Primary Tracking Area Selection for Wireless Signaling Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face high signaling loads due to tracking area update requests and paging, which increase costs and network load, and existing solutions do not effectively leverage individual user equipment mobility patterns.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying a primary tracking area based on long-term statistics, such as probability of page response and time spent in each area, to reduce signaling load by prioritizing paging and updates in areas where the user equipment is most likely to be located, thereby reducing the number of tracking areas that need to be paged and updated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network pages user equipment in all tracking areas on the TA list, then the user equipment can be reached regardless of location, but the signaling load increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tracking area list into two parts: a primary tracking area (smallest subset) and secondary tracking areas (remaining areas). The network first pages the user equipment in the primary tracking area, and only if no response is received does it page in secondary tracking areas. This segmentation reduces the number of simultaneous paging operations from all tracking areas to just one primary area initially, significantly reducing signaling load while maintaining reachability.
2Loss of information
If the network requires tracking area updates when user equipment moves between tracking areas, then the network maintains accurate location information, but the registration signaling load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the tracking area update requirement selective rather than universal. The network configures the user equipment with a primary tracking area where updates are not required, and only requires updates when moving to secondary tracking areas. This means the strict location tracking (high information accuracy) is applied locally only where necessary (secondary areas), while the primary area tolerates less precise location information, thereby reducing overall registration signaling load.
3Measurement precision
If the network configures individual tracking area lists for each user equipment, then location tracking precision is improved, but the network complexity and configuration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of tracking area list configuration from completely individualized to a standardized two-part structure (primary + secondary areas). Instead of creating unique TA lists for each user equipment based on their specific mobility patterns, the network uses a uniform configuration approach where all user equipment receive a primary tracking area and secondary tracking areas. This parameter change simplifies network configuration and management while still providing improved location tracking precision compared to traditional approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and arrangement in a data collection network node (130, 140) for gathering information to be used for identification of at least one primary tracking area associated with a user equipment and a method and arrangement in a core network node (101) for selecting at least one tracking area identity identifying at least one tracking area to be used as at least one primary tracking area for a UE are provided. A tracking area identity is retrieved. Information about usage of a tracking area identified by the retrieved tracking area identity is registered. A measure for the user equipment being located in the tracking area is determined. Said at least one tracking area identity identifying at least one tracking area to be used as a primary tracking area is determined, if the measure exceeds a threshold. A method and an arrangement in a second network node (130) for paging a user equipment are provided. When paging the user equipment (140), the second network node first pages the user equipment (140) in the primary tracking area and, if the first page fails, then pages the user equipment (140) in other tracking areas.