Method And Arrangement For Reducing The Amount Of Messages Sent In A Communication Network

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for reducing the amount of messages sent in a communication network comprising a first communication network entity ( 200 ), a second communication network entity ( 100 ) connected to said first communication network entity ( 200 ) over a communication interface and one or more user equipments ( 120 ) connected to said second communication network entity ( 100 ) over a radio interface, whereby messages are sent on said interfaces using at least a first and a second protocol. General rules are provided for sending first protocol messages packed inside second protocol messages, so called “piggybacking”, and each first protocol message is provided with an instruction field defining a co-ordination of procedure steps to be taken for performing an action.

1 . A method for reducing the amount of messages sent in a communication network comprising a first communication network entity, a second communication network entity connected to said first communication network entity over a communication interface and one or more user equipments connected to said second communication network entity over a radio interface, wherein messages are sent on said interfaces using at least a first and a second protocol, said method comprising the steps of:
 sending first protocol messages packed inside second protocol messages, each of said first and second protocol messages indicating a number of procedural steps; and,   providing with each of said first protocol messages an instruction field determining at least one co-ordination rule to be used for said procedural steps, wherein said at least one co-ordination rule is selected from a set of pre-defined rules.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said pre-defined rules are provided as a single instruction parameter. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said pre-defined rules are provided as a set of instruction parameters. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first protocol is a non access stratum protocol and said second protocol is an access stratum protocol. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first protocol is a non access stratum protocol and said second protocol is a protocol on said communication interface. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication network is a code division multiple access network. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication network entity is a core network and said second communication network entity is a radio access network. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said radio access network is a UMTS terrestrial radio access network. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication interface is the Iu-interface. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication interface is the S1-interface. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said radio interface is the Uu-interface. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said radio interface is a long term evolution radio interface. 
   
   
       13 . An arrangement for reducing the amount of messages sent in a communication network comprising a first communication network entity, a second communication network entity connected to said first communication network entity over a communication interface and one or more user equipments connected to said second communication network entity over a radio interface, wherein messages are sent on said interfaces using at least a first and a second protocol, said arrangement comprising:
 means for sending first protocol messages packed inside second protocol messages, each of said first and second protocol messages indicating a number of procedural steps; and,   means for providing with each of said first protocol messages an instruction field determining at least one co-ordination rule to be used for said procedural steps, wherein said at least one co-ordination rule is selected from a set of pre-defined rule(s).   
   
   
       14 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the arrangement further comprises means for providing said pre-defined rules as a single instruction parameter. 
   
   
       15 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the arrangement further comprises means for providing said pre-defined rules as a set of instruction parameters. 
   
   
       16 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein said first protocol is a non access stratum protocol and said second protocol is an access stratum protocol. 
   
   
       17 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein said first protocol is a non access stratum protocol and said second protocol is a protocol on said communication interface. 
   
   
       18 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein said communication network is a code division multiple access network. 
   
   
       19 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein said first communication network entity is a core network and said second communication network entity is a radio access network. 
   
   
       20 . The arrangement according to  claim 19 , wherein said radio access network is a UMTS terrestrial radio access network. 
   
   
       21 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein said communication interface is the Iu-interface. 
   
   
       22 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein said communication interface is the S1-interface. 
   
   
       23 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein said radio interface is the Uu-interface. 
   
   
       24 . The arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein said radio interface is a long term evolution radio interface. 
   
   
       25 . (canceled)