Gateway Device Caching for Small Base Station Signaling Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of small base stations (HeNBs) in communication networks leads to significant signaling load, causing communication load in the network to increase due to frequent requests for network information and address information, which can overwhelm the network infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with a gateway device that detects request messages, stores received information, and creates response messages from stored data when requested by other devices, eliminating the need to retransmit requests to the network, thereby reducing network load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HeNBs send frequent requests for network information and address information to the network, then the information can be obtained by individual devices, but the communication load in the network increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple information requests into a single centralized storage location (the gateway device). Instead of each HeNB independently requesting information from the core network, the gateway device consolidates these requests and maintains a centralized repository of network information, thereby reducing the total number of signaling messages in the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device performs preliminary action by proactively acquiring and storing network information and TNL addresses in advance. When HeNBs need this information, it is already available at the gateway, eliminating the need for repeated real-time requests to the core network and reducing communication load.
2Loss of information
If each HeNB independently requests network information from the core network, then the information is always fresh, but the signaling load overwhelms the network infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device acts as an intermediary between HeNBs and the core network. It maintains a cached copy of network information and TNL addresses, providing this information to HeNBs without requiring them to contact the core network directly. This intermediary role reduces the burden on network infrastructure while maintaining information availability.
3Quantity of substance
If the gateway device caches and reuses information locally, then network load is reduced, but the device complexity of the gateway increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device performs multiple functions: it acts as a relay for HeNB communications, maintains a centralized information repository, caches TNL addresses, and serves as a local information source for multiple HeNBs. This multi-functionality justifies the increased device complexity by providing significant network load reduction benefits.
Data Source
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AI summary
An increase in communication load in a network due to increasing messages for requesting information is suppressed. When a message for requesting information and a response message thereto are sent and received between a communication device (N1-Nn) that is an information requester and an information provider (Nx) on a network (NW) via a communication device (1), the communication device (1) stores the information acquired from the response message in a response information storage section (4), and when any communication device requests at least part of the same information, a control section (5) creates a response message including the requested information and responds.