MME Selection via Base Station Intermediary for Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, there is a need for an efficient method for user equipment (UE) to connect with a mobility management entity (MME) that supports supplementary functions, particularly in scenarios where the initial MME is overloaded or lacks the necessary functionality.
Innovation Solution
The method involves the base station requesting identity information from a mobility management entity, determining whether to allocate this information based on the entity's functionality and load status, and if not, requesting it from another MME, allowing the UE to attempt a connection with the alternative MME.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the UE connects to the initial MME, then the connection establishment is simple and fast, but the MME may be overloaded or lack the necessary supplementary functions
Solution Approach 1:
The base station acts as an intermediary between the UE and MMEs. It receives the connection request from the UE, selects an appropriate MME based on capability matching and load status, and forwards the request to the selected MME. This intermediary role allows the system to maintain simple connection procedures while ensuring reliable connections to suitable MMEs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the base station receives information about MME capabilities and load status, uses this feedback to select the most appropriate MME, and can redirect connections if the initial MME is unsuitable. This feedback loop ensures connection reliability without significantly increasing connection establishment time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the MME supports all supplementary functions, then the UE can access all services, but the device complexity and network configuration become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MME population into multiple specialized MMEs, each supporting specific supplementary functions (e.g., MTC-MME for machine type communication, CIoT-MME for critical IoT services). This segmentation allows the network to provide diverse services without requiring every MME to support all functions, thereby reducing individual MME complexity while maintaining overall network versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station implements a universal selection mechanism that can route different types of UEs with different service requirements to appropriate MMEs. The base station maintains knowledge of multiple MME capabilities and dynamically selects the most suitable MME based on the UE's service needs, achieving multi-functionality at the network level without increasing individual node complexity.
3Device complexity
If the MME handles all connection requests, then the network structure is simple, but the MME load increases and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection handling workload by distributing UEs with different service requirements to different specialized MMEs. This segmentation prevents any single MME from becoming a bottleneck, as each MME handles only the type of traffic it is optimized for, thereby maintaining high processing capacity across the network while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic load balancing where the base station continuously monitors MME load status and capability information, and dynamically selects the most appropriate MME for each connection request. This dynamic selection allows the network to adapt to changing load conditions and maintain optimal processing capacity utilization across multiple MMEs.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and a connection method between user equipment and a mobility management entity and comprises: selecting a mobility management entity and requesting identification information for user equipment by a base station when the user equipment is connected; determining whether to assign identification information by the mobility management entity; and if the identification information is not assigned, selecting another mobility management entity by the mobility management entity, assigning identification information to the user equipment by the other mobility management entity, and performing a connection with the other mobility management entity by the user equipment. According to the present invention, user equipment can be efficiently connected with a mobility management entity in a wireless communication system.