Central Location Control Server Consolidating UE Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanisms for reporting and managing User Equipment (UE) location data in wireless communication networks are complex and lead to congestion in core network nodes due to scattered reporting paths and different signaling mechanisms used by various network entities, resulting in increased processing and signaling loads.
Innovation Solution
An intermediate network node, referred to as the Central Location Control Server (CLCS), is introduced to manage UE location data by establishing connections with mobility management nodes and location data requesting nodes, reducing the need for multiple signaling paths by consolidating location information and providing a single piece of location data to requesting entities, thereby reducing traffic and processing loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If location reporting is performed per UE and PDN connection with multiple network entities using different signaling paths, then location data can be reported to various entities, but signaling load and processing load in core network nodes increases tremendously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple location reporting paths into a single unified reporting path through the introduction of a location reporting gateway. This gateway consolidates location data from multiple mobility management nodes and delivers it to a single location service node, eliminating the need for separate reporting paths to each network entity and thereby reducing signaling load while maintaining comprehensive location data coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a location reporting gateway as an intermediary node between mobility management nodes and location service nodes. This intermediary consolidates location data from multiple sources and provides a single reporting path, reducing the complexity of direct connections between numerous entities while ensuring reliable location data delivery to all required network entities
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple network entities request location data through different signaling procedures, then various services can be supported, but congestion occurs in core network nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple signaling procedures into a unified location reporting mechanism. The location reporting gateway receives location data through a single standardized interface from mobility management nodes and distributes it to various location service nodes, maintaining service versatility while eliminating the congestion caused by multiple different signaling procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The location reporting gateway serves multiple functions: it consolidates location data from different mobility management nodes, supports multiple location service nodes, and provides a unified reporting mechanism for various services including LBS and charging control. This multi-functionality maintains service adaptability while simplifying the overall signaling architecture
3Loss of information
If location data is reported through scattered communication paths to multiple entities, then comprehensive location information is available, but the set-up for network entities to report, collect, and process information becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges scattered location reporting paths into a single consolidated path through the location reporting gateway. This gateway collects location data from all mobility management nodes and distributes it to all location service nodes, ensuring complete location information is available to all entities while dramatically simplifying the system setup by eliminating the need for complex direct connections between each pair of entities
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method of managing location data of mobile terminals in a wireless communication network and an intermediate network node performing the method. The intermediate network node (120) configured to manage location data of mobile terminals (101, 121) in a wireless communication network (100) comprises a processing unit (115) and a memory (116), which memory contains instructions executable by the processing unit, whereby the network node is operative to establish connection (S101) with one or more mobility management nodes (104, 105) in the network, establish connection (S102) with any one of network nodes (108, 111, 114) requesting location data indicating the location of at least one mobile terminal (101), receive (S103) a request for the location data indicating the location of the at least one mobile terminal (101) from a requesting network node (111) of said network nodes, obtain (S104) a set of location information indicating the location of the at least one mobile terminal (101) from at least one of the mobility management nodes (104), produce (S105) the requested location data from the obtained set of location information, and provide (S106) the produced location data to the requesting network node (111) of said network nodes.