Method and devices for routing a message to a network server in a server pool

• US 7,171,207 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Turina, Klaus, Bellora, Mauro, Artola, Aitor, Baserga, Aldo
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, JULIO R
• Application Number:
  US10/469,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/466, 455/517, 455/524, 455/525, 455/560, 370351-357, 370/389, 370/392, 370/400, 370/401, 370/422
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Method, devices, and computer programs for routing a message to a first network server (MSC1) in a server pool (CNSP) of a mobile communication system are disclosed. The mobile communication system comprises a controller (BSC2) of an access network (AN) connectable to the first network server (MSC1) and at least one further network server (MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP), wherein service points are defined (S100) and one or more of the service points are allocated (S110) uniquely to each of the network servers (MSC1), MSC2) in the server pool (CNSP). At least one of the network servers (MSC1, MSC2) has allocated (S110) at least two of the service points. A temporary identity is assigned (S150) by the first network server (MSC1) to a mobile device (MS). The temporary identity includes a selected service point which is selected (S140) from the one or more service points allocated to the first network server (MSC1). The temporary identity is transmitted (S160) to the mobile device (MS) and a message (S170) from the mobile device (MS) to the first network server (MSC1) is routed (S200) to the first network, server (MSC1) by extracting the selected service point from the temporary identity received by the mobile device (MS) and applying a routing algorithm to the selected service point. The routing algorithm reveals the first network server (MSC1) from an analysis of the selected service point.

Claims

1. A method for routing a message to a first network server in a server pool of a mobile communication system, the mobile communication system including a controller of an access network connectable to the first network server and at least one further network server in the server pool, comprising the steps of:

defining a plurality of service point values, wherein one or more of the service point values are allocated uniquely to each of the network servers in the server pool, and wherein at least one of the network servers having allocated at least two of the service point values;

receiving a service request associated with a particular mobile device within said mobile communication system;

selecting a service point value from the one or more service point values allocated to

the first network server for said mobile device, further comprising the steps of;

assigning a temporary identity by the first network server to said mobile device, the temporary identity including the selected service point value;

transmitting the temporary identity to the mobile device; and

routing a message from the mobile device to the first network server by extracting the selected service point from the temporary identity received by the mobile device and applying a routing algorithm to the selected service point value, the routing algorithm revealing the first network server from an analysis of the selected service point value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the routing algorithm is applied by the controller of the access network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the routing algorithm utilizes a table which relates the allocated service point values with the network servers in the server pool.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary identity is included in the message from the mobile device and the controller extracts the selected service point value from the temporary identity.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device extracts the selected service point value from the temporary identity and sends the selected service point value to the controller for applying the routing algorithm.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a number of service point values in the server pool is defined by selecting a bit length (n) of a number block reserved for the service points in the temporary identity.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service point values are re-allocatable to the network servers in the server pool.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the service point values are allocated depending on a load of at least one of the network servers in the server pool.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the service point values are allocated depending on a load of a link between the controller of the access network and one of the network servers in the server pool.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network server selects the selected service point value.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary identity is assigned based on location information of the mobile device.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service point values are core network server pool service points or location area service points.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network servers in the server pool are mobile service switching centers or serving general packet radio service support nodes.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary identity is a temporary mobile subscriber identity or a packet temporary mobile subscriber identity.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controller of the access network is a base station controller or a radio network controller.

16. A network server in a server pool of a mobile communication system, the network server being connectable to a controller of an access network, the network server comprising:

means for allocating at least two service point values that uniquely identify the network server in the server pool;

a receiver adapted to receive a request for an assignment of a temporary identity for a mobile device within said mobile communication system;

a transmitter, and

a processing unit adapted to assign the temporary identity for said mobile device and to include one selected service point value being selected from the two or more service point values allocated to the network server into the temporary identity, and the transmitter is adapted to send the assigned temporary identity to the mobile device.

18. The network server of claim 16 wherein said controller applies a routing algorithm against the selected service point value for identifying said network server.

19. The network server of claim 16 wherein said temporary identity is assigned based on location of said mobile device.

20. The network server of claim 16 wherein the service point values are core network server pool service points or location area service points.

17. A controller of an access network of a mobile communication system, the controller being connectable to a first network server and at least one further network server in a server pool, the controller comprising:

a receiver,

a transmitter, and

a processing unit, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive a message from a mobile device to the first network server, the message comprising a selected service point value which is uniquely allocated to the first network server,

wherein the processing unit is adapted to apply a routing algorithm to the selected service point value, the routing algorithm revealing the first network server from an analysis of the selected service point value by utilizing a table comprising service point values allocated uniquely to the network servers in the server pool, in the table at least one of the network servers having allocated at least two service point values and one of the service point values in the table being the selected service point value identifying the first network server, and

wherein the transmitter is adapted to send the message to the first network server.

21. The controller of claim 17 wherein said selected service point value was selected by said first network server in response to a request for assignment of a temporary identity by said mobile device.

22. The controller of claim 21 wherein said temporary identity is assigned based on location information of the mobile device.

23. The controller of claim 21 wherein said service point value is one of core network server pool service points or location area service points.