Mobile terminal management system, mobile terminal, agent, and program

• US 7,623,499 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yahagi, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US10/471,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20040151148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,814 Days
• Field of Search: 455436-438, 455/442, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 370328-338, 709202-203
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/048 mobile agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

In a mobile communication network, the foreign agent function of a mobile terminal that makes a small number of moves is placed in a radio base station, and the foreign agent function of a mobile terminal that makes a large number of moves is placed in a first node setting and managing a radio access link with a mobile terminal connected through a radio base station, thereby preventing concentration of foreign agent functions on the first node. When a mobile terminal (MN) detects a move to a foreign link to be connected, it acquires a new c/o address and transmits a binding update request to which a communication party list is attached to a home agent. The home agent transmits a binding update request to report a pair of the new c/o address and the home address of the mobile terminal to the communication parties in the communication party list.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal management system comprising:

a first node which supports at least a first radio base station, and sets and manages a radio access link with a plurality of mobile terminals connected through the first radio base station; and

a second node which provides a gateway router function for connecting to Internet Protocol (IP) core network and a home agent function of a mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals;

wherein;

a foreign agent function for a first mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals is placed in the first radio base station which the first mobile terminal is currently utilizing, and

a foreign agent function for a second mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals is placed in the first node;

the mobile terminal management system, further comprising a means for deciding whether the foreign agent function of each of the plurality of mobile terminals is placed in the first radio base station or in the first node when registering the location of the mobile terminal.

2. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 1, further comprising a means for changing the location of the foreign agent of said each mobile terminal during a session between said each mobile terminal and its communication party.

3. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for deciding whether the foreign agent function of each of the plurality of mobile terminals is placed in the first radio base station or in the first node on the basis of information set in the subscriber data of the mobile terminal.

4. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for deciding whether the foreign agent function of each of the plurality of mobile terminals is placed in the first radio base station or in the first node based on the movement/mobility characteristic of the mobile terminal.

5. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for deciding whether the foreign agent functions of each of the plurality of mobile terminals is placed in the radio base station or in the first node based on the frequency of foreign agent switching per unit of time on the mobile terminal.

6. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for deciding whether the foreign agent function of each of the plurality of mobile terminals is placed in the first radio base station or in the first node based on the model type of the mobile terminal.

7. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for deciding whether the foreign agent function of each of the plurality of mobile terminals is placed in the first radio base station or in the first node based on the availability/use of resources in the packet network of the mobile communication network.

8. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 1, further comprising a means for changing the location of the foreign agent for the mobile terminal before the next location registration request.

9. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 8, further comprising a means for changing the location of the foreign agent for the mobile terminal during a session between the mobile terminal and its communication party.

10. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 8, wherein the location of the foreign agent of the mobile terminal is changed based on the availability/use of resources in the packet network of the mobile communication network.

11. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 8, wherein the location of the foreign agent of the mobile terminal is changed in response to a delay request of the user application of the mobile terminal.

24. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 9, wherein the location of the foreign agent of the mobile terminal is changed based on the availability/use of resources in the packet network of the mobile communication network.

25. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 9, wherein the location of the foreign agent of the mobile terminal is changed in response to a delay request of the user application of the mobile terminal.

29. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 1, wherein the first node is a Packet Data Support Node and the second node is a Packet Data Gateway Node.

12. A mobile terminal management system comprising:

a network that includes a plurality of subnetworks interconnected with each other; and

a plurality of mobile terminals, each having a Care-Of (C/O) address depending on a subnetwork to which the mobile terminal is currently connected and a home address which is independent of the subnetwork, wherein;

in response to the subnetwork connected to a mobile terminal changing, a plurality of communication parties are notified of a pair of the latest C/O address and home address of the mobile terminal;

the mobile terminal management system, further comprising a means for deciding whether a foreign agent function of each of the plurality of mobile terminals is placed in a first radio base station or in a first node when registering the location of the mobile terminal.

13. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 12, wherein the mobile terminal is provided with a means for storing and managing a communication party list, a means for transmitting a binding update request to report the new C/O address with the communication party list when the connected subnetwork has changed, and an agent for receiving the binding update request and notifying the respective communication parties in the communication party list of the pair of the latest C/O address and home address.

14. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for storing and managing the communication party list includes a means for creating a list of a fixed number of the most communicated communication parties by monitoring communications on the mobile terminal.

15. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the network is a network based on the Mobile Internet Protocol (IP)v6, and the agent is the home agent of the mobile terminal.

16. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the network is a network based on the Mobile Internet Protocol (IP)v4, and the agent is the home agent of the mobile terminal.

17. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the network is a network based on the Mobile Internet Protocol (IP)v4, and the agent is the foreign agent of the mobile terminal.

26. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 12, wherein the plurality of subnetworks comprises:

a plurality of base stations, wherein the plurality of base stations are interconnected;

at least one first node, wherein the at least one first node are interconnected; and

a second node.

30. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 12, wherein a mobile terminal changes the subnetwork to which it is connected when the mobile terminal moves from:

a home link to a foreign link;

a first foreign link to a second foreign link;

or

a foreign link to a home link.

32. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 12, wherein the plurality of subnetworks are interconnected to each other though an IP core network;

and

the network comprises a Gateway GPRS Support Node for providing a home agent function to a mobile terminal.

18. A mobile terminal having a Care-Of (C/O) address depending on a subnetwork to which the mobile terminal is currently connected and a home address which is independent of the subnetwork, comprising:

means for storing and managing a communication party list; and

means for transmitting a binding update request to report a new C/O address with the communication party list attached to the binding update request, in response to a change in the subnetwork to which the mobile terminal is connected;

wherein the subnetwork to which the mobile terminal is connected is comprised by a network comprising a means for deciding whether a foreign agent function of each of a plurality of mobile terminals is placed in a first radio base station or in a first node when registering the location of the mobile terminal.

19. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 18, wherein the means for storing and managing the communication party list includes a means for creating a list of a fixed number of the most communicated communication parties by monitoring communications on the mobile terminal.

31. The mobile terminal management system claimed in claim 18, wherein a mobile terminal changes the subnetwork to which it is connected when the mobile terminal moves from:

a home link to a foreign link;

a first foreign link to a second foreign link;

or

a foreign link to a home link.

20. An agent in a network that includes a plurality of subnetworks interconnected with each other and that includes mobile terminals each having a Care-Of (C/O) address depending on a subnetwork to which the mobile terminal is currently being connected and a home address that is independent of the subnetwork, comprising:

means for receiving a binding update request sent from each mobile terminal when the subnetwork connected to the mobile terminal has changed; and

means for notifying respective communication parties in a communication party list attached to the received binding update request about a pair of the latest C/O address and home address of the mobile terminal;

wherein the network comprises a means for deciding whether a foreign agent function of each of a plurality of mobile terminals is placed in a first radio base station or in a first node when registering the location of the mobile terminal.

27. The agent in the network claimed in claim 20, wherein the plurality of subnetworks comprises:

a plurality of base stations, wherein the plurality of base stations are interconnected;

at least one first node, wherein the at least one first node are interconnected; and

a second node.

21. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for enabling a computer constituting a mobile terminal having a Care-Of (C/O) address depending on a subnetwork to which the mobile terminal is currently connected and a home address which is independent of the subnetwork, to function as:

means for storing and managing a communication party list; and

means for transmitting a binding update request to report a new C/O address with the communication party list in response to a change in the subnetwork to which the mobile terminal is connected;

wherein the subnetwork to which the mobile terminal is connected is comprised by a network comprising a means for deciding whether a foreign agent function of each of a plurality of mobile terminals is placed in a first radio base station or in a first node when registering the location of the mobile terminal.

22. The computer-readable storage medium claimed in claim 21, wherein the means for storing and managing the communication party list includes a means for creating a list of a fixed number of the most communicated communication parties by monitoring communications on the mobile terminal.

23. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for enabling a computer constituting an agent in a network that includes a plurality of subnetworks interconnected with each other and that includes mobile terminals each having a Care-Of (C/O) address depending on a subnetwork to which the mobile terminal is currently connected and a home address which is independent of the subnetwork, to function as a

means for receiving a binding update request sent from each mobile terminal when the subnetwork connected to the mobile terminal has changed;

and

means for notifying respective communication parties in a communication party list attached to the received binding update request about a pair of the latest C/O address and home address of the mobile terminal;

wherein the network comprises a means for deciding whether a foreign agent function of each of a plurality of mobile terminals is placed in a first radio base station or in a first node when registering the location of the mobile terminal.

28. The computer-readable storage medium claimed in claim 23, wherein the plurality of subnetworks comprises:

a plurality of base stations, wherein the plurality of base stations are interconnected;

at least one first node, wherein the at least one first node are interconnected; and

a second node.