Method for managing subscriber location information in mobile communications system

• US 6,381,456 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Nortel Company Limited (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: LG Information & Communications Ltd. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ko, Hong Gi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US09/224,267
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435, 455/410, 455/432, 455/433, 455/406, 455/422, 455/561, 455/456, 455/411, 455/457, 380/247
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server

Abstract

The present invention relates to method for managing subscriber location information in mobile communications system. When a mobile subscriber moves to other place, wherever, registration notification(RN) is carried out from a visitor location register(VLR) to a home location register(HLR). In case of requested with overlapped the registration notification(RN) and call processing procedure about the same subscriber, the HLR protects multi-location registrations about the same subscriber until a previous registration notification(RN) is completed. Thereby, this invention relates to method for managing subscriber location information in mobile system, in order to always maintain location information about a subscriber in the HLR and VLR, correctly.

Claims

1. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system, comprising processes of:

carrying out a corresponding registration notification (RN) of a mobile station (MS) in a home location register (HLR) and indicating that the registration notification (RN) is processing when the MS moves to a new serving area, and

using said indication that the RN is processing to prevent multi-location registrations about a same subscriber during the RN.

2. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 1, wherein the process of preventing multi-location registration comprises the steps of:

(a) carrying out registration notification (RN) of the MS in the HLR and indicating, at one of the group consisting of the HLR and a visitor location register (VLR), that the registration notification (RN) is processing,

(b) requesting a registration cancellation (RC) of the MS from a first visitor location register (hereinafter, a VLR1) which is in an area where a previous service system of the MS is provided and waiting for answering message from the VLR1, and

(c) indicating the registration notification completion in case that there is an answering message about a registration cancellation return result (RCRR) from the VLR1 in answering waiting state of step (b), and then processing about the answering message received from the VLR1.

3. Method for managing subscriber location information in mobile communications system according to claim 2, wherein in step (a), the state during registering the location of the HLR is indicated using a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value which is set in a HLR database.

4. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 2, wherein in step (c), the registration notification completion state of the HLR is indicated using a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value which is set in the HLR database.

5. Method for managing a subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 2, wherein step (a) further

confirming a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value of the MS before the registration notification procedure of the MS, to which the registration notification(RN) is requested, is carried out,

rechecking a latest set registration time of the MS in case that the bit value indicates that the registration notification(RN) is carried out after confirming the flag,

changing the flag to the bit value of the registration notification completion state by determining that the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) is set incorrectly caused by an error, in case that the registration time is passed over a predetermined time, after checking the time and then returning to the normal registration notification procedure step.

6. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 2, wherein step (b) further comprises the substeps of:

determining whether a second visitor location register VLR2 requests a second registration notification(RN) of the same MS in the state of a registration cancellation return result(RCRR) waiting state of the MS,

checking a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value in case that there is a second registration notification invoke(RNI) after the determination,

processing the registration notification(RN) as an error when the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value is set after checking.

7. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 2, wherein step (c) further comprises the substep of:

restoring a subscriber record of the MS, stored in the HLR database, to the VLR1 in case that a registration cancellation return result(RCRR) message of the MS is answered from the VLR1.

8. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 5, wherein a latest set registration time indication method uses a latest registration time indication value established in the HLR database.

9. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system, comprising processes of:

carrying out a corresponding registration notification (RN) of a MS in a HLR and indicating, at one of the group consisting of the HLR and a visitor location register (VLR), that the registration notification (RN) is processing when the MS moves to a new serving area,

ignoring multi-location registration signals about a same subscriber and a call processing signal from an MSC during the RN.

10. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system, wherein the process of ignoring multi-location registration signals and a call processing signal comprises the steps of:

(a) carrying out registration notification(RN) of a corresponding MS in a HLR and indicating that the registration notification(RN) is processing,

(b) requesting a registration cancellation(RC) of the MS from a VLR1 which is in a previous serving area and waiting for answering message from the VLR1,

(c) indicating the registration notification completion in case that there is an answering message about the registration cancellation(RC) from the VLR1 in answering waiting state of step (b), and then processing about the answering message received from the VLR1, and

(d) not clearing a subscriber location information of database even though a routing request(RR) error about a location request is created and maintaining the information in a previous VLR, in case that there is a location request of the MS from an MSC, in which a call is created about the MS in the waiting state of a registration cancellation return result (RCRR) of step N.

11. Method for managing subscriber location information in mobile communications system according to claim 10, wherein in step (a), the state during registration is indicated using a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value which is set in a HLR database.

12. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 10, wherein in step (c), the registration notification completion state of the HLR is indicated using a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value which is set in the HLR database.

13. Method for managing a subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 10, wherein step (a) further comprises the substeps of:

confirming a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value of the MS before the registration notification procedure of the MS, to which the registration notification(RN) is requested, is carried out, p1 rechecking the latest set registration time of the MS in case that the bit value indicates that the registration notification(RN) is carried out after confirming the flag, and

changing the flag to the bit value of the registration notification completion state by determining that the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) is set incorrectly caused by an error, in case that the registration time is passed over a predetermined time, after checking the time and then returning to the normal registration notification procedure step.

14. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 10, wherein step (b) further comprises the substeps of:

determining whether a VLR2 requests a second registration notification(RN) of the same MS in the state of the registration cancellation return result(RCRR) waiting state of the MS,

checking a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value in case that there is a second registration notification invoke(RNI) after the determination,

processing the registration notification(RN) as an error when the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value is set after checking.

15. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 10, wherein step (c) further comprises the substep of:

restoring a subscriber record of the MS, stored in the HLR database, to the VLR1 in case that a registration cancellation return result(RCRR) message of the MS is answered from the VLR1.

16. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 10, wherein step (d) in the waiting state of a registration cancellation return result(RCRR) of the MS, further comprises the substeps of:

determining whether there is a location request of the MS from a mobile switching center(MSC) in which a call is created about the MS,

requesting a routing request(RR) of a corresponding MS to the VLR2 in case that there is a location request from the MSC after determination,

checking a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) in case that the routing request return result(RRRR) errors, and

maintaining a subscriber record of the MS stored in the database, in the VLR1 in case of indicating that the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) is registering the location.

17. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communication system according to claim 13, wherein a latest set registration time indication method uses a latest registration time indication value established in the HLR database.

18. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system, comprising processes of:

carrying out a corresponding registration notification (RN) of a MS in a HLR and indicating that the registration notification (RN) is processing in a corresponding VLR when the MS moves to a new serving area,

preventing multi-location registration about a same subscriber during the RN until a previous registration notification (RN) is completed.

19. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system, wherein the process of preventing multi-location registration comprises the steps of:

(a) carrying out registration notification (RN) of a corresponding MS in a HLR and indicating, at one of the group consisting of the HLR and a visitor location register (VLR), that the registration notification (RN) is processing in a VLR,

(b) requesting a registration cancellation (RC) of the MS from a first visitor location register (hereinafter, a VLR1) which is in a previous serving area and waiting for answering message from the VLR1, and

(c) indicating the registration notification completion in the VLR in case that there is an answering message about a registration cancellation return result (RCRR) from the VLR1 in answering waiting state of step (b), and then processing about the answering message received from the VLR1.

20. Method for managing subscriber location information in mobile communications system according to claim 19, wherein in step (a), the state for the RN of the VLR is indicated using a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value which is set in a VLR database.

21. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 19, wherein in step (c), the registration notification(RN) completion state of the VLR is indicated using a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value which is set in the VLR database.

22. Method for managing a subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 19, wherein step (a) further comprises the substeps of:

confirming a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value of the MS before the registration notification procedure of the MS, to which the registration notification(RN) is requested, is carried out,

rechecking a latest set registration time of the MS in case that the bit value indicates that the registration notification(RN) is carried out after confirming the flag,

changing the flag to the bit value of the registration notification completion state by determining that the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) is set incorrectly caused by an error, in case that the registration time is passed over a predetermined time, after checking the time and then returning to the normal registration notification procedure step.

23. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 19, wherein step (b) further comprises the substeps of:

determining whether the a second registration notification(RN) of the same MS is requested in case that a routing request(RR) message of the MS is transmitted from the HLR in the state of the registration cancellation return result(CRR) waiting state of the MS,

checking a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value in case that there is the second registration notification(RN) after the determination,

processing the registration notification(RN) as an error when the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value is set after checking.

24. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 19, wherein step (c) further comprises the substep of:

restoring a subscriber record of the MS, stored in the HLR database, to the VLR1 in case that a registration cancellation return result(RCRR) message of the MS is answered from the VLR1.

25. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 22, wherein a latest set registration time indication method uses a latest registration time indication value established in the VLR database.

26. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system, comprising processes of:

carrying out a corresponding registration notification (RN) of a MS in a HLR and indicating that the registration notification (RN) is processing in a VLR when the MS moves to a new serving area,

ignoring multi-location registration signals about a same subscriber and a call processing signal from an exchange during the RN until a previous registration notification (RN) is completed.

27. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system, wherein the process of ignoring multi-location registration signals and a call processing signal comprises the steps of:

(a) carrying out registration notification(RN) of a corresponding MS and indicating that the registration notification(RN) is processing in the VLR,

(b) requesting a registration cancellation(RC) of the MS from a VLR1 which is in a previous serving area and waiting for answering message from the VLR1,

(c) indicating the registration notification completion in case that there is an answering message about a registration cancellation return result(RCRR) from the VLR1 in answering waiting state of step (b), and then processing about the answering message received from the VLR1, and

(d) not clearing a subscriber location information of database even though a routing request(RR) error about the location request is created and maintaining the information in the VLR1, in case that there is a location request of the MS from a MSC in which a call is created about the MS in the waiting state of the registration cancellation return result(RCRR) of step (b).

28. Method for managing subscriber location information in mobile communications system according to claim 27, wherein in step (a), the state for the RN of the VLR is indicated using a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value which is set in a VLR database.

29. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 27, wherein in step (c), the registration notification(RN) completion state of the VLR is indicated using a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value which is set in the VLR database.

30. Method for managing a subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 27, wherein step (a) further comprises the substeps of:

confirming a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value of the MS before the registration notification(RN) procedure of the MS, to which the registration notification(RN) is requested, is carried out, and

rechecking a latest set registration time of the MS in case that the bit value indicates that the registration notification(RN) is carried out after confirming the flag,

changing the flag to the bit value of the registration notification completion state by determining that the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) is set incorrectly caused by an error, in case that the registration time is passed over a predetermined time, after checking the time and then returning to the registration notification(RN) procedure step.

31. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 27, wherein step (b) further comprises the substeps of:

determining whether a second registration notification(RN) of the same MS is requested in case that a routing request(RR) message of the MS is transmitted from the HLR in the state of the registration cancellation return invoke(RNI) waiting state of the MS,

checking a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value in case that there is a second registration notification request(RNR) after the determination, processing the registration notification(RN) as an error when the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) bit value is set after checking.

32. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 27, wherein step (c) further comprises the substep of:

restoring a subscriber record of the MS, stored in the HLR database, to the VLR1 in case that a registration cancellation return result(RCRR) message of the MS is answered from the VLR1.

33. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 27, wherein step (d) in the waiting state of a registration cancellation return result(RCRR) of the MS, further comprises the substeps of:

determining whether there is the location request of the MS from a mobile switching center(MSC) in which a call is created about the MS,

requesting the routing request(RR) of a corresponding MS to the VLR1 in case that there is the location request from the MSC after determination,

checking a registration notification pending flag(RNPF) in case that a routing request return result(RRRR) errors,

maintaining a subscriber record of the MS stored in the database, in the VLR1 in case of indicating that the registration notification pending flag(RNPF) is registering the location.

34. Method for managing subscriber location information in a mobile communications system according to claim 30, wherein a latest set registration time indication method uses a latest registration time indication value established in the VLR database.