Method and device for managing an overload of a network core controlling a mobile access network

A method for processing requests, implemented by an access point of a mobile access network controlled by a core network, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a core network entry device, a command message comprising at least part of at least one temporary identifier allocated by the core network entry device to at least one terminal managed by the core network entry device for communicating with the core network and which has not heeded a backoff time with which the at least one terminal has been associated, at least part of the at least one temporary identifier being used by the at least one terminal when communicating with the access point, and enabling the access point to identify requests sent by the at least one terminal, the command message requesting blocking by the access point of all or some requests emitted by a sending terminal which contain at least part of said at least one temporary identifier;
• and
• upon receipt of a request sent by said sending terminal:
• verifying whether the received request comprises at least part of the at least one temporary identifier included in the command message and is to be blocked conforming to the command message;
• upon a determination that the received request comprises at least part of the at least one temporary identifier included in the command message and is to be blocked conforming to the command message, blocking the request by the access point;
• and
• otherwise, transmitting the request to the core network entry device.

A core network entry device controlling a mobile access network, the core network entry device capable of managing an overload state of a core network, the core network entry device comprising:

• a processor and a receiver configured to receive a non-access stratum (NAS) request from at least one terminal connected to the mobile access network via an access point and managed by the core network entry device, the core network entry device configured to, for the at least one terminal following a receipt of an NAS request from the at least one terminal:
• detect whether a backoff time is associated with said at least one terminal;
• upon a determination that no backoff time is associated with the at least one terminal, associate with and transmit to the at least one terminal a backoff time intended to be applied by the at least one terminal for sending NAS requests to the core network;
• and
• upon a determination that a backoff time is associated with the at least one terminal and has not been heeded by the at least one terminal, send the at least one terminal, via the access point, a temporary identifier allocated to the at least one terminal for communicating with the core network, and send the access point a command message comprising at least part of the temporary identifier, the command message requesting blocking by the access point of all or some requests emitted by a sending terminal which contain at least part of the temporary identifier.

An access point of a mobile access network controlled by a core network, the access point comprising:

• a processor and a receiver configured to receive from a core network entry device a command message comprising at least part of at least one temporary identifier allocated by the core network entry device to at least one terminal managed by the core network entry device for communicating with the core network and which has not heeded a backoff time with which the at least one terminal has been associated, at least part of said at least one temporary identifier being used by the at least one terminal when communicating with said access point and enabling the access point to identify requests sent by the at least one terminal, the command message requesting blocking by the access point of all or some requests emitted by a sending terminal which contain at least part of said at least one temporary identifier, the access point configured to, on receipt of a request sent by said sending terminal:
• verify whether the received request comprises at least part of the at least one temporary identifier included in the command message, and is to be blocked conforming to the command message;
• upon a determination that the received request comprises at least part of the at least one temporary identifier included in the command message and is to be blocked conforming to the command message, block the request at the access point;
• and
• otherwise, transmit the received request to the core network entry device.