MME Paging Method Using TAI List for Network Error Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

During network error recovery, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) cannot determine the Tracking Areas (TAs) in which to page a User Equipment (UE) using the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the UE, leading to difficulties in re-establishing network access.

Innovation Solution

The MME delivers a new TAI List to the UE and pages the UE using the IMSI in Tracking Areas corresponding to both the existing and new TAI Lists, determining and inserting the relevant TAI information into paging messages sent to base stations, ensuring that the UE can be paged even if the effectiveness of these lists is uncertain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the MME pages the UE using the IMSI during network error recovery, then the UE can be reached and network access can be re-established, but the MME cannot determine the Tracking Areas in which to page the UE

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork access re-establishmentVSAvoidTAI List validity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The MME performs preliminary actions by determining TAIs from the latest available TAI List before paging the UE with IMSI. This preliminary determination of paging areas allows the MME to initiate the paging process without waiting for complete information about TAI List validity, thus resolving the contradiction between needing to page the UE and not knowing which areas to page.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the MME uses the existing TAI List for paging, then paging can be performed in known areas, but the TAI List may be invalid due to network errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging operationVSAvoidTAI List validity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The MME performs partial paging action by using the existing TAI List to determine TAIs for paging, even though the complete validity of the TAI List cannot be confirmed. This partial use of available information allows paging operations to proceed without complete certainty, balancing ease of operation with acceptable reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the MME allocates a new TAI List to the UE, then the UE has updated tracking area information, but the MME cannot determine whether the new or existing TAI List is effective due to lower layer failure

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTAI List updateVSAvoidTAI List effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The MME performs preliminary determination of TAIs from the latest available TAI List (whether new or existing) before initiating paging with IMSI. This preliminary action allows the system to proceed with paging operations using the most recent information available, without waiting for confirmation of which TAI List is ultimately effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2384035B1Paging method and device
Publication Date: 2018.08.08 CHINA ACAD OF TELECOMM TECH
  • EP2384035B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2384035B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2384035B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A paging method and device are disclosed, and the technical solution includes: determining to page an user equipment (UE) by using international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and before the paging, judging whether tracking area identity list (TAI List) of the UE is stored, and if the judgment result is "no", then paging the UE in the tracking area (TA) served by the base station connected with the local area. Adopting the technical solution enables to effectively resolve the problem of uncertainness of paging an UE in which TAs, wherein the problem exists in the existing technology, and happens when mobility management entity (MME) pages the UE by using IMSI during the process of network error recovery.