# US 11,445,406 B2 · Communication system, communication control apparatus, node apparatus, and communication method for performing load balancing in a system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,445,406 B2 - Document ID: US11445406B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/082,526 - Filed: 2020-10-28 - Published: 2021-04-08 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-12 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Applicants: NEC Corporation - Inventors: Daisuke Mizukami; Shinji Onishi; Kazuhiro Egashira; Shingo Shiga; Toshiyuki Tamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445406B2 ## CPC - H04W 28/088: among core entities - H04W 8/065: {involving selection of the user mobility server} - H04W 28/08: Load balancing or load distribution (transferring a connection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12) - H04W 24/04: Arrangements for maintaining operational condition - H04W 92/14: between access point controllers and backbone network device - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A communication system capable of dynamically changing an MME to serve in call processing in accordance with the load condition of the MMEs and the like is provided. A communication system of the present invention includes: communication control apparatuses (10) to (12); and a node apparatus (20) that executes call processing relating to a communication terminal with the communication control apparatuses (10) to (12). The communication control apparatuses (10) to (12) form a context sharing group that shares subscriber data of the communication terminal. The node apparatus (20) selects a first communication control apparatus in the context sharing group, and transmits a call processing message to the first communication control apparatus. The first communication control apparatus executes the call processing using the subscriber data shared in the context sharing group. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication apparatus for performing mobility management of a communication terminal, the communication apparatus comprising: a transmitter configured to send identification information on the communication apparatus and information on a timer, wherein the timer is used for uninstalling the communication apparatus, to a node apparatus for relaying user data of the communication terminal; and a processor configured to uninstall the communication apparatus based on the information on the timer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timer indicates a remaining time information corresponding to the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timer indicates a remaining seconds corresponding to the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timer indicates a time point at which the begin the shutdown of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 5 A node apparatus for relaying user data of a communication terminal, the node apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive, from a communication apparatus that performs mobility management of the communication terminal, identification information on the communication apparatus and information on a timer, wherein the timer is used for uninstalling the communication apparatus; and a processor configured to release a connection related to the communication apparatus based on the information on the timer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The node apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the node apparatus performs wireless communication with the communication terminal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The node apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the timer indicates a remaining time information corresponding to the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The node apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the timer indicates a remaining seconds corresponding to the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The node apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the timer indicates a time point at which the begin the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 10 A method of a communication apparatus for performing mobility management of a communication terminal, the method comprising: sending identification information on the communication apparatus and information on a timer, wherein the timer is used for uninstalling the communication apparatus, to a node apparatus for relaying user data of the communication terminal; and uninstalling the communication apparatus based on the information on the timer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the node apparatus performs wireless communication with the communication terminal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the timer indicates a remaining time information corresponding to the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the timer indicates a remaining seconds corresponding to the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the timer indicates a time point at which the begin the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 15 A method of a node apparatus for relaying user data of a communication terminal, the method comprising: receiving, from a communication apparatus for performing mobility management of the communication terminal, identification information on the communication apparatus and information on a timer, wherein the timer is used for uninstalling the communication apparatus; and releasing a connection related to the communication apparatus based on the information on the timer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the node apparatus performs wireless communication with the communication terminal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the timer indicates a remaining time information corresponding to the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the timer indicates a remaining seconds corresponding to the uninstallation of the communication apparatus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the timer indicates a time point at which the begin the uninstallation of the communication apparatus.