MME Rerouting for Signalling Overhead Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing procedures for MME/SGSN (re)selection and NAS message rerouting in 3GPP systems with dedicated core networks are inefficient, leading to unnecessary signalling and incorrect UE context maintenance.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves communication apparatus and MMEs that can receive and process signalling for establishing communication connections, determine the suitability of dedicated MMEs for serving specific communication devices, and reroute NAS messages accordingly, with mechanisms to handle overload conditions and maintain UE context appropriately.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If existing procedures for MME/SGSN (re)selection and NAS message rerouting are used, then communication devices can be routed to dedicated MMEs, but unnecessary signalling occurs and UE context maintenance becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting efficiencyVSAvoidsignalling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station determines the suitability of the dedicated MME before initiating the rerouting procedure. This preliminary assessment prevents unnecessary signalling by only triggering rerouting when the dedicated MME is actually suitable, thereby resolving the contradiction between routing efficiency and signalling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If existing procedures for MME/SGSN (re)selection and NAS message rerouting are used, then communication devices can be routed to dedicated MMEs, but incorrect UE context maintenance occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting accuracyVSAvoidUE context integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The base station receives feedback information from the dedicated MME regarding its suitability and current load status. This feedback mechanism ensures that routing decisions are based on accurate, up-to-date information, preventing incorrect UE context maintenance while maintaining high routing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically assesses the suitability of the dedicated MME based on current network conditions and device characteristics. This dynamic approach ensures that routing decisions adapt to changing conditions, maintaining both routing accuracy and UE context integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If dedicated MMEs are deployed for specific usage types, then network service differentiation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice differentiationVSAvoidMME selection complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station autonomously determines the suitability of dedicated MMEs using pre-configured criteria and received feedback, without requiring complex device-side selection logic. This self-service approach enables service differentiation through dedicated MMEs while keeping device complexity low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12238820B2Communication system for establishing a connection with a mobility management entity

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 NEC CORP

AI summary

A system is described in which a default mobility management entity (MME) receives, from a base station, a request for setting up a communication connection to a mobile device having an associated usage type. The default MME sends, to the base station and responsive to the request, a message identifying a dedicated MME, to which the request should be re-routed, the dedicated MME having a supported service type corresponding to the usage type associated with the mobile device. The base station sends a response to the default MME, the response indicating whether re-routing to said dedicated MME is was successful or not (e.g. due to an overload of the dedicated MME). If the re-routing was not successful, the default MME attempts to serve the mobile device instead of the dedicated MME.