Method and arrangements in a mobile telecommunications system

• US 8,879,486 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Nylander, Tomas, Rune, Johan, Vikberg, Jari
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAGLO, EMMANUEL K
• Application Number:
  US13/377,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20120106488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/395.2, 455/435
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for introducing an automatic one-time configuration of the DNS server(s) when a base station gateway, such as an HeNB GW, is deployed, such that the FQDN-to-HeNB GW IP address translation data is proactively configured. This is performed to identify the base station gateway address to which subsequently deployed base stations will be connected. That is, the FQDN-to-HeNB GW IP address translation data for the HeNB IDs of all the HeNBs that may potentially connect to the HeNB GW is proactively configured in the DNS server(s), thereby avoiding frequent and constantly ongoing DNS configuration during normal network operation. This configuration of the DNS allows the eNB to obtain the destination address for an X2 connection without knowing about an eventual HeNB GW, nor the addressing details, such as size/length (or fixed number of bits) of the HeNB GW ID.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating establishment of a traffic interface between a first base station and a base station gateway in a mobile telecommunication network, wherein subsequently deployed second base stations will have a connection to a core network and to the first base station of the mobile telecommunication network via the base station gateway, the method comprising:

pre-allocating base station identities for the subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway;

mapping the pre-allocated base station identities to at least one Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), wherein the mapping of the pre-allocated base station identities comprises mapping the pre-allocated base station identities to one plain FQDN;

sending the at least one FQDN together with at least one IP address of the base station gateway to a Domain Name System (DNS) server; and

configuring the DNS server with the at least one FQDN and the at least one IP address such that an FQDN of a base station of the subsequently deployed second base stations can be mapped to an identity of the base station gateway which the base station of the subsequently deployed second base stations will be connected to, to facilitate the establishment of the traffic interface between the first base station and the base station gateway.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting, by an Operation, Maintenance, Administration, and Provisioning (OMA&

P) node the pre-allocated base station identities.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using the pre-allocated base station identities for identifying subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first base station comprises a macro base station and the second base stations comprise home base stations.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the pre-allocating of the base station identities comprises pre-allocating the base station identities selected by the OMA&

P node by the base station gateway.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the pre-allocating of the base station identities comprises pre-allocating the base station identities selected by the OMA&

P node at the OMA&

P node.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising informing the base station gateway about the pre-allocated base station identities.

8. A method in a network node for facilitating establishment of a traffic interface between a first base station and a base station gateway in a mobile telecommunication network, wherein subsequently deployed second base stations will have a connection to a core network and to the first base station of the mobile telecommunication network via the base station gateway, the method comprising:

pre-allocating base station identities for the subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway;

wherein the pre-allocated base station identities are configured to be subsequently mapped to at least one Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) for Domain Name System (DNS) lookup at a DNS server such that the base station gateway to which subsequent deployed second base stations will be connected to can be identified to facilitate the establishment of the traffic interface between the first base station and the base station gateway; and

mapping of the pre-allocated base station identities to one plain FQDN.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

sending the at least one FQDN together with at least one Internet Protocol (IP) address of the base station gateway to the DNS server.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising using the pre-allocated base station identities for identifying the subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the network node comprises an Operation, Maintenance, Administration, and Provisioning (OMA&

P) node.

12. A method in a base station gateway for facilitating establishment of a traffic interface between a first base station and the base station gateway in a mobile telecommunication network, wherein subsequently deployed second base stations will have a connection to a core network and to the first base station of the mobile telecommunication network via the base station gateway, the method comprising:

receiving pre-allocated base station identities for subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway, wherein the pre-allocated base station identities are configured to be subsequently mapped to at least one Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) for Domain Name System (DNS) look up at a DNS server such that the base station gateway to which subsequent deployed second base stations will be connected to can be identified to facilitate the establishment of the traffic interface between the first base station and the base station gateway; and

mapping the pre-allocated base station identities to one plain FQDN.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

sending the at least one FQDN together with at least one Internet Protocol (IP) address of the base station gateway to the DNS server such that the DNS server can be configured with the at least one FQDN together with at least one IP address of the base station gateway for mapping the one plain FQDN of the second base station to the IP address of the base station gateway to which the second base station will be connected to.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising using the pre-allocated base station identities for identifying the subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway.

15. A method in a Domain Name System (DNS) server for facilitating establishment of a traffic interface between a first base station and a base station gateway in a mobile telecommunication network, wherein subsequently deployed second base stations will have a connection to a core network and to the first base station of the mobile telecommunication network via the base station gateway, the method comprising:

receiving at least one Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), associated with pre-allocated base station identities for the subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway, together with at least one Internet Protocol (IP) address of the base station gateway to which the subsequently deployed second base stations will be connected; and

configuring the DNS server with the at least one FQDN together with the at least one IP address of the base station gateway such that one plain FQDN of one subsequently deployed second base station can be mapped to an identity of the base station gateway which the one second base station will be connected to, to facilitate the establishment of the traffic interface between the first base station and the base station gateway.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving the FQDN associated with the base station identity associated with one of the second base stations in a DNS query from the first base station;

analyzing the DNS configuration; and

responding, based on the DNS configuration, to the first base station with at least one IP address of the base station gateway to which the second base station of the DNS query is connected.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving the FQDN associated with the base station identity associated with one of the second base stations for DNS lookup from a first base station;

analyzing the DNS configuration;

determining, based on the DNS configuration, a plurality of IP addresses of the base station gateway to which the second base station for DNS lookup is connected;

selecting one of the determined IP addresses; and

responding to the first base station with the selected IP address of the base station gateway, or responding to the first base station with the determined plurality of IP addresses.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

using the pre-allocated base station identities for identifying the second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway;

receiving the FQDN associated with the pre-allocated base station identity associated with one of the second base stations for DNS lookup from a first base station;

analyzing the DNS configuration; and

responding to the first base station with the FQDN derived from the identity of the base station gateway.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the FQDN derived from the identity of the base station gateway includes an identity of a Mobility Management Entity (MME) pool to which the base station gateway is connected.

20. A network node for facilitating establishment of a traffic interface between a first base station and a base station gateway in a mobile telecommunication network, wherein subsequently deployed second base stations will have a connection to a core network and to the first base station of the mobile telecommunication network via the base station gateway, the network node comprising:

an allocator configured to pre-allocate base station identities for the subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway;

wherein the pre-allocated base station identities are configured to be subsequently mapped to at least one Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) for Domain Name System (DNS) lookup at a DNS server such that the base station gateway to which subsequently deployed second base stations will be connected to can be identified to facilitate the establishment of the traffic interface between the first base station and the base station gateway; and

a mapper configured to map the pre-allocated base station identities to one plain FQDN.

21. The network node according to claim 20, further comprising:

a transmitter for sending the at least one FQDN together with at least one Internet Protocol (IP) address of the base station gateway to the DNS server.

22. The network node according to claim 20, wherein the pre-allocated base station identities are to be used for identifying the subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway.

23. The network node according to claim 20, wherein the network node comprises an operation, maintenance, administration, and provisioning node.

24. A base station gateway for facilitating establishment of a traffic interface between a first base station and the base station gateway in a mobile telecommunication network, wherein subsequently deployed second base stations will have a connection to a core network and to the first base station of the mobile telecommunication network via the base station gateway, the base station gateway comprising

a receiver for receiving pre-allocated base station identities for subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway;

and

a mapper configured to map the pre-allocated base station identities to at least one Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) for Domain Name System (DNS) look up at a DNS server such that the base station gateway to which subsequent deployed second base stations will be connected to can be identified to facilitate the establishment of the traffic interface between the first base station and the base station gateway, wherein the mapper is configured to map the pre-allocated base station identities to one plain FQDN.

25. The base station gateway according to claim 24, further comprising a transmitter for sending the at least one FQDN together with at least one Internet Protocol (IP) address of the base station gateway to the DNS server such that the DNS server can be configured with the at least one FQDN together with the at least one IP address of the base station gateway for mapping a FQDN of the subsequently deployed second base stations to the at least one IP address of the base station gateway to which the subsequently deployed second base stations will be connected.

26. A Domain Name System (DNS) server for facilitating establishment of a traffic interface between a first base station and a base station gateway in a mobile telecommunication network, wherein subsequently deployed second base stations will have a connection to a core network and to the first base station of the mobile telecommunication network via the base station gateway, the DNS server comprising:

a receiver for receiving at least one Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), associated with pre-allocated base station identities for the subsequently deployed second base stations to be connected to the base station gateway, together with at least one Internet Protocol (IP) address of the base station gateway to which the subsequently deployed second base stations will be connected; and

a processor configured to configure the DNS server with the at least one FQDN together with the at least one IP address of the base station gateway such that one plain FQDN of a subsequently deployed second base station can be mapped to an identity of the base station gateway to which the second base station will be connected to facilitate the establishment of the traffic interface between the first base station and the base station gateway.

27. The DNS server according to claim 26:

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the FQDN associated with the pre-allocated base station identity associated with one of the second base stations in a DNS query from the first base station;

wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the DNS configuration;

wherein the DNS server further comprises a transmitter configured to respond, based on the DNS configuration, to the first base station with at least one IP address of the base station gateway to which the second base station of the DNS query is connected.

28. The DNS server according to claim 26:

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the FQDN associated with the pre-allocated base station identity associated with one of the second base stations for DNS lookup from a first base station;

wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the DNS configuration, to determine, based on the DNS configuration, a plurality of IP addresses of the base station gateway to which the second base station of the DNS lookup is connected, and to select one of the determined IP addresses;

wherein the DNS server further comprises a transmitter configured to respond to the first base station with the selected IP address of the base station gateway, or to respond to the first base station with the plurality of IP addresses.

29. The DNS server according to claim 26:

wherein the pre-allocated base station identities are to be used for identifying the second base stations to be subsequently connected to the base station gateway;

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the FQDN associated with the pre-allocated base station identity associated with one of the second base stations for DNS lookup from a first base station;

wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the DNS configuration;

wherein the DNS server further comprises a transmitter configured to respond to the first base station with an FQDN derived from the identity of the base station gateway.