JP3065051B2 - Mobile communication system, mobile communication method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, a mobile communication method, and a recording medium. The present invention relates to a mobile communication system and a mobile communication method for performing a health check of a home location register using a common line signal, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A health check system is an active HL.
If the R (Home Location Register) fails for some reason and the service cannot be provided,
The backup HLR automatically detects this, provides a service as a substitute for the working HLR, and continues to provide the service as a whole network.

A conventional health check system uses a LAN
Above, signals were transmitted and received between the standby HLR and the working HLR.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional system. Spare HLR12
Transmits a health check signal periodically (for example, every two minutes) to a local area network (LAN (local area network)).
current HLR via area network)) 10
Send to 11. When the working HLR 11 receives the health check signal, the working HLR 11 similarly sends the response signal via the LAN 10 to the standby HLR.
LR12 is returned.

[0005] While receiving the response signal to the health check signal, the backup HLR 12 determines that the working HLR 11 is normal. The current HLR 11 is a CPU (centra
If a physical failure of an Iprocessing unit or an OS (operating system) level failure occurs and a health check signal cannot be received or a response signal cannot be returned, the spare HLR 12 does not receive a response signal within a prescribed time. It is determined that a failure has occurred in the working HLR 11 from. Then, when this continues for a specified number of times (for example, three times), the standby HLR 12 automatically starts automatic switching for the alternative operation of the active HLR 11.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of a conventional mobile communication network. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication network includes base stations 18 and 19 that communicate with a mobile device 20 and an exchange 1
5 to 17, the signal repeaters 13 and 14, and the current HLR 1
1, the spare HLR 12, the working HLR 11, and the spare HL.
It comprises a LAN 10 for performing data transmission with the R12.

Generally, the HLR stores / manages subscriber data (for example, authentication information and mobile station location information), and accesses the subscriber data to respond to various requests / inquiries from exchanges. Is returning. If the HLR fails, access to subscriber data becomes impossible and mobile communication services cannot be provided. Therefore, in the case of the conventional example shown in FIG. 8, the HLR is a working HLR (an HLR that normally provides a service) 11
And the standby HLR (the HL that performs alternative operation in the event of a failure in the current HLR)
R) 12.

In normal times, each of the exchanges 15, 16, 17
Various requests / inquiries are made to the working HLR 11, and the backup HLR 12 is connected to the working HLR 11 via the LAN 10.
Back up 11 subscriber data and
A health check is periodically performed via the AN 10 to check the normality of the working HLR 11.

If the result of the health check is abnormal, the backup HLR 12 determines that a failure has occurred in the active HLR 11, and automatically starts the alternative operation using the subscriber data of the active HLR 11 which has been backed up. . For each of the exchanges 15 to 17, various requests / inquiries are sent from the current HLR 11 to the backup HLR 12
Request to change the routing. As a result, provision of the mobile communication service is continued by the backup HLR 12 instead of the working HLR 11.

[0010]

However, in the conventional health check system, since communication is performed via the LAN, the standby system may perform an alternative operation of the active system due to a failure of only the LAN, or the active HLR may be configured. No. 7; a queue between the common line signal control unit and the call processing control unit; When there is a problem in the 7 common line communication control unit, there is a problem that it may be difficult to detect a failure.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to improve the reliability of a health check.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A mobile communication system as set forth in claim 1 includes an exchange, at least one working home location register for storing subscriber and mobile station information, and its spare. Home location
A mobile communication system for controlling communication between mobile stations in a mobile communication network comprising a register and a home location register. 7 Control the levels 1 and 2 of the common line signal system and send and receive common line signals.
o. 7 common line signal device, 7 Control of level 3 or higher of the common line signal system to send and receive common line signals
o. 7. A common line communication control unit, a call processing control unit for detecting a health check signal from a common line signal received via the first common line communication control unit, and a LAN control for controlling communication via a local area network A LAN communication control unit for transmitting and receiving a health check signal and a response signal to and from the LAN via the LAN control device; No. 7 common line communication control unit, call processing control unit, And a health check control unit for checking a queue stack provided between the common line communication control unit and the call processing control unit.
The health check signal is transmitted to the working home location register via the LAN, and the working home location register receives the health check signal via the LAN, and the health check control unit of the working home location register Is No. 7 common line communication control unit,
A call processing control unit; 7. Check whether the queue stack provided between the common line communication control unit and the call processing control unit is normal or abnormal. If the queue stack is normal, a response signal indicating normal is output. In this case, a response signal indicating an abnormality is returned to the spare home location register via the LAN. A mobile communication method according to claim 2, comprising a switch, at least one working home location register for storing subscriber and mobile information, and a spare home location register for the same. If the home location register is no. No. 7 which controls levels 1 and 2 of the common line signal system and transmits and receives common line signals. 7 common line signal device, No. 7 which controls level 3 or higher of the common line signal system and transmits and receives common line signals. 7. A common line communication control unit, a call processing control unit for detecting a health check signal from the common line signal received via the first common line communication control unit, and controlling communication via a local area network. A LAN controller, a LAN for transmitting and receiving the health check signal and the response signal to and from the LAN via the LAN controller;
A communication control unit; 7 common line communication control unit, the call processing control unit, 7. A mobile communication system for controlling communication between mobile stations in a mobile communication network comprising: a common line communication control section; and a health check control section for checking a queue stack provided between the common line communication control section and the call processing control section. Wherein the spare home location register sends the health check signal to the working home location register via the LAN, and the working home location register is , Upon receiving the health check signal via the LAN, the health check control unit of the current home location register sets the No. 7 common line communication control unit, the call processing control unit, 7. Check whether the queue stack provided between the common line communication control unit and the call processing control unit is normal or abnormal, and if it is normal, send a response signal indicating that it is normal In the case of an abnormality, a response signal indicating the abnormality is returned to the spare home location register via the LAN. A recording medium according to a third aspect is characterized by recording a program capable of executing the mobile communication method according to the second aspect. In the mobile communication system, the mobile communication method, and the recording medium according to the present invention, the spare home location register includes a LAN.
The health check signal is transmitted to the working home location register via the LAN, and the working home location register receives the health check signal via the LAN, and the health check control unit of the working home location register Is No. 7 common line communication control unit,
A call processing control unit; 7. Check whether the queue stack provided between the common line communication control unit and the call processing control unit is normal or abnormal. If the queue stack is normal, a response signal indicating normal is output. If so, a response signal indicating an abnormality is returned to the spare home location register via the LAN.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a home location for storing / managing information (hereinafter referred to as "subscriber data") of a subscriber or a mobile device (a cellular phone held by the subscriber) in a mobile communication network. In a mobile communication system having a redundant configuration of registers (hereinafter, referred to as HLR),
No. HLR health check. 7 is performed using common line signals. A mobile communication network in a mobile communication system mainly includes a base station for receiving radio waves from a mobile station, an exchange accommodating the base station, and an HL for managing subscriber data.
R, a signal relay station for relaying signals between exchanges and between the exchange and the HLR. Each is No. No. 7 exchanges signals by the common line signal system, so-called No. 7
A network configuration connected by seven common signal links and using a signal relay station is generally called a semi-compliant network.

The configuration and operation of a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication system includes an exchange 15, signal repeaters 13 and 14, a working HLR 11, a standby HLR 12, and a LAN 10. Arrows 31 and 32
Arrows 33 and 34 indicate the exchange of the health check signal.
Is the No. between the exchange 15 and the working HLR 11. 7 shows the exchange of common line signals. Here, for simplicity of illustration and description, only one exchange 15 is shown.

Switch 15 and working HLR 11 and spare HL
R12 is directly No. It is connected via the signal relay station 13 and the signal relay station 14 without being connected by the 7 common line signal link, and has a configuration called a semi-compliant network.

The signal relay stations 13 and 14 are no. The routing process is performed at level 3 (MTP level) of the 7 common line signaling system.

FIG. 2 shows a working HLR 11 and a spare HLR 12.
Represents the internal block configuration. The working HLR 11 and the backup HLR 12 are respectively provided in the processing block 40 in the HLR.
And No. 7 common line signal device 44.

The HLR internal processing block 40 includes a health check control unit 41, a call processing control unit 42, No. 7 common line communication control unit 43. No. 7 common line signaling device 44 The control of levels 1 and 2 of the No. 7 common channel signal system is performed. The 7-common-line communication control unit 43 controls a higher level (MTP / SCCP / TCAP on the recommendation). Further, the call processing control unit 42
The higher level is controlled, and the health check control unit 41 takes over the processing of the health check signal.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, a normal operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and then, with reference to FIG.
The operation when an R failure occurs will be described.

In FIG. 1, in normal times, when a subscriber originates and receives a call, moves a position, and the like, the exchange 15 operates the signal relay station 1.
No. 3 for request / inquiry to the current HLR 11 via the signal relay station 14 or the signal relay station 14. 7 Transmit common line signal. The working HLR 11 transmits a response signal to the request / inquiry transmitted from the exchange 15 to the exchange 1
Return to 5 In normal times, the exchange 15 sends the No. 7 No common line signal is sent.

Under these circumstances, the spare HLR 12
Starts a health check periodically (for example, at two minute intervals), and sends No. 7 as in the case of transmitting the common channel signal, the signal relay station 13 or the signal relay station 14
, And sends a health check signal to the working HLR 11. When the active HLR 11 receives the health check signal transmitted from the backup HLR 12, it returns a response signal to the health check signal to the backup HLR 12. The backup HLR 12 that has received the response signal determines that the working HLR 11 is normal.

Next, the internal configuration and operation of the working HLR 11 will be described with reference to FIG. Spare HLR12
Is the same as that of the working HLR 11, so only the internal block structure and operation of the working HLR 11 will be described here.
Illustration and description of 2 will be omitted as appropriate.

First, the working HLR 11 will be described. No. transmitted from the exchange 15 via the signal relay stations 13 and 14. No. 7 common line signal is 7 common line signaling device 44.

No. 7 common line signal device 44 receives the received No. 7 signal. No. 7 common line signal. 7 common line communication control unit 43
Hand over to No. 7 common line communication control unit 43 performs reception processing in each layer (MTP / SCCP / TCAP),
If the signal is for a normal call process, this No. 7 The common line signal is delivered to the call processing control unit 42. The call processing control unit 42
The delivered No. 7 Detect the signal type of the common line signal,
A predetermined call processing operation is performed according to the signal type.

Then, based on the result of the call processing operation, the response destination is set as the transmission source exchange 15, and the response signal is edited.
No. 7 requests the common line communication control unit 43 to transmit a signal. No. 7 common line communication control unit 43, each layer (M
TP / SCCP / TCAP), and N
o. 7 The transmission signal is delivered to the common line signaling device 44. N
o. The 7 common line signaling device 44 sends out the received transmission signal to the exchange 15 which is the response destination.

Regarding the reception of the health check signal sent from the standby HLR 12, the processing up to the call processing control unit 42 is the same as that of the No. 1 sent from the exchange 15. This is similar to the case of 7 common line signals. When the call processing control unit 12 checks the signal type and determines that the signal type is a health check signal, the call processing control unit 12
This No. 7 The processing of the common line signal is not performed by itself, but is delivered to the health check control unit 41, and the health check control unit 41 takes over the processing.

The health check control unit 41 receives the No. supplied from the call processing control unit 42. 7) Edit the health check response signal based on the common line signal, and request the call processing control unit 42 to transmit the response signal. The previous signal transmission from the call processing control unit 42 is the same as the case of transmitting the response signal to the exchange 15, except that the response destination is the backup HLR 12 of the transmission source.

Next, the operation of the standby HLR 12 will be described. As described above with reference to FIG. 1, in normal times, the backup HLR 12 periodically performs a health check. In practice, the health check control unit 41 edits the health check signal, and requests the call processing control unit 42 to transmit the health check signal. At this time, the health check control unit 4
1 also starts counting the response timing.

The call processing control unit 12 edits the health check signal supplied from the health check control unit 41 so that the transmission destination is the current HLR 11, and then edits the health check signal. 7 to the common line communication control unit 43 to request transmission of a health check signal.

No. 7 common line communication control unit 43 performs transmission processing in each layer (MTP / SCCP / TCAP),
No. 7 The transmission signal (health check signal) is delivered to the common line signaling device 44. No. 7 common line signal device 44
No. The transmission signal received from the common line communication control unit 43 is transmitted.

This transmission signal reaches the working HLR 11 via the signal relay station 14 (path 32 in FIG. 1). Working H
The processing of receiving the health check signal and the processing of returning the response of the LR 11 are as described above. The response signal returned from the working HLR 11 is No. 7 common line signaling device 44. No. 7 common line signal device 44 converts the received signal into No. 7 signal. 7 to the common line communication control unit 43. N
o. 7 common line communication control unit 43, each layer (MTP / SC
In the case of a normal call processing signal, the received signal is passed to the call processing control unit 42. The processing up to this point is the same as the case of the reception processing in the working HLR 11.

The call processing control unit 42 checks the signal type, and if the signal type is a health check response signal, the call processing control unit 41 causes the health check control unit 41 to take over the processing. When determining that the health check response signal is normal, the health check control unit 41 resets the response timing count and waits until the next cycle starts.

Next, an operation when a failure occurs in the working HLR 11 will be described with reference to FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, arrows 31, 32 are dotted lines,
As shown by arrows 51 and 52, the No. The exchange of the 7 common line signals is not exchange between the exchange 15 and the working HLR 11, but exchange between the exchange 15 and the backup HLR 12.

When a failure occurs in the working HLR 11 (in FIG. 3, the working HLR 11 is overwritten with "x"), a health check signal is exchanged between the backup HLR 12 and the working HLR 11 which have been normally performed until then. But,
Abnormal termination occurs because the current HLR 11 cannot receive or cannot return a response signal (dotted arrows 31 and 32 in FIG. 3).

The health check controller 4 of the standby HLR 12
1 stores this abnormal end, and performs n consecutive times (for example, n =
If the abnormality continues only in 3), it is determined that the working HLR 11 has failed. The spare HLR 12 is connected to the LAN 1
In order to perform the alternative operation using the subscriber data of the active HLR 11 that has been backed up via the “0”, the automatic switching process is started.

During the automatic switching process, the spare HLR 12
Sends a routing change request to the exchange 15 so as to change various requests / inquiries from the working HLR 11 to the backup HLR 12. As a result,
As shown by arrows 51 and 52, exchange 15 and spare H
An exchange is performed between the LRs 12.

As described above, the following effects can be obtained by using the above embodiment.

The first effect is that the following faults, which have conventionally been difficult to detect, can be detected or made easier. (1) No. of the current HLR 11 7 common line communication control unit 43
Failure detection. (2) Detection of a failure in the call processing control unit 42 of the working HLR 11. (3) No. of the current HLR 11 7 common line communication control unit 43
Detection of a queue stack abnormality between the call processing controller 42 and the call processing controller 42.

The second effect is that the standby system does not perform the alternative operation of the active system due to the failure of only the LAN. That is, as in the case of the request / inquiry from the exchange, the health check serving as the basis of the automatic switching function
o. By using the 7 common line signaling method, the reliability of the health check can be improved.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a spare HLR 12 is provided for one working HLR 11, but a plurality of working HLRs 11 may be provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of another embodiment of the mobile communication system of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a working HLR 61 is newly provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. The spare HLR 12 is the active HLR 11, 61.
When a failure occurs in at least one of the above, the alternative operation is performed. Even with such a configuration, the same effects as those described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 can be obtained.

Also, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the network configuration is a semi-compliant network. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the exchanges 15 and 16, the active HLR 11, the standby HLR 1
No. 2 is directly applied to No. 2 respectively. A corresponding network connected by seven common line signal links may be used.

In each of the above embodiments,
No. No. 7 by performing a health check using the common line signal. No. 7 common line communication control unit 43 failure, call processing control unit 42 failure, 7, the failure of the queue stack between the common line communication control unit 43 and the call processing control unit 42 is detected. However, as in the case of the conventional example shown in FIG. There is also a method of performing the same as before. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the current HLR receiving the health check signal
The health check control unit 41 of No. 11 7 common line communication control unit 43, call processing control unit 42, 7 means for newly confirming the normality of the queue stack between the common line communication control unit 43 and the call processing control unit 42 will be provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the case of this embodiment, the processing block 80 within the HLR is 7, a common line communication control unit 43, a call processing control unit 42, a health check control unit 41, and a LAN communication control unit 81.
Then, the health check control unit 41 transmits a response signal to the LAN 10 via the LAN communication control unit 81 and the LAN control device 82.

When the active HLR 11 receives the health check signal via the LAN 10, each of the normalities (No. 7 common line communication control unit 43, call processing control unit 4)
2, No. 7 common line communication control unit 43 and call processing control unit 42
The normal response signal is returned to the spare HLR 12 via the LAN 10 if everything is normal, and the abnormal response signal is sent if an abnormality is detected somewhere. The data is returned to the backup HLR 12 via the LAN 10.

As described above, the spare HLR 12 is assigned the No. of the working HLR 11. No. 7 common line communication control unit 43 failure, call processing control unit 42 failure, 7 common line communication control unit 43
It is possible to detect the occurrence of a failure in the queue stack between the call processing controller 42 and the call processing controller 42.

In the above embodiments, the case where the number of active HLRs is one or two has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

The specific numerical values used in the above embodiments are examples, and the present invention is not limited to these numerical values.

[0050]

As described above, according to the mobile communication system, the mobile communication method, and the recording medium according to the present invention, the spare home location register has the LAN.
And sends a health check signal to the current home location register via the LAN. When the current home location register receives the health check signal via the LAN, the health check control unit of the current home location register Is No. 7 common line communication control unit,
A call processing control unit; 7. Check whether the queue stack provided between the common line communication control unit and the call processing control unit is normal or abnormal. If the queue stack is normal, a response signal indicating normal is output. In this case, a response signal indicating an abnormality is returned to the spare home location register via the LAN, so that the reliability of the health check can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an embodiment of a mobile communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of internal processing blocks of a working HLR 11 and a backup HLR 12 of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a working H in the mobile communication system of the present invention.
It is a figure for explaining operation at the time of abnormalities occurring in LR11.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of still another embodiment of the mobile communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of still another embodiment of the mobile communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of still another embodiment of the mobile communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a working HLR in a conventional mobile communication system.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining exchange of a health check between the HLR 11 and a backup HLR 12.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a conventional mobile communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 LAN 11, 61 Active HLR 12 Spare HLR 13, 14 Signal relay station 15, 16, 17 Switch 18, 19 Base station 20 Mobile station 40, 80 HLR internal processing block 41 Health check control unit 42 Call processing control unit 43 No. 7 common line communication control unit 44 No. 7 common line signaling device 81 LAN communication control unit 82 LAN control device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04B ⁷ /24-7/26 H04B 17/00-17/02 H04Q 7/06-7/38

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A mobile station in a mobile telecommunications network comprising an exchange, at least one working home location register for storing subscriber and mobile station information, and a spare home location register. A mobile communication system that controls communication between the home location registers. 7 Levels 1 and 2 of the common line signaling system are controlled,
No. for sending and receiving common line signals No. 7 common line signal device; 7 level control of common line signaling system
No. for sending and receiving common line signals 7 common line communication control unit; a call processing control unit for detecting a health check signal from the common line signal received via the first common line communication control unit; and controlling communication via a local area network L
An AN control device; a LAN communication control unit that transmits and receives the health check signal and the response signal to and from the LAN via the LAN control device; 7 common line communication control unit, the call processing control unit, And a health check control unit for checking a queue stack provided between the common line communication control unit and the call processing control unit. The spare home location register includes the L
The health check signal is transmitted to the working home location register via an AN, and the working home location register receives the health check signal via the LAN. The health check controller of the register is 7 common line communication control unit, the call processing control unit, 7. Check whether the queue stack provided between the common line communication control unit and the call processing control unit is normal or abnormal, and if it is normal, send a response signal indicating that it is normal And returning a response signal indicating that there is an abnormality to the spare home location register via the LAN. 2. An exchange comprising: a switch; at least one working home location register for storing subscriber and mobile station information; and a spare home location register for said home location register, said home location register comprising: , No. No. 7 which controls levels 1 and 2 of the common line signal system and transmits and receives common line signals. 7 common line signal device, No. 7 which controls level 3 or higher of the common line signal system and transmits and receives common line signals. 7. A common line communication control unit, a call processing control unit for detecting a health check signal from the common line signal received via the first common line communication control unit, and controlling communication via a local area network. A LAN communication device, a LAN communication control unit for transmitting and receiving the health check signal and the response signal to and from the LAN via the LAN control device; 7 common line communication control unit, the call processing control unit, 7. A mobile communication system for controlling communication between mobile stations in a mobile communication network comprising: a common line communication control section; and a health check control section for checking a queue stack provided between the common line communication control section and the call processing control section. The mobile communication method according to claim 1, wherein the spare home location register is
The health check signal is transmitted to the working home location register via an AN, and the working home location register receives the health check signal via the LAN. The health check controller of the register is 7 common line communication control unit, the call processing control unit, 7. Check whether the queue stack provided between the common line communication control unit and the call processing control unit is normal or abnormal, and if it is normal, send a response signal indicating that it is normal And returning a response signal indicating that the abnormality is abnormal to the spare home location register via the LAN. 3. A recording medium on which a program capable of executing the mobile communication method according to claim 2 is recorded.