Location Management Entity Stop Paging for Signaling Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current location server systems, such as Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), face inefficiencies when requesting location information from Mobility Management Entities (MME) or Serving Gateway Support Nodes (SGSN), as they do not determine the Radio Access Technology (RAT) of a terminal, leading to unnecessary paging across different RANs, wasting resources and slowing response times.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where the first location management entity (LME) determines the connection state of a terminal and transmits a stop paging message if connected, reducing unnecessary paging and improving response times by directly obtaining and transmitting location information to the GMLC.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the location server sends location requests to multiple LMEs without determining terminal connection state, then the terminal can be located even if connected to another RAN, but unnecessary paging occurs across different RANs wasting resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation information retrievalVSAvoidsignaling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The LME determines the terminal's connection state before initiating paging operations. By checking whether the terminal is already connected to another RAN in advance, the system can prevent unnecessary paging actions, thereby reducing signaling overhead and energy consumption while maintaining reliable location information retrieval

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the location server sends location requests to multiple LMEs, then the terminal can be located regardless of connection state, but the response time increases due to unnecessary paging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation information retrievalVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The LME performs a preliminary check of the terminal's connection state before initiating paging. This advance determination allows the system to skip unnecessary paging steps when the terminal is already connected, thereby reducing the overall response time while ensuring location information is still retrieved reliably

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the LME pages the terminal without checking connection state, then the terminal can be reached in idle state, but wasteful paging occurs when terminal is already connected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal reachabilityVSAvoidsystem efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9801042B2Systems and methods for a location server to efficiently obtain location information from a location management entity

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

In one aspect there is provided a method performed by a first location management entity, LME (e.g., an MME or an SGSN), for providing location information to a location server (e.g., a GMLC). The method includes the first LME receiving from the location server a first request for location information pertaining to a terminal. The method also includes the first LME determining whether the terminal is in a connected state. The method further includes the first LME, in response to determining that the terminal is in a connected state, performing a method comprising: i) transmitting a stop paging message to a second LME; ii) obtaining the requested location information pertaining to the terminal; and iii) transmitting the obtained location information to the location server.