Adaptive MME Selection Method For an Incoming UE

Abstract

Systems and methods for MME adaptive selection are described. The method includes: initializing a health checkup algorithm at an eNodeB for each MME connected to as per configuration values; starting a health check timer for each MME; continuing with an Initial Attach procedure for incoming calls based on SAE-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Id (S-TMSI), (Globally Unique MME Identifier) GUMMEI, or capacity/load balancing considerations; on every UE attach attempt, incrementing a total calls count; and on every S1 AP Error Indication/no response from an ME, incrementing a total fail calls count; determining when the health check timer for an MME expires; calculating a failed calls/total calls percentage value. Based on the value of the timer, appropriate action is taken.

1 . A method for providing Mobility Management Entity (MME) adaptive selection, comprising:
 initializing a health checkup algorithm at an eNodeB for each MME connected to as per configuration values;   starting a health check timer for each MME;   continuing with an Initial Attach procedure for incoming calls based on SAE-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Id (S-TMSI), (Globally Unique MME Identifier) GUMMEI, or capacity/load balancing considerations;   on every UE attach attempt, incrementing a total calls count; and   on every S1ap Error Indication/no response from an ME, incrementing a total fail calls count.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining when the health check timer for an MME expires. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising calculating a failed calls/total calls percentage value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising determining if the value meets a high threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising when the value does meet the high threshold, then declaring the MME unhealthy, resetting all counter values associated with the unhealthy MME, rebuild an S1AP connection to the unhealthy MME, and enabling round-robin selection for the unhealthy MME but relative capacity based selection for other healthy MMEs. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising when the value does not meet the high threshold, then determining if the value meets a low threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising when the value does meet the low threshold, then declaring the MME healthy again, resetting all counters associated with the MME, resuming selecting the MME based on S-TMSI, GUMMEI or capacity/load balancing considerations. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing Mobility Management Entity (MME) adaptive selection, comprising:
 initializing a health checkup algorithm at an eNodeB for each MME connected to as per configuration values;   starting a health check timer for each MME;   continuing with an Initial Attach procedure for incoming calls based on SAE-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Id (S-TMSI), (Globally Unique MME Identifier) GUMMEI, or capacity/load balancing considerations;   on every UE detach, incrementing a total calls count;   on every UE Detach, checking if UE had setup any bearer;   determining if a bearer was setup, and when a bearer was set up then repeating the steps of: continuing with an Initial Attach procedure; on every UE detach, incrementing a total calls count; and on every UE Detach, checking if UE had setup any bearer   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising determining when the health check timer for an MME expires. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising calculating a failed calls/total calls percentage value. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising determining if the value meets a high threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising when the value does meet the high threshold, then declaring the MME unhealthy, resetting all counter values associated with the unhealthy MME, rebuild an S1AP connection to the unhealthy MME, and enabling round-robin selection for the unhealthy MME but relative capacity based selection for other healthy MMEs. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising when the value does not meet the high threshold, then determining if the value meets a low threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising when the value does meet the low threshold, then declaring the MME healthy again, resetting all counters associated with the MME, and resuming selecting the MME based on S-TMSI, GUMMEI or capacity/load balancing considerations.