Network controlled extended access barring for user devices

Abstract

A method includes determining whether a network access class associated with a data use device is a mixed access class. The mixed access class includes a non-extended access barring (EAB) network access protocol for at least one service and an EAB network access protocol for at least one other service. The method also includes determining whether EAB access has been granted for the data use device to access a network. The method includes barring EAB network access for the data use device if EAB access has not been granted for the data use device to access the network. The method further includes allowing network access for all services for the data use device if EAB access has been granted for the data use device to access the network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing network access to a data use device that is configured for extended access barring (EAB) control for at least some network services and is a member of at least one network access class, the method comprising:
 applying, by a network access control device, an EAB control;   receiving, by the network access control device, at least one network access request from the data use device while the network access control device applies the EAB control;   determining, by the network access control device, that network access to accommodate the at least one network access request is granted and allowing, by the network access control device, the data use device to engage in data communications associated with the at least one network access request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one network access class of the data use device is identified by an identifier associated with the data use device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining that network access to accommodate the at least one network access request is granted is made in accordance with the identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the identifier is stored by a subscribed identity module associated with the data use device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network access control device further receives, from the data use device, at least one network access request under an EAB network access procedure for non-time critical services and at least one network access request under a non-EAB network access procedure for time critical services. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein to engage in the data communications associated with the at least one network access request, the data use device is allowed by the network access control device to connect to a packet data network (PDN) using a packet data protocol (PDP) context. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the PDP connection with the PDN is assigned to a random access channel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the PDN is a communication network complying with a protocol standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network access control device simultaneously provides EAB and non-EAB classification of services to the data use device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising
 additionally receiving, by the network access control device, at least one network access request from the data use device under a non-EAB control. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data use device is a machine to machine (M2M) device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the M2M device is a sensor or meter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network access control device enforces roaming restrictions for the data use device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data use device is configured to be a roaming device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data use device has a relay function that relays data between other devices. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data communications associated with the at least one network access request is an emergency call. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if network access to accommodate the at least one network access request is not granted, limiting the data use device's access to a network to only emergency calls during the EAB control. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one network access request from the data use device is for service subject to the EAB control and for which treatment under non-EAB access is intended by the at least one network access request. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data use device is configured to be used for machine type communication. 
     
     
         20 . A method of providing network access to a data use device that is configured for extended access barring (EAB) control for at least some network services and is a member of at least one network access class, the method comprising:
 applying, by a network access control device, an EAB control to the data use device;   receiving, by the network access control device, at least one network access request from the data use device for service subject to the EAB control and for which treatment under non-EAB access is indicated in the least one network access request;   limiting the data use device's access to the network, by the network access control device, to only emergency calls during the EAB control if the network access control device determines that the at least one network access request is not allowed.   
     
     
         21 . A network access control device for providing network access to a data use device, comprising:
 a communication interface over which communication with the data use device is made;   a memory that stores executable logic containing network access control functionality; and   a processor that executes the logic, by execution of the logic the network access control device:
 determines that at least one network access request from the data use device is in accordance with an extended access barring (EAB) network access procedure and another network access request from the data access device that is in accordance with a non-EAB network access procedure is allowed; and 
 coordinates a separate packet data protocol (PDP) connection with a packet data network (PDN) for each network access procedure. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the data use device is identified by an identifier associated with the data use device as supporting the EAB network access procedure and the non-EAB network access procedure. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the network access request in accordance with the EAB network access procedure is for a non-time critical service and the network access request in accordance with the non-EAB network access procedure is for a time critical service. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the PDN is a communication network complying with a protocol standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the network access control device simultaneously provides EAB and non-EAB classification of services to the data use device. 
     
     
         26 . A data use device configured for extended access barring (EAB) control, comprising:
 a communication interface over which communication with a network access control device is made; and   control circuitry configured to:
 during imposition of extended access barring (EAB) control, transmit to the network access control device at least one network access request; and 
 upon grant of at least one network access request by the network access control device, engage in data communications associated with the at least one network access request. 
   
     
     
         27 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the data use device is configured to be used for machine type communication. 
     
     
         28 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the data use device is a member of at least one network access class. 
     
     
         29 . The data use device of  claim 28 , wherein the grant of the at least one network access is made in accordance with the at least one network access class to which the data use device is a member. 
     
     
         30 . The data use device of  claim 28 , wherein an identifier identifying the at least one network access class is stored in a subscribed identity module associated with the data use device. 
     
     
         31 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the data use device additionally transmits, to the network access control device, at least one network access request under an EAB network access procedure for non-time critical services and at least one network access request under a non-EAB network access procedure for time critical services. 
     
     
         32 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the data use device additionally transmits to the network access control device at least one network access request from the data use device under a non-EAB control. 
     
     
         33 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein to engage in the data communications associated with the at least one network access request, the data use device connects to a packet data network (PDN) using a packet data protocol (PDP) context. 
     
     
         34 . The data use device of  claim 33 , wherein the PDN is a communication network complying with a protocol standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 
     
     
         35 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the data use device is simultaneously provided with EAB and non-EAB classification of services by the network access control device. 
     
     
         36 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the data use device is a machine to machine (M2M) device. 
     
     
         37 . The data use device of  claim 36 , wherein the M2M device is a sensor or meter. 
     
     
         38 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the network access control device enforces roaming restrictions for the data use device. 
     
     
         39 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the data use device is configured to be a roaming device. 
     
     
         40 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the data use device has a relay function that relays data between other devices. 
     
     
         41 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the data communications associated with the at least one network access request is an emergency call. 
     
     
         42 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein if network access to accommodate the at least one network access request is not granted, the network access control device limits the data use device's access to a network to only emergency calls during the EAB control. 
     
     
         43 . The data use device of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one network access request is for service subject to the EAB control and for which treatment under non-EAB access is intended by the at least one network access request.