Dynamic hierarchical database architecture for location management in PCS networks

This paper introduces a dynamic hierarchical database architecture for location management in personal communications service (PCS) networks. The proposed scheme allows the dynamic adjustments of user location information distribution based on the mobility and calling patterns of the mobile terminals (MT's). A unique distribution strategy is determined for each MT, and location pointers are set up at selected remote locations which indicate the current location of the MT's. This method effectively reduces the signaling and database access overhead for location registration and call delivery. Besides, the required processing is handled by a distributed network of directory registers and centralized coordination is not necessary. The functions of the other network elements, such as the home location register (HLR) and the visitor location registers (VLR's), remain primarily unchanged. This greatly facilitates the deployment of this scheme in current PCS networks.