Dynamic load balancing in a communication network
First Claim
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1. A management gateway comprising:
- a processing unit configured to;
implement a management function for providing tracking, activation and deactivation of bearers, and mobility management for mobile devices,monitor load conditions on the management gateway in real time,periodically determine a load capacity value based on the load conditions, the load conditions including information regarding at least one of processing unit usage, memory usage, and number of sessions active, andselect one or more eNodeBs and one or more core network nodes in communication with the one or more eNodeBs to which the load capacity value is to be sent for use in assigning a mobile device to a mobility management entity (MME);
a memory in operative communication with the processing unit where the load capacity value is stored and updated whenever a change occurs in the load capacity value; and
a network interface configured to communicate with the one or more eNodeBs and the one or more core network nodes to allow the management gateway to send a message that reflects the load capacity value to the selected one or more eNodeBs and the selected one or more core network nodes.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for providing a dynamic and real time load factor that can be shared with other network elements is disclosed. The load factor can be used in determining the relative load among a set of network elements and in distributing new sessions requests as well as existing session on the set of network elements. The load factor can also be used for determining to which network element a user equipment is handed off. The dynamic load factor can also be shared amongst network elements to determine how the load is balanced among the network elements, such as a mobility management entity (MME).
49 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A management gateway comprising:
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a processing unit configured to; implement a management function for providing tracking, activation and deactivation of bearers, and mobility management for mobile devices, monitor load conditions on the management gateway in real time, periodically determine a load capacity value based on the load conditions, the load conditions including information regarding at least one of processing unit usage, memory usage, and number of sessions active, and select one or more eNodeBs and one or more core network nodes in communication with the one or more eNodeBs to which the load capacity value is to be sent for use in assigning a mobile device to a mobility management entity (MME); a memory in operative communication with the processing unit where the load capacity value is stored and updated whenever a change occurs in the load capacity value; and a network interface configured to communicate with the one or more eNodeBs and the one or more core network nodes to allow the management gateway to send a message that reflects the load capacity value to the selected one or more eNodeBs and the selected one or more core network nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of dynamically representing loading conditions comprising:
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monitoring load conditions in real time on a mobility management entity (MME) implemented on a gateway; determining a load capacity value to represent the load conditions of the MME and updating the load capacity value when load conditions when load conditions change for the MME; storing the load capacity value in a memory on the gateway; selecting an eNodeB and a core network node in communication with the eNodeB to which the load capacity value is to be sent for use in assigning a mobile device to a MME; sending the load capacity value for the MME to the eNodeB; and sending the load capacity value for the MME to the core network node. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A management gateway implementing a mobility management entity (MME) function configured to monitor load conditions on the management gateway in real time and to periodically determine a load capacity value based on the load conditions, to store and update the load capacity value whenever a change occurs to the load capacity value, to select one or more eNodeBs and one or more core network nodes in communication with the one or more eNodeBs to which the load capacity value is to be sent for use in assigning a mobile device to an MME, and to send a message that includes a load capacity value informational element to the one or more eNodeBs and the one or more core network nodes.
Specification