Tracking Area List Allocation Using Historical Movement Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

In traditional 3G mobile communication systems, User Equipment (UE) frequently updates its Tracking Area List due to high-speed movement, leading to excessive signaling and resource wastage, as the Mobility Management Entity (MME) lacks sufficient information to allocate an appropriate new list based on a single Tracking Area Identity (TA ID).

Innovation Solution

The method involves receiving a designated Tracking Area Identity from the UE and obtaining history information from the old Mobility Management Entity to estimate the UE's movement direction and speed, allowing for the allocation of a new Tracking Area List that reduces signaling and improves resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the MME allocates a single TA ID to the UE, then the area coverage for the UE is limited, but the UE frequently traverses multiple TAs causing excessive TA update procedures and signaling overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility management accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the Tracking Area into multiple smaller sub-areas, each with its own TA ID. Instead of allocating a single TA ID that covers a large area, the network divides the coverage area into segments (sub-TAs) and allocates multiple sub-TA IDs to the UE. This segmentation allows the UE to remain within a smaller allocated area for longer periods, reducing the frequency of TA update procedures and signaling overhead while maintaining accurate mobility management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If the MME allocates a TA List containing multiple TA IDs, then the area coverage is increased and TA updates are reduced, but the MME lacks sufficient information to allocate an appropriate TA List

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidmovement prediction information
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE report its movement trajectory information to the network before the MME makes allocation decisions. The UE provides historical movement data including previously visited TA IDs and movement patterns. The MME uses this pre-collected information to predict future movement areas and proactively allocates an optimized TA List that anticipates where the UE will move, thereby reducing future TA updates while having sufficient information to make accurate allocations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the MME allocates a new TA List based on a single TA ID, then the allocation process is simple, but the allocated areas are possibly inappropriate causing multiple location updates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallocation process complexityVSAvoidnetwork resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by establishing a closed-loop system where the UE continuously reports its current TA ID and movement trajectory to the MME. The MME uses this feedback information to evaluate the effectiveness of previously allocated TA Lists and to dynamically adjust future allocations. The feedback mechanism provides the MME with accurate real-time information about UE movement patterns, enabling optimized TA List allocation that reduces location updates and improves network resource utilization without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8378814B2Allocating method of moving area list of user equipment and corresponding apparatus
Publication Date: 2013.02.19 DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD
  • US8378814B2 patent drawing
  • US8378814B2 patent drawing
  • US8378814B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method of allocating the moving area list of user equipment which relating to wireless communication technology. Interacting signaling between network and UE is reduced. The utilization efficiency of network resource is enhanced. The method includes, receiving the area ID which is pre-defined from UE, acquiring the history information of the last allocated moving area list from the mobility management entity (MME) which allocated the last moving area list, allocating new moving area list according to the history information and the received area ID. Accordingly, a MME and UE are disclosed.