JP2011055319A - Mobile communication system, mobility management device, and mobility management control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile communication system improved in efficiency of signaling for mobility management, and also to provide a mobility management device, and a mobility management control method. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile communication system has: a mobile node (11); and a plurality of mobility management nodes (20.1 to 20.4) that perform mobility management of the mobile node. One mobility management node (20.1) that mainly performs the mobility management of the mobile node dynamically assigns a part of a mobility management function of the mobile node to at least one of the other mobility management nodes and/or the other mobile node according to a change in a situation of the mobile node and a use situation of a network. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for controlling mobility management in a mobile communication system.

  In recent years, in mobile communication systems typified by 3G cellular systems, battery-driven mobile nodes usually perform wireless communication, so it is desirable to improve the efficiency of wireless communication of management messages between the mobile node and the network. ing.

  For example, consider a case where a mobile communication system comprising a mobile node and a mobility management device is connected to a communication partner through a network. The mobility management device has a function of managing the position of the mobile node and transmitting the transfer data to the mobile node to an appropriate destination along with the movement of the mobile node. In this system, a tunnel is established between the mobile node and the mobility management device in accordance with the movement of the mobile node, and data addressed to the mobile node from the communication partner is transmitted to the mobile node via the tunnel. Is delivered to the mobility management device via the tunnel, decapsulated and transmitted to the communication partner. The mobility management device can manage the location of the mobile node by processing the location registration request from the mobile node, and can realize the continuation of the communication service in the handover when the mobile node moves (for example, non-transmission). Patent Document 1).

  In addition, the mobility control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 dynamically sets an optimal local domain and location registration anchor point according to the situation of a mobile terminal using geographic topology information and network topology information, and is efficient. It aims to reduce mobility management and handover delay.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, each of a plurality of base stations each having a mobility management function of a mobile station shifts a part of the position management function to another base station according to the load state of the own station, thereby reducing the load. A mobility management control method that eliminates the bias as a whole is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-167783 JP 2007-251586 A

RFC3344 (IP Mobility Support for IPv4)

  However, in the mobile communication system described above, changes in the positional relationship between the mobile terminal and the mobility management apparatus, the status of the mobile terminal, changes in the network environment, and the like are not taken into consideration. For example, it is necessary to perform periodic signaling processing between the mobile terminal and the mobility management device, but even if the distance between the mobile terminal and the mobility management device becomes very long, the situation of the mobile terminal Even in the case where there is no change, periodic signaling processing relating to the entire mobility management service is performed. For this reason, signaling for mobility management is still inefficient.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication system, a mobility management device, and a mobility management control method that can achieve efficient signaling related to mobility management.

  The mobile communication system according to the present invention is a mobile communication system having a mobile node and a plurality of mobile management nodes that perform mobile management of the mobile node, and one mobile management node that mainly executes mobile management of mobile nodes is provided. And dynamically delegating a part of the mobility management function of the mobile node to at least one other mobility management node and / or another mobile node according to changes in the status of the mobile node and the network usage status Features.

  A mobility management device according to the present invention is a mobility management device that performs mobility management of a mobile node, a plurality of management means for executing a plurality of management functions included in the mobility management function of the mobile node, and the mobile node Delegation processing means for dynamically delegating a part of the mobility management function of the mobile node to at least one other mobility management device and / or another mobile node according to the status of the network and the network usage status It is characterized by.

  A mobility management control method according to the present invention is a mobility management control method in a mobility management apparatus that performs mobility management of a mobile node, acquiring environment information including status information of the mobile node and network usage status information, and the environment information In response to dynamically selecting at least one other mobility management device and / or another mobile node suitable for performing part of the mobility management function of the mobile node and part of the mobility management function, A part of mobility management function is delegated to the at least one other mobility management device and / or another mobile node.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve signaling efficiency related to mobility management.

It is a network block diagram which shows the example of a whole structure of the mobile communication system by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the movement management apparatus and mobile terminal in the mobile communication system by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the mobility management control of the mobile communication system by 1st Embodiment. It is a network block diagram which shows the mobile communication system by the example of application of 1st Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by embodiment described below.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of nodes in the network 10, here, a mobile terminal 11, a communication partner terminal 12, and a plurality (N) of mobility management devices (MM: Mobility Management) 20.1-20. Consider a system with N connected. The network 10 includes a mobile communication network, and a plurality of management functions related to the mobility management of the mobile terminal 11 are a plurality of mobility management devices 20.1-20. N is distributed to at least two of the mobility management devices.

  As will be described in detail later, for example, when the mobile terminal 11 moves to another cell, an information update registration request is made to a preset mobility management apparatus. It is assumed that the mobility management apparatus most suitable for executing various management functions of the mobility management function changes in accordance with such a change in the status of the mobile terminal and a change in the environment on the network side at that time. Therefore, the efficiency of mobility management can be achieved by dynamically determining the mobility management device that is the distribution destination of the management function when the mobile terminal 11 moves.

  Further, it can be assumed that the status of the network 10 fluctuates even if the mobile terminal 1 does not move, so that the master mobility management device periodically checks the status of the network and accordingly determines the distribution destination of the management function. It is also meaningful to dynamically change the mobility management device.

1. First Embodiment Hereinafter, to simplify the description, it is assumed that the master of the mobile terminal 11 is the mobility management device 20.1, and a plurality of management functions are distributedly managed by the four mobility management devices 20.1-10.4. The case where it will be described. When the mobile management device 20.1 that is the master of the mobile terminal 11 performs the registration process of the mobile terminal 11, the mobile management function of the mobile terminal 11 is changed according to the change of the status of the mobile terminal 11 and the change of the network usage status. The other functions are delegated to other mobility management devices that are determined to be optimal. A mobility management device delegated with one or more management functions executes only the delegated management functions with respect to the mobile terminal 11.

1.1) System Configuration In FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 11 is provided with an information update request processing unit 101 and a management information storage unit 102 in addition to a communication unit for wireless communication.

  The information update request processing unit 101 requests update processing of its own information from the mobility management device 20.1 serving as a master periodically or when the mobile terminal 11 moves. That is, an update request signal is transmitted to the mobility management device 20.1, and a response signal is received from the mobility management device 20.1. This update process can be performed periodically, can be performed at an arbitrary time led by the terminal, or can be performed at an arbitrary time led by the network side. The mobility management device 20.1 processes an information update request accompanying the movement of the mobile terminal 11 and continues communication even when the mobile terminal 11 moves.

  The information storage unit 102 stores terminal profile information set in advance, dynamically changing information of the terminal itself, and information regarding the mobility management device 20.1 that manages various management functions that are distributed and managed. The function of the information update request processing unit 101 described above can also be realized by executing a program on a program control processor (not shown) of the mobile terminal 11.

  Since the mobility management device 20.1-10.4 basically has the same functional configuration, the mobility management device 20.1 will be described below. The mobility management device 20.1 includes an information update request processing unit 201, a location information management unit 202, a path information management unit 203, an authentication information management unit 204, a terminal state management unit 205, a delegation processing unit 206, a management information storage unit 207, And a control unit 208.

  The information update request processing unit 201 stores the information update request information received from the mobile terminal 11 in the management information storage unit 207 and performs an update process on the mobile terminal 11, and then sends a response signal to the mobile terminal 11. Reply.

  The location information management unit 202 performs location management associated with the movement of the terminal according to the update information of the mobile terminal 11 stored in the management information storage unit 207 and environmental information such as dynamically changing traffic. Moreover, the movement of the terminal is concealed by performing an anchoring process or a broadcast process, and processing is performed so that communication data always reaches the terminal.

  The path information management unit 203 manages a path through which communication data passes according to update information of the mobile terminal 11 stored in the management information storage unit 207 and environment information such as dynamically changing traffic.

  The authentication information management unit 204 manages authentication information of the mobile terminal 11 stored in the management information storage unit 207.

  The terminal state management unit 205 manages information on whether or not the mobile terminal 11 is communicating. The efficiency of the entire system is improved by releasing unnecessary network resources in the case of non-communication according to the state information of the mobile terminal 11 stored in the management information storage unit 207 and environmental information such as dynamically changing traffic. Can be achieved.

  The delegation processing unit 206 delegates a plurality of management functions related to the mobility management of the mobile terminal 11 to other mobility management devices that are determined to be optimal according to changes in the environment information including the status information of the mobile terminal 11 and the network usage status. To do. Conversely, when a certain mobile terminal is delegated from another mobility management device, the management unit (202, 203, 204, 205) corresponding to the delegated management function is caused to execute the management function. Here, it is assumed that the management function that the delegation processing unit 206 delegates to another mobility management device is a location management function, a path management function, an authentication management function, and / or a terminal state management function.

  The control unit 208 executes the mobility management control described below by controlling the above-described function units (201-207). In addition, the environment information including the status information of the mobile terminal 11 and the network usage status can be obtained autonomously by the mobility management device 20.1, but by accessing a centrally managed server, etc. Alternatively, a terminal or various router devices may autonomously notify the mobility management device.

  Moreover, each function part (201-206) mentioned above and the control part 208 can also implement | achieve an equivalent function by running a program on a program control processor.

1.2) Movement Management Control Hereinafter, the movement management control for distributing various management functions related to movement management to the movement management devices 20.1-20.4 will be described in detail. Here, as described above, it is assumed that the master recorded in the terminal profile of the mobile terminal 11 is the mobility management device 20.1, and the various management functions related to mobility management are the location management function, path management function, authentication management function, and status. It is assumed that it is a management function. Here, it is assumed that the mobility management apparatus can access the environment information DB (database) and obtain information such as the status of the mobile terminal or the environment status of the network.

  In FIG. 3, first, the mobile terminal 11 performs the attach to the network and the establishment of the communication bearer after turning on the power, and initially the mobility management device 20.1 which is the master recorded in the terminal profile, An information update registration request signal is transmitted (step 301). Here, it is assumed that the status information of the mobile terminal 11 is included in the information update registration request signal. The information update request processing unit 201 of the mobility management device 20.1 executes information update processing according to the information update registration request signal received from the mobile terminal 11. Before returning the response, the management function delegation processing described below is performed. Is executed.

  When receiving the information update registration request signal from the mobile terminal 11, the control unit 208 accesses the environment information DB and acquires environment information including the usage status of the network 10 related to the mobile terminal 11 (step 302). The delegation processing unit 206 uses the status information of the mobile terminal 11 included in the information update registration request signal, the acquired network environment information, and a predetermined delegation destination determination criterion, a location management function related to mobility management, a path The delegation destination of the four functions of the management function, the authentication management function, and the state management function is determined (step 303). In this example, the delegation destination is one of the mobility management devices 20.2-20.4 deployed in the network 10 (step 304). An example of the delegation criteria is as follows.

  Regarding the location management function, when the mobile terminal 11 is actively moving (the number of handovers is greater than a predetermined threshold), the terminal has not moved much to the mobility management device as close as possible to the mobile terminal 11 When (the number of handovers is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold), effective delegation is possible such that efficient location management can be performed by delegating to a mobility management device close to the core network side.

  Regarding the path management function, when a path change occurs by delegating to the mobility management device deployed in the vicinity of the middle of the path between the mobile terminal 11 and the communication partner terminal 12, the switching processing load is increased. Effective delegation that can be reduced is possible.

  As for the authentication management function, after the initial authentication process is performed, the update is not performed so frequently. Therefore, by delegating to the mobility management device with a high degree of security on the core network side, traffic efficiency can be improved. Effective delegation that keeps the degree of security high is possible.

  With regard to the state management function, in order to efficiently release resources in the wireless circuit section such as an access network, the wireless network, which is a precious resource, is real-time at high speed by delegating it to a mobility management device closer to the access network. Effective delegation is possible, such as high-performance switching.

  In accordance with the above delegation destination determination criteria, here, the location management function is delegated to the mobility management device 20.2 (step 304), the path management function is delegated to the mobility management device 20.3 (step 305), and the state management function Is delegated to the mobility management device 20.4 (step 306), and the mobility management device 20.1 manages the authentication management function without delegation. It is also possible to delegate a plurality of management functions to the mobility management male value of one delegation destination. Delegation of the location management function, path management function, and state management function is completed by receiving a response from each delegation destination, and these management functions related to the mobile terminal 11 are executed by the mobility management device 20.2-20.4, respectively. Is done.

  When the delegation process is completed by receiving a response from each delegation destination, the information update request processing unit 201 returns a response signal to the information update registration request signal to the mobile terminal 11 (step 307). Thereafter, data communication is performed between the mobile terminal 11 and the communication partner terminal 12 (step 308).

1.3) Application Example As shown in FIG. 4, the first embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to a network 10 in which a plurality of access networks 401 and 402 and a core network 403 are mixed. Here, the mobility management devices 20.1, 20.4, 20.6-20. N are arranged at different points in the network 10, the mobility management device 20.2 is in the access network 401, the mobility management device 20.3 is in the core net arc 403, and the mobility management device 20.5 is in the access network. It is assumed that each of them is deployed in 402.

  First, the mobile terminal 11 transmits an information update registration request signal to the mobility management device 20.1 recorded in the terminal profile via the nearest BS (Base Station). Next, as described above, the mobility management device 20.1 determines, for example, the mobility management device that is the delegation destination of the management function according to the delegation destination determination criteria described above in accordance with the change in the status of the mobile terminal 11 and the change in the network usage status. Determine as follows.

  Regarding the location management function, when the mobile terminal 11 is actively moving (the number of handovers is greater than a predetermined threshold), the terminal moves too much to the mobility management device 20.2 as close to the mobile terminal 11 as possible. If it is not (the number of handovers is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold), it is delegated to the mobility management device 20.3 close to the core network 403. As for the path management function, the path management function is delegated to the mobility management apparatus 20.4 arranged in the vicinity of the middle in the path between the mobile terminal 11 and the communication partner terminal 12a. The authentication management function is delegated to the mobility management device 20.3 having a high security level in the core network 403. The state management function is delegated to the mobility management device 20.2 closer to the access network 401. In addition, when the communication partner of the mobile terminal 11 is the mobile terminal 13, the mobility management function can be similarly delegated.

1.4) Effects According to the present embodiment, according to the communication status of the network and the mobile terminal, each of the other mobility management devices can be advantageously executed so that each management function can advantageously execute a plurality of management functions related to the mobility management of the mobile terminal. It is possible to carry out distributed deployment and to perform efficient signaling processing. In addition, the processing load on the mobile terminal can be reduced, and the network load due to signaling traffic in the entire system can be reduced.

2. Second Embodiment In the first embodiment described above, the delegation destination is the mobility management device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a part of the mobility management function can be delegated to the mobile terminal. .
The functional configuration of the mobile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is basically the same as the block configuration shown in FIG. 2, and the mobility management control is the same as the sequence shown in FIG. The difference is that the terminal is included.

  Referring to FIG. 4, first, the mobile terminal 11 sends an information update registration request signal to the mobility management device 20.1 recorded in the terminal profile via the nearest BS (Base Station). Send. Next, as described above, the mobility management device 20.1 determines whether the mobility management device or the migration function as the delegation destination of the management function in accordance with the delegation destination determination criterion described above according to the change in the status of the mobile terminal 11 and the change in the network usage status. Determine the terminal. For example, regarding the location management function, when the mobile terminal 11 is actively moving (the number of handovers is greater than a predetermined threshold), the terminal has moved too much to the mobile terminal as close as possible to the mobile terminal 11. If there is not (the number of handovers is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value), the mobile management device 20.3 close to the core network 403 is delegated. The path management function is delegated to the mobile terminal or the mobility management apparatus 20.4 arranged in the vicinity of the middle of the path between the mobile terminal 11 and the communication partner terminal 13. The authentication management function is delegated to the mobility management device 20.3 having a high security level in the core network 403. The state management function is delegated to the mobile terminal connected to the same access network 401 as the mobile terminal 11.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a mobile communication system that can take a more flexible configuration and can perform more efficient signaling processing according to the communication status of the mobile terminal and the network usage status. Can be built.

3. Other Embodiments A mobile communication system according to other embodiments can be realized using, for example, a Mobile IP protocol as a management framework. A mobile communication system includes a mobile terminal, a mobile management device, and a network. The mobile terminal is a mobile node, the mobile management device is a home agent, and the network is a network that connects between them (in some cases, a foreign agent is included). Case is also assumed). The anchoring function is a function that is the base of Mobile IP, and the casting function can be realized by the function called Mobile IP's “Simultaneous Binding”.

  Furthermore, it is possible to adopt a configuration with a mobility management protocol different from the above. For example, it is possible to adopt a PMIP (Proxy Mobile IP) configuration in which the client function is installed in the edge node instead of the terminal. In this case, the mobile terminal corresponds to a Mobile Node and an edge node (MAG: Mobility Access Gateway), the mobility management device corresponds to an LMA (Local Mobility Anchor), and the network corresponds to a network connecting them. Further, it is possible to adopt a HMIP (Hierarchical Mobile IP) configuration in which the mobility management system is hierarchically configured, or an FMIP (Mobile IP Fast Handovers) configuration capable of high-speed handover.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other additions and changes can be made. In addition, the mobile terminal and the mobility management device can be realized by a computer and a program as well as by realizing the functions of the mobile terminal and the mobility management device in hardware. The program is provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a semiconductor memory, and is read by the computer when the computer is started up, and the computer is controlled by controlling the operation of the computer. It functions as the mobile terminal and mobility management device in the embodiment, and performs the processing described above.

10 Network (mobile communication network)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Mobile terminal 12 Communication partner terminal 13 Mobile terminal 20 Mobility management apparatus 101 Information update request processing part 102 Management information update part 201 Information update request processing part 202 Location information management part 203 Path information management part 204 Authentication information management part 205 Terminal state management Unit 206 delegation processing unit 207 management information storage unit 208 control unit

Claims (12)

A mobile communication system comprising a mobile node and a plurality of mobility management nodes that perform mobility management of the mobile node,
One mobility management node that mainly executes mobility management of a mobile node performs at least one other mobility management node with a part of the mobility management function of the mobile node according to changes in the status of the mobile node and the network usage status. And / or dynamic delegation to other mobile nodes.   The mobile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mobility management node and / or another mobile node is selected so as to maximize the efficiency of executing a part of the mobility management function.   3. The movement according to claim 1, wherein a part of the movement management function is at least one management function selected from a position management function, a path management function, an authentication management function, and a terminal state management function. Communications system. A mobility management device for managing mobility of a mobile node,
A plurality of management means for respectively executing a plurality of management functions included in the mobility management function of the mobile node;
Delegation processing means for dynamically delegating a part of the mobility management function of the mobile node to at least one other mobility management device and / or another mobile node according to the status of the mobile node and the network usage status;
A mobility management device comprising:   5. The delegation processing unit selects the at least one mobility management device and / or another mobility node so as to maximize the efficiency of executing a part of the mobility management function. Mobility management device.   6. The movement according to claim 4, wherein the part of the movement management function is at least one management function selected from a position management function, a path management function, an authentication management function, and a terminal state management function. Management device. A mobility management control method in a mobility management device that performs mobility management of a mobile node,
Obtaining environmental information including status information of the mobile node and network usage status information;
According to the environment information, dynamically selects at least one other mobility management device and / or another mobility node suitable for executing a part of the mobility management function of the mobile node and a part of the mobility management function. And
Delegating a part of the mobility management function to the at least one other mobility management device and / or another mobile node;
A mobility management control method characterized by the above.   The mobility management control method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one mobility management device and / or another mobility node is selected so as to maximize the efficiency of executing a part of the mobility management function.   9. The movement according to claim 7, wherein a part of the movement management function is at least one management function selected from a position management function, a path management function, an authentication management function, and a terminal state management function. Management control method. A program for realizing a mobility management control function in a program control processor in a mobility management device that performs mobility management of a mobile node,
Obtaining environmental information including status information of the mobile node and network usage status information;
According to the environment information, dynamically selects at least one other mobility management device and / or another mobility node suitable for executing a part of the mobility management function of the mobile node and a part of the mobility management function. And
Delegating a part of the mobility management function to the at least one other mobility management device and / or another mobile node;
A program for causing the program control processor to function as described above.   The program according to claim 10, wherein the at least one mobility management device and / or another mobility node is selected so as to maximize the efficiency of executing a part of the mobility management function.   The program according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a part of the mobility management function is at least one management function selected from a location management function, a path management function, an authentication management function, and a terminal state management function. .

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