JP2013207594A - Base station positioning request destination determination device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a base station positioning request destination determination device that can determine that a network to which a positioning request is transmitted is a network which possibility a user is in is the highest in a radio communication network in which a plurality of types of networks in accordance with different communication standards are mixed.SOLUTION: A GMLC (EBSCP) 42 determines on a network which is identified by in-zone information with which a base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 obtained a positioning request transmission destination network if it has obtained any one type of in-zone information of two types of in-zone information of SGSN in-zone information and MME in-zone information from an IPSCP 43. On the other hand, if it has obtained both types of in-zone information of the SGSN in-zone information and the MME in-zone information from the IPSCP 43, a base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 determines the positioning request transmission destination network on the basis of weighting information A-D for each network.

Description

  The present invention relates to a base station positioning request destination determination apparatus, and more particularly to a base station positioning request destination determination apparatus that determines a destination network to which a positioning request is transmitted in a wireless communication network in which a plurality of types of networks having different communication standards are mixed.

In recent years, LTE (Long Term Evolution) communication network services defined in the specifications of Non-Patent Document 1 shown below have started to be provided. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 13, the wireless communication network system 100 includes a 3G (3rd Generation) network 120 and an LTE network 130 that are conventionally provided.
Therefore, the MT 150, which is a mobile terminal owned by the user, can switch the radio system between the 3G network 120 and the LTE network 130 according to user settings. However, if location registration request processing is performed each time the wireless system is switched between the 3G network 120 and the LTE network 130, the network side must perform request processing using many location registration signals.

  For this reason, in LTE, a location registration omission (ISR) function is defined so that request processing by a location registration signal can be reduced as much as possible. This ISR function means that even if the MT 150 switches the radio system between the 3G network 120 and the LTE network 130, the location registration process is not performed unless there is a change from the previously registered base station area. It is to make.

  On the other hand, on the IP service control device (IPSCP) 143 side, since the ISR function on the MT 150 side is enabled, is the MT 150 located in the communication network on the 3G network 120 side? Therefore, it cannot be determined whether MT 150 is in the communication network on the LTE network 130 side. In other words, an upper node such as GMLC (EBSCP) 142 cannot identify in which communication network MT 150 is located.

For this reason, in the wireless communication network system 100, the base station positioning process is performed in the procedure shown by the arrow in FIG.
(Part 1) First, the LCS Client 141 makes a base station positioning request to the GMLC (EBSCP) 142.
(No. 2) The GMLC (EBSCP) 142 acquires the location information from the IPSCP 143.
(Part 3) Here, when the ISR function is enabled on the MT 150 side, there is a high possibility that the location information of both the 3G network 120 and the LTE network 130 is registered in the IPSCP 143. For this reason, the GMLC (EBSCP) 142 may be able to acquire both the location information of the 3G network 120 and the location information of the LTE network 130. However, in such a case, the GMLC (EBSCP) 142 cannot determine to which network the positioning request may be made.

Therefore, at present, the GMLC (EBSCP) 142 is provided with a priority switching function, and a network to which a positioning request is preferentially transmitted is set in advance by the priority switching function. For example, when the network to which the positioning request is preferentially transmitted by the priority switching function is set in the 3G network 120, the GMLC (EBSCP) 142 is preferentially sent to the 3G network 120 by the priority switching function. A base station positioning request is transmitted.
(Part 4) The NodeB 121 on the 3G network 120 side confirms the location status of the MT 150.
(No. 5) Here, even if a base station positioning request is transmitted to the 3G network 120, if there is a positioning error or no response, the GMLC (EBSCP) 142 transmits a base station to the LTE network 130. Resend the positioning request.
(No. 6) The eNodeB 131 of the LTE network 130 confirms the location status of the MT 150.

3GPP (The 3rd Generation Partnership Project) TS 36.300 Rel-11

  However, in the procedure of the base station positioning process as described above, for example, after the base station positioning request is preferentially transmitted to the 3G network 120, the base station positioning request is also retransmitted to the LTE network 130. There are cases where double processing is performed. For this reason, in spite of the base station positioning process in which the processing speed is given the highest priority, extra processing time is required for the base station positioning process as much as the base station positioning request is transmitted even to a network that is not located. Was sometimes necessary.

In addition, if the devices constituting each network become unresponsive, the system enters a standby state until the process times out. In this case as well, extra processing time may be required for the base station positioning process.
Furthermore, the processing load on each device may increase by the amount that extra signals are transmitted and received between the devices constituting the network that is not located.

In addition, NodeB 121 and eNodeB 131 cooperate with each other, and if they are not in their own network, it is possible to specify the network in which they are located by directly inquiring about the status of the area to other networks. It is. However, considering the case of roaming out, it is necessary that the above-described mechanism is also incorporated in the roaming-out destination apparatus. It is practically difficult to realize this.
Therefore, in the present invention, in view of the above problems, in a wireless communication network in which a plurality of types of networks having different communication standards are mixed, the user is most likely to be the destination network to which the positioning request is transmitted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a base station positioning request destination determination device that can determine a network.

In order to achieve the above object, a base station positioning request destination determination device according to the present invention is configured as follows.
A base station positioning request destination determination device according to an aspect of the present invention uniquely identifies a base station area where a mobile terminal is located in each network of a wireless communication network in which a plurality of types of networks having different communication standards are mixed. A location information storage unit for registering the location information, which is an identifier for identification, and subscriber information, which is an identifier for uniquely identifying a user possessing a mobile terminal, in association with each other, and the location information storage unit A user-by-user weighting information storage unit that registers and registers the subscriber information registered in the network and the weighting information for each network managed for each user that can be identified from the subscriber information; The base station area that registers the location information registered in the storage unit and the weighting information for each network managed for each base station area that can be identified from the location information in association with each other. Each weighting information storage unit, weighting information for each network managed for each user registered in the area information storage unit, and each base station area registered in the base station area weighting information storage unit Base station positioning request destination determination for determining a positioning request destination network that is a network that actually transmits a base station positioning request based on information including weighting information of at least one of the weighting information for each managed network And a section.

  According to the above base station positioning request destination determination device, the weighting information storage unit for each user has subscriber information registered in the area information storage unit and each user who can be identified from the subscriber information. Weighting information for each managed network is registered in association with each other. In addition, the weighting information storage unit for each base station area includes the area information registered in the area information storage unit, and the weighting for each network managed for each base station area that can be specified from the area information. Information is registered in association with each other.

  The base station positioning request destination determination unit includes the weight information for each network managed for each user registered in the location information storage unit, and the base registered in the base station area weight information storage unit. Determining a positioning request destination network that is a network that actually transmits a base station positioning request based on information including at least one of weighting information for each network managed for each station area It becomes possible.

In other words, based on information including at least one of the weighting information managed for each user and the weighting information managed for each base station area, the positioning request transmission destination network is determined by the user most visited. It is possible to determine the network that has a high possibility of being.
A base station positioning request destination determination device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a weighting information for each user registered in the weighting information storage unit for each user and a base station registered in the weighting information storage unit for each base station area. An update weighting information calculation unit that calculates new weighting information to update weighting information for each network managed for each area is provided.

According to the base station positioning request destination determination device, the update weighting information calculation unit is registered in the weighting information for each user registered in the weighting information storage unit for each user and the weighting information storage unit for each base station area. The weighting information for each network managed for each base station area is updated based on the base station positioning result and the success rate when the positioning request is actually made.
For example, there is a case where a certain user has a small moving range, or a certain base station area has more users in the LTE network than the 3G side. Therefore, the weighting information for each network is updated according to different movement patterns for each user, different user communication conditions for each base station area, and the like.

As a result, the base station positioning request destination determination unit can locate the positioning request transmission destination network most in accordance with different movement patterns for each user or different user communication conditions for each base station area. It is possible to decide on a highly reliable network.
In the base station positioning request destination determination device according to an aspect of the present invention, the update weighting information calculation unit has succeeded in base station positioning processing among the weighting information for each user registered in the weighting information storage unit for each user. The new weighting information is calculated so that the weighting information for the network is higher than the current value, and the new weighting information is set so that the weighting information for the network other than the network for which the base station positioning process is successful is lower than the current value. Information is calculated.

According to the above-mentioned base station positioning request destination determination device, as a specific weighting information update method, the update weighting information calculation unit includes the base information among the weighting information for each user registered in the weighting information storage unit for each user. Calculate so that the weighting information for the network for which the station positioning process is successful is higher than the current value, and calculate so that the weighting information for the network other than the network for which the base station positioning process is successful is lower than the current value. .
As a result, even if the base station positioning request destination determination unit is a user in the same area, the positioning request transmission destination network is determined for each user as a network where the user is likely to be in the area. It becomes possible.

  In the base station positioning request destination determination device according to an aspect of the present invention, the update weighting information calculation unit includes weighting information for each network managed for each base station area registered in the base station area weighting information storage unit. Among them, the new weighting information is calculated so that the weighting information for the network in which the base station positioning process is successful becomes higher than the current value.

According to the above base station positioning request destination determination device, as a specific weighting information update method, the update weighting information calculation unit is managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit for each base station area. Of the weighting information for each network, the weighting information for the network for which the base station positioning process is successful is calculated to be higher than the current value.
As a result, even if the base station positioning request destination determination unit is the same user, the positioning request transmission destination network can be determined for each base station area as a network in which the user is likely to be located. It becomes.

  In the base station positioning request destination determination device according to an aspect of the present invention, the update weighting information calculation unit includes weighting information for each network managed for each base station area registered in the base station area weighting information storage unit. Among them, the new weighting information is calculated so that the weighting information for the network that has requested the base station positioning other than the network for which the base station positioning processing has succeeded is lower than the current value.

According to the base station positioning request destination determination device, the update weighting information calculation unit includes the base information among the weighting information for each network managed for each base station area registered in the base station area weighting information storage unit. It calculates so that the weighting information with respect to networks other than the network where the station positioning process was successful becomes lower than the current value.
As a result, even if the base station positioning request destination determination unit is the same user, the positioning request transmission destination network is not determined to be a network in which the user is unlikely to be in each base station area. It becomes possible.

  In the base station positioning request destination determination device according to an aspect of the present invention, the base station positioning request destination determination unit is registered in association with one subscriber information registered in the area information storage unit. If there is only one information, the positioning request transmission destination network is determined as a network specified by the area information, and is registered in association with one subscriber information registered in the area information storage unit. If there are a plurality of located area information, the weighting information for each network managed for each user registered in the located area information storage unit and the weighting information storage unit for each base station area are registered. The positioning request transmission destination network is determined based on information including at least one of the weighting information for each network managed for each base station area.

According to the above-mentioned base station positioning request destination determination device, since the functional state of the ISR function is set to the invalid state on the mobile terminal side, for example, the location information of the 3G network and the location information of the LTE network When the location information of the 3G network is acquired from the location information of the two networks, the base station positioning request destination determination unit determines the positioning request transmission destination network as the 3G network.
On the other hand, even when the location information of both the 3G network and the LTE network is obtained, for example, because the functional state of the ISR function is enabled on the mobile terminal side, the base station positioning request destination The determination unit can determine the positioning request transmission destination network as the network most likely to be located by the user.

  The base station positioning request destination determination device according to an aspect of the present invention includes weighting information for each network managed for each user registered in the weighting information storage unit for each user, and weighting information storage unit for each base station area. The base station positioning request destination determination unit further includes a total weight information calculation unit that calculates total weight information for each network, which is a product of the weight information for each network managed for each registered base station area. The positioning request transmission destination network is determined based on the total weight information for each network calculated by the total weight information calculation unit.

  According to the base station positioning request destination determination apparatus, the total weight information calculation unit calculates the total weight information for each network. This total weighting information is, for example, a product obtained by multiplying the weighting information for each network managed for each user described above by the weighting information for each network managed for each base station area, or at least one of them. It may be a value calculated by combining the weighting information with other information. Thereby, the base station positioning request destination determination unit determines the positioning request transmission destination network to be a network where the user is more likely to be located than determining the positioning request transmission destination network only by weighting information. It becomes possible.

According to the present invention, the base station positioning request destination determination unit does not determine the positioning request transmission destination network as a preset priority network, but a plurality of types of communication standards different for each user and each base station area. A positioning request transmission destination network is determined based on weighting information for the network.
As a result, a positioning request can be transmitted to a network where the user is most likely to be located. Therefore, compared with the case where the positioning request transmission destination network is determined as the priority network as it is, it is less likely that the positioning request is transmitted to a plurality of types of networks having different communication standards. The processing time required for the base station positioning process can be shortened by the amount that the positioning request is not transmitted to the network that is not located. Furthermore, the processing load of the base station positioning process in each device can be reduced by the amount that extra signals are not transmitted / received between the devices constituting the network that is not located.
In addition, when devices in a plurality of networks are linked to each other and are not located in the local network, there is no need to use a mechanism that directly inquires the other network about the location status.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing a system configuration of a wireless communication network system 10 configured using base station positioning request destination determination devices 60 and 80. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of IPSCP 43. FIG. It is a table | surface which shows the example of data registered into the location information table 72T. It is a table | surface which shows the example of data registered into 3G / LTE network sharing table 73Ta. It is a table | surface which shows the example of data registered into 3G network table 73Tb. It is a table | surface which shows the example of data registered into the LTE network table 73Tc. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a GMLC (EBSCP) 42. FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of the whole process of the base station positioning request | requirement process in the radio | wireless communication network system 10 comprised using the base station positioning request destination determination apparatus 60,80. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of the whole process of the base station positioning request | requirement process in the radio | wireless communication network system 10 comprised using the base station positioning request destination determination apparatus 60,80. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of the whole process of the base station positioning request | requirement process in the radio | wireless communication network system 10 comprised using the base station positioning request destination determination apparatus 60,80. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the base station positioning request destination determination process which GMLC (EBSCP) 42 performs. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the weighting information update process which GMLC (EBSCP) 42 performs. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system configuration of a general wireless communication network system 100. FIG.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a base station positioning request destination determination apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(System configuration of the wireless communication network system 10)
First, with reference to FIG. 1, the overall system configuration of the wireless communication network system 10 configured using the base station positioning request destination determination devices 60 and 80 of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a system configuration of a wireless communication network system 10 configured using base station positioning request destination determination devices 60 and 80. The wireless communication network system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a network device that configures the 3G network 120 and a network device that configures the LTE network 130. In addition, the wireless communication network system 10 includes a network device common to the 3G network 120 and the LTE network 130, and an MT (Mobile Terminal) 150 which is a mobile terminal owned by the user. The MT 150 can switch the radio system between the 3G network 120 and the LTE network 130 according to user settings.

First, there are a NodeB 121, an RNC (Radio Network Controller) 122, and an xGSN (serving / gateway general packet radio service support node) 123 as network devices constituting the 3G network 120.
The NodeB 121 is a network base station on the 3G network 120 side, and is connected to the MT 150 by radio.
The RNC 122 is a base station radio network control station that controls a plurality of networks in an integrated manner.

The xGSN 123 is an integrated node of SGSN (Serving General packet radio service Support Node) and GGSN (Gateway General packet radio service Support Node).
Further, there are eNodeB 131 and MME 132 as network devices constituting LTE network 130.
The eNodeB 131 is a network base station on the LTE network 130 side, and is connected to the MT 150 by radio.
The MME 132 performs mobility management of the moving MT 150, control necessary for transmitting and receiving control signals and user data between the NodeB 121 and the xGSN 123, and the like.

  Furthermore, as network devices common to the 3G network 120 and the LTE network 130, an LCS Client (Location Service Client) 141, a GMLC (Gateway Mobile Location User Service (EBSCP), an External Business User IP (CP), and a Control Service IP (CP) are provided. There are a service control point (143) and an E-SMLC (Evolved Mobile Mobile Location Center) 144.

The LCS Client 141 is a device for providing a function of notifying the current position of the moving MT 150.
The GMLC (EBSCP) 42 is a gateway device for providing latitude and longitude information of the measured MT 150 to other devices.
The IPSCP 43 is an IP service control device, and manages contract information and controls the provision of services to users in conjunction with NMSCP (New Mobile Service Control Point), although not shown.

The E-SMLC 144 is a server (positioning server) device that performs positioning processing.
The IPSCP 43 includes a base station positioning request destination determination device 60 in addition to the general functional units included in the IPSCP 143. The GMLC (EBSCP) 42 also includes a base station positioning request destination determination device 80 in addition to the functional units included in the GMLC (EBSCP) 142.

  When the base station positioning request destination determination devices 60 and 80 make a positioning request to the NodeB 121 or the eNodeB 131, the positioning request is a network to which a positioning request is transmitted based on the weighting information A to D for each network. Base station positioning request destination determination processing for determining a destination network is performed. Note that the positioning request transmission destination network in the wireless communication network system 10 is two networks, that is, the 3G network 120 or the LTE network 130, but may be three or more. In addition, the base station positioning request destination determination devices 60 and 80 determine the base station positioning result and the success rate when the positioning request is actually made to the positioning request transmission destination network determined by the base station positioning request destination determination processing. Based on this, weighting information update processing for updating the weighting information A to D is performed.

  That is, functional units for realizing the above functions are provided separately for the base station positioning request destination determination device 60 included in the IPSCP 143 and the base station positioning request destination determination device 80 included in the GMLC (EBSCP) 142. . As will be described in detail later, weighting information A to D for each network is managed on the base station positioning request destination determination device 60 side of the IPSCP 43. On the base station positioning request destination determination device 80 side of one GMLC (EBSCP) 142, the positioning request is actually transmitted based on the weight information A to D for each network managed on the base station positioning request destination determination device 60 side. It is possible to perform processing for determining a destination network and updating weighting information A to D for each network managed on the base station positioning request destination determination device 60 side.

(IPSCP43 device configuration)
Next, a specific functional configuration of the IPSCP 43 configuring the wireless communication network system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the IPSCP 43. The IPSCP 43 shown in FIG. 2 includes a control signal transmission / reception unit 71, an in-zone information storage unit 72, a per-user weight information storage unit 73-1, a base station area per-weight information storage unit 73-2, and in-zone information. The acquisition processing unit 74, the location information update processing unit 75, the weighting information acquisition processing unit 76, and the update weighting information calculation unit 77 are configured. In FIG. 2, functional units enclosed by dotted lines are functional units provided in the base station positioning request destination determination device 60.

The control signal transmission / reception unit 71 transmits / receives user data to / from each device constituting the wireless communication network system 10, and transmits / receives control signals necessary for providing various user services. It is also the role of the control signal transmission / reception unit 71 to transmit / receive control signals necessary for base station positioning.
The located area information storage unit 72 has a located area information table 72T. FIG. 3 is a table showing an example of data registered in the location information table 72T. In the location information table 72T shown in FIG. 3, first, SGSN location information as 3G network location information that is location information on the 3G network 120 side and LTE network location that is location information on the LTE network 130 side are included. As the information, two types of location information, MME location information, are registered. Further, subscriber information (MSISDN: Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number) is registered in the location information table 72T. In addition, when registering said location information and subscriber information in the location information table 72T, the location information and subscriber information are registered in association with each other.

  The SGSN location information (3G network location information) is an identifier for uniquely identifying the base station area where the MT 150 in the 3G network 120 is located, and MME location information (LTE network location information). Information) is an identifier for uniquely identifying the base station area where the MT 150 in the LTE network 130 is located. The subscriber information is an identifier for uniquely identifying a subscriber (user).

  In the area information table 72T, as described above, area information for both the 3G network 120 and the LTE network 130 is often registered by the ISR function. For example, a user who can be identified from the subscriber information “46804002312” of the first record of the location information table 72T is a base station area which can be identified from “001” of the 3G network 120, or “ There is a possibility of being in any of the base station areas that can be specified by “001”.

The user-by-user weighting information storage unit 73-1 has a 3G / LTE network shared table 73Ta. First, FIG. 4 is a table showing an example of data registered in the 3G / LTE network sharing table 73Ta. The 3G / LTE network sharing table 73Ta shown in FIG. 4 and the in-zone information table 72T shown in FIG. 3 are relational ships, and are linked to each other using subscriber information as a key.
The 3G / LTE network sharing table 73Ta includes subscriber information, weighting information A for the 3G network 120 that can be specified for each user that can be specified from the subscriber information, and an LTE network that is managed for each user. The weighting information B for 130 is registered in association with each other.

  Further, the base station area-by-base station weighting information storage unit 73-2 has two tables, a 3G network table 73Tb and an LTE network table 73Tc. First, FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of data registered in the 3G network table 73Tb. Note that the 3G network table 73Tb shown in FIG. 5 and the area information table 72T shown in FIG. 3 are relational ships, and are linked to each other using SGSN area information as a key.

  In the 3G network table 73Tb, SGSN location information and weighting information C for the 3G network 120 managed for each base station area that can be specified from the SGSN location information are registered in association with each other. ing. Further, the base station positioning request destination determination process is performed based on the weighting information C, and the success rate when the positioning request is made may be registered together with the SGSN location information.

As an example, suppose that it is determined 100 times that the base station area located in the base station positioning request destination determination process is the 3G network 120. At this time, it is assumed that a positioning request is actually made to the 3G network 120, the positioning process has succeeded 20 times, and the remaining 80 times have failed. Then, the success rate is “20%”.
On the other hand, FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of data registered in the LTE network table 73Tc. Note that both the LTE network table 73Tc and the location information table 72T shown in FIG. 6 are in a relational relationship, and are linked using the MME location information as a key.

  In the LTE network table 73Tc, MME location information and weighting information D for the LTE network 130 managed for each base station area that can be identified from the MME location information are registered in association with each other. Has been. Further, the base station positioning request destination determination process is performed based on the weighting information D, and the success rate when the positioning request is made is also registered in association with the MME location information.

  When there is a request from another device to acquire the base station area where the 3G network 120 or the LTE network 130 of any user is present, the location information acquisition processing unit 74 performs the above location information The SGSN location information or MME location information that can be specified from the subscriber information is acquired from the location information table 72T of the storage unit 72 as the location information. As described above, when the ISR function is enabled on the MT 50 side, the SGSN location information and the MME location information are registered in the location information table 72T. Probability is high. In this case, the location information acquisition processing unit 74 can acquire the location information of both the SGSN location information and the MME location information from the location information table 72T of the location information storage unit 72 described above. .

When there is a request from another device to update the base station area in which the 3G network 120 or the LTE network 130 of any user is present, the location information update processing unit 75 performs the above location information update. SGSN location information or MME location information is registered in the location information table 72T of the storage unit 72 in association with the subscriber information.
The weighting information acquisition processing unit 76 is managed for each user and the weighting information A for the 3G network 120 managed for each user from the 3G / LTE network sharing table 73Ta of the above-mentioned user-specific weighting information storage unit 73-1. Two pieces of weighting information with weighting information B for the LTE network 130 are acquired. Further, the weighting information acquisition processing unit 76 uses the weighting information C for the 3G network 120 managed for each base station area from the 3G network table 73Tb included in the weighting information storage unit 73-2 for each base station area, and for the LTE network. From the table 73Tc, two pieces of weighting information including weighting information D for the LTE network 130 managed for each base station area are acquired.

The update weighting information calculation unit 77 performs a base station positioning request destination determination process from the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 to the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 based on the weighting information A to D for each of the networks, and actually performs a positioning request. The weighting information A to D newly calculated based on the base station positioning result and the success rate at the time are received. Then, the update weighting information calculation unit 77 updates the weighting information A to D of the 3G network table 73Tb and the LTE network table 73Tc to the newly calculated weighting information AD.
As described above, the base station positioning request destination determination device 60 included in the IPSCP 43 manages the weighting information A and C for the 3G network 120 and the weighting information B and D for the LTE network 130 for each user. It is managed for each base station area.
(Device configuration of GMLC (EBSCP) 42)

Subsequently, a specific functional configuration of the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 included in the wireless communication network system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the GMLC (EBSCP) 42. The GMLC (EBSCP) 42 shown in FIG. 7 includes a control signal transmission / reception unit 91, a positioning request processing unit 92, a base station positioning request destination determination unit 93, an overall weighting information calculation unit 94, and an update weighting information calculation unit 95. And is configured. In addition, the function part enclosed with a dotted line in FIG. 7 is a function part with which the base station positioning request destination determination apparatus 80 is provided.

Similar to the control signal transmission / reception unit 71 described above, the control signal transmission / reception unit 91 transmits / receives user data to / from each device constituting the wireless communication network system 10 and provides various user services. Send and receive necessary control signals.
When there is a request from the LCS Client 141 to perform base station positioning, the positioning request processing unit 92 receives SGSN location information, MME location information, weighting information A and C for the 3G network 120, and LTE network from the IPSCP 43. Weighting information B and D for 130 is acquired. Then, the positioning request processing unit 92 makes a base station positioning request to the 3G network 120 or the LTE network 130 based on the information.

  The base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 is weighted information acquired by the positioning request processing unit 92 when the positioning request processing unit 92 acquires both the SGSN location information and the MME location information. Based on A to D, base station positioning request destination determination processing for determining a positioning request destination network that is a network that actually transmits a base station positioning request is performed.

  As described above, when the ISR function is disabled on the MT 50 side, either one of the two types of location information of the location information of the SGSN location information and the MME location information is displayed in the IPSCP 43. Information is registered. In this case, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 can determine the positioning request transmission destination network as a network specified by the acquired location information. However, when the ISR function is in an effective state on the MT 50 side, there is a high possibility that both the SGSN location information and the MME location information are registered in the IPSCP 43. In such a case, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 does not determine the positioning request transmission destination network as a network set in advance as described in the background art, but based on the weighting information A to D. Decide on the determined network. The specific processing flow of the base station positioning request destination determination processing will be described in detail later.

  In response to an instruction from the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93, the total weight information calculating unit 94 receives weighting information A for the 3G network 120 managed for each user and weighting information B for the LTE network 130 managed for each user. And the product is calculated as total weighting information X for the 3G network 120. Similarly, the total weighting information calculation unit 94 receives an instruction from the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 and weighting information C for the 3G network 120 managed for each base station area and the LTE network 130 for each base station area. The weighting information D is multiplied with the product, and the product is calculated as total weighting information Y for the LTE network 130.

  Note that the total weighting information includes at least one of weighting information for each network managed for each user and weighting information for each network managed for each base station area. good. Therefore, the total weighting information may be a product obtained by multiplying two pieces of weighting information, or may be a value calculated by combining at least one weighting information with another information. As a result, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 can determine a positioning request destination network that is more likely to be in the user's area than simply determining a positioning request destination network based on weighting information alone. it can.

The update weighting information calculation unit 95 performs base station positioning request destination determination processing based on each of the above weighting information A to D (each total weighting information X, Y), and the success rate when the positioning request is actually made Based on the above, new weighting information A to D is calculated.
That is, when the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 obtains from the IPSCP 43 one of the two types of area information of the area information of the SGSN area information and the MME area information, The station positioning request destination determination unit 93 determines the positioning request transmission destination network as a network specified by the acquired location information. On the other hand, when the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 obtains the location information of both the SGSN location information and the location information of the MME location information from the IPSCP 43, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 performs weighting. A positioning request transmission destination network is determined based on the information A to D. Then, the positioning request processing unit 92 makes a base station positioning request to the positioning request transmission destination network determined by the base station positioning request destination determining unit 93.
As described above, in the base station positioning request destination determination device 80 included in the GMLC (EBSCP) 142, based on the weighting information A to D for each network managed on the base station positioning request destination determination device 60 side, A process for actually determining the positioning request transmission destination network is performed.

(Overall flow of base station positioning request processing)
Now, an overall processing flow of the base station positioning request processing in the wireless communication network system 10 configured using the base station positioning request destination determination devices 60 and 80 will be described with reference to FIGS.
8 to 10 are sequence diagrams showing the overall processing flow of the base station positioning request processing in the radio communication network system 10 configured using the base station positioning request destination determination devices 60 and 80. FIG. In the sequence diagrams shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, only the devices necessary for explaining the main processing among the devices configuring the wireless communication network system 10 described in FIG. 1 are shown.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, the LCS Client 141 first transmits a base station positioning request signal to the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 (step S101).
Then, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 transmits a base station positioning request signal to the IPSCP 43 in order to acquire information necessary for making a base station positioning request (step S102). The IPSCP 43 transmits the location information and the weighting information A to D to the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 (step S103).

The GMLC (EBSCP) 42 performs base station positioning request destination determination processing in order to determine a network to which a base station positioning request is transmitted (step S104). A specific flow of the base station positioning request destination determination process in step S104 will be described in detail later.
When the first (first) positioning request transmission destination network determined by the base station positioning request destination determination processing is the 3G network 120 (YES in step S105), the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 is shown in FIG. Each process of step S106 to S112 shown in the broken line F1 is performed. On the other hand, when the first (first) positioning request destination network determined by the base station positioning request destination determination process is the LTE network 130 (NO in step S105), the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 is shown in FIG. Steps S113 to S117 shown in the broken line F2 are performed.

  In the 3G network 120 and the LTE network 130, the NodeB 121, the RNC 122, and the xGSN 123 in the 3G network 120 correspond to the eNodeB 131 and the MME 132 in the LTE network 130, respectively. Therefore, the processing when the positioning request transmission destination network is the 3G network 120 and the processing when the positioning request transmission destination network is the LTE network 130 are substantially the same. Of the two processes, as an example, a process when the positioning request transmission destination network determined by the base station positioning request destination determination process is the 3G network 120 will be described.

  First, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 transmits a base station positioning request signal to the xGSN 123 (step S106). Further, the xGSN 123 transmits a base station positioning request signal to the RNC 122 (step S107). Further, the RNC 122 transmits a base station positioning request signal to the NodeB 121 (step S108). Then, the NodeB 121 and the MT 50 perform base station positioning processing between the Node B 121 and the MT 50 (step S109).

  When the base station positioning process is completed, the NodeB 121 transmits latitude / longitude information and a base station positioning result signal indicating whether the base station positioning process has succeeded or failed to the RNC 122 (step S110). Further, the RNC 122 transmits a base station positioning result signal to the xGSN 123 (step S111). Further, the xGSN 123 transmits a base station positioning result signal to the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 (step S112).

Following this, as shown in FIG. 9, GMLC (EBSCP) 42 is the first (first) base station positioning only, and if the base station positioning result is successful (YES in step S201), A weighting information update process for updating the location information and the weighting information A to D is performed (step S215).
On the other hand, when the base station positioning result is not successful and the base station positioning result is unsuccessful due to a positioning error or no response (NO in step S201), the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 determines the base station positioning in step S104. A base station positioning request is transmitted to a network different from the positioning request transmission destination network determined by the request destination determination process.

  If the first (first) positioning request destination network determined by the base station positioning request destination determination process in step S104 is the 3G network 120 (YES in step S202), the second positioning request destination network Becomes the LTE network 130. For this reason, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 performs each process of steps S203 to S207 indicated by a broken line F3 in FIG. On the other hand, if the first (first) positioning request destination network determined by the base station positioning request destination determination process in step S104 is the LTE network 130 (NO in step S202), the second positioning request transmission. The destination network is the 3G network 120. For this reason, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 performs each process of steps S208 to S214 indicated by a broken line F4 in FIG. The processes shown in broken lines F3 and F4 in FIG. 9 are substantially the same as the processes shown in broken lines F2 and F1 in FIG.

And after performing each process shown in the broken lines F3 and F4, GMLC (EBSCP) 42 receives a base station positioning result signal from the apparatus of 3G network 120 or LTE network 130 (step S207 or step S214).
Following this, as shown in FIG. 10, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 finally determines the weighting for updating the weighting information when the base station positioning result is successful (YES in step S215). Information update processing is performed (step S216). The specific flow of the weighting information update process in step S216 will be described in detail later.

  Finally, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 transmits new weighting information calculated by the weighting information update process to the IPSCP 43 in accordance with the location information (step S217). Further, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 transmits a base station positioning result signal including latitude / longitude information of the positioned MT 150 to the LCS Client 141, which is the original device that requested the base station positioning (step S218). All the processes of the base station positioning request process are completed.

  On the other hand, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 finally determines the weighting information for updating the weighting information when the base station positioning result is not successful and the base station positioning result is unsuccessful (NO in step S215). There is no need to perform update processing. For this reason, when the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 transmits a base station positioning result signal including that the base station positioning process has failed to the LCS Client 141 which is the original device that has requested the base station positioning (step). S218), all the base station positioning request processing ends.

(Flow of base station positioning request destination determination process)
Finally, the flow of the base station positioning request destination determination process performed by the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of base station positioning request destination determination processing performed by the GMLC (EBSCP) 42. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 includes the location information registered in the location information storage unit 72 of the IPSCP 43, the weighting information storage unit 73-1 for each user, and the weighting for each base station area. Weighting information A to D for each network registered in the information storage unit 73-2 is acquired (step S301).

  Then, the positioning request processing unit 92 acquires one of the two types of location information of the SGSN location information and the MME location information from the IPSCP 43 (NO in step S302). When the zone information is the SGSN location information of the 3G network 120 (YES in step S303), the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 determines the positioning request transmission destination network to be the 3G network 120 (step S304). On the other hand, if the location information is not the SGSN location information of the 3G network 120 and the location information is MME location information of the LTE network 130 (NO in step S303), the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 Then, the positioning request transmission destination network is determined to be the LTE network 130 (step S305).

  Further, when the positioning request processing unit 92 acquires both the SGSN location information and the MME location information from the IPSCP 43 (YES in step S302), the positioning request processing unit 92 calculates the total weight information. The unit 94 is caused to calculate total weighting information X for the 3G network 120. The total weight information calculation unit 94 calculates the total weight information X by multiplying the weight information A for the 3G network 120 managed for each user by the weight information B for the LTE network 130 managed for each user.

  Similarly, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 causes the total weight information calculation unit 94 to calculate the total weight information Y for the LTE network 130. The total weight information calculation unit 94 calculates the total weight information Y by multiplying the weight information C for the 3G network 120 managed for each base station area by the weight information D for the LTE network 130 for each base station area. (Step S306).

Subsequently, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 compares the overall weighting information X for the 3G network 120 and the overall weighting information Y for the LTE network 130. If the total weight information X for the 3G network 120 is larger than the total weight information Y for the LTE network 130 (YES in step S307), the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 sets the positioning request transmission destination network as the 3G network 120. (Step S308). On the other hand, if the total weight information X for the 3G network 120 is not larger than the total weight information Y for the LTE network 130 (NO in step S307), the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 sets the positioning request transmission destination network to the LTE network. 130 is determined (step S309).
Finally, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 makes a base station positioning request to the positioning request transmission destination network determined by the base station positioning request destination determination process by the processing of step S106 or step S111 described above. .

(Flow of weighting information update process)
Subsequently, the flow of the weighting information update process performed by the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 after the base station positioning is performed will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of weighting information update processing performed by the GMLC (EBSCP) 42. As shown in FIG. 12, first, the update weighting information calculation unit 95 refers to the base station positioning result received by the positioning request processing unit 92 (step S401).

  Finally, when the base station positioning process is successful in the 3G network 120 (YES in step S402), the update weighting information calculation unit 95 is set for each user registered in the per-user weighting information storage unit 73-1. The weighting information A is calculated such that the weighting information A for the managed 3G network 120 (weighting information for the network for which the base station positioning process has been successfully performed) is higher than the current value. On the other hand, the update weighting information calculation unit 95 is weighted information B for the LTE network 130 managed for each user registered in the user-by-user weighting information storage unit 73-1 (other than the network in which the base station positioning process is successful). The weighting information B is calculated so that the weighting information for the network is lower than the current value (step S403).

  Here, in order to update each weighting information, the value added to the original weighting information can be arbitrarily set according to the time zone and the type of service. As an example, if the original weighting information is “1.0”, “0.1” is added to “1.1”. Also, the success rate is updated accordingly. As a result, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 determines the positioning request transmission destination network for each user as the network most likely to be located even if the user is in the same area. can do. At the same time, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 can prevent the positioning request transmission destination network from being determined as a network with the least possibility that the user is in the area.

  Further, the update weighting information calculation unit 95 includes weighting information C for the 3G network 120 managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit 73-2 for each base station area (the network in which the base station positioning process has been successfully performed). The new weighting information C is calculated so that the weighting information is higher than the current value (step S404). Thereby, even if it is the same user, the base station positioning request | requirement destination determination part 93 can determine a positioning request | requirement transmission destination network for a network with a high possibility that the user is located for every base station area. .

  When the base station positioning result in the first base station positioning process is unsuccessful, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 retransmits the base station positioning request to the LTE network 130 in addition to the 3G network 120. (YES in step S405), the network update weighting information calculation unit 95 calculates the weighting information D (for the LTE network 130 managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit 73-2 for each base station area). The new weighting information D is calculated so that the weighting information for networks other than the network for which the base station positioning process has been successfully performed is lower than the current value (step S406). This completes all the weighting information update processing. Thereby, even if it is the same user, the base station positioning request | requirement destination determination part 93 can make it not determine the network in which a user is not much located as a positioning request | requirement transmission destination network for every base station area. .

In addition, since the base station positioning result in the first base station positioning process is successful, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 does not transmit a base station positioning request to the LTE network 130 (NO in step S405). The network update weighting information calculation unit 95 does not need to calculate new weighting information D. This completes all the weighting information update processing.
On the other hand, a case where the base station positioning process is successful in the LTE network 130 instead of the 3G network 120 in step S402 will be described (NO in step S402). In this case, the method of updating the weighting information for each network is opposite to the case where the base station positioning process described above is successful in the 3G network 120.

  First, the update weighting information calculation unit 95 is weighting information A for the 3G network 120 managed for each user registered in the user-by-user weighting information storage unit 73-1 (weighting information for a network for which the base station positioning process has been successfully performed). However, new weighting information A is calculated so as to be lower than the current value. On the other hand, the update weighting information calculation unit 95 has weighting information B for the LTE network 130 managed for each user (weighting information for a network other than the network in which the base station positioning process is successful) higher than the current value. New weighting information B is calculated so as to be (step S407).

  Further, the update weighting information calculation unit 95 includes weighting information D for the LTE network 130 managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit 73-2 for each base station area (the network in which the base station positioning process has been successfully performed). The new weighting information D is calculated so that the weighting information is higher than the current value (step S408).

  In addition, since the base station positioning result in the first base station positioning process has failed, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 transmits a base station positioning request to the 3G network 120 in addition to the LTE network 130. (YES in step S409), the network update weighting information calculation unit 95 calculates the weighting information C (base) for the 3G network 120 managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit 73-2 for each base station area. New weighting information C is calculated so that the weighting information for a network other than the network for which the station positioning process has succeeded is lower than the current value (step S410). This completes all the weighting information update processing.

In addition, since the base station positioning result in the first base station positioning process is successful, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 does not transmit a base station positioning request to the 3G network 120 (NO in step S409). The network update weighting information calculation unit 95 does not need to calculate new weighting information C. This completes all the weighting information update processing.
Finally, in the processing step of step S217 described above, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 transmits weighting information to the IPSCP 43 in accordance with the location information to be updated.

(Summary of description of embodiment)
As described above, in the wireless communication network system 10 configured using the base station positioning request destination determination device according to the present embodiment, the per-user weighting information storage unit 73-of the base station positioning request destination determination device 60- First, weighting information A for the 3G network 120 managed for each user and weighting information B for the LTE network 130 managed for each user are managed. Furthermore, the weighting information C for the 3G network 120 managed for each base station area and the weighting information D for the LTE network 130 for each base station area are managed in the weighting information storage unit 73-2 for each base station area. .

  Then, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 determines the base station positioning request destination when either one of the two area information of the SGSN area information and the MME area information is acquired from the IPSCP 43. The unit 93 determines the positioning request transmission destination network as a network specified by the acquired location information. On the other hand, when both the SGSN location information and the MME location information are acquired from the IPSCP 43, the GMLC (EBSCP) 42 uses the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 to weight each network. A positioning request transmission destination network is determined based on the information A to D. Then, the positioning request processing unit 92 makes a base station positioning request to the positioning request transmission destination network determined by the base station positioning request destination determining unit 93.

  That is, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 selects the positioning request destination network based on the weighting information A to D for a plurality of types of networks having different communication standards for each user and each base station area. The network that is most likely to be determined is determined as the positioning request destination network. In particular, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 can determine the positioning request transmission destination network for each base station area as the network most likely to be located by the user even for the same user. . In addition, the base station positioning request destination determination unit 93 determines the positioning request transmission destination network for each user as the network most likely to be located even if the user is in the same area. can do.

Thereby, it is less likely that the positioning request is retransmitted to a plurality of types of networks having different communication standards, as compared with the case where the priority network is used as the positioning request transmission destination network. Therefore, it is less likely to re-request a positioning request to another network (double processing) or to wait until the processing times out due to the non-response of the devices constituting each network. The processing time required for performing the base station positioning process can be shortened by the amount that the positioning request is not transmitted to the network that is not located. Furthermore, the processing load of the base station positioning process in each device can be reduced by the amount that extra signals are not transmitted / received between the devices constituting the network that is not located.
Further, as described in the background art, if the NodeB 121 and the eNodeB 131 cooperate with each other and do not exist in the local network, there is no need to use a mechanism that directly inquires the other network about the current status.

(Scope of the present invention)
It should be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated and described exemplary embodiments, but includes all embodiments that provide the same effects as those intended by the present invention. Further, the scope of the invention is not limited to the combinations of features of the invention defined by the claims, but can be defined by any desired combination of specific features among all the disclosed features.

  For example, even in the process of calculating or updating each of the weighting information A to D and the total weighting information X and Y described in the embodiment, it is not limited to those described above. When calculating or updating each weighting information, each weighting information can be changed according to a time zone, a service type, or the like. By including various elements in each weighting information in this way, it is possible to further determine the positioning request transmission destination network as a network where the user is likely to be located. In addition to this, the processing for determining the positioning request transmission destination network can be similarly changed based on each weighting information.

  The base station positioning request destination determination device according to the present invention includes a plurality of types having different communication standards for each user and each base station area, particularly in a wireless communication network in which a plurality of types of networks having different communication standards such as a 3G network and an LTE network are mixed In order to determine the positioning request transmission destination network based on the weighting information for the other network, it can be provided in each device constituting the wireless communication network.

10 …… Wireless communication network system 120 …… 3G network 130 …… LTE network 150 …… MT
121 …… eNodeB
122 …… RNC
123 …… xGSN
131 …… eNodeB
132 …… MME
141 …… LCS Client
42 …… GMLC (EBSCP)
43 …… IPSCP
144 E-SMLC
60 …… Base station positioning request destination determination device 71 …… Control signal transmission / reception unit 72 …… Location information storage unit 73 …… Base station area weighted information storage unit 74 …… Location information acquisition processing unit 75 …… Location Information update processing unit 76 …… Weighting information acquisition processing unit 77 …… Update weighting information calculation unit 80 …… Base station positioning request destination determination device 91 …… Control signal transmission / reception unit 92 …… Positioning request processing unit 93 …… Base station positioning Request destination determination unit 94 …… Total weighting information calculation unit 95 …… Update weighting information calculation unit

Claims (7)

The mobile terminal has possession information, which is an identifier for uniquely identifying the base station area where the mobile terminal is located in each network of a wireless communication network in which multiple types of networks with different communication standards coexist. A location information storage unit that registers and associates with subscriber information that is an identifier for uniquely identifying a user to perform,
User-by-user weighting information storage unit that registers and registers subscriber information registered in the area information storage unit and weighting information for each network managed for each user that can be specified from the subscriber information. When,
For each base station area that registers and registers the location information registered in the location information storage unit and the weighting information for each network managed for each base station area that can be specified from the location information A weighting information storage unit;
Weighting information for each network managed for each user registered in the area information storage unit, and weighting for each network managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit for each base station area A base station positioning request destination determination unit that determines a positioning request destination network, which is a network that actually transmits a base station positioning request, based on information including at least one of the information weighting information. A base station positioning request destination determination device.   Update weighting information for each user registered in the weighting information storage unit for each user and weighting information for each network managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit for each base station area The base station positioning request destination determination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an update weighting information calculation unit that calculates each new weighting information. The update weight information calculation unit includes:
Of the weighting information for each user registered in the weighting information storage unit for each user,
The new weighting information is calculated so that the weighting information for the network for which the base station positioning processing has been successful is higher than the current value, and the weighting information for the network other than the network for which the base station positioning processing has been successfully performed is more than the current value. 3. The base station positioning request destination determination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein new weighting information is calculated so as to be lower. The update weight information calculation unit includes:
Among the weighting information for each network managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit for each base station area,
4. The base station positioning request destination determination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein new weighting information is calculated so that weighting information for a network for which base station positioning processing has been successful is higher than a current value. The update weight information calculation unit includes:
Among the weighting information for each network managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit for each base station area,
The new weighting information is calculated so that the weighting information for the network that has requested the base station positioning other than the network that has succeeded in the base station positioning processing is lower than the current value. The base station positioning request destination determination device according to item 1. The base station positioning request destination determination unit,
When there is one location information registered in association with one subscriber information registered in the location information storage unit, the positioning request transmission destination network is specified by the location information. Decide on the net,
When there is a plurality of area information registered in association with one subscriber information registered in the area information storage unit, it is managed for each user registered in the area information storage unit. Based on information including at least one of weighting information for each network and weighting information for each network managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit for each base station area. The base station positioning request destination determination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning request transmission destination network is determined. Weighting information for each network managed for each user registered in the weighting information storage unit for each user, and for each network managed for each base station area registered in the weighting information storage unit for each base station area A weighting information product that further includes a weighting information calculating unit that calculates weighting information for each network;
The base station positioning request destination determination unit,
The base station positioning according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the positioning request destination network is determined based on total weight information for each network calculated by the total weight information calculation unit. Request destination determination device.

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