Method and devices for routing a message to a network server in a server pool

• US 20040185854A1
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Turina, Klaus, Bellora, Mauro, Artola, Aitor, Baserga, Aldo
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Method, devices, and computer programs for routing a message to a first network server (MSC1) in a server pool (CNSP) of a mobile communication system are disclosed. The mobile communication system comprises a controller (BSC2) of an access network (AN) connectable to the first network server (MSC1) and at least one further network server (MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP), wherein service points are defined (S100) and one or more of the service points are allocated (S110) uniquely to each of the network servers (MSC1), MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP). At least one of the network servers (MSC1, MSC2) has allocated (S110) at least two of the service points. A temporary identity is assigned (S150) by the first network server (MSC1) to a mobile device (MS). The temporary identity includes a selected service point which is selected (S140) from the one or more service points allocated to the first network server (MSC1). The temporary identity is transmitted (S160) to the mobile device (MS) and a message (S170) from the mobile device (MS) to the first network server (MSC1) is routed (S200) to the first network, server (MSC1) by extracting the selected service point from the temporary identity received by the mobile device (MS) and applying a routing algorithm to the selected service point. The routing algorithm reveals the first network server (MSC1) from an analysis of the selected service point.

Claims

1. A method for routing a message (S170) to a first network server (MSC1) in a server pool (CNSP) of a mobile communication system, the mobile communication system comprising a controller (BSC2) of an access network (AN) connectable to the first network server (MSC1) and at least one further network server (MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP), wherein service points are defined (S100) and one or more of the service points are allocated (S110) uniquely to each of the network servers (MSC1, MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP), at least one of the network servers (MSC1, MSC2) having allocated (S110) at least two of the service points, wherein

a service point is selected (S140) from the one or more service points allocated to the first network server (MSC1),

a temporary identity is assigned (S150) by the first network server (MSC1) to a mobile device (MS), the temporary identity including the selected service point,

the temporary identity is transmitted (S160) to the mobile device (MS),

a message (S170) from the mobile device (MS) to the first network server (MSC1) is routed (S200) to the first network server (MSC1) by extracting the selected service point from the temporary identity received by the mobile device (MS) and applying a routing algorithm to the selected service point, the routing algorithm revealing the first network server (MSC1) from an analysis of the selected service point.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the routing algorithm is applied (S190) by the controller (BSC2) of the access network (AN).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the routing algorithm utilizes a table which relates the allocated service points with the network servers (MSC1, MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP).

4. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the temporary identity is included in the message (S170) from the mobile device (MS) and the controller (BSC2) extracts the selected service point from the temporary identity.

5. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the mobile divice (MS) extracts the selected service point from the temporary identity and sends the selected service point to the controller (BSC2) for applying the routing algorithm.

6. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein a number of service points in the server pool is defined (S100) by selecting a bit length (n) of a number block (SP) reserved for the service points in the temporary identity.

7. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the service points are re-allocatable to the network servers (MSC1,MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the service points are allocated (S110) depending on a load of at least one of the network servers (MS1,MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP).

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the service points are allocated (S110) depending on a load of a link between the controller (BSC2) of the access network (AN) and one of the network servers (MSC1,MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP).

10. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the first network server (MSC1) selects the selected service point.

11. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the temporary identity is assigned (S150) based on location information of the mobile device (MS).

12. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the service points are core network server pool service points or location area service points.

13. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 12, wherein the network servers (MSC1,MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP) are mobile service switching centers or serving general packet radio service support nodes.

14. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 13, wherein the temporary identity is a temporary mobile subscriber identity or a packet temporary mobile subscriber identity.

15. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 14, wherein the controller (BSC2) of the access network (AN) is a base station controller or a radio network controller.

16. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 15, wherein the mobile communication system is a global system for mobile communication or a universal mobile telecommunication system.

18. The network server (MSC1) according to claim 17, wherein the network server (MSC1) is adapted to perform steps in a method according to any of the claims 1 to 16.

20. The controller (BSC2) according to claim 19, wherein the controller (BSC2) is adapted to perform steps in a method according to any of the claims 1 to 16.

23. The computer program according to claim 21 or 22 adapted to perform steps of a method according to any of the claims 1 to 16.

17. A network server (MSC 1) in a server pool (CNSP) of a mobile communication system, the network server (MSC I) being connectable to a controller (BSC2) of an access network (AN), the network server (MSC1) having allocated (S110) at least two service points that uniquely identify the network server (MSC1) in the server pool (CNSP) and comprising a receiver, a transmitter, and a processing unit, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive a request for an assignment of a temporary identity for a mobile device (MS), the processing unit is adapted to assign the temporary identity and to include one selected service point being selected from the two or more service points allocated to the network server (MSC1) into the temporary identity, and the transmitter is adapted to send the assigned temporary identity to the mobile device (MS).

19. A controller (BSC2) of an access network (AN) of a mobile communication system, the controller (BSC2) being connectable to a first network server (MSC1) and at least one further network server (MSC2) in a server pool (CNSP), the controller (BSC2) comprising a receiver, a transmitter, and a processing unit, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive a message (S170) from a mobile device (MS) to the first network server (MSC1), the message (S170) comprising a selected service point which is uniquely allocated (S110) to the first network server (MSC1), the processing unit is adapted to apply a routing algorithm to the selected service point, the routing algorithm revealing the first network server (MSC1) from an analysis of the selected service point by utilizing a table comprising service points allocated uniquely to the network servers (MSC1,MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP), in the table at least one of the network servers (MSC1,MSC2) having allocated at least two service points and one of the service points in the table being the selected service point identifying the first network server (MSC1), and the transmitter is adapted to send the message (S170) to the first network server (MSC1).

21. A computer program loadable into a processing unit of a network server (MSC1) in a server pool (CNSP) of a mobile communication system, the network server (MSC1) being connectable to a controller (BSC2) of an access network (AN), the network server (MSC1) having allocated (S110) at least two service points that uniquely identify the network server (MSC1) in the server pool (CNSP), wherein the computer program comprises code adapted to process a request for an assignment of a temporary identity for a mobile device (MS), to assign the temporary identity and to include one selected service point being selected from the two or more service points allocated to the network server (MSC1) into the temporary identity, and to initiate a transmission of the assigned temporary identity to the mobile device (MS).

22. A computer program loadable into a processing unit of a controller (BSC2) of an access network (AN) of a mobile communication system, the controller (BSC2) being connectable to a first network server (MSC1) and at least one further network server (MSC2) in a server pool (CNSP), wherein the computer program comprises code adapted to apply a routing algorithm to a selected service point included in a message (S170) from a mobile device (MS) to the first network server (MSC1) with the selected service point being uniquely allocated (S110) to the first network server (MSC1) and the routing algorithm revealing the first network server (MSC1) from an analysis of the selected service point by utilizing a table comprising service points allocated uniquely to the network servers (MSC1,MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP), in the table at least one of the network servers (MSC1,MSC2) having allocated at least two service points and one of the service points in the table being the selected service point identifying the first network server (MSC1), and the computer program comprises code adapted to initiate a sending of the message (S170) to the first network server (MSC1).