IP Address Assignment in Mobile Communication Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication networks, the limited availability of IP addresses poses a challenge in dynamically managing mobility, leading to inefficiencies and overhead in assigning and maintaining IP addresses for Mobile Nodes (MN) as they move between different Mobility Agents (MAs), resulting in suboptimal routing and increased traffic in the core network.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for efficiently assigning IP addresses in a dynamic distributed mobility management environment by comparing the number of assigned IP addresses with the preset limit, identifying pre-emptable sessions, and releasing or reassigning IP addresses to maintain seamless communication, using a Target-Mobility Agent (T-MA) and Source-Mobility Agent (S-MA) to manage IP address continuity during handovers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IP addresses are assigned to Mobile Nodes during handover in a mobile communication network, then communication continuity is maintained, but IP address exhaustion occurs because IP addresses are a limited resource
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by having the Source-Mobility Agent identify and prepare pre-emptable sessions before handover occurs. The S-MA scans the UE context to identify sessions that can be pre-empted and prepares IP address release in advance, so that when handover happens, IP addresses are already available for reassignment, maintaining communication continuity without exhausting the IP address pool.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of IP address allocation by introducing the concept of pre-emptable vs. non-pre-emptable sessions. By dynamically changing which sessions can have their IP addresses released, the system optimizes IP address utilization. The S-MA evaluates session characteristics and determines pre-emptability, allowing flexible reassignment of IP addresses during handover while maintaining necessary communications.
2Productivity
If the Mobile Node compares total assigned IP addresses with preset limits and requests IP resolution, then IP address assignment efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional comparison and request mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The Mobile Node performs self-service by autonomously comparing its total assigned IP addresses with the preset limit and deciding whether to send an IP resolution request. This self-service mechanism allows the MN to manage its own IP address allocation status without requiring constant network intervention, improving assignment efficiency while the complexity is managed through automated decision-making rather than manual configuration.
3Productivity
If the Source-Mobility Agent scans UE context to identify pre-emptable sessions, then IP address reallocation efficiency is improved, but information processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Source-Mobility Agent extracts only the necessary information from the UE context - specifically identifying which sessions are pre-emptable and their associated IP addresses. Rather than processing the entire UE context, the S-MA takes out only the relevant session information needed for IP address reallocation decisions, improving reallocation efficiency while minimizing information processing overhead by focusing on critical data elements.
Data Source
AI summary
When a Mobile Node (MN) is assigned IP addresses, the number of which is greater than or equal to the preset number of IP addresses that the MN is capable of being assigned with, the MN identifies information on the pre-emption vulnerability of each session associated with an IP address, and releases an IP address which enables a disconnection of a session. When there are multiple IP addresses associated with the pre-emptable sessions, a consideration is given to multiple conditions related to which IP address is to be selected, one IP address is selected, and the relevant IP address is released. When any IP address cannot be released, a new session is associated with an IP address which can give the smallest overhead to the MN and the network among the existing IP addresses, so that an IP address can be efficiently assigned.