Granted Patent B2

US 7,577,430 · App. 10/473,257 · Granted Aug 18, 2009

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A method for assigning a mobile communications terminal having a temporary subscriber identity and/or an associated routing parameter to a core network node of a core network provider when changing from a first core network area to a second core network area, the mobile communications terminal having a corresponding radio system that includes a functional unit, comprising:

coding of a maximum of, in each case, one core network node of the respective core network area in the routing parameter and/or the temporary subscriber identity of the mobile communications terminal;

assigning, by the functional unit, the mobile communications terminal to a core network node of the second core network area, first to the, at most, one core network node of the second core network area which is coded in the routing parameter and/or the temporary subscriber identity, or second to an alternative core network node if, in the second core network area, there is no core network node coded in the routing parameter and/or the temporary subscriber identity, wherein assignment of the mobile communications terminal to the alternative core network is made when the mobile communications terminal is not from a home network of the core network provider.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications terminal is assigned to a core network node of the same core network provider when changing from a first core network area to a second core network area.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the core network provider is coded in the routing parameter and/or the temporary subscriber identity.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the mobile communications terminal is assigned to an alternative core network node, the assignment takes place according to lists stored in the respective core network nodes.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when it is assigned to an alternative core network node, a new routing parameter and/or a new temporary subscriber identity is assigned to the mobile communications terminal.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications terminal is assigned to a core network node of the second core network area in a functional unit of a radio system which serves a number of core networks.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when changing from a first core network area to a second immediately adjacent core network area, the mobile communications terminal is assigned to an alternative core network node since the coding of a maximum of one core network node of the respective core networked area is performed in such a manner that there is no core network node coded in the routing parameter and/or the temporary subscriber identity in the second immediately adjacent core network area.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein assignment of the mobile communications terminal to the alternative core network is made based on a comparison of a home network of the mobile communications terminal, known from subscriber data, and lists of preferred or unwanted networks.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein assignment of the mobile communications terminal to the alternative core network is made based on load distribution.

10. A system comprising:

a mobile communications terminal having a temporary subscriber identity and/or an associated routing parameter;

a functional unit of a radio system corresponding to the mobile communications terminal, and

a core network node of a core network provider, wherein the mobile communications terminal is assigned to the core network node when changing from a first core network area to a second core network area by

coding of a maximum of, in each case, one core network node of the respective core network area in the routing parameter and/or the temporary subscriber identity of the mobile communications terminal, and

assigning, by the functional unit, the mobile communications terminal to a core network node of the second core network area, first to the, at most, one core network node of the second core network area which is coded in the routing parameter and/or the temporary subscriber identity, or second to an alternative core network node if, in the second core network area, there is no core network node coded in the routing parameter and/or the temporary subscriber identity, wherein assignment of the mobile communications terminal to the alternative core network is made when the mobile communications terminal is not from a home network of the core network provider.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functional unit does not select the alternative core network node if it shares the radio system with the core network node.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functional unit serves multiple core networks.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the functional unit serves multiple core networks.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functional unit is part of a base station.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functional unit is a UMTS controller.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the functional unit is a GSM controller.

17. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the functional unit is part of a base station.

18. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the functional unit is a UMTS controller.

19. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the functional unit is a GSM controller.

Assignments (11)