PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11109437-B2
Application Number: US-201515777246-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Method and migration manager component for transferring an application and system for managing terminal device communication connections

Abstract:
A method and migration manager component for transferring a first application running on a first computing device from the first computing device to a second computing device, the first application being configured to manage at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure, the method comprising: initializing a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure; transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application; stopping the execution of the first application at the first computing device; initializing the first application at the second computing device; transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application.

Claims:
The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 executing a migration manager for transferring a first application running on a first computing device from the first computing device to a second computing device, the first application being configured to manage at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure, wherein the first application uses first base station antenna structure parameters, and wherein said executing the migration manager comprises:
 initializing a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure, wherein the second application is initialized using the first base station antenna structure parameters, wherein sending of service data signals between the at least one terminal device and the base station antenna structure is discontinued when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure, and wherein the second application takes over a task of continuously sending control signals via the base station antenna structure from the first application when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection; 
 transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application; 
 stopping the execution of the first application at the first computing device; 
 initializing the first application at the second computing device; and 
 
 transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first application is executed in a virtual environment on at least one of the first and second computing device. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein initializing the first application on the second computing device includes duplicating a state of a memory of the first application in the second computing device. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second application is executed in a virtual environment. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the base station antenna structure and the first application form an evolved NodeB. 
     
     
       8. A system for managing terminal device communication connections, comprising:
 a first computing device configured to execute a first application configured to manage at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure using first base station antenna structure parameters; 
 a second computing device configured to execute the first application; and 
 a migration manager component, configured to:
 control a transfer of the first application from the first computing device to the second computing device, 
 initialize a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure, wherein the second application is initialized using the first base station antenna structure parameters, wherein sending of service data signals between the at least one terminal device and the base station antenna structure is discontinued when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure, and wherein the second application takes over a task of continuously sending control signals via the base station antenna structure from the first application when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection; 
 provide a command to the first application to transfer management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application; 
 stop an execution the first application at the first computing device and to initialize the first application at the second computing device; and 
 provide a command to the second application to transfer management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and second computing devices is configured to run the first application in a virtual environment. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the migration manager component is configured to duplicate a state of a memory of the first application in the second computing device. 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the migration manager component is configured to initialize the second application in a virtual environment. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the migration manager component is implemented as applications running on the first and second computing devices. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second applications are configured to send an acknowledgement signal to the migration manager component in response to the command from the migration manager component. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the base station antenna structure and the first application form an evolved Node B. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first application is configured to stop sending signals to the at least one terminal device at a first point in time and to start sending signals to the at least one terminal device at a second point of time. 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the second application is configured to start sending signals to the at least one terminal device at the first point in time and to stop sending signals to the at least one terminal device at the second point of time. 
     
     
       19. A migration manager component circuit for transferring a first application running on a first computing device from the first computing device to a second computing device, the first application being configured to manage at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure, wherein the first application uses first base station antenna structure parameters, wherein the migration manager component circuit comprises a processor and memory, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the processor, and wherein when executed, the program instructions cause the processor to:
 initialize a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure, wherein the second application is initialized using the first base station antenna structure parameters, wherein sending of service data signals between the at least one terminal device and the base station antenna structure is discontinued when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure, and wherein the second application takes over a task of continuously sending control signals via the base station antenna structure from the first application when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection; 
 provide a command to the first application to transfer management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application; 
 stop an execution the first application at the first computing device and to initialize the first application at the second computing device; and 
 provide a command to the second application to transfer management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application. 
 
     
     
       20. A method, comprising:
 executing a migration manager for transferring a first application running on a first computing device from the first computing device to a second computing device, the first application being configured to manage at least one communication connection of at least one terminal device to a telecommunication network via a base station antenna structure by sending first signals comprising connection control signals and service data signals to the at least one terminal device, wherein the first application uses first base station antenna structure parameters, and wherein said executing the migration manager comprises: 
 initializing a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection of the at least one terminal device to the telecommunication network via the base station antenna structure by sending second signals comprising connection control signals to the at least one terminal device wherein the second application is initialized using the first base station antenna structure parameters, wherein sending of service data signals between the at least one terminal device and the base station antenna structure is discontinued when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure, and wherein the second application takes over a task of continuously sending control signals via the base station antenna structure from the first application when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection; 
 transferring management of the at least one communication connection of the at least one terminal device to the telecommunication network via the base station antenna structure from the first application to the second application, wherein the first application stops sending the first signals and the second application starts sending the second signals; 
 stopping the execution of the first application at the first computing device; 
 initializing the first application at the second computing device; and 
 transferring management of the at least one connection of the at least one terminal device to the telecommunication network via the base station antenna structure from the second application to the first application, wherein the second application stops sending the second signals and the first application starts sending the first signals. 
 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory computer readable medium with program instructions executable to implement a migration manager, wherein the migration manager is configured to perform a method for transferring a first application running on a first computing device from the first computing device to a second computing device, the first application being configured to manage at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure, wherein the first application uses first base station antenna structure parameters, and wherein the method comprises:
 initializing a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure, wherein the second application is initialized using the first base station antenna structure parameters, wherein sending of service data signals between the at least one terminal device and the base station antenna structure is discontinued when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure, and wherein the second application takes over a task of continuously sending control signals via the base station antenna structure from the first application when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection; 
 transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application; 
 stopping the execution of the first application at the first computing device; 
 initializing the first application at the second computing device; and 
 transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application. 
 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 ,
 wherein transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application. 
 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 ,
 wherein transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application. 
 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the first application is executed in a virtual environment on at least one of the first and second computing device. 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein initializing the first application on the second computing device includes duplicating a state of a memory of the first application in the second computing device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a national stage entry according to 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT application No. PCT/CN2015/098211 filed on Dec. 22, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various aspects of this description generally relate to methods and migration manager components for transferring a first application running on a first computing device from the first computing device to a second computing device and systems for controlling at least one telecommunication base station. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Telecommunication base stations, such as eNodeBs (E UTRAN Node B/Evolved NodeB) or other mobile radio base stations for Long Term Evolution (LTE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and the like, are usually controlled by one or more so-called Radio Network Controllers (RNC) or similar facilities in a distributed manner. Usually, multiple eNodeBs are realized by (a multitude of) servers (which are also referred to as computing devices in the following), which are running applications for managing and controlling base station antennas. Since the number of mobile radio communication terminal devices (e.g. user equipments (UE)) managed by these applications may vary over time, the workload caused by these applications varies. This may result in inefficient use of the hardware. Furthermore, maintenance of the hardware may lead to disruption of reception and service of the terminal devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis is instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a system for controlling at least one telecommunication base station, running a first application on a first computing device. 
         FIG. 2  shows the system of  FIG. 1 , after a second application was initialized. 
         FIG. 3  shows the system of  FIG. 2 , a migration manager component sending a signal to the first and second application setting a first point in time. 
         FIG. 4  shows the system of  FIG. 3 , the applications sending acknowledgement signals. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  show the system of  FIG. 4  at the first point in time and the stopping of the first application and the starting of the second application. 
         FIG. 6  shows the system of  FIG. 5  after the first application was moved to a second computing device. 
         FIG. 7  shows the system of  FIG. 6 , the migration manager component sending a signal to the first and second application, setting a second point in time. 
         FIG. 8  shows the system of  FIG. 7 , the applications sending acknowledgement signals. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  show the system of  FIG. 8  at the second point in time and the stopping of the second application and the starting of the first application. 
         FIG. 10  shows the system of  FIG. 10  after the second application was terminated. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a system  10  for controlling managing terminal device communication connections. The System  10  may include a base station antenna structure  12 . The base station antenna structure  12  may include a single antenna, a group of antennas or an antenna array, e.g. to serve one (sole/single) cell. The system  10  may further include a first computing device  20  (Source platform/Source AI platform). The first computing device  20  is configured to run (execute) a first application  30 ,  30 ′ (eNodeB application). An application may be a program, e.g. a series of instructions executable by a processor (CPU). The first application  30 ,  30 ′ may be part of the system  10 . The first application  30 ,  30 ′ is configured to manage (is managing) at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device  14  (user equipment, handheld device, smartphone, mobile device . . . ) via the base station antenna structure  12 . The first application  30 ,  30 ′ may be configured to manage at least the communication connection of the at least one terminal device  14  to a telecommunication network (e.g. GSM, UMTS, LTE, CDMA2000, LTE-A, . . . ) via the base station antenna structure  12  by sending first signals  32  including communication connection control signals  34  and service data signals  36  to the at least one terminal device  14 . The first application  30 ,  30 ′ may be configured to control at least the base station antenna structure  12 . The first application  30 ,  30 ′ may be configured to send signals  32 ,  32 ′ including communication connection control signals  34  and service data signals  36  via the base station antenna structure  12  to at least one terminal device  14 . The first application  30 ,  30 ′ may further be configured to receive signals  33 , e.g. service data signals, from the at least one terminal device  14  via the base station antenna structure  12 . The connection control signals  34  may include one, some or all of the following: 
     synchronization signals (e.g. Primary Synchronization Signal/PSS, Secondary Synchronization Signal/SSS), reference signals (e.g. Cell-Specific reference signal/CRS), Channel information (e.g. Physical Broadcast Channel/PBCH) and formatting information (e.g. Physical Control Format Indicator Channel/PCFICH). The communication connection control signals  34  may include or may essentially consist of the information needed by the terminal device  14  to upkeep (and establish) a communication connection between the terminal device  14  and the system  10 . The service data signals  36  may include information, data and/or signals that are sent to or received from a different communication partner (another server, a different terminal device, a different participant of the communication network) via the established connection between the system  10  and the terminal device  14 , e.g. via Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) or Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or similar. 
     A separate application may be provided to receive signals from the terminal device  14 . 
     System  10  may further include a second computing device  40  configured to run the first application  30 ,  30 ′. The computing devices  20 ,  40 , e.g. servers, may include a processor, configured to execute at least the first application, and memory, configured to save process data of at least the first application while it is running. The computing devices  20 ,  40  may be configured to run (execute) an operating system under which the first application is executed. The computing devises  20 ,  40  may include main storage. The computing devices  20 ,  40  may include communication interfaces (e.g. Network interfaces), provided to connect the computing device with the base station antenna structure  12 . The computing devices  20 ,  40  may have similar or same architectures. The computing devices  20 ,  40  may have different architectures, e.g. may be implemented with different kind of hardware (processor, memory, network controller), protocols etc. The first and second computing devices  20 ,  40  may be part of a group of servers located in a same location. The base station antenna structure  12  together with the first application  30 ,  30 ′ may form a base station, e.g. a (wireless) telecommunication base station, e.g. an evolved Node B (according to third generation partnership program/3GPP, long term evolution/LTE or similar or future telecommunication definitions/protocols). Further applications, e.g. applications provided to manage communication connections to terminal devices via further/different antenna structures (control different base stations), may run on the first computing device  20 . The first computing device  20  may be configured to run additional applications, e.g. applications provided to manage communication connections to terminal devices via further antenna structures (control different base stations). Further applications, e.g. applications provided to manage communication connections to terminal devices via further/different antenna structures (control different base stations), may run on the second computing device  40 . The second computing device  40  may be configured to run additional applications, e.g. applications provided to manage communication connections to terminal devices via further antenna structures (control different base stations). 
     The first and second computing devices  20 ,  40  may be configured to run the first application  30 ,  30 ′ in a virtual environment  31 ,  31 ′ (eNodeB Virtual Machine). The virtual environment  31 ,  31 ′ may be an application providing a specific working environment for the first application  30 ,  30 ′, e.g. providing an emulation of a specific type of hardware (e.g. processor, memory, network adapter etc.). This may allow the first application  30  to run independently of the actual hardware installed on the first and second computing devices  20 ,  40 . This may allow a quick and efficient transfer of the first application  30  between the computing devices  20 ,  40 . Further this may allow for an easy resource management, e.g. if more than one application is run on the first (or second) computing device  20 ,  40 . 
     The first computing device  20  may be configured to run the first application directly, e.g. directly on the operating system level, while the second computing device  40  may be configured to run the first application in a virtual environment, e.g. emulating the first computing device, or vice versa. 
     System  10  further includes a migration manager component  50  (e.g. a migration manager component circuit), configured to control a transfer of the first application  30 ,  30 ′ from the first computing device  20  to the second computing device  40 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to estimate (or measure) a workload at least of the first computing device  20  and decide upon that estimation (or measurement) that the first application  30 ,  30 ′ should be moved away from the first computing device and trigger a migration process (e.g. in case a value indicative of the workload exceeds a predefined workload threshold). The migration manager component  50  may be configured to receive external signals, e.g. from a workload estimation (by circuit, application/software program or similar) and or from a maintenance planning (by circuit, application/software program or similar) and trigger the migration process on receipt of such signal. This may allow for a better workload distribution, e.g. if the first computing device  20  is on a high workload. This also may allow to reduce power consumption, e.g. if the first computing device  20  is mostly idle and moving the first application  20  away would allow for shutdown/standby of the first computing device  20 . This may further allow maintenance of the hardware of the first computing device  20  without a loss of connection for terminal devices  14  connected via the first application  30 ,  30 ′. 
     The migration manager component  50  is configured to initialize a second application  60  (keep alive application). The second application  60  is configured to control the at least one base station antenna structure  12 . The second application  60  is configured to manage the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device  14  via the base station antenna structure  12 . The second application  60  may be configured to manage the at least one communication connection of the at least one terminal device  14  to the telecommunication network via the base station antenna structure  12  by sending second signals  62  including connection control signals  64  to the at least one terminal device  14 . The second application  60  may be configured to at least send signals  62  including connection control signals  64  to the at least one terminal device  14 . The second application  60  may be configured to (e.g. only) send signals  62  essentially consisting of only connection control signals  64  to the at least one terminal device  14 . The second application  60  may be part of the system  10 . Initializing an application may include loading the application from a main storage. Initializing an application may include setting parameters of the application. 
     The migration manager component  50  is implemented as one or more applications running on the first and second computing devices  20 ,  40 . The migration manager component  50  includes a first component  52  (Live Migration manager component) running as an application on the first computing device  20  and includes second component  54  (Live Migration manager component) running as an application on the second computing device  40 . The first and second component  52 ,  54  are configured to communicate with each other, e.g. via at least one network protocol, e.g. via at least one Radio Resource Control (RRC) network protocol. 
     The migration manager component  50  may be implemented as hardware and/or software separately from the first and/or second computing device  20 ,  40 . The migration manager component  50  may be an application running on a third computing device that is connected to the first and second computing device. The migration manager component  50  may be implemented as hardware, e.g. including a first hardware component (e.g. an application specific integrated circuit/ASIC) in the first computing device and including a second hardware component in the second computing device. The migration manager component may include at least one communication means for communicating with the first and second computing devices. The first and/or second computing device  20 ,  40  may be configured to run the first or second component in a virtual environment. 
     The migration manager component  50  may be configured to initialize the second application  60  on the first computing device  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). The migration manager component  50  may be configured to initialize the second application  60  in a virtual environment  61  (of the first computing device  20 ) (Keep alive Virtual Machine). The migration manager component  50  may be configured to initialize the second application  60  with the same telecommunication base station parameters (base station antenna structure parameters) as are used by the first application  30 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to initialize the second application  60  on demand only, e.g. after a transfer of an Application is triggered. This may save resources. The migration manager component may be configured to initialize the second application  60  on startup of the first computing device  20  and keep the second application  60  running in case it is needed. When a transfer of an application is triggered, the migration manager component  50  may be configured to set telecommunication base station parameters (base station antenna structure parameters) in the second application  60  to be the same as of the first application  30 . This may reduce the time needed for transferring the first application. 
     The migration manager component may be configured to run/initialize the second application on a same computing device that is running the migration manager component  50 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to run/initialize the second application directly on the first or second computing device (without usage of a virtual environment). The migration manager component  50  may be configured to run/initialize the second application on the second computing device (in a virtual environment). The migration manager component  50  may be configured to run/initialize the second application on a further computing device and/or ASIC. 
     The migration manager component  50  is configured to provide a command  70  to the first application  30  to stop sending signals  32  to the at least one terminal device  14  and to provide a command  71  to the second application  60  to start sending signals  62  to the at least one terminal device. The migration manager component may be configured to transfer management of the at least one communication connection of the at least one terminal device  14  to the telecommunication network via the base station antenna structure  12  from the first application  30  to the second application  60 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to provide commands  70 ,  71  to the first and second application  30 ,  60  (see  FIG. 3 ). The commands may be indicating a first point in time (a first time)  80  at which the first application  20  is to stop sending signals  32  and the second application  60  is to start sending signals  62  via the base station antenna structure  12 . The command  70  to the first application  30  may include a command to stop sending signals (down) at the first point in time  80 . The command  71  to the second application  60  may include a command to start sending signals (up) at the first point in time  80 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to provide the first point in time  80  in form of an absolute time. The migration manager component  50  may be configured to provide the first point in time  80  in form of a relative time (e.g. “in 200 ms”, “in 100 ms”, “in 10 ms”, a number of frames or subframes, or similar), e.g. a time interval after the commands  70 ,  71  where sent. 
     The first application  30  and the second application  60  may be configured to send an acknowledgement signal  72 ,  73  to the migration manager component  50  in response to the signal  70 ,  71  from the migration manager component  50  (see  FIG. 4 ). The migration manager component  50  may be configured to send the commands  70 ,  71  to the first and second application  30 ,  60  again, if no acknowledgement signal  72 ,  73  is received. The migration manager component  50  may be configured to restart the second application  60 , if (repeatedly) no acknowledgement signal is received. 
     The first application  30  may be configured to receive time signals from a timer  38  (e.g. a real time clock, an internal timer). The timer  38  is a timer of the virtual environment  31  in which the first application  30  is running. The second application  60  may be configured to receive time signals from a timer  68 . The timer  68  is a timer of the virtual environment  61  in which the second application  60  is running. The timers  38 ,  68  are synchronized, e.g. via a system timer of the first computing device  20 . The first application  30  is configured to stop sending signals  32 , when the timer  38  reaches the set first point in time  80  (see  FIGS. 5A, 5B ). The second application  60  is configured to start sending signals  62 , when the timer  68  reaches the set first point in time  80 . Management of the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device  14  via the base station antenna structure  12  is transferred from the first application  30  to the second application  60  at the first point in time  80 , wherein the first application  30  stops sending signals  32  and the second application  60  starts sending signals  62  via the base station antenna structure  12 .  FIG. 5B  exemplarily shows an excerpt of the communication from the system  10  via the base station antenna structure  12 . Before the first point in time  80 , e.g. during two subframes  90 ,  91  immediately before the first point in time, the signal of the base station antenna structure  12  consists of the signals  32  of the first application, which contain connection control signals  34  as well as service data signals  36 . After the connection management has been taken over by the second application  60  at the first point in time  80 , the signal sent via the base station antenna structure  12  contains the signals  62  of the second application  60 , e.g. during the subframes  92 ,  93 , which only include connection control signals  64 . The first point in time  80  is set to be at the end of subframe  91 , which is the beginning of subframe  92 . This allows a continuous connected status of the terminal devices  14 . 
     The timers may be system timers, e.g. when the first or second application  30 ,  60  is run directly on the first computing device  20 . The timers may be directly or indirectly synchronized via a signal from the Global Position System (GPS). The timers  38 ,  68  may be synchronized with a timer of the migration manager component  50 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to set the first point in time  80  in dependence of a time schedule of the first application  30 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to set the first point in time  80  as the point at which a new subframe (or frame or time interval) of a communication protocol of the first application  30 ,  30 ′ starts. The point in time  80  may be several subframes (or frames or time intervals) of the communication protocol in the future in regard to the moment of sending the signals  70 ,  71  to the first and second application  30 ,  60 . 
     After the second application  60  has taken over connection management, the migration manager component  50  is configured to stop execution of the first application  30  on the first computing device  20  and initialize the first application  30 ′ at the second computing device  40 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to initialize the first application  30 ′ in the virtual environment  31 ′ on the second computing device  40  (see  FIG. 6 ). The migration manager component  50  is configured to duplicate the state of the memory of the first application  30  in the second computing device  40 . The migration manager component  50  is configured to copy the state of the memory of the first application  30  from the first computing device  20  to the second computing device  40 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to duplicate an exact state of the first application  30  from the first computing device  20  to the second computing device  40 . This may allow for a nearly continuous operation, as data that is supposed to be submitted to the terminal device  14  via service data signals  36  part of the signals  32  and is saved in the memory of the application may be transmitted after the first application  30  is transferred by the first application  30 ′. 
     The migration manager component may be configured to initialize the first application on the second computation device using standard parameters. This may allow for a quick transfer as barely any data has to be transmitted between the first and second computing devices  20 ,  40 . 
     The migration manager component  50  is configured to transfer management of the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device  14  via the base station antenna structure  12  from the second application  60  to the first application  30 ′. The migration manager component  50  may be configured to provide a command  75  to the second application  60  to stop sending signals  62  to the at least one terminal device  14  and to provide a command  74  to the first application  30 ′ to start sending signals  32 ′ to the at least one terminal device  14  via the base station antenna structure  12 . The migration manager component  50  may be configured to provide commands  74 ,  75  to the first and second application  20 ,  40 , indicating a second point in time  82  at which the second application  60  is to stop (stops) sending signals  62  and the first application  30 ′ is to start (starts) sending signals  32 ′ via the base station antenna structure  12  (see  FIG. 7 ). The second point in time  82  being later than the first point in time  80 . The first application  30 ′ and the second application  60  may be configured to send an acknowledgement signal  76 ,  77  to the migration manager component  50  in response to the command  74 ,  75  from the migration manager component  50  (see  FIG. 8 ). The migration manager component  50  may be configured to send the signals  74 ,  75  to the first and second application  30 ′,  60  again, if no acknowledgement signal  76 ,  77  is received. The migration manager component  50  may be configured to restart the first application  30 ′, if (repeatedly) no acknowledgement signal is received. 
     The first application  30 ′ may be configured to receive time signals from a timer  38 ′ (e.g. a real time clock, an internal timer). The timer  38 ′ may be a timer of the virtual environment  31 ′ in which the first application  30 ′ is running. The timers  38 ′,  68  of the first application  30 ′ and the second application  60 ′ are synchronized, e.g. via synchronized system timers of the first computing device  20  and the second computing device  40 . The timers  38 ′,  68  may be synchronized via the migration management circuit and/or via an external source (e.g. GPS). The first application  30 ′ may be configured to start sending signals  32 ′, when the timer  38 ′ reaches the set second point in time  82  (see  FIGS. 9A, 9B ). The second application  60  may be configured to stop sending signals  62 , when the timer  68  reaches the set second point in time  82 . Connection management is transferred from the second application  60  to the first application  30 ′ at the second point in time  82 , wherein the second application  60  stops sending signals  62  and the first application  30 ′ starts sending signals  32 ′ via the base station antenna structure  12 .  FIG. 9B  exemplarily shows an excerpt of the communication from the system  10  via the base station antenna structure  12 . Before the second point in time  80 , e.g. during two subframes  94 ,  95  immediately before the second point in time, the signal of the base station antenna structure  12  consists of the signals  62  of the second application  60 , which contain only connection control signals  64 . After the control has been taken over by the first application  30 ′ at the second point in time  82 , the signal sent via the base station antenna structure  12  contains the signals  32 ′ of the first application  30 ′, e.g. during the subframes  96 ,  97 , which include connection control signals  34  as well as service data signals  36 . The second point in time  80  is set to be at the end of subframe  95 , which is the beginning of subframe  96 . This allows a continuous connected status of the terminal devices  14 . 
     The first application  30 ,  30 ′ is configured to stop sending  32  signals via the base station antenna structure  12  at the first point in time  80  and to start sending signals  32  via the base station antenna structure  12  at the second point of time  82 . The second application  60 ,  60 ′ is configured to start sending signals  62  via the base station antenna structure  12  at the first point in time  80  and to stop sending signals  62  via the base station antenna structure  12  at the second point of time  82 . The sending of service data signals  36 ,  36 ′ is discontinued when the second application  60  is managing (during the time the second application  60  is managing) the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device  14  via the base station antenna structure  12 . The sending of service data signals  36  via the base station antenna structure  12  is discontinued from the first point in time  80  until the second point in time  82 . The sending of connection control signals  34 ,  64  is continued for the time between the first point in time  80  and the second point in time  82 , e.g. during the whole transfer process. This may allow for a continuous connection of the terminal device (although no service data will be transmitted) and may prevent the need of the terminal device  14  to reconnect to the telecommunication base station (the system  10 ) after the first application was transferred (migrated) from the first to the second computing device  20 ,  40 , which may lead to a higher availability of the communication network to the terminal device and/or to an increased efficiency of the telecommunication base station, since it may be abstained to handle connection procedures for all terminal devices that were connected with the telecommunication base station and would need to get reconnected after the transfer. 
     After the first application  30 ′ has taken over the communication, the migration manager component  50  may stop/terminate the second application  60  (see  FIG. 10 ). Alternatively the migration manager component may be configured to keep the second application  60  running (in a hold state), e.g. if more applications are to be transferred to the second computing device or other computing devices. 
     Although the terminology used herein may indicate that the provided methods, systems and migration management circuits are to be used in connection with a communication technology according to Long Term Evolution (LTE), it is understood, that they may be adapted to be used in connection with existing or future communication technologies (e.g. communication technologies according to the definitions of the third generation partnership program/3GPP). 
     If in the previous description it is mentioned that a component is configured to perform a specific action it is understood that the component may be executing that specific action in at least one corresponding method. 
     The following examples pertain to further non-limiting embodiments. 
     Example 1 is a method for transferring a first application running on a first computing device from the first computing device to a second computing device, the first application being configured to manage at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure, the method comprising: initializing a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure; transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application; stopping the execution of the first application at the first computing device; initializing the first application at the second computing device; transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application. 
     In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include that transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application. 
     In Example 3, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-2 may optionally include that transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application. 
     In Example 4, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3 may optionally include that the first application is run in a virtual environment on at least one of the first and second computing device. 
     In Example 5, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4 may optionally include that the initializing of the first application on the second computing device includes duplicating the state of the memory of the first application from the first computing device to the second computing device. 
     In Example 6, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-5 may optionally include that the second application is initialized on the first computing device. 
     In Example 7, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6 may optionally include that the second application is run in a virtual environment. 
     In Example 8, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-7 may optionally include that the base station antenna structure together with the first application forms an evolved NodeB. 
     In Example 9, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-8 may optionally include that the sending of service data signals is discontinued when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure. 
     In Example 10, the subject matter of any of Examples 1-9 may optionally include that the second application takes over a task of continuously sending control signals via the base station antenna structure from the first application, when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection. 
     Example 11 is A system for managing terminal device communication connections, comprising: a first computing device configured to execute a first application configured to manage at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure; a second computing device configured to execute the first application; a migration manager component, configured to control a transfer of the first application from the first computing device to the second computing device; the migration manager component being configured to initialize a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure; the migration manager component further being configured to provide a command to the first application to transfer management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application; the migration manager component further being configured to stop an execution the first application at the first computing device and to initialize the first application at the second computing device; the migration manager component further being configured to provide a command to the second application to transfer management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application. 
     In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 may optionally include that transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application. 
     In Example 13, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-12 may optionally include that transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application. 
     In Example 14, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-13 may optionally include that at least one of the first and second computing devices is configured to run the first application in a virtual environment. 
     In Example 15, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-14 may optionally include that the migration manager component is configured to duplicate the state of the memory of the first application from the first computing device to the second computing device. 
     In Example 16, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-15 may optionally include that the migration manager component is configured to initialize the second application on the first computing device. 
     In Example 17, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-16 may optionally include that the migration manager component is configured to initialize the second application in a virtual environment. 
     In Example 18, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-17 may optionally include that the migration manager component is implemented as applications running on the first and second computing devices. 
     In Example 19, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-18 may optionally include that the first and second application are configured to send an acknowledgement signal to the migration manager component in response to the signal from the migration manager component. 
     In Example 20, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-19 may optionally include that the base station antenna structure together with the first application forms an evolved Node B. 
     In Example 21, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-20 may optionally include that the first application is configured to stop sending signals via the telecommunication base station at a first point in time and to start sending signals via the telecommunication base station at a second point of time. 
     In Example 22, the subject matter of any of Examples 11-21 may optionally include that the second application is configured to start sending signals via the telecommunication base station at the first point in time and to stop sending signals via the telecommunication base station at the second point of time. 
     Example 23 is a migration manager component for transferring a first application running on a first computing device from the first computing device to a second computing device, the first application being configured to manage at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure, the migration manager component being configured to: initialize a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection to at least one terminal device via a base station antenna structure; provide a command to the first application to transfer management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application; stop an execution the first application at the first computing device and to initialize the first application at the second computing device; provide a command to the second application to transfer management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application. 
     In Example 24, the subject matter of Example 23 may optionally include that transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the first application to the second application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application. 
     In Example 25, the subject matter of any of Examples 23-24 may optionally include that transferring management of the at least one communication connection from the second application to the first application includes stopping sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the second application and starting sending signals to the at least one terminal device via the first application. 
     In Example 26, the subject matter of any of Examples 23-25 may optionally include that the Migration manager component is further configured to duplicate the state of the memory of the first application from the first computing device to the second computing device. 
     In Example 27, the subject matter of any of Examples 23-26 may optionally include that the Migration manager component is further configured to initialize the second application on the first computing device. 
     In Example 28, the subject matter of any of Examples 23-27 may optionally include that the Migration manager component is further configured to initialize the second application in a virtual environment. 
     In Example 29, the subject matter of any of Examples 23-28 may optionally include that the Migration manager component is including at least a first component running as an application on the first computing device and including at least a second component running as an application on the second computing device. 
     In Example 30 the subject matter of any of Examples 23-29 may optionally include that the base station antenna structure together with the first application forms an evolved NodeB. 
     Example 31 is a method for transferring a first application running on a first computing device from the first computing device to a second computing device, the first application being configured to manage at least one communication connection of at least one terminal device to a telecommunication network via a base station antenna structure by sending first signals including connection control signals and service data signals to the at least one terminal device, the method including: initializing a second application configured to manage the at least one communication connection of the at least one terminal device to the telecommunication network via the base station antenna structure by sending second signals including connection control signals to the at least one terminal device; transferring management of the at least one communication connection of the at least one terminal device to the telecommunication network via the base station antenna structure from the first application to the second application, wherein the first application stops sending first signals and the second application starts sending second signals; stopping the execution of the first application at the first computing device; initializing the first application at the second computing device; transferring management of the at least one connection of the at least one terminal device to the telecommunication network via the base station antenna structure from the second application to the first application, wherein the second application stops sending second signals and the first application starts sending first signals. 
     In Example 32, the subject matter of Example 31 may optionally include that the first application is run in a virtual environment on at least one of the first and second computing device. 
     In Example 33, the subject matter of any of Examples 31-32 may optionally include that initializing the first application on the second computing device includes duplicating the state of the memory of the first application from the first computing device to the second computing device. 
     In Example 34, the subject matter of any of Examples 31-33 may optionally include that the second application is initialized on the first computing device. 
     In Example 35, the subject matter of any of Examples 31-34 may optionally include that the second application is run in a virtual environment. 
     In Example 36, the subject matter of any of Examples 31-35 may optionally include that the base station antenna structure together with the first application forms an evolved NodeB. 
     In Example 37, the subject matter of any of Examples 31-36 may optionally include that the sending of service data signals is discontinued when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection to the at least one terminal device via the base station antenna structure. 
     In Example 38, the subject matter of any of Examples 31-37 may optionally include that the second application takes over a task of continuously sending control signals via the base station antenna structure from the first application, when the second application is managing the at least one communication connection. 
     Example 39 is a non-transitory computer readable medium (machine readable storage) with program instructions configured to perform the method of any of Examples 1 to 11 and 31 to 38. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20151222
Publication Date: 20210831
Grant Date: 20210831
Priority Date: 20151222
Inventors: GE, QIHONG
REN, Chunming
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04W8/00", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F9/547", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/25", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W8/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L67/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/085", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/085", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F9/547", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/25", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W8/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/085", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L67/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 59088843