Distributed signaling message routing in a scalable wireless communication system

In a wireless communication system having a plurality of base station controllers intercoupled to a plurality of mobile switching centers via a network, a method of equalizing load among the plurality of mobile switching centers, the method comprising:

• receiving an attach request by a message router coupled to the network from a mobile unit via a base station controller serving the mobile unit;
• determining respective loading on the plurality of mobile switching centers;
• assigning, by the message router, the mobile unit to a serving mobile switching center of the plurality of mobile switching centers in an attempt to equalize loading among the plurality of mobile switching centers;
• and
• subsequently routing traffic between the mobile unit and the serving mobile switching center.

A wireless communication system comprising:

• a plurality of mobile switching centers;
• a base station system having a plurality of base station controllers and a respective plurality of base stations coupled to each of the plurality of base station controllers;
• a network coupling each of the base station controllers to each of the plurality of mobile switching centers;
• and
• contained within each base station controller, a message router that receives attachment requests from mobile units serviced by the base station controller, that assigns the mobile units to respective assigned mobile switching centers of the plurality of mobile switching centers to equalize load among the plurality of mobile switching centers, and that receives a service request from a mobile unit serviced by the base station controller and forwards the service request to a respective assigned mobile switching center.

In a wireless communication system having a plurality of base station controllers intercoupled to a plurality of mobile switching centers, a method comprising:

• receiving an attach request from a mobile unit via a base station controller serving the mobile unit;
• assigning the mobile unit to a serving mobile switching center of the plurality of mobile switching centers in order to equalize load among the plurality of mobile switching centers;
• assigning the mobile unit a temporary identification number that identifies the serving mobile switching center to which it is assigned;
• and
• subsequently receiving a message from the mobile unit at a base station controller serving the mobile unit and routing the message to the serving mobile switching center based upon the temporary identification number.