Radio Resource Management for Packet-Switched Voice Communication

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed relating to informing a network that a UE desires packet-switched voice communication. In some embodiments, the information transmitted to the network distinguishes between voice communications and other communications (e.g., other IMS communications) and is transmitted prior to establishment of a dedicated bearer for IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) signaling for the apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a base station prior to establishment of a dedicated bearer for IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) signaling for a user equipment (UE) device, first information from the UE device in a radio resource control (RRC) connection request message, wherein the first information includes an indication specifying that the UE is requesting a mobile originating voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) call, wherein the indication differentiates between mobile originating VoLTE IMS communications and other IMS communications; and   communicating, by the base station with the UE device for the VoLTE call, via a dedicated bearer for IMS signaling that is configured based on the first information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating, by the base station with the UE device for the VoLTE call, via both the dedicated bearer for IMS signaling and a dedicated data bearer.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating configuration of the dedicated bearer for IMS signaling.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the initiating is performed by a session initiation protocol (SIP) proxy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , sending an indication that the UE is requesting the VoLTE call, based on the first information, to one or more other network elements. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RRC connection request message is received after establishment of a default bearer for the UE device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RRC connection request message is received in conjunction with a SIP invite to a Proxy Call Session Control Function (PCSCF) unit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RRC connection request message is received during an attach procedure for the UE. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more memories; and   one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored on the one or more memories to:
 transmit, to a base station prior to establishment of a dedicated bearer for IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) signaling for the apparatus, first information in a radio resource control (RRC) connection request message, wherein the first information includes an indication specifying that the apparatus is requesting a mobile originating voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) call, wherein the indication differentiates between mobile originating VoLTE IMS communications and other IMS communications; and 
 communicate with the base station for the VoLTE call, via a dedicated bearer for IMS signaling that is configured for the apparatus based on the first information. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is also configured to communicate with the base station via a dedicated data bearer for the VoLTE call. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein initiation of establishment of the dedicated bearer for IMS signaling is performed in response to receipt of the first information. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit the RRC connection request message after establishment of a default bearer for the apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the RRC connection request message is transmitted in conjunction with a SIP invite to a Proxy Call Session Control Function (PCSCF) unit. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit the RRC connection request message during an attach procedure. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive one or more SIP status messages prior to establishment of the dedicated bearer for IMS signaling. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a UE device to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting, to a base station prior to establishment of a dedicated bearer for IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) signaling for the UE device, first information in a radio resource control (RRC) connection request message, wherein the first information includes an indication specifying that the UE device is requesting a mobile originating voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) call, wherein the indication differentiates between mobile originating VoLTE IMS communications and other IMS communications; and   communicating with the base station for the VoLTE call, via a dedicated bearer for IMS signaling that is configured for the UE device based on the first information.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein initiation of establishment of the dedicated bearer for IMS signaling is performed in response to receipt of the first information. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the RRC connection request message is transmitted after establishment of a default bearer for the UE device. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the RRC connection request message is transmitted in conjunction with a SIP invite to a Proxy Call Session Control Function (PCSCF) unit. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving one or more SIP status messages prior to establishment of the dedicated bearer for IMS signaling.