A device, method, and program for managing the configuration of wireless communication services provided using the wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO.

Abstract

In this method for managing a setting of a wireless communication service, a setting value of a parameter used in a low power consumption state is changed en masse for a plurality of subscriber identifiers. From a subscriber, a device 200 receives an update request, in association with a group identifier corresponding to a plurality of subscriber identifiers, that includes a setting value of the parameter. The device 200 identifies the plurality of subscriber identifiers corresponding with the received group identifier (S301). An update request including a first subscriber identifier and the new value of the parameter is transmitted (S302). An HSS 230 updates the value of the parameter (S303) and transmits a CLR to an MME 220 (S304). The MME 220 transmits a detach request to a subscriber terminal 210 (S305) and receives a re-attach request (S307). After a time interval from transmitting the first update request, the device 200 transmits a second update request (S311).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, and a program therefor for managing settings of a wireless communication service provided using a wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO.

Background Art

[0002] Due to the increasing demand for wirelessly connecting various devices to an IP network such as the Internet, there are numerous wireless access technologies for IoT devices. Even in the 3GPP, which is a standardization organization for wireless communication, standards such as LTE-M and NB-IoT have been established as cellular LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) standards based on LTE technology, and commercial use has begun.

[0003] In IoT devices, power consumption reduction is generally desired. For cellular LPWA, standards such as PSM (Power Saving Mode) in Release 12 and eDRX (extended Discontinuous Reception) in Release 13 have been standardized by 3GPP.

[0004] PSM defines a hibernate state in addition to the connected (RRC_CONNECTED) and idle (RRC_IDLE) states for IoT devices. In the hibernate state, even minimal information gathering, such as receiving paging and neighbor cell searches performed in the idle state, is suspended, and power consumption is reduced by shutting off the power to the RF circuit, baseband circuit, and other circuits used for such information gathering. Two periods can be set: a first period called Tactive, from the transition from the idle state to the hibernate state, and a second period called Tpsm, from the transition from the idle state to the exit of the hibernate state. When an IoT device in the hibernate state has elapsed in the second period Tpsm, or when the device wishes to resume communication, it performs a Tracking Area Update (TAU), which is a procedure to update the device's location information held by the MME (Mobility Management Entity). The second period Tpsm can be set for a maximum of 310 hours according to the current specifications.

[0005] eDRX reduces power consumption by temporarily shutting off the power to circuits such as the RF circuit and baseband circuit after a first period Tptw has elapsed from a certain point in time, and then until a second period Tedrx has elapsed from that same point in time. The second period Tedrx can be set up to 10485.76 seconds in the current specifications. The subscript Tptw stands for paging time window. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] While power consumption in IoT devices can be reduced by using functions compliant with PSM and eDRX standards, subscribers to the wireless communication services used by these IoT devices may want to set desired values ​​for each of the aforementioned periods according to their respective needs.

[0007] The final parameter values ​​set for IoT devices vary depending on the carrier's (i.e., MNO's) policy and are determined by the equipment included in the MNO's wireless communication infrastructure. Therefore, MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) (see Figure 1), which provide wireless communication services for accessing IP networks such as the Internet using the MNO's wireless communication infrastructure, cannot necessarily determine these values ​​themselves. However, values ​​stored in the MVNO's HSS (Home Subscriber Server) may take precedence. If an MVNE (Mobile Virtual Network Enabler) is involved between the MNO and the MVNO, providing support services to enable the MVNO to operate smoothly, values ​​stored in the MVNE's HSS may take precedence.

[0008] However, even in that case, the parameter values ​​used in functions compliant with the PSM and eDRX standards are stored in the HSS as subscriber information associated with subscriber identifiers such as IMSI, and therefore must be set individually. The number of IoT devices managed by subscribers of wireless communication services provided by MVNOs or MVNEs is expected to reach several thousand or even tens of thousands, and the burden of setting these individually is significant.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of these points, and its purpose is to provide an apparatus, method, or program for managing the settings of wireless communication services provided using the wireless communication infrastructure of an MNO, which allows for the simultaneous modification of the settings of one or more parameters used in a low-power state in a subscriber information database for multiple subscriber identifiers.

[0010] In current specifications, idle state and hibernation state are listed as states for reducing power consumption, and two types of parameter values ​​or timer values ​​can be set for each. However, including those to be defined in future specifications, in this specification we will refer to them more generally as "low power consumption states."

[0011] Furthermore, while the term "HSS," a technical term for 4G, has been used in the explanations so far, in 5G, this corresponds to "UDM (Unified Data Management)" and "UDR (Unified Data Repository)." In the following explanations, although the term HSS will be used, technical terms may change as communication standards advance, and this does not exclude equivalent functions; therefore, it may be more commonly referred to as a "subscriber information database." [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To achieve this objective, a first aspect of the present invention is a method for managing the settings of a wireless communication service provided using a wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO, comprising the steps of: a server identifying a plurality of subscriber identifiers associated with a group identifier; the server transmitting a first update request to a subscriber information database, including a first subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers and a setting value for a parameter used in a low-power state; the server or the subscriber information database transmitting a request to a first subscriber terminal having the first subscriber identifier for a first detachment of the first subscriber identifier, which requires reattachment; and the server transmitting a second update request to the subscriber information database, at an interval after transmitting the first update request, including a second subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers that is different from the first subscriber identifier.

[0013] Furthermore, a second aspect of the present invention is the method of the first aspect, wherein the first update request conforms to the HTTP protocol.

[0014] Furthermore, a third aspect of the present invention is the method of the first or second aspect, wherein the request for the first detachment is transmitted from the subscriber information database to the mobility management equipment included in the wireless communication infrastructure owned by the MNO.

[0015] Furthermore, a fourth aspect of the present invention is the method of the third aspect, wherein the server and the subscriber information database are equipment included in the wireless communication infrastructure of an MVNO or MVNE that provides wireless communication services using the wireless communication infrastructure of the MNO.

[0016] Furthermore, a fifth aspect of the present invention is the method of the first or second aspect, wherein the request for the first detachment is transmitted from the server to a gateway on a U-plane connected to the wireless communication infrastructure of the MNO.

[0017] Furthermore, a sixth aspect of the present invention is the method of the fifth aspect, wherein the server, the subscriber information database, and the gateway on the U-plane are each equipment included in the wireless communication infrastructure of an MVNO or MVNE that provides wireless communication services using the wireless communication infrastructure of the MNO.

[0018] Furthermore, a seventh aspect of the present invention is the method of the fourth or sixth aspect, wherein the wireless communication infrastructure owned by the MVNO or MVNE is one or more instances on a public cloud.

[0019] Furthermore, an eighth aspect of the present invention is a method according to any of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the server stores an update interval associated with the group identifier or the plurality of subscriber identifiers, and the server sends the second update request after sending the first update request, with an interval based on the update interval.

[0020] Furthermore, a ninth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a system having one or more computers to execute a method for managing the settings of a wireless communication service provided using a wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO, the method comprising: a server identifying a plurality of subscriber identifiers associated with a group identifier; the server transmitting a first update request to a subscriber information database, which includes a first subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers and a setting value for a parameter used in a low-power state; the server or the subscriber information database transmitting a request to a first subscriber terminal having the first subscriber identifier for a first detachment of the first subscriber identifier, which requires reattachment; and the server transmitting a second update request to the subscriber information database, at an interval after transmitting the first update request, which includes a second subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers, which is different from the first subscriber identifier.

[0021] Furthermore, a tenth aspect of the present invention is a system for managing the settings of a wireless communication service provided using a wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO, comprising a server and a subscriber information database that can communicate with the server, wherein the server identifies a plurality of subscriber identifiers associated with a group identifier and transmits a first update request to the subscriber information database including a first subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers and setting values ​​for parameters used in a low-power state, the server or the subscriber information database transmits a request to a first subscriber terminal having the first subscriber identifier for a first detachment of the first subscriber identifier, which requires reattachment, and the server further transmits a second update request to the subscriber information database after an interval following the transmission of the update request, including a second subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers that is different from the first subscriber identifier.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention, in a system for managing the settings of a wireless communication service provided using a wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO, a server included in the system transmits a first update request including a first subscriber identifier included in a plurality of subscriber identifiers associated with a group identifier and a set value of a parameter used in a low power consumption state to a subscriber information database communicable with the server. Then, the server or the subscriber information database transmits a request for a first detachment of the first subscriber identifier, which is a first detachment that requires reattachment, to a first subscriber terminal having the first subscriber identifier. Thereafter, at intervals, the server transmits a second update request including a second subscriber identifier different from the first subscriber identifier to the subscriber database, whereby the set value of the parameter in the subscriber information database can be collectively changed for a plurality of subscriber identifiers specified by the group identifier.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a diagram for explaining an MVNO that provides a wireless communication service using a wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing the flow of a management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing the flow of a management method according to an alternative form of the present invention. ​​​​​​​​​Fig. 2 shows a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 200 included in the system is an apparatus for managing settings of a wireless communication service provided using a wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO, and is communicable with the HSS 230. For example, it can communicate in accordance with the HTTP protocol, and more specifically, using a REST API. In this specification, the "system" includes at least a part of a plurality of components shown in Fig. 2.

[0026] Both the apparatus 200 and the HSS 230 can be facilities of an MVNO or MVNE that provides a wireless communication service using a wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO. The apparatus 200 can be one or more instances on a cloud or a public cloud, and the HSS 230 can also be one or more instances on the same or different clouds or a public cloud. In this specification, the "cloud" refers to a system that can dynamically provision and provide computing resources such as CPU, memory, storage, and network bandwidth according to demand on a network. For example, a cloud can be used by AWS (registered trademark) or the like. Also, the "public cloud" refers to a cloud that can be used by a plurality of tenants.

[0027] The subscriber terminal 210 communicates with the MME220, which is part of the wireless communication infrastructure owned by the MNO, in order to establish a communication connection using a cellular method such as cellular LPWA with its SIM. More specifically, the subscriber terminal 210 sends an attach request to the MME220, and upon receiving the attach request, the MME220 sends a request called an Update Location Request (ULR) to the HSS230, which includes the subscriber identifier such as IMSI included in the attach request. The HSS230 stores subscriber information and location information associated with the subscriber identifier, and this subscriber information may include the setting values ​​of one or more parameters used in low-power state. The HSS230 sends an Update Location Answer (ULA) to the MME220 as a response to the ULR, and the ULA may include the setting values ​​of at least some of the one or more parameters. Upon receiving the ULA, the MME220 sends a notification to the subscriber terminal 210 that the attachment has been completed. The notification includes the settings for one or more parameters used in the low-power state determined by the MME220. If the one or more settings included in the ULA take precedence, those will be the values ​​ultimately set on the subscriber terminal 210.

[0028] In the current specifications, there are four types of parameters, but for simplicity, the following explanation will focus on just one of them. Furthermore, while it is preferable to change the values ​​stored in the HSS using the management method according to this embodiment for all parameters, it should be noted that the advantages of the present invention can still be enjoyed even if only some of the parameters are changed.

[0029] The device 200 comprises a communication unit 201 such as a communication interface, a processing unit 202 such as a processor or CPU, and a storage unit 203 including a storage device or storage medium such as memory or a hard disk, and can be configured by executing a program for each process. The device 200 may include one or more devices, computers, instances, or servers. The program may also include one or more programs and can be recorded on a computer-readable storage medium to become a non-transient program product. The program can be stored in a storage device or storage medium such as a database 204 accessible from the storage unit 203 or the device 200 via an IP network, and can be executed by the processing unit 202. The data described below as being stored in the storage unit 203 may also be stored in the database 204, and vice versa.

[0030] Up to this point, we have used the 4G technical term "MME," but in 5G, this corresponds to "AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function)." In the following explanation, we will also use the term MME, but technical terms may change as communication standards advance, and we are not excluding equivalent functions, so it may be more generally referred to as "mobility management equipment." In the following explanation, we will use the 4G technical terms "SGW" and "PGW," but "SGW" and "PGW" have both "C-plane functions" and "U-plane functions." More generally, the C-plane function of SGW is called "a gateway on the C-plane that is included in the communication infrastructure owned by the MNO," and the U-plane function is called "a gateway on the U-plane that is included in the communication infrastructure owned by the MNO." The C-plane function of PGW is called "a gateway on the C-plane that is connected to the communication infrastructure owned by the MNO," and the U-plane function is called "a gateway on the U-plane that is connected to the communication infrastructure owned by the MNO." A PGW (Programmable Gateway) is equipment included in the communication infrastructure owned by an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) or MVNE (Mobile Virtual Network Enabler). CUPS (Control and User Plane Separation) may be applied to the SGW (Programmable Gateway) and PGW to separate the gateway on the C-plane from the gateway on the U-plane. In 5G, the "gateway on the C-plane" corresponds to the "SMF (Session Management Function)," and the "gateway on the U-plane" corresponds to the "UPF (User Plane Function)."

[0031] The device 200 receives input from a subscriber, via a management screen for managing the settings of the wireless communication service the subscriber subscribes to, including the setting values ​​of parameters used in the low-power state, associated with a group identifier corresponding to a group identifier, and stores this input in the storage unit 203. The input may include, in addition to the new value of the parameter, the interval for updating the group identifiers corresponding to the group identifier. Here, it is described as if data is input from the management screen, but the device 200 does not need to use the management screen if it can receive the new value of the parameter used in the low-power state, the group identifier corresponding to the group identifiers updated with that value, and the interval for updating the group identifiers as needed. The update interval does not have to be specified by the subscriber; the device 200 may set a predetermined interval.

[0032] Subsequently, the device 200 first identifies a group identifier based on the received group identifier (S301). To do this, the device 200 only needs to be able to access the mapping between one or more group identifiers and the group identifiers corresponding to each group identifier.

[0033] Next, the device 200 sends a first update request to the HSS 230 for the first subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers, including the first subscriber identifier and the new value of the parameter (S302). The first update request is not necessarily sent all at once; the first subscriber identifier and the new value of the parameter may be sent to the HSS 230 separately. The HSS 230 updates the value of the parameter associated with the first subscriber identifier to the new value (S303), and then sends a Cancel Location Request (CLR) to the MME 220 to unregister the location of the first subscriber identifier (S304). The CLR includes a specification that reattachment is required after unregistering the location, which can be given, for example, by setting the "Reattach-Required" bit of the CLR-Flag. Unregistering the location by the CLR deletes subscriber information in addition to location information. Upon receiving the CLR, the MME 220 sends a detach request to the subscriber terminal 210 (S305). The detach request includes a specification that, based on the specification included in the CLR, reattachment is also required.

[0034] After the MME220 receives notification from the subscriber terminal 210 that a detachment has occurred (S306), the MME220 sends a session deletion request called "Delete Session Request" to the PGW250 via the SGW240, and the session is deleted (not shown for simplicity). The MME220 may also send the session deletion request without waiting for notification that a detachment has occurred.

[0035] The subscriber terminal 210 then sends a reattachment request to the MME 220 (S307), and the MME 220 sends a ULR to the HSS 230 (S308). The HSS 230 returns a ULA to the MME 220 (S309), and the MME 220 sends a session creation request called "Create Session Request" to the PGW 250 via the SGW 240, and the session is created (not shown for simplicity). Subsequently, the MME 220 notifies the subscriber terminal 210 that the reattachment has been completed (S310). This notification includes the setting value of the relevant parameter determined by the MME 220.

[0036] If the device 200 stores update intervals associated with the group identifier or a plurality of subscriber identifiers corresponding thereto, it sends a first update request to the HSS 230 for the first subscriber identifier, and then, after an interval of the update interval or a substantially corresponding interval, sends a second update request to the second subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers (S311). In Figure 3, the second update request is sent after the MME 220 sends a notification that the subscriber terminal 310 has been reattached, but this is merely an example, and when the second update request is sent will depend on the value of the interval. The second update request may also include new values ​​for parameters used in the low-power state, similar to the first update request, or the values ​​sent to the HSS 230 by the first update request may be used in the HSS 230 for the second subscriber identifier as well. Furthermore, if the second update request includes such new values, similar to the first update request, they may not necessarily be sent all at once, and the second subscriber identifier and the new values ​​for the parameters may be sent separately to the HSS 230.

[0037] As an alternative to the present invention, instead of HSS230 sending a CLR to MME220 as a request for detachment, device 200 may send a request to PGW250 to send a bearer deletion request called "Delete Bearer Request" (S404-1). This bearer deletion request includes a specification that re-attachment is required after bearer deletion, which can be given, for example, by setting the Cause value "Reactivation Requested". PGW250 then sends the bearer deletion request to MME220 via SGW240, and MME220 sends a detach request to subscriber terminal 210 (S405). This detach request similarly includes a specification that re-attachment is required based on the specification included in the bearer deletion request. Thus, a request to detach the subscriber identifier only needs to be sent to subscriber terminal 210 and is not necessarily limited to being sent directly to MME220.

[0038] After the MME220 receives notification from the subscriber terminal 210 that a detachment has occurred (S406-1), the MME220 sends a bearer deletion response called "Delete Bearer Response" to the PGW250 via the SGW240 (S406-2). The subsequent steps are the same as those described in the embodiment with reference to Figure 3.

[0039] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, by receiving a new value for a parameter used in a low power consumption state and a group identifier corresponding to a plurality of subscriber identifiers updated with that value, and sequentially detaching and reattaching the plurality of subscriber identifiers corresponding to the group identifier, a subscriber can change the setting value of the parameter in the subscriber information database for a plurality of subscriber identifiers all at once.

[0040] Although roaming is not specifically mentioned in the above description, the present invention is equally applicable even if the MME220 is a mobility management facility of an MNO that is a roaming partner of the MVNO or MVNE that issued the SIM for the subscriber terminal 210.

[0041] In the embodiments described above, unless the word "only" is used, such as "based only on XX," "according only to XX," or "in the case of XX only," it should be noted that this specification assumes that additional information may also be considered. Furthermore, as an example, the statement "if a, then b" does not necessarily mean "always b in the case of a" or "b immediately after a," unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, the statement "each a constituting A" does not necessarily mean that A is composed of multiple components, but rather includes the possibility that a component is singular.

[0042] Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, even if there are aspects of operation in some method, program, terminal, device, server, or system (hereinafter referred to as "method, etc.") that differ from the operation described herein, each aspect of the present invention is intended to cover the same operation as any of the operations described herein, and the existence of operation different from the operation described herein does not mean that such method, etc. is outside the scope of each aspect of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 200 equipment 201 Communications Department 202 Processing Unit 203 Storage section 204 Databases 210 Subscriber terminals 220 MME (compatible with "mobility management equipment") 230 HSS (corresponding to "Subscriber Information Database") 240 SGW (corresponding to "gateways on the C-plane included in the communication infrastructure owned by the MNO") 250 PGW (Supports "a gateway on the C-plane that connects to the communication infrastructure owned by the MNO")

Claims

1. A method for managing the settings of wireless communication services provided using the wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO, The server identifies multiple subscriber identifiers associated with a group identifier, The server sends a first update request to the subscriber information database, which includes a first subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers and a setting value for a parameter used in the low power consumption state. The steps include: the server or the subscriber information database sending a request to a first subscriber terminal having the first subscriber identifier for a first detachment of the first subscriber identifier, which requires reattachment; The steps include: the server sending the first update request, and then, after a certain interval, sending a second update request to the subscriber information database, which includes a second subscriber identifier that is different from the first subscriber identifier and is included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers; Includes.

2. The method according to claim 1, The first update request conforms to the HTTP protocol.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, The request for the first detachment is transmitted from the subscriber information database to the mobility management equipment included in the wireless communication infrastructure owned by the MNO.

4. The method according to claim 3, The server and the subscriber information database are, respectively, equipment included in the wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MVNO or MVNE that provides wireless communication services using the wireless communication infrastructure owned by the MNO.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, The request for the first detachment is transmitted from the server to a gateway on a U-plane that is connected to the wireless communication infrastructure owned by the MNO.

6. The method according to claim 5, The server, the subscriber information database, and the gateway on the U-plane are each equipment included in the wireless communication infrastructure of an MVNO or MVNE that provides wireless communication services using the wireless communication infrastructure of the MNO.

7. The method according to claim 4, The wireless communication infrastructure owned by the aforementioned MVNO or MVNE is one or more instances on a public cloud.

8. The method according to claim 6, The wireless communication infrastructure owned by the aforementioned MVNO or MVNE is one or more instances on a public cloud.

9. A method according to claim 1 or 2, The server stores the update interval associated with the group identifier or the multiple subscriber identifiers. The server sends the second update request after sending the first update request, at an interval based on the update interval.

10. A program for causing a system having one or more computers to execute a method for managing the settings of wireless communication services provided using the wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO, wherein the method is: The server identifies multiple subscriber identifiers associated with a group identifier, The server sends a first update request to the subscriber information database, which includes a first subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers and a setting value for a parameter used in the low power consumption state. The steps include: the server or the subscriber information database sending a request to a first subscriber terminal having the first subscriber identifier for a first detachment of the first subscriber identifier, which requires reattachment; The steps include: the server sending the first update request, and then, after a certain interval, sending a second update request to the subscriber information database, which includes a second subscriber identifier that is different from the first subscriber identifier and is included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers; Includes.

11. A system for managing the settings of wireless communication services provided using the wireless communication infrastructure owned by an MNO, Server and A subscriber information database that can communicate with the aforementioned server and Equipped with, The server identifies a plurality of subscriber identifiers associated with a group identifier and sends a first update request to the subscriber information database, which includes a first subscriber identifier included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers and a setting value for a parameter used in the low-power state. The server or the subscriber information database is A request is sent to a first subscriber terminal having the first subscriber identifier for a first detachment of the first subscriber identifier, which requires reattachment. The aforementioned server further, After sending the first update request, a second update request is sent to the subscriber information database at an interval, which includes a second subscriber identifier that is different from the first subscriber identifier and is included in the plurality of subscriber identifiers.

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