Background technology
UE (User Equipment, subscriber equipment), in moving process, if the eNodeB (base station) under it changes, can carry out the switching based on X2 interface.Service channel switches (Path Switch) function and is mainly used in the management based on customer service face path in X2 interface switching, based on X2 interface time, after the hand-off execution process between source eNodeB and target eNode B completes, by target eNode B request MME (Mobility Management Entity, Mobility Management Entity) switch the downlink user face data transmission path of relevant bearer, and in the time that Serving GW (gateway) changes, switch the up user plane data transfer path of relevant bearer.
As shown in Figure 1, in the service channel switching flow based on X2 interface of 3GPP TS36.413 protocol definition, eNodeB sends Path Switch Request message (path handover request message) to MME, and notice MME switches descending GTP tunnel TEIDs; MME returns to Path SwitchRequest Acknowledge message (path switching request acknowledgement message) to eNodeB, to confirm to switch descending GTP tunnel success.
Wherein, the Path Switch Request message content of 3GPP TS36.413 protocol definition can be as shown in Figure 2, and Path Switch Request Acknowledge message content can be as shown in Figure 3.
Switching based on X2 interface generally includes following scene:
(1) serving MME and Serving GW all do not change
As shown in Figure 4, UE moves to behind Target cell, target eNode B sends Path Switch Request message to MME, notice MME changes downlink data path, message has comprised the E-RAB that need to switch on down direction (Radio Access Bearer, RAB) list and corresponding target eNode B address (i.e. Transport Layer address in figure, transport layer address) and TEIDs (TunnelEndpoint Identity, Tunnel End Point Identifier, for identifying a tunnel; In this message, can comprise the mark in many tunnels); MME notice Serving GW (being shown SGW in figure) is for eNodeB address and the TEIDs of downlink user face transfer of data; After downlink data path is got through, MME returns to Path SwitchRequest Acknowledge message to target eNode B.
(2) serving MME is constant, and Serving GW changes
As shown in Figure 5, UE moves to behind Target cell, target eNode B sends Path Switch Request message to MME, notice MME changes downlink data path, has comprised and need on downlink transmission direction, carry list and corresponding target eNode B address and TEIDs by the E-RAB of switch data transmission channel in message; MME select target Serving GW (being shown target SGW in figure), and notification target ServingGW is for eNodeB address and the TEIDs of downlink user face transfer of data; Target Serving GW returns to the Serving GW address and the up TEIDs that in the response message of MME, carry user's face; MME sends Path Switch Request Acknowledge message to target eNode B, has comprised E-RAB list and corresponding target Serving GW address and the TEIDs that need on up direction, switch in message.
Inventor realizes in process of the present invention, finds that the service channel handover mechanism of current 3GPP TS36.413 protocol definition has following shortcoming at least:
This process can only be initiated by eNodeB, and this process can only be used for the occasion of UE mobile management, the occasion that eNodeB under UE changes.This definition mode can not meet the user demand that multiple occasion is switched for path, as:
Occasion 1:Serving GW load heavily distributes;
Occasion 2:Serving GW transships control;
When occasion 3:Serving GW fault, user profile is recovered.
As can be seen here, existing service channel handover mechanism can not meet Serving GW load and heavily distributes, transships and the service channel changing due to Serving GW such as control and switch.
Summary of the invention
Embodiments of the invention provide a kind of service channel changing method and device thereof, when solving in prior art that gateway changes, and the problem that service channel cannot switch.
The service channel changing method that the embodiment of the present invention provides, comprises the steps:
Mobility Management Entity, to base station transmit path handover request message, wherein carries the up user plane data transfer path information that needs switching;
The switching of up user plane data transfer path is carried out according to described handover request message in base station, so that user is migrated to destination service gateway from source gateway.
The mobile management entity device that the embodiment of the present invention provides, comprising:
Request module, for to base station transmit path handover request message, wherein carries the up user plane data transfer path information that needs switching, so that user is migrated to destination service gateway from source gateway.
The base station equipment that the embodiment of the present invention provides, comprising:
Receiver module, the path handover request message sending for receiving mobility management entity, wherein carries the up user plane data transfer path information that needs switching;
Path handover module, carries out the switching of up user plane data transfer path for the handover request message receiving according to described receiver module, so that user is migrated to destination service gateway from source gateway.
The above embodiment of the present invention, by Mobility Management Entity to initiation path, base station handover request message, wherein carry the up user plane data transfer path information that needs switching, so that the switching of up user plane data transfer path can be carried out according to this request message in base station.Because path handover request message is initiated by Mobility Management Entity, conventionally, when gateway because of a variety of causes need migration, while needing user from current service gateway transport to destination service gateway, Mobility Management Entity can be known the relevant information of destination service gateway, like this, initiate path handover request by Mobility Management Entity, the up user plane data transfer path information that needs can be switched is notified to base station, so that the switching of up user plane data transfer path is carried out in base station, solve in prior art when gateway changes, the problem that service channel cannot switch.
Embodiment
The occasion changing for Serving GW, as, newly-increased Serving GW, Serving GW transship to control or Serving GW break down, as shown in Figure 6, user need to be migrated to another Serving GW (the target SGW in figure) from a ServingGW (the source SGW figure), and user for these migrations, serving MME and eNodeB are constant, and there is change in Serving GW.
For this scene, the embodiment of the present invention passes through to revise the definition of Path Switch Request message, and initiates Path Switch (path switching) process to base station by MME, to support up user plane data transfer passage to switch.
Below in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in the present invention, the technical scheme in the present invention is carried out to clear, complete description, obviously, described embodiment is a part of embodiment of the present invention, rather than whole embodiment.Based on the embodiment in the present invention, the every other embodiment that those of ordinary skills obtain under the prerequisite of not making creative work, belongs to the scope of protection of the invention.
The occasion changing for Serving GW, Fig. 7 has provided a kind of service channel switching flow.As shown in the figure, there is variation when MME learns Serving GW, as to Serving GW load heavily distribute or transship control time, user need to be moved to target ServingGW from source Serving GW, this flow process comprises:
Step 701, MME send Path SwitchRequest message to the service eNodeB being belonged to by migrated users, wherein carry the up user plane data transfer path information that needs switching, concrete can be the E-RAB relevant information that need to switch on up direction, as E-RAB list and corresponding target Serving GW address and TEIDs.
Step 702, service eNodeB, according to the Path Switch Request message receiving, upgrade the up user surface address information of relevant E-RAB, service switchover path.
Step 703, service eNodeB complete after the switching of uplink service path, also can further return to Path Switch Request Acknowledge message to MME, to confirm that service channel has switched.
In order to realize above-mentioned flow process, the embodiment of the present invention is by existing Path Switch Request message is improved, and can support up user plane data transfer passage to switch, improved procedure can have following several:
Mode one:
In Path Switch Request message, increase the information unit that need to switch user plane data transfer path relevant information in order to carrying on up direction, the information unit that this newly increases and original attribute (Presence) that exists for the information unit that carries the user plane data transfer path relevant information that need to switch on down direction are made as optional (Option), and need to carry the information unit that this newly increases in the Path SwitchRequest message of regulation MME initiation, and in the Path SwitchRequest message that eNodeB initiates, need to carry original in carry the information unit of the user plane data transfer path relevant information that need to switch on down direction.
Fig. 8 has provided a kind of schematic diagram of Path Switch Request message, as shown in the figure, compared with the Path Switch Request message content shown in Fig. 2, in Path Switch Request message shown in Fig. 8, increased E-RAB To Be Switched In Uplink List information unit with and under subelement, the relevant information of the user plane data transfer path that need to switch on up direction in order to carrying, as carry E-RAB mark, the information unit of target Serving GW address and Tunnel Identifier, wherein, target Serving GW address is carried by the Transport Layer address information unit in figure.Further, the presence attribute of this E-RAB To Be Switched In Uplink List information unit newly increasing is made as optional, the presence attribute of original E-RAB To Be Switched In Downlink List information unit is made as optional, but regulation when Path Switch Request message be while being initiated by MME, E-RAB To Be Switched In Uplink List information unit is essential, when Path Switch Request message is while being initiated by eNodeB, E-RAB To Be Switched In Downlink List information unit is essential.
By this kind of mode, Path Switch Request message is redefined, can increase the support that up user plane data transfer passage is switched.For example:
In the time of the switching based on X2, Path Switch Request message sends to MME by eNodeB, message comprises E-RAB to Be Switched In Downlink List information unit, and do not comprise E-RABTo Be Switched In Uplink List information unit, wherein, in E-RAB to Be Switched InDownlink List information unit and subelement thereof, carry E-RAB list and corresponding target eNode B address and the TEIDs that need on down direction, switch;
In the time that based on Serving GW, load heavily distributes or transships control, Path Switch Request message sends to eNodeB by MME, in message, do not comprise E-RAB to Be Switched In Downlink List information unit, and comprise E-RAB To Be Switched In Uplink List information unit, wherein, in E-RABTo Be Switched In Uplink List information unit and subelement thereof, carry E-RAB list and corresponding target Serving GW address and the TEIDs that need on up direction, switch.
Mode two:
Keep the information unit quantity in original Path Switch Request message constant, unit to the user plane data transfer path relevant information that need to switch on down direction in order to carrying wherein redefines, that is: in the time that eNodeB initiates this message to MME, this information unit is used for the relevant information of carrying the user plane data transfer path that need to switch on down direction; In the time that MME initiates this message to eNodeB, the relevant information of this information unit for carry the user plane data transfer path that need to switch on up direction.
Fig. 9 has provided a kind of schematic diagram of Path Switch Request message, as shown in the figure, compared with the Path Switch Request message content shown in Fig. 2, in Path Switch Request message shown in Fig. 9, original E-RAB To Be Switched In Downlink List information unit is defined as to E-RAB toBe Switched In List information unit, this information unit also comprises subelement, the relevant information of the user plane data transfer path that need to switch in order to carrying, as carry E-RAB mark, transport layer address is (when downlink user face data transmission channel switches, this transport layer address is target eNode B address, when up user plane data transfer passage switches, this transport layer address is target Serving GW address) and Tunnel Identifier, and regulation: in the time that eNodeB initiates this message to MME, E-RAB to Be Switched In List information unit is for carrying E-RAB list and corresponding target eNode B address and the TEIDs that need to switch on down direction, in the time that MME initiates this message to eNodeB, E-RAB to BeSwitched In List information unit is for carrying E-RAB list and corresponding target Serving GW address and the TEIDs that need to switch on up direction.
By this kind of mode, Path Switch Request message is redefined, can increase on the one hand the support that up user plane data transfer passage is switched, on the other hand, the completely compatible existing support that downlink user face data transmission channel is switched.For example:
When switching based on X2, Path Switch Request message sends to MME by eNodeB, E-RAB to Be Switched In List in message carrying be E-RAB list and corresponding target eNode B address and the TEIDs that need to switch on down direction;
Based on Serving GW, load heavily distributes or transships while control, Path Switch Request message sends to eNodeB by MME, and that the E-RAB to Be Switched In List in message carries is E-RAB list and corresponding target Serving GW address and the TEIDs that need to switch on up direction.
Path Switch Request Acknowledge message in the embodiment of the present invention is still used as acknowledge message.
Figure 10 shows a kind of schematic diagram of Path Switch Request Acknowledge message content, message structure shown in Figure 10 is identical with the Path Switch Request Acknowledge message structure shown in Fig. 3, E-RAB to Be Switched In Uplink List is wherein still in the time switching based on X2 and service Serving GW changes and occurs, for carry the relevant information of the user plane data transfer path that need to switch on up direction.In the time that based on Serving GW, load heavily distributes or transships the occasions such as control, E-RAB to Be Switched In Uplink List can not occur.
Those skilled in the art should understand that; according to above principle; as long as redefine by newly-added information unit or to the implication of original information unit; so that it supports up user plane data transfer passage to switch; all should be in protection scope of the present invention, and be not limited only to Fig. 8, Fig. 9 or Figure 10 limited range.
Based on identical technical conceive, the embodiment of the present invention also provides a kind of mobile management entity device and a kind of base station equipment.
As shown in figure 11, the mobile management entity device that the embodiment of the present invention provides, can comprise: request module 1101, also can further comprise receiver module 1102, wherein:
Request module 1101, for to base station transmit path handover request message (Path SwitchRequest message as the aforementioned), wherein carries the up user plane data transfer path information that needs switching; Concrete, this module can be knowing user need to be migrated to destination service gateway from current gateway time, to the base station transmit path handover request message of described user attaching;
Receiver module 1102, for receiving described base station in the acknowledge message of carrying out returning after the switching of up user plane data transfer path according to described handover request message (Path SwitchRequest Acknowledge message as the aforementioned).
Request module 1101 in above-mentioned mobile management entity device is carried the mode of up user plane data transfer path information in the handover request of path, can be: in this path handover request message, need for carrying the information unit of up user plane data transfer path information that switches, carry the described up user plane data transfer path information switched of needing; Or, in the handover request message of described path, need for carrying the information unit of user plane data transfer path information that switches, carry the described up user plane data transfer path information switched of needing.
As shown in figure 12, the base station equipment that the embodiment of the present invention provides, can comprise: receiver module 1201, path handover module 1202, and also can further comprise and confirm module 1203, wherein:
Receiver module 1201, the path handover request message (Path Switch Request message as the aforementioned) sending for receiving mobility management entity, wherein carries the up user plane data transfer path information that needs switching;
Path handover module 1202, carries out the switching of up user plane data transfer path for the handover request message receiving according to receiver module 1201;
Confirm module 1203, for completing at path handover module 1202 after up user plane data transfer path switching, return to acknowledge message (Path Switch RequestAcknowledge message as the aforementioned) to Mobility Management Entity.
It should be noted that, above embodiment is only described as an example of the service channel handoff procedure in LTE (Long Term Evolution) network example, based on same or analogous principle, in the time that other communication networks carry out service channel switching, the mode also providing applicable to the embodiment of the present invention.
In sum, when the embodiment of the present invention changes for gateway, as gateway load heavily distribute or transship control scene, service channel handoff technique scheme has been proposed, switch thereby realized for the service channel of this scene, widen the application of service channel handoff functionality, service channel handoff functionality is generalized to gateway load from UE mobile management occasion and heavily distributes, transship the occasions such as control, troubleshooting, having solved gateway load in prior art heavily distributes or transships while control, the problem that service channel cannot switch.
The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention; it should be pointed out that for those skilled in the art, under the premise without departing from the principles of the invention; can also make some improvements and modifications, these improvements and modifications also should be looked protection scope of the present invention.