Mobility Management Node eDRX SMS Delivery Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for delivering Mobile Terminating Short Messages (MT SMS) to mobile terminals in extended idle mode Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) face challenges such as unpredictable retransmission success, increased power consumption, and delayed message delivery due to the UE's dynamic eDRX cycle and mobility management node changes.
Innovation Solution
A method where a mobility management node receives notifications of the UE's exit from eDRX mode before a paging occasion and submits a message to the Short Message Service Gateway Mobile Switching Centre (SMS-GMSC) to ensure timely delivery of MT SMS, potentially involving context requests and responses with other mobility management nodes to maintain accurate routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network waits for the next paging occasion to deliver MT SMS to eDRX UEs, then the UE can be reached during its paging transmission window, but the message delivery is delayed and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary actions by sending a notification to the UE before the paging occasion occurs, indicating that an SMS is waiting for delivery. This allows the UE to wake up early from eDRX mode without having to wait for the actual paging occasion, thereby reducing delivery delay while maintaining reliable notification delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the UE responds to the network's notification by confirming its availability or providing updated location information. This feedback loop ensures that the network can adapt its delivery strategy based on the UE's current state, improving both reliability and timing of message delivery
2Productivity
If the UE frequently wakes up to check for messages outside eDRX mode, then message delivery can be prompt, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The network sends notifications at periodic intervals before the UE's scheduled paging occasions, rather than requiring the UE to continuously wake up. This periodic notification approach allows the UE to maintain eDRX sleep patterns while still receiving timely delivery notifications, balancing delivery speed with power conservation
Solution Approach 2:
The UE autonomously determines its wake-up timing based on received notifications and its own eDRX cycle configuration. Instead of being forced to wake up frequently by network commands, the UE self-manages its wake-up schedule to coincide with notification arrivals, minimizing unnecessary wake-ups and power consumption
3Device complexity
If the network uses traditional paging procedures for MT SMS delivery, then the procedure is simple, but it fails when the UE changes mobility management nodes during eDRX cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The HSS (Home Subscriber Server) acts as an intermediary that maintains persistent association between the UE and the SMS delivery process. When the UE moves to a new mobility management node, the HSS updates routing information and coordinates with the new node to ensure continuous delivery capability, bridging the gap between different network nodes without complicating the overall procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The notification mechanism is designed to be universally applicable across different mobility management nodes and network configurations. The same notification procedure works whether the UE is served by MME1 or MME2, or whether it moves between nodes during the eDRX cycle, providing a unified solution that handles multiple scenarios without requiring complex node-specific procedures
4Reliability
If the SMSC stores the SM for extended retransmission time, then delivery can be attempted multiple times, but the SMSC resource usage increases and delivery uncertainty remains
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary delivery attempts by sending notifications to the UE before the actual SMS transmission. This preliminary action allows the network to verify UE availability and update routing information in advance, reducing the need for extended SMSC storage and multiple retransmission attempts, thereby conserving SMSC resources while maintaining delivery assurance
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to mobility management nodes and methods of the mobility management nodes of enabling delivery of a Mobile Terminating, (MT) Short Message (SM) to a mobile terminal.In a first aspect of the invention, a method of a mobility management node is provided for enabling delivery of a Mobile Terminating, (MT) Short Message (SM) to a mobile terminal which currently is in extended idle mode discontinuous reception, eDRX, mode. The method comprises receiving an indication from a Short Message Service Gateway Mobile Switching Centre (SMS-GMSC) that the SM is to be delivered, receiving a notification that the mobile terminal has exited an extended idle Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) mode before a paging occasion has occurred, and submitting, in response to the notification, a message indicating to the SMS-GMSC that the mobile terminal is available for delivery of the SM.