Method and system for restoring a subscriber context

• US 20020004395A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Forssell, Mika
• Granted Patent: US 7,215,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/30 Network data restoration; Network data reliability; Network data fault tolerance

Abstract

A method and system for restoring a subscriber context in a network element of a mobile communication network is described, wherein a new subscriber context which has been updated after the latest restart is indicated by transmitting a corresponding restart information to the network element. Based on the restart information the network element continues the use of new subscriber contexts updated after the latest restart and inactivates old subscriber contexts updated before the latest restart. Thereby, the amount of unnecessary subscriber context re-activations and the corresponding downtime of the service is reduced. Moreover, the amount of signaling required after the restart is reduced, since a smaller number of subscriber contexts have to be re-established.

Claims

1. A method for restoring a subscriber context in a network element of a mobile communication network, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a restart information indicating whether a subscriber context has been updated after the latest restart;

b) continuing the use of a subscriber context updated after said latest restart; and

c) inactivating a subscriber context updated before the latest restart.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said restart information is a restart counter value and is transmitted together with a context signaling message.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said restart counter value is compared with a stored restart counter value so as to determine said subscriber context updated before the latest restart.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said stored restart counter value is updated on the basis of said transmitted restart counter value.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said restart information is transmitted only one time after said latest restart.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said network element is GPRS support node, and wherein said restart information is transmitted together with a tunnel management signaling message.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said subscriber context is a PDP context.

8. A system for restoring a subscriber context in a network element (20) of a mobile communication network, comprising:

a) transmitting means (10) for transmitting to said network element (20) a restart information indicating whether a subscriber context has been updated after the latest restart;

b) wherein said network element (20) comprises receiving means (21) for receiving said restart information, and control means (24) for continuing the use of a subscriber context updated after said latest restart and for inactivation a subscriber context updated before said latest restart, in response to said restart information.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said transmitting means (10) comprises a restart counter (13) for counting a restart number, and an adding means (14) for adding said restart number to a subscriber context message, and wherein said network element (20) comprises a comparing means (23) for comparing said restart number with a restart number stored in a storing means (22) and for supplying the comparing result to said control means (24).

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said control means (24) performs control so as to store a new subscriber context included in said subscriber context message and to delete an old subscriber context stored in said network element (20).

11. A system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said network element is a GPRS support node (4, 5) and wherein said subscriber context is a PDP context.

12. A network element (10) for a mobile communication network, comprising transmitting means (15) for transmitting a restart information indicating whether a subscriber context has been updated after the latest restart.

13. A network element according to claim 12, further comprising a restart counter (13) for counting a restart number, and adding means (14) for adding said restart number to a subscriber context message.

16. A network element according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein said network element is a GPRS support node (4, 5) and wherein said subscriber context is a PDP context.

14. A network element (20) for a mobile communication network, comprising:

a) receiving means (21) for receiving a restart information indicating whether a subscriber context has been updated after the latest restart, and

b) control means (24) for continuing the use of a subscriber context updated after said latest restart and for inactivating a subscriber context updated before said latest restart in response to said restart information.

15. A network element according to claim 14, wherein said restart information is a restart number and wherein said network element (20) comprises comparing means (23) for comparing said restart number with a restart number stored in a storing means (22) and for supplying the comparing result to said control means (24).