Load distribution in an EPC network of a mobile communication system

摘要

A configuration is such that among EPC nodes such as an S-GW 104 and a P-GW 105, which form an EPC network, a DNS server 101 selects the EPC node to use based on a selection priority in a DNS resource record registered to the DNS server 101 to thereby distribute loads of the EPC nodes. Further, each of the EPC nodes has a function to transmit, to the DNS server 101, an update request for the DNS resource record in order to lower the selection priority of the DNS resource record relating to the EPC node when the EPC node detects that resource usage of the own EPC node is approaching to an overloaded state. Meanwhile, in response to the update request, the DNS server 101 dynamically updates the DNS resource record, when the DNS server 101 receives the update request from the EPC node.

主权项

1. A mobile communication system comprising:
a plurality of EPC (Evolved Packet Core) nodes configured to form an EPC network, the EPC network forming a core of an LTE (Long Term Evolution) network for mobile communication; and a DNS (Domain Name Server) server configured to select from among the plurality of EPC nodes the EPC node to use based on a selection priority in a registered DNS resource record, wherein each of the plurality of EPC nodes includes a DDNS (Dynamic DNS) client function configured to transmit an update request for the DNS resource record to the DNS server to lower the selection priority of the DNS resource record relating to a respective EPC node when the respective EPC node detects that resource usage of the respective EPC node exceeds an overloaded threshold previously specified to detect that the resource usage of the respective EPC node is approaching an overloaded state, wherein the DNS server includes a DDNS server function configured to dynamically update, in response to the update request, the DNS resource record when the DNS server receives the update request for the DNS resource record from the respective EPC node, wherein the DNS server further includes as the DNS resource record, in addition to an NAPTR (Naming Authority Pointer) record and an SRV (Service) record to which the selection priority is registered, a supplementary NAPTR record to which a domain name of the DNS resource record relating to the respective EPC node allocated with an EPC node name is previously set, and when the DNS server receives an NAPTR record query including the EPC node name of the respective EPC node from the respective EPC node, the DNS server extracts at least the supplementary NAPTR relating to the EPC node name included in the NAPTR record query and returns the extracted supplementary NAPTR to the querying EPC node.