MME Bearer Processing for Subscription Data Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE wireless networks, when user subscription data changes, the mobility management entity (MME) or serving general packet radio service supporting node (SGSN) initiates bearer modifications or deletions for numerous users, including those in an idle state, leading to resource wastage due to independent paging, especially when significant subscription data is modified simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A bearer processing method where the MME or SGSN determines whether a signaling connection exists with the user equipment (UE) before initiating a bearer modification or deletion process, thereby avoiding unnecessary paging and resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the MME or SGSN initiates a bearer modification or deletion process for all users whose subscription data has changed, then the bearer process can be completed for all affected users, but unnecessary paging and resource wastage occur when users are in the Idle state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearer process completionVSAvoidnetwork resource wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the state parameter of the bearer processing by introducing a conditional check on the UE's connection state. Instead of uniformly processing all users with changed subscription data, the system now checks whether the UE is in Connected or Idle state, and only initiates bearer modification for users in the Connected state. This parameter-based differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable bearer processing for active users while avoiding unnecessary resource consumption for idle users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the MME or SGSN initiates independent paging for each user in the Idle state to complete bearer modification, then the bearer modification can be achieved, but signaling numbers are wasted and resources are consumed unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearer modification achievementVSAvoidsignaling number waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the Idle state users from the universal bearer modification process. By checking the connection state and identifying users in the Idle state, the system separates them from the Connected state users and excludes them from the bearer modification process. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by ensuring that bearer modification is only performed on users who are currently active and can immediately receive signaling, thereby avoiding unnecessary paging and signaling number waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the MME or SGSN processes subscription data changes for a large number of users simultaneously, then all user data can be updated, but resource wastage increases when many users are in the Idle state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubscription data update efficiencyVSAvoidavailable resource wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality differentiation by treating Connected state users and Idle state users differently in the subscription data update process. Instead of applying a uniform processing approach to all users, the system checks the connection state of each user and applies bearer modification only to those in the Connected state. This local quality approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining high productivity for active users while avoiding resource wastage on idle users, thereby optimizing the overall resource utilization during bulk subscription data updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2480022B1Bearer processing method and mobile management device
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2480022B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2480022B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2480022B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A bearer processing method and a network device are provided. The method includes: determining whether a corresponding user equipment (UE) exists, if user subscription data recorded in a mobile management device is changed; and initiating a bearer modification or deletion process by the mobile management device according to the determining result with regard to whether the UE exists. The mobile management device includes: a storage unit, adapted to record user subscription data; a determination unit, adapted to determine whether a corresponding UE exists, after the user subscription data recorded in the storage unit is changed; and a trigger unit, adapted to initiate a bearer modification or deletion process according to the determining result with respect to whether the UE exists.