MME Pool Migration for LTE User Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment fails to be migrated successfully from a backup MME pool to a local MME pool in LTE/SAE network systems, leading to service disruptions and continuity issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for managing user equipment, where a first MME determines whether the user equipment is within the coverage of a second MME pool and off-loads the equipment when the second MME pool returns to a normal state, releasing S1 and RRC connections, allowing the user equipment to be migrated back to the local MME pool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user equipment is migrated from a local MME pool to a backup MME pool when a fault occurs, then service continuity is maintained, but the user equipment fails to be migrated back to the local MME pool when the fault is recovered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the eNB pre-establish S1-MME connection configurations and maintain readiness to connect to both local and backup MME pools. When the local MME pool recovers, the eNB can quickly re-establish connections without complex migration procedures, enabling seamless UE return to the local pool while maintaining service continuity throughout the fault period.
2Reliability
If an eNB connects to both local and backup MME pools, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the eNB with multi-functional S1-MME connection capabilities that can operate with both local and backup MME pools. The eNB maintains a unified connection management mechanism that can dynamically switch between local and backup pools, making the dual-connection system function as a single reliable entity rather than two separate systems, thereby reducing operational complexity despite enhanced reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus, and system for managing a UE. The method includes: determining, by a first MME, whether a UE accessing the first MME is a UE within coverage of a second MME pool, where the first MME is located in a first MME pool, and the first MME pool is a backup MME pool of the second MME pool; and when the UE is a UE within coverage of the second MME pool and the second MME pool is in a normal state, off-loading, by the first MME, the UE. It can be seen that when the MME in the first MME pool determines that the UE accessing the MME is from the second MME pool and the second MME pool returns to normal, the MME off-loads the UE which is from the second MME pool. In this way, in an RRC establishment procedure, the UE no longer adds information about the MME in the first MME pool to an RRC connection request, so that an eNB may select an MME in the second MME pool for the UE according to a policy of the eNB, and establish an S1-MME connection. The UE is able to return to the second MME pool, thereby solving a problem that a UE fails to be migrated from a backup MME pool to a local MME pool.