KR100642458B1 - Method for managing roaming of subscribers between different mobile network - Google Patents

Abstract

1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a subscriber mobility management method in a heterogeneous mobile communication system and a computer readable recording medium storing a program for realizing the method.

2. The technical problem to be solved by the invention

The present invention can be read by a computer recording a mobility management method for guaranteeing mobility and guaranteeing continuous service use even if a subscriber moves between heterogeneous mobile communication networks in a system in which heterogeneous mobile communication networks are interlocked, and a program for realizing the method. To provide a record carrier.

3. Summary of Solution to Invention

The present invention provides a mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) for managing mobility in a visiting subscriber network in order to continuously manage mobility of roaming subscribers in a mobility management method in a system interworking with a heterogeneous mobile communication network. A first step comprising; A second step of, when the subscriber roams, the mobile station notifying the visited subscriber network of the home subscriber network identification number together with the location registration request; The gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) of the visited subscriber network requests subscriber information to a home location register of the home subscriber network through an IWF, and verifies the validity of roaming subscribers through message exchange. Three steps; And the gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) downloads the subscriber information of the home subscriber network through the network interlocking device (IWF) and registers the roaming subscriber's location according to the third step verification result. Including a fourth step of managing mobility.

4. Important uses of the invention

The present invention is used for subscriber roaming services in heterogeneous mobile communication networks.

Mobility, Roaming, Location Registration, Home Network, Visit Network

Description

A method for managing subscriber mobility in heterogeneous mobile communication systems {Method for managing roaming of subscribers between different mobile networks}             

1 is a block diagram of a general mobile communication system,

2 is an exemplary configuration diagram of a heterogeneous mobile communication system to which the present invention is applied;

3A and 3B are flowcharts of an embodiment of a subscriber mobility management method according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

11: Authentication Center (AC) 12,16: Home Location Register (HLR)

13: Subscriber Location Register (VLR) 14: Gateway Mobile Subscriber Location Register (GVLR)

15: Exchanger (MSC) 17,18: Gateway exchanger (GMSC)

According to the present invention, even if a subscriber moves between heterogeneous mobile communication networks in a system in which heterogeneous mobile communication networks (for example, the North American ANSI-41 protocol and the European GSM protocol) are interworked, it is possible to ensure continuous service use. The present invention relates to a mobility management method and a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing the method.

1 is a configuration diagram of a general mobile communication system, in which "11" is an authentication center (AC), "12" is a home location register (HLR), and "13" is a subscriber location register (VLR). Location Register), "14" represents a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), and "15" represents a Gateway Switch (GMSC).

However, since the mobile communication system environment as described above is only a technique well known in the art, detailed description thereof will be omitted herein. However, the configuration of the system for providing the mobility management function will be briefly described.

The exchange (MSC) 14 processes mobile communication subscriber calls in conjunction with subscriber location register 13, home location register 16 and gateway mobile subscriber location register 15, and performs call setup and release functions. It performs various functions related to call processing, call processing and supplementary services.

The subscriber location register (VLR) 13 is a database that temporarily stores subscriber information related to the mobile terminal while the mobile terminal is in an area controlled by the subscriber location register 13, and moves the location registered to the area in charge of the mobile terminal. The information of the terminal and the subscriber is taken from the home location register 12 through the exchange 14, and temporarily stored, and interlocked with the exchange 14.

The home location register (HLR) 12 is a database that is connected to the exchange 12 and the authentication center 17 and manages various types of information of mobile subscribers. It stores the permanent information and location information of the mobile terminal and the subscriber, and interacts with the subscriber location register 13 to support various functions related to call processing and additional services.

In the mobile communication system, information related to the location of the user and the state of the terminal should always be stored and managed in the network. This is to provide a communication service anytime, anywhere by managing the information that can be changed according to the movement of the user. In the personal mobile communication system, this is divided into a protocol functional block called mobility management (MM).

The mobility management function stores and manages subscriber's current location information and current status related to communication service. The mobile communication system in charge of this includes a home location register 12 and a subscriber location register 13. These are a kind of database (DB), the home location register 12 manages the user's identity information and current location information, the subscriber location register 13 temporarily stores the call status and information for the users in the area Taking care of it.

If the mobile terminal roams, the mobile terminal recognizes this and notifies the network (Location Update), and this information is transmitted to the home location register 12 through the subscriber location register 13. This process is commonly referred to as Registration, and the types include Power On Registration, Power Off Registration, Zone-based Registration, and Time-Based Location Registration. Time-based registration, implicit registration, parameter changes, and forced location registration by the network.

Looking at the registration process further, the mobile station transmits a location registration request to the exchange 14 / subscriber location register 13 through a base station transceiver subsystem (BTS) and a base station controller (BSC). Upon request, subscriber location register 13 downloads terminal (subscriber) information from home location register 12 and manages mobility within the area of exchange 14 / subscriber location register 13.

However, the existing mobile communication system is equipped with a gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR), even if the subscriber roams between heterogeneous mobile communication networks can not be continuously managed mobility can not guarantee the service provided.

In order to guarantee the mobility of subscribers, standard protocol for mobility management is adopted, and representative mobility management protocols are North American ANSI-41 protocol and European GSM protocol.

However, the GMS mobile communication network and the ANSI-41 mobile communication network each have different Mobile Application Part (MAP) protocols and service providing procedures, and each is provided only in its own mobile communication service area.

Linking the GMS mobile communication network based on Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) with the ANSI-41 mobile communication network based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) In order to provide a service to a subscriber of a dual mode service roaming in a network interworking apparatus (IWF) is required. The interworking between heterogeneous mobile communication networks has an interworking structure through an IWF, due to different mobility management methods.

However, in a heterogeneous mobile communication network (eg, North American ANSI-41 protocol and European GSM protocol) through such an interlocking device (IWF), even if the subscriber roams between other heterogeneous mobile communication networks, the subscriber may continue to provide services. In order to be provided, there is a need for a method that can guarantee mobility management during roaming.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, mobility management method and method for ensuring continuous service use by guaranteeing mobility even if subscribers move between heterogeneous mobile communication networks in a system with heterogeneous mobile communication network It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer-readable recording medium that records a program for realization.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gateway for mobility management in a visited subscriber network in order to continuously manage mobility of a roaming subscriber in a mobility management method in a system interworking with a heterogeneous network. A first step comprising a mobile subscriber location register (GVLR); A second step of, when the subscriber roams, the mobile station notifying the visited subscriber network of the home subscriber network identification number together with the location registration request; The gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) of the visited subscriber network requests subscriber information to a home location register of the home subscriber network through an IWF, and verifies the validity of roaming subscribers through message exchange. Three steps; And the gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) downloads the subscriber information of the home subscriber network through the network interlocking device (IWF) and registers the roaming subscriber's location according to the third step verification result. And a fourth step of managing mobility.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a system in which a heterogeneous mobile network including a processor is interworked, and when the subscriber roams, the mobile terminal visits the home subscriber network network identification number together with the location registration request. A first function of informing self network; The gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) of the visited subscriber network requests subscriber information to a home location register of the home subscriber network through an IWF, and verifies the validity of roaming subscribers through message exchange. 2 functions; And the gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) downloads subscriber information of the home subscriber network through a network interlocking device (IWF) and registers a roaming subscriber location according to a result of the confirmation of the second function. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing a third function of managing mobility is provided.

In the present invention, even if a subscriber between different mobile communication networks roams, a gateway visitor location register (GVLR) is set in a gateway switch (GMSC) to ensure service provision through continuous mobility management. Perform management. In addition, the present invention proposes a separate method for location registration between heterogeneous networks to ensure successful roaming, and in the present invention, an efficient method for applying a location registration procedure performed in a home network can be applied to a visited network.

In the present invention, the subscriber for roaming subscribers in order to ensure the service through the continuous mobility management, roaming subscribers to manage the mobility of roaming subscribers in the heterogeneous visiting network to manage the mobility of roaming subscribers (GVLR) is installed in the GMSC. At this time, when the terminal of the roaming subscriber requests a location registration in the visited network, the terminal registers it with a gateway level mobility management register, which acts as a home location register (HLR) in the visited network. At this time, in order to download the roaming subscriber information from the home network to the GVLR, the roaming subscriber must be distinguished from the location registration procedure in the visited network, and the location registration procedure accordingly must be successfully performed.

That is, the following procedure is performed to register the location of a successful subscriber when roaming.

If the terminal requests a location registration in the visited network, since it is not a subscriber of the visited network, normal location registration fails. Then, the terminal informs the home network of its home network, including the network identification number of the home network, at the next location registration request, and visits the home network subscriber information after confirming the validity of the roaming subscriber through message communication with the HLR of the home network. The roaming subscriber's location registration is completed by downloading to the network's GVLR.

As a result, in a mobile communication system in which different heterogeneous networks are interworked, the subscribers may continue to receive services even if the subscribers roam between different heterogeneous mobile communication networks.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is an exemplary configuration diagram of a heterogeneous mobile communication system to which the present invention is applied. In the drawing, "11" is an authentication center (AC), "12" is a home location register (HLR) of a visiting network, and "13" is a visiting network. "VLR", "14" is Gateway Visitor Location Register (GVLR), "15" is MSC, "16" is Home Location Register (HLR) of home network, "17" "GMSC" of visited network, "18" of GMSC of home network, and "19" of IWF.

In order to manage mobility when roaming subscribers between heterogeneous mobile communication networks, accurate location registration of roaming subscribers is required.

Looking at the location registration procedure of roaming subscribers using the gateway level subscriber location register (GVLR) 14 and the gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR 14) as follows.

When the mobile terminal requests the switch 15 and the subscriber location register (VLR) 13 through the base station and the base station controller, the exchange 15 and the subscriber location register (VLR) 13 confirm whether the roaming subscriber is registered. Later, if there is no roaming subscriber, the subscriber information is requested to the home location register (HLR) 12. At this time, when the roaming subscriber moves to the visited network for the first time, information retrieval for the roaming subscriber also ends in the home location register (HLR) 12. Then, the MSC 15 and the VLR 13 transmit the roaming subscriber's information through the gateway exchange 17 of the visited network and the gateway exchange 18 of the home network. Roaming subscriber information is requested at 16).

Here, the GVLR 14 serves as the subscriber's VLR for the home network and HLR for the subscriber in the visited network. For example, the gateway subscriber location register 14 serves as a gateway to all roaming subscribers within a country or one mobile carrier service area. That is, the roaming user plays the role of VLR to HLR and VLR to HLR.

As such, when the subscriber roams, in order to ensure continuous service, the mobility management of the subscriber must be successfully performed in the visited network, and for this purpose, the subscriber's location registration must be preempted.

3A and 3B are flowcharts illustrating an embodiment of a method for managing subscriber mobility according to the present invention, and illustrating a location registration procedure of a roaming subscriber when the subscriber roams.

As shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, in the subscriber mobility management method, a mobile terminal (MT) first has its own subscriber identity (ID) identification information (MSC) 15 / subscriber location register. (VLR) 13 requests a registration request (Registration Request) (301).

Thereafter, the exchange (MSC) 15 / subscriber location register (VLR) 13 confirms that there is no roaming subscriber in the subscriber location register (VLR) 13 in comparison with the subscriber information registered in its own area. The home location register (HLR) 12 of the network requests the location registration of the roaming subscriber (302). At this time, when the home location register (HLR) 12 of the visited network fails to search for the location registration of the roaming subscriber, the subscriber location register (VLR) 13 notifies the location registration failure (303), the exchange (MSC) ( 15) / subscriber location register (VLR) 13 confirms (Roaming Agree) the roaming subscriber's location registration to the mobile terminal (304).

Next, the mobile terminal MT recognizes that it has roamed to the visited network from the location registration failure from the home location register (HLR) 12 and roams to the visited network according to roaming. Request (Request 305). At this time, by sending ID information of the home network together in the roaming location registration message, the function is distinguished from the location registration message that attempts to register the location only with its own ID information.

The roaming location registration message, which includes the ID information of the home network, is then passed through an exchange (MSC) 15 / subscriber location register (VLR) 13 (206) a gateway exchange (GMSC) 17 / gateway subscriber location register ( GVLR (14) is transmitted (307), the gateway switch (GMSC) (17) / gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) 14 using the home network ID information of the terminal sent by the mobile terminal network interlock device (IWF) The subscriber information is requested to the home location register (HLR) 16 of the home network through the reference numeral 19 (308). At this time, the home location register (HLR) 16 of the home network recognizes that the subscriber has roamed to the visited network, and the user information profile is transferred to the gateway subscriber register (GVLR) 14 through the network interlocking device (IWF) 19. Download (309).

Thereafter, the gateway exchanger (GMSC) 17 / gateway subscriber location register (GVLR) 14, which has downloaded subscriber information via the network interlocking device (IWF) 19, via the network interlocking device (IWF) 19. After confirming the download process (310), the roaming location registration response (311), the normal procedure assigns a temporary mobile subscriber identification (TMSI) to the mobile terminal (312), location registration check After procedures 313 and 314, the location registration procedure ends.

As described above, the present invention provides a method for roaming subscribers between heterogeneous mobile communication networks, and a method for effectively processing location registration in a visited network. At this time, the home network receives the home network service by performing the normal location registration according to the mobility management method of the home network. When the home network receives the normal location registration, the home network recognizes that it roams to the visited network and has the ID of the home network. By requesting location registration according to roaming, it is possible to request subscriber information from the GVLR of the visited network to the subscriber's home network.

Therefore, roaming service between two heterogeneous family mobile communication networks is effectively performed in the next generation mobile communication system such as International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT-2000), Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS), etc. Can provide.

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, and the above-described embodiments and accompanying It is not limited to the drawing.

As described above, the present invention can maintain the continuity of mobile services by suggesting a method for receiving continuous service guarantee even if a subscriber moves between heterogeneous mobile communication networks, and effectively manages mobility of subscribers between heterogeneous mobile communication networks. have. In addition, even if different mobile communication networks are established in an arbitrary region, the mobility of subscribers can be continuously guaranteed even between different mobile communication networks, and the subscribers can guarantee continuous service when moving between countries even in heterogeneous mobile communication networks. It works.

Claims (4)

In a mobility management method in a system in which a heterogeneous mobile communication network is interworked, In order to continuously manage the mobility of roaming subscribers, a first step is provided with a gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) for mobility management in the visitor network; A second step of, when the subscriber roams, the mobile station notifying the visited subscriber network of the home subscriber network identification number together with the location registration request; The gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) of the visited subscriber network requests subscriber information to a home location register of the home subscriber network through an IWF, and verifies the validity of roaming subscribers through message exchange. Three steps; And According to the verification result of the third step, the gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) downloads the subscriber information of the home subscriber network through the network interlocking device (IWF) and registers the roaming subscriber's location to move the roaming subscriber's mobility. 4th step to manage Subscriber mobility management method in a heterogeneous mobile communication system comprising a. The method of claim 1, The gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR), Subscriber mobility management in a heterogeneous mobile communication system, wherein the home subscriber network plays a role of a subscriber location register (VLR) of a subscriber, and the visitor network plays a role of a home location register (HLR) of a roaming subscriber. Way. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The heterogeneous mobile communication network, Substantially, a method for managing subscriber mobility in a heterogeneous mobile communication system, wherein the mobile communication network of the North American method (ANSI-41) and the European method (GSM) are interworked. In a system in which a heterogeneous mobile communication network having a processor is interworked, A first function of, upon roaming of a subscriber, a mobile station informing the visited subscriber network of the home subscriber network's network identification number along with a location registration request; The gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) of the visited subscriber network requests subscriber information to a home location register of the home subscriber network through an IWF, and verifies the validity of roaming subscribers through message exchange. 2 functions; And According to the result of the confirmation of the second function, the gateway mobile subscriber location register (GVLR) downloads the subscriber information of the home subscriber network through the network interlocking device (IWF) and registers the roaming subscriber's location to move the roaming subscriber's mobility. 3rd function to manage A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing this.

Images