KR20080056838A - Apparatus and method for resource managing in portable communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for managing resources in a mobile communication system are provided to make a portable terminal execute a GPRS(General Packet Radio Service) detach process with an SGSN(Serving GPRS Support Node) in case it is confirmed that the residue of the battery is less than a preset threshold. A control part in a portable terminal executes a GPRS attach process for data communication(201). Then, in order to maintain the GPRS service, the control part checks whether a change in RAs(Routing Areas) is detected(203). In case the RA change is detected, the control part executes normal RAU(Routing Area Update)(205). Then the control part directs a battery checking part to check the residue of the battery(207). Based on a result from the battery checking part, the control part confirms whether the residue of the battery is less than a preset threshold(209). If so, the control part executes a GPRS detach process(211).

Description

Apparatus and method for managing resource of mobile communication system {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RESOURCE MANAGING IN PORTABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM}

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable terminal according to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for reducing wireless network resources and power consumption in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of checking a state of a portable terminal in a network according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preventing unnecessary resource waste in a mobile communication system, and in particular, an apparatus for preventing battery consumption and wireless network resource consumption caused by periodic routing area updates. And to a method.

Currently, portable terminals are expanding their usage areas not only with voice calls but also with data services. As a result of this trend, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) service, which enables data communication in the existing Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) system, has emerged, and due to the need for more data and higher speed, universal mobile telecommunication The third generation communication system called System has appeared.

In order to use the GPRS service, the portable terminal must perform a GPRS attach procedure, which is a task of registering itself with a GPRS network. The GPRS attach is a SGSN (Serving request message) through the attach request message (attach request message) to the mobile terminal information about the location, ID (identity), security information of its registered network and the characteristics it can provide GPRS Support Node), SGSN refers to a series of processes to accept the attachment attempt of the portable terminal through the authentication process to make the mobile terminal in a state capable of receiving GPRS service.

When the portable terminal attempts to attach a GPRS, the attach type is changed according to a network operation mode where the portable terminal is located, and when the portable terminal attaches to the GPRS network, GPRS is defined. It is called attach mode.

Currently, network operators set their preferred GPRS attach mode, and require portable terminals to perform GPRS attach according to the specified GPRS attach mode. Examples of the GPRS attach mode include an automatic GPRS attach mode and a manual GPRS attach mode.

The automatic GPRS attach mode is a mode in which the portable terminal automatically performs a GPRS attach to maintain the GPRS attach state at all times. The portable terminal set to the automatic GPRS attach mode performs the GPRS attach and maintains the GPRS attach state when the power is first turned on or when a new PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) is selected.

In contrast, the manual GPRS attach mode specifies that when a user requests GPRS service, the GPRS attach starts and becomes a GPRS attach state, and when the GPRS service is terminated, the GPRS attach state becomes non-GPRS attached. Mode.

The portable terminal set to the manual GPRS attach mode normally maintains only the GSM service state and performs GPRS attach only when the user requires a GPRS service such as a wireless application protocol (WAP) or a multimedia message system (MMS). After the service is terminated, GPRS detach is performed.

In the manual GPRS attach mode, the intention of the network to allocate GPRS resources only when the user of the portable terminal desires GPRS service is strongly implied.

Accordingly, the portable terminal set to the automatic GPRS attach mode always tries to be attached to the GPRS network even if the registered PLMN does not receive GPRS service regardless of which PLMN.

The portable terminal to which the GPRS is attached attempts to maintain the GPRS attach state by performing a Routing Area Update (RAU) as long as the Routing Area (RA) is changed.

In addition, when the portable terminal is in an idle state, the network periodically performs a routing update, thereby continuously checking whether the portable terminal exists.

Periodic Routing Area Update as described above has a problem of causing battery consumption of the portable terminal and resource waste of the wireless network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for preventing resource waste due to periodic routing area updates in a mobile communication system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for notifying that a portable terminal does not exist in a routing area to a network by performing GPRS detach when determining a certain amount of battery.

According to the first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, if the mobile communication system for preventing the waste of radio resources confirms that the amount of available battery is less than the predetermined threshold value, serving general packet radio service (GPRS) A portable terminal performing a connection termination process with a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) and a serving general packet radio service connection request or a connection termination request for a predetermined time from a portable terminal existing as a management target. If not, it characterized in that it comprises a serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node for determining that the portable terminal is not available to the serving general packet radio service.

According to a second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, a method for preventing power consumption in a portable terminal is a normal routing area update when a routing area change is detected after a serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection Performing a process of checking the available battery amount of the portable terminal; and if the checked battery amount is less than a predetermined threshold, terminating the connection of the serving general packet wireless service. Characterized in that it comprises a process.

According to a third aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects, a method for preventing power consumption in a serving general packet radio service support node includes, when receiving a routing area update request from a portable terminal, performing the request. Registering the terminal as a management target, and when the serving general packet wireless service connection request or connection termination request is not received for a predetermined time among the portable terminals registered to the management target, Determining that the packet wireless service is not available; and when the serving general packet wireless service connection termination request is received from the portable terminals, the portable terminal does not exist in a routing area using the packet wireless service. Fourth Judgment Process And it characterized in that.

Hereinafter, the operating principle of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations will be omitted if it is determined that the detailed description of the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention. Terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may be changed according to intentions or customs of users or operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

In the following description, an apparatus and method for preventing battery consumption and wireless network resource consumption caused by periodic routing area updates in a mobile communication system will be described.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable terminal may be configured to include a control unit 100, a battery check unit 102, a memory unit 104, an input unit 106, a display unit 108, and a communication unit 110. .

The controller 100 controls the overall operation of the portable terminal. For example, when performing processing and control for voice call and data communication, and detecting a change in routing area according to the present invention, in addition to the normal function, normal routing area update. ).

In addition, the control unit 100 instructs the battery check unit 102 to check the battery amount of the portable terminal, and then checks the battery amount measured by the battery check unit 102.

If the controller 100 checks the battery amount below a predetermined threshold value, the controller 100 performs a GPRS detach.

The battery checking unit 102 checks the battery amount of the portable terminal in response to an instruction of the control unit 100, and then provides the checked battery amount to the control unit 100.

The memory unit 104 includes a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and a flash ROM. The ROM stores microcode and various reference data of a program for processing and controlling the controller 100 and the battery checker 102.

The RAM is a working memory of the controller 100 and stores temporary data generated during execution of various programs. In addition, the flash ROM stores various updatable storage data such as a phone book, an outgoing message, and an incoming message, and stores a battery threshold value predetermined in the present invention.

The input unit 106 includes 0 to 9 numeric key buttons, a menu button (menu), a cancel button (clear), an OK button, a call button (TALK), an end button (END), an internet access button, a navigation key ( Or a plurality of function keys such as arrow keys) buttons and character input keys, and provides key input data corresponding to a key pressed by the user to the controller 100.

The display unit 108 displays status information generated during the operation of the portable terminal 100, limited number of characters, a large amount of moving images and still images, and the like. The display unit 108 may use a color liquid crystal display (LCD).

The communication unit 110 performs a function of transmitting and receiving a radio signal of data input and output through an antenna (not shown). For example, in the case of transmission, after performing channel coding and spreading on the data to be transmitted, RF processing is performed to transmit the data. In the case of reception, the received RF signal is converted into a baseband signal. The baseband signal is de-spreaded and channel decoded to restore data.

The role of the battery checking unit 102 may be performed by the control unit 100. However, in the present invention, the configuration of the battery checking unit 102 is provided to distinguish each function. Therefore, in the case of actually implementing a product, all of them may be configured to be processed by the controller 100.

In the above description, a device for preventing battery consumption and wireless network resource consumption caused by periodic routing area updates in order to prevent unnecessary resource waste in a mobile communication system has been described. A method of performing a GPRS detach process will be described when the portable terminal detects a battery amount capable of terminating a power supply, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for reducing wireless network resources and power consumption in a portable terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the control unit 100 of the portable terminal first performs a general packet radio service (GPRS) connection for data communication in step 201.

In step 203, the controller 100 determines whether a change in a routing area (RA) is detected in order to continuously connect the GPRS service. If the change of the routing area is not detected, the controller 100 proceeds to step 213 to perform a corresponding function (eg, routing area detection).

On the other hand, when detecting a change in the routing area, the control unit 100 proceeds to step 205 to perform a normal routing area update (Normal Routing Area Update).

The normal routing area update refers to a routing area update that is performed only when there is a change in the routing area. In the present invention, the normal routing area update is performed without performing a periodic routing area update. By updating, the power consumption of the portable terminal can be prevented, and the use of radio resources can be saved.

In operation 207, the controller 100 instructs the battery checker 102 to check the battery amount of the portable terminal.

The battery checking unit 102 received the instruction of the control unit 100 checks the amount of battery of the portable terminal, and provides it to the control unit 100.

In operation 209, the controller 100 determines whether the amount of battery provided from the battery checker 102 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. Here, the predetermined threshold value is a reference value for determining whether the portable terminal performs GPRS detach, and refers to a minimum amount of battery for operating the portable terminal.

If the controller 100 checks the amount of battery above a predetermined threshold, the controller 100 repeats the process of step 203.

On the other hand, when the controller 100 checks the amount of battery below the predetermined threshold, the controller 100 proceeds to step 211 and performs a GPRS detach process.

In other words, the portable terminal performs the GPRS detach process before the power is turned off due to lack of battery.

Thereafter, the controller 100 ends the present algorithm.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of checking a state of a portable terminal in a network according to the present invention. Herein, the network refers to a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN).

Referring to FIG. 3, the network first checks whether a RAU request is received from the portable terminal in step 301. If the routing area update request is not received, the network proceeds to step 309 to perform a corresponding function (eg, standby mode).

On the other hand, when receiving the routing area update request, the network proceeds to step 303 to register the portable terminal requesting the routing area update.

In other words, step 303 refers to a step in which the network registers the portable terminal requesting the routing area update as a management target.

In step 305, the network checks the portable terminals registered in the management target and checks whether the GPRS attach or GPRS detach request is detected from the portable terminals within a predetermined time.

Here, the predetermined time is a time for checking a state such as when the portable terminal and the battery of the portable terminal are separated may be set to a longer time than the battery duration of the portable terminal.

If the request is not detected, the network proceeds to step 307 and determines that the portable terminal that does not perform the request is not a management target and excludes the portable terminal from the management target.

On the other hand, if it detects the request, the network proceeds to step 311 and determines that the portable terminal that has performed the request does not exist in the corresponding routing area (RA).

For example, when a user carrying the portable terminal "ga" changes the routing area, the portable terminal "ga" performs a routing area update (RAU) to the network.

However, when the user drops the portable terminal “G” to the ground and the battery of the portable terminal and the portable terminal is separated and the user does not install the separated battery for a predetermined time, the portable terminal may be connected to a GPRS attach. Or, do not perform GPRS detach request.

Accordingly, the network determines that the portable terminal can no longer use the service and excludes it from the management target.

In this manner, the network can prevent a situation in which the portable terminal determines that the portable terminal exists in an area where the routing area has been updated.

Meanwhile, in the detailed description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the scope of the following claims, but also by the equivalents of the claims.

As described above, when the portable terminal according to the present invention detects a certain amount of battery, GPRS detach is performed to inform the network that the device is present in the current area, and the GPRS connection is performed for a predetermined time in the network. When not receiving the request (GPRS attach) or GPRS detach request (GPRS detach), it may be determined that the portable terminals that did not perform the request are excluded from the management target.

In addition, due to the above method, it is not necessary to perform a periodic routing area update process, thereby preventing resource consumption caused by the periodic routing area update.

Claims (7)

In the mobile communication system for preventing the waste of radio resources, A portable terminal performing a connection termination process with a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) when it is determined that the amount of available battery is less than a predetermined threshold value; If the serving general packet radio service connection request or the connection termination request is not received from the portable terminal existing as the management target for a predetermined time, the serving general packet for determining that the serving general packet radio service is not available to the portable terminal. And a wireless service support node (SGSN). The method of claim 1, The portable terminal, A battery checking unit which measures a usable battery amount of the portable terminal according to an instruction of a controller, and provides the measured battery amount to the controller; And the controller configured to perform a connection termination process with the serving general packet radio service (GPRS) supporting node when the amount of the portable terminal provided from the battery checking unit is less than a predetermined threshold value. Communication system. The method of claim 1, The Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN), When the serving general packet radio service connection request or the connection termination request is received from the portable terminals existing as the management target, the portable terminal determines that the terminal is continuously present in the routing area using the serving general packet radio service. Characterized in a mobile communication system. The method of claim 1, The predetermined threshold is And a minimum amount for operating the portable terminal as a reference for determining a connection termination time point of the serving serving general packet radio service. In the method for preventing power consumption in a portable terminal, After the serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection, if the routing area change is detected, the normal routing area update is performed. Checking the amount of available battery of the portable terminal; And if the checked battery amount is less than a predetermined threshold, performing a procedure for terminating the connection of the serving serving general packet radio service. The method of claim 5, The predetermined threshold is And setting the portable terminal to a minimum amount for operating the portable terminal as a reference for determining a connection termination time point of the serving serving general packet radio service. A method for preventing power consumption in a serving general packet radio service support node, the method comprising: When receiving the routing area update request from the portable terminal, registering the portable terminal performing the request as a management target; If the serving general packet radio service connection request or the connection termination request is not received for a predetermined time among the portable terminals registered to the management object, the portable terminal determines that the serving general packet radio service is not available. Process, And when the serving general packet radio service connection termination request is received from the portable terminals, determining that the portable terminal does not exist in a routing area using the packet radio service.

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