Mobile core network node redundancy
First Claim
1. A pool proxy, for a communication network, the pool proxy comprising a processing circuit and being configured to:
- route signaling traffic between a radio access network node and one of a set of pooled core network nodes;
operate in one of an active state and a passive state towards the radio access network node;
when in the active state, to send a heartbeat signal to at least one of the pooled second core network nodes for relaying to a peer pool proxy; and
when in the passive state, to receive a heartbeat signal from a peer pool proxy relayed via at least one of the pooled core network nodes;
wherein, when the pool proxy is in the passive state, in the event that no heartbeat signal is received or the received heartbeat signal does not satisfy some minimum criterion, the pool proxy is configured to activate itself as pool proxy towards the radio access network node;
wherein the radio access network node comprises one of a Base Station Controller and a Radio Network Controller; and
wherein the set of pooled core networked nodes comprises one of a set of pooled Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) Servers (MSC-Ss) and a set of pooled Servicing General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSNs).
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus configured to operate within a communication network as a pool proxy, routing signalling traffic between a node of a first network and one of a set of pooled nodes within a second network. The apparatus is further configured to operate in one of an active state and a passive state towards the first network node and, when in said active state to send a heartbeat signal to at least one of said pooled nodes for relaying to a peer pool proxy and, when in said passive state, to receive a heartbeat signal from a peer pool proxy relayed via at least one of said pooled nodes. In the event that no heartbeat signal is received when in the passive state, the apparatus is configured to activate itself as pool proxy towards the first network node.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A pool proxy, for a communication network, the pool proxy comprising a processing circuit and being configured to:
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route signaling traffic between a radio access network node and one of a set of pooled core network nodes; operate in one of an active state and a passive state towards the radio access network node; when in the active state, to send a heartbeat signal to at least one of the pooled second core network nodes for relaying to a peer pool proxy; and when in the passive state, to receive a heartbeat signal from a peer pool proxy relayed via at least one of the pooled core network nodes; wherein, when the pool proxy is in the passive state, in the event that no heartbeat signal is received or the received heartbeat signal does not satisfy some minimum criterion, the pool proxy is configured to activate itself as pool proxy towards the radio access network node; wherein the radio access network node comprises one of a Base Station Controller and a Radio Network Controller; and wherein the set of pooled core networked nodes comprises one of a set of pooled Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) Servers (MSC-Ss) and a set of pooled Servicing General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSNs). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A core network node in a communication network serving one or more radio access network nodes, the core network comprising one of a set of pooled core network nodes, the core network node further comprising a processing circuit and being further configured to:
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receive signaling from the radio access network nodes via an active pool proxy; and receive a heartbeat signal from the active pool proxy and to relay the heartbeat signal to a passive pool proxy; wherein the radio access network node comprises one of a Base Station Controller and A Radio Network Controller; and wherein the set of pooled core networked nodes comprises one of a set of pooled Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) Servers (MSC-Ss) and a set of pooled Servicing General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSNs). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of providing redundancy within a communication network comprising two or more pool proxies, the method comprising:
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maintaining one of the pool proxies in an active state towards the radio access network node; maintaining the other pool proxy in a passive state towards the radio access network node; routing signaling traffic between a radio access network node and one of a set of pooled core network nodes via the active pool proxy; sending a heartbeat signal from the active pool proxy to the passive pool proxy via one or more of the pooled core network nodes; and activating the passive proxy towards the radio access network node in the event that the heartbeat signal is not received at the passive proxy; wherein the radio access network node comprises one of a Base Station Controller and a Radio Network Controller; and wherein the set of pooled core networked nodes comprises one of a set of pooled Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) Servers (MSC-Ss) and a set of pooled Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSNs). - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of providing redundancy within a communication network comprising two or more pool proxies routing signaling traffic between a radio access network node and one of a set of pooled core network nodes, the method comprising, at one of the pool proxies:
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maintaining the proxy in a passive state towards the radio access network node; receiving a heartbeat signal from one or more of the pooled second nodes; and activating the pool proxy towards the first node in the event that the heartbeat signal is not received; and upon activation of the pool proxy, routing signaling traffic between the radio access network node and one of the set of pooled core network nodes via the pool proxy; wherein the radio access network node comprises one of a Base Station Controller and a Radio Network Controller; and wherein the set of pooled core networked nodes comprises one of a set of pooled Mobil Switching Centre (MSC) Servers (MSC-Ss) and a set of pooled Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSNs).
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26. A method of providing redundancy within a communication network comprising two or more pool proxies routing signaling traffic between a radio access network node and one of a set of pooled core network nodes, the method comprising, at one of the pooled core network nodes:
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receive signaling from the radio access network node via an active pool proxy; receiving a heartbeat signal from the active pool proxy; and relaying the heartbeat signal to a passive pool proxy; wherein the set of pooled core networked nodes comprises one of a set of pooled Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) Servers (MSC-Ss) and a set of pooled Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSNs).
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27. A method of providing redundancy within a communication network comprising two or more pool proxies routing signaling traffic between a radio access neetwork node and one of a set of pooled core network nodes, the method comprising:
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routing signaling between said radio access network node and said pooled core network nodes when in an active state; sending a heartbeat signal to at least one of the pooled core network nodes for relaying to a peer pool proxy while in said active state; receiving a heartbeat signal from the peer pool proxy relayed via at least one of the pooled core network nodes while in a passive state; and switching from said passive state to said active state when no heartbeat signal is received from said peer pool proxy, or when the received heartbeat signal does not satisfy some minimum criterion; wherein the set of pooled core networked nodes comprises one of a set of pooled Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) Servers (MSC-Ss) and a set of pooled Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSNs).
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28. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program for controlling a pool proxy in a communication network comprising two or more pool proxies routing signaling traffic between a radio access network node and one of a set of pooled core network nodes, wherein the computer program comprises:
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code for routing signaling between said radio access network node and said pooled core network nodes when in an active state; code for sending a heartbeat signal to at least one of the pooled core network nodes for relaying to a peer pool proxy while in said active state; code for receiving a heartbeat signal from a peer pool proxy relayed via at least one of the pooled core network nodes while in a passive state; and code for switching from said passive state to said active state when no heartbeat signal is received from said peer pool proxy, or when the received heartbeat signal does not satisfy some minimum criterion; wherein the set of pooled core networked nodes comprises one of a set of pooled Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) Servers (MSC-Ss) and a set of pooled Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSNs).
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Specification