Mobility management in communication networks

US8369876B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION · JP

Inventors

• Jens Bachmann · Langen, DE
• Kilian Weniger · Langen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 15, 2007
• Grant date: Feb 5, 2013
• Expiry date: Mar 20, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W60/04
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for tracking locations of mobile terminals in a communication network. Further, the invention relates to a communication network and apparatuses therein capable of performing individual steps of the method according to different embodiments of the invention. To decrease the signaling load imposed by mobility related signaling the invention suggests to group mobile terminals in so called mobility groups and to reduce the signaling overhead by performing a location update on a per-mobility group basis. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention this is realized by only one of the mobile terminals in a mobility group sending a group location update on behalf of the group to trigger the location update for the mobility group. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the invention, a network operator trusted or controlled entity sends a group location update on behalf of the group to trigger the location update for the mobility group.