Mobility management in communication networks
First Claim
1. A method for tracking locations of mobile terminals in a communication network, the method comprising:
- assigning by a mobility management entity mobile terminals to a mobility group, and informing the mobile terminals on their mobility group membership,receiving by a serving mobility management entity of the communication network a group location update for the mobility group from a mobile terminal of the mobility group or a network operator trusted or controlled entity, and updating the locations of the mobile terminals of the mobility group based on the group location update, andsending by the serving mobility management entity a confirmation for the group location update to the mobile terminals of the mobility group.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for tracking locations of mobile terminals in a communication network. Further, the invention relates to a communication network and apparatuses therein capable of performing individual steps of the method according to different embodiments of the invention. To decrease the signaling load imposed by mobility related signaling the invention suggests to group mobile terminals in so called mobility groups and to reduce the signaling overhead by performing a location update on a per-mobility group basis. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention this is realized by only one of the mobile terminals in a mobility group sending a group location update on behalf of the group to trigger the location update for the mobility group. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the invention, a network operator trusted or controlled entity sends a group location update on behalf of the group to trigger the location update for the mobility group.
40 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for tracking locations of mobile terminals in a communication network, the method comprising:
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assigning by a mobility management entity mobile terminals to a mobility group, and informing the mobile terminals on their mobility group membership, receiving by a serving mobility management entity of the communication network a group location update for the mobility group from a mobile terminal of the mobility group or a network operator trusted or controlled entity, and updating the locations of the mobile terminals of the mobility group based on the group location update, and sending by the serving mobility management entity a confirmation for the group location update to the mobile terminals of the mobility group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for tracking locations of mobile terminals in a communication network, the method comprising:
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grouping the mobile terminals into at least one mobility group, performing a location update on a per-mobility group basis, and sending a confirmation for the location update to the mobile terminals grouped into the at least one mobility group. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for tracking locations of mobile terminals in a communication network, the apparatus comprising:
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a processing unit that assigns terminals to a mobility group, a transmitter that informs the mobile terminals on their mobility group membership, and a receiver that receives a group location update for the mobility group from a mobile terminal of the mobility group or a network operator trusted or controlled entity, wherein the processing unit is operable to update the locations of the mobile terminals of the mobility group based on the group location update, and wherein the transmitter transmits a confirmation for the group location update to the mobile terminals of the mobility group.
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28. A communication system for tracking locations of mobile terminals in a communication network, the communication system being configured to:
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group the mobile terminals into at least one mobility group, perform a location update on a per-mobility group basis, and send a confirmation for the location update to the mobile terminals grouped into the at least one mobility group.
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29. A mobile terminal for use in a communication network being divided in location areas to allow tracking the geographical position of mobile terminals, the mobile terminal comprising:
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a receiver that receives an indication indicating a mobility group to which the mobile terminal is assigned or enabling the mobile terminal to select a mobility group, a processing unit that determines a change of the location area within the communication network, and a transmitter that transmits a group location update including an identifier of the mobility group to thereby trigger a location update for the mobile terminals grouped into the mobility group, wherein a confirmation for the location update is sent to the mobile terminals grouped into the mobility group.
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30. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobility control apparatus, cause the mobility control apparatus to track locations of mobile terminals in a communication network, by:
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assigning by a mobility management entity mobile terminals to a mobility group, informing the mobile terminals on their mobility group membership, receiving by a serving mobility management entity of the communication network a group location update for the mobility group from a mobile terminal of the mobility group or a network operator trusted or controlled entity in the proximity of the mobile terminals of the mobility group, updating the locations of the mobile terminals of the mobility group based on the group location update, and sending by the serving mobility management entity a confirmation for the group location update to the mobile terminals of the mobility group.
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31. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a mobile terminal for use in a communication network being divided in location areas to allow tracking the geographical position of mobile terminals, cause the mobile terminal to trigger a location update, by:
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receiving an indication indicating a mobility group to which the mobile terminal is assigned or enabling the mobile terminal to select a mobility group, determining a change of the location area within the communication network, transmitting a group location update including an identifier of the mobility group to thereby trigger a location update for the mobile terminals grouped into the mobility group, and transmitting a confirmation for the location update to the mobile terminals grouped into the mobility group.
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Specification