Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and a computer program products for Mobility Management Entity (MME) triggered detach and re-attach to a specific target MME are provided. One method includes receiving or obtaining a trigger to move a UE attached to a source MME to another target MME. The receiving of the trigger may cause the initiating of a GUTI reallocation command towards the UE in which the MME code (MMEC) specifies the target MME and the M-TMSI is set to a reserved value. The method may further include receiving a GUTI reallocation complete message from the UE, sending a detach request to the UE with a detach type of “re-attach required,” and receiving a detach accept message from the UE. The new attach request initiated by the UE is then directed towards the target MME.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selecting a gateway node in a LTE communications system for balancing the load among the gateway nodes (e. g., P-GW, S-GW), and comprising modifying a mobility management entity, MME, local configuration based on load statistics information; and selecting a gateway node (PGW1, PGW2, PGW3) based on the modified mobility management entity local configuration. Said modifying being effected using an application programming interface (e. g. REST/JSON API) and comprising one or more of: adding a gateway node to the local configuration, removing a gateway node from the local configuration, and updating additional gateway node information in the local configuration.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and a computer program products for Mobility Management Entity (MME) triggered detach and re-attach to a specific target MME are provided. One method includes receiving or obtaining a trigger to move a UE attached to a source MME to another target MME. The receiving of the trigger may cause the initiating of a GUTI reallocation command towards the UE in which the MME code (MMEC) specifies the target MME and the M-TMSI is set to a reserved value. The method may further include receiving a GUTI reallocation complete message from the UE, sending a detach request to the UE with a detach type of “re-attach required,” and receiving a detach accept message from the UE. The new attach request initiated by the UE is then directed towards the target MME.

Abstract: There is provided a mechanism for executing a handover for a subscriber between mobility management entities for load balancing reasons. A current mobility management entity sends (S10) a handover trigger message to a communication network control element like an eNB for indicating a relocation to the current cell and tracking area of the subscriber. The eNB starts (S20) a handover procedure to itself and sends (S30) a handover required message to the current mobility measurement entity. The current mobility measurement entity continues a handover procedure of a connection for the at least one subscriber from the current mobility management entity to a new mobility management entity, wherein the new mobility management entity is selectable (S40) at the current mobility management entity. The handover procedure can be modified in comparison to a default handover procedure by modifying and/or omitting handover related signaling.

Abstract: There is provided a mechanism for executing a handover for a subscriber between mobility management entities for load balancing reasons. A current mobility management entity sends (S10) a handover trigger message to a communication network control element like an eNB for indicating a relocation to the current cell and tracking area of the subscriber. The eNB starts (S20) a handover procedure to itself and sends (S30) a handover required message to the current mobility measurement entity. The current mobility measurement entity continues (S50) a handover procedure of a connection for the at least one subscriber from the current mobility management entity to a new mobility management entity, wherein the new mobility management entity is selectable (S40) at the current mobility management entity. After the handover is completed, the new mobility management entity initiates (S60) a location update at a home subscriber server and reallocates the subscriber's UE a new temporary identity and a tracking area list.