CN108307424B

CN108307424B - Method and device for providing new service based on enhanced long term evolution base station

Info

Publication number: CN108307424B
Application number: CN201710652586.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王弘; 李琪; 柯小婉
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-09-30
Filing date: 2017-08-02
Publication date: 2022-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-02
Also published as: CN108307424A

Abstract

The invention provides a method and a device for selecting an accessed core network for UE by an enhanced long term evolution base station, wherein the method comprises the following steps: establishing a radio resource control connection with the UE; selecting a core network corresponding to the UE according to preset conditions; receiving a response message sent by a corresponding core network; and sending a radio resource control configuration message to the UE so as to configure or reconfigure the user plane for the UE. The method of the invention can select a proper core network for the terminal, thereby enabling 5G UE to use 5G characteristics and improving the user data volume and the utilization rate of network frequency.

Description

Method and device for providing new service based on enhanced long term evolution base station

Technical Field

The present invention relates to wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for providing a new service based on an enhanced long term evolution base station.

Background

5G refers to fifth generation mobile communication technology. Unlike the previous four generations, 5G is not a single wireless technology, but is a fusion of existing wireless communication technologies. At present, the peak rate of LTE can reach 100Mbps and 5G, which can reach 10Gbps and is improved by 100 times compared with 4G. The existing 4G network has limited processing spontaneous capability and cannot support services such as partial high-definition video, high-quality voice, augmented reality, virtual reality and the like. The 5G will introduce more advanced technology, and meet the demand of mobile service traffic increase through higher spectrum efficiency, more spectrum resources and denser cells, etc. together, solve the problems faced by the 4G network, and construct a network society with high transmission rate, high capacity, low delay, high reliability and excellent user experience. As shown in fig. 1, the 5G architecture includes a 5G access network, a 5G core network, and a UE (User Equipment) communicating with a data network through the access network.

In network evolution, the first phase will continue to use the base station of LTE while being able to support 5G terminals and use the features of 5G. Thus upgrading an LTE base station to support the 5G feature is attractive and desirable to the operator. If the LTE base station is upgraded so that the LTE base station can be connected to a 5G core network, the following problems need to be solved:

1) How to select a suitable core network for the terminal.

2) How to coordinate between an enhanced LTE base station and a 5G base station.

3) How to establish a horizontal interface between an enhanced LTE base station and an enhanced LTE base station.

4) How to inform the UE to use the appropriate protocol.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to solve at least one of the above problems, and provides a method and a corresponding apparatus for providing a new service based on an enhanced long term evolution base station.

In order to achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for selecting a core network for an UE to access based on an enhanced long term evolution base station, including the following steps:

establishing a radio resource control connection with the UE;

selecting a core network corresponding to the UE according to a preset condition;

receiving a response message sent by a corresponding core network;

and sending a radio resource control configuration message to the UE so as to configure or reconfigure the user plane for the UE.

Optionally, the preset condition includes a capability of the UE or a combination of the capability of the UE and other information.

Preferably, the capability of the UE includes at least one of:

the access to the long-term evolution core network, the access to the 5G core network and the simultaneous access to the long-term evolution core network and the 5G core network are realized.

Preferably, the other information includes at least one of:

load information of a core network, load information of an access network, and policy information pre-configured by an operator.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for establishing a UE-assisted base station based on an enhanced long term evolution base station, comprising the following steps:

sending an auxiliary base station increase request message to an auxiliary base station of an X2 interface;

receiving an auxiliary base station addition response message which is sent by an auxiliary base station of an X2 interface and carries configuration information of the auxiliary base station to UE;

sending a radio resource control message carrying configuration information of the auxiliary base station of the X2 interface to the UE;

receiving a radio resource control message sent after the UE successfully configures the new configuration information;

and sending a response message to the auxiliary base station of the X2 interface.

Further, after sending the response message to the assisting base station of the X2 interface, the method further includes the steps of:

sending a message to a core network, and configuring the core network to a user platform of the auxiliary base station;

and receiving a response message sent by the core network.

When the auxiliary base station is an X2 interface auxiliary base station, the auxiliary base station addition request message comprises a radio resource control message container from the main base station to the auxiliary base station, and the radio resource control message container comprises configuration information of the radio resource control message.

When the auxiliary base station is an X2 interface auxiliary base station, the auxiliary base station adds a response message containing a radio resource control message container from the auxiliary base station to the main base station, and the radio resource control message container contains a radio resource control message sent to the UE.

When the main base station is an enhanced long term evolution base station and the auxiliary base station is a 5G base station with a non-X2 interface or the main base station is a 5G base station and the auxiliary base station is a long term evolution base station with a non-X2 interface, the main base station selects a corresponding wireless resource control message container according to the type of the main base station or the type of the auxiliary base station so as to send an auxiliary base station increase response message.

When the main base station is an enhanced long-term evolution base station and the auxiliary base station is a 5G base station with a non-X2 interface, or the main base station is a 5G base station and the auxiliary base station is a long-term evolution base station with a non-X2 interface, the auxiliary base station selects a corresponding radio resource control message container according to the type of the auxiliary base station so as to send an auxiliary base station increase response message.

Specifically, the rrc message container includes a container of an rrc message format of 5G and a container of an rrc message format of long term evolution.

When a switching request message of a non-X2 interface is sent between a main base station and an auxiliary base station, the switching request message comprises context information of a wireless resource control message, and the main base station selects corresponding context information of the wireless resource control message according to the type of the main base station or the type of the auxiliary base station so as to send the switching request message.

Specifically, the rrc message context information includes rrc message context information in a 5G format and rrc message context information in a long term evolution format.

When a switching response message of a non-X2 interface is sent between a main base station and an auxiliary base station, the switching response message comprises a radio resource control message transparent container from the auxiliary base station to the main base station, and the auxiliary base station selects a corresponding radio resource control message transparent container format according to the type of the auxiliary base station.

Specifically, the format of the rrc message transparent container includes a format defined by an rrc message protocol layer of 5G and a format defined by an rrc message protocol layer of long term evolution.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for establishing a horizontal interface between an enhanced long term evolution base station and a neighboring base station, comprising the following steps:

sending a request message for establishing an X2 interface or a non-X2 interface, wherein the request message for establishing the X2 interface or the non-X2 interface comprises an identification of the enhanced long term evolution base station and information of a cell on the enhanced long term evolution base station;

receiving a response message of establishing an X2 interface or a non-X2 interface sent by a neighboring base station, wherein the response message of establishing the X2 interface or the non-X2 interface comprises the identification of the neighboring base station and the information of the cell on the neighboring base station.

Further, the request message or the response message for establishing the X2 interface further includes indication information whether the cell or the base station is connected to the 5G core network or whether other interfaces are supported.

Specifically, two horizontal interfaces are established between the enhanced long term evolution base station and the adjacent enhanced long term evolution base station.

Alternatively, the two horizontal interfaces may be an X2 interface and an Xn interface.

Preferably, the lte-lte base station pre-configures the type of the neighboring base station, or knows whether the neighboring base station is connected to the 5G core network from the report of the UE.

Optionally, the neighboring base station is any one of the following types: a common long term evolution base station, an enhanced long term evolution base station and a 5G base station.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for notifying a UE configuration protocol based on an enhanced long term evolution base station, including the following steps:

sending a notification message to the UE, wherein the access network of the notification message can provide the 5G feature;

and receiving a radio resource control message sent by the UE, and acquiring a non-access stratum message carried by the radio resource control message so as to configure a protocol matched with an access network of the UE.

Further, the UE may transmit information on whether the neighboring base station can support the 5G feature to the serving base station of the UE through the measurement report.

Optionally, the manner of sending the notification message to the UE includes any one or more of the following:

cell broadcast, dedicated signaling, sending radio resource control requests.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for selecting a core network for access to a UE based on an enhanced long term evolution base station, including:

a connecting module: for establishing a radio resource control connection with the UE;

a selection module: the core network is used for selecting the core network corresponding to the UE according to preset conditions;

a receiving module: the response message is used for receiving the response message sent by the corresponding core network;

a sending module: the UE is used for sending a radio resource control configuration message to the UE so as to configure or reconfigure the UE on the user plane.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a device for establishing a UE assisted base station based on an enhanced long term evolution base station, including:

a first transmitting module: the auxiliary base station is used for sending an auxiliary base station increase request message to the X2 interface;

a first receiving module: the auxiliary base station increment response message carrying the configuration information of the auxiliary base station to the UE, which is sent by the auxiliary base station of the X2 interface, is received;

a second sending module: the wireless resource control message is used for sending the configuration information of the auxiliary base station carrying the X2 interface to the UE;

a second receiving module: the wireless resource control message is used for receiving the wireless resource control message sent after the UE successfully configures the new configuration information;

a third sending module: for sending a response message to the assisting base station of the X2 interface.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for establishing a horizontal interface between an enhanced long term evolution base station and a neighboring base station, including:

a sending module: the system comprises a request message for sending an X2 interface or a non-X2 interface establishment, wherein the request message for the X2 interface or the non-X2 interface establishment comprises an identification of an enhanced long term evolution base station and information of a cell on the enhanced long term evolution base station;

a receiving module: the method and the device are used for receiving a response message of X2 interface or non-X2 interface establishment sent by a neighboring base station, wherein the response message of X2 interface or non-X2 interface establishment contains the identification of the neighboring base station and the information of the cell on the neighboring base station.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a UE configuration protocol notification apparatus based on an enhanced long term evolution base station, including:

a sending module: the method comprises the steps of sending a notification message to the UE, wherein the access network of the notification message can provide 5G new features;

a receiving module: the method is used for receiving the radio resource control message sent by the UE and acquiring the non-access stratum message carried by the radio resource control message so as to enable the UE to configure a protocol matched with an access network of the UE.

Compared with the prior art, the scheme of the invention has the following advantages:

1. the core network selection method can select a proper core network for the terminal;

2. the method for establishing the auxiliary base station can enhance the cooperation between the LTE base station and the 5G base station;

3. the method for establishing the horizontal interface realizes the establishment of the horizontal interface between the enhanced LTE base station and other adjacent base stations;

4. based on the terminal configuration protocol notification method, the terminal can use a proper protocol for communication;

based on the functions realized by the methods, the 5G terminal can use the 5G characteristics, and the user data volume and the network frequency utilization rate are improved.

Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Drawings

The above and/or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a 5G system architecture;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an enhanced LTE base station architecture according to the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of selecting a core network for a UE according to the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a procedure of establishing an assisting base station for a UE based on an X2 interface according to the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a process of establishing an X2 horizontal interface between an enhanced LTE base station and a neighboring base station according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process of notifying a UE of configuring a corresponding protocol according to the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a process of establishing an Xx horizontal interface between an LTE-enhanced base station and a neighboring base station according to the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of establishing an assisting base station for a UE based on an Xx interface according to the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for selecting a core network for UE access based on an LTE-advanced base station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for establishing a UE assisted base station based on an LTE-advanced base station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for establishing a horizontal interface between an LTE-advanced base station and a neighboring base station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a UE configuration protocol notification apparatus based on an LTE-advanced base station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar function throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are illustrative only and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

After being enhanced, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) base station can be connected to a fifth generation (5G) core network, and the LTE base station capable of being connected to the core network is called an LTE-enhanced base station. The common LTE base station can only be connected with the LTE core network node, and the enhanced LTE base station can be connected with the LTE core network node and can also be connected with the 5G core network node. We refer to the core network of LTE as the evolved data core (EPC) and the core network of 5G as the new generation core Network (NGC). In the following description, an LTE base station refers to a general base station capable of connecting only to an LTE core network, and an enhanced LTE base station refers to an LTE base station capable of connecting to a core network. The naming of the enhanced LTE base station is not limited, and in the invention, the LTE base station named by the enhanced LTE base station refers in particular to the LTE base station which can be connected to a 5G core network, still belongs to the wireless access technology of LTE, and still adopts the air interface technology of LTE at the air interface.

The first embodiment is as follows:

the embodiment of the invention provides a method for enhancing a core network selected to be accessed by an LTE base station for UE, which comprises the following steps:

establishing a radio resource control connection with the UE;

selecting a core network corresponding to the UE according to preset conditions;

receiving a response message sent by a corresponding core network;

When the access network is an LTE-advanced base station, a terminal with LTE access capability can access the base station, and a terminal with 5G capability can also access the base station. The base station of the enhanced LTE selects a core network for the terminal. As shown in fig. 3, the enhanced LTE base station connects the EPC and the NGC. The principle of the LTE-advanced base station selecting the core network may be one of the following principles:

1) And selecting a corresponding core network according to the capability of the UE. The LTE-advanced base station learns the capability of the terminal, for example, the LTE-capable capability or the 5G capability, from an RRC (Radio Resource Control) message, i.e., a Radio Resource Control message, transmitted by the terminal. And according to the capability of the terminal, the base station selects a core network for the terminal. If the terminal has the LTE capability, the base station selects EPC for the terminal as a core network, and if the terminal has the 5G capability, the base station selects NGC for the terminal as the core network.

2) The core network is selected based on the capabilities of the UE in combination with other information. Other information, such as load information of the core network, load information of the access network, policy information pre-configured by the operator, and the like. For a terminal with LTE capability, the LTE-advanced base station can only select an LTE core network for it, and for a terminal with 5G capability, the LTE-advanced base station can select an LTE core network or a core network for it.

In particular, fig. 3 describes a process of selecting a core network for a UE.

301: the UE and the enhanced LTE base station establish RRC connection. The capability of the UE is carried in the RRC message sent by the UE to the base station. The capability of the UE indicates whether the UE can access LTE, or can access 5G, or can access both 5G and LTE.

302: the enhanced LTE base station selects a corresponding core network according to the capability of the UE, for example, selects a corresponding core network according to the capability of the UE, or selects a core network according to the capability of the UE and referring to other information according to the above principle. After the selection is good, the enhanced LTE base station sends a message to the core network, and the message can carry the information of the UE and the message of the non-access layer.

303: and the core network sends a response message to the enhanced LTE base station. The core network authenticates the UE, allocates a user plane for the UE, and then sends a response message to the enhanced LTE base station.

304: the enhanced LTE base station sends an RRC configuration message to the UE. And the enhanced LTE base station performs configuration or reconfiguration of a user plane on the UE.

Example two:

the base station of the enhanced LTE and the adjacent base station need to establish a horizontal interface, and the type of the established interface is different according to the type of the adjacent base station. The neighboring base stations may be of three types:

the adjacent base station is a base station of a common LTE, and an X2 interface is established between the enhanced LTE base station and the LTE base station. The X2 interface is currently the horizontal interface between LTE base stations and LTE base stations.

The neighboring base station is the base station of the enhanced LTE, and in order to support both LTE users and 5G users, one method is to establish two horizontal interfaces, one is the currently defined X2 interface, and some enhancements can be made to the interface according to new features, and the interface can transmit the information of the LTE users. One is a new horizontal interface defined by 5G, called an Xn interface, which is a new horizontal interface defined for a new feature of 5G and is used to transmit signaling of a 5G user, and signaling of an LTE user cannot be transmitted on the interface, because some features of LTE are much different in 5G, and the interface defined for the 5G feature cannot support information that the LTE user needs to transmit. Another approach is to establish a horizontal interface that can simultaneously transmit signaling for LTE users and 5G users.

The neighboring base station is a 5G base station, and the horizontal interface between the enhanced LTE base station and the 5G base station only transmits signaling of the 5G user, so the horizontal interface is a new horizontal interface Xn defined for 5G, and may also be other interfaces, such as an Xx interface described in the following embodiments. Taking an X2 interface as an example, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for establishing a UE-assisted base station based on an LTE-enhanced base station, including the following steps:

Further, when the serving base station establishes the assisting base station for the UE and sends a message to establish the assisting bearer, the sent message for establishing or modifying the assisting cell is different according to the difference between the assisting base stations. Fig. 5 depicts a process for establishing a secondary base station for a UE.

Step 401: the main base station transmits a secondary base station addition request message to the secondary base station.

The main base station is an enhanced LTE base station, and the main base station determines to establish an auxiliary cell for the UE according to the measurement report of the UE or the measurement of the uplink signal of the UE, and transmits the data of the UE by using an auxiliary bearer. If the auxiliary base station is a common LTE base station, the main base station sends an auxiliary base station increase request message.

If the secondary base station is the base station of the enhanced LTE, two horizontal interfaces are established between the main base station and the secondary base station: x2 and Xn, the main base station selects the corresponding horizontal interface according to the capability of the UE. For example, if the UE is an LTE terminal, the primary base station selects the X2 interface and sends a handover request message. If the UE is a 5G terminal, the primary base station chooses to send a secondary base station addition request message on Xn. Or the main base station selects a horizontal interface for transmitting the message according to the core network selected for the UE. For example, the primary base station selects the EPC for the UE, and between the primary base station and the EPC is the S1 interface, the primary base station selects X2 to transmit the UE' S message. If the primary base station selects an NGC for the UE, and there is an NG interface between the primary base station and the NGC, the primary base station selects Xn to transmit the UE's message. The primary base station sends a secondary base station addition request to the secondary base station.

If the auxiliary base station is an enhanced LTE base station, a horizontal interface is established between the main base station and the auxiliary base station, the main base station sends an auxiliary base station adding request message to the auxiliary base station, the auxiliary base station is also connected with two core networks, one is EPC, the other is NGC, a user plane protocol stack also comprises a protocol stack of an LTE user plane and a protocol stack of a 5G user plane, and the auxiliary base station needs to select a protocol structure to serve a user. The selected protocol structure should be consistent with the selection of the master base station or should refer to the core network selected by the master base station. The user plane has been selected and established for the UE on the primary base station, and the core network node has been selected, so the primary base station needs to tell the secondary base station which set of protocols to use to establish the secondary bearer for the UE. The auxiliary base station increase request message includes a type of a core network selected by the main base station for the UE, or includes a backhaul type selected by the main base station for the UE, or includes indication information indicating which protocol stack the auxiliary base station needs to adopt for serving the UE, or includes capability information of the UE, and the auxiliary base station establishes an auxiliary bearer according to the capability information of the UE, that is, selects a corresponding user plane protocol stack.

Step 402: the secondary base station transmits a secondary base station addition response message to the primary base station. The message contains configuration information of the assisting base station to the UE.

Step 403: the primary base station sends an RRC message to the UE. The message carries the configuration information of the auxiliary base station to the UE.

Step 404: the UE sends an RRC message to the primary base station. And the UE transmits a response message to the main base station according to the new configuration information successfully configured.

Step 405: the main base station transmits a response message to the subsidiary base station.

Step 406: if necessary, the main base station sends a message to the core network, and the core network is configured to the user plane of the auxiliary base station.

Step 407: the core network sends a response message to the master base station.

Example three:

further, when the interface is other than the X2 interface, for example, the connection between the enhanced LTE base station (or LTE base station) and the 5G base station is an Xx interface. The Xx interface differs from the previous X2 interface. The current X2 interface is an interface for connecting two enbs, and base stations at both ends belong to LTE, and are of the same access network system. Two base stations connected by an Xx interface, one belonging to LTE and one belonging to 5G, belong to different access network systems, so the process on the Xx is different from the current process on the X2. The Xx interface may be an interface that is the same as the interface (Xn) between the 5G base station and the 5G base station, or an enhanced interface of the current X2 interface, or a new interface defined between the LTE base station and the 5G base station.

The enhanced LTE base station (or LTE base station) and the 5G base station may be configured as dual connectivity, one base station being the primary base station and one base station being the secondary base station. One case is where the primary base station is an enhanced LTE base station (or LTE base station), the secondary base station is a 5G base station, the enhanced LTE base station is connected to the NGC, and the LTE base station is connected to the EPC. One case is where the primary base station is a 5G base station, the secondary base station is an enhanced LTE base station, and the 5G base station is connected to the NGC.

Step 801: the main base station transmits an auxiliary base station addition request message to the auxiliary base station.

The secondary base station request message of the current X2 interface includes a container from the primary base station to the secondary base station, and includes RRC configuration information therein. After receiving the configuration information, the secondary base station configures the bearer on the secondary base station according to the configuration information of the RRC sent by the primary base station. On the Xx interface, since the primary base station (or the secondary base station) can be an LTE base station or a 5G base station, two RRC containers from the primary base station to the secondary base station, one container in the RRC format of 5G and one container in the RRC format of LTE need to be defined in the secondary base station addition request message.

When the main base station sends the message, a mode of a target adaptive source can be adopted, and a proper RRC container is selected according to different types of the main base station. For example, if the main base station is a 5G base station, a 5G RRC format container is selected. For example, if the primary base station is an LTE base station, the RRC format container of LTE is selected.

Or in a source-adapted-destination manner, the primary base station selects a suitable RRC container according to the type of the secondary base station, for example, if the secondary base station is a 5G base station, a 5G RRC format container is selected. For example, the secondary base station is an LTE base station, then a container of RRC format for LTE is selected.

Step 802: the assisting base station transmits an assisting base station addition response message to the assisting base station.

The secondary base station addition response message of the current X2 includes a container from the secondary base station to the primary base station, and the container carries the RRC message to be sent to the UE. On the Xx interface, the assisting base station adds the response message, and two different types of RRC containers need to be defined, one is a container in the RRC format of 5G, and one is a container in the RRC format of LTE. Unlike the 801 step, the RRC container transmitted by the secondary base station is RRC configuration information to be transmitted to the UE, and does not need to be parsed by the primary base station, so that it is not necessary to adapt to the type of the primary base station, but rather, the UE is configured according to the type of the secondary base station. For example, if the secondary base station is a 5G base station, the response message includes a container in RRC format of 5G, and if the secondary base station is an LTE base station, the response message includes a container in RRC format of LTE.

Step 803: the primary base station sends an RRC message to the UE. The message carries the configuration information of the auxiliary base station to the UE.

Step 804: the UE sends an RRC message to the primary base station. And the UE transmits a response message to the main base station according to the new configuration information successfully configured.

Step 805: the primary base station transmits a response message to the secondary base station.

Step 806: if necessary, the main base station sends a message to the core network, and the core network is configured to the user plane of the auxiliary base station.

Step 807: the core network sends a response message to the master base station.

Example four:

the method is also applicable to the Xx handover process, and the Xx handover request message includes RRC context information, which includes a handover preparation message defined by the LTE RRC protocol layer. In the Xx handover request, two formats of RRC context information need to be defined, one is RRC context information defined by the LTE RRC protocol layer, and the other is RRC context information defined by the 5G RRC protocol layer. When the source base station sends the message, a mode of adapting to the source by the destination can be adopted, and proper RRC context information can be selected according to different types of the source base station. E.g., the source base station is a 5G base station, the RRC context information of the 5G format is selected. E.g., the source base station is an LTE base station, RRC context information in LTE format is selected.

Or a source-to-destination manner is adopted, and the source base station selects a suitable RRC transparent container according to the type of the destination base station, for example, if the destination base station is a 5G base station, the source base station selects RRC context information in a 5G format. E.g., the destination base station is an LTE base station, RRC context information in LTE format is selected.

In the Xx handover response message, the destination-to-source RRC transparent container is included, and the transparent container carries the handover command message to be sent to the UE. The RRC transparent container defines two formats, one is a handover command defined by the LTE RRC protocol layer, and one is a handover command defined by the 5G RRC protocol layer. And the target base station selects the format of the corresponding RRC transparent container according to the type of the target base station. For example, if the destination base station is an LTE-enhanced base station, the RRC transparent container defined by the LTE RRC protocol is included, and if the destination base station is a 5G base station, the RRC transparent container defined by the 5G RRC protocol is included.

Example five:

if two horizontal interfaces are to be established between the LTE-advanced base station and the LTE-advanced base station, how to establish the two horizontal interfaces needs to be studied. Currently, there is only one horizontal interface between two nodes, and in some cases, for example, both nodes are LTE-advanced base stations, it is necessary to establish two horizontal interfaces between the two nodes. If two horizontal interfaces need to be established, the base station of the enhanced LTE needs to know in advance that the type of the adjacent base station is the base station of the enhanced LTE, so that two interfaces can be established with the base station.

Based on this, the embodiment of the present invention provides a method for establishing a horizontal interface between an enhanced LTE base station and a neighboring base station, including the following steps:

sending a request message established by an X2 interface or a non-X2 interface, wherein the request message established by the X2 interface or the non-X2 interface comprises an identifier of an enhanced LTE base station and information of a cell on the enhanced LTE base station;

and receiving a response message established by an X2 interface or a non-X2 interface sent by the adjacent base station, wherein the response message established by the X2 interface or the non-X2 interface comprises the identification of the adjacent base station and the information of the cell on the adjacent base station.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 6, assuming that two horizontal interfaces are X2 and Xn, the method of establishing the horizontal interface may be one of the following methods.

The method comprises the following steps: the base station of the enhanced LTE is preconfigured with the type of the neighbor base station. The operation maintenance is configured with the type of the adjacent base station in advance, and the type of the adjacent base station can be an LTE base station, an enhanced LTE base station or a 5G base station. The type of the base station can also be judged by dividing some frequencies or dividing the physical layer identification codes. According to the type of the base station, a corresponding horizontal interface is established between the base station of the enhanced LTE and the adjacent base station. Or through the method in fig. six, the base station broadcasts at the air interface whether the base station supports the 5G feature, that is, whether the base station can be accessed to the 5G core network, for example, the air interface of the enhanced LTE base station is an LTE access technology, and whether the base station can be connected to the 5G core network cannot be seen from the air interface, so that the service feature of the 5G is used, and thus the enhanced LTE base station broadcasts an indication information indicating whether the base station supports the 5G feature, that is, whether the base station is connected to the 5G core network. In the process of automatic neighbor cell establishment, the UE listens to broadcast information of a neighboring base station, and then sends indication information that the LTE base station supports 5G characteristics to a service base station of the UE through a measurement report. That is, the base station 1 in this embodiment, according to the report, the base station 1 knows that the neighboring base station is the LTE-advanced base station, and if the base station 1 is also the LTE-advanced base station, the base station 1 needs to establish X2 and Xn.

Step 501, the base station 1 sends an X2 establishment request, where the X2 establishment request includes an identifier of the base station and information of a cell on the base station.

In step 502, the base station 2 sends an X2 setup response. The X2 setup response message includes the identity of the base station and information of the cell on the base station.

In step 503, the base station 1 sends an Xn establishment request. According to the configuration information, the base station 1 initiates a process of Xn establishment. This process may be combined with the process of 501 into one process. The Xn setup request message includes the identity of the base station and information of the cell on the base station. The cell information of the base station includes the frequency of the cell.

In step 504, the base station 2 sends an Xn setup response. Step 504 may be combined with step 502 into a procedure Xn setup response message that includes the identity of the base station, information about the cell on the base station. The cell information of the base station includes the frequency of the cell.

The second method comprises the following steps: when the base station of the enhanced LTE, i.e. base station 1, sends an X2 interface setup request. The base station 1 normally establishes the X2 interface, and carries an indication in the message of the X2 interface establishment request, indicating whether the base station is capable of establishing the Xn interface. When the base station 2 sends the X2 interface establishment response, it may also carry indication information indicating whether the base station is capable of establishing an Xn interface, and if both the base station 1 and the base station 2 are capable of establishing an Xn interface, the base station 1 or the base station 2 sends an Xn establishment request message to the opposite base station.

Step 501, the base station 1 sends an X2 establishment request, where the X2 establishment request includes an identifier of the base station and information of a cell on the base station. The X2 request message also includes indication information whether the cell/base station supports the 5G feature or supports the Xn interface.

In step 502, the base station 2 sends an X2 setup response. The X2 setup response message includes the identity of the base station and information of the cell on the base station. The X2 response message also includes indication information whether the cell/base station supports the 5G feature or supports the Xn interface.

In step 503, the base station 1 sends an Xn establishment request. According to the messages of steps 501 and 502, if base station 1 and base station 2 both support the 5G feature or both support the establishment of the Xn interface, base station 1 initiates the Xn establishment procedure. The Xn setup request message includes the identity of the base station and information of the cell on the base station. The cell information of the base station includes the frequency of the cell.

In step 504, the base station 2 sends an Xn setup response. The Xn establishment response message contains the identity of the base station and the information of the cell on the base station. The cell information of the base station includes the frequency of the cell.

The third method comprises the following steps: the base station of the LTE-advanced, i.e. base station 1, sends an Xn setup request message, and if the opposite base station, i.e. base station 2, has the capability to set up an Xn interface, e.g. base station 2 is an LTE-advanced base station, or is a 5G base station, base station 2 sends an Xn setup response message. If the base station 2 has no capability to establish the Xn interface, e.g. the base station 2 is a normal LTE base station, no response message is sent, or a failure message is sent. If the base station 1 receives the response message, it considers that the Xn establishment is successful, and if the base station 1 does not receive the response message or receives the failed message, it may consider that the Xn interface cannot be established with the base station 2.

A similar method may be used for establishing the X2 interface, that is, the base station 1 sends an X2 establishment request message, and if the opposite-end base station, that is, the base station 2, has the capability of establishing the X2 interface, for example, the base station 2 is a normal LTE base station or an enhanced LTE base station, the base station 2 sends an X2 establishment response message. If the base station 2 is not capable of establishing the X2 interface, e.g. the base station 2 is a normal 5G base station, no response message or a failed message is sent. If the base station 1 does not receive the response message or receives the failed message, it may consider that the X2 interface cannot be established with the base station 2.

In step 503, the base station 1 sends an Xn establishment request. The Xn setup request message includes the identity of the base station and information of the cell on the base station. The cell information of the base station includes the frequency of the cell.

In step 504, if the base station 2 can recognize the message in step 503, an Xn interface can be established, and the base station 2 sends an Xn establishment response. The Xn setup response message contains the identity of the base station and the information of the cell on the base station. The cell information of the base station includes the frequency of the cell. Otherwise, the base station 2 does not transmit a response message or transmits an error message to the base station 1. The Xn interface between base station 1 and base station 2 is not established successfully.

Example six:

of course, the Xn may be other interfaces, such as the Xx interface shown in this embodiment. In the process of the Xx establishment, the base station 1 sends an Xx establishment request, the message includes information of a serving cell on the base station 1, if the base station 1 belongs to LTE, the serving cell is information of an LTE serving cell, and if the base station 1 belongs to 5G, the message of the base station establishment request includes information of a 5G serving cell. If the information of the 5G serving cell is similar to the information of the LTE message, the same information element (IE for short) may be used to transmit the information of the cell, and if the information of the 5G serving cell is different from the information of the LTE serving cell, different IEs need to be used to transmit the information of the cell, that is, in the Xx setup request message, the IE of the LTE serving cell is included, and the IE of the 5G serving message is also included, and the base station sets up the corresponding IEs according to the difference of the base stations that send the messages. Similarly, in the Xx setup response message, different IEs are used to transmit the cell information, that is, in the Xx setup response message, the IE of the LTE serving cell is included, and the IE of the 5G serving message is also included, and the base station sets the corresponding IEs according to the difference of the base stations sending the response message.

Example seven:

in order to smoothly evolve to a 5G network on an existing LTE network, a 5G terminal may access to the 5G network, or may access to an enhanced LTE access network. Meaning that 5G terminals, namely, to support LTE protocols, the LTE protocols include access stratum protocols and non-access stratum protocols, and also support 5G protocols, and the 5G protocol stack includes access stratum protocols and non-access stratum protocols. The access layer protocol is a signaling protocol for the UE to transparently transmit to the core network through the access network. When the access network is a 5G access network, the 5G terminal may use the new features of 5G, so as to use the protocol of 5G, if the access network is an LTE access network, the LTE access network may define two types, one is an enhanced LTE access network, the access network is characterized by being capable of connecting to a 5G core network, so that the new features of 5G can be used, the other is an LTE access network, the access network is characterized by being incapable of connecting to a 5G core network, only being capable of connecting to an EPC, and the LTE terminal cannot use the new features of 5G. Therefore, when the terminal is in the LTE access network, the terminal may operate differently according to the difference of the LTE access network.

Based on this, the embodiment of the present invention provides a UE configuration protocol notification method based on an LTE-advanced base station, including the following steps:

In particular, fig. 7 details the process of informing the UE which protocol to use to access the network.

601, the network informs the terminal that the access network is able to provide the new feature of 5G. When the access network is an LTE access network, the network informs the terminal whether the access network is an enhanced LTE access network or a common LTE access network. The notification mode can be a cell broadcast mode or a dedicated signaling mode. The broadcasting mode may be to indicate whether the access network has the capability of providing the 5G new feature by carrying indication information in a broadcast message. If so, the terminal can configure a non-access stratum message of the 5G, carry the non-access stratum message through the RRC message, and send the non-access stratum message to the core network of the 5G. If the capability of providing the 5G new features is not provided, the terminal configures the 4G access layer message, carries the non-access layer message through the RRC message and sends the non-access layer message to the 4G core network.

The special signaling mode is that the special signaling sent to the terminal carries indication information to indicate whether the access network has the capability of providing 5G new features. For example, the UE sends an RRC establishment request message to the access network, where the message carries capability information of the UE, and after receiving the RRC establishment request message, the access network selects a suitable core network for the terminal according to the capability of the UE, and then the access network sends a wireless establishment message, where the message carries indication information indicating whether the access network selects an EPC or NGC for the terminal, that is, whether the terminal can use a 5G non-access stratum signaling, and sends a 5G non-access stratum message to the core network.

Or the UE sends an RRC establishment request message to the access network, the message carries the reason for establishing the RRC machine and the identification of the UE, the access network sends a wireless establishment message to the UE after receiving the RRC establishment request message, the message carries indication information and indicates whether the access network is connected to the NGC or not, namely whether the terminal can use a non-access stratum signaling of 5G or not, and the non-access stratum message of 5G is sent to the core network.

602, the UE sends RRC message to the access network, the RRC message carries non-access layer message. And according to the indication information in the step 601, the UE configures corresponding non-access stratum information. If the indication information indicates that the access network has the capability of providing the 5G new features, namely the access network is the enhanced LTE access network, the access network selects a core network for the terminal or the access network is connected to the core network, and the terminal configures 5G non-access stratum signaling and sends the signaling to the core network through the access network. If the indication information indicates that the access network does not have the capability of providing the 5G new feature, only the capability of providing the 4G feature is provided, or the access network selects a 4G core network for the terminal, the terminal configures a 4G non-access layer signaling, and the signaling is sent to the 4G core network through the access network.

Example eight:

referring to fig. 9, based on the core network access method based on the LTE-advanced base station provided in the first embodiment, an eighth embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for selecting a core network to be accessed for a UE by an LTE-advanced base station, where the apparatus includes a connection module 91, a selection module 92, a reception module 93, and a transmission module 94, where,

a connecting module: for establishing a radio resource control connection with the UE; a selection module: the core network selection method comprises the steps of selecting a core network corresponding to the UE according to a preset principle; a receiving module: used for receiving the response message sent by the corresponding core network; a sending module: the system is used for sending a radio resource control configuration message to the UE so as to configure or reconfigure a user screen for the UE.

In the solution of the present invention, specific functions of each module in the core network access apparatus based on an enhanced LTE base station provided in the eighth embodiment may refer to specific steps of the core network access method based on an enhanced LTE base station provided in the first embodiment, and are not described in detail here.

Example nine:

referring to fig. 10, based on the method for establishing a UE-assisted base station based on an LTE-advanced base station provided in the second embodiment, the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, a ninth embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for establishing a UE-assisted base station based on an LTE-advanced base station, the apparatus includes a first sending module 101, a first receiving module 102, a second sending module 103, a second receiving module 104 and a third sending module 105, wherein,

a first sending module: the auxiliary base station is used for sending an auxiliary base station increase request message to the X2 interface; a first receiving module: the auxiliary base station adding response message carrying the configuration information of the auxiliary base station to the UE and sent by the auxiliary base station of the X2 interface is received; a second sending module: the wireless resource control message is used for sending the configuration information of the auxiliary base station carrying the X2 interface to the UE; a second receiving module: the wireless resource control message is used for receiving the wireless resource control message sent after the UE successfully configures the new configuration information; a third sending module: for sending a response message to the assisting base station of the X2 interface.

In the solution of the present invention, specific functions of each module in the apparatus for establishing a UE-assisted base station based on an LTE-advanced base station provided in the ninth embodiment may refer to specific steps of the method for establishing a UE-assisted base station based on an LTE-advanced base station provided in the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the fourth embodiment, and are not described in detail herein.

Example ten:

referring to fig. 11, based on the method for establishing a horizontal interface between an LTE-advanced base station and a neighboring base station provided in the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment, a tenth embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for establishing a horizontal interface between an LTE-advanced base station and a neighboring base station, where the apparatus includes a sending module 111 and a receiving module 112, where,

in the solution of the present invention, specific functions of each module in the apparatus for establishing a horizontal interface between an LTE-advanced base station and an adjacent base station provided in the tenth embodiment may refer to specific steps of the method for establishing a horizontal interface between an LTE-advanced base station and an adjacent base station provided in the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment, and are not described in detail here.

Example eleven:

referring to fig. 12, based on the UE configuration protocol notification method based on the LTE-advanced base station provided in the seventh embodiment, an eleventh embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for notifying a UE configuration protocol based on an LTE-advanced base station, the apparatus includes a sending module 121 and a receiving module 122, wherein,

in the solution of the present invention, specific functions of each module in the UE configuration protocol notification apparatus based on an LTE-advanced base station provided in the eleventh embodiment may refer to specific steps of the UE configuration protocol notification method based on an LTE-advanced base station provided in the seventh embodiment, and are not described in detail here.

The foregoing is only a partial embodiment of the present invention, and it should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, various modifications and decorations can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these modifications and decorations should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method performed by a base station connecting a first type of core network and a second type of core network, comprising:

transmitting a message indicating information associated with a fifth generation core network 5GC connection of the base station;

receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message from User Equipment (UE), wherein the RRC message carries a non-access stratum message corresponding to the type of a core network of the UE; wherein a core network type of the UE is selected between an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and a 5GC by the UE according to the message indicating that the base station can connect the EPC and the 5 GC;

under the condition that UE selects EPC, sending a non-access stratum message corresponding to the EPC;

under the condition that the UE selects the 5GC, sending a non-access stratum message corresponding to the 5 GC;

receiving a measurement report from the UE, the measurement report including information associated with a 5GC connection of a neighboring base station;

wherein the base station operates in accordance with a long term evolution, LTE, communication system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is included in broadcast information of the base station.

3. A method performed by a UE, comprising:

receiving a message of information associated with a fifth generation core network 5GC connection of the base station from the base station;

selecting a core network type between an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and a 5GC for the UE according to the message indicating that the base station can connect the EPC and the 5 GC;

under the condition of selecting the EPC, sending a non-access stratum message corresponding to the EPC carried by a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message to the EPC through a base station;

under the condition of selecting the 5GC, sending a non-access stratum message corresponding to the 5GC carried by an RRC message to the 5GC through a base station;

transmitting a measurement report to a base station, the measurement report including information associated with a 5GC connection of a neighboring base station;

wherein the base station operates according to a long term evolution, LTE, communication system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information is included in broadcast information from the base station.

5. A base station for connecting a first type of core network to a second type of core network, comprising:

a sending module: a message for transmitting information indicating information associated with a fifth generation core network 5GC connection of the base station;

a receiving module: the device comprises a base station and a User Equipment (UE), wherein the base station is used for receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message from the UE, and the RRC message carries a non-access stratum message corresponding to the type of a core network of the UE; wherein a core network type of the UE is selected between an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and a 5GC by the UE according to the message indicating that the base station can connect the EPC and the 5 GC; further for receiving a measurement report from the UE, the measurement report including information associated with a 5GC connection of a neighboring base station;

the sending module: the UE is also used for sending a non-access stratum message corresponding to the EPC under the condition that the UE selects the EPC; under the condition that the UE selects the 5GC, sending a non-access stratum message corresponding to the 5 GC;

6. The base station of claim 5, wherein the information is included in broadcast information of the base station.

7. A User Equipment (UE), comprising:

a receiving module: a message for receiving information associated with a fifth generation core network 5GC connection of the base station from the base station; further configured to select a core network type between the EPC and the 5GC for the UE according to the message indicating that the base station is capable of connecting the evolved packet core EPC and the 5 GC;

a sending module: the method comprises the steps that when the EPC is selected, a non-access stratum message corresponding to the EPC carried by a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message is sent to the EPC through a base station; under the condition that a 5GC is selected, sending a non-access stratum message which is carried by an RRC message and corresponds to the 5GC through a base station; further for sending a measurement report to the base station, the measurement report comprising information associated with a 5GC connection of a neighboring base station;

8. The UE of claim 7, wherein the information is included in broadcast information of the base station.

9. A base station for connecting a first type of core network to a second type of core network, comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory;

one or more applications, wherein the one or more applications are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs configured to: performing the method according to claim 1 or 2.

10. A user equipment, UE, characterized in that it comprises:

one or more processors;

a memory;

one or more applications, wherein the one or more applications are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs configured to: performing the method of claim 3 or 4.

11. A computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored which, when being executed by a processor, carries out the method of claim 1 or 2.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, which, when being executed by a processor, carries out the method of claim 3 or 4.