Server in internet-of-things communication path

Abstract

Radio networks such as Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs), user equipment devices (UEs), servers such as In-temet-of-Things servers, and core network entities may be adapted to facilitate transfers of connections of wireless devices. For example, a first PLMN may provide restricted access to a UE to assist the UE in finding a second PLMN for a full connection. Entities may be adapted to support for non-coverage related PLMN transfers, such as transfers initiated by UEs, PLMNs, servers, and core network entities, e.g., in response to changing usage, congestion, etc.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the apparatus being connected to a communications network via its communication circuitry, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from a first radio network, system information, the system information relating to network support for restricted access for network selection assistance;   send, to the first radio network, a modified registration request, the modified registration request signaling a limited registration;   send a manual network selection request;   receive a manual network selection response, the manual network selection response comprising an indication to connect to a second radio network;   de-register from the first radio network; and   register with the second radio network.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the modified registration request further signals support for non-coverage related radio network transfers. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the manual network selection request comprises a list of found radio networks. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second radio network is selected from the list of found radio networks. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the manual network selection request further comprises a received signal strength for each found radio network. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the manual network selection request further comprises a cell identity of a strongest cell for each found radio network. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the manual network selection request is sent to an Internet-of-things (IoT) server via non-access-stratum messaging. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the manual network selection request is sent to a policy control function (PCF) via non-access-stratum messaging. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the manual network selection request is sent to an IoT server via a restricted local operator services (RLOS) connection using Internet protocol (IP) based communication. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to embed the manual network selection request in the modified registration request. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to receive the manual network selection response embedded in the registration response. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the apparatus being connected to a communications network via its communication circuitry, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
 register with a first radio network;   signal, to the first radio network, support for non-coverage related radio network transfers;   receive, from an IoT server, a request to perform a radio network search;   send, to the IoT server, a list of found radio networks;   receive a transfer request, the transfer request indicating a second radio network, the second radio network being selected from the list of found networks;   de-register from the first radio network; and   register with the second radio network.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the transfer request comprises an activation condition, the activation condition indicating when to de-register from the first radio network and register with the second radio network. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the activation condition is a time. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein
 the transfer request further comprises an activation window, the activation window indicating when to abandon the attempt to register to the second radio network and revert to the first radio network; and   the instructions further cause the apparatus to, based on the activation window, de-register from the first radio network and register to the second radio network.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the apparatus being connected to a communications network via its communication circuitry, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
 determine that a first group of user equipment devices (UEs) should be transferred from a first radio network, wherein the UEs in the first group are served by an IoT server;   send, to the IoT server, a first transfer request;   receive, from the IoT server, a transfer response, the transfer response comprising an available capacity and a first indication of a second radio network;   send, to a second group of UEs based on the available capacity, one or more second transfer requests, the one or more second transfer requests comprising a second indication of the second radio network.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to determine, based at least in part on the basis of an uplink load, a downlink load, a buffer load, or a signaling load, whether the first portion of the first group of user equipment devices (UEs) should be transferred from the first radio network. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first transfer request comprises at least one of:
 a list of the first group of UEs; a location of the first group of UEs;   a network load of the first group of UEs; and   a reason for the first transfer request.   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and communication circuitry, the apparatus being connected to a communications network via its communication circuitry, the apparatus further comprising computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
 request context information from each of an application server, a user equipment (UE), and a first radio network;   collect a set of context information from one or more of the application server, the UE, and the first radio network;   determine, based at least in part on the set of context information, that the UE should be transferred to a second radio network;   send, to the second radio network, a first transfer request;   receive, from the second radio network, an acknowledgement, the acknowledgement comprising an indication that the second radio network is willing to accept a registration of the UE; and   send, via the first radio network to the UE, a second transfer request.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to determine, based at least in part upon a multicast capability of the first radio network or the second radio network, whether the UE should be transferred to the second radio network.