US6148200A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load reduction of a visitor location register
Assignee: Nokia Oyj
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Filing: 1996-12-20
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Granted: 2000-11-14
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Expires: 2016-12-20
Abstract
Abstract PCT No. PCT/FI96/00685 Sec. 371 Date Jun. 26, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Jun. 26, 1998 PCT Filed Dec. 20, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/24898 PCT Pub. Date Jul. 10, 1997A problem arises when the data of the visitor location register (VLR) are lost for some reason. In this case, only the visitor location register (VLRn) in whose area the mobile station (MS) is located is known. The mobile station (MS) must then be paged in all location areas (LAn) of the visitor location register (VLR). Such paging of mobile stations causes a significant overload. The overload is reduced, according to the invention, by dividing the area covered by a physical visitor location area (VLR) into areas of a plurality of logical visitor location registers (LVLRn). In connection with location updatings, not only the physical visitor location register (VLR) is stored by also information on the logical visitor location register (LVLRn) in whose area the mobile station (MS) is located; in a problematic situation where the switching centre (MSC) is not aware of the location area of the mobile station(MS), the mobile station (MS) is paged, at least at first, only in the area of the logical visitor location register (LVLRn).
Inventors
- 👤 Lauri Lahtinen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W68/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for updating location of a mobile station (MS) in a digital mobile telephone network (NSS), wherein one home location register (HLR) stores information on the physical visitor location register (VLR) in the area of which the mobile station (MS) is located, characterized in that the area covered by a physical visitor location register (VLR) is divided into areas of a plurality of logical visitor location registers (LVLRn); and the home location register (HLR) stores, in addition to the physical visitor location register (VLR), information on the logical visitor location register (LVLRn) in whose area the mobile station (MS) is located.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for updating location of a mobile station (MS) in a digital mobile telephone network (NSS), wherein one home location register (HLR) stores information on the physical visitor location register (VLR) in the area of which the mobile station (MS) is located, characterized in that the area covered by a physical visitor location register (VLR) is divided into areas of a plurality of logical visitor location registers (LVLRn); and the home location register (HLR) stores, in addition to the physical visitor location register (VLR), information on the logical visitor location register (LVLRn) in whose area the mobile station (MS) is located.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 characterized in that said physical visitor location register (VLR) is divided hierarchically, whereby each logical visitor location register (LVLR) is subject to a single physical visitor location register (VLR).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 2, characterized in that said areas of said logical visitor location registers (LVLRn) are formed on the basis of geographical location, each area preferable comprising a small integer number of location areas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said areas of said logical visitor location registers (LVLRn) are formed on the basis of geographical location, each area preferably comprising a small integer number of location areas.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for paging a mobile station (MS) in the area of a mobile services switching centre (MSC) in a digital mobile telephone network wherein, at any time, the location area (LA) of a mobile station (MS) is maintained in one Visitor Location Register (VLR) and the information on the VLR is maintained in one Home Location Register (HLR), when information on the location area (LA) of the mobile station (MS) has been lost by the switching centre (MSC), characterized in that the area covered by the physical visitor location register (VLR) of the switching centre (MSC) is divided into areas of a plurality of logical visitor location registers (LVLRn); and the mobile station (MS) is paged, at least at first, only in the area of the logical visitor location register (LVLRn) last indicated by the mobile station.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for paging a mobile station (MS) in the area of a mobile services switching centre (MSC) in a digital mobile telephone network wherein, at any time, the location area (LA) of a mobile station (MS) is maintained in one Visitor Location Register (VLR) and the information on the VLR is maintained in one Home Location Register (HLR), when information on the location area (LA) of the mobile station (MS) has been lost by the switching centre (MSC), characterized in that the area covered by the physical visitor location register (VLR) of the switching centre (MSC) is divided into areas of a plurality of logical visitor location registers (LVLRn); and the mobile station (MS) is paged, at least at first, only in the area of the logical visitor location register (LVLRn) last indicated by the mobile station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 5, characterized in that said physical visitor location register (VLR) is divided hierarchically, whereby each logical visitor location register (LVLR) is subject to a single physical visitor location register (VLR).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said areas of said logical visitor location registers (LVLRn) are formed on the basis of geographical location, each area preferable comprising a small integer number of location areas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 5, characterized in that said areas of said logical visitor location registers (LVLRn) are formed on the basis of geographical location, each area preferable comprising a small integer number of location areas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
A mobile services switching centre (MSC) in a digital mobile telephone network wherein, at any time, the location information of a mobile station (MS) is maintained in one Visitor Location Register (VLR) and the information on the VLR is maintained in one Home Location Register (HLR), said mobile services switching centre (MSC) comprising a physical visitor location register (VLR) and being adapted to transmit information to a home location register (HLR) of the mobile telephone network on the physical visitor location registers (VLR) in the area of which each mobile station (MS) is located, characterized in that the area covered by the physical visitor location register (VLR) of the switching centre (MSC) is divided into areas of a plurality of logical visitor location registers (LVLRn); and the switching centre (MSC) is also adapted to transmit information to the home location register (HLR) on the logical visitor location registers (LVLRn) in the area of which each mobile station (MS) is located.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
A mobile services switching centre (MSC) in a digital mobile telephone network wherein, at any time, the location information of a mobile station (MS) is maintained in one Visitor Location Register (VLR) and the information on the VLR is maintained in one Home Location Register (HLR), said mobile services switching centre (MSC) comprising a physical visitor location register (VLR) and being adapted to transmit information to a home location register (HLR) of the mobile telephone network on the physical visitor location registers (VLR) in the area of which each mobile station (MS) is located, characterized in that the area covered by the physical visitor location register (VLR) of the switching centre (MSC) is divided into areas of a plurality of logical visitor location registers (LVLRn); and the switching centre (MSC) is also adapted to transmit information to the home location register (HLR) on the logical visitor location registers (LVLRn) in the area of which each mobile station (MS) is located.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A location update message in a digital mobile telephone network (NSS) wherein, at any time, the location information of a mobile station (MS) is maintained in one Visitor Location Register (VLR) and the information on the VLR is maintained in one Home Location Register (HLR), said location update message containing information on the visitor location register (VLR) in whose area the mobile station (MS) is located, characterized in that the location update message further contains information on the logical visitor location register (LVLRn) in the area of which the mobile station (MS) is located.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
A location update message in a digital mobile telephone network (NSS) wherein, at any time, the location information of a mobile station (MS) is maintained in one Visitor Location Register (VLR) and the information on the VLR is maintained in one Home Location Register (HLR), said location update message containing information on the visitor location register (VLR) in whose area the mobile station (MS) is located, characterized in that the location update message further contains information on the logical visitor location register (LVLRn) in the area of which the mobile station (MS) is located.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-14 | 2004-05-15 | 2004-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-14 | 2008-05-15 | 2008-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-14 | 2012-05-15 | 2012-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |