Core network node selection in a mobile communication network

A control node for selecting an interface node of a core network of a mobile communication network for handling data traffic between a mobile device and a destination network or a destination network node, the mobile communication network comprising a plurality of core network interface nodes providing an interface to the core network, the control node comprising:

• a database to store transport efficiency information indicating the efficiency of a transport of data traffic on connections between predetermined network nodes of the mobile communication network;
• a selection unit configured to select at least one core network interface node from said plurality of core network interface nodes for handling the data traffic for the mobile device based on said transport efficiency information stored in said database;
• and
• a routing protocol configured to dynamically collect and maintain the transport efficiency information;
• wherein the selection unit selects at least one core network interface node by selecting at least one core network interface node by a node selection function of the control node using a first type of network node identifier for identifying the interface nodes, and wherein the transport efficiency information is retrieved by a network information function using a second type of network node identifier for identifying the interface nodes, the selection unit further configured to correlate the first and the second types of network node identifiers to enable the node selection function to use said transport efficiency information to select the interface node.

A non-transitory electronically readable computer medium storing non-transient electronically readable control information configured such that when using the electronically readable computer medium in a computer system of a control node, the control information performs a method of selecting an interface node of a core network of a mobile communication network for handling data traffic between a mobile device and a destination network or a destination network node, the mobile communication network comprising a plurality of core network interface nodes providing an interface to the core network and at least one control node processing signalling traffic for the mobile device, wherein the method comprises:

• retrieving transport efficiency information stored at the control node, the transport efficiency information indicating the efficiency of a transport of data traffic on connections between predetermined network nodes of the mobile communication network;
• and
• based on the transport efficiency information, selecting at least one core network interface node from said plurality of core network interface nodes for handling the data traffic for the mobile device,
• wherein the transport efficiency information is dynamically collected and maintained by the control node by means of a routing protocol employed by the control node;
• wherein selecting at least one core network interface node comprises selecting at least one core network interface node by a node selection function of the control node using a first type of network node identifier for identifying the interface nodes, and wherein retrieving the transport efficiency information comprises retrieving the transport efficiency information by a network information function using a second type of network node identifier for identifying the interface nodes, the method further comprising correlating the first and the second types of network node identifiers to enable the node selection function to use said transport efficiency information for selecting the interface node.

A computer program product in a non-transitory internal memory of a computer system of a control node, said computer program product comprising software code instructions for execution by the computer that are configured to cause the computer to select an interface node of a core network of a mobile communication network for handling data traffic between a mobile device and a destination network or a destination network node, the mobile communication network comprising a plurality of core network interface nodes providing an interface to the core network and at least one control node processing signalling traffic for the mobile device, the selection being performed by the control node, said instructions further configured to, when executed by the computer, to:

• retrieve transport efficiency information stored at the control node, the transport efficiency information indicating the efficiency of a transport of data traffic on connections between predetermined network nodes of the mobile communication network;
• based on the transport efficiency information, select at least one core network interface node from said plurality of core network interface nodes for handling the data traffic for the mobile device;
• and
• dynamically collect and maintain, by the control node, the transport efficiency information according to a routing protocol employed by the control node;
• wherein the selection of the at least one core network interface node comprises the selection of at least one core network interface node by a node selection function of the control node using a first type of network node identifier for identifying the interface nodes, and wherein the transport efficiency information is retrieved by a network information function using a second type of network node identifier for identifying the interface nodes, the instructions further configured to correlate the first and the second types of network node identifiers to enable the node selection function to use said transport efficiency information to select the interface node.