Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods for selecting tracking areas, including: receiving a plurality of messages from a plurality of base transceiver stations, each message including a list of tracking areas handled by the base transceiver station from which the message is received; performing domain name system queries for the tracking areas to retrieve information identifying serving gateways serving the tracking areas; based on the information identifying serving gateways, storing, in a local memory, a list of tracking area identities handled by each identified serving gateway; receiving a message from user equipment indicating a first tracking area; selecting at least one tracking area handled by a serving gateway serving the first tracking area based on the list of tracking areas handled by each identified serving gateway stored in the memory; and sending a tracking area identity list to the user equipment based on the selected at least one tracking area.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods for selecting a serving gateway to service user equipment in communication with a network, including: receiving a message from a base transceiver station including a list of tracking areas handled by the base transceiver station, initiating a domain name system query for at least one tracking area in the list of tracking areas to identify information indicating a serving gateway serving the at least one tracking area, storing, in local memory, the information indicating the serving gateway serving the at least one tracking area, and upon an occurrence of a triggering event, retrieving, from the local memory, the stored information indicating the serving gateway serving the at least one tracking area.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide a mechanism to relocate functions from one gateway to another gateway in a wireless communication network are disclosed. The gateway can implement an access service network (ASN) gateway in a WiMAX based network with a number of functionalities co-located on the gateway such as an authenticator, an anchor FA, an anchor DPF, a PMIP client, and a prepaid client. These functionalities can then be relocated from a first ASN gateway to a second ASN gateway. The proposed system and method reduces the messaging needed for the relocation and the number of components in the network, which can save capital and operating expenses. Additionally, the reduced messaging can reduce latency and delay in the process of relocating, which saves bandwidth and increases the level of service provided to the user.

Abstract: Some embodiments disclose a method for providing a tracking area identity list in a communications network. The method includes maintaining a tracking area transition likelihood and a tracking area group transition likelihood, and recording a mobility number and a paging number. The method further includes determining a category associated with the user equipment device based on the recorded mobility number and the recorded paging number, and generating the tracking area identity list for the user equipment device based on the category associated with the user equipment device and one or both of the tracking area transition likelihood and the tracking area group transition likelihood.

Abstract: Some embodiments disclose methods for classifying user equipment in a network, comprising: recording a first number of times a tracking area identity has changed for a user equipment device during a period of time based on messages exchanged between the user equipment device and a mobility management entity; recording a second number of times the user equipment device is paged during a second period of time; classifying the user equipment device into one of at least three categories based on the first and second recorded numbers; generating a tracking area identity list for the user equipment based device on its category; and sending the generated tracking area identity list to the user equipment device.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods for selecting a serving gateway, including: receiving a message from a base transceiver station including a list of tracking areas handled by the base transceiver station; performing a domain name system query for at least one tracking area to retrieve and store in a local memory information identifying a serving gateway serving the at least one tracking area; receiving an attach request from the base transceiver station identifying the user equipment and a tracking area from which the user equipment is connected to the network; searching the information identifying a serving gateway serving the at least one tracking area stored in the local memory to identify a serving gateway to service the user equipment based on the tracking area from which the user equipment is connected to the network; and sending a message identifying the identified serving gateway to the base transceiver station.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods for selecting tracking areas in a network, comprising: receiving messages from a plurality of base transceiver stations, the messages identifying a previous tracking area identity and a current tracking area identity; storing probabilities based on a count of transitions between the received previous tracking area identities and current tracking area identities; receiving a message from a user equipment device indicating the user equipment device is located in a first tracking area identified by a first tracking area identity; and selecting at least a second tracking area identity based on the stored probabilities and the first tracking area identity; and sending a tracking area identity list to the user equipment device based on the selected second tracking area.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods for selecting tracking areas, including: receiving a plurality of messages from a plurality of base transceiver stations, each message including a list of tracking areas handled by the base transceiver station from which the message is received; performing domain name system queries for the tracking areas to retrieve information identifying serving gateways serving the tracking areas; based on the information identifying serving gateways, storing, in a local memory, a list of tracking area identities handled by each identified serving gateway; receiving a message from user equipment indicating a first tracking area; selecting at least one tracking area handled by a serving gateway serving the first tracking area based on the list of tracking areas handled by each identified serving gateway stored in the memory; and sending a tracking area identity list to the user equipment based on the selected at least one tracking area.

Abstract: Some embodiments disclose methods for classifying user equipment in a network, comprising: recording a first number of times a tracking area identity has changed for a user equipment device during a period of time based on messages exchanged between the user equipment device and a mobility management entity; recording a second number of times the user equipment device is paged during a second period of time; classifying the user equipment device into one of at least three categories based on the first and second recorded numbers; generating a tracking area identity list for the user equipment based device on its category; and sending the generated tracking area identity list to the user equipment device.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods for selecting a serving gateway, including: receiving a message from a base transceiver station including a list of tracking areas handled by the base transceiver station; performing a domain name system query for at least one tracking area to retrieve and store in a local memory information identifying a serving gateway serving the at least one tracking area; receiving an attach request from the base transceiver station identifying the user equipment and a tracking area from which the user equipment is connected to the network; searching the information identifying a serving gateway serving the at least one tracking area stored in the local memory to identify a serving gateway to service the user equipment based on the tracking area from which the user equipment is connected to the network; and sending a message identifying the identified serving gateway to the base transceiver station.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods for selecting tracking areas in a network, comprising: receiving messages from a plurality of base transceiver stations, the messages identifying a previous tracking area identity and a current tracking area identity; storing probabilities based on a count of transitions between the received previous tracking area identities and current tracking area identities; receiving a message from a user equipment device indicating the user equipment device is located in a first tracking area identified by a first tracking area identity; and selecting at least a second tracking area identity based on the stored probabilities and the first tracking area identity; and sending a tracking area identity list to the user equipment device based on the selected second tracking area.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide a mechanism to relocate functions from one gateway to another gateway in a wireless communication network are disclosed. The gateway can implement an access service network (ASN) gateway in a WiMAX based network with a number of functionalities co-located on the gateway such as an authenticator, an anchor FA, an anchor DPF, a PMIP client, and a prepaid client. These functionalities can then be relocated from a first ASN gateway to a second ASN gateway. The proposed system and method reduces the messaging needed for the relocation and the number of components in the network, which can save capital and operating expenses. Additionally, the reduced messaging can reduce latency and delay in the process of relocating, which saves bandwidth and increases the level of service provided to the user.