Abstract:
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for alleviating and overriding throttled conditions in Long Term Evolution networks are provided. In embodiments, indications that throttled conditions have been reached are received at Mobile Management Entities. Cause codes are communicated, in embodiments, to mobile devices directing the mobile devices to refrain from further attach attempts. In embodiments, attach attempts associated with unique identifiers are received by the Mobile Management Entities that override throttled conditions. In embodiments, authentication failure conditions from the Mobile Management Entities are detected. Algorithms are invoked, in embodiments, to initiate cell barring modes for base stations and detect failure percentages.

Description:
SUMMARY 
     A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention is provided here for that reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure, and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed-description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key features nor essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. In brief, and at a high level, this disclosure describes, among other things, providing alleviating and overriding throttled conditions in long term evolution (LTE) networks. In embodiments, cause codes are communicated to mobile devices directing the mobile devices to refrain from further attach attempts. In embodiments, attach attempts associated with unique identifiers are received that override throttled conditions. In embodiments, authentication failure conditions are detected and algorithms are invoked to initiate cell barring modes for base stations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts an illustrative device suitable for use in connection with embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an exemplary network environment suitable for performing embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative method of preventing a registration storm in an LTE network, in accordance with embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative method of overriding throttled conditions in an LTE network, in accordance with embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram depicting an illustrative method of preventing a registration storm in an LTE network, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventor has contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the terms “step” and/or “block” may be used herein to connote different elements of the methods employed, the terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are directed to redirect devices to available services during registration storms. Embodiments of the present invention detect high profile customers allowing network access during network congestion situations. Embodiments of the present invention prevent registration storms by disabling LTE networks. 
     Accordingly, in one aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method of preventing a registration storm in an LTE network. The method includes receiving, at a Mobile Management Entity (MME), an indication that a throttling threshold has been reached. An attach attempt initiated by a mobile device is received at the MME. A cause code is communicated to the mobile device directing the mobile device to refrain from further attach attempts. 
     In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to one or more computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method of overriding throttled conditions in an LTE network. The method includes receiving, at an MME, an indication that a throttling threshold has been reached. An attach attempt initiated by a mobile device is received at the MME. A rejection is communicated to the mobile device. A second attach attempt associated with a unique identifier and imitated by the mobile device is received. The throttling threshold is overridden. 
     In yet another aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method of preventing a registration storm in an LTE network. The method includes detecting an authentication failure condition from the MME. An algorithm to initiate a cell barring mode for a base station is invoked. The algorithm is further invoked to detect an authentication failure percentage. 
     Throughout the description of embodiments of the present invention, several acronyms and shorthand notations are used to aid the understanding of certain concepts pertaining to the associated methods, systems, and computer-readable media. These acronyms and shorthand notations are solely intended for the purpose of providing an easy methodology of communicating the ideas expressed herein and are in no way meant to limit the scope of the present invention. The following is a list of these acronyms: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 3G 
                 Third-Generation Wireless Telephone Technology 
               
               
                 4G 
                 Fourth-Generation Wireless Telephone 
               
               
                   
                 Technology 
               
               
                 CDMA 
                 Code Division Multiple Access 
               
               
                 CD-ROM 
                 Compact Disk Read Only Memory 
               
               
                 CRM 
                 Customer Relations Management 
               
               
                 DVD 
                 Digital Versatile Discs 
               
               
                 EEPROM 
                 Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only 
               
               
                   
                 Memory 
               
               
                 ENODEB 
                 Evolved Node B 
               
               
                 EVDO 
                 Evolution Data Only (Optimized) 
               
               
                 GPRS 
                 General Packet Radio Service 
               
               
                 GPS 
                 Global Positioning System 
               
               
                 GSM 
                 Global System for Mobile Communications 
               
               
                 HLR 
                 Home Location Register 
               
               
                 HSS 
                 Home Subscriber Server 
               
               
                 iDEN 
                 Integrated Digital Enhanced Network 
               
               
                 LTE 
                 Long Term Evolution 
               
               
                 MME 
                 Mobile Management Entity 
               
               
                 MMS 
                 Multimedia Messaging Service 
               
               
                 MSC 
                 Mobile Serving Center 
               
               
                 PC 
                 Personal Computer 
               
               
                 PCRF 
                 Policy Charging and Rules Function 
               
               
                 PCS 
                 Personal Communications Service 
               
               
                 PDA 
                 Personal Digital Assistant 
               
               
                 PLMN 
                 Public Land Mobile Network 
               
               
                 RAM 
                 Random Access Memory 
               
               
                 RF 
                 Radio Frequency 
               
               
                 ROM 
                 Read Only Memory 
               
               
                 SIB2 
                 SystemInformationBlockType2 
               
               
                 SLA 
                 Service Level Agreement 
               
               
                 SMS 
                 Short Message Service 
               
               
                 SPS 
                 Semi-Persistent Scheduling 
               
               
                 TDMA 
                 Time Division Multiple Access 
               
               
                 UMTS 
                 Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems 
               
               
                 VoIP 
                 Voice over IP 
               
               
                 Wi-Fi 
                 Wireless Fidelity 
               
               
                 WiMAX 
                 Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Further, various technical terms are used throughout this description. An illustrative resource that fleshes out various aspects of these terms can be found in Newton&#39;s Telecom Dictionary, 25th Edition (2009). 
     Embodiments of the present invention can take the form of a method, system, or computer-readable media embodied with a specific set of computer-executable instructions. Computer-readable media include both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and nonremovable media, and contemplate media readable by a database, a switch, and various other network and computing devices. Computer-readable media include media implemented in any method or technology that stores information. Examples of stored information include computer-useable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data representations. Examples of computer-readable media include, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs (DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magnetic storage devices. The computer-readable media can store data momentarily, temporarily, or permanently. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of an illustrative mobile computing device (“mobile device”) is provided and referenced generally by the numeral  100 . Although some components are shown in the singular, they may be plural. For example, mobile device  100  might include multiple processors or multiple radios, etc. As illustratively shown, mobile device  100  includes a bus  110  that directly or indirectly couples various components together including memory  112 , a processor  114 , a presentation component  116 , a radio  117 , input/output ports  118 , input/output components  120 , and a power supply  122 . 
     Memory  112  might take the form of one or more of the aforementioned media. Thus, we will not elaborate more here, only to say that memory component  112  can include any type of medium that is capable of storing information in a manner readable by a computing device. In one embodiment, memory  112  includes a set of embodied computer-executable instructions  113  that, when executed, facilitate various aspects disclosed herein. These embodied instructions will variously be referred to as “instructions  113 ” or “application  113 ” for short. 
     Processor  114  might actually be multiple processors that receive instructions  113  and process them accordingly. Presentation component  116  includes the likes of a display, a speaker, as well as other components that can present information (such as a lamp (LED), or even lighted keyboards). 
     Radio  117  represents a radio that facilitates communication with a wireless telecommunications network. Illustrative wireless telecommunications technologies include CDMA, GPRS, TDMA, GSM, and the like. Radio  117  might additionally or alternatively facilitate other types of wireless communications including Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE, or other VoIP communications. As can be appreciated, in various embodiments, radio  117  can be configured to support multiple technologies and/or multiple radios can be utilized to support multiple technologies. A wireless telecommunications network might include an array of devices, which are not shown so as to not obscure more relevant aspects of the invention. Components such as a base station, a communications tower, or even access points (as well as other components) can provide wireless connectivity in some embodiments. 
     Input/output port  118  might take on a variety of forms. Illustrative input/output ports include a USB jack, stereo jack, infrared port, proprietary communications ports, and the like. Input/output components  120  include items such as keyboards, microphones, touch screens, and any other item usable to directly or indirectly input data into mobile device  100 . Power supply  122  includes items such as batteries, fuel cells, or any other component that can act as a power source to power mobile device  100 . 
       FIG. 2  provides an exemplary network environment suitable for use in implementing embodiments of the present invention. Such a network environment is illustrated and designated generally as network environment  200 . Network environment  200  is but one example of a suitable network environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention. Neither should the network environment be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components illustrated. 
     In the network environment  200 , a user device  220  may communicate with other devices, such as mobile devices, servers, etc. The user device  220  may take on a variety of forms, such as a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a tablet, a netbook, a mobile phone, a Smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or any other device that is cable of communicating with other devices. For example, the user device  220  can take on any form, such as, for example, a mobile device or any other computing device capable of wirelessly communicating with the other devices using a network. Makers of illustrative devices include, for example, Research in Motion, Creative Technologies Corp., Samsung, Apple Computer, and the like. A device can include, for example, a display(s), a power source(s) (e.g., a battery), a data store(s), a speaker(s), memory, a buffer(s), and the like. In embodiments, a user device comprises a wireless or mobile device with which a wireless telecommunication network(s) can be utilized for communication (e.g., voice and/or data communication). In this regard, the user device can be any mobile computing device that communicates by way of, for example, a 3G or 4G network. 
     The user device  220  can utilize network  204  to communicate with other computing devices (e.g., a mobile device(s), a server(s), a personal computer(s), etc.). In embodiments, the network  204  is a telecommunications network(s), or a portion thereof. A telecommunications network might include an array of devices or components, some of which are not shown so as to not obscure more relevant aspects of the invention. Components such as terminals, links, and nodes (as well as other components) can provide connectivity in some embodiments. Network  204  can include multiple networks, as well as being a network of networks, but is shown in more simple form so as to not obscure other aspects of the present invention. The network  204  can be part of a telecommunication network that connects subscribers to their immediate service provider. In embodiments, the network  204  can be associated with a telecommunications provider that provides services to user devices, such as user device  220 . For example, the network  204  may provide voice services to user devices or corresponding users that are registered or subscribed to utilize the services (e.g., the network  204 ) provided by a telecommunications provider. The network  204  can be any communication network providing voice and/or data service(s), such as, for example, a 1x circuit voice, a 3G network (e.g., CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, GSM, UMTS), or a 4G network (WiMAX, LTE, HSDPA). 
     In LTE networks, the base station  210  controls user access to the network  204 . Mobile devices  220  waking up from an idle mode attempt to attach to an MME  230  for authentication. An MME is able to authenticate devices for multiple base stations. For example, an MME may be associated with five thousand base stations, each base station associated with more than one million mobile devices. In some embodiments, each base station may be associated with more than one MME in a clustered environment. In some embodiments, each base station may be associated with one or more backup or failover MMEs. 
     Once a mobile device  220  attempts to attach to an MME  230 , the MME  230  queries the HSS  240  to get a user profile associated with the mobile device  220  for authorization. If the user profile is authorized, the MME  230  responds with a key exchange process in order to validate the mobile device  220 . 
     In implementation, the base station is associated with components that are utilized to alleviate and override throttled conditions in an LTE network. The components include throttling component  252 , attach component  254 , communication component  256 , override component  258 , authentication component  260 , and cell barring component  262 . Although each of these components are illustrated as one system  250  associated with the base station  210 , it should be appreciated that any or all of these components may be associated with any of the network elements, including the MME  230  and HSS  240 . 
     Throttling component  222 , in one embodiment, receives an indication that a throttling threshold has been reached. The throttling threshold prevents various network elements from being overloaded, such as during network congestion. Thus, during these conditions, traffic between MME  230  and HSS  240  is limited to a percentage of capacity, or throttling threshold to protect the network elements. 
     Attach attempts received, in one embodiment, by attach component  224 . In one embodiment, attach component  224  is associated with the MME  230 . In another embodiment, attach component  224  receives the attach attempts and then communicates them to the MME  230 . 
     If the LTE network is in a throttled condition, in one embodiment, communication component  256  communicates a cause code to the mobile device. In ordinary circumstances, when a mobile device  220  attempts to attach to the MME  230  and is rejected, the mobile device waits approximately ten seconds and then attempts to attach to the MME  230  again. This process continues until the mobile device  220  is successful. Unfortunately, these continued attempts, particularly when the network  204  is congested, result in a registration storm. 
     To prevent this situation, the cause code directs the mobile device  220  to refrain from further attach attempts. The cause code, in one embodiment, redirects the mobile device  220  to connect to an available service. For example, rather than continuing to attempt connections to the LTE network, the mobile device is redirected to a non-LTE service such as EVDO or Wi-Fi. This allows the mobile device  220  to maintain service. If a non-LTE service is not available, the cause code is associated with a timer, in one embodiment, that prevents attach attempts for a predetermined amount of time. 
     In addition, redirecting the mobile device allows the LTE network elements to avoid becoming overloaded which could degrade the network performance, or bring down one or more of the network elements. Instead, mobile devices  220  refrain from connecting to the network until throttling component  252  determines that congestion has decreased to an acceptable level and the throttling threshold is no longer reached or exceeded. In one embodiment, once the mobile device enters the idle mode, the cause code expires. In this example, the next time the mobile device  220  wakes from the idle mode, the mobile device  220  will once again to attempt to connect to the LTE network. 
     In one embodiment, override component  258  overrides the throttling threshold. For example, a high profile or high paying user may be associated with the mobile device  220  attempt to attach to MME  230 . In another example, the mobile device  220  may be a special device (e.g. machine-to-machine). After the initial rejection is communicated to the mobile device  220 , a second attach attempt transmitted by the mobile device  220  is received by attach component  254 . The second attach attempt is associated with a unique identifier that overrides the throttling threshold. In one embodiment, the unique identifier is associated with an upper throttling threshold rather than the throttling threshold. The upper throttling threshold allows additional attach attempts even when the throttling threshold has been reached. 
     In one embodiment, authentication component  260  detects authentication failures from the MME  230 . If the authentication failure rate meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold, cell barring component  262  causes the base station  210  to enter a cell barring mode. The cell barring mode prevents new user access attempts. Once the authentication failure rate has decreases sufficiently, or to below the predetermined threshold, cell barring component  262  removes the base station  210  from the cell barring mode. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a flow diagram depicts an illustrative method  300  of preventing a registration storm, in accordance with embodiments of the invention. At step  310 , an indication is received, at an MME, that a throttling threshold has been reached. The throttling threshold helps to limit the load of mobile devices registered by the LTE network to a predetermined and configurable percentage of capacity to protect various network elements. An attach attempt initiated by a mobile device is received at step  320 . 
     A cause code is communicated, at step  330 , to the mobile device directing the mobile device to refrain from further attach attempts. In one embodiment, the cause code redirects the mobile device to connect to an available service. In one embodiment, the available service is EVDO. In one embodiment, the available service is Wi-Fi. In one embodiment, the available service is a backup MME. The backup MME may be part of an MME cluster or a standalone MME that operates as a failover. 
     In one embodiment, the cause code protects network elements associated with the MME. For example, in order not to overload the Home Subscriber Servers (HSS), Policy Charging and Rules Function (PCRF), and Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) platforms, the cause code directs the mobile device to refrain from further attach attempts. This prevents additional traffic between the MME and other network elements, including the HSS, PCRF, and SPS, that may already be experiencing degraded performance due to congestion issues. 
     In one embodiment, the cause code expires once the mobile device enters an idle mode. The next time the mobile device enters the active mode, the mobile device automatically attempts to connect to the LTE network again and the MME receives another attach attempt initiated by the mobile device. If the throttling threshold is no longer exceeded, indicating the registration storm condition has passed, the mobile device may connect to the LTE network. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flow diagram depicts an illustrative method  400  of overriding throttled conditions in an LTE network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Initially, at step  410 , an indication that a throttling threshold has been reached is received at an MME. The throttling threshold helps to limit the load of mobile devices registered by the LTE network to a predetermined and configurable percentage of capacity to protect various network elements. An attach attempt initiated by a mobile device is received, at step  420 , by the MME. A rejection is communicated to the mobile device at step  430 . The rejection is not associated with the identity of the mobile device. Rather, even if the mobile device is valid and would otherwise be authenticated by the HSS, the rejection is communicated to the mobile device because the throttling threshold has been reached. 
     At step  440 , a second attach attempt is initiated by the mobile device. The second attach attempt is associated with a unique identifier. The unique identifier enables the mobile device to be associated with an upper throttling threshold. The throttling threshold is overridden at step  450 . The upper throttling threshold allows the mobile device to connect to the LTE network when the throttling threshold has been reached. In other words, the upper throttling threshold is a more relaxed throttling threshold that allows additional attach attempts when mobile devices without the unique identifier are rejected even if they would otherwise be authenticated by the LTE network. In one embodiment, the unique identifier is associated with a high profile user. In one embodiment, the unique identifier is associated with a high paying user. In one embodiment, the unique identifier is associated with a special device (e.g. machine-to-machine). 
     In one embodiment, LTE access is provided to the mobile device. In one embodiment, the MME receives an indication that an upper throttling threshold has been reached. The upper throttling threshold indicates that additional connections to the LTE network by devices associated with unique identifiers is no longer desirable. In one embodiment, LTE network access is prevented for the mobile device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a flow diagram depicting an illustrative method  500  of preventing a registration storm in an LTE network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Initially, at step  510 , an authentication failure condition is detected. The authentication failure condition represents a percentage failure associated with network authentications. In one embodiment, the authentication failure condition indicates the authentication failure percentage is one-hundred percent. For example, when a mobile device attempts to attach to the MME for authentication purposes, the MME queries the HSS to get a user profile associated with the mobile device. The MME responds with a key exchange process in order to validate the device. In one embodiment, the MME sends a unique code to the base station indicating an authentication failure condition. In one embodiment, an algorithm associated with the base station detects the authentication failure condition. 
     Once the authentication failure condition is detected, an algorithm is invoked, at step  520 , to initiate a cell barring mode for a base station. In one embodiment, the cell barring mode prevents new user access. This prevents unauthenticated users or devices from authenticating and accessing the LTE network. In one embodiment, the cell barring mode allows already authenticated devices to maintain network access. 
     At step  530 , the algorithm is invoked to detect an authentication failure percentage. In one embodiment, the algorithm is invoked periodically by the base station to determine whether the authentication failure percentage has decreased to a predetermined level. Once the authentication failure percentage has decreased to the predetermined level, in one embodiment, the algorithm is invoked to exit the cell barring mode. In one embodiment, the algorithm is invoked to exit the cell barring mode when an exit cell barring code is received from the MME. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of our technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. For example, not all steps listed in the various figures need to be carried out in the specific order described.