BACKGROUND

Conventional 5G System architectures are designed to support a wide variety of networks, including 5G PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) and private networks (a.k.a., SNPN—Standalone Non-Public Network). Implementation of SNPNs using the 5G architecture is defined in 3GPP TS 23.501 Release 16.

In general, as its name suggests, the SNPN in 5G allows private entities to support wireless communications to members of an organization. Such networks are useful because a corresponding service provider (such as a company) has more control over such a network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

There are deficiencies associated with conventional SNPN wireless networks. For example, current 3GPP IMS architecture for PLMN uses IMS AKA (Internet Protocol Multi-Media Subsystem Authentication and Key Agreement) (i.e., ISIM based) for mutual authentication. For SNPN, other types of authentication (e.g., Transport Layer Security or TLS) can be used for the SNPN subscribers. However, it is not known how a non IMS AKA solution would work in an IMS roaming scenario, especially when a respective P-CSCF (Proxy—Call Session Control Function) is located in the serving network.

Embodiments herein include providing unique wireless services in a network environment including multiple private wireless networks.

More specifically, a communication system includes a first private wireless network, a second private wireless network, and user equipment. The user equipment (such as a communication device) is a member of the second private wireless network but is authorized to use both the first private wireless network (such as a serving network) and the second private wireless network (such as a home network). In one embodiment, the first private wireless network supports roaming of the user equipment when the user equipment is out of wireless range with respect to its home network.

For example, assume that the communication device would like to establish a connection while roaming outside of the second private wireless network (its home network). To establish a wireless communication link for the user equipment while the user equipment is roaming outside the second private wireless network, the user equipment communicates a link request to the first private wireless network that supports roaming. The first private wireless network communicates the link request to a communication management resource in the second private wireless network.

Based on notification of the received request, the communication management resource in the second private wireless network retrieves (such as via communication with an entity in the first private wireless network) a unique network identifier value assigned to the first private network.

Via the unique network identifier value, the communication management resource detects that the first private wireless network has an association with the second wireless network and that the roaming user equipment should be provided requested wireless services. Based on the association, the communication management resource in the second private wireless network supports communication services between the user equipment and a target remote communication device (such as a target device to which a call from the requesting communication device is directed) via a communication link extending through a combination of the first private wireless network and the second private wireless network.

In one embodiment, based on the association and corresponding agreement between service providers of the first private wireless network and the second private wireless network, the communication management resource (in the second private wireless network) establishes a communication path/link between the first private wireless network and the second private wireless network in response to detecting that the first private wireless network is authorized to provide wireless roaming services to the user equipment through the first private wireless network.

In accordance with further example embodiments, the first private wireless network is a serving stand-alone non-public wireless network (such as based on LTE or other suitable protocol) supporting roaming of the user equipment; the second private wireless network is a home stand-alone non-public wireless network (such as based on LTE or other suitable protocol) to which the user of the user equipment is a member.

In accordance with further example embodiments, the services requested by the user equipment are wireless voice services supporting connectivity between the user equipment and a remote (target) mobile communication device. The system as described herein provides connectivity between the user equipment through a combination of the first private wireless network and the second private wireless network to the remote (target) communication device. In one embodiment, as previously discussed, the user equipment generates the request to establish a respective voice phone call to the remote communication device.

In yet further example embodiments, the request for services from the user equipment to the first private wireless network is a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) registration request. As previously discussed, the request enables/prompts the second private wireless network to retrieve the unique identifier value from the first private wireless network and establish a communication path through the second private wireless network to support the roaming services.

Note that the unique network identifier value assigned to the first private wireless network can be any suitable value or retrieved from any suitable entity. In one embodiment, the communication management resource retrieves (receives) the unique network identifier value assigned to the first private network from an entity (such as a communication management resource) in the first private wireless network.

In still further embodiments, the request initiated by the user equipment includes a unique device identifier value (such as network address or other suitable value) assigned to the user equipment. In one embodiment, the communication management resource in the second private wireless network uses the unique device identifier value to detect that the user equipment belongs to (or corresponding user of the user equipment is an authorized member of) the second private wireless network (home network).

In response to detecting that the user equipment is authorized (as a member) to use the second private wireless network, the communication management resource of the second private wireless network communicates with the first private wireless network to retrieve the unique network identifier value of the first private wireless network.

In one nonlimiting example embodiment, the communication management resource retrieves the unique network identifier value assigned to the first private network via N24 signaling between the communication management resource in the second private wireless network and a management entity (such as a V-PCF) in the first private wireless network.

The unique network identifier value assigned to the first private wireless network can be any suitable value and retrieved from any suitable resource. In one embodiment, the unique network identifier value is a PLMNID (Public Land Mobile Network IDentifier) and NID (Network IDentifier) assigned to the first private wireless network.

In accordance with further example embodiments, the communication management resource uses the unique network identifier value as a basis to determine whether the user equipment (known to be a member of the second private wireless network) is entitled to use the requested communications services as specified by the request.

In one embodiment, the communication management resource compares the unique network identifier value (of the first private wireless network) to values in a look-up table. In response to detecting presence of the identity of the unique network identifier value in the look-up table, the communication management resource determines that the first private wireless network supports roaming and that the unique equipment is authorized to use the first private wireless network.

In yet further embodiments, the first private wireless network is operated by a first service provider; the second private wireless network is operated by a second service provider. The second private wireless network is operated independently of the first service provider. However, as previously discussed, the second service provider has a roaming agreement with the first service provider. For example, the first private wireless network service provider provides roaming wireless services to the user equipment but must rely on the first private wireless network to complete connectivity to a target communication device as specified by the user equipment.

As previously discussed, in one embodiment, the user equipment generates the registration request in order to establish a voice communication session (such as a phone call) with a remote communication device over the first private wireless network. As described herein, a communication path extending between the user equipment through a combination of the first private wireless network and the second private wireless network supports the requested wireless voice services and connects the user equipment to the remote communication device.

These and additional embodiments are further discussed below.

Note that any of the resources as discussed herein can include one or more computerized devices, mobile communication devices, servers, base stations, wireless communication equipment, communication management systems, workstations, user equipment, handheld or laptop computers, or the like to carry out and/or support any or all of the method operations disclosed herein. In other words, one or more computerized devices or processors can be programmed and/or configured to operate as explained herein to carry out the different embodiments as described herein.

Yet other embodiments herein include software programs to perform the steps and operations summarized above and disclosed in detail below. One such embodiment comprises a computer program product including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (i.e., any computer readable hardware storage medium) on which software instructions are encoded for subsequent execution. The instructions, when executed in a computerized device (hardware) having a processor, program and/or cause the processor (hardware) to perform the operations disclosed herein. Such arrangements are typically provided as software, code, instructions, and/or other data (e.g., data structures) arranged or encoded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium such as an optical medium (e.g., CD-ROM), floppy disk, hard disk, memory stick, memory device, etc., or other a medium such as firmware in one or more ROM, RAM, PROM, etc., or as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), etc. The software or firmware or other such configurations can be installed onto a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform the techniques explained herein.

Accordingly, embodiments herein are directed to a method, system, computer program product, etc., that supports operations as discussed herein.

One or more embodiments herein include a computer readable storage medium and/or system having instructions stored thereon. The instructions, when executed by computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware (such as one or more co-located or disparately processor devices) to: receive a request from user equipment in wireless communication with a first private wireless network, the request requesting use of services provided by a second private wireless network; in response to receiving the request at the second private wireless network, retrieving a unique network identifier value assigned to the first private network; and via the unique network identifier value, detect that the first private wireless network is associated with the second wireless network to support communications.

The ordering of the steps above has been added for clarity sake. Note that any of the processing steps as discussed herein can be performed in any suitable order.

Other embodiments of the present disclosure include software programs and/or respective hardware to perform any of the method embodiment steps and operations summarized above and disclosed in detail below.

It is to be understood that the system, method, apparatus, instructions on computer readable storage media, etc., as discussed herein also can be embodied strictly as a software program, firmware, as a hybrid of software, hardware and/or firmware, or as hardware alone such as within a processor (hardware or software), or within an operating system or a within a software application.

As discussed herein, techniques herein are well suited for use in the field of supporting wireless roaming services via multiple disparately located private wireless networks. However, it should be noted that embodiments herein are not limited to use in such applications and that the techniques discussed herein are well suited for other applications as well.

Additionally, note that although each of the different features, techniques, configurations, etc., herein may be discussed in different places of this disclosure, it is intended, where suitable, that each of the concepts can optionally be executed independently of each other or in combination with each other. Accordingly, the one or more present inventions as described herein can be embodied and viewed in many different ways.

Also, note that this preliminary discussion of embodiments herein (BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS) purposefully does not specify every embodiment and/or incrementally novel aspect of the present disclosure or claimed invention(s). Instead, this brief description only presents general embodiments and corresponding points of novelty over conventional techniques. For additional details and/or possible perspectives (permutations) of the invention(s), the reader is directed to the Detailed Description section (which is a summary of embodiments) and corresponding figures of the present disclosure as further discussed below.

