HeNB Gateway Optimizes Femtocell Tracking Area Lists
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Solution Overview
Problem
The uncoordinated deployment of femtocells in cellular networks makes it difficult for Mobility Management Entities (MMEs) to efficiently allocate Tracking Area Lists (TAI Lists), leading to increased signaling load and potential security issues due to the lack of awareness about femto layer TAs in relation to macro layer TAs.
Innovation Solution
A method to dynamically and automatically obtain the macro layer TA footprint of femtocells, allowing MMEs to associate femto layer TAs with neighboring or covering macro layer TAs, thereby creating optimized TAI Lists that minimize signaling load and improve access control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If MMEs allocate TAI Lists without awareness of femto layer TAs, then device complexity is reduced, but signaling load increases due to frequent TAUs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a HeNB Gateway as an intermediary component between HeNBs and the core network. This gateway maintains awareness of femto layer TAs and their associations with macro layer TAs, enabling optimized TAI List allocation without increasing MME complexity. The gateway acts as a mediator that translates and manages the complex relationships between femto and macro tracking areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the associations between femto layer TAs and macro layer TAs in the HeNB Gateway before actual TAI List allocation occurs. This advance preparation allows the gateway to provide optimized TAI Lists that minimize frequent TAUs, reducing subsequent signaling load.
2Device complexity
If MMEs allocate TAI Lists without awareness of femto layer TAs, then device complexity is reduced, but security deteriorates due to lack of access control
Solution Approach 1:
The HeNB Gateway serves as a security intermediary that enforces access control policies between HeNBs and the core network. It maintains security context and validates access requests based on the associations between femto and macro TAs, providing security functionality without burdening the MME with complex security management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of S1 interfaces is increased to support millions of HeNBs, then adaptability improves, but core network scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple HeNB connections through the HeNB Gateway, which consolidates the S1 interface management. Instead of requiring individual S1 interfaces at the MME for each HeNB, the gateway aggregates connections, allowing millions of HeNBs to be supported while maintaining a manageable number of S1 interfaces at the core network level.
Solution Approach 2:
The HeNB Gateway acts as an intermediary that decouples the scaling of HeNBs from the scaling requirements of the core network. It provides a buffer layer that handles the high volume of HeNB connections while presenting a reduced interface set to the MME, thereby improving core network scalability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If frequent TAUs are performed due to uncoordinated femtocell deployment, then adaptability to femtocell locations improves, but signaling load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the associations between femto layer TAs and macro layer TAs in the HeNB Gateway before actual TAI List allocation occurs. This advance preparation allows the gateway to provide optimized TAI Lists that minimize frequent TAUs, reducing subsequent signaling load.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the HeNB Gateway continuously monitors and updates the associations between femto and macro TAs based on actual deployment patterns. This feedback enables dynamic optimization of TAI Lists, adapting to femtocell locations while minimizing unnecessary TAUs through learned patterns and predictive allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides method and arrangements for dynamically and automatically obtaining a macro layer TA footprint for a femtocell, i.e. the femtocell's location in relation to the macro layer TAs, and to use this information to minimize signaling load from Tracking Area Updating in conjunction with femtocells.