Minimizing message processing latency in a communication network

• US 20040215795A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Poyhonen, Petteri, Rajahalme, Jarno
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/12 Protocol engines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method and a system for minimizing message processing latency in a communication network. A message from a first node is received at a second node which message requires an acknowledgement message, preferably of Boolean type. Functionalities required for processing the message are partitioned into at least a first part and a second part. The first part comprises a minimum set of functionalities required to generate the acknowledgement message. The functionalities of the first part are executed. The acknowledgement message is generated and transmitted to the first node after to finishing the functionalities of the first part. The present invention makes it possible to effectively minimize the perceived message processing latency. It is also possible to dynamically optimize the latency according to available resources.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing message processing latency in a communication network comprising nodes, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

receiving at a second node a message from a first node, the message soliciting an acknowledgement message,

partitioning functionalities used for processing the message into at least a first part and a second part, the first part comprising at least a minimum set of functionalities to generate the acknowledgement message,

executing the functionalities of the first part, and generating and transmitting the acknowledgement message to the first node in response to finishing the functionalities of the first part.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

executing functionalities of the second part, the second part comprising functionalities not included in the first part.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

generating and transmitting an invalidate message to the first node to indicate to said first node to ignore the transmitted acknowledgement message, if said acknowledgement message was positive and an error occurs while performing the functionalities of the second part.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

generating and transmitting an update message to the first node to indicate to said first node to replace the transmitted acknowledgement message with the update message, if execution result of the second part so requires.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

repartitioning the functionalities into the first and second parts.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the repartitioning is executed if a frequency of invalidate message occurrence exceeds a given limit.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the repartitioning is executed repeatedly according to current load.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message is a Mobile IP Binding Update-message and the acknowledgement message is a Mobile IP Binding Acknowledgement-message.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first node comprises a Mobile IP Mobile Node and the second node comprises a corresponding Mobile IP Home Agent.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first node comprises a Mobile IP Mobile Node and the second node comprises a Mobile IP Correspondent Node.

11. A system for minimizing message processing latency in a communication network comprising nodes, wherein the system comprises:

a first node operative to transmit a message, the message desiring an acknowledgement message,

a second node operative to recieve the message, and wherein the second node comprises;

a partitioner operative to partition functionalities used for processing the message into at least a first part and a second part, the first part comprising at least a minimum set of functionalities to generate the acknowledgement message,

a first function executor operative to execute the functionalities of the first part, and

an acknowledgement transmitter operative to generate and transmit the acknowledgement message to the first node in response to finishing the functionalities of the first part.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second node further comprises:

a second function executor operative to execute functionalities of the second part, the second part comprising functionalities not included in the first part.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the second node further comprises:

an invalidation transmitter operative to generate and transmit an invalidate message to the first node to indicate to said first node to ignore the transmitted acknowledgement message, if said acknowledgement message was positive and an error occurs while performing the functionalities of the second part.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the second node further comprises:

an update transmitter operative to generate and transmit an update message to the first node to indicate to said first node to replace the transmitted acknowledgement message with the update message, if execution result of the second part so requires.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the partitioner is operative to repartition the functionalities into at least the first and second parts.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the partitioner is further arranged to execute said repartitioning if a frequency of invalidate message occurrence exceeds a given limit.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the partitioner is further arranged to execute said repartitioning repeatedly according to current load.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the message comprises a Mobile IP Binding Update message and the acknowledgement message comprises a Mobile IP Binding Acknowledgement message.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first node is a Mobile IP Mobile Node and the second node is a corresponding Mobile IP Home Agent.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first node is a Mobile IP Mobile Node and the second node is a Mobile IP Correspondent Node.

21. A system for minimizing message processing latency in a communication network comprising nodes, wherein the system comprises:

a second node operative to receive a message transmitted from a first node, the message desiring an acknowledgement message from the second node, the second node comprising;

partitioner means for partitioning functionalities used in processing the message into at least a first part and a second part, the first part comprising at least a minimum set of functionalities to generate the acknowledgement message,

first function executor means for executing the functionalities of the first part, and

an acknowledgement transmitter means for generating and transmitting the acknowledgement message to the first node in response to completing execution of the functionalities of the first part.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the second node further comprises:

second function executor means for executing functionalities of the second part, the second part comprising functionalities not included in the first part.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the second node further comprises:

invalidation transmitter means for generating and transmitting an invalidate message to the first node to indicate to said first node to ignore the transmitted acknowledgement message, if said acknowledgement message was positive and an error occurs while performing the functionalities of the second part.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the second node further comprises:

update transmitter means for generating and transmitting an update message to the first node to indicate to said first node to replace the transmitted acknowledgement message with the update message, if execution result of the second part so requires.