Method and apparatus for location area updating in cellular communications

摘要

A connection is established between a mobile radio terminal and a radio access network serving plural geographic coverage areas. The radio access network transmits information associated with one of the geographic coverage areas indicating whether the one geographic coverage area requires a geographic coverage area update procedure. During the connection, when the mobile radio terminal considers selecting the one geographic coverage area, it determines whether to perform a geographic coverage area update procedure depending on the transmitted information associated with the one geographic coverage area. In a preferred, non-limiting application, the radio access network is shared by two operators, and the transmitted information indicates that the geographic coverage area update procedure should be performed for geographic coverage areas that are shared by the two operators and that the geographic coverage area update procedure need not be performed for geographic coverage areas that are not shared by the two operators. <IMAGE>