Group-Based MTC Location Management via Unified Subscription Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

In machine-to-machine communication (M2M) systems, group-based machine type communication (MTC) devices face inefficiencies due to separate location updates from each device within a group, leading to wasted network resources and excessive signaling, resulting in low network control efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for group-based MTC location management, where a home subscriber register and mobility management network element collaborate to update subscription data for all devices in a group using a single location update message, reducing redundant signaling and optimizing network resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If each device in the group initiates a location update request separately, then individual device location accuracy is maintained, but network resources are wasted and signaling transmission increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidnetwork resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges location update requests from multiple MTC devices into a single group-based location update message. The network side receives one location update message containing a group identity instead of processing individual messages from each device, thereby reducing signaling overhead and network resource consumption while maintaining location management capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a universal group identity mechanism that allows a single location update message to serve multiple devices simultaneously. The group identity acts as a universal identifier that represents all MTC devices in the group, enabling the network to perform location updates for the entire group through a single operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If each device in the group initiates a location update request separately, then individual device management is precise, but signaling transmission between network and device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice management precisionVSAvoidsignaling transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual location update requests into a single group-based request. Instead of transmitting separate signaling messages for each device, the network receives one consolidated location update message that represents the entire group, significantly reducing the volume of signaling transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If the network processes each device separately, then individual device anomaly detection is accurate, but network control efficiency over the group decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanomaly detection accuracyVSAvoidnetwork control efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the processing of individual devices into a unified group-based processing mechanism. The network processes location updates and anomaly detections for the entire group simultaneously through a single message handling workflow, improving network control efficiency while maintaining the ability to identify and manage individual device anomalies within the group context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2651153B1Location management method for group-based machine type communication (MTC) devices and device therefor
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 HUAWEI DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP2651153B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2651153B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2651153B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for location management of a group-based machine type communication MTC device. The method includes: receiving a location update message sent by a mobility management network element, where the location update message includes a device identity and/or a group identity of a first MTC device; acquiring the group identity of the first MTC device according to the location update message, and updating subscription data of all MTC devices in a group corresponding to the group identity; and sending subscription data of the group to the mobility management network element, where the group subscription data includes the group identity and/or a device identity list of all the MTC devices in the group. An embodiment of the present invention further provides a corresponding device, thereby saving network resources, reducing signaling transmission between the network and the device, and improving the efficiency of the network control over the group of devices.