VLR Duplicate Resolution via Timestamp Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Duplicate Visitor Location Register (VLR) records in telecommunication systems cause disruptions by leading to incorrect Global Title Address (GTA) updates in Home Location Register (HLR), resulting in failed calls and undelivered messages, and current solutions are highly intrusive and time-consuming, causing significant network load.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that identify and delete non-active VLR records by comparing 'last active timestamp' information across multiple VLR records, updating the HLR with the correct GTA to point to the active VLR record, thereby minimizing network impact and ensuring accurate subscriber registration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HLR MAP Reset procedure is used to force MSS/MSC to send update location message, then duplicate VLR records can be resolved, but network signaling load increases significantly and execution time extends to hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential data elements (subscriber identity and timestamp) needed to identify duplicate VLR records, rather than forcing a complete HLR MAP Reset procedure. This selective extraction allows the system to identify and resolve duplicates by comparing timestamp information from existing VLR records, avoiding the massive signaling overhead of traditional reset procedures while maintaining effective duplicate resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of duplicate VLR records using timestamp comparison before any deletion or update operations. By pre-identifying duplicates through timestamp analysis and only then proceeding with targeted deletions and HLR updates, the system avoids the extensive signaling load of traditional methods that reset entire VLR configurations, executing resolution in minutes rather than hours
2Reliability
If HLR MAP Reset procedure is used to update VLR GTA, then duplicate VLR impact is resolved, but execution time extends to hours in large networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification of duplicate VLR records using timestamp comparison before any deletion or update operations. By pre-identifying duplicates through timestamp analysis and only then proceeding with targeted deletions and HLR updates, the system avoids the extensive signaling load of traditional methods that reset entire VLR configurations, executing resolution in minutes rather than hours
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by updating only the specific HLR records that correspond to identified duplicate VLR records, rather than performing blanket updates across all VLRs. The system selectively updates GTA information only where duplicates exist, determined by timestamp comparison, thereby dramatically reducing execution time while maintaining complete accuracy in VLR GTA information
3Loss of energy
If timestamp comparison method is used to identify active VLR, then network signaling load is minimized, but the system must accurately compare timestamps across distributed VLRs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a standardized timestamp format and comparison methodology that works across all distributed VLRs in the network regardless of location or operator. The timestamp mechanism serves multiple functions: it records the last active time, enables duplicate identification, and provides a universal sorting criterion for determining the active VLR, thereby simplifying cross-VLR comparisons without requiring complex synchronization protocols
Data Source
AI summary
There is a method and system of removing duplicate Visitor Location Register (VLR) records, and updating the VLR's Global Title Address (GTA) in their Home Location Register (HLR) to avoid duplicate VLR impact to customer service, which may result in missed inbound calls and delayed inbound SMS. Duplicate VLR GTA means that one subscriber has more than one VLR record in different Mobile Switching Stations (MSS) or Mobile Switching Centers (MSC). The valid VLR is identified by comparing the “last active timestamp” of the same subscriber identity (IMSI, or MSISDN, or MDN) of VLR records obtained from each MSS/MSC. The VLR that has the most recent “last active timestamp” is used to identify the active/valid VLR which serves the subscriber. Afterwards the non-active VLR records will be deleted, and the VLR's GTA in HLR will be updated as needed.