Home Subscriber Server Allocation Mode for Mobile Network Load Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile communication networks face challenges in providing balanced network capacities and quality-of-service requirements for both machine-to-machine (M2M) and non-M2M services, especially when M2M services overlap with consumer services, making it difficult to differentiate and manage traffic effectively during roaming scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The method involves the home subscriber server indicating allocation mode information to the mobility management entity, providing a list of potential packet data network gateway nodes for selection, allowing for static or dynamic allocation and load balancing among multiple gateways, thereby enabling enhanced load balancing and traffic management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If dedicated network elements are used exclusively for M2M traffic, then network capacity and resources for M2M services are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of managing multiple dedicated elements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacity for M2M servicesVSAvoidcomplexity of managing dedicated network elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables packet data network gateway nodes to serve multiple functions - handling both M2M traffic and consumer services traffic simultaneously. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for exclusively dedicated M2M gateway nodes, reducing network complexity while maintaining sufficient capacity for M2M services through shared resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If M2M services and consumer services share the same network elements, then device complexity is reduced, but network capacity and quality-of-service for differentiated services deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of network element managementVSAvoidnetwork capacity for differentiated services
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements service-specific configuration parameters at the gateway node level, allowing different quality-of-service requirements, access point names, and traffic handling policies to be applied locally to different service types (M2M vs. consumer services) while using the same physical network elements. This enables differentiated service quality without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a single packet data network gateway is used, then device complexity is reduced, but load balancing and network resource optimization worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of gateway managementVSAvoidnetwork resource optimization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic load balancing mechanisms where the mobility management entity can select from multiple configured packet data network gateway nodes based on current network conditions, traffic load, and service requirements. This dynamic selection optimizes resource utilization and prevents gateway overload while maintaining manageable complexity through centralized control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If multiple packet data network gateways are configured, then load balancing and network resource optimization are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of configuration increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource optimizationVSAvoidcomplexity of gateway configuration and management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the mobility management entity as an intermediary that centralizes the configuration and management of multiple packet data network gateway nodes. This intermediary maintains the configuration information, performs load balancing decisions, and manages the selection process, thereby distributing the complexity management burden and making multi-gateway systems more manageable through centralized control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3200408B1Enhanced load balancing in a mobile communication network
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP3200408B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3200408B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for enhanced load balancing in a mobile communication network (100,200), wherein a user equipment (120,20,220) is connected or requests to be connected to the mobile communication network (100,200) using an access point name identifier and a packet data network, wherein a mobility management entity (160,260) and a home subscriber server (250) is involved to provide communication services of the mobile communication network (100,200) to the user equipment (120,20,220) and/or to connect the user equipment (120,20,220) to the mobile communication network (100,200), wherein a packet data network gateway (261,262,263) needs to be selected for providing the communications services of the mobile communication network (100,200), wherein the home subscriber server (250) indicates an allocation type information to the mobility management entity (160,260), wherein, the method comprises the step of, in addition to indicating an allocation type information to the mobility management entity (160,260), the home subscriber server (250) indicates an allocation mode information to the mobility management entity (160,260).