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, andselecting one or more base stations and one or more network elements to which the load capacity value should be sent for use in assigning a mobile device to the management gateway;
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 one or more base stations and one or more network elements to allow the management gateway to send a message that reflects the load capacity value to the selected one or more base stations and the selected one or more network elements.
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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).
37 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 selecting one or more base stations and one or more network elements to which the load capacity value should be sent for use in assigning a mobile device to the management gateway; 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 one or more base stations and one or more network elements to allow the management gateway to send a message that reflects the load capacity value to the selected one or more base stations and the selected one or more network elements. - 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 management module implemented on a gateway; determining a load capacity value to represent the load conditions of the management module and updating the load capacity value when load conditions change for the management module; storing the load capacity value in a memory on the gateway; selecting a network element and a base station to which the load capacity value should be sent for use in assigning a mobile device to a management module; sending the load capacity value for the management module to the base station; and sending the load capacity value for the management module to the network element. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A management gateway implementing a mobility management 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 base stations and one or more network elements to which the load capacity value should be sent for use in assigning a mobile device to a management module, and to send a message that includes a load capacity value informational element to the one or more base stations and the one or more network elements.
Specification