Cell Location Area Management for Wireless Paging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of home base stations and home gateways in cellular communication networks poses challenges in location area management and paging procedures, particularly due to high numbers of base stations under a single controller, leading to network overload and engineering complexity, especially when the geographical location of these stations is unknown.
Innovation Solution
A mobility management method that allows cells to form location areas independently of their geographical location, enabling more efficient paging by storing the latest cell identities of mobile terminals and sending paging messages only to the relevant cells, reducing network signaling and engineering complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cells are grouped into location areas based on geographical location, then paging can be performed in a systematic manner, but the network controller must know the physical location of each base station which increases engineering complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location area management by introducing location area lists (LALs) that group cells into location areas independently of geographical location. Each controller manages a set of location areas, and each location area contains a set of cells. This segmentation allows the system to perform paging without requiring knowledge of physical base station locations, thus reducing engineering complexity while maintaining systematic paging capability.
2Area of stationary object
If a controller manages a large number of base stations, then network coverage is extended, but the number of paging messages required increases significantly causing network overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large set of cells managed by a controller into multiple location areas, each containing a subset of cells. When paging is required, the system identifies the specific location area where the mobile terminal is located and sends paging messages only to cells within that location area, rather than broadcasting to all cells under the controller. This segmentation dramatically reduces the number of paging messages required while maintaining extended network coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by making paging operations localized to specific location areas rather than global across all cells. The system determines which location area contains the target mobile terminal and confines paging activities to that specific area, reducing unnecessary network signaling and preventing network overload while preserving the ability to provide wide network coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If location areas are defined based on geographical proximity of cells, then mobility management follows natural movement patterns, but the system requires knowledge of base station physical locations which increases maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments mobility management into logical location areas that are independent of geographical location. Mobile terminals report their location in terms of location area identifiers rather than physical coordinates. This allows the system to adapt to terminal movement patterns while eliminating the need for operators to know or track physical base station locations, significantly reducing maintenance complexity and costs.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mobility management method for mobile terminals in a cellular wireless communication system. The system comprises a core network and an access network comprising at least one controller, each controller controlling a group of base stations each defining at least one cell, and sets of cells form respective location areas. In the method the cells defined by the base stations controlled by each controller of the access network form a predetermined number of location areas and the belonging of each of the cells to one of the predetermined number of location areas is independent of its geographical location.