Processing server and control method

Abstract

To perform efficient connection control by effectively using information that a plurality of PLMNs can be read in a switchable manner, to achieve efficient use of resources.SOLUTION: A processing server (MME) 10 comprises: an internal cache 11 that holds switchable reading information that is information related to a plurality of PLMNs that can be read in a switchable manner to each other in a network that stores the plurality of PLMNs; and a control unit 12 that, when a new PLMN included in a connection request from a terminal 20 is included in the switchable reading information held by the internal cache 11, controls a search for connection destination information of the terminal 20, on the basis of a PLMN after the new PLMN is read in a switchable manner with a PLMN that can be read in a switchable manner with the new PLMN.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a processing server and a control method that are arranged in a network that accommodates multiple public land mobile networks (hereinafter referred to as "PLMNs") and perform search control of terminal connection destination information based on identification information of each PLMN. [Background technology]

[0002] When a terminal attaches to a wireless network, a Mobility Management Entity (hereinafter referred to as "MME") uses a TAI (Location Registration Area Unit Information) that includes PLMN identification information to inquire of a domain name server (Domain Name System server (hereinafter referred to as "DNS server")) about which gateway the terminal should be connected to. When the MME receives destination information of a gateway that matches the TAI from the DNS server, it stores the destination information in its internal cache and selects the gateway as the terminal's destination. Thereafter, the MME selects a gateway to which the terminal should be connected based on the destination information stored in its internal cache.

[0003] On the other hand, networks accommodating multiple PLMNs have been envisioned, and for example, the following Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for selecting an appropriate PLMN from multiple PLMNs. Also, in a network accommodating multiple PLMNs, there are cases where multiple PLMNs that are interchangeable within the same area are handled. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-076602 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, even in cases where multiple PLMNs that can be interchanged within the same area are handled as described above, the information that multiple PLMNs can be interchanged is not effectively utilized, and the MME ends up querying the DNS server to determine which gateway to connect to for each PLMN, resulting in a problem of inefficient use of resources due to unnecessary processing.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to effectively utilize information that multiple PLMNs can be interpreted interchangeably to perform efficient connection control and to achieve efficient use of resources. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The processing server according to the present disclosure includes an internal cache that stores replacement information, which is information about a plurality of PLMNs that can be replaced with each other in a network that accommodates a plurality of PLMNs, and a control unit that, when a new PLMN included in a connection request from a terminal is included in the replacement information stored by the internal cache, controls a search for connection destination information for the terminal based on the PLMN after the new PLMN is replaced with a PLMN that can be replaced with the new PLMN. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, efficient connection control can be performed by effectively utilizing information that multiple PLMNs can be interpreted interchangeably, thereby enabling efficient use of resources. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a PLMN and a TAI. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing processing performed by an MME. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the processing of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an MME. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a processing server and a control method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of a communication system including an MME 10, which is a processing server according to the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the communication system accommodates multiple PLMNs (here, PLMN#A and PLMN#B are shown as examples), and PLMN#A and PLMN#B can be interpreted as interchangeable within the same area. Terminal 20A is located in PLMN#A, and terminal 20B is located in PLMN#B.

[0012] The above communication system includes an MME 10 that functions as a gateway that receives and processes control signals related to attach requests, location registration requests, etc. from various terminals 20A, 20B (collectively referred to as "terminals 20") via a base station (eNodeB, etc.) not shown, a Serving Gateway (referred to as "S-GW") 40 that functions as a gateway that processes user data, a Packet data network Gateway (referred to as "P-GW") 50 that functions as a gateway for connecting to the external Internet, etc., and a DNS server 30.

[0013] The MME 10 includes an internal cache 11 and a control unit 12. The internal cache 11 stores information (translation information) about a plurality of PLMNs that can be translated into one another in a network that accommodates a plurality of PLMNs, and connection destination information about a PLMN (queried PLMN) obtained by querying the DNS server 30. As shown in Fig. 2, a PLMN is made up of an MCC (Mobile Country Code), which is the country code of the operator, and an MNC (Mobile Network Code), which is the network code of the operator, and information including such a PLMN and a TAC (Tracking Area Code), which is the code of a unit area (tracking area) into which the operator divides its service area, corresponds to the above-mentioned TAI.

[0014] When the destination PLMN included in the connection request from the terminal 20 is included in the reinterpretation information stored in the internal cache 11, the control unit 12 reinterprets the destination PLMN with a PLMN that can be reinterpreted as the destination PLMN, and controls the search for the destination of the terminal 20 based on the reinterpreted PLMN.

[0015] Here, when the connection destination information for the PLMN after the replacement is held in the internal cache 11, the control unit 12 avoids making an inquiry to the DNS server 30 about the connection destination information for the PLMN after the replacement or the connection destination information for the PLMN before the replacement. In this way, by the control unit 12 avoiding making an inquiry to the DNS server 30, the DNS server 30 is prevented from newly holding the connection destination information for the PLMN before the replacement.

[0016] Furthermore, when the connection destination information relating to the PLMN after the replacement is held in the internal cache 11, the control unit 12 avoids holding in the internal cache 11 the connection destination information relating to the PLMN before the replacement.

[0017] The processing executed by the MME 10 will be described below with reference to the flow diagram of Fig. 3. When the MME 10 receives an attach request or a location registration request from the terminal 20, the processing of Fig. 3 is started.

[0018] First, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the destination PLMN in the TAI included in the connection request from the terminal 20 is included in the translation information stored in the internal cache 11 (step S1). If the destination PLMN is included in the translation information, the control unit 12 rereads the destination PLMN with a PLMN that can be translated (step S2), and determines whether or not the connection destination information of the PLMN after translation is stored in the internal cache 11 (step S3).

[0019] Here, if the connection destination information of the PLMN after the replacement is held in the internal cache 11, the control unit 12 (1) avoids making an inquiry to the DNS server 30 about the connection destination information regarding the PLMN after the replacement or the connection destination information regarding the PLMN before the replacement, and (2) avoids holding the connection destination information regarding the PLMN before the replacement in the internal cache 11 (step S4). By avoiding the above (1), it is possible to avoid newly holding the connection destination information regarding the PLMN before the replacement in the DNS server 30. Thereafter, the control unit 12 performs connection control using the connection destination information of the PLMN after the replacement (step S5).

[0020] Here, a specific processing example will be described assuming that the destination PLMN is PLMN#B, and as shown in Fig. 4, the destination PLMN (PLMN#B) is included in the rereading information stored in the internal cache 11. In this assumed example, YES is determined in step S1, and the control unit 12 rereads the destination PLMN (PLMN#B) with the rereadable PLMN (PLMN#A) (step S2), and determines whether the reread destination information of PLMN#A (i.e., destination information related to TAI#1) is stored in the internal cache 11 (step S3). As shown in Fig. 4, since the connection destination information for PLMN#A (i.e., connection destination information related to TAI#1) is held in the internal cache 11, a YES determination is made in step S3, and the control unit 12, in step S4, (1) avoids querying the DNS server 30 about the connection destination information for the reinterpreted PLMN#A or the connection destination information for the pre-interpreted destination PLMN#B, and (2) avoids holding the connection destination information for the pre-interpreted destination PLMN#B (i.e., connection destination information related to TAI#2) in the internal cache 11, as shown by the strikethrough in Fig. 4. Furthermore, by avoiding the above (1), it is possible to avoid newly holding the connection destination information for the pre-interpreted destination PLMN#B (i.e., connection destination information related to TAI#2) in the DNS server 30, as shown by the strikethrough in Fig. 4.

[0021] On the other hand, if the destination PLMN is not included in the reinterpretation information in step S1 above, or if the destination information of the PLMN after reinterpretation in step S3 is not held in the internal cache 11, the control unit 12 queries the DNS server 30 for destination information regarding the PLMN (step S6). After that, when the destination information is received from the DNS server 30 (YES in step S7), the control unit 12 holds the received destination information in the internal cache 11 and controls the connection using the received destination information (step S8).

[0022] According to the embodiment described above, efficient connection control can be performed by effectively utilizing information that multiple PLMNs can be interpreted, thereby enabling efficient use of resources. Specifically, it is possible to effectively reduce both the amount of information registered in the DNS server 30 and the amount of information held in the internal cache 11 by the MME 10. Furthermore, as a result, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of queries from the MME 10 to the DNS server 30, and to reduce the processing load required for responding to queries on the DNS server 30. As a result, it is possible to efficiently use resources in both the MME 10 and the DNS server 30.

[0023] The gist of the present disclosure lies in the following [1] to [6]. [1] An internal cache that stores translation information, which is information about multiple public land mobile networks (PLMNs) that can be translated into each other in a network that accommodates multiple PLMNs; a control unit that, when a destination PLMN included in a connection request from a terminal is included in the reinterpretation information stored in the internal cache, controls a search for a destination of the terminal based on the PLMN after the destination PLMN is reinterpreted by a PLMN that can be reinterpreted as the destination PLMN; A processing server comprising: [2] The internal cache further holds connection destination information for a queried PLMN, which is a PLMN obtained by querying a domain name server; The processing server described in [1], wherein the control unit, when the destination information for the PLMN after the reinterpretation is stored in the internal cache, avoids querying the domain name server about the destination information for the PLMN after the reinterpretation or the destination information for the destination PLMN before the reinterpretation. [3] The processing server described in [2], wherein the control unit, when the destination information for the PLMN after the reinterpretation is stored in the internal cache, avoids storing the destination information for the PLMN before the reinterpretation in the internal cache. [4] A processing server according to [2] or [3], wherein the control unit avoids the query to the domain name server, thereby avoiding the domain name server from newly storing destination information regarding the destination PLMN before the reinterpretation. [5] The processing server according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the connection request from the terminal is an attach request or a location registration request. [6] A processing server stores translation information, which is information about a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) that can be translated into each other in a network that accommodates a plurality of PLMNs; When a destination PLMN included in a connection request from a terminal is included in the stored reinterpretation information, the processing server controls a search for a destination of the terminal based on the PLMN after the destination PLMN is reinterpreted by a PLMN that can be reinterpreted as the destination PLMN; A control method comprising:

[0024] [Explanation of terms, explanation of hardware configuration (Figure 5), etc.] The block diagrams used to explain the above embodiments show functional blocks. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Furthermore, the method for realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are directly or indirectly connected (for example, using wires, wirelessly, etc.) and these multiple devices. The functional block may also be realized by combining the single device or multiple devices with software.

[0025] Functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, determination, judgment, calculation, computation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, election, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocation, mapping, and assignment. For example, a functional block (component) that performs transmission is called a transmitting unit or transmitter. As mentioned above, there are no particular limitations on how these functions are implemented.

[0026] For example, the MME according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that executes the processes of the present disclosure. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MME 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The above-described MME 10 may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, etc.

[0027] In the following description, the term "apparatus" can be interpreted as a circuit, a device, a unit, etc. The hardware configuration of MME 10 may be configured to include one or more of the apparatuses shown in the drawings, or may be configured to exclude some of the apparatuses.

[0028] Each function in MME10 is realized by loading specific software (programs) onto hardware such as processor 1001 and memory 1002, causing processor 1001 to perform calculations, control communication by communication device 1004, and control at least one of reading and writing data in memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0029] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer by running, for example, an operating system, and may be configured as a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with peripheral devices, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, etc.

[0030] The processor 1001 also reads programs (program codes), software modules, data, etc. from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002, and executes various processes in accordance with these. The programs used are those that cause a computer to execute at least some of the operations described in the above-mentioned embodiments. Although the various processes have been described as being executed by one processor 1001, they may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. The processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The programs may be transmitted from a network via a telecommunications line.

[0031] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may be configured, for example, by at least one of a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, a cache, a main memory (primary storage device), etc. The memory 1002 can store executable programs (program codes), software modules, etc. for implementing a wireless communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] Storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, and may be composed of at least one of, for example, an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray disc), a smart card, a flash memory (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a floppy disk, a magnetic strip, etc. Storage 1003 may also be referred to as an auxiliary storage device. The above-mentioned storage medium may be, for example, a database, a server, or other appropriate medium including at least one of memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0033] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, a communication module, etc. The communication device 1004 may be configured to include a high-frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, etc., to realize at least one of, for example, Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD).

[0034] The input device 1005 is an input device (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (for example, a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside. The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be integrated into one device (for example, a touch panel).

[0035] Furthermore, each device, such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or may be configured using different buses between each device.

[0036] Furthermore, the MME 10 may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of the functional blocks may be realized by the hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these pieces of hardware.

[0037] The notification of information is not limited to the aspects / embodiments described in the present disclosure and may be performed using other methods. For example, the notification of information may be performed by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI) and Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, and broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB) and System Information Block (SIB))), other signals, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the RRC signaling may be referred to as an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, or the like.

[0038] Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be any of the following: LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G (4th generation mobile communication system), 5G (5th generation mobile communication system), 6th generation mobile communication system (6G), xth generation mobile communication system (xG) (xG (x is, for example, an integer or decimal number)), FRA (Future Radio Access), NR (new Radio), New radio access (NX), Future generation radio access (FX), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE The present invention may be applied to at least one of systems using 802.20, UWB (Ultra-Wideband), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other appropriate systems, and next-generation systems that are extended, modified, created, or defined based on these systems. The present invention may also be applied to a combination of multiple systems (e.g., a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A with 5G).

[0039] The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless it is consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0040] Input and output information may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory) or may be managed using a management table. Input and output information may be overwritten, updated, or added to. Output information may be deleted. Input information may be sent to another device.

[0041] The determination may be made based on a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), a Boolean value (true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0042] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Furthermore, notification of predetermined information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to being done explicitly, but may be done implicitly (e.g., by not notifying the predetermined information).

[0043] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

[0044] Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0045] Software, instructions, information, etc. may also be transmitted or received over a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using wired technologies (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), and / or wireless technologies (such as infrared, microwave), then these wired and / or wireless technologies are included within the definition of transmission media.

[0046] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0047] Note that terms explained in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Furthermore, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

[0048] As used in this disclosure, the terms "system" and "network" are used interchangeably.

[0049] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, may be expressed using relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or may be expressed using other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by an index.

[0050] The names used for the above-described parameters are not intended to be limiting in any way. Furthermore, the mathematical expressions using these parameters may differ from those explicitly disclosed in this disclosure. The various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements may be identified by any suitable names, and therefore the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0051] As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and the like. Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. as having been "judged" or "decided." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding some action as having been "judged" or "decided." Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

[0052] As used in this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on," unless expressly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on."

[0053] As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

[0054] When used in this disclosure, the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when used in this disclosure, the term "or" is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0055] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0056] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different." [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10...MME (processing server), 11...internal cache, 12...control unit, 20, 20A, 20B...terminal, 30...DNS server, 40...S-GW, 50...P-GW, 1001...processor, 1002...memory, 1003...storage, 1004...communication device, 1005...input device, 1006...output device, 1007...bus.

Claims

1. an internal cache that stores translation information, which is information about a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) that can be translated into each other in a network that accommodates a plurality of PLMNs; a control unit that, when a destination PLMN included in a connection request from a terminal is included in the reinterpretation information stored in the internal cache, controls a search for a destination of the terminal based on the PLMN after the destination PLMN is reinterpreted by a PLMN that can be reinterpreted as the destination PLMN; A processing server comprising:

2. the internal cache further holds connection destination information for a queried PLMN, the queried PLMN being a PLMN obtained by querying a domain name server; When the connection destination information regarding the PLMN after the reinterpretation is stored in the internal cache, the control unit avoids making an inquiry to the domain name server about the connection destination information regarding the PLMN after the reinterpretation or the connection destination information regarding the connection destination PLMN before the reinterpretation. The processing server of claim 1 .

3. When the connection destination information regarding the PLMN after the replacement is stored in the internal cache, the control unit avoids storing the connection destination information regarding the connection destination PLMN before the replacement in the internal cache. The processing server of claim 2 .

4. The control unit avoids the query to the domain name server, thereby avoiding new storage of connection destination information regarding the connection destination PLMN before the rereading in the domain name server. The processing server of claim 2 .

5. The connection request from the terminal is an attach request or a location registration request. The processing server of claim 1 .

6. A processing server stores translation information, which is information about a plurality of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) that can be translated into each other in a network accommodating a plurality of PLMNs; When a destination PLMN included in a connection request from a terminal is included in the stored reinterpretation information, the processing server controls a search for a destination of the terminal based on the PLMN after the destination PLMN is reinterpreted by a PLMN that can be reinterpreted as the destination PLMN; A control method comprising:

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