Periodic Location Area Update Schemes for UMTS 3G Mobile Networks: Optimality and Comparison

In this paper, we compare the normal location area update (NLAU) scheme, the periodic location area update (PLAU) scheme, and the PNLAU (NLAU+PLAU) scheme in 3GPP specifications for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) in terms of signaling and initial trunk setup cost. We analytically model cost functions of these schemes per checkpoint event. Optimality issue of the PNLAU has been studied to minimize the total cost of signaling and failure call setup, and optimal values are derived.