Handling Serving Gateway Partial Failures in Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face challenges in effectively handling partial node failures, particularly during Idle Mode Signaling Reduction (ISR), which can lead to interruptions in service and difficulties in re-establishing or deleting affected PDN connections.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method within the MME, PGW, and S4-SGSN nodes to receive and process notifications of partial failures, identify affected user equipment, and send failure notification messages to re-establish or delete PDN connections, ensuring minimal service interruptions by maintaining identification information and applying restrictions during ISR.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If partial node failure handling procedures are implemented during ISR, then service continuity is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the failure handling by identifying specific affected PDN connections through SGW FQ-CSID and MME FQ-CSID identifiers, allowing selective re-establishment or deletion of only the impacted connections rather than handling all connections uniformly. This targeted approach maintains service continuity for unaffected connections while managing complexity through precise failure isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The MME acts as an intermediary node that receives failure notifications from the SGW and coordinates the recovery process by sending failure notification messages to the S4-SGSN. This intermediary role centralizes the failure handling logic, improving service continuity through coordinated recovery while managing network complexity by consolidating control in a single node.
2Reliability
If failure notification messages are sent to re-establish PDN connections, then service delivery is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores FQ-CSID identification information in advance during normal operation, including the SGW FQ-CSID and MME FQ-CSID mappings. When a partial failure occurs, this pre-stored information enables immediate identification of affected PDN connections without requiring additional discovery signaling, thus improving service delivery while minimizing signaling overhead during the recovery phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The failure notification message includes copied identification information (SGW FQ-CSID and MME FQ-CSID) that was previously established during connection setup. By reusing and copying this existing identification data rather than transmitting new or more extensive information, the patent enables efficient PDN connection re-establishment while keeping signaling overhead minimal.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards improved handling during Serving Gateway (SGW) partial failures. Some of the example embodiments are directed towards a Mobility Management Entity (MME) configured to alter a S4 Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (S4-SGSN) that a SGW partial failure has occurred. Some of the example embodiments are directed towards a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) being informed that ISR for a user equipment is activated, this the PGW will save any MME related identification information for a user equipment undergoing a mobility procedure when ISR is activated.