EP1203502A1 - Zones de localisation combinees pour gsm/umts - Google Patents

Zones de localisation combinees pour gsm/umts

Info

Publication number
EP1203502A1
EP1203502A1 EP00940310A EP00940310A EP1203502A1 EP 1203502 A1 EP1203502 A1 EP 1203502A1 EP 00940310 A EP00940310 A EP 00940310A EP 00940310 A EP00940310 A EP 00940310A EP 1203502 A1 EP1203502 A1 EP 1203502A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
location area
network
radio access
core network
functionality
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00940310A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Mauro Costa
Sudeep Kumar Palat
Michael Roberts
Sutha Sivagnanasundaram
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alcatel Lucent SAS
Original Assignee
Lucent Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lucent Technologies Inc filed Critical Lucent Technologies Inc
Publication of EP1203502A1 publication Critical patent/EP1203502A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W8/00—Network data management
    • H04W8/02—Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
    • H04W8/06—Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
    • H04W88/06—Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved network architecture for an arrangement in which mobile terminals may have at least two functional modes of operation in which the functional modes are provided by at least two core networks having different functionality.
  • the invention is particularly but not exclusively related to the introduction of 3G services into a 2G network architecture.
  • GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
  • 2G second generation
  • UMTS Universal System for Mobile Telecommunications
  • 3G third generation
  • the UMTS radio coverage cannot be expected to be contiguous. For example, given that the frequency used for UMTS is higher than that for GSM, the in-building penetration will not be as good as GSM. This will result in small pockets (such as inside buildings) without UMTS coverage within the overall UMTS coverage area. Thus, only GSM radio coverage will be available in these pockets.
  • a dual mode GSM and UMTS mobile terminal (a mobile terminal is referred to as user equipment (UE) in UMTS) can communicate using either one of the two radio access systems. If a dual mode mobile terminal communicating via the UMTS radio link goes out of UMTS coverage, to an area with only GSM coverage, it can expect to continue the communication via the GSM radio link, but with a consequential degradation of service. Similarly a dual mode mobile terminal in an area with only GSM radio coverage which moves into an area with UMTS coverage can expect to switch to the UMTS radio link to improve service. Thus as a dual mode mobile terminal moves around within radio access areas, changes in the type of radio access can be expected as the available radio access systems change.
  • routing area updates occur to notify the necessary support network of the new position of the mobile in the routing area associated with the particular radio access type.
  • Changing between two radio access systems involves additional signalling and can also lead to outages during the transition between the two systems. The impact of the additional signalling and outages depends on the network architecture and the protocols chosen.
  • a packet switched network architecture having a first location area supported by a first radio access network connected to a core network of a first functionality and a second location area supported by a second radio access network connected to a core network of a second functionality, wherein at least a part of the first and second location areas overlap thereby defining a common location area, and the terminals in the first and second location areas may have either one or both of a first and a second mode of operation corresponding to the first and second functionalities respectively, wherein mobile terminals in the first location area having the second mode of operation may be connected by the first radio access network to a core network having the second functionality.
  • the mobile terminals in the second location area having the first mode of operation may be connected by the second radio access network to a core network having the first functionality.
  • the first radio access network may be additionally associated with a core network having the second functionality, the first radio access network switches packet transmissions from terminals in the location area to one of either the first or second core networks.
  • the core network having the second functionality associated with the first radio access network may be the one connected to the second radio access network.
  • Figure 1 illustrates the patchy nature of UMTS radio coverage in a GSM coverage area
  • Figure 2 illustrates a network architecture for the proposed introduction of 3G services in an existing 2G environment
  • Figure 3 illustrates a modified network architecture for the proposed introduction of 3G services in an existing 2G environment
  • Figures 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate location area identifiers for distinguishing between core networks servicing common location areas
  • Figure 5 illustrates a network architecture in which parallel core network resources of the same functionality are used to support a single location area.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the coverage expected to be provided by UMTS in a GSM radio access area.
  • the shaded areas represent areas with only GSM coverage.
  • the non-shaded areas represent areas with both GSM and UMTS coverage.
  • the smaller area 4 within the area 2 is intended to be provided with UMTS coverage in addition to GSM coverage.
  • pockets, designated by reference numeral 6, exist within the UMTS coverage area 4, such that only GSM coverage is provided in the pockets 6.
  • the current proposed network architecture for supporting the radio coverage as illustrated in Figure 1 is as shown in Figure 2.
  • the GSM radio access area and the UMTS radio access area are considered as independent systems having distinct location areas, each served by a different serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and a different mobile switching centre (MSC).
  • the SGSNs provide the support node for the respective radio systems to support packet switched communications.
  • the GSM radio access area is defined by a first location area 200 designated LAI
  • the UMTS radio access area is defined by a second location area 202 designated LA2.
  • the second location area in fact coincides with the first location area, as shown in Figure 1.
  • the first location area LAI is associated with a GSM/GPRS BSS 204, providing a radio access network for the GSM/GPRS radio access system.
  • the BSS 204 is connected to a 2G core network 214 via an A interface 206 and a Gb interface 208.
  • the second location area LA2 is associated with a UTRAN 210, providing a radio access network for the UMTS radio access system.
  • the UTRAN 210 is connected to a 3G core network 212 via an lu interface 216 and an interface 218.
  • the 2G core network includes a 2G MSC 220, an integral 2G visitor location register (VLR) 222, and a 2G SGSN 224.
  • the 2G MSC is connected to the BSS 204 via the A interface 206.
  • the 2G SGSN is connected to the BSS 204 via the Gb interface 208.
  • the MSC 220 is connected to its integral 2G VLR via a Map B interface 234.
  • the 3G core network includes a 3G MSC 226, an integral 3G VLR 228, and a 3G SGSN 230.
  • the 3G MSC 226 is connected to the UTRAN 210 via the lu interface 216.
  • the 3G SGSN 230 is connected to the UTRAN 210 via the interface 218.
  • the 3G MSC 226 is connected to its integral 3G VLR 228 via a Map B interface 232.
  • Each of the 2G and 3G core networks 214 and 212 will of course contain other functional blocks. However, these are not shown in Figure 2 as they are not relevant to an implementation of the present invention and will be familiar to one skilled in the art.
  • the location area LA2 is in fact part of the same geographical area as the location area LAI - if a mobile terminal is in location area LA2 it is also in location area LAI. However, from a network architecture viewpoint the location area 2 is treated as a distinct area from that of the location area 1.
  • the network architecture of Figure 2 does not allow the radio access network to be used to its full capacity to support mobile terminals having 3G functionality.
  • FIG. 3 A proposed new network architecture to provide an improved utilisation of the advanced ability of 3G mobile terminals using the existing 2G infrastructure is illustrated in Figure 3.
  • like reference numerals are used to identify elements corresponding to those shown in Figure 2.
  • the two distinct location areas of Figure 2 are 'overlayed' to form a common location area.
  • the common location area is labelled as LA3 and designated by reference numeral 300.
  • the location area LA2 corresponding to the 3G coverage area is also still distinctly defined.
  • the common location area LA3 is comprised of 2G cells, but the network architecture allows mobile terminals in those cells having 3G functionality to connect to a core network having 3G functionality, as will be discussed further hereinbelow.
  • the location area LA 2 is comprised of 3G cells as in Figure 2, and enables the mobile terminals in the location area LA2 having 3G functionality to connect to the 3G core network 212 via the UTRAN 210 radio access network as before.
  • the 2G BSS 204 of Figure 2 is modified for the implementation of Figure 3, and thus the 2G BSS in Figure 3 is designated by reference numeral 302.
  • the 2G BSS 302 is provided with an additional A interface labelled A and designated by reference numeral 306, which connects the 2G BSS 302 to the 3G MSC in the 3G core network.
  • the 2G BSS 302 is also provided with an additional Gb interface labelled Gb' and designated by reference numeral 304, which connects the 2G BSS 302 to the 3G SGSN in the 3G core network.
  • the BSS 302 directs packet transmissions from mobiles in the combined location area LA3 300 to either the 2G core network or the 3G core network.
  • the BSS 302 directs packet transmissions from the 2G or 3G core network to mobile terminals in the combined location area LA3.
  • the radio access network comprising the BSS 302 switches packet transmissions from the combined location area to one of either the 2G core network or the 3G core network.
  • the radio access network comprising the BSS 302 may switch the packet transmissions from mobile terminals to a respective one of the two core networks in dependence on a number of factors. For example the packet transmissions may be switched in dependence on the type of mobile terminal from which the packet originated, the capabilities of the mobile from which the packet originated, or the 2G cell in which the mobile terminal is connected in the location area LA3.
  • the radio access network having the switching capability is the preferred implementation of the improved network architecture for implementing the combined location area, other implementations may be possible.
  • the standard BSS 204 of Figure 2 may be utilised, with the 2G core network being modified to include 3G functionality, and some control mechanisms to select between the 2G and 3G functionality being added within the 2G core network.
  • This implementation is less preferable than the implementation shown in Figure 3 since it requires modifications to the 2G core network.
  • the technical feature which enables the 'overlaying' of the location areas LAI and LA2 to be implemented is the provision of a single radio access network (the BSS 302) which connects the user terminals in the two location areas to both the 2G and 3G functionality in the core network.
  • the network architecture of Figure 3 may be extended to network architectures in which the location areas only partially overlap That is m the 2G/3G scenario described heremabove the 3G location area fits completely into the 2G location area and the 2G location area is bigger than the 3G location area That is, the 3G location area fully coincides with the 2G location area
  • the principle of 'overlaying' location areas may extend to location areas which do not exhibit this characteristic.
  • the principle of 'overlaying' location areas may extend to more than two location areas, and may extend to more than two core networks
  • the radio access network provided by the BSS 302 may have the added capability of switching to a 4 th Generation (4G) core network
  • this network architecture is not limited to the use of a BSS as the radio access network
  • the technique readily applies to other radio access networks such as the UTRAN 210
  • the UTRAN 210 may be provided with a switching functionality m addition to the BSS 302, for example to a 4G core network m addition to the 3G core network
  • the UTRAN may even provide a switching functionality to switch between the 3G core network 212 and the 2G core network 214
  • the BSS 302 switches between the 2G core network 214 and the 3G core network 212 provided for location area LA2.
  • a separate 3G core network may be provided for this purpose
  • the principle of using the radio access network to switch packet transmissions from the location area LA3 to one of two different core networks may also be more generally applicable.
  • mobile terminals are likely to have dual functionality, i.e the ability to operate as a 2G terminal instead of a 3G terminal when 3G radio service is not available Bv the use of a switchable radio access network, mobile terminals having a 3G functionality which are in 2G location areas may be switched to a 3G core network.
  • the mobile termianls having 3G functionality may utilise some 3G functionality even though they are connected in a 2G location area.
  • the principle of a radio access network which can switch packet transmissions to core networks of differing functionality does not depend on the overlaying of multiple location areas, and applies more generally in single location areas to mobile terminals having more than one mode of operation.
  • the location area LA3 300 encompassing the location areas LAI and LA2 can be considered as a single geographical area by the overlaying of the two location areas.
  • a single location area identifier may be used to identify the common location area LA3.
  • the mobile terminals in the common location area 300 would not be able to distinguish between the one of the core networks in which communication is established.
  • the location area identifier for the common location are 300 is provided with a core network identifier field to distinguish between the 2G and 3G core networks.
  • the location area identifier is a 16 bit sequence.
  • the core network identifier field to distinguish between the 2G and 3G core network is the first bit of the 16 bit location area identifier.
  • the first bit of the sequence is set to either 0 or 1 to indicate 2G or 3G. That is, the core network in which the location area identifier originates sets this bit.
  • the remaining 15 bits of the location identifier, containing the location area identifier (LAI) value will be identical.
  • the core network identifier filed of the location area identifier is a pointer to a core network.
  • the location area identifier 402 generated by the 2G core network has a first bit 404 which is set to 0, and the location area identity LAI 406.
  • the location area identifier 403 generated by the 3G core network comprises a first bit which is set to 1, and the location area identifier value LAI 410.
  • Mobile terminals in the location LA3 may have 2G or 3G functionality.
  • the mobile terminals having 3G functionality can disregard the bit 0 in the first bit position.
  • all broadcast messages from the radio access network having the appropriate location area identifier are received by these terminals as they receive all broadcast messages whether from the 2G or 3G core network.
  • the mobiles having only 2G functionality read the first bit of the location area identifier and only read the broadcast messages having the bit set to indicate that they originated in the 2G core network.
  • any 3G terminals in the common location area do not have 2G functionality then they will need to read the first bit of the location area identifier to ensure that the bit is set to indicate that the broadcast message originated in the 3G core network.
  • the location area identifier is a 16 bit sequence and the core network identifier field is 1 bit, this may vary according to the implementation.
  • the location area identifier may be any number of bits, and the core network identifier field any number of bits.
  • the core network identifier may be determined by the location area identifier value being within a certain range.
  • the core network identifier is also advantageous in the arrangement described hereinabove where a single location area is accessible by several core networks of different functionality.
  • the 2G network architecture of Figure 2 is modified to introduce a second 2G core network 514.
  • the radio access network represented by BSS 302 in Figure 2 is replaced in the network architecture of Figure 5 by a radio access network comprising a BSS 500 having a switching functionality similar to that of the BSS 302 as will be described further hereinafter.
  • the second 2G core network 514 includes a 2G MSC 520, an integral 2G VLR 522, and a 2G SGSN 524.
  • the 2G MSC 520 is connected to the BSS 500 via a second A interface 506 labelled A.
  • the 2G SGSN 524 is connected to the BSS 500 via a second Gb interface 508 labelled Gb'.
  • the MSC 520 is connected to its integral 2G VLR 522 via a Map B interface 534.
  • the switching capability of the BSS 500 is utilised to spread the load amongst the two 2G core networks 214 and 514. This may be particularly advantageous where the BSS 500 has a greater Erlang capacity than the single core network. By duplicating the core network the BSS 500 can work nearer its capacity.
  • a mobile terminal in the location area LAI can use the first bit of the location area identifier to distinguish between the two core networks 214 and 514, and read the broadcast messages associated with the core network with which it is registered.
  • the BSS 500 will forward the request to one of the two core networks 214 and 514.
  • the appropriate core network In acknowledging the random access request the appropriate core network will provide the mobile terminal with an identifier to be used in all future packet transmissions. This identifier is then included in all packet transmissions by the mobile terminal, and used by the BSS 500 to direct the packet transmission to the appropriate core network.
  • the network architecture of Figure 5 may be combined with the network architecture of Figure 3, such that each of the 2G and 3G core networks may be provided with parallel duplicate networks for spreading the load.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une architecture de réseau commuté par paquets qui possède une première zone de localisation prise en charge par un premier réseau radio d'accès connecté à un réseau central d'une première fonctionnalité, et une seconde zone de localisation prise en charge par un second réseau radio d'accès connecté à un réseau central d'une seconde fonctionnalité. Une partie au moins de la première et de la seconde zone de localisation se chevauchent, définissant ainsi une zone de localisation commune, et les terminaux de la première et de la seconde zone de localisation peuvent avoir un premier mode ou/et un second mode de fonctionnement correspondant respectivement à la première et à la seconde fonctionnalité. Les terminaux mobiles de la première zone de localisation ayant le second mode de fonctionnement peuvent être connectés par le premier réseau radio d'accès à un réseau central ayant cette seconde fonctionnalité.
EP00940310A 1999-08-20 2000-06-02 Zones de localisation combinees pour gsm/umts Withdrawn EP1203502A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9919850 1999-08-20
GBGB9919850.9A GB9919850D0 (en) 1999-08-20 1999-08-20 Combined location areas for gsm/umts
PCT/EP2000/005099 WO2001015475A1 (fr) 1999-08-20 2000-06-02 Zones de localisation combinees pour gsm/umts

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1203502A1 true EP1203502A1 (fr) 2002-05-08

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EP00940310A Withdrawn EP1203502A1 (fr) 1999-08-20 2000-06-02 Zones de localisation combinees pour gsm/umts

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1203502A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU5528800A (fr)
GB (1) GB9919850D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001015475A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3892682B2 (ja) * 2001-06-18 2007-03-14 株式会社エヌ・ティ・ティ・ドコモ パケット伝送方法、基地局及び移動局
EP1301048B1 (fr) * 2001-10-04 2009-12-02 Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) Procédé pour etablir une connexion dans un système de communication avec différentes porteuses de trafic
DE60205729T8 (de) * 2002-06-04 2007-04-12 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Betrieb eines Vermittlungsknotens in einem Kommunikationsnetz mit sowohl einer geschichteten als auch einer nicht-geschichteten Architekturumgebung
JP4283587B2 (ja) * 2003-04-22 2009-06-24 株式会社エヌ・ティ・ティ・ドコモ 無線端末、通信システムおよび位置登録先切替え方法

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5721762A (en) * 1993-12-01 1998-02-24 Sharp Microelectronics Technology, Inc. Shared base stations for voice and data cellular telecommunications and method
FI106172B (fi) * 1998-01-29 2000-11-30 Nokia Networks Oy Menetelmä uudelleenkonfiguroida solukkoradioverkossa yhteys
DE69925990T2 (de) * 1998-04-03 2006-05-11 Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) Flexibles kanalzugriffsverfahren und resourcenzuteilung in einem universalen mobiltelefonsystem (umts)
FI106497B (fi) * 1999-01-15 2001-02-15 Nokia Networks Oy Vuonohjausmenetelmä tietoliikennejärjestelmässä

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
See references of WO0115475A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2001015475A1 (fr) 2001-03-01
GB9919850D0 (en) 1999-10-27
AU5528800A (en) 2001-03-19

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