SYSTEMS, METHODS AND MEDIA FOR SMALL CELL IDLE MODE MOBILITY

摘要

Systems and methods for small cell idle mode mobility include receiving, at a first small cell of a preconfigured cluster of small cells, a mobility area update request from a user equipment (UE). The method can also include registering location information of the UE with a small cell gateway, and retrieving a core network periodic timer for the UE from a mobility server. If certain conditions are met, the first small cell forwards the mobility area update request to a core network via the small cell gateway. Otherwise, the method can include the first small cell updating the location information of the UE with the mobility server, generating a locally-generated mobility area update accept message, and sending a locally generated mobility area update accept message to the UE along with a local periodic timer instructing the UE to send another mobility area update request when the local periodic timer expires.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a first small cell of a plurality of small cells, a message including a mobility area update request from a user equipment (UE), wherein the plurality of small cells constitute a preconfigured cluster of small cells; registering location information of the UE with a small cell gateway in communication with the preconfigured cluster of small cells; retrieving a core network periodic timer for the UE from a mobility server in communication with the preconfigured cluster of small cells; if it is determined that at least one of the following is true: (i) the mobility area update request from the UE is received at the first small cell for a first time after the UE moves into a preconfigured cluster area covered by all of the small cells from the preconfigured cluster of small cells, (ii) the core network periodic timer has expired, and (iii) the mobility area update request from the UE is received at the first small cell for the first time after the UE is turned on:
(a) forwarding the mobility area update request to a core network via the small cell gateway,(b) receiving a core network-generated mobility area update accept message from the core network in response to the mobility area update request, and(c) updating the core network periodic timer for the UE in the mobility server with a time at which the core network-generated mobility area update accept message was received; otherwise:
(a) generating a locally-generated mobility area update accept message in response to the mobility area update request; updating the location information of the UE with the mobility server; and sending (i) at least one of the locally generated mobility area update accept message and the core network-generated mobility area update accept message to the UE, and (ii) a local periodic timer to the UE instructing the UE to send another mobility area update request when the local periodic timer expires.