Mobile communication system, location manager and routing manager

• US 20040258011A1
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Hiyama, Satoshi, Yamashita, Masashi, Suzuki, Toshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

Use of finite wireless resources is minimized when paging is performed to an MN, even if a location manager does not retain correct location area information for the reason that a mobile router (MR), which performs location update (LU) on behalf of mobile nodes (MNs) existing in the space in a moving body, does not send an LU signal because it is active, for example. A flag indicating whether an MR#1 is dormant or active is retained in a location manager LM#1. When paging is performed to an MN#2 which is in a master-slave relationship with the MR#1, the LM#1 refers to the flag to determine the state of the MR#1. When the MR#1 is active, the LM#1 inquires of a routing manager RM#1 about routing address information for the MR#1 and performs paging using the information. Thus, it is possible to perform paging to the MN#2 which is in a master-salve relationship with the MR#1, without the MR#1, which is moving in an active state, sending an LU signal.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system wherein a mobile router moving with mobile nodes performs location update of the mobile nodes on behalf of the mobile nodes;

the mobile communication system comprising;

means for retaining a flag indicating whether the mobile router is active or not;

means for inquiring about routing address information for the mobile router based on the value of the retained flag when paging is performed to the mobile node; and

means for performing paging to the mobile node using the obtained routing address information as a result of the inquiry.

2. The mobile communication system according to claim 1;

further comprising means for setting the flag to a value indicating an active state in response to a signal sent from the mobile node and indicating start of communication, and setting the flag to a value indicating a dormant state in response to a signal sent from the mobile node and indicating end of communication.

3. A mobile communication system wherein a mobile router moving with mobile nodes performs location update of the mobile nodes on behalf of the mobile nodes;

the mobile communication system comprising;

a routing manager comprising;

a table for storing routing address information for the mobile router; and

means for, when the routing address information for the mobile router in the table is updated, notifying the updated routing address information; and

a location manager comprising;

a table for storing the routing address information notified by the routing manager as location area information for the mobile router; and

means for performing paging to the mobile node using the location area information stored in the table.

4. A location manager wherein a mobile router moving with mobile nodes performs location update of the mobile nodes on behalf of the mobile nodes;

the location manger comprising;

means for retaining a flag indicating whether the mobile router is active or not;

means for inquiring about routing address information for the mobile router based on the value of the retained flag when paging is performed to the mobile node;

and means for performing paging to the mobile node using the routing address information obtained as a result of the inquiry.

5. The location manager according to claim 4;

further comprising means for setting the flag to a value indicating an active state in response to a signal sent from the mobile node and indicating start of communication, and

setting the flag to a value indicating a dormant state in response to a signal sent from the mobile node and indicating end of communication.

6. A location manager wherein a mobile router moving with mobile nodes performs location update of the mobile nodes on behalf of the mobile nodes;

the location manger comprising;

a table for storing routing address information for the mobile router, which is notified whenever the routing address is updated, as location area information for the mobile router; and

means for performing paging to the mobile node using the location area information stored in the table.

7. A routing manager used for a mobile communication system wherein a mobile router moving with mobile nodes performs location update of the mobile nodes on behalf of the mobile nodes;

the routing manager comprising;

a table for storing routing address information for the mobile router;

means for replying the routing address information stored in the table in response to an inquiry about the routing address information for the mobile router.

8. A routing manager used for a mobile communication system wherein a mobile router moving with mobile nodes performs location update of the mobile nodes on behalf of the mobile nodes;

the routing manager comprising;

a table for storing routing address information for the mobile router;

means for, when the routing address information for the mobile router in the table is updated, notifying the updated routing address information.