WO2015051823A1

WO2015051823A1 - Handling wireless access to a radio access network

Info

Publication number: WO2015051823A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/070873
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Lindgren; Micael HERMANSSON
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2013-10-08
Filing date: 2013-10-08
Publication date: 2015-04-16

Abstract

The embodiments herein relate to a method in a wireless communications system (100) for handling wireless access to a RAN. The system (100) comprises a wireless access module (103), a server (108) and a database (110). When a trigger to provision a selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module (103) is detected, the server (108) sends, to the database (110), information indicating that the selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned. At the database (110), information related to the selected RAN access capability is associated with information related to the wireless access module (103). The selected RAN access capability is provisioned from the server (108) to the wireless access module (103) with which selected RAN access capability is associated.

Description

HANDLING WIRELESS ACCESS TO A RADIO ACCESS NETWORK

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate generally to a wireless communications system, a method in the system, a wireless access module and a method in the wireless access module. More particularly the embodiments herein relate to handling wireless access to a Radio Access Network (RAN).

BACKGROUND

In a typical communications network a communications device, communicates via a RAN to one or more Core Networks (CNs). The communications system may also be referred to as e.g. a wireless communications network, a wireless communications system, a communications network, a communications system, a network or a system.

The communications device may be a device by which a subscriber may access services offered by an operator's network and services outside operator's network to which the operators radio access network and core network provide access, e.g. access to the Internet. The communications device may be any device, mobile or stationary, wired or wireless, enabled to communicate over a radio channel in the communications network, for instance but not limited to e.g. terminal, user equipment, mobile phone, cell phone, smart phone, sensors, meters, vehicles, household appliances, medical appliances, media players, cameras, Machine to Machine (M2M) device or any type of consumer electronic, for instance but not limited to television, radio, lighting arrangements, tablet computer, laptop or Personal Computer (PC). The communications device may be portable, pocket storable, hand held, computer comprised, or vehicle mounted devices, enabled to communicate voice and/or data, via the radio access network, with another entity, such as another communications device or a server.

The communications system covers a geographical area which may be divided into cell areas. Each cell area is served by a base station. The base station may be referred to as e.g. a Radio Base Station (RBS), evolved Node B (eNB), eNodeB, NodeB, B node, or Base Transceiver Station (BTS), depending on the technology and terminology used. The base stations communicate with the communications devices within range of the base stations.

5 A RAN implements a Radio Access Technology (RAT). The RAN may be described as residing between a communications device and the core network, and the RAT provides connection with the CN. RAN functionality may be provided by a silicon chip residing in both the core network as well as the communications device. A RAN may be of 2^nd Generation (2G), 3^rd Generation (3G), 4^th Generation (4G), 5^th Generation (5G) and any o higher number or other types of RAN's. A communications device may be connected to and have access to one or several RAN's. When the communications device is connected to several RAN's, the communications device seamlessly transfer an ongoing call between different RANs without the user of the communications device noticing any disruption in service.

5

A communications device may have an embedded wireless RAN access capability module. Today, a vendor of such embedded wireless RAN access capability module sells a fully enabled module to the manufacturer of the communications device. The price of the fully enabled module covers material and manufacturing cost, development cost,0 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) licenses, profit etc. The manufacturer of the

communications device adds his margin to the communications device and sells it to the end-user. Thus, a user buying such communications device must pay up front for the embedded module when buying the device and also purchase and activate the embedded RAN access capability when buying the communications device.

5

If the communications device does not have any embedded wireless RAN access capability module, the user may buy e.g. a portable Universal Serial Bus (USB) device which can provide wireless RAN access capability to the communications device. Such USB device is an external device, not embedded, which provides a wireless connection to0 a RAN.

A wireless access to a RAN may also be referred to as mobile broadband or wireless Internet access. The wireless access to a RAN provides internet access just about everywhere.

5 The attach rate for embedded RAN access capability modules is still low in

communications devices such as e.g. notebooks. As mentioned above, one reason for the low attach rate is that the end-user has to pay up front for the embedded RAN access capability module when buying the communications device.

5

There are initiatives to subsidy the wireless connection to RAN by e-commerce or to include the connectivity cost in the services.

The cost is quite significant for wireless access to a RAN so only an end user with a clear o need of embedded wireless RAN access capability buys a communications device with a RAN option. Since the RAN access capability module is factory pre-installed, there is no second sales opportunity for RAN access capability and limited possibility to bundle the RAN connectivity with services. 5

SUMMARY

An objective of embodiments herein is therefore to obviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide improved wireless access to RANs.

0

According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by a method in a wireless

communications system for handling wireless access to a RAN. The system comprises a wireless access module, a server and a database. When a trigger to provision a selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module is detected, the server sends, to the5 database, information indicating that the selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned. At the database, information related to the selected RAN access capability is associated with information related to the wireless access module. The server provisions the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module with which selected RAN access capability is associated.

0

According to a second aspect, the object is achieved by method in a wireless access module for handling wireless access to a RAN. When a selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned to the wireless access module, the wireless access module receives the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from a server. The5 selected RAN access capability is associated with the wireless access module. According to a fourth aspect, the object is achieved by a wireless communications system which is adapted to handle wireless access to a RAN. The wireless communications system comprises a wireless access module, a server and a database. The server is 5 adapted to, when a trigger to provision a selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module is detected, send, to the database, information indicating that the selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned. The database is adapted to associate, information related to the selected RAN access capability with information related to the wireless access module. The server is further adapted to provision the o selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module with which selected RAN access capability is associated.

According to a fifth aspect, the object is achieved by a wireless access module adapted to handle wireless access to a RAN. The wireless access module comprises a receiver 5 which is adapted to, when a selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned to the wireless access module, receive the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from a server. The selected RAN access capability is associated with the wireless access module. 0 Embodiments herein afford many advantages, of which a non-exhaustive list of examples follows:

The embodiments herein will lower the hardware cost significantly, increase the attach rate to RANs and enable new business models. The initial hardware costs are minimized5 with the embodiments herein, so all communication devices are manufactured with the option of wireless access to a RAN network. By minimizing the initial hardware cost there is a possibility for the device manufacturer to include the wireless access module into all communications devices. 0 The wireless access module is provisioned with wireless access capability to a RAN network when an end-user signs-up for a data plan or service and at this moment the wireless access module vendor is paid for development cost, I PR licenses, profit etc.

Operators, service providers, or e-commerce companies have the possibility to subsidy include the enabling cost for the wireless RAN access capability in their offering to the end-user. This opens-up new business models with increased sales of modules; better scaling of wireless RAN access capability production and in the end increased network traffic. The embodiments herein are not limited to the features and advantages mentioned above. A person skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments herein will now be further described in more detail in the following detailed description by reference to the appended drawings illustrating the embodiments and in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments of a wireless

communications system.

Fig. 2a is a signaling diagram illustrating embodiments of a method in the wireless communications system.

Fig. 2b is a continuation of fig. 2a.

Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments of a method

wireless communications system.

Fig. 4a is a flow chart illustrating embodiments of a method in a wireless

communications system. Fig. 4b is a continuation of fig. 4a. is a flow chart illustrating embodiments of a method in a wireless access module. Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating embodiments of a wireless access module.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the dimensions of certain features may 5 have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Emphasis is instead placed upon

illustrating the principle of the embodiments herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

1 0

Figure 1 depicts a wireless communications system 100 in which embodiments herein may be implemented.

The communications network 100 may in some embodiments apply to one or more radio 1 5 access technologies such as for example Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile

Communications (GSM), or any other radio access technology, or other radio access technologies such as e.g. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).

20 The wireless communications system 100 comprises communications device 101. The communications device 101 may be a device by which a subscriber may access services offered by an operator's network and services outside operator's network to which the operators radio access network and core network provide access, e.g. access to the Internet. The communications device 101 may be any device, mobile or stationary,

25 enabled to communicate over a radio channel in the communications network, for

instance but not limited to e.g. user equipment, mobile phone, smart phone, sensors, meters, vehicles, household appliances, medical appliances, media players, cameras, M2M device or any type of consumer electronic, for instance but not limited to television, radio, lighting arrangements, tablet computer, laptop or PC. The communications device

30 101 may be portable, pocket storable, hand held, computer comprised, or vehicle

mounted devices, enabled to communicate voice and/or data, via the radio access network, with another entity, such as another communications device or a server.

The wireless communications system 101 comprises a wireless access module 103. The wireless access module 103 may enable wireless RAN access in the communications device 101 . The wireless access module 103 may be embedded in the communications device, a solderable surface-mount module e.g. a Land Grid Array (LGA), a module with a connector or it may be implemented as at least one discrete component in the

communications device 101 . The wireless access module 103 may be uniquely identified 5 by a module ID. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 is referred to as a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) module or a broadband module.

The communications device 101 may be associated with a user 105 and may be

operated by the user 105. The user may also be referred to as a consumer. The user

1 0 105 may be associated with the communications device 101 in the sense that it is an

owner of the communications device 101 and/or it is a user of the communications device 101 . A server 108 is connected to the communications device 101 . The server 108 may be operated by the vendor of the wireless access module 103. The server 108 may be a provisioning server. A database 110 is connected to the server 108. The database 1 10

1 5 may be a provisioning database. A license holder(s) 113 for a selected RAN access

capability is connected to the server 108. These entities of the wireless communications system 100 will be described in more detail below with reference to figure 2.

It should be noted that the links between the entities of the wireless communications 20 system 100 may be of any suitable kind including either wired or wireless links. The links may use any suitable protocol depending on type and level of layer (e.g. as indicated by the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model) as understood by the person skilled in the art.

25 The method for handling wireless access to a RAN, according to some embodiments will now be described with reference to the signaling diagram depicted in Figures 2a and 2b. Figure 2b is a continuation of figure 2a. Figure 2a comprises steps 201 -209 and figure 2b comprises steps 210-212. The method comprises the following steps, which steps may as well be carried out in another suitable order than described below.

30

Step 201

This step is seen in figure 2a. The user 105 associated with the communications device 101 selects at least one RAN access capability of one or a plurality of selectable RAN access capabilities. Such selectable RAN access capabilities may be 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G 35 etc. such as GSM, High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), LTE, LTE advanced, WCDMA, Machine Type Communications (MTC) etc. In some embodiments, the RAN access capability may be referred to as a 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access capability.

5 Step 202

This step is seen in figure 2a. In some embodiments, then the user 105 has selected the RAN access capability, a payment for the selected RAN access capability may be performed to the vendor of the wireless access module 101 , i.e. the server 108. The payment may also be performed indirectly via a third party, for example if the user 105 buys a service and the service o on its part utilizes the selected RAN access capability. They payment may also be performed at module manufacturing, at device manufacturing, at the sales office or at a later point of time. Further, even the re-provisioning may take place if there is an upgrade from e.g. 2G+3G to 2G+3G+4G. 5 Step 203

This step is seen in figure 2a. The wireless access module vendor's server 108 transmits, to the database 1 10, information indicating that selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned to the wireless access module 101 , i.e. that the user 105 has selected a RAN access capability and performed a payment of it. This information is transmitted when a trigger0 is detected. The trigger may be the payment of the selected RAN access capability in step 202.

Step 204

This step is seen in figure 2a. The database 1 10 receives the information in step 203 and associates the selected RAN access capability with the wireless access module 103 and stores5 this association in e.g. a table in a memory unit. This involves setting up a connection between the wireless access module 103 and the server 108 over a secure protocol. The wireless access module 103 may comprise a provisioning service which handles the setup of the connection between the wireless access module 103 and the server 108. 0 Step 205

This step is seen in figure 2a. The server 108 provisions the selected RAN access

capability to the wireless access module 103. The server 108 may therefore also be referred to as a provisioning server. Provisioning may also be referred to as providing, delivering or even transmitting.

5

The provisioning may be: - provisioning of instructions, to the wireless access module 103, to change a state of the selected RAN access capability of the wireless access module 103 from disabled to enabled if the wireless access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN access capability; and/or

- provisioning of a computer program to the wireless access module 103, i.e.

software or firmware, comprising the selected RAN access capability if the computer program is not already comprised in the wireless access module 103; and/or

- provisioning of instructions, to the wireless access module 103, to switch, at the wireless access module 103, from a computer program without the selected RAN access capability to a computer program with the selected RAN access capability if the wireless access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN access capability. The wireless access module 103 may comprise a provisioning function which enables the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability. This provisioning function may be secure so that only the vendor of the wireless access module 103, i.e. the server 108, may provision the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103 when there is an association between them in the database 1 10. With this, no dormant wireless access modules 103 are enabled without any association in the database 1 10. A dormant wireless access module 103 may be module which has not yet bee provisioned with a selected RAN access capability.

In some embodiments, the selected RAN access capability is a set of selected RAN access capabilities, such as e.g. 2G+3G or 2G+3G+4G. The availability and user preference selects which of the RANs in the set to access.

In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 has previously been provisioned with a first RAN access capability. In step 205, the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability is then an upgrade from only the first RAN access capability to a second RAN access capability or to the first RAN access capability and a second access capability. The first RAN access capability may not necessarily be removed, but may be kept so that the wireless access module 103 has both the first and second RAN access capability. For example, the wireless access module 103 maybe upgraded from 2G+3G to 2G+3G+4G capability. The provisioning may be performed using any suitable type of access, such as e.g.

Ethernet or WiFi. Returning to figure 2.

Step 206

This step is seen in figure 2a. The server 108 provides payment of license fees to the license holders 1 13 for the selected RAN access capability.

Step 207

This step is seen in figure 2a. The wireless access module 103 enables the selected

RAN access capability which has been provisioned to it by the server 108 in step 205.

The enabling may either be by changing module state of the wireless access module 103, a secure download of software or firmware with the selected RAN access capability, or a switch to software or firmware with the selected RAN access capability.

The wireless access module 103 may either be "fused" so it cannot be re-provisioned to other RAN access capabilities, or re-provisioned to higher RAN access capabilities.

Step 208

This step is seen in figure 2a. In some embodiments, the server 108 may send a request for an acknowledgement of the enablement of the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103. This may be necessary in case the user and IPR stake holders would like proofs of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability.

Step 209

This step is seen in figure 2a. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 sends a response to the sever 108. The response comprises an acknowledgement of the enablement of the selected RAN access capability. The acknowledgement may comprise a cryptographic proof of the enabled selected RAN access capabilities.

Step 210

This step is seen in figure 2b. In some embodiments, the server 108 sends a message to the database 1 10. The message is a query about how many wireless access modules 103 and their corresponding module IDs that have been provisioned with a RAN access capability. It may be necessary to keep a record of the number of produced wireless access modules 103 and also a number of wireless access modules 103 which have been provisioned with selected RAN access capabilities in order to be able to pay license fees per wireless access module 103.

5

Step 21 1

This step is seen in figure 2b. In response to the query in step 210, the database 1 10 sends a message to the server 108. The message comprises information about how many wireless access modules 103 and the corresponding module IDs that have been provisioned with a o selected RAN access capability.

Step 21 2

This step is seen in figure 2b. The user 105 uses the enabled and selected RAN access capability via the wireless access module 103.

5

The method for handling wireless access to a RAN, according to some embodiments will now be described with reference to the signaling diagram depicted in Figure 3. The method comprises the following steps, which steps may as well be carried out in another suitable order than described below.

0

Step 301

The user 1 05 buys a communications device 101 comprising a wireless access module

103. This step involves that the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) 114 of the

wireless access module 1 03 receives a payment for the wireless access module 103 from5 the use 105. The wireless access module 103 may be described as being a dormant

wireless access module 1 03 at the time it's bought since it has not yet been provisioned with a selected RAN access capability. An OEM may be described as a manufacturer of equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. 0 The communications device 101 is produced without e.g. RAN access capability and sold to the user 105 as a dormant wireless access module or a general Central Processing

Unit (CPU). The communications device 101 is labeled with all regulatory information needed when the RAN access capabilities and other licensed functions are enabled. 5 Step 302 This step corresponds to steps 201 and 202 in figure 2. The user 105 of the

communications device 101 comprising the wireless access module 103 buys and selects a RAN access capacity. The purchase of the selected RAN access capability may be handled by a broker 115. A broker 1 15 is an individual or party that arranges 5 transactions between a buyer and a seller for a commission when the deal is executed.

This step may also involve that the user 105 signs up for a data plan or service which includes enabling of the RAN access capability. The user 105 may select between different options of functionality that are price segmented, e.g. HSPA, LTE, HSPA + LTE o etc.

Step 303

The broker 1 15 provides an up-sale towards the OEM 1 14, i.e. the manufacturer of the wireless access module 103. This OEM 1 14 is the same OEM 1 14 as in step 301.5

Step 304

The broker 1 15 provides payment of the subscription of the selected RAN access capability to the operator 118 of the selected RAN access capability. 0 Step 305

The broker 1 15 provides up-sale towards the vendor 108 of the wireless access module 103, i.e. the server 108 of figure 1. A business transaction is done where the vendor 108 is paid for the selected RAN access capability. 5 Step 306

This step corresponds to step 206 in figure 2. The vendor 108 provides license fees to the license holder 1 13.

Step 307

0 This step corresponds to step 205 in figure 2. The vendor 108 activates the wireless access module 103 by provisioning the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103. This step involves interaction with an activation service 120. The activation service 120 may also be referred to as a provisioning service which is the service performed by the server 108 and the database 1 10. As mentioned above, the provisioning may be performed using any suitable type of access, such as e.g. Ethernet or WiFi.

Step 308

5 This step corresponds to step 209 in figure 2. The activation service 120 sends a confirmation to the user 105 confirming that the wireless access module 103 has been activated.

The method described above will now be described seen from the perspective of the wireless communications system 100. Figure 4a and 4b is a flowchart describing the o present method in the wireless communications system 100, for handling wireless access to a RAN. Figure 4b is a continuation of figure 4a. Figure 4a comprises steps 401 -403 and figure 4b comprises steps 404-408. As mentioned above, the system 100 comprises a wireless access module 103, a server 108 and a database 1 10. The wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be connected to the server 108 using a secure protocol 5 with authentication to prevent unauthorized handling of the selected RAN access

capability. The wireless access module 103 may be is adapted to be embedded in a communications device 101 or the wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be at least one discrete component in the communications device 101 . The method comprises the following steps to be performed by the wireless communications system 100, which0 steps may be performed in any suitable order than described below:

Step 401

This step is seen in figure 4a. This step corresponds to step 203 in figure 2. When a trigger to provision a selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103 is5 detected, the server 108 sends, to the database 1 10, information indicating that the

selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned. The trigger to provision the RAN access capability may be associated with a payment of the selected RAN access capability to a wireless access module vendor. 0 Step 402

This step is seen in figure 4a. This step corresponds to step 204 in figure 2. At the database 1 10, information related to the selected RAN access capability is associated with information related to the wireless access module 103. 5 Step 402a This step is seen in figure 4a. This step corresponds to step 204 in figure 2. This step is a substep of step 402. In some embodiments, the database 1 10 stores the association between the selected RAN access capability and the wireless access module 103.

5 Step 403

This step is seen in figure 4a. This step corresponds to step 205 in figure 2 and step 307 in figure 3. The server 108 provisions the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103 with which selected RAN access capability is associated.

1 o In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 is adapted to be locked to the provisioned selected RAN access capability, or the wireless access module 103 is adapted to be upgraded from the selected RAN access capability to another selected RAN access capability other than the selected RAN access capability.

1 5 In some embodiments, a respective wireless access module vendor associated with the server 108 is adapted to be authorized to provision the selectable RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103 using the association in the database 1 10.

The provisioning may be performed using any suitable type of access, such as e.g. 20 Ethernet or WiFi.

Step 403a

This step is seen in figure 4a. This step corresponds to step 205a in figure 2 and step 307 in figure 3. This step is a substep of step 403 which is performed instead of steps 25 403b and 403c. In some embodiments, the server 108 provisions instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability of the wireless access module 103 from disabled to enabled if the wireless access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN access capability.

30 The instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability may be a digital signed license being individual to the wireless access module 103 and that provisions the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103.

Step 403b This step is seen in figure 4a. This step corresponds to step 205b in figure 2 and step 307 in figure 3. This is a substep of step 403 which is performed instead of steps 403a and 403c. In some embodiments, the server 108 provisions a computer program comprising the selected RAN access capability if the computer program is not already comprised in the wireless access module 103.

Step 403c

This step is seen in figure 4a. This step corresponds to step 205c in figure 2 and step 307 in figure 3. This is a substep of step 403 which is performed instead of step 403a and 403b. In some embodiments, the server 108 provisions instructions to switch, at the wireless access module 103, from a computer program without the selected RAN access capability to a computer program with the selected RAN access capability if the wireless access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN access capability. Step 404

This step is seen in figure 4b. This step corresponds to step 207 in figure 2. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 enables the selected RAN access capability when it has been provisioned to the wireless access module 103. Step 405

This step is seen in figure 4b. This step corresponds to step 210 in figure 2. In some embodiments, the server 108 transmits, to the database 1 10, a query for a number of wireless access modules and corresponding wireless access module IDs that have been provisioned with a RAN access capability.

Step 406

This step is seen in figure 4b. This step corresponds to step 21 1 in figure 2. In some embodiments, the server 108 receives a response to the query from the database 1 10. The response comprises the number of wireless access modules and corresponding wireless access module IDs that have been provisioned with a RAN access capability.

Step 407

This step is seen in figure 4b. This step corresponds to step 208 in figure 2. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 receives a request for acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from the server 108. Step 408

This step is seen in figure 4b. This step corresponds to step 209 and to step 308 in figure 3. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 transmits, to the server 108, a 5 response comprising the acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability. The acknowledgement may be a cryptographic proof of the wireless access module ID and the provisioned selected RAN access capability.

To perform the method steps shown in figure 4 for handling wireless access to a RAN, the o wireless communications system 100 comprises an arrangement as shown and described with reference to Figure 1 above. As mentioned earlier, the wireless communications system 100 comprises a wireless access module 103, a server 108 and a database 1 10.

The server 108 is adapted to send, to the database 1 10, information indicating that the 5 selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned, when a trigger to provision a selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103 is detected. The server 108 may further be adapted to provision the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103 with which selected RAN access capability is associated. The trigger to provision the RAN access capability may be associated with a payment of0 the selected RAN access capability to a wireless access module vendor. The provisioning may be performed using any suitable type of access, such as e.g. Ethernet or WiFi.

The server 108 may be further adapted to provision instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability of the wireless access module 103 from disabled to5 enabled if the wireless access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN access capability. The instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability may be a digital signed license being individual to the wireless access module 103 and that provisions the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103. The server 108 may be further adapted to provision a computer program comprising the0 selected RAN access capability if the computer program is not already comprised in the wireless access module 103. The server 108 may be further adapted to provision instructions to switch, at the wireless access module 103, from a computer program without the selected RAN access capability to a computer program with the selected RAN access capability if the wireless access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN5 access capability. The server 108 may be further adapted to transmit, to the database 1 10, a query for a number of wireless access modules and corresponding wireless access module IDs that have been provisioned with a RAN access capability, and to receive a response to the 5 query from the database 1 10. The response comprises the number of wireless access modules and corresponding wireless access module IDs that have been provisioned with a RAN access capability.

The database 1 10 is adapted to associate, information related to the selected RAN o access capability with information related to the wireless access module 103. The database 1 10 may be further adapted to store the association between the selected RAN access capability and the wireless access module 103.

The wireless access module 103 comprised in the wireless communications system 100 5 may be adapted to enable the selected RAN access capability when it has been

provisioned to the wireless access module 103.

The wireless access module 103 may be further adapted to receive a request for acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from the0 server 108, and to transmit, to the server 108, a response comprising the

acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability. The acknowledgement may be a cryptographic proof of the wireless access module ID and the provisioned selected RAN access capability. 5 As mentioned previously, the wireless access module 103 may be locked to the

provisioned selected RAN access capability, or the wireless access module 103 may be arranged to be upgraded from the selected RAN access capability to another selected RAN access capability other than the selected RAN access capability. 0 The wireless access module 103 in the wireless communications system 100 may be adapted to be connected to the server 108 using a secure protocol with authentication to prevent unauthorized handling of the selected RAN access capability. The wireless access module 103 may be embedded in a communications device 101 or the wireless access module 103 may be at least one discrete component in the communications device 101 .

5 In some embodiments, a respective wireless access module vendor associated with the server 108 is authorized to provision the selectable RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103 using the association in the database 1 10.

The method described above will now be described seen from the perspective of the o wireless access module 103. Figure 5 is a flowchart describing the present method in the wireless access module 103, for handling wireless access to a RAN. The wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be embedded in a communications device 101 or the wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be at least one discrete component in the communications device 101 . The method comprises the following steps to be performed 5 by the wireless access module 103, which steps may be performed in any suitable order than described below:

Step 501

This step corresponds to step 205 in figure 2 and step 307 in figure 3. When a selected0 RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned to the wireless access module 103, the wireless access module 103 receives the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from a server 108. The selected RAN access capability is associated with the wireless access module 103. 5 The wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be locked to the provisioned selected RAN access capability, or the wireless access module 103 may be is adapted to be upgraded from the selected RAN access capability to another selected RAN access capability other than the selected RAN access capability. 0 The wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be connected to a server 108 using a secure protocol with authentication to prevent unauthorized handling of the selected RAN access capability. The server 108 may be adapted to comprise the association between the wireless access module 103 and the selected RAN access capability. 5 Step 501 a This step corresponds to step 205a in figure 2 and step 307 in figure 3. This is a substep of step 501 and a step which is performed instead of steps 501 b and 501 c. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 receives instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability of the wireless access module 103 from disabled to 5 enabled if the wireless access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN access capability.

The instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability may be a digital signed license being individual to the wireless access module 103 and that provisions the o selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103.

Step 501 b

This step corresponds to step 205b in figure 2 and step 307 in figure 3. This is a substep of step 501 and a step which is performed instead of steps 501 a and 501 c. In some 5 embodiments, the wireless access module 103 receives a computer program comprising the selected RAN access capability if the computer program is not already comprised in the wireless access module 103.

Step 501 c

0 This step corresponds to step 205c in figure 2 and step 307 in figure 3. This is a substep of step 501 and a step which is performed instead of steps 501 a and 501 b. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 receives instructions to switch, at the wireless access module 103, from a computer program without the selected RAN access capability to a computer program with the selected RAN access capability if the wireless5 access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN access capability.

Step 502

This step corresponds to step 207 in figure 2. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 enables the selected RAN access capability when it has been provisioned.0

Step 503

This step corresponds to step 208 in figure 2. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 receives a request for acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from the server 108.

5 Step 504

This step corresponds to step 209 in figure 2 and step 308 in figure 3. In some embodiments, the wireless access module 103 transmits, to the server 108, a response comprising the acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access 5 capability. The acknowledgement may be a cryptographic proof of the wireless access module ID and the provisioned selected RAN access capability.

To perform the method steps shown in figure 5 for handling wireless access to a RAN, the wireless access module 103 comprises an arrangement as shown in Figure 6. The o wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be embedded in a communications device 101 or the wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be at least one discrete component in the communications device 101.

The wireless access module 103 comprises a receiver 601 which is adapted to, when a 5 selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned to the wireless access module 103, receive the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from a server 108. The provisioning may be performed using any suitable type of access, such as e.g. Ethernet or WiFi. The selected RAN access capability is associated with the wireless access module 103. The wireless access module 103 may be is adapted to be connected0 to a server 108 using a secure protocol with authentication to prevent unauthorized handling of the selected RAN access capability. The server 108 may be adapted to comprise the association between the wireless access module 103 and the selected RAN access capability. 5 The receiver 601 may be further adapted to receive instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability of the wireless access module 103 from disabled to enabled if the wireless access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN access capability. The instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability may be a digital signed license being individual to the wireless access module 103 and that0 provisions the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module 103. The receiver 601 may be adapted to receive a computer program comprising the selected RAN access capability if the computer program is not already comprised in the wireless access module 103. The receiver 601 may be adapted to receive instructions to switch, at the wireless access module 103, from a computer program without the selected RAN5 access capability to a computer program with the selected RAN access capability if the wireless access module 103 already comprises the selected RAN access capability. In some embodiments, the receiver 601 is further adapted to receive a request for acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from the server 108.

The wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be locked to the provisioned selected RAN access capability, or the wireless access module 103 may be adapted to be upgraded from the selected RAN access capability to another selected RAN access capability other than the selected RAN access capability.

The wireless access module 103 may further comprise an enabling unit 603 which is adapted to enable the selected RAN access capability when it has been provisioned.

The wireless access module 103 may further comprise a transmitter 605 which is adapted to transmit, to the server 108, a response comprising the acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability. The acknowledgement may be a cryptographic proof of the wireless access module ID and the provisioned selected RAN access capability. The wireless access module 103 may further comprise a memory 608 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 608 is arranged to be used to store data, received data streams, power level measurements, provisioning of the selected RAN access capability, acknowledgements, requests, instructions, computer programs, digital signatures, wireless access module ID, information indicating the secure protocol, information indicating the selected RAN access capability, threshold values, time periods, configurations, scheduling, and applications to perform the methods herein when being executed in the wireless access module 103.

The present mechanism for handling wireless access to a RAN may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processor 610 in the wireless access module arrangement depicted in Figure 6, a processor (not shown) in the communications device 101 , a processor (not shown) in the server 108, a processor (not shown) in the database 1 10 and a processor (not shown) in an entity belonging to the license holder for the selected RAN access capability 1 13, together with computer program code for performing the functions of the embodiments herein. The processor may be for example a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) processor, Field- programmable gate array (FPGA) processor or microprocessor. The program code

mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the

5 embodiments herein when being loaded into the wireless access module 103 and/or the communications device 101 and/or the server 108 and/or the database 1 10 and/or an entity belonging to the license holder for the selected RAN access capability 1 13. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code can furthermore be

o provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the the wireless access module 103 and/or the communications device 101 and/or the server 108 and/or the database 1 10 and/or an entity belonging to the license holder for the selected RAN

access capability 1 13. 5 By minimizing the initial hardware cost there is a possibility for the manufacturer of the

communications device 101 to include the wireless access module 103 into all devices.

Operators, service providers, or e-commerce companies have the possibility to subsidy or include the enabling cost for the RAN access capability in their offering to the user 105.

0 This opens up new business models with increased sales of wireless access modules

103; better scaling of wireless access module production and in the end increased

network traffic.

The embodiments herein may also be implemented as a functionality for devices that only5 need high data speed in specific occasions or rare conditions, e.g. an anti-theft system

that needs a high-speed connection for transmission of a video in case of theft, but which in normal cases only have 2G capability to be provisioned over.

The embodiments herein are not limited to the above described embodiments. Various

0 alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above

embodiments should not be taken as limiting the scope of the embodiments, which is defined by the appending claims.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is5 taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. It should also be noted that the words "a" or "an" preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The term "configured to" used herein may also be referred to as "arranged to" or "adapted to".

It should also be emphasised that the steps of the methods defined in the appended claims may, without departing from the embodiments herein, be performed in another order than the order in which they appear in the claims.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communications system (100) for handling wireless access to a Radio Access Network, RAN, wherein the system (100) comprises a wireless access

5 module (103), a server (108) and a database (1 10), the method comprising:

when a trigger to provision a selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module (103) is detected, sending (203, 401 ), from the server (108) to the database (1 10), information indicating that the selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned;

o associating (204, 402), at the database (1 10), information related to the selected

RAN access capability with information related to the wireless access module (103); and provisioning (205, 307, 403), from the server (108), the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module (103) with which selected RAN access capability is associated.

5

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

enabling (207, 404), at the wireless access module (103), the selected RAN access capability when it has been provisioned to the wireless access module (103). 0

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 -2, wherein the provisioning (205, 307, 403) the selected RAN access capability comprises at least one of:

provisioning (205a, 307, 403a) instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability of the wireless access module (103) from disabled to enabled if the wireless access module (103) already comprises the selected RAN access capability;5 provisioning (205b, 307, 403b) a computer program comprising the selected RAN access capability if the computer program is not already comprised in the wireless access module (103); and

provisioning (205c, 307, 403c) instructions to switch, at the wireless access module (103), from a computer program without the selected RAN access capability to a0 computer program with the selected RAN access capability if the wireless access module (103) already comprises the selected RAN access capability.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability is a digital signed license being individual to the wireless access module (103) and that provisions the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module (103).

5. The method according to any one of claim 1 -4, further comprising:

5 transmitting (210, 405), from the server (108) to the database (1 10), a query for a number of wireless access modules and corresponding wireless access module

IDentities, IDs, that have been provisioned with a RAN access capability; and

receiving (21 1 , 406), at the server (108), a response to the query from the database (1 10), which response comprises the number of wireless access modules and o corresponding wireless access module IDs that have been provisioned with a RAN access capability.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 -5, wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be locked to the provisioned selected RAN access capability, or 5 wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be upgraded from the selected RAN access capability to another selected RAN access capability other than the selected RAN access capability.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 -6, further comprising:

0 receiving (208, 407), at the wireless access module (103), a request for

acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from the server (108); and

transmitting (209, 308, 408), from the wireless access module (103) and to the server (108), a response comprising the acknowledgement of the provisioning of the5 selected RAN access capability.

8. The method according to claims 7, wherein the acknowledgement is a cryptographic proof of the wireless access module ID and the provisioned selected RAN access capability.

0

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 -8, wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be connected to the server (108) using a secure protocol with authentication to prevent unauthorized handling of the selected RAN access capability.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 -9, wherein the trigger to provision the RAN access capability is associated with a payment of the selected RAN access capability to a wireless access module vendor.

5 1 1. The method according to any one of claims 1 -10, wherein a respective wireless access module vendor associated with the server (108) is adapted to be authorized to provision the selectable RAN access capability to the wireless access module (103) using the association in the database (1 10).

1 0 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 -1 1 , further comprising:

storing (204, 402a), in the database (1 10), the association between the selected RAN access capability and the wireless access module (103).

13. The method according to any one of claim 1 -12, wherein the wireless access module 1 5 (103) is adapted to be embedded in a communications device (101 ) or wherein the

wireless access module (103) is adapted to be at least one discrete component in the communications device (101 ).

14. A method in a wireless access module (103) for handling wireless access to a Radio 20 Access Network, RAN, the method comprising:

when a selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned to the wireless access module (103), receiving (205, 307, 501 ) the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from a server (108), wherein the selected RAN access capability is associated with the wireless access module (103).

25

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

enabling (207, 502) the selected RAN access capability when it has been provisioned.

30 16. The method according to any one of claims 14-15, wherein the receiving (205, 307, 501 ) the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability comprises at least one of: receiving (205a, 307, 501 a) instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability of the wireless access module (103) from disabled to enabled if the wireless access module (103) already comprises the selected RAN access capability; receiving (205b, 307, 501 b) a computer program comprising the selected RAN access capability if the computer program is not already comprised in the wireless access module (103); and

receiving (205c, 307, 501 c) instructions to switch, at the wireless access module 5 (103), from a computer program without the selected RAN access capability to a

computer program with the selected RAN access capability if the wireless access module (103) already comprises the selected RAN access capability.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the instructions to change a state of the

1 o selected RAN access capability is a digital signed license being individual to the wireless access module (103) and that provisions the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module (103).

18. The method according to any one of claims 14-17, wherein the wireless access

1 5 module (103) is adapted to be locked to the provisioned selected RAN access capability, or wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be upgraded from the selected RAN access capability to another selected RAN access capability other than the selected RAN access capability.

20 19. The method according to any one of claims 14-18, further comprising:

receiving (208, 503) a request for acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from the server (108); and

transmitting (209, 308, 504), to the server (108), a response comprising the acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability.

25

20. The method according to claims 19, wherein the acknowledgement is a cryptographic proof of the wireless access module ID and the provisioned selected RAN access capability.

30 21. The method according to any one of claims 14-20, wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be connected to a server (108) using a secure protocol with authentication to prevent unauthorized handling of the selected RAN access capability, which server (108) is adapted to comprise the association between the wireless access module (103) and the selected RAN access capability.

35

22. The method according to any one of claim 14-21 , wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be embedded in a communications device (101 ) or wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be at least one discrete component in the communications device (101 ).

5

23. A wireless communications system (100) adapted to handle wireless access to a Radio Access Network, RAN, wherein the wireless communications system (1 00) comprises a wireless access module (103), a server (1 08) and a database (1 10), wherein the server (108) is adapted to:

1 o when a trigger to provision a selected RAN access capability to the wireless

access module (1 03) is detected, send, to the database (1 10), information indicating that the selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned;

wherein the database (1 1 0) is adapted to:

associate, information related to the selected RAN access capability with 1 5 information related to the wireless access module (103); and

wherein the server (108) is further adapted to:

provision the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module (103) with which selected RAN access capability is associated.

20 24. The wireless communications system (1 00) according to claim 23, wherein the

wireless access module (103) is adapted to:

enable the selected RAN access capability when it has been provisioned to the wireless access module (103).

25 25. The wireless communications system (1 00) according to any one of claims 23-24, wherein the server (108) is adapted to:

provision instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability of the wireless access module (103) from disabled to enabled if the wireless access module

(1 03) already comprises the selected RAN access capability;

30 provision a computer program comprising the selected RAN access capability if the computer program is not already comprised in the wireless access module (103); or to provision instructions to switch, at the wireless access module (103), from a computer program without the selected RAN access capability to a computer program with the selected RAN access capability if the wireless access module (103) already 35 comprises the selected RAN access capability.

26. The wireless communications system (100) according to claim 25, wherein the instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability is a digital signed license being individual to the wireless access module (103) and that provisions the

5 selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module (103).

27. The wireless communications system (100) according to any one of claim 23-26, wherein the server (108) is further adapted to:

transmit, to the database (1 10), a query for a number of wireless access modules o and corresponding wireless access module IDentities, IDs, that have been provisioned with a RAN access capability; and to

receive a response to the query from the database (1 10), which response comprises the number of wireless access modules and corresponding wireless access module IDs that have been provisioned with a RAN access capability.

5

28. The wireless communications system (100) according to any one of claims 23-27, wherein the wireless access module (103) is locked to the provisioned selected RAN access capability, or wherein the wireless access module (103) is arranged to be upgraded from the selected RAN access capability to another selected RAN access0 capability other than the selected RAN access capability.

29. The wireless communications system (100) according to any one of claims 23-28, wherein the wireless access module (103) is further adapted to:

receive a request for acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN5 access capability from the server (108); and to

transmit, to the server (108), a response comprising the acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability.

30. The wireless communications system (100) according to claims 29, wherein the0 acknowledgement is a cryptographic proof of the wireless access module ID and the provisioned selected RAN access capability.

31 . The wireless communications system (100) according to any one of claims 23-30, wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be connected to the server (108) using a secure protocol with authentication to prevent unauthorized handling of the selected RAN access capability.

32. The wireless communications system (100) according to any one of claims 23-31 ,

5 wherein the trigger to provision the RAN access capability is associated with a payment of the selected RAN access capability to a wireless access module vendor.

33. The wireless communications system (100) according to any one of claims 23-32, wherein a respective wireless access module vendor associated with the server (108) is

1 o authorized to provision the selectable RAN access capability to the wireless access

module (103) using the association in the database (1 10).

34. The wireless communications system (100) according to any one of claims 23-33, wherein the database (1 10) is adapted to:

1 5 store the association between the selected RAN access capability and the

wireless access module (103).

35. The wireless communications system (100) according to any one of claim 23-34, wherein the wireless access module (103) is embedded in a communications device (101 )

20 or wherein the wireless access module (103) is at least one discrete component in the communications device (101 ).

36. A wireless access module (103) adapted to handle wireless access to a Radio Access Network, RAN, the wireless access module (103) comprises:

25 a receiver (601 ) adapted to, when a selected RAN access capability is allowed to be provisioned to the wireless access module (103), receive the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability from a server (108), wherein the selected RAN access capability is associated with the wireless access module (103).

30 37. The wireless access module (103) according to claim 36, further comprising:

an enabling unit 6) adapted to enable the selected RAN access capability when it has been provisioned.

38. The wireless access module (103) according to any one of claims 36-37, wherein the 35 receiver (601 ) is further adapted to: receive instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability of the wireless access module (103) from disabled to enabled if the wireless access module (103) already comprises the selected RAN access capability;

receive a computer program comprising the selected RAN access capability if the 5 computer program is not already comprised in the wireless access module (103); and to receive instructions to switch, at the wireless access module (103), from a computer program without the selected RAN access capability to a computer program with the selected RAN access capability if the wireless access module (103) already comprises the selected RAN access capability.

1 o

39. The wireless access module (103) according to claim 38, wherein the instructions to change a state of the selected RAN access capability is a digital signed license being individual to the wireless access module (103) and that provisions the selected RAN access capability to the wireless access module (103).

1 5

40. The wireless access module (103) according to any one of claims 36-39, wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be locked to the provisioned selected RAN access capability, or wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be upgraded from the selected RAN access capability to another selected RAN access capability other

20 than the selected RAN access capability.

41. The wireless access module (103) according to any one of claims 36-40, wherein the receiver (601 ) is further adapted to:

receive a request for acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN 25 access capability from the server (108); and wherein the wireless access module (103) further comprises:

a transmitter (605) adapted to transmit, to the server (108), a response comprising the acknowledgement of the provisioning of the selected RAN access capability.

30 42. The wireless access module (103) according to claims 41 , wherein the

acknowledgement is a cryptographic proof of the wireless access module ID and the provisioned selected RAN access capability.

43. The wireless access module (103) according to any one of claims 36-42, wherein the 35 wireless access module (103) is adapted to be connected to a server (108) using a secure protocol with authentication to prevent unauthorized handling of the selected RAN access capability, which server (108) is adapted to comprise the association between the wireless access module (103) and the selected RAN access capability.

44. The wireless access module (103) according to any one of claim 36-43, wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be embedded in a communications device (101 ) or wherein the wireless access module (103) is adapted to be at least one discrete component in the communications device (101 ).