PDNs being served by each gateway node in the gateway pool to enable distribution of Packet Data Network, PDN, connections among the gateway nodes in the gateway pool, blocking at least one external PDN served by the first gateway node for creation of new PDN connections to the external PDN, and forwarding any creation of a new PDN connection for the blocked external PDN to a second gateway node in the gateway pool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solution for resource allocation and in particular in relation to resolving a gateway. The solution according to the present invention uses an infix in an access point name, comprising a geographical area, in communicating with a domain name server. The infix is chosen from a list comprising unique combinations of selection criteria.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method in a radio access network, RAN, node (315) and corresponding method in a core network node (302), for handling roaming rejection in a shared RAN (305), wherein the shared RAN is second CN (301b), the method comprising: forwarding (403), to a core network, CN, node (302) in the first CN (301a) sharing the RAN (305), a request message of a roaming wireless device (308); receiving (404) a reject message from the CN node, wherein the reject message comprises a cause of the rejection and an indicator indicating that the cause qualifies for redirection of the wireless device; determining (405), based on the indicator in the reject message, that the wireless device should be redirected to another CN node (304) in the second CN (301b) sharing the RAN (305); transmitting (406) the request message of the roaming wireless device (308) to the other CN node (304).

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a base station, user equipment and Mobility Management Entity, and corresponding methods, for providing handling during a combined Single Radio Voice Call Continuity and Packet Switched Handover procedure.