BASE STATION, COMMUNICATION METHOD, MME AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20170201922A1
• Filed: 05/22/2015
• Published: 07/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: AKIYOSHI, Ippei
• Granted Patent: US 10,045,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/12 Reselecting a serving backbone network switching or routing node
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/065 involving selection of the user mobility server

Abstract

A technique that can enhance the effectiveness of traffic offloading is provided. A base station of the present invention includes: a first means for selecting an MME (Mobility Management Entity), based on information included in a message sent from a terminal; and a second means for sending a connection request sent from the terminal to the selected MME, wherein the first means is able to select a virtual MME that operates a function of the MME through a virtual machine, based on the information included in the message.

Claims

1. A base station comprising:

a first controller that is configured to select an MME (Mobility Management Entity), based on information included in a message sent from a terminal; and

a second controller that is configured to send a connection request sent from the terminal to the selected MME,

wherein the first controller is configured to select a virtual MME that operates a function of the MME through a virtual machine, based on the information included in the message.

2. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the first controller is configured to select the virtual MME based on the information, which indicates an attribute of the terminal.

3. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the first controller is configured to select the virtual MME based on the information, which indicates a priority of the terminal.

4. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the first controller is configured to select the virtual MME, based on a LAPI (Low Access Priority Indicator) included in the message.

5. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the first controller is configured to select the virtual MME, based on identification information of the terminal included in the message.

6. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the first controller is configured to select the virtual MME, based on whether or not information indicating that the terminal is an MTC (Machine type Communication) device is included.

23. A communication system comprising the base station according to claim 1.

7. A communication method comprising:

selecting an MME (Mobility Management Entity), based on information included in a message sent from a terminal; and

sending a connection request sent from the terminal to the selected MME,

wherein the selected MME is a virtual MME that operates a function of the MME through a virtual machine.

8. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the virtual MME is selected based on the information, which indicates a property of the terminal.

9. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the virtual MME is selected based on the information, which indicates a priority of the terminal.

10. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the virtual MME is selected based on a LAPI (Low Access Priority Indicator) included in the message.

11. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the virtual MME is selected based on identification information of the terminal included in the message.

12. The communication method according to claim 7, wherein the virtual MME is selected based on whether or not information indicating that the terminal is an MTC (Machine type Communication) device is included.

13. An MME (Mobility Management Entity) capable of communicating with a base station, comprising:

a first controller that is configured to select an MME (Mobility Management Entity), based on information included in a message sent from a terminal; and

a second controller that is configured to instruct the base station to send a connection request to the selected MME,

wherein the first controller is configured to select a virtual MME that operates a function of the MME through a virtual machine, based on the information included in the message.

14. The MME according to claim 13, wherein the first controller is configured to select the virtual MME, based on identification information of the terminal included in the message.

15. The MME according to claim 13, wherein the first controller is configured to select the virtual MME in processing for authenticating the terminal based on the message.

16. The MME according to claim 13, wherein the first controller is configured to select the virtual MME, based on second identification information corresponding to first identification information of the terminal included in the message.

17. The MME according to claim 13, wherein the first controller is configured to retrieve second identification information corresponding to first identification information of the terminal included in the message from an HSS (Home Subscriber Server) and is able to select the virtual MME, based on a result of the retrieval.

24. A communication system comprising the MME according to claim 13.

18-22. -22. (canceled)