Mobile Network Signaling Forwarding During Location Updates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile network technologies do not effectively handle terminating circuit switched signaling services when a terminal changes its service area and performs a location update to a different control node during the call setup, leading to potential service disruptions and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enable successful handling of terminating circuit switched signaling services by detecting location updates and forwarding signaling information between control nodes in a mobile network, ensuring seamless service delivery without impacting legacy systems or subscriber databases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal performs a location update to a different control node during call setup, then the terminal can maintain mobility and change service areas, but the terminating circuit switched signaling service may be disrupted or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a signaling forwarding mechanism where the first control node acts as an intermediary to forward signaling messages to the second control node. This mediator approach ensures that signaling services are not lost during location updates, as the forwarding node bridges the gap between the old and new control nodes, maintaining service reliability while allowing terminal mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by establishing signaling forwarding relationships before the terminal completes its location update. The network proactively sets up the forwarding path from the first control node to the second control node, ensuring that signaling services are already in place before the terminal switches service areas, thus preventing service disruptions.
2Reliability
If signaling information is forwarded between control nodes, then service continuity is maintained during location updates, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signaling forwarding relationship is implemented dynamically, being established only when needed during location updates rather than being a permanent static configuration. This dynamic approach allows the network to maintain simplicity during normal operation while automatically activating the forwarding mechanism when a terminal changes control nodes, thus balancing service continuity with network complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the signaling forwarding function as a separate, optional mechanism that operates independently from the core control node functionality. By taking out this specific function, the patent allows control nodes to maintain their primary simple roles while adding the forwarding capability only where and when needed, minimizing the increase in overall network complexity.
3Reliability
If the first control node forwards signaling information to the second control node, then service quality is maintained during location updates, but signaling processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signaling forwarding mechanism is designed to skip unnecessary processing steps by directly forwarding signaling messages from the first control node to the second control node without requiring full processing at intermediate nodes. This rushing through approach minimizes the time added to signaling processing while ensuring service quality is maintained during the location update transition.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, nodes, computer programs and a mobile network for handling a terminating circuit switched signaling service to a terminal in a mobile network are described. A method of handling a terminating circuit switched signaling service to a terminal in a mobile network is described. The signaling service is distinct from a call. The mobile network comprises a first control node and a second control node. The method is performed by the first control node. The method comprises receiving signaling information for terminating the circuit switched signaling service to the terminal, subsequent to the step of receiving, detecting that the terminal has requested a location update from a second control node of the mobile network, and, based on the step of detecting, forwarding the received signaling information to the second control node.