Device for determining the base station subsystems involved in a paging, and method for the automatic set-up of the device

• US 6,792,270 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Neumann, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/567,541
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/453, 455/458, 455/432, 455/435.1, 455/433, 455/426, 455/560, 455/445, 370/379, 370/465, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/14 between access point controllers and backbone network device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) communication system offering a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), for determining the base station subsystems involved in a paging on a routing area level. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for setting up and/or updating the device. The set-up and/or the update of the device takes place in a GPRS service node, for example, after the receipt of a message on a set-up, a release or a modification of virtual connections. For this purpose the information contained in the message are evaluated and compared with already existing information. Another possibility is the evaluation of information in data packets, which, too, are compared with already existing information. Subsequently the information is, if required, updated and stored. In the case of a paging on a routing area level the stored information is used for communicating the signaling addresses of base station subsystems, which supply the routing area, to a GPRS service node. The information is also used for detecting as to which routing areas are supplied by a GPRS service node.

Claims

1. A method for setting up and updating a determination of base station subsystems involved in a paging on a routing area level, for a Global System for Mobile Communication system offering a General Packet Radio Service, the method comprising the following steps:

evaluating signals sent by a base station subsystem;

determining an identifier of the base station subsystem;

detecting set-up, release, and modification of at least one virtual connection;

comparing existing information about said at least one virtual connection if the detecting step cannot be implemented;

identifying at least one virtual connection to be set up, released, and modified;

deleting, storing or updating identifying information about the at least one virtual connection, the identifying information comprising at least one of information identifying a base station subsystem involved in the at least one virtual connection and information identifying a routing area containing a cell involved in the at least one virtual connection.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

evaluating information from at least one data packet transmitted by said base station subsystem and an identifier of the base station subsystem; and

comparing said information from said at least one data packet with existing information about said at least one virtual connections.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of implementing multiple entries in an allocating means for identical combinations of said identifying information.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a counter value in an allocating means for each combination of said identifying information.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said signals comprise data packets.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

evaluating information from said signals transmitted by said base station subsystem, and

comparing said information from said signals with existing information on at least one virtual connection if the evaluating step is not sufficient for the detecting step.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying said base station subsystem by a network service entity identifier.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying said routing area by a routing area identity.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing information which identifies a virtual connection.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of distinguishing virtual connections by information which identifies a cell.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying a cell by a cell global identifier.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a timer value for each combination of said identifying information.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining, by means of information stored in an allocating means, which routing areas are covered by a service area of a General Packet Radio Service node.

14. A device for a Global System for Mobile Communication system offering a General Packet Radio Service, the device comprising:

means for automatic set-up and automatic update of an allocating means,

said allocating means for sending information identifying at least one base station subsystem involved in a paging to a General Packet Radio Service node executing a paging on a routing area level; and

a checking and evaluating means for evaluating information from at least one signal containing information on at least one virtual connection and an identifier of the base station subsystem which transmitted the at least one signal, said checking and evaluating means comparing said information on virtual connections with information on existing virtual connections if the information for detection and differentiation of set-up, modification and release of said at least one virtual connection is not sufficient, said checking and evaluating means identifying virtual connections to be set up, released and modified and communicating said identified virtual connections to said means for the automatic set-up and automatic update as to which steps have to be implemented in the allocating means.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the checking and evaluating means evaluates information contained in data packets.

16. The device according to claim 14, where in the allocating means allocates a base station subsystem by means of a network service entity identifier.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the allocating means allocates a routing area by means of a routing area identity.

18. The device according to claim 14, wherein the allocating means stores information which determines a base station subsystem and a routing area, and information which differentiates between individual virtual connections.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein said device differentiates between said individual virtual connections by means of information which identifies a cell.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said device identifies said cell by means of a cell global identifier.

21. The device according to claim 14, wherein said allocating means stores multiple entries of identical combinations of information determining a base station subsystem and a routing area.

22. The device according to claim 14, wherein the allocating means stores a counter value.

23. The device according to claim 14, wherein the allocating means stores a timer value.

24. The device according to claim 14, further comprising determining means which determines, by information stored by the allocating means, which routing areas are covered by a service area of a General Packet Radio Service node.