IMS Centralized Service Overlay Implementation via MSC Pool Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular communication systems face challenges in ensuring consistent service experience for subscribers across different network accesses or domains, particularly in implementing centralized service concepts like IMS Centralized Service (ICS) without the need to replace or upgrade all MSC servers, which is costly and affects reliability.
Innovation Solution
An overlay implementation method that redirects attach requests to switching entities within the same pool, ensuring each terminal is serviceable via a circuit-switched radio access network, by determining centralized-services applicability and capability, and redirecting requests to matching entities within the same radio network area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all MSC servers are replaced or upgraded to support ICS functionality, then centralized service capability is improved, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The network infrastructure is segmented into ICS-capable and non-ICS-capable MSC servers. Instead of requiring all servers to be upgraded, the system divides the MSC server population into different functional groups, allowing gradual adoption of ICS technology while maintaining legacy servers for non-ICS services or regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by deploying ICS functionality only in specific MSC servers where it is needed or where upgrade has been performed. The system accepts that not all servers have ICS capability and designs the service continuity mechanism to work with this partial implementation, rather than requiring complete universal upgrade.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ICS service is implemented in a centralized manner, then service consistency across different network accesses is improved, but control of radio resources becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of enhanced location update procedures and network node interactions. When a UE moves between access networks, the network nodes (MSC servers, serving GPRS support nodes) act as intermediaries to coordinate service continuity, managing the complexity of radio resource control across different domains without requiring direct centralized control of all radio resources.
3Ease of manufacture
If legacy MSC servers are retained without ICS functionality, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but service continuity for ICS-capable UEs cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by allowing different regions or network domains to have different capabilities. Some MSC servers are upgraded to ICS-capable versions while others remain legacy, and the service continuity mechanism routes ICS-capable UEs appropriately based on their current serving MSC's capabilities, rather than requiring uniform capability across the entire network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic service continuity management where the network can adaptively route UEs based on current MSC server availability and capability. When an ICS-capable UE is served by a non-ICS-capable MSC, the system dynamically initiates service continuity procedures to transfer the UE to an appropriate ICS-capable MSC, ensuring service continuity while maintaining flexibility in the infrastructure.
4Reliability
If service continuity is ensured through centralized IMS service domain, then consistent service experience is improved, but the number of required ICS-capable MSC servers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the multi-functionality of ICS-capable MSC servers so they can serve dual purposes: handling both traditional circuit-switched services and ICS services. This allows a smaller number of MSC servers to perform multiple functions, reducing the total quantity of dedicated ICS-capable servers needed while still ensuring service continuity for all ICS-capable UEs in the network.
Data Source
AI summary
In a mobile communication networks system supporting IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, centralized services, there are provided measures for enabling/realizing an overlay implementation of a IMS centralized service network system taking into account a pool of network entities with different IMS centralized services capabilities. Such measures based on a IMS centralized-services applicability for a terminal requesting attachment and an IMS centralized-services capability of at least one switching entity out of a pool of switching entities which are configured to control radio resources for a same radio network area. In case of a mismatch between the IMS centralized-services applicability for the terminal and the IMS centralized-services capability of the switching entity the attachment request can be redirected to another switching entity out of said pool, which has a matching IMS centralized-services capability. Also, when receiving an attach request, a switching entity can be selected out of said pool, which has a matching centralized-services capability, and the requested attachment can be directed to the selected switching entity.