Method and apparatus in a communication network

• US 6,466,785 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rune, Johan, Chambert, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/309,350
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/436, 455/466, 455/456, 455/458, 370/328, 370/444, 370/445, 370/552
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providing each terminal (t₁, t₂, t) in a network (n) with an adapted location area (HA_t1, HA_t2, FA_s, FA_pt), customised to the long term or short term historical movements or behaviour of the terminal (t₁, t₂, t) in the network (n). The terminal (t₁, t₂, t) can enter three different modes; session mode, packet mode and transaction mode, which controls what kind of location area (HA_t1, HA_t2, FA_s, FA_pt) the terminal (t₁, t₂, t) should use. The types of location areas are a home location area (HA_t1, HA_t2), based on the long term historical movements of the terminal (t₁, t₂, t) and used when the terminal (t₁, t₂, t) is located inside a home area constituting the normal mobility pattern of the terminal in the network (n), a session mode-fast adaptive location area (FA_s), used when the terminal (t₁, t₂, t) enters the session mode and is located outside the home area, and a packet mode/transaction mode-fast adaptive location area (FA_pt), used for burstlike traffic when the terminal (t₁, t₂, t) enters the packet mode or the transaction mode.

Claims

1. A method for adapting a location area to a terminal within a communications network, comprising the steps of:

logging the terminal onto the network;

creating a long term adapted location area, adapted to a long term mobility pattern of a user of the terminal in the network;

determining a type of communication between the terminal and the network;

entering the terminal and the network in a mode corresponding to the determined communication type, wherein the different modes for the terminal and the network include session mode, packet mode and transaction mode;

using the long term adapted location area when the terminal is located in a home area of the terminal and when the terminal and the network enter the session mode;

creating a short term adapted session-location area when the terminal is located outside the home area of the terminal and when the terminal and the network enter the session mode; and

creating a short term adapted packet/transaction-location area when the terminal and the network enter at least one of the packet mode and the transaction mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the further step of entering the terminal and the network in an initial mode when the terminal logs on to the network.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of entering the terminal and the network in an initial mode includes the step of setting the initial mode to be the session mode.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of basing the long term adapted location area on statistics continuously collected and stored by the terminal in the network, the long term adapted location area being created by the terminal and transferred to the network at the step of logging the terminal onto the network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of periodically creating an updated long term adapted location area and transferring the definition of the updated long term adapted location area to the network when the terminal remains logged on to the network for a selected period of time.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of measuring at least one of a duration of active periods in the communication between the terminal and the network and a duration of silent periods between the active periods to determine the type of communication.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in the session mode when the duration of an active period in the communication between the terminal and the network is greater than a predetermined period.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined period is approximately equal 20 seconds.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in the packet mode when the duration of an active period in the communication between the terminal and the network is less than a predetermined period.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined period is approximately equal to 2.5 seconds.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in the transaction mode when the duration of an active period in the communication between the terminal and the network is greater than a first predetermined period and less than a second predetermined period.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first predetermined period is approximately equal to 2.5 seconds and the second predetermined period is approximately equal to 20 seconds.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in the transaction mode when the duration of a silent period in the communication between the terminal and the network exceeds a first threshold time period.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in the session mode when the duration of a silent period in the communication between the terminal and the network exceeds a second threshold time period.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of creating a new short term adapted session-location area by the terminal and the network for at least one of (i) each contact between the terminal and the network and (ii) when the terminal reaches a border of a current short term adapted session-location area, if the terminal is located in the current short term adapted session-location area.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes the steps of:

creating a new short term adapted packet/transaction-location area by the terminal and the network at each contact between the terminal and the network if the terminal is located in a current short term adapted packet/transaction-location area; and

using a momentary short term adapted packet/transaction-location area by at least one of (i) the terminal when the terminal enters a new cell in the network and (ii) the network when the network pages the terminal in the network, if the terminal is located in the current short term adapted packet/transaction-location area.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the creation of the short term adapted session-location area and the short term adapted packet/transaction-location area use radius and focal points, wherein the radius determine the size of the location areas and the focal points determines the shape and the position of the location areas.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network includes a universal network.

19. A method for adapting a location area to a terminal within a communication network, comprising the steps of:

creating the location area for the terminal;

determining a type of communication between the terminal and the network representing a duration of active periods in the communication therebetween, and further representing a duration of silent periods in between the active periods; and

adapting the location area to the type of communication between the terminal and the network.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of adapting the location area includes:

creating a long term adapted location area, adapted to the long term mobility pattern of a user of the terminal in the network, when the terminal is located in a home area of the terminal and when the terminal and the network enter a session mode;

creating a short term adapted session-location area when the terminal is located outside the home area of the terminal and when the terminal and the network enter the session mode; and

creating a short term adapted packet/transaction-location area when the terminal and the network are set in at least one of a packet mode and a transaction mode.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the home area includes an area constituting the normal mobility pattern of the movements of the terminal in the network based on long term statistics of the movements of the terminal in the network.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the terminal periodically creates a new long term adapted location area and transfers the definition of the new long term adapted location area to the network when the terminal remains logged on to the network for at least a threshold time period.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the method includes the step of collecting and storing data in the terminal and in the network at each contact between the terminal and the network, wherein the data includes information of at least one of the position of the terminal in the network, the speed of the terminal in the network and the direction of the terminal in the network.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein a new short term adapted session-location area is created by at least one of the terminal and the network at each contact between the terminal and the network and when the terminal reaches a border of a current short term adapted session-location area, if the terminal is located in the current short term adapted session-location area.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the creation of the short term adapted session-location area and the short term adapted packet/transaction-location area includes using radius and focal points, wherein the radius determines the size of the location areas and the focal points determine the shape and the position of the location areas.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of adapting the location area includes creating a short term adapted packet/transaction-location area when the terminal and the network enter at least one of a packet mode and a transaction mode.

27. The method according the claim 26, wherein the step of determining a type of communication includes measuring the duration of the active periods and the duration of the silent periods in between the active periods.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in the transaction mode when a duration of the silent period in the communication between the terminal and the network exceeds a first threshold value.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in the session mode when a duration of the silent period in the communication between the terminal and the network exceeds a second threshold value.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the method further includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in an initial mode when the terminal logs on to the network, and wherein the initial mode includes a session mode.

31. The method according to claim 27, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in a session mode when a duration of the active period in the communication between the terminal and the network is greater than a predetermined period.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the predetermined period is approximately equal to 20 seconds.

33. The method according to claim 27, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in the packet mode when a duration of the active period in the communication between the terminal and the network is less than a predetermined period.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the predetermined period is approximately equal to 2.5 seconds.

35. The method according to claim 27, wherein the method includes the step of entering the terminal and the network in the transaction mode when a duration of the active period in the communication between the terminal and the network is greater than a first predetermined period and less than a second predetermined period.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the first predetermined period is approximately equal to 2.5 seconds and the second predetermined period is approximately equal to 20 seconds.

37. The method according to claim 26, wherein a new short term adapted packet/transaction-location area is created by the terminal and the network at each contact between the terminal and the network when the terminal is located in a current short term adapted packet/transaction-location area, and

wherein a momentary short term adapted packet/transaction-location area is created by at least one of the terminal when the terminal enters a new cell in the network and the network when the network has to page the terminal in the network, when the terminal is located in the current short term adapted packet/transaction-location area.

38. An apparatus in a communication network which includes a plurality of cells and at least one base station, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver, the receiver receiving signals from the network;

a transmitter, the transmitter transmitting signals to the network, the receiver and the transmitter enabling the apparatus to communicate with the network in a mode determined by at least one of a duration of active periods in the communication and a duration of silent periods between the active periods, wherein an adapted location area is created for the apparatus depending on the mode between the apparatus and the network;

an input unit, the input unit detecting when the apparatus logs on to the network and setting the apparatus in an initial mode;

a timer, the timer triggering the apparatus to enter a predefined mode when the duration of the silent periods in the communication between the apparatus and the network exceeds a predefined threshold value;

a measuring unit, the measuring unit measuring at least one of the duration of the active periods in the communication and the duration of the silent periods between the active periods;

a memory device, the memory device storing data collected by the apparatus at each contact between the apparatus and the network; and

a calculating unit, the calculating unit creating location areas for the apparatus using the data stored in the memory device;

wherein a long term adapted location area, adapted to the long term mobility pattern of a user of the apparatus, is created when the apparatus is located in a home area and the apparatus and the network are set in a session mode, and

wherein a short term adapted session-location area is created when the apparatus is located outside the home area and the apparatus and the network are set in the session mode, and

wherein a short term adapted packet/transaction-location area is created when the apparatus and the network are set in at least one of a packet mode and a transaction mode.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the initial mode includes the session mode.

40. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the data includes information of at least one of the position of the apparatus in the network, the speed of the apparatus in the network and the direction of the apparatus in the network.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the size of the short term adapted session-location area and the short term adapted packet/transaction-location area are determined by a radius, and the shape and the position of the location areas are determined by focal points.

42. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the apparatus is set in the session mode when the duration of an active period in the communication between the apparatus and the network is greater than a predetermined period.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the predetermined period is approximately equal to 20 seconds.

44. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the apparatus is set in the packet mode when the duration of an active period in the communication between the apparatus and the network is less than a predetermined period.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the predetermined period is approximately equal to 2.5 seconds.

46. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the apparatus is set in the transaction mode when the duration of an active period in the communication between the apparatus and the network is greater than a first predetermined period and less than a second predetermined period.

47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the long term adapted location area is created and transferred to the network at the initial contact between the apparatus and the network when the apparatus logs on to the network.

48. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the first predetermined period is approximately equal to 2.5 seconds and the second predetermined period is approximately equal to 20 seconds.

49. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the home area includes an area constituting the normal mobility pattern of the movements of the apparatus in the network based on long term statistics of the movements of the apparatus in the network.

50. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the network is a universal network.

51. A system for adapting a location area to a terminal within a communications network, comprising:

a measuring unit, the measuring unit measuring at least one of active periods of communication between the terminal and the network and silent periods between the active periods;

an input unit, the input unit setting the terminal in a type of communication mode determined by the measured periods of at least one of the active periods and the silent periods, wherein a session mode of communication is determined for an active period within a first measured time period, a transaction mode of communication is determined for an active period within a second measured time period, and a packet mode of communication is determined for an active period within a third measured time period, further the transaction mode is determined for a silent period which exceeds a first threshold time period and the session mode is determined for a silent period which exceeds a second threshold time period; and

wherein the input unit sets the terminal and the network in the session mode and adapts a first type location area to the terminal upon initially logging onto the network;

a memory device, the memory device determining and storing at least one of the position of the terminal in the network, the speed of the terminal in the network and the direction of the terminal in the network; and

a calculating unit, the calculating unit adapting a second type location area when the terminal and the network are in the session mode and the terminal is located outside the home location area and adapting a third type location area when the determined type of communication mode is at least one of the transaction mode and the packet mode.

52. The system according to claim 51, wherein the second type location area and the third type location area are adapted to the current and recent position of the terminal, the current speed of the terminal, and the direction of movement of the terminal.