BR112018006580B1 - SERVICE CONTINUITY ASSURANCE METHOD, CONTROL PLAN COMMUNICATION PORT AND MOBILITY MANAGEMENT NETWORK ELEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

SERVICE CONTINUITY ASSURANCE METHOD, CONTROL PLAN COMMUNICATION PORT AND MOBILITY MANAGEMENT NETWORK ELEMENT. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of ensuring service continuity, a control plane communication port, and a mobility management network element. The method includes: receiving (201), by a C-GW, UE current location information sent by a mobility management network element; selecting (202), by the C-GW, at least one forwarding D-GW for the UE according to the current location information of the UE; establish (203), by the C-GW to the UE, a data forwarding tunnel between a source D-GW of the UE and the forwarding D-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding D-GW and a target base station of the UE, wherein the data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit uplink user plane data and/or downlink user plane data of the UE in a process of moving the UE.

Description

FIELD OF TECHNIQUE

[001] The present invention relates to the field of communications and, more specifically, to a method of ensuring service continuity, a control plane communication port and a mobility management network element.

BACKGROUND

[002] A Distributed Gateway (DGW) architecture is an enhanced network architecture proposed on the basis of an existing Evolved Packet System (EPS) network architecture in accordance with an idea of separating a network control plane function from a user plane function. The DGW architecture includes a Control plane gateway (C-GW) and a User plane gateway (U-GW).

[003] The C-GW is a centralized control plane communication port, and can have two forms: (1) a single network element obtained after a control plane function of a Serving Communication Port (Serving Gateway, S-GW) and a control plane function of a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) in an existing 3GPP EPS network are integrated, and (2) two independent networks that separately deploy a control plane function from an existing S-GW (Control Plane S-GW) and a control plane function from an existing P-GW (Control Plane P-GW). The C-GW is specially configured to process control plane signaling in the 3GPP EPS network, which includes signaling related to functions such as mobility management, session management, address management, path management, and accounting management. C-GW interacts with U-GW to implement control and management in user plane data processing.

[004] The U-GW is a distributed user plane communication port. Corresponding to the two forms of the C-GW, the U-GW can also have two forms: (1) a single network element obtained after a user plane function of the Serving Communication Port (Packet Data Network Gateway, S-GW ) and a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) user plane function in the existing 3GPP EPS network are integrated, and (2) two independent network elements that deploy separately a user plane function of the existing S-GW (User Plane S-GW) and a user plane function of the existing P-GW (User Plane P-GW). The U-GW is specially configured to process user plane data in the 3GPP EPS network, including functions such as routing and forwarding, data packet verification, data packet accounting, and quality of service enforcement. U-GW processes user plane data under the control and management of C-GW. Considering that a resource in the U-GW can be deployed in a distributed manner, the U-GW can also be referred to as a distributed communication port (Distributed Communication Port, D-GW).

[005] In the existing EPS network architecture, service continuity is implemented through a P-GW anchor function. That is, in a UE moving process in a connected mode that performs a user plane service, UE user plane data is always exchanged between the current P-GW and an external data network. Due to the fact that the P-GW does not change in the moving process, a user plane IP address is guaranteed not to change, to further guarantee the continuity of the user plane service.

[006] The U-GW (or the D-GW) in the DGW architecture can be deployed in a distributed manner, according to a service requirement, to deploy a user's local access, further reducing a round trip time (Round-Trip Time, RTT) of user plane data, and improve user experience. During deployment, the U-GW can be moved down to a metro area network closer to the user and even to a base station controller. With movement down the U-GW, a U-GW service lane is much smaller than an S-GW/P-GW service lane deployed in a centralized manner in the EPS network. In this way, a probability that the serving U-GW changes in the moving process of the UE increases.

[007] It can be learned that in the DGW architecture, how to ensure service continuity in the moving process of the UE is a relevant problem.

SUMMARY

[008] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of ensuring service continuity, a control plane communication port, and a mobility management network element, to establish, for the UE, a data forwarding tunnel between a forwarding U-GW and a source U-GW, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and a target base station of the UE, so as to ensure continuity of service in a moving process of the EU, and improve the user's service experience.

[009] According to a first aspect, a method of ensuring service continuity is proposed, and the method includes: receiving, through a control plane communication port, current location information of a user equipment sent by a mobility management network element for user equipment; selecting, by the control plane communication port, at least one forwarding user plane communication port to the user equipment in accordance with the current location information of the user equipment; and establishing, through the control plane communication port for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and the source user plane communication port. forwarding, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station of the user equipment, wherein the data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit link user plane data uplink and/or downlink user plane data from the user equipment into a moving process of the user equipment.

[010] With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementation, the at least one forwarding user plane communication port is a first user plane communication port, the control plane communication port is a control plane communication port used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment be moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; and an establishment-specific deployment, through the control plane communication port to the user equipment, of a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and the communication port forwarding user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station of the user equipment is: receiving, through the control plane communication port, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information of the target base station of the user equipment; sending, through the control plane communications port, a second request to the first user plane communications port, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communications port to establish the data forwarding tunnel. data between the first user plane communication port and the target base station, and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the second request ports the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source user plane communication port; and sending, through the control plane communications port, a third request to the source user plane communications port, wherein the third request is used to request the source user plane communications port to establish the tunnel forwarding data between the source user plane communication port and the first user plane communication port, and the third request port routing information from the forwarding user plane communication port.

[011] With reference to the first aspect, in a second possible implementation, the at least one forwarding user plane communication port includes a second user plane communication port and a third user plane communication port, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a control plane communication port control element used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area. Current location; and an establishment-specific deployment, through the control plane communication port to the user equipment, of a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and the communication port forwarding user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station of the user equipment is: receiving, through the control plane communication port, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information of the target base station of the user equipment; sending, through the control plane communications port, a second request to the second user plane communications port, wherein the second request is used to request that the second user plane communications port establish a data forwarding tunnel. data between the second user plane communication port and the target base station, and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the third user plane communication port; send, through the control plane communication port, a third request to the third user plane communication port, wherein the third request is used to request the third user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel. data between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port , and the third request carries routing information of the second user plane communication port and routing information of the source user plane communication port; and sending, through the control plane communications port, a fourth request to the source user plane communications port, wherein the fourth request is used to request the source user plane communications port to establish the tunnel forwarding data between the source user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, and the fourth request carries the routing information of the third user plane communication port.

[012] With reference to the first aspect, in a third possible implementation, the at least one forwarding user plane communication port is a first user plane communication port, the control plane communication port is a control plane communication port used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved. moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the method further includes: additionally receiving, by the control plane communication port, routing information from the source user plane communication port sent by the mobility management network element; and the establishment-specific deployment, through the control plane communication port to the user equipment, of a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and the communication port forwarding user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station of the user equipment is: receiving, through the control plane communication port, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information of the target base station of the user equipment; and sending, through the control plane communication port, a second request to the first user plane communication port, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the forward tunnel data between the first user plane communication port and the target base station, and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the second request ports the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source user plane communication port.

[013] With reference to the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation, the at least one forwarding user plane communication port includes a second user plane communication port and a third user plane communication port, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a control plane communication port. server control used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the location area current; the method further includes: additionally receiving, by the control plane communication port, routing information from the source user plane communication port sent by the mobility management network element; and the establishment-specific deployment, through the control plane communication port to the user equipment, of a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and the communication port forwarding user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station of the user equipment is: receiving, through the control plane communication port, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information of the target base station of the user equipment; sending, through the control plane communications port, a second request to the second user plane communications port, wherein the second request is used to request that the second user plane communications port establish a data forwarding tunnel. data between the second user plane communication port and the target base station, and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third user plane communication port; and sending, through the control plane communication port, a third request to the third user plane communication port, wherein the third request is used to request the third user plane communication port to establish the forward tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port. source, and the third request carries routing information from the second user plane communication port and the routing information from the source user plane communication port.

[014] With reference to any one of the first aspect, or the first possible deployment of the first aspect to the fourth possible deployment of the first aspect, in a fifth possible deployment, the method additionally includes: sending, via the control plane communication port , a create session request to a target user plane communications port, wherein the create session request is used to create, on the target user plane communications port for the user equipment, a context For user-plane data transmission, each bearer context created includes routing information of the target user-plane communication port, and the target user-plane communication port is a user-plane communication port. server user that corresponds to the current location area of the user equipment.

[015] With reference to the fifth possible deployment of the first aspect, in a sixth possible deployment, the method further includes: sending, via the control plane communication port, routing information from the target user plane communication port to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[016] With reference to the first possible deployment of the first aspect or the third possible deployment of the first aspect, in a seventh possible deployment, the method additionally includes: sending, through the control plane communication port, the routing information of the first port of user plane communication to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[017] With reference to the first possible deployment of the first aspect or the third possible deployment of the first aspect, in an eighth possible deployment, the first user plane communication port is additionally a serving user plane communication port selected by the port of control plane communication to the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment.

[018] With reference to the second possible deployment of the first aspect or the fourth possible deployment of the first aspect, in a ninth possible deployment, the method additionally includes: sending, via the control plane communication port, the routing information of the second port of user plane communication to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[019] According to a second aspect, a method of ensuring service continuity is proposed, and the method includes: receiving, by a target mobility management network element, a forwarding relocation request sent by a target mobility management network element of a source mobility management network serving a user equipment, wherein the forwarding relocation request carries current location information of the user equipment; selecting, by the target mobility management network element, a target control plane communication port of the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; send, by the target mobility management network element, the current location information of the user equipment to the target control plane communication port, so that the target control plane communication port determines a forwarding user plane communication of the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; and sending, by the target mobility management network element, a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the target control plane communication port, wherein the data forwarding tunnel establishment request is used to request that the target control plane communications port establish, for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communications port and a source user plane communications port that serving the user equipment, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment.

[020] With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation, the target control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to a control area. current location, and the method further includes: sending, by the target mobility management network element, a change notification message to the source mobility management network element, wherein the change notification message is used to indicate that a serving control plane communication port of the user equipment switches to the target control plane communication port.

[021] With reference to the first possible deployment of the second aspect, in a second possible deployment, the method further includes: receiving, by the target mobility management network element, a confirmation message sent by the mobility management network element source according to the change notification message, wherein the confirmation message carries routing information of the source user plane communication port of the user equipment.

[022] According to a third aspect, a method of ensuring service continuity is proposed, and the method includes: receiving, through a control plane communication port, current location information of a user equipment sent by a mobility management network element; selecting, by the control plane communication port, a target user plane communication port for the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; and sending, through the control plane communication port, a request message to the mobility management network element, wherein the request message is used to request the mobility management network element to release a first context of bearer and instruct the user equipment to send a set request to a second bearer context, wherein the first bearer context is a user equipment bearer context that is established on a source user plane communication port of the user equipment and the second bearer context is a bearer context that is reestablished by the user equipment on the target user plane communication port in accordance with the first bearer context.

[023] With reference to the third aspect, in a first possible implementation, the request message is a deletion carrier request message, with the deletion carrier request message carrying a reactivation request indication, and the indication reactivation request is used to indicate, using the mobility management network element, to the user equipment to initiate the reset request to the bearer context after the bearer context is deleted.

[024] According to a fourth aspect, a control plane communication port is proposed, and the control plane communication port includes: a receiving unit configured to receive current location information of a user equipment sent by a mobility management network element; a selection unit configured to select at least one forwarding user plane communication port for the user equipment in accordance with the current location information of the user equipment; and a tunnel establishment unit configured to establish, for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and the user plane communication port forwarding tunnel, and a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station of the user equipment, wherein the data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit user plane data from uplink and/or downlink user plane data from the user equipment into a moving process of the user equipment.

[025] In a possible design, the at least one forwarding user plane communications port is a first user plane communications port, the control plane communications port is a serving control plane communications port. used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the location area current, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information of the target base station of the user equipment; and the control plane communication port further includes a sending unit, and the tunnel establishment unit is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first user plane communication port using the sending unit, and sending a third request to the source user plane communication port using the sending unit, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, the second request port as routing information of the target base station and routing information of the source user plane communication port, the third request is used to request the source user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the first user plane communication port, and the third request port routing information from the forwarding user plane communication port.

[026] In one possible design, the at least one forwarding user plane communications port includes a second user plane communications port and a third user plane communications port, the control plane communications port. is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information of the target base station of the user equipment; and the control plane communication port further includes a sending unit, and the tunnel establishment unit is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second user plane communication port using the sending unit, sending a third request to the third user plane communication port using the sending unit, and sending a fourth request to the source user plane communication port using the sending unit, where the second request is used to request the second user plane communication port to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the target base station, and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the target base station. user plane communication and the third user plane communication port, the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the third user plane communication port, the third request is used to request that the third user plane communication port establishes the data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port user plane communication and the source user plane communication port, the third request carries routing information from the second user plane communication port and routing information from the source user plane communication port, the fourth request is used to request the source user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, and the fourth request port the routing information of the third user plane communication port.

[027] In a possible design, the at least one forwarding user plane communication port is a first user plane communication port, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port. used after the user equipment is moved to a breadcrumb area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communications port used before the user equipment is moved to the breadcrumb area , and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the receiving unit is further configured to receive source user plane communication port routing information sent by the mobility management network element; the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information of the target base station of the user equipment; and the control plane communication port further includes a sending unit, and the tunnel establishment unit is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first user plane communication port using the sending unit, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source user plane communication port .

[028] In one possible design, the at least one forwarding user plane communications port includes a second user plane communications port and a third user plane communications port, the control plane communications port. is a serving control plane communication port used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the equipment of user equipment being moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the receiving unit is further configured to receive source user plane communication port routing information sent by the mobility management network element; the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information of the target base station of the user equipment; and the control plane communication port further includes a sending unit, and the tunnel establishment unit is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second user plane communication port using the sending unit, and sending a third request to the third user plane communication port using the sending unit, wherein the second request is used to request the second user plane communication port to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the target base station, and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, the second request carries the information routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third user plane communication port, the third request is used to request the third user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port. user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the third user plane communication port routing information of the second user plane communication port and the routing information of the source user plane communication port.

[029] In one possible design, the tunnel establishment unit is further configured to send a create session request to a target user plane communication port, wherein the create session request is used to create, on the target user plane communication port to the user equipment, a bearer context for transmitting user plane data, wherein each created bearer context includes routing information of the target user plane communication port , and the target user plane communication port is a serving user plane communication port that corresponds to the current location area of the user equipment.

[030] In a possible design, the tunnel establishment unit is further configured to send the routing information from the target user plane communication port to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[031] In one possible design, the tunnel establishment unit is further configured to send routing information from the first user plane communication port to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[032] In a possible design, the first user plane communication port is additionally a serving user plane communication port selected by the control plane communication port for the user equipment according to the current location information of user equipment.

[033] In one possible design, the tunnel establishment unit is further configured to send the routing information from the second user plane communication port to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[034] According to a fifth aspect, a mobility management network element is proposed, and the mobility management network element includes: a receiving unit, configured to receive a forwarding relocation request sent by an element of a source mobility management network serving a user equipment, wherein the forwarding relocation request carries current location information of the user equipment; a selection unit configured to select a target control plane communication port of the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; and a sending unit, configured to send the current location information of the user equipment to the target control plane communication port, so that the target control plane communication port determines a target control plane communication port. forwarding user of the user equipment, according to the current location information of the user equipment, wherein the sending unit is further configured to send a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the data plane communication port. target control plane, wherein the data forwarding tunnel establishment request is used to request the target control plane communication port to establish, for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between the target control plane communication port a forwarding user plane communication port and a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment.

[035] In one possible design, the target control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to a current location area and the sending unit is further configured to send a change notification message to the source mobility management network element, wherein the change notification message is used to indicate that a serving control plane communication port of the user equipment changes to the target control plane communication port.

[036] In a possible design, the receiving unit is further configured to receive a confirmation message sent by the source mobility management network element in accordance with the change notification message, wherein the confirmation message carries information of the user equipment's source user plane communication port.

[037] According to a sixth aspect, a control plane communication port is proposed, and the control plane communication port includes: the control plane communication port receives current location information from a user equipment sent by a mobility management network element; the control plane communication port selects a target user plane communication port for the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; and the control plane communication port sends a request message to the mobility management network element, wherein the request message is used to request the mobility management network element to release a first bearer context and direct the user equipment to send a set request to a second bearer context, wherein the first bearer context is a user equipment bearer context that is established on a source user plane communications port of the equipment of user and the second bearer context is a bearer context that is reestablished by the user equipment on the target user plane communication port in accordance with the first bearer context.

[038] In a possible design, the request message is a deletion carrier request message, the deletion carrier request message carries a reactivation request indication, and the reactivation request indication is used to indicate, using the mobility management network element, the user equipment that initiates the reset request for the bearer context after the bearer context is deleted.

[039] According to a seventh aspect, a control plane communication port is proposed, including a memory, a processor, a receiver and a transmitter, wherein the memory is configured to: store a program, and provide data and an instruction for the processor; and the processor is configured to execute the program stored in memory, and is specifically configured to perform the following operations: receive, using the receiver, current location information of a user equipment sent by a mobility management network element ; selecting at least one forwarding user plane communication port for the user equipment in accordance with the current location information of the user equipment; and establishing, for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and the forwarding user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel data between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment, wherein the data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit uplink user plane data and/or uplink data. user equipment downlink user plane in a user equipment moving process.

[040] In a possible design, the at least one forwarding user plane communications port is a first user plane communications port, the control plane communications port is a serving control plane communications port. used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the location area current, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and in a process of establishing, using the transmitter for user equipment, the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the forwarding user plane communication port, and/or the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communications port and the target base station, the processor is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first user plane communications port using the transmitter and sending a third request to the source user plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the source user plane communication port, the third request is used to request the source user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the base station source user plane communication and the first user plane communication port, and the third request carries routing information from the first user plane communication port.

[041] In one possible design, the at least one forwarding user plane communication port includes a first user plane communication port and a second user plane communication port, the control plane communication port. is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and in a process of establishing, using the transmitter to the user equipment, the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the forwarding user plane communication port and the forwarding tunnel. forwarding data between the forwarding user plane communications port and the target base station, the processor is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second user plane communications port using the transmitter, send a third request to the third user plane communication port using the transmitter and sending a fourth request to the source user plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the second request is used to request that the second user plane communication port establishes a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the target base station, and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third user plane communication port, the third request is used to request that the third user plane communication port establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, the third request carries routing information from the second user plane communication port and routing information from the source user plane communication port, the fourth request is used to request that the source user plane communication port establishes the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, and the fourth request carries the routing information of the third user plane communication port.

[042] In a possible design, the at least one forwarding user plane communications port is a first user plane communications port, the control plane communications port is a serving control plane communications port. used after the user equipment is moved to a breadcrumb area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communications port used before the user equipment is moved to the breadcrumb area , and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, source user plane communication port routing information sent by the mobility management network element; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and in a process of establishing, using the transmitter to the user equipment, the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the forwarding user plane communication port and the forwarding tunnel. forwarding data between the forwarding user plane communications port and the target base station, the processor is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first user plane communications port using the transmitter, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source user plane communication port.

[043] In one possible design, the at least one forwarding user plane communication port includes a first user plane communication port and a second user plane communication port, the control plane communication port. is a serving control plane communication port used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the equipment of user equipment being moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, source user plane communication port routing information sent by the mobility management network element; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and in a process of establishing, using the transmitter to the user equipment, the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the forwarding user plane communication port and the forwarding tunnel. forwarding data between the forwarding user plane communication port and the target base station, the processor is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second user plane communication port using the transmitter and send a third request to the third user plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the second request is used to request the second user plane communication port to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second communication port user plane communication port and the target base station and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, the second request carries the base station routing information target and routing information of the third user plane communication port, the third request is used to request the third user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port, and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the third request port routing information of the second port user plane communication port and routing information of the source user plane communication port.

[044] In one possible design, the processor is further configured to send a create session request to the target user plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the create session request is used to create , on the target user-plane communication port to the user equipment, a bearer context for transmitting user-plane data, each created bearer context including user-plane communication port routing information. target and the target user plane communication port is a serving user plane communication port that corresponds to the current location area of the user equipment.

[045] In one possible design, the processor is further configured to send routing information from the target user plane communication port to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[046] In one possible design, the processor is further configured to send routing information from the first user plane communication port to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[047] In a possible design, the first user plane communication port is a serving user plane communication port selected by the control plane communication port for the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment.

[048] In one possible design, the processor is further configured to send routing information from the second user plane communication port to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[049] According to an eighth aspect, a mobility management network element is proposed, including a memory, a processor, a receiver and a transmitter, wherein the memory is configured to: store a program, and provide data and an instruction for the processor; and the processor is configured to execute the program stored in memory, and is specifically configured to perform the following operations: receive, using the receiver, a forward relocation request sent by a source mobility management network element that serves a user equipment, wherein the forwarding relocation request carries current location information of the user equipment; selecting a target control plane communication port of the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; send the current location information of the user equipment to the target control plane communication port with the use of transmitter, so that the target control plane communication port determines a forwarding user plane communication port of the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; and sending a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the target control plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the data forwarding tunnel establishment request is used to request that the communication port control plane establishes, for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment.

[050] In one possible design, the target control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to a current location area; and the processor is further configured to send a change notification message to the source mobility management network element using the transmitter, wherein the change notification message is used to indicate that a plane communication port control plane of the user equipment switches to the target control plane communication port.

[051] In one possible design, the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, an acknowledgment message sent by the source mobility management network element in accordance with the change notification message, wherein the confirmation message port routing information of the user equipment's source user plane communication port.

[052] According to a ninth aspect, a control plane communication port is proposed, including a memory, a processor, a receiver and a transmitter, wherein the memory is configured to: store a program, and provide data and an instruction for the processor; and the processor is configured to execute the program stored in memory and is specifically configured to perform the following operations: receiving, using the receiver, current location information of a user equipment sent by a mobility management network element; selecting a target user plane communication port for the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; and sending a request message to the mobility management network element using the transmitter, wherein the request message is used to request the mobility management network element to release a first bearer context and indicate to the equipment user equipment that sends a set request to a second bearer context, wherein the first bearer context is a user equipment bearer context that is established on a user equipment source user plane communication port and the second bearer context is a bearer context that is reestablished by the user equipment on the target user plane communication port in accordance with the first bearer context.

[053] In a possible design, the request message is a deletion carrier request message, the deletion carrier request message carries a reactivation request indication, and the reactivation request indication is used to indicate, using the mobility management network element, the user equipment to initiate the set request for the second bearer context after the first bearer context is deleted.

[054] According to the method of ensuring service continuity, the control plane communication port and the mobility management network element in embodiments of the present invention, the control plane communication port selects the U- forwarding GW to UE and establishes, for the UE, the forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the source U-GW, and the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the station -target base of the UE, so as to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process, and improve the user's service experience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[055] To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, below the attached drawings required to describe the embodiments or the prior art are briefly described. Apparently, the drawings attached in the following description merely show some embodiments of the present invention, and a person of ordinary skill in the art can still derive other drawings from these attached drawings without creative efforts.

[056] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of two distributed communication port network architectures, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[057] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a method of ensuring service continuity, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[058] Figure 3 is a service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[059] Figure 4 is another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[060] Figure 5 is yet another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[061] Figure 6A and Figure 6B are yet another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[062] Figure 7 is yet another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[063] Figure 8 is yet another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[064] Figure 9 is another flowchart of a method of ensuring service continuity, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[065] Figure 10 is yet another flowchart of a method of ensuring service continuity, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[066] Figure 11 is yet another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[067] Figure 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a control plane communication port, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[068] Figure 13 is another schematic structural diagram of a control plane communication port, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[069] Figure 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a mobility management network element, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[070] Figure 15 is yet another schematic structural diagram of a control plane communication port, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[071] Figure 16 is yet another schematic structural diagram of a control plane communication port, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[072] Figure 17 is another schematic structural diagram of a mobility management network element, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; It is

[073] Figure 18 is yet another schematic structural diagram of a control plane communication port, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF MODALITIES

[074] The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are some, however, not all embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[075] The technical solutions of the present invention can be applied to various communications systems, such as a Global System for mobile communications (GSM), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system Multiple Access), a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE) Evolution), and a 5G network.

[076] In embodiments of the present invention, the user equipment UE (User Equipment) can also be referred to as a mobile terminal (Mobile Terminal), and can be any of the following types. User equipment can be static, mobile, portable, pocket-sized, hand-held, embedded in a computer or in a vehicle. User equipment may include, but is not limited to, a Station, a Mobile Station, a Subscriber Unit, a Personal Computer, a Laptop Computer), a tablet-type computer (Tablet Computer), a netbook-type computer (Netbook), a cell phone (Cellular Phone), a handheld device (Handheld), a cordless phone (Cordless Phone), a personal assistant digital device (PDA), a data card (Data Card), a USB connection device, a mobile WiFi hotspot device (WiFi Devices), wearable devices (Wearable Devices) such as a watch smart glasses/smart glasses, a wireless modem (Modem), a wireless router, and a wireless local loop station (WLL). User equipment may be distributed across an entire wireless network, and communicate with one or more core networks using a wireless access network.

[077] A base station can be a base transceiver station (BTS) in GSM or CDMA, it can be a NodeB (NodeB) in WCDMA, or it can be an evolved NodeB (eNB or e-NodeB, Evolutionary Node B) in LTE. This is not limited in the present invention. However, for ease of description, the description is provided using the eNB as an example in the following embodiments.

[078] A Control plane gateway (C-GW) can have two forms: (1) a single network element obtained after a control plane function of a Serving Gateway , S-GW) and a control plane function of a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) in an existing 3GPP EPS network are integrated, and (2) two elements networks that separately deploy a control plane function from an existing S-GW (Control Plane S-GW) and a control plane function from an existing P-GW (Control Plane P-GW). This is not limited in the present invention.

[079] In correspondence with the two forms of the C-GW, a user plane communication port (U-GW) can also have two forms: (1) a single network element obtained after a user plane function Serving Gateway (S-GW) user plane and a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW) user plane function in the existing 3GPP EPS network be integrated , and (2) two independent network elements that separately deploy an existing S-GW user plane function (User Plane S-GW) and an existing P-GW user plane function (User Plane P-GW). User Plan). This is not limited in the present invention. Considering that a resource in the U-GW can be deployed in a distributed manner, the U-GW can also be termed as a distributed gateway (D-GW).

[080] Multiple U-GWs in the same service area can form a U-GW Resource Pool. The U-GWs in a U-GW resource pool can communicate directly with each other. A standard U-GW can be configured in each U-GW resource pool, to deploy communication with a U-GW in another U-GW resource pool.

[081] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of two DGW network architectures, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A DGW 1 architecture is above a dashed line and a DGW 2 architecture is below the dashed line.

[082] In the DGW 1 architecture, all control plane functions of an S-GW and a P-GW in an existing EPS network architecture are integrated into a C-GW, and all user plane functions of the S-GW and the P-GW in the existing EPS network architecture are integrated into a U-GW. A new interface is introduced between the two network elements: the C-GW and the U-GW, such as an S18 interface, to implement communication between the C-GW and the U-GW. In the network architecture, other network element and interface can reuse the existing EPS network architecture. The newly added S18 interface can reuse an interface protocol between the S-GW and P-GW, such as GTP, or another interface protocol, or a newly defined protocol. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present invention.

[083] In the DGW 2 architecture, the S-GW and P-GW in the existing EPS network architecture are separately divided into an independent control plane functional network element and an independent user plane functional element (a S-GW-C and an S-GW-U, and a P-GW-C and a P-GW-U). The S-GW-C and P-GW-C may be collectively referred to as a C-GW, and the S-GW-U and P-GW-U may be collectively referred to as a U-GW. An existing interface between the S-GW and the P-GW is also divided into a control plane interface and a user plane interface, such as an S5-C interface and an S5-U interface in the DGW 2 architecture. A new interface is introduced between the two network elements: the S-GW-C and the S-GW-U, such as an S18 interface, to implement communication between the S-GW-C and the S-GW-U. A new interface is introduced between the two network elements: the P-GW-C and the P-GW-U, such as an S19 interface, to implement communication between the P-GW-C and the P-GW-U. In the network architecture, other network element and interface can reuse the existing EPS network architecture. The newly added S18 and S19 interfaces can reuse an interface protocol between the S-GW and P-GW, such as GTP, or another interface protocol, or a newly defined protocol. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present invention.

[084] A method and apparatus in embodiments of the present invention can be applied to a communications system shown in the DGW 1 architecture or the DGW 2 architecture in Figure 1. For ease of description, the communications system shown in the DGW 1 architecture DGW 1 is used as an example in embodiments of the present invention. For the communications system shown in the DGW 2 architecture, in this embodiment of the present invention, the C-GW is equivalent to an integrated network element of the S-GW-C and the P-GW-C in the DGW 2 architecture, and U-GW is equivalent to an integrated network element of S-GW-U and P-GW-U in the DGW 2 architecture.

[085] Figure 2 is a flowchart of a method of ensuring service continuity, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method in Figure 2 is accomplished by a control plane communication port. The method includes the following steps.

[086] 201. The C-GW receives current location information of a UE sent by a mobility management network element.

[087] This embodiment of the present invention is applicable to any of the following application scenarios: (1) During user plane data transmission, the UE in connected mode is moved, and a location area after the movement is beyond from a service band of an originating base station; and upon detecting the UE being moved out of the service range of the source base station, the source base station determines to initiate an automatic user plane data service switching procedure in connected mode. The source base station is a serving base station used before the UE is moved to the current location area. (2) When uplink user plane data needs to be transmitted, the idle mode UE is moved out of a current registered tracking area, such as a current registered tracking area (TA), and the UE initiates a location update procedure, such as a Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedure. (3) When uplink user plane data needs to be transmitted, the idle mode UE is moved out of a service area of a current serving base station, but is not moved out of a registered location area current, such as a current registered Tracking Area (TA), and the UE initiates a Service Request procedure.

[088] In application scenario (1), upon receiving a user plane data automatic switching request sent by the originating base station, the mobility management network element may send an automatic service switching notification to the C-GW serving the UE. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the automatic service switching notification using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message (Modify Bearer Request), or a Modify Access Bearers Request message; or the mobility management network element may send the automatic service switching notification using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the automatic service switching notification is not limited in the present invention.

[089] In application scenario (2), upon receiving a location update request sent by the UE, or successfully creating a radio access bearer context for the UE, the mobility management network element may send a request message to the UE serving C-GW. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the request message using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message ( Create Session Request), or a Modify Access Bearers Request message; or the mobility management network element may send the request message using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the request message is not limited in the present invention.

[090] In application scenario (3), after receiving a service request sent by the UE, or successfully creating a radio access bearer context for the UE, the mobility management network element may send a request to the UE serving C-GW. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the request message using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify bearer request message Bearer Request) or a Modify Access Bearers Request message; or the mobility management network element may send the request message using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the request message is not limited in the present invention.

[091] The UE's current location information includes a Tracking Area Identity (TAI) that corresponds to the UE's current location area, serving base station information that corresponds to the UE's current location area, and/or similar. The corresponding TAI used when the UE is moved to the current location area is a target TAI of the UE. The corresponding serving base station information used after the UE is moved to the current location area is the target base station information of the UE. The target base station information may be a target base station identity (Identity, ID), a target cell identifier (Cell Identity, CI), or the like. It can be understood that the current location area of the UE is also referred to as a target location area of the UE, that is, a location area of the UE after the UE is moved out of the service range of the source serving base station. . Similarly, the current location information of the UE is also referred to as the target location information of the UE.

[092] 202. The C-GW selects at least one forwarding U-GW for the UE according to the current location information of the UE.

[093] In this embodiment of the present invention, the current location area of the UE lies beyond a service range of a current serving U-GW of the UE, and the C-GW needs to select an appropriate forwarding U-GW for the UE according to the UE's current location area.

[094] 203. The C-GW establishes, for the UE, a data forwarding tunnel between a source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW, and a data forwarding tunnel between the U -Routing GW and a target base station serving the UE.

[095] Data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit uplink user plane data and/or downlink user plane data of the UE into a moving process of the UE.

[096] It should be understood that the UE moving process includes procedures that occur in the aforementioned three application scenarios, which specifically include: the automatic service switching procedure in application scenario (1), the location update procedure in application scenario (2) and the service request procedure in the application scenario (3).

[097] It should be understood that the target base station of the UE is a base station that provides an access service to the UE after the UE is moved to the current location area.

[098] It should be understood that data forwarding tunnels are deployed by creating a user plane bearer context between the source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW, and a bearer context of user plane between the forwarding U-GW and the target UE base station. User plane bearer contexts include routing information required to forward user plane data. Specifically, a user plane bearer context created on the source U-GW includes routing information of the forwarding U-GW and routing information of the source base station serving the UE, a user plane bearer context created on the forwarding U-GW includes routing information of the source U-GW and routing information of the target base station, and a user plane bearer context created on the target base station includes the routing information of the U-GW. Forwarding GW. Additionally, the routing information may include an address (typically an Internet Protocol (IP) address) and tunnel endpoint information (typically a GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP). ) is used, the tunnel endpoint information is a GTP Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (TEID).

[099] It should be understood that the forwarding U-GW is the at least one forwarding U-GW mentioned in step 202. The data forwarding tunnels that are established by the C-GW to the UE between the forwarding U-GW source serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW, and between the forwarding U-GW and the target base station of the UE is a communication path established by the C-GW between the source U-GW, at least a forwarding U-GW and the target base station, in order to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the two network elements from the source C-GW to the target base station.

[100] For example, when the at least one forwarding U-GW includes only one U-GW: a U-GW 1, an established data forwarding tunnel path is: the source U-GW ^ a U- GW 1 ^ the target base station. When at least one forwarding U-GW includes two U-GWs: a U-GW 1 and a U-GW 2, wherein U-GW 1 can communicate with the originating U-GW, and the U-GW GW 2 can communicate with the target base station, an established data forwarding tunnel path is: the source U-GW ^ the U-GW 1 ^ the U-GW 2 ^ the target base station. When the at least one forwarding U-GW includes three or more U-GWs that include a U-GW 1 that can communicate with the originating U-GW and a U-GW 2 that can communicate with the base station target, an established data forwarding tunnel path is: the source U-GW ^ the U-GW 1 ^ ... ^ the U-GW 2 ^ the target base station. The data forwarding tunnels indicated by U-GW 1 ^ ... ^ to U-GW 2 are data forwarding tunnels between at least one forwarding U-GW.

[101] In this embodiment of the present invention, the C-GW determines the appropriate forwarding U-GW for the UE according to the current location information after movement, and establishes the data forwarding tunnel between the U-GW data forwarding tunnel and the source U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the target base station of the UE, so as to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process and improve the experience user service.

[102] Optionally, in one embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW includes only one U-GW: a first U-GW, the C-GW is a serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the area of current location, the C-GW is the same as a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area. In this case, step 203 is specifically implemented as follows: receiving, by the C-GW, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station of the UE; sending, by the C-GW, a second request to the first U-GW, wherein the second request is used to request that the first U-GW establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the base station target and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the source U-GW, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source U-GW; and sending, by the C-GW, a third request to the originating U-GW, wherein the third request is used to request that the originating U-GW establish the data forwarding tunnel between the originating U-GW and the first U-GW, and the third request carries routing information from the first U-GW.

[103] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the C-GW is the same as the serving C-GW used before the UE was moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW does not change in the process UE movement. It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[104] Of course, it must be understood that the C-GW additionally receives a second response sent by the first U-GW in accordance with the second request, and a third response sent by the originating U-GW in accordance with the third request. The second response is used to confirm that the first U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station, and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station. Original U-GW. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the first U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information, and the third response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the forwarding tunnel of data between the originating U-GW and the first U-GW. After receiving the second response and the third response, the C-GW may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[105] It should be noted that the first request, second request, or third request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request ), or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response, second response, or third response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response message, or a newly defined. This is not limited in the present invention.

[106] Furthermore, it should be understood that the physical deployment of a tunnel is a bearer context, and the bearer context includes routing information from a peer end of the tunnel. A control plane communication port needs to separately send requests to two user plane communication ports to separately create bearer contexts, and the bearer contexts include routing information from a peer end. In this way, a tunnel is established between the two user plane communication ports.

[107] Optionally, in another embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW includes a second U-GW and a third U-GW, the C-GW is a serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the area of current location, the C-GW is the same as a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE is moved to the current location area. In this case, step 203 is implemented specifically as follows: receiving, by the C-GW, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station of the UE; sending, by the C-GW, a second request to the second U-GW, wherein the second request is used to request that the second U-GW establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the base station target and a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third U-GW; send, by the C-GW, a third request to the third U-GW, wherein the third request is used to request that the third U-GW establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW. GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the source U-GW, and the third request carries routing information from the second U-GW and routing information from the source U-GW; and sending, by the C-GW, a fourth request to the originating U-GW, wherein the fourth request is used to request that the originating U-GW establish the data forwarding tunnel between the originating U-GW and the third U-GW, and the fourth request carries the routing information from the third U-GW.

[108] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the C-GW is the same as the serving C-GW used before the UE was moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW does not change in the process UE movement. It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[109] Similarly, the C-GW additionally receives a second response sent by the second U-GW in accordance with the second request, a third response sent by the third U-GW in accordance with the third request, and a fourth response sent by the Source U-GW as per fourth request. The second response is used to confirm that the second U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the second U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The third response is used to confirm that the third U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the U-GW. -GW of origin. Optionally, the third response may carry the routing information of the third U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The fourth response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the third U-GW. After receiving the second response, the third response, and the fourth response, the C-GW may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[110] It should be noted that the first request, second request, third request, or fourth request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect data forwarding tunnel request. Data Forwarding Tunnel Request), or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response, second response, third response, or fourth response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response. , or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention.

[111] The at least one forwarding U-GW determined by the C-GW may be three or more forwarding U-GWs. The C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to each forwarding U-GW, to establish data forwarding tunnels between the source U-GW, the at least one forwarding U-GW, and the station -target base. For example, the at least one forwarding U-GW includes a U-GW 1, a U-GW 2, and a U-GW 3. U-GW 1 can communicate with the originating U-GW, the U-GW GW 3 can communicate with a target U-GW, and an established forwarding tunnel path is: a source U-GW ^ a U-GW 1 ^ a U-GW 2 ^ a U-GW 3 ^ a U- Target GW.

[112] Optionally, in yet another embodiment, the C-GW additionally receives routing information from the UE's source U-GW that is sent by the mobility management network element. The at least one forwarding U-GW includes only one U-GW: a first U-GW, the C-GW is a serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area, the C-GW is other than a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the location area current location, and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area. In this case, step 203 is specifically implemented as follows: receiving, by the C-GW, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station of the UE; and sending, by the C-GW, a second request to the first U-GW, wherein the second request is used to request the first U-GW to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the station. target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the source U-GW, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source U-GW.

[113] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the C-GW is different from the serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW changes in the process of moving the UE . It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[114] Similarly, the C-GW additionally receives a second response sent by the first U-GW in accordance with the second request. The second response is used to confirm that the first U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the U -GW of origin. Optionally, the second response may carry routing information from the first U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. After receiving the second response, the C-GW may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[115] Of course, it should be understood that in this embodiment of the present invention, due to the fact that the C-GW serving the UE in this embodiment changes in the moving process of the UE, step 203 in this embodiment is specifically performed by a C-GW target, that is, the serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. Additionally, the target C-GW must additionally indicate that a source C-GW, through the mobility management network element, sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the source U-GW; and send the routing information from the first U-GW to the source U-GW. The source C-GW is a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, and the source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. Current location.

[116] It should be noted that the first request or second request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request message or a newly defined. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response or second response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention.

[117] Optionally, in yet another embodiment, the C-GW additionally receives routing information from the UE's source U-GW that is sent by the mobility management network element. The at least one forwarding U-GW includes a second U-GW and a third U-GW, the C-GW is a serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area, the C-GW is other than a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the location area current location, and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area. In this case, step 203 is implemented specifically as follows: receiving, by the C-GW, a first request sent by the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station of the UE; sending, by the C-GW, a second request to the second U-GW, wherein the second request is used to request that the second U-GW establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the base station target and a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third U-GW; and sending, by the C-GW, a third request to the third U-GW, wherein the third request is used to request the third U-GW to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U - GW is a data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the source U-GW, and the third request carries routing information from the second U-GW and the routing information from the source U-GW.

[118] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the C-GW is different from the serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW changes in the process of moving the UE . It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[119] Similarly, the C-GW additionally receives a second response sent by the second U-GW in accordance with the second request and a third response sent by the third U-GW in accordance with the third request. The second response is used to confirm that the second U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the second U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The third response is used to confirm that the third U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the U -GW of origin. Optionally, the third response may carry the routing information of the third U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. After receiving the second response and the third response, the C-GW may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[120] Of course, it should be understood that in this embodiment of the present invention, due to the fact that the C-GW serving the UE in this embodiment changes in the moving process of the UE, step 203 in this embodiment is performed specifically by a C-GW target, that is, the serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. Additionally, the target C-GW must additionally direct a source C-GW, through the mobility management network element, to send a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the source U-GW and send the routing information from the third U-GW to the source U-GW. The source C-GW is a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, and the source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. Current location.

[121] It should be noted that the first request, second request, or third request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request ) or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response, second response, or third response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response or a newly created message. -defined. This is not limited in the present invention.

[122] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments of Figure 2, when the at least one routing U-GW is the first U-GW, the method additionally includes: sending, by the C-GW, the routing information of the first U -GW to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[123] Alternatively, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments of Figure 2, when the at least one forwarding U-GW is the second U-GW and the third U-GW, the method additionally includes: sending, by the C-GW, the routing information from the second U-GW to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[124] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments of Figure 2, the method may additionally include: sending, by the C-GW, a creation session request to the target U-GW, wherein the creation session request is used to create, in the target U-GW for the UE, a bearer context for transmitting user plane data, each bearer context created including routing information (such as an IP address and TEID information) of the U -Target GW, and the target U-GW is a serving U-GW that corresponds to the current location area of the UE. It can be understood that the target U-GW is generally a serving U-GW that provides an optimal data transmission path for the UE in the current location area. Additionally, the C-GW sends the routing information from the target U-GW to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[125] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments of Figure 2, when the at least one forwarding U-GW is the first U-GW, the first U-GW may additionally be a serving U-GW selected by the C-GW to the UE according to the UE's current location information. That is, the first U-GW is a target U-GW. In this case, the target D-GW can communicate directly with the source D-GW, that is, the target U-GW also plays a role as the forwarding U-GW. It can be understood that when the target U-GW cannot communicate directly with the source D-GW, the forwarding U-GW selected by the C-GW is different from the target U-GW.

[126] Below the method in embodiments of the present invention is further described with reference to specific embodiments. For ease of description, an MME is used as a mobility management network element in the following embodiment. Of course, in specific application, the mobility management network element may alternatively be another device that has a mobility management function network element. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present invention.

[127] Figure 3 is a service continuity assurance interaction flowchart, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 3, a source base station is a serving base station used before the UE is moved to a current location area. A target base station is a serving base station used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A UE serving MME and a UE serving C-GW remain unchanged before and after UE movement. A source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target U-GW is a U-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A forwarding U-GW is a U-GW that is used after the UE is moved to the current location area and used for automatic data service switching. Before automatic service switching, an uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path is: the UE θ the source base station θ the source U-GW, that is, transmission paths denoted by a dashed line L1a and a dashed line L2a in Figure 3.

[128] A specific automatic service switching procedure in this embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[129] S301. The source base station initiates an automatic user plane data switching procedure of the UE in connected mode.

[130] When the UE's originating base station detects that the UE is moved out of a service range of the originating base station, and the UE is performing a user plane data service, the base station source may determine the start of an automatic user plane data service switching procedure in connected mode.

[131] S302. The originating base station sends an automatic service switching request message to the MME.

[132] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the automatic service switching request message sent by the originating base station to the MME is referred to as an automatic service switching request message. request for automatic service switching 1.

[133] The originating base station sends the automatic service switching request message 1 to the current serving MME (i.e., an MME in Figure 3), and adds the UE's current location information to the message. The UE's current location information includes a Tracking Area Identity (TAI) that corresponds to the UE's current location area, serving base station information that corresponds to the UE's current location area, and/or the like. . The corresponding TAI used when the UE is moved to the current location area is a target TAI of the UE. The corresponding serving base station information used after the UE is moved to the current location area is the target base station information of the UE. The target base station information may be a target base station identity (Identity, ID), a target cell identifier (Cell Identity, CI), or the like. The current location area of the UE is also referred to as a target location area of the UE, that is, a location area of the UE after the UE is moved out of the service range of the source serving base station. Similarly, the current location information of the UE is also referred to as the target location information of the UE.

[134] S303. The MME sends an automatic service switching notification message to the C-GW.

[135] After receiving the automatic service switching request message 1, the UE serving MME learns that the UE is moved out of the service range of the current base station (the originating base station), and then , sends the automatic service switching notification message to the current serving C-GW. The automatic service switching notification message carries the current location information of the UE. The automatic service switching notification message is used to notify the C-GW that the UE needs to be automatically switched to a new target location area. The MME can reuse an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message, or a Modify Bearer Request message. Access Bearers Request), and add the UE's current location information to the message. Alternatively, the MME may define a new message to send the automatic service switching notification message. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present invention.

[136] S304. The C-GW determines the target U-GW and the forwarding U-GW.

[137] After receiving the automatic service switching notification message sent by the MME, the C-GW may determine, according to the current location information of the UE, whether a current serving U-GW (the source U-GW ) of the UE needs to be relocated, that is, if the UE is moved out of a service range of the source U-GW. It should be noted that because C-GW stores real-time service area information for each U-GW in a C-GW service band, C-GW can determine, in accordance with current location information of the UE (such as a target TAI or a target base station ID), in case the UE is moved out of the service range of the source U-GW.

[138] If the UE is not moved out of the service range of the source U-GW, automatic UE data service switching may be implemented in the source U-GW. For specific implementation, refer to a prior art method for switching a data service over a U-GW or a P-GW. Details are not described in this embodiment of the present invention.

[139] If the C-GW determines that a serving U-GW of the UE needs to be relocated, the C-GW selects, according to the current location information of the UE, an appropriate target U-GW, to ensure that the U -Target GW can provide an optimal data transmission path in the current location area for the UE and to reduce a user plane data transmission RTT as much as possible.

[140] Additionally, the C-GW needs to verify that the target U-GW can communicate directly with the source U-GW. If the target U-GW can communicate directly with the source U-GW, the target U-GW is a forwarding U-GW, that is, sending to the forwarding U-GW in all subsequent steps is sending carried out for the target U-GW. If the target U-GW cannot communicate directly with the source U-GW, a U-GW that can communicate directly with the source U-GW is selected as a forwarding U-GW according to the target location of the UE. Ways of determining the target U-GW and forwarding U-GW in Figure 4 to Figure 6A and Figure 6B are similar to this way.

[141] It should be noted that to ensure continuity of service in a special scenario, there may be more than one forwarding U-GW. Typically, if the UE is moved to a neighboring U-GW set, the C-GW selects a default U-GW in the neighboring U-GW set as a forwarding U-GW (which may be referred to as a target routing) that communicates with the target U-GW. If the standard U-GW cannot communicate directly with the source U-GW or additionally the C-GW can select, such as a forwarding U-GW (which can be referred to as a source forwarding U-GW ) that communicates with the source U-GW, a standard U-GW in a U-GW pool in which the source U-GW is located, and two forwarding U-GWs are used to ensure service continuity in the UE moving process.

[142] S305. The C-GW returns an automatic switching notification confirmation message to the MME.

[143] The C-GW returns the automatic switching notification confirmation message to the MME, and adds, to the message, an address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW selected by the C-GW.

[144] For example, the address of the forwarding U-GW may be an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the forwarding U-GW. Forwarding U-GW tunnel endpoint information may vary depending on protocols used between the MME and the C-GW. For example, when GTP is used between the MME and the C-GW, the tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW may be a GTP Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (TEID). .

[145] Additionally, if multiple forwarding U-GWs are determined in step S304, e.g., the source forwarding U-GW and the target forwarding U-GW, the C-GW may add, to the acknowledgment message of automatic switching notification, an address and tunnel endpoint information of the target forwarding U-GW located in the target location area of the UE. It should be noted that when the automatic switching notification confirmation message is returned to the MME, an existing message may be reused, such as a Create Session Response message, a bearer response message or a Modify Access Bearers Response message, or a new message can be defined. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present invention.

[146] S306. The MME sends an automatic service switching request message to the target base station.

[147] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the automatic service switching request message sent by the MME to the target base station is referred to as a request message automatic service switching 2.

[148] The MME sends the automatic service switching request message 2 to the target base station, and forwards the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW to the target base station. that are sent by the C-GW, so that an uplink data transmission path is then automatically switched to the forwarding U-GW. The forwarding U-GW tunnel endpoint address and information can be sent using the automatic service switching request message 2, or can be sent independently.

[149] S307. The target base station returns an automatic switching request confirmation message to the MME.

[150] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request confirmation message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the automatic service switching request message that corresponds to the request confirmation message automatic switching request confirmation message sent by the target base station to the MME is referred to as an automatic switching request confirmation message 2.

[151] After receiving the automatic service switching request message 2 sent by the MME, the target base station may return the automatic service switching request confirmation message 2 to the MME, and send an address (such as a IP) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) from the target base station to the MME. Similarly, the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station can be sent using the automatic switching request confirmation message 2 or can be sent independently.

[152] S308. The MME sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the C-GW.

[153] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment request in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the data forwarding tunnel establishment request sent by the MME to the C-GW is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment request. establishment of data forwarding tunnel 1.

[154] The MME sends the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 1 to the C-GW, and sends the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station to the C-GW, so that a downlink data transmission path is then automatically switched to the target base station.

[155] It should be noted that the data forwarding tunnel establishment request may be sent by reusing an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request message or a Modify Bearer Request message, or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. The description is applicable to all embodiments of the present invention.

[156] S309. The C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the forwarding U-GW.

[157] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment request in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the data forwarding tunnel establishment request that corresponds to the establishment request data forwarding tunnel establishment request sent by the C-GW to the forwarding U-GW is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment request 2.

[158] The C-GW sends the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 2 to the forwarding U-GW, and sends the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station and an address and information of tunnel endpoint from the source U-GW to the forwarding U-GW.

[159] Furthermore, if multiple forwarding U-GWs are required in step S304, for example, the source forwarding U-GW (i.e., the third U-GW mentioned above) and the target forwarding U-GW (i.e., the second U-GW mentioned above), the C-GW must send a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to each forwarding U-GW, and the request carries an address and data forwarding endpoint information. tunnel of a peer network element. For example, a data forwarding tunnel establishment request sent to the source forwarding U-GW carries the address and tunnel endpoint information of the source U-GW and the target forwarding U-GW, and a data forwarding tunnel establishment request sent to the target forwarding U-GW ports an address and tunnel endpoint information of the source forwarding U-GW and the address and endpoint information of target base station tunnel.

[160] S310. The forwarding U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the C-GW.

[161] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment response in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the data forwarding tunnel establishment request that corresponds to the establishment response data forwarding tunnel establishment response sent by the forwarding U-GW to the C-GW is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment response 2.

[162] The forwarding U-GW returns the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 2 to the C-GW, to respond to the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 2 sent by the C-GW, and determines that the establishing a data forwarding tunnel between the target base station and the forwarding U-GW and establishing a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forwarding U-GW are permitted. Optionally, the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 2 may carry the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW.

[163] If multiple forwarding U-GWs are required in step S304, the C-GW must send a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to each forwarding U-GW, and correspondingly, each forwarding U-GW must return a data forwarding tunnel establishment response, to indicate that establishment of a data forwarding tunnel is allowed.

[164] It should be understood that all responses to data forwarding tunnel establishment requests in the present invention indicate that the establishment of data forwarding tunnels is permitted. If there is a response indicating that the establishment of a data forwarding tunnel is not permitted, the method in this embodiment of the present invention is no longer carried out. This is applicable to the following content.

[165] It should be noted that the data forwarding tunnel establishment response may be sent by reusing an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response message or a Modify Bearer Response message, or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. The description is applicable to all embodiments of the present invention.

[166] S311. The C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the originating U-GW.

[167] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment request in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the data forwarding tunnel establishment request sent by the C-GW to the originating U-GW is called as a data forwarding tunnel establishment request 3.

[168] The C-GW sends the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 3 to the source U-GW, and sends the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW to the U-GW. Original GW.

[169] If multiple forwarding U-GWs are determined in step S304, the C-GW sends, to the source U-GW, an address and tunnel endpoint information of the source forwarding U-GW located in the current location area of the UE.

[170] S312. The source U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the C-GW.

[171] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment response in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the data forwarding tunnel establishment request that corresponds to the establishment response data forwarding tunnel establishment response sent by the source U-GW to the C-GW is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment response 3.

[172] The originating U-GW returns the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 3 to the C-GW, to respond to the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 3 sent by the C-GW, and determine that the Establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the source U-GW is allowed.

[173] S313. Establish a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forward U-GW.

[174] After an address and tunnel endpoint information of a peer U-GW are obtained, the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forward U-GW is established.

[175] Of course, it should be understood that if multiple forwarding U-GWs are determined in step S304, for example, the source forwarding U-GW and the target forwarding U-GW, a data forwarding tunnel between the Source U-GW and the source forwarding U-GW, and a data forwarding tunnel between the source forwarding U-GW and the target forwarding U-GW are established correspondingly.

[176] S314. The C-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the MME.

[177] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment response in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the data forwarding tunnel establishment request that corresponds to the establishment response data forwarding tunnel establishment response, the data forwarding tunnel establishment response sent by the C-GW to the MME is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment response 1.

[178] After the data forwarding tunnel is established between the source U-GW and the forwarding U-GW, the C-GW returns the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 1 to the MME to notify the MME that the data forwarding tunnel has been established and automatic service switching can be performed.

[179] S315. The MME sends an automatic switching command to the originating base station.

[180] The MME sends the automatic switching command to the originating base station, and the command carries the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW. If multiple forwarding U-GWs are required, for example, the source forwarding U-GW and the target forwarding U-GW, the command carries an address and tunnel endpoint information from the forwarding U-GW. origin located in a UE home location area.

[181] S316. The originating base station performs an automatic data switching procedure.

[182] The source base station continues to perform the existing automatic data switching procedure, automatically switches the UE to a target cell, and directs the UE to access the target cell, and can reuse the existing automatic switching procedure in a subsequent step to implement complete automatic moving of the UE to a target location.

[183] In an automatic switching process and after the automatic switching is completed, an uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path switches to: the UE θ the target base station θ the U-GW of routing θ to source U-GW, i.e., transmission paths indicated by a dashed line L3a, a dashed line L4a, a dashed line L5a and a dashed line L6a in Figure 3. It should be noted that before, during and after the automatic switching, the uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path passes through the source U-GW. However, considering that both the source U-GW and the forward U-GW have been moved down to locations closer to the UE, the source U-GW is also very close to the forward U-GW, and Therefore, a user's plan data RTT does not increase significantly. When the C-GW determines that two or more U-GWs are used as forwarding U-GWs, the data forwarding tunnel paths from the forwarding U-GWs pass through all forwarding U-GWs. For example, if the forwarding U-GW includes the target forwarding U-GW and the source forwarding U-GW, the transmission paths change to: the UE θ the target base station θ the target forwarding U-GW θ the source routing U-GW θ the source U-GW.

[184] It should be understood that the data forwarding tunnels established in this embodiment of the present invention are deployed by creating a user plane bearer context between the source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW , and a user plane bearer context between the forwarding U-GW and the target base station of the UE. User plane bearer contexts include routing information (for example, an address and tunnel endpoint information) required to forward user plane data, including routing information from the source U-GW, routing information of the U-GW forwarding and routing information of the target base station. This is also applicable to another embodiment of the present invention.

[185] In this embodiment of the present invention, the C-GW determines the forwarding U-GW according to the current location information of the UE. The data forwarding tunnel is established between the source U-GW and the forwarding U-GW, to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process, and guarantee the user's service experience.

[186] Figure 4 is another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 4, a source base station is a serving base station used before the UE is moved to a current location area. A target base station is a serving base station used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A UE serving MME and a UE serving C-GW remain unchanged before and after UE movement. A source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target U-GW is a U-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A forwarding U-GW is a U-GW that is used after the UE is moved to the current location area and used for automatic data service switching. Before automatic service switching, an uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path is: the UE θ the source base station θ the source U-GW, that is, transmission paths denoted by a dashed line L1b and a dashed line L2b in Figure 4.

[187] S401. The source base station initiates an automatic user plane data switching procedure of the UE in connected mode.

[188] S402. The originating base station sends an automatic service switching request message to the MME.

[189] S403. The MME sends an automatic service switching notification message to the C-GW.

[190] S404. The C-GW determines the target U-GW and the forwarding U-GW.

[191] For specific implementation of steps S401 to S404, refer to steps S301 to S304 in Figure 3.

[192] S405. The C-GW sends a creation session request to the target U-GW.

[193] After selecting an appropriate target U-GW, the C-GW may initiate the creation session request to the target U-GW so as to create, in the target U-GW for the UE, a bearer context for user plane data transmission.

[194] S406. The target U-GW sends a creation session response to the C-GW.

[195] The target U-GW creates, for the UE in accordance with the creation session request, the bearer context for transmitting user plane data from the UE. Each bearer context created includes an address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) of the target U-GW.

[196] After bearer context creation is completed, the target U-GW can send the creation session response to the C-GW.

[197] S407. The C-GW returns an automatic switching notification confirmation message to the MME.

[198] The C-GW returns the automatic switching notification acknowledgment message to the MME, and adds, to the message, the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target U-GW selected by the C-GW.

[199] S408. The MME sends an automatic service switching request message to the target base station.

[200] The MME sends the automatic service switching request message to the target base station, and the message carries the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target U-GW that are sent by the C-GW.

[201] S409. The target base station returns an automatic switching request confirmation message to the MME.

[202] After receiving the automatic service switching request message sent by the MME, the target base station may return the automatic service switching request confirmation message to the MME, and send an address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) from the target base station to the MME. Similarly, the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station can be sent using the automatic switching request confirmation message or can be sent independently.

[203] S410. The MME sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the C-GW.

[204] S411. The C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the forwarding U-GW.

[205] S412. The forwarding U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the C-GW.

[206] S413. The C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the originating U-GW.

[207] S414. The source U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the C-GW.

[208] S415. Establish a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forward U-GW.

[209] S416. The C-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the MME.

[210] S417. The MME sends an automatic switching command to the originating base station.

[211] For the specific implementation of steps S410 to S417, refer to steps S308 to S315 in Figure 3.

[212] S418. The originating base station performs an automatic data switching procedure.

[213] The source base station continues to perform the existing automatic data switching procedure, automatically switches the UE to a target cell and directs the UE to access the target cell, and can reuse the existing automatic switching procedure in a subsequent step to implement full automatic moving of the UE to a target location.

[214] In an automatic switching process and after automatic switching is completed, a downlink user plane data transmission path is: the source base station ^ the source U-GW ^ the U-GW route ^ the target base station ^ the UE, that is, the transmission paths indicated by a dashed line L3b, a dashed line L4b, a dashed line L5b and a dashed line L6b in Figure 4. In the process of automatic switching and After automatic switching is completed, an uplink user plane data transmission path is: the UE ^ the target base station ^ the target U-GW, that is, the transmission paths indicated by a dashed line L7b and a dashed line L8b in Figure 4.

[215] In this embodiment of the present invention, the C-GW determines, according to the current location information of the UE, whether to change a serving U-GW, and selects the forwarding U-GW according to the possibility of the U -Selected target GW communicate directly with the source U-GW. The data forwarding tunnel is established between the source U-GW and the forwarding U-GW, to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process, and guarantee the user's service experience. Furthermore, the C-GW directly initiates a bearer context setting request from the target U-GW, and notifies the target base station of routing information from the target U-GW through the MME, so that uplink data can be sent directly from the target base station to the target U-GW without passing through the forwarding U-GW and the source U-GW, which implements uplink data transmission routing optimization.

[216] It should be understood that interaction procedures in the embodiments shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 are applicable to a scenario in which a serving MME and a UE-serving C-GW remain unchanged before and after UE movement. If the UE's serving MME changes, but the serving C-GW does not change before and after the UE movement, this only requires that interworking signaling be increased between a source MME and a target MME on the basis of solutions in the present embodiments. invention. The signaling interworking process belongs to existing technology, and details are not described in the present invention.

[217] Figure 5 is yet another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 5, a source base station is a serving base station used before the UE is moved to a current location area. A target base station is a serving base station used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A source MME is a serving MME used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target MME is a serving MME used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A source C-GW is a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target C-GW is a serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target U-GW is a U-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A forwarding U-GW is a U-GW that is used after the UE is moved to the current location area and used for automatic data service switching. Before automatic service switching, an uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path is: the UE θ the source base station θ the source U-GW, that is, the indicated transmission paths by a dashed line L1c and a dashed line L2c in Figure 5.

[218] A specific automatic service switching procedure in this embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[219] S501. The source base station initiates an automatic user plane data switching procedure of the UE in connected mode.

[220] When the UE's originating base station detects that the UE is moved out of a service range of the originating base station, and the UE is performing a user plane data service, the base station source may determine the start of an automatic user plane data service switching procedure in connected mode.

[221] S502. The originating base station sends an automatic service switching request message to the originating MME.

[222] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the automatic service switching request message sent by the originating base station to the originating MME is referred to as an automatic service switching request message 1.

[223] The originating base station sends the automatic service switching request message 1 to the current serving MME (i.e., a originating MME in Figure 5), and adds the UE's current location information to the message. The current location information of the UE includes a TAI that corresponds to the current location area of the UE, serving base station information that corresponds to the current location area of the UE, and/or the like. The corresponding TAI used when the UE is moved to the current location area is a target TAI of the UE. The corresponding serving base station information used after the UE is moved to the current location area is the target base station information of the UE. The target base station information may be a target base station identity (Identity, ID), a target cell identifier (CI), or the like. It can be understood that the current location area of the UE is also referred to as a target location area of the UE, that is, a location area of the UE after the UE is moved out of the service range of the source serving base station. . Similarly, the current location information of the UE is also referred to as the target location information of the UE.

[224] S503. The source MME sends a forward relocation request message to the target MME.

[225] The source MME determines, in accordance with the current location information of the UE, whether the UE is moved out of a service range of the source MME. If the UE is moved out of the service range of the source MME, the source MME selects an appropriate target MME according to the current location information of the UE, and sends a forward relocation request message to the target MME , and the message carries the current location information of the UE. The target MME is an MME that serves the UE after the UE is moved to the current location area.

[226] S504. The target MME determines the target C-GW.

[227] The target MME determines, according to the current location information of the UE, whether a current serving C-GW of the UE needs to be relocated, that is, whether the UE is moved out of a service range of the C-GW. Original GW. If the serving C-GW needs to be relocated, the target MME selects an appropriate target C-GW according to the current location information of the UE.

[228] S505. The target MME sends a serving C-GW change notification message to the source MME.

[229] The target MME sends the serving C-GW change notification message to the source MME in order to notify the source MME that the UE's serving C-GW needs to change. When the serving C-GW change notification message is sent to the originating MME, an existing message can be reused, for example, a Change Notification Request message, and new indication information is added the message; or a new message can be defined. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present invention.

[230] S506. The originating MME sends an automatic service switching notification message to the originating C-GW.

[231] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching notification message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the automatic service switching notification message sent by the originating MME to the originating C-GW is referred to as an automatic service switching notification message 1.

[232] After receiving the automatic service switching request message 1, the serving MME (the source MME) of the UE learns that the UE is moved out of the service range of the current base station (the sending base station). source), and then sends the automatic service switching notification message 1 to the current serving C-GW (the source C-GW). The server C-GW change indication information port message. The originating MME may reuse an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message, or a Modify Bearer Request message. Modify Access Bearers Request), to send the automatic service switching notification message 1, and add the current location information of the UE to the message. Alternatively, the originating MME may define a new message to send the automatic service switching notification message 1. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present invention.

[233] S507. The originating C-GW sends an auto-switch notification acknowledgment to the originating MME.

[234] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request confirmation message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the automatic service switching request message that corresponds to the notification confirmation message automatic switching, the automatic switching request confirmation message sent by the source C-GW to the source MME is referred to as an automatic switching notification confirmation message 1.

[235] After receiving the automatic service switching notification message 1 sent by the originating MME, the originating C-GW may return the automatic service switching notification acknowledgment message 1 to the originating MME, and the port message 1 address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) of the source U-GW.

[236] S508. The source EMA returns a C-GW change notification confirmation to the target EMA.

[237] The source MME returns the C-GW change notification acknowledgment to the target MME, and the acknowledgment carries the address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) of the originating U-GW.

[238] S509. The target MME sends an automatic service switching notification message to the target C-GW.

[239] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching notification message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the automatic service switching notification message sent by the target MME to the target C-GW is referred to as an automatic service switching notification message. automatic service switching notification 2.

[240] The target MME sends the automatic service switching notification message 2 to the target C-GW. The automatic service switching notification message 2 carries the current location information of the UE, including the target TAI, the target base station information (the base station ID), and the like. It should be noted that the automatic service switching notification message is used to notify the C-GW that the UE needs to be automatically switched to a new target location area (i.e., the current location area of the UE). The target MME may reuse an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message, or a Modify Bearer Request message. Access Bearers Request), to send the automatic service switching notification message 2, and add the target location information of the UE to the message. Alternatively, the target MME may define a new message to send the automatic service switching notification message 2. This is not limited in this embodiment of the present invention.

[241] S510. The target C-GW determines the target U-GW and the forwarding U-GW.

[242] After learning an automatic switching request, the target C-GW selects an appropriate target U-GW according to the current location information of the UE, to ensure that the target U-GW can provide a transmission path optimal data transfer at the target location for the UE and reduce a user plane data transmission RTT as much as possible.

[243] Furthermore, the target C-GW needs to verify that the target U-GW can communicate directly with the source U-GW. If the target U-GW can communicate directly with the source U-GW, the target U-GW is a forwarding U-GW, that is, sending to the forwarding U-GW in all subsequent steps is sending carried out for the target U-GW. If the target U-GW cannot communicate directly with the source U-GW, the target C-GW selects, as a forwarding U-GW, according to the current location information of the UE, a U-GW that can communicate directly with the U-GW of origin.

[244] It should be noted that to ensure continuity of service in a special scenario, there may be more than one forwarding U-GW. Typically, if the UE is moved to a neighboring U-GW set, the target C-GW selects a default U-GW in the neighboring U-GW set as a target forwarding U-GW. In case the standard U-GW cannot communicate directly with the source U-GW also, additionally, the target C-GW can select, as a source forwarding U-GW, a standard U-GW in a set of U-GWs. -GW in which the source U-GW is located, and two forwarding U-GWs are used to ensure service continuity in the moving process of the UE.

[245] S511. The target C-GW sends an auto-switch notification acknowledgment message to the target MME.

[246] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request confirmation message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the automatic service switching request message that corresponds to the notification confirmation message automatic switching, the automatic switching request confirmation message sent by the target C-GW to the target MME is referred to as an automatic switching notification confirmation message 2.

[247] After determining the forwarding U-GW, the target C-GW can return the automatic service switching 2 notification confirmation message to the target MME in accordance with the automatic service switching 2 notification message of the target MME , and add to the message an address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) of the forwarding U-GW selected by the target C-GW.

[248] If there are multiple forwarding U-GWs, for example, the source forwarding U-GW and the target forwarding U-GW, the target C-GW may add to the auto-switch notification confirmation message an address and tunnel endpoint information of the target forwarding U-GW located in the current location area of the UE. When sending the automatic switching notification confirmation message to the target MME, the target C-GW may reuse an existing message such as a Create Session Response message, a change bearer response message (Modify Bearer Response) or a Modify Access Bearers Response message, or you can define a new message, to send the automatic switching notification confirmation message 2. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present invention.

[249] S512. The target MME sends an automatic service switching request message to the target base station.

[250] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the automatic service switching request message sent by the target MME to the target base station is referred to as an automatic service switching request message. request for automatic service switching 2.

[251] The target MME sends the automatic service switching request message 2 to the target base station, and sends the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW to the target base station to that an uplink data transmission path is then automatically switched to the routing U-GW.

[252] S513. The target base station sends an automatic switching request confirmation message to the target MME.

[253] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request confirmation message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the automatic service switching request message that corresponds to the request confirmation message automatic switching request confirmation message sent by the target base station to the target MME is referred to as an automatic switching request confirmation message 2.

[254] The target base station returns the automatic switching request confirmation message 2 and sends an address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) of the target base station. target basis for the target EMA.

[255] S514. The target MME sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the target C-GW.

[256] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment request in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the data forwarding tunnel establishment request sent by the target MME to the target C-GW is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment request 1.

[257] The target MME sends the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 1 to the target C-GW, and sends the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station to the C-GW, to that a downlink data transmission path is then automatically switched to the target base station.

[258] S515. The target C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the forwarding U-GW.

[259] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment request in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the data forwarding tunnel establishment request sent by the target C-GW to the forwarding U-GW is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment request 2.

[260] The target C-GW sends the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 2 to the forwarding U-GW, and sends the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station and the address and the tunnel endpoint information from the source U-GW to the forwarding U-GW.

[261] If multiple forwarding U-GWs are required, the target C-GW must send a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to each forwarding U-GW, and the request carries an address and endpoint information of a peer network element.

[262] S516. The forwarding U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the target C-GW.

[263] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment response in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to the data forwarding tunnel establishment request that corresponds to the data forwarding tunnel establishment response , the data forwarding tunnel establishment response sent by the forwarding U-GW to the target C-GW is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment response 2.

[264] The forwarding U-GW returns the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 2 to the target C-GW to respond to the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 2 sent by the target C-GW and determines that the establishing a data forwarding tunnel between the target base station and the forwarding U-GW and establishing a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forwarding U-GW are permitted. Optionally, the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 2 may carry the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW.

[265] If multiple forwarding D-GWs are required in step S510, the C-GW must send a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to each forwarding D-GW and, correspondingly, each forwarding D-GW must return a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to indicate that establishment of a data forwarding tunnel is allowed.

[266] S517. The target C-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the target MME.

[267] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment response in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the data forwarding tunnel establishment request that corresponds to the establishment response data forwarding tunnel establishment response, the data forwarding tunnel establishment response sent by the target C-GW to the target MME is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment response 1.

[268] After receiving the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 2, the target C-GW returns the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 1 to the target MME and determines that the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the target base station and the U-GW forwarding is allowed.

[269] S518. The target MME sends a forward relocation response to the source MME.

[270] After determining that the data forwarding tunnel between the target base station and the forwarding U-GW can be established, the target MME may send the forward relocation response to the source MME, and the port response the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW.

[271] S519. The source MME sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the source C-GW.

[272] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment request in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the data forwarding tunnel establishment request sent by the source MME to the source C-GW is called as a data forwarding tunnel establishment request 3.

[273] The originating MME sends the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 3 to the originating C-GW and sends the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW to the C-GW source.

[274] S520. The originating C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the originating U-GW.

[275] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment request in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the data forwarding tunnel establishment request sent by the originating C-GW to the originating U-GW is termed as a data forwarding tunnel establishment request 4.

[276] The source C-GW sends the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 4 to the source U-GW and sends the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW to the U - GW of origin.

[277] S521. The source U-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the source C-GW.

[278] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment response in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the data forwarding tunnel establishment request that corresponds to the establishment response data forwarding tunnel establishment response, the data forwarding tunnel establishment response sent by the source U-GW to the source C-GW is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment response 4.

[279] After receiving the data forwarding tunnel establishment request 4 sent by the originating C-GW, the originating U-GW may return the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 4, and determine that the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel 4 data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the source U-GW is allowed.

[280] S522. Establish a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forward U-GW.

[281] After an address and tunnel endpoint information of a peer U-GW are obtained, the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forward U-GW is established.

[282] Of course, it should be understood that if multiple forwarding U-GWs are determined in step S510, e.g., the source forwarding U-GW and the target forwarding U-GW, a data forwarding tunnel between the Source U-GW and the source forwarding U-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the source forwarding U-GW and the target forwarding U-GW are established correspondingly.

[283] S523. The originating C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the originating MME.

[284] To be distinguished from a data forwarding tunnel establishment response in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the data forwarding tunnel establishment request that corresponds to the establishment response data forwarding tunnel establishment response sent by the source C-GW to the source MME is referred to as a data forwarding tunnel establishment response 3.

[285] After receiving the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 4, the originating C-GW may send the data forwarding tunnel establishment response 3 to the originating MME, and determine that the data forwarding tunnel establishment Data forwarding between the forwarding U-GW and the source U-GW is allowed.

[286] S524. The originating MME sends an automatic switching command to the originating base station.

[287] The source MME sends the automatic switching command to the source base station, and the command carries the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW.

[288] If multiple forwarding U-GWs are required, an address and tunnel endpoint information of the source forwarding U-GW located in a source location area of the UE are ported in the automatic switching command.

[289] S525. The source base station continues to perform an existing automatic data switching procedure, automatically switches the UE to a target cell, and directs the UE to access the target cell; and subsequently reuses the existing automatic switching procedure to implement full automatic switching of the UE to a target location.

[290] In an automatic switching process and after the automatic switching is completed, an uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path switches to: the UE θ the target base station θ the U-GW of routing θ to the source U-GW, i.e., the transmission paths indicated by a dashed line L3c, a dashed line L4c, a dashed line L5c and a dashed line L6c in Figure 5. It should be noted that before, during and after In automatic switching, the uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path passes through the source U-GW. However, considering that both the source U-GW and the forward U-GW have been moved down to locations closer to the UE, the source U-GW is also very close to the forward U-GW and, therefore, a user plan data RTT does not increase significantly.

[291] In this embodiment of the present invention, the target C-GW determines the forwarding U-GW according to the current location information of the UE and establishes the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the U- GW forwarding to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process, and ensure user service experience.

[292] Figure 6A and Figure 6B are yet another service continuity assurance interaction flowchart, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 6A and Figure 6B, a source base station is a serving base station used before the UE is moved to a current location area. A target base station is a serving base station used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A source MME is a serving MME used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target MME is a serving MME used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A source C-GW is a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target C-GW is a serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target U-GW is a U-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. A forwarding U-GW is a U-GW that is used after the UE is moved to the current location area and used for automatic data service switching. Before automatic service switching, an uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path is: the UE θ the source base station θ the source U-GW, that is, the indicated transmission paths by a dashed line L1d and a dashed line L2d in Figure 6A and Figure 6B.

[293] A specific automatic service switching procedure in this embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[294] S601. The source base station initiates an automatic user plane data switching procedure of the UE in connected mode.

[295] S602. The originating base station sends an automatic service switching request message.

[296] S603. The originating MME sends a forward relocation request message.

[297] S604. The target MME determines the target C-GW.

[298] S605. The target MME sends a serving C-GW change notification message to the source MME.

[299] S606. The originating MME sends an automatic service switching notification message to the originating C-GW.

[300] S607. The originating C-GW sends an auto-switch notification acknowledgment to the originating MME.

[301] S608. The source EMA returns a C-GW change notification confirmation to the target EMA.

[302] S609. The target MME sends an automatic service switching notification message to the target C-GW.

[303] S610. The target C-GW determines the target U-GW and forwarding U-GW.

[304] For the specific implementation of steps S601 to S610, refer to steps S501 to S510 in Figure 5.

[305] S611. The target C-GW sends a creation session request to the target U-GW.

[306] After selecting an appropriate target U-GW, the target C-GW may initiate the creation session request to the target U-GW so as to create, in the target U-GW for the UE, a bearer context for transmitting user plane data.

[307] S612. The target U-GW sends a creation session response to the target C-GW.

[308] The target U-GW creates, for the UE in accordance with the creation session request, the bearer context for transmitting user plane data from the UE. Each bearer context created includes an address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) of the target U-GW.

[309] After bearer context creation is completed, the target U-GW may send the creation session response to the target C-GW.

[310] S613. The target C-GW sends an auto-switch notification acknowledgment message to the target MME.

[311] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request confirmation message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the automatic service switching request message that corresponds to the service confirmation message. automatic switching notification, the automatic switching request confirmation message sent by the target C-GW to the target MME is referred to as an automatic switching notification confirmation message 2.

[312] After determining the forwarding U-GW, the target C-GW may return the automatic service switching notification confirmation message 2 to the target MME in accordance with the automatic service switching notification message 2 of the target MME, and adding, to the message, an address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) of the target U-GW selected by the target C-GW.

[313] S614. The target MME sends an automatic service switching request message to the target base station.

[314] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention, the automatic service switching request message sent by the target MME to the target base station is referred to as an automatic service switching request message. request for automatic service switching 2.

[315] The target MME sends the automatic service switching request message 2 to the target base station, and the message carries the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target U-GW that are sent by the C- Target GW.

[316] S615. The target base station sends an automatic switching request confirmation message to the target MME.

[317] To be distinguished from an automatic service switching request confirmation message in another step in this embodiment of the present invention and to correspond to an identifying numeral corresponding to that of the automatic service switching request message that corresponds to the request confirmation message automatic switching request confirmation message sent by the target base station to the target MME is referred to as an automatic switching request confirmation message 2.

[318] The target base station returns the automatic switching request confirmation message 2, and sends an address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) of the station -target basis for the target EMA.

[319] S616. The target MME sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the target C-GW.

[320] S617. The target C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the forwarding U-GW.

[321] S618. The forwarding U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the target C-GW.

[322] S619. The target C-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the target MME.

[323] S620. The target MME sends a forward relocation response to the source MME.

[324] S621. The source MME sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the source C-GW.

[325] S622. The originating C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the originating U-GW.

[326] S623. The source U-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the source C-GW.

[327] S624. Establish a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forward U-GW.

[328] S625. The originating C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the originating MME.

[329] S626. The originating MME sends an automatic switching command to the originating base station.

[330] For the specific implementation of steps S616 to S626, refer to steps S514 to S524 in Figure 5.

[331] S627. The source base station continues to perform an existing automatic data switching procedure, automatically switches the UE to a target cell, and directs the UE to access the target cell; and subsequently reuses the existing automatic switching procedure to implement full automatic switching of the UE to a target location.

[332] In an automatic switching process and after automatic switching is completed, a downlink user plane data transmission path is: the source base station ^ the source U-GW ^ the U-GW routing path ^ the target base station ^ the UE, that is, the transmission paths indicated by a dashed line L3d, a dashed line L4d, a dashed line L5d and a dashed line L6d in Figure 6A and Figure 6B. In an automatic switching process and after the automatic switching is completed, an uplink user plane data transmission path is: the UE ^ the target base station ^ the target U-GW, that is, the transmission indicated by a dashed line L7d and a dashed line L8d in Figure 6A and Figure 6B.

[333] In this embodiment of the solution of the present invention, the target C-GW determines, according to the current location information of the UE, whether to change a serving U-GW, and selects the forwarding U-GW according to the possibility of the selected target U-GW communicates directly with the source U-GW. The data forwarding tunnel is established between the source U-GW and the forwarding U-GW to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process and guarantee the user's service experience. Furthermore, the C-GW directly initiates a bearer context set request from the target U-GW and notifies the target base station of routing information from the target U-GW through the MME so that uplink data can be sent directly from the target base station to the target U-GW without passing through the forwarding U-GW and the source U-GW, which implements uplink data transmission routing optimization.

[334] It should be understood that the interaction procedures in the embodiments shown in Figure 5, Figure 6A and Figure 6B are applicable to a scenario in which a serving MME and a UE serving C-GW switch both before and after the movement of the EU. If the UE's serving C-GW changes but the serving MME does not change before and after the UE move, this only requires that the interworking signaling decreases between a source MME and a target MME on the basis of solutions in the present embodiments invention. Details are not described in the present invention.

[335] Figure 7 is yet another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 7, a target base station is a serving base station used when the UE switches from an idle mode to a connected mode in a current location area. A source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target U-GW is a serving U-GW used when the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode in the current location area. A forwarding U-GW is a U-GW that is used after the UE is moved to the current location area and used for automatic data service switching. An MME is a serving MME used when the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode in the current location area. A C-GW is a serving C-GW used when the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode in the current location area.

[336] A specific procedure in this embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[337] S701. The UE in idle mode needs to send uplink user plane data.

[338] S702. The UE sends a signaling request to the MME.

[339] If the idle mode UE is moved out of a current registered tracking area (such as a current registered tracking area (TA)), the UE may send the signaling request for the MME to start a location update procedure. For example, if the location update procedure is a Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedure, the signaling request is a location update request message.

[340] If the idle mode UE is moved out of a service area of a current serving base station, but is not moved out of a current registered location area (such as a current registered TA), the UE can send the signaling request to the MME to initiate a Service Request procedure, and the signaling request is a service request message.

[341] Specifically, the UE may send the signaling request message to the serving MME using the target base station, and the target base station sends the current location information of the UE to the MME.

[342] The UE's current location information includes a Tracking Area Identity (TAI) that corresponds to the UE's current location area, serving base station information that corresponds to the UE's current location area, and/or similar. The corresponding TAI used when the UE is moved to the current location area is a target TAI of the UE. The corresponding serving base station information used when the UE is moved to the current location area is the target base station information of the UE. The target base station information may be a target base station identity (Identity, ID), a target cell identifier (Cell Identity, CI), or the like. The current location area of the UE is also referred to as a target location area of the UE, that is, a location area in which the UE is located after the UE is moved out of a service range of a serving base station. source. Similarly, the current location information of the UE is also referred to as the target location information of the UE.

[343] S703. The MME sends a request message to the C-GW, and adds the current location information of the UE to the request message.

[344] After receiving a location update request message or a service request message, the UE serving MME learns, according to the current location information of the UE, that the UE is moved out of the service range from the current base station (the originating base station), the UE serving MME sends the request message to the current serving C-GW. The request message is used to indicate to the C-GW to move the UE to a new target location area. The MME can reuse an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message, or a Modify Access Bearers Request), or you can define a new message. This is not limited to this embodiment of the present invention.

[345] S704. The C-GW determines the target U-GW and the forwarding U-GW.

[346] After receiving the request message sent by the MME, the C-GW can determine the target U-GW and forwarding U-GW according to the current location information of the UE. For specific implementation, refer to step S304 in the embodiment shown in Figure 3. Details are not described in this document again.

[347] S705. The C-GW returns a confirmation request message to the MME.

[348] The C-GW returns the confirmation request message to the MME. For specific implementation, refer to step S305 in the embodiment shown in Figure 3. Details are not described in this document again.

[349] S706. The MME sends an initial context setting request message to the target base station.

[350] The MME sends the Initial Context Setup Request message to the target base station, and forwards to the target base station an address and tunnel endpoint information of the U-GW that are sent by the C-GW, so that an uplink data transmission path is then automatically switched to the routing U-GW.

[351] S707. The target base station returns an initial context definition response message to the MME.

[352] The target base station returns the Initial Context Setup Response message to the MME, and sends an address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) from the target base station to the MME.

[353] S708. The MME sends a change bearer request message to the C-GW.

[354] The MME sends the modification bearer request message to the C-GW, and sends the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station to the C-GW, so that a transmission path of downlink data is then automatically switched to the target base station. Optionally, in this step, the MME may send, to the C-GW, a modification access bearer request message that carries the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station.

[355] S709. The C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the forwarding U-GW.

[356] S710. The forwarding U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the C-GW.

[357] S711. The C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the originating U-GW.

[358] S712. The source U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the C-GW.

[359] S713. Establish a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forward U-GW.

[360] For specific implementation of steps S709 to S713, refer to steps S309 to S313 in the embodiment shown in Figure 3. Details are not described in this document again.

[361] S714. The C-GW returns a modification bearer response to the MME.

[362] Optionally, in correspondence with step S708, the C-GW may return a modification access bearer response message to the MME.

[363] In the location update procedure or service request procedure, an uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path changes to: the UE θ the target base station θ the U-GW of forwarding θ to the source U-GW, that is, the transmission paths indicated by a dashed line L1e, a dashed line L2e, and a dashed line L3e in Figure 7. It should be noted that the user plane data transmission path uplink/downlink passes through the source U-GW. However, considering that both the source U-GW and the forward U-GW have been moved down to locations closer to the UE, the source U-GW is also very close to the forward U-GW and, therefore, a user plan data RTT does not increase significantly. When the C-GW determines that two or more U-GWs are used as forwarding U-GWs, the data forwarding tunnel paths of the forwarding U-GWs pass through all forwarding U-GWs. For example, if the forwarding U-GW includes the target forwarding U-GW and the source forwarding U-GW, the transmission paths change to: the UE θ the target base station θ the forwarding U-GW target θ to source forwarding U-GW θ to source U-GW.

[364] In this embodiment of the present invention, the C-GW determines the forwarding U-GW according to the current location information of the UE. The data forwarding tunnel is established between the source U-GW and the forwarding U-GW to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process and guarantee the user's service experience.

[365] Figure 8 is yet another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 8, a target base station is a serving base station used when the UE switches from an idle mode to a connected mode in a current location area. A source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. A target U-GW is a serving U-GW used when the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode in the current location area. A forwarding U-GW is a U-GW that is used after the UE is moved to the current location area and used for automatic data service switching. An MME is a serving MME used when the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode in the current location area. A C-GW is a serving C-GW used when the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode in the current location area.

[366] A specific procedure in this embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[367] S801. The UE in idle mode needs to send uplink user plane data.

[368] S802. The UE sends a signaling request to the MME.

[369] For specific implementation of step S802, refer to step S702 in Figure 7. Details are not described in this document again.

[370] S803. The MME sends an initial context setting request message to the target base station.

[371] The MME sends the Initial Context Setup Request message to the target base station. This step is an existing step in an existing location update procedure or service request procedure. Therefore, in this document, the MME sends an address and tunnel endpoint information from the source U-GW to the target base station.

[372] S804. The target base station returns an initial context definition response message to the MME.

[373] The target base station returns the Initial Context Setup Request message to the MME, and sends an address (such as an IP address) and tunnel endpoint information (such as a GTP TEID) from the target base station to the MME.

[374] S805. The MME sends a change bearer request message to the C-GW.

[375] The MME sends the modification bearer request message to the C-GW and sends the current location information of the UE and the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station to the C-GW . Optionally, in this step, the MME may send to the C-GW a modification access bearer request message that carries the current location information of the UE and the address and tunnel endpoint information of the target base station. .

[376] S806. The C-GW determines the target U-GW and the forwarding U-GW.

[377] After receiving the modification bearer request message sent by the MME, the C-GW can determine the target U-GW and forwarding U-GW according to the current location information of the UE. For specific implementation, refer to step S304 in the embodiment shown in Figure 3. Details are not described in this document again.

[378] S807. The C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the forwarding U-GW.

[379] S808. The forwarding U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the C-GW.

[380] S809. The C-GW sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the originating U-GW.

[381] S810. The source U-GW returns a data forwarding tunnel establishment response to the C-GW.

[382] S811. Establish a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the forward U-GW.

[383] For specific implementation of steps S807 to S811, refer to steps S309 to S313 in the embodiment shown in Figure 3. Details are not described in this document again.

[384] S812. The C-GW returns a modification bearer response to the MME.

[385] The C-GW returns the modification bearer response message to the MME and sends an address and tunnel endpoint information of the determined forwarding U-GW to the MME. Optionally, in correspondence with step S805, the C-GW may return to the MME a modification access bearer response message, and the message carries an address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW.

[386] S813. The MME sends a UE context modification request to the target base station.

[387] The MME sends the UE Context Modification Request message to the target base station, and adds the address and tunnel endpoint information of the forwarding U-GW to the target base station. message, so that an uplink user plane data transmission path is then automatically switched to the forwarding U-GW. It should be noted that this step is a newly added step to the existing location update procedure or service request procedure.

[388] S814. The target base station returns a UE context modification response message to the MME.

[389] The target base station returns the UE Context Modification Response message to the MME.

[390] In the location update procedure or service request procedure, an uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path changes to: the UE θ the target base station θ the U-GW of forwarding θ to the source U-GW, that is, the transmission paths indicated by a dashed line L1f, a dashed line L2f, and a dashed line L3f in Figure 8. It should be noted that the user plane data transmission path uplink/downlink passes through the source U-GW. However, considering that both the source U-GW and the forward U-GW have been moved down to locations closer to the UE, the source U-GW is also very close to the forward U-GW and, therefore, a user plan data RTT does not increase significantly. When the C-GW determines that two or more U-GWs are used as forwarding U-GWs, the data forwarding tunnel paths of the forwarding U-GWs pass through all forwarding U-GWs. For example, if the forwarding U-GW includes the target forwarding U-GW and the source forwarding U-GW, the transmission paths change to: the UE θ the target base station θ the forwarding U-GW target θ to source forwarding U-GW θ to source U-GW.

[391] In this embodiment of the present invention, the C-GW determines the forwarding U-GW according to the current location information of the UE. The data forwarding tunnel is established between the source U-GW and the forwarding U-GW to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process and guarantee the user's service experience.

[392] Figure 9 is another flowchart of a method of ensuring service continuity, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method in Figure 9 is realized by a target mobility management network element. The method includes the following steps.

[393] 901. The target mobility management network element receives a forwarding relocation request sent by a source mobility management network element serving a UE.

[394] The forwarding relocation request carries current location information of the UE.

[395] For specific implementation of step 901, refer to step S503 in Figure 5 or step S603 in Figure 6A and Figure 6B.

[396] In an application scenario in this embodiment of the present invention, when the UE performs service communication, a location area after movement is beyond a service range of the originating mobility management network element (such as a MME). The source mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used before the UE is moved to the current location area.

[397] 902. The target mobility management network element selects a target C-GW of the UE according to current location information of the UE.

[398] For specific implementation of step 902, refer to step S504 in Figure 5 or step S604 in Figure 6A and Figure 6B.

[399] 903. The target mobility management network element sends the current location information of the UE to the target C-GW, so that the target C-GW determines a forwarding U-GW of the UE according to the current location information of the UE.

[400] For specific implementation of step 902, refer to step S509 in Figure 5 or step S609 in Figure 6A and Figure 6B.

[401] S904. The target mobility management network element sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the target C-GW.

[402] The data forwarding tunnel establishment request is used to request that the target control plane communication port establish, for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and a source U-GW serving the user equipment, and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and a target base station serving the user equipment.

[403] For specific implementation of step 904, refer to step S514 in Figure 5 or step S616 in Figure 6A and Figure 6B.

[404] In this embodiment of the present invention, after the UE is moved out of the service range of the source mobility management network element, the target mobility management network element determines the target C-GW of the source mobility management network element. according to the current location information of the UE and additionally establishes a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the target base station of the UE to the UE using the target C-GW so as to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process and improve the user's service experience.

[405] Optionally, in one embodiment, the target C-GW is different from a serving C-GW used before the UE was moved to the current location area (i.e., the serving C-GW changes in the process of moving the HUH). In this case, after step 902 and before step 903, the method may additionally include: sending, by the target mobility management network element, a change notification message to the source mobility management network element, wherein the switch notification message is used to indicate that a serving C-GW of the UE switches to the target C-GW. For specific implementation, refer to step S505 in Figure 5 or step S605 in Figure 6A and Figure 6B.

[406] Additionally, prior to step 903, the method may further include: receiving, by the target mobility management network element, an acknowledgment message sent by the source mobility management network element in accordance with the change notification, where the confirmation message carries routing information from the UE's source U-GW. For specific implementation, refer to step S508 in Figure 5 or step 608 in Figure 6A and Figure 6B.

[407] In this embodiment of the present invention, for specific deployment of the mobility management network element, refer to the method performed by the target MME shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6A and Figure 6B. Details are not described in this embodiment of the present invention again.

[408] Figure 10 is yet another flowchart of a method of ensuring service continuity, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method in Figure 10 is performed by a C-GW. The method includes the following steps.

[409] 1001. The C-GW receives current location information of a UE sent by a mobility management network element.

[410] This embodiment of the present invention is applicable to any of the following application scenarios:

[411] During user plane data transmission, the UE in connected mode is moved, and a location area after the movement is beyond a service range of a source base station; and upon detecting that the UE is moved out of the service range of the source base station, the source base station determines to initiate an automatic user plane data service switching procedure in connected mode. The source base station is a serving base station used before the UE is moved to the current location area.

[412] When uplink user plane data needs to be transmitted, the idle mode UE is moved out of a current registered location area, such as a current registered tracking area (TA), and the UE initiates a location update procedure, such as a Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedure.

[413] When uplink user plane data needs to be transmitted, the idle mode UE is moved out of a service area of a current serving base station, but is not moved out of a registered location area current, such as a current registered Tracking Area (TA), and the UE initiates a Service Request procedure.

[414] In application scenario (1), upon receiving a user plane data automatic switching request sent by the originating base station, the mobility management network element may send an automatic service switching notification to the C-GW serving the UE. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the automatic service switching notification using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a bearer request message of modification (Modify Bearer Request) or a message requesting modification access bearers (Modify Access Bearers Request); or the mobility management network element may send the automatic service switching notification using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the automatic service switching notification is not limited in the present invention.

[415] In application scenario (2), after receiving a location update request sent by the UE, or successfully creating a radio access bearer context for the UE, the mobility management network element may send a request message to the UE serving C-GW. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the request message using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message ( Modify Bearer Request) or a Modify Access Bearers Request message; or the mobility management network element may send the request message using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the request message is not limited in the present invention.

[416] In application scenario (3), after receiving a service request sent by the UE, or successfully creating a radio access bearer context for the UE, the mobility management network element may send a request to the UE serving C-GW. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the request message using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message ( Modify Bearer Request) or a Modify Access Bearers Request message; or the mobility management network element may send the request message using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the request message is not limited in the present invention.

[417] It should be noted that the C-GW is a C-GW serving the UE.

[418] It should be noted that the mobility management network element is a mobility management network element that serves the UE. In specific application, the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME.

[419] 1002. The C-GW selects a target U-GW for the UE according to the current location information of the UE.

[420] 1003. The C-GW sends a request message to the mobility management network element.

[421] The request message is used to request the mobility management network element to release a first bearer context and indicate for the UE to send a set request for a second bearer context, the first bearer context is a bearer context of the UE that is established in a source U-GW of the UE and the second bearer context is a bearer context that is reestablished by the UE in the target U-GW in accordance with the first bearer context.

[422] Optionally, in one embodiment, the request message is a deletion carrier request message, the deletion carrier request message carries a reactivation request indication, and the reactivation request indication is used to indicate, using the mobility management network element, for the UE to initiate the set request for the second bearer context after the first bearer context is deleted.

[423] It should be understood that both the MME and the UE write the first bearer context created by the UE to the originating U-GW. After receiving the delete bearer request message, the MME deletes the first bearer context in the MME and instructs the UE to delete the first bearer context in the UE. When the delete bearer request message carries the reactivation request indication, the MME additionally sends the reactivation request indication to the UE to indicate to the UE to resend a set request to a bearer context according to the content of the first bearer context after the first bearer context is deleted, and request to create the second bearer context. The second bearer context is a bearer context that is created on the target U-GW according to the first bearer context. Typically, the second bearer context includes an Access Point Name (APN) the same as that of the first bearer context.

[424] In this embodiment of the present invention, before the UE switches from an idle mode to a connected mode and sends user plane data, the C-GW determines a serving U-GW of the UE according to the current location information of the UE. UE, triggers a bearer context deactivation procedure, and adds a reactivation request indication during the bearer context deactivation procedure to indicate to the UE to initiate a bearer context re-creation procedure, to recreate carrier resources. bearer in the target U-GW, ensure the continuity of subsequent user plane data transmission service, and ensure the user's service experience.

[425] Below the method in embodiments of the present invention is further described with reference to specific embodiments.

[426] Figure 11 is yet another service continuity guarantee interaction flowchart, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 11, a target base station is a serving base station used when the UE switches from an idle mode to a connected mode in a current location area. A target U-GW is a serving U-GW used when the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode in the current location area. An MME is a serving MME used when the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode in the current location area. A C-GW is a serving C-GW used when the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode in the current location area.

[427] A specific procedure in this embodiment of the present invention is as follows:

[428] S1101. The UE sends a signaling request to the MME.

[429] Due to the fact that the idle mode UE needs to transmit signaling or uplink data, the idle mode UE sends signaling to the MME to request switching to connected mode. The UE initiates a Service Request procedure or a Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedure to implement automatic switching from idle mode to connected mode.

[430] In a switching process from idle mode to connected mode, the target base station, that is, a current serving base station of the UE, reports current location information of the UE to the current serving MME, and the information current location identity of the UE may be a current tracking area identity (TAI) and/or a current cell identifier (CI).

[431] S1102. The MME sends a location update notification message to the C-GW.

[432] After receiving the signaling request sent by the UE for automatic switching from idle mode to connected mode, for example, a Service Request message or a TAU request message, the MME determines accordingly with the UE's current location information reported by the base station, if a UE's location changes.

[433] If the location of the UE does not change, a prior art method is performed. Details are not described in this embodiment of the present invention. If the UE's location changes, the MME sends a location update notification message to the UE's C-GW. In this document, the MME can determine, in the following two scenarios, whether the location of the UE changes.

[434] (a) if the serving MME does not change, the MME may compare previously stored location information of the UE with the current location information reported by the target base station, to determine a change of the location of the UE.

[435] (b) if the MME changes, that is, a new MME receives the signaling request in the step, the new MME may consider that the location of the UE changes.

[436] The MME sends a location update notification message to the serving C-GW, and the notification message carries the current location information of the UE, including a current TAI, a current cell identifier, and/or the like. . The location update notification message is used to notify the C-GW that the current location area of the UE changes. Therefore, the MME can reuse an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message, or a Modify Bearer Request message. Modify Access Bearers Request), to carry the UE's current location information, or you can define a new message to carry the UE's current location information. This is not limited in the present invention.

[437] Furthermore, the MME can determine, according to the current location information of the UE, whether a C-GW serving the UE needs to be relocated, that is, whether the UE is moved out of a service area of the C-GW current server. If the serving C-GW needs to be relocated, the MME selects a new C-GW as a serving C-GW according to the current location information of the UE, and sends a location update notification message to the C-GW. New GW. Additionally, the MME may request that the new C-GW recreate a bearer context for the UE.

[438] S1103. The C-GW determines a U-GW.

[439] The C-GW determines, according to the current location information of the UE, whether a current serving U-GW of the UE needs to be relocated. If the UE's current serving U-GW needs to be relocated, the C-GW selects an appropriate target U-GW according to the UE's current location information and performs step S1104. If the C-GW is relocated to S1102, generally the serving U-GW also needs to be relocated.

[440] S1104. The C-GW sends a deletion carrier request to the MME.

[441] After sending the delete bearer request to the MME, the C-GW initiates a bearer deactivation procedure for the UE to release all bearer context resources created by the UE in a source U-GW. Furthermore, the deletion bearer request message carries a Reactivation requested indication, so as to request the UE to immediately initiate a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection establishment request. ) after all bearer context resources of the source D-GW are deleted, to recreate user plane bearer resources on the target D-GW.

[442] S1105. The MME sends an unbind request or a deactivate bearer context request to the UE.

[443] After receiving the delete bearer request from the C-GW, the MME performs different actions according to the UE's current Packet Data Network (PDN) connection information:

[444] (a) if the UE currently has only one PDN connection, the MME initiates a detachment procedure for the UE, and adds a rebinding indication (rebinding required) to a Detach Request.

[445] (b) if the UE currently has multiple PDN connections, the MME initiates a PDN connection deactivation procedure for the UE, and adds a reactivation request indication (Reactivation Requested) to a bearer context request deactivation (Deactivate Bearer Context Request).

[446] S1106. The UE initiates a PDN connection establishment request.

[447] The UE initiates the PDN connection establishment request, to retrieve bearer contexts for which the C-GW requests deletion in step S1104. The PDN connection establishment request bears the same APN as the bearer contexts for which the C-GW requests deletion in step S1104. In this procedure, the C-GW uses the selected target D-GW to create a UE bearer context.

[448] If the UE receives the unbinding request sent by the MME in step S1105, a binding procedure is initiated, and a PDN connection establishment procedure is added to the binding procedure. For specific implementation, refer to the previous technique.

[449] If the UE receives the deactivation bearer context request in step S1105 to deactivate a PDN connection, a separate PDN connection establishment procedure is initiated. For specific implementation, refer to the previous technique.

[450] In the PDN connection establishment procedure, an uplink/downlink user plane data transmission path changes to: the UE θ the target base station θ the target U-GW, that is, the transmission paths indicated by a dashed line L1g and a dashed line L2g in Figure 11.

[451] In this embodiment of the present invention, before the UE switches from idle mode to connected mode and sends user plane data, the C-GW determines, according to the current location information of the UE, whether the U- Serving GW needs to change, triggers a PDN connection deactivation procedure, and adds a reactivation request indication during the PDN connection deactivation procedure to request the UE to immediately initiate a PDN connection reestablishment procedure, to recreate resources of bearer in the target U-GW, which ensures the continuity of subsequent user plane data transmission service, and guarantees the user's service experience.

[452] Figure 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a control plane communication port 1200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 12, the control plane communication port 1200 may include a receive unit 1201, a select unit 1202, and a tunnel establishment unit 1203.

[453] The receiving unit 1201 is configured to receive UE current location information sent by a mobility management network element.

[454] The selection unit 1202 is configured to select at least one forwarding U-GW for the UE according to the current location information of the UE.

[455] In this embodiment of the present invention, a current location area of the UE lies beyond a service range of a current serving U-GW of the UE, and the C-GW needs to select an appropriate forwarding U-GW for the UE according to the UE's current location area.

[456] The tunnel establishment unit 1203 is configured to establish, for the UE, a data forwarding tunnel between a source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and a target base station of the UE. Data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit uplink user plane data and/or downlink user plane data of the UE into a moving process of the UE.

[457] For an applicable scenario of this embodiment of the present invention, refer to the application scenarios in the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

[458] In application scenario (1), upon receiving a user plane data automatic switching request sent by the originating base station, the mobility management network element may send an automatic service switching notification to the C-GW serving the UE. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the automatic service switching notification using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a bearer request message of modification (Modify Bearer Request) or a message requesting modification access bearers (Modify Access Bearers Request); or the mobility management network element may send the automatic service switching notification using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the automatic service switching notification is not limited in the present invention.

[459] In application scenario (2), after receiving a location update request sent by the UE, or successfully creating a radio access bearer context for the UE, the mobility management network element may send a request message to the UE serving C-GW. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the request message using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message ( Modify Bearer Request) or a Modify Access Bearers Request message; or the mobility management network element may send the request message using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the request message is not limited in the present invention.

[460] In application scenario (3), after receiving a service request sent by the UE, or successfully creating a radio access bearer context for the UE, the mobility management network element may send a service message request to the UE serving C-GW. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the request message using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message ( Modify Bearer Request) or a Modify Access Bearers Request message; or the mobility management network element may send the request message using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the request message is not limited in the present invention.

[461] The UE's current location information includes Tracking Area Identity (TAI) information that corresponds to the UE's current location area, serving base station information that corresponds to the UE's current location area, and /or similar. The corresponding TAI used when the UE is moved to the current location area is a target TAI of the UE. The corresponding serving base station information used when the UE is moved to the current location area is the target base station information of the UE. The target base station information may be a target base station identity (Identity, ID), a target cell identifier (Cell Identity, CI), or the like. It can be understood that the current location area of the UE is also referred to as a target location area of the UE, that is, a location area of the UE after the UE is moved out of the service range of the source serving base station. . Similarly, the current location information of the UE is also referred to as the target location information of the UE.

[462] It should be understood that the UE moving process includes procedures that occur in the aforementioned three application scenarios, specifically including: the automatic service switching procedure in application scenario (1), the location update procedure in scenario application scenario (2) and the service request procedure in the application scenario (3).

[463] It should be understood that the target base station of the UE is a base station that provides an access service to the UE after the UE is moved to the current location area.

[464] It should be understood that data forwarding tunnels are deployed by creating a user plane bearer context between the source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW, and a bearer context of user plane between the forwarding U-GW and the target UE base station. User plane bearer contexts include routing information required to forward user plane data. Specifically, a user plane bearer context created on the source U-GW includes routing information of the forwarding U-GW and routing information of the source base station serving the UE, a user plane bearer context created on the forwarding U-GW includes routing information of the source U-GW and routing information of the target base station, and a user plane bearer context created on the target base station includes the routing information of the U-GW. Forwarding GW. Additionally, the routing information may include an address (typically an Internet Protocol (IP) address) and tunnel endpoint information (typically a GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP). ) is used, the tunnel endpoint information is a GTP Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (TEID).

[465] It should be understood that the forwarding U-GW is the at least one forwarding U-GW selected by the selection unit 1202. That the tunnel establishment unit 1203 establishes, for the UE, a data forwarding tunnel between a source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and a target base station of the UE is what the tunnel establishment unit 1203 establishes. a communication path between the source U-GW, the at least one forwarding U-GW and the target base station, so as to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the two network elements from the C-GW source to the target base station.

[466] In this embodiment of the present invention, the control plane communication port 1200 determines the appropriate forwarding U-GW for the UE according to the current location information after movement, and establishes the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the source U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the target base station of the UE, so as to ensure service continuity in a moving process of the UE and improve user service experience.

[467] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, the control plane communication port may additionally include a sending unit 1204.

[468] Optionally, in one embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW is a first U-GW, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after the UE is moved to the current location area and control plane communication port is the same as a serving control plane communication port used before the UE is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area.

[469] The receiving unit 1201 is further configured to receive a first request sent by the mobility management network element. The first request carries the routing information of the UE's target base station.

[470] The tunnel establishment unit 1203 is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first U-GW using the sending unit 1204 and send a third request to the originating U-GW using the sending channel 1204. The second request is used to request the first U-GW to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the original U-GW. The second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source U-GW. The third request is used to request the source U-GW to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the first U-GW, and the third request carries the routing information from the first U-GW.

[471] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the control plane communication port 1200 is the same as the serving C-GW used before the UE was moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW does not change in a UE moving process. It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[472] Of course, it should be understood that the control plane communication port 1200 additionally receives a second response sent by the first U-GW in accordance with the second request and a third response sent by the originating U-GW in accordance with the third request. The second response is used to confirm that the first U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the U -GW of origin. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the first U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information, and the third response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the forwarding tunnel of data between the originating U-GW and the first U-GW. After receiving the second response and the third response, the control plane communication port 1200 may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[473] It should be noted that the first request, second request, or third request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request ), or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response, second response, or third response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response message, or a newly defined. This is not limited in the present invention.

[474] Optionally, in another embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW includes a first U-GW and a second U-GW, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used After the UE is moved to the current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a serving control plane communication port used before the UE is moved to the current location area, the mobility management network is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a server mobility management network element. mobility server used before the UE is moved to the current location area.

[475] The receiving unit 1201 is further configured to receive a first request sent by the mobility management network element. The first request carries the routing information of the UE's target base station.

[476] The tunnel establishment unit 1203 is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second U-GW using the sending unit 1204 send a third request to the third U-GW using the sending unit 1204 and sending a fourth request to the originating U-GW using sending unit 1204. The second request is used to request that the second U-GW establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW, the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third U-GW, the third request is used to request the third U-GW to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the source U-GW , the third request carries routing information from the second U-GW and the routing information from the source U-GW, the fourth request is used to request the source U-GW to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the U- source GW and the third U-GW, and the fourth request carries the routing information from the third U-GW.

[477] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the C-GW is the same as the serving C-GW used before the UE was moved to the current location area, that is, the serving C-GW does not change in the process UE movement. It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[478] Similarly, control plane communication port 1200 additionally receives a second response sent by the second U-GW in accordance with the second request, a third response sent by the third U-GW in accordance with the third request, and a fourth response sent by the originating U-GW in accordance with the fourth request. The second response is used to confirm that the second U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the second U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The third response is used to confirm that the third U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the U-GW. -GW of origin. Optionally, the third response may carry the routing information of the third U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The fourth response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the third U-GW. After receiving the second response, the third response, and the fourth response, the control plane communication port 1200 may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[479] It should be noted that the first request, the second request, the third request, or the fourth request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as an indirect creation data forwarding tunnel request (Request Request). Indirectly Created Data Forwarding Tunnel) or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response, second response, third response, or fourth response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as an indirect creation data forwarding tunnel response (Data Forwarding Tunnel Response). Indirect Creation) or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention.

[480] Optionally, in yet another embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW is a first U-GW, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after the UE is moved for the current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the UE was moved to the current location area, the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE be moved to the current location area.

[481] The receiving unit 1201 is further configured to receive the routing information from the source U-GW of the UE.

[482] The receiving unit 1201 is further configured to receive a first request sent by the mobility management network element. The first request carries the routing information of the UE's target base station.

[483] The tunnel establishment unit 1203 is specifically configured to send a second request to the first U-GW using the sending unit 1204. The second request is used to request the first U-GW to establish the tunnel. forwarding data between the first U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the source U-GW, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source U-GW.

[484] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the C-GW is different from the serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, that is, the serving C-GW changes in the process of moving the UE . It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[485] Similarly, the control plane communication port 1200 additionally receives a second response sent by the first U-GW in accordance with the second request and a third response sent by the originating U-GW in accordance with the third request. . The second response is used to confirm that the first U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the U -GW of origin. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the first U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information, and the third response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the forwarding tunnel of data between the originating U-GW and the first U-GW. After receiving the second response and the third response the control plane communication port 1200 may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[486] Of course, it must be understood that, because the C-GW serving the UE in this embodiment changes in the moving process of the UE, the C-GW is a target C-GW, that is, a C-GW server used after the UE is moved to the current location area. Additionally, the target C-GW must additionally indicate that a source C-GW, through the mobility management network element, sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the source U-GW; and send the routing information from the first U-GW to the source U-GW. The source C-GW is a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, and the source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the location area current.

[487] It should be noted that the first request or second request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request message or a newly defined. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response or second response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention.

[488] Optionally, in yet another embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW includes a first U-GW and a second U-GW, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port. used after the UE is moved to the current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the UE is moved to the current location area, the mobility management network is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a mobility management network element server used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[489] The receiving unit 1201 is further configured to receive the routing information from the source U-GW of the UE.

[490] The receiving unit 1201 is further configured to receive a first request sent by the mobility management network element. The first request carries the routing information of the UE's target base station.

[491] The tunnel establishment unit 1203 is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second U-GW using the sending unit 1204 and send a third request to the third U-GW using the sending 1204. The second request is used to request that the second U-GW establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station. third U-GW. The second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third U-GW. The third request is used to request the third U-GW to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the U-GW source. The third request carries routing information from the second U-GW and the routing information from the source U-GW.

[492] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the C-GW is different from the serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW changes in the process of moving the UE . It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[493] Similarly, control plane communication port 1200 additionally receives a second response sent by the second U-GW in accordance with the second request, a third response sent by the third U-GW in accordance with the third request, and a fourth response sent by the originating U-GW in accordance with the fourth request. The second response is used to confirm that the second U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the second U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The third response is used to confirm that the third U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the U-GW. -GW of origin. Optionally, the third response may carry the routing information of the third U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The fourth response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the third U-GW. After receiving the second response, the third response, and the fourth response, the control plane communication port 1200 may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[494] Of course, it must be understood that, because the C-GW serving the UE in this embodiment changes in the moving process of the UE, the C-GW in this embodiment is a target C-GW, that is, a C -GW server used after the UE is moved to the current location area. Additionally, the target C-GW must additionally indicate that a source C-GW, through the mobility management network element, sends a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the source U-GW; and send the routing information from the third U-GW to the source U-GW. The source C-GW is a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, and the source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the location area current.

[495] It should be noted that the first request, second request, or third request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request ) or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response, second response, or third response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response or a newly created message. -defined. This is not limited in the present invention. Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments shown in Figure 13, when the at least one routing U-GW is the first U-GW, the tunnel establishment unit 1203 is further configured to send routing information from a target U-GW. to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[496] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments shown in Figure 13, when the at least one forwarding U-GW is the first U-GW, the tunnel establishment unit 1203 is further configured to send the routing information of the first U-GW to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[497] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments shown in Figure 13, when the at least one forwarding U-GW is the second U-GW and the third U-GW, the tunnel establishment unit 1203 is additionally configured to send the routing information from the second U-GW to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[498] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments shown in Figure 13, the tunnel establishment unit 1203 is further configured to send a creation session request to the target U-GW. The create session request is used to create, in the target U-GW for the UE, a bearer context for transmitting user plane data. Each created bearer context includes routing information of the target U-GW, and the target U-GW is a serving U-GW that corresponds to the current location area of the UE. It can be understood that the target U-GW is generally a serving U-GW that provides an optimal data transmission path for the UE in the current location area. Additionally, the tunnel establishment unit 1203 is further configured to send the routing information from the target U-GW to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[499] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments shown in Figure 13, when the at least one forwarding U-GW is the first U-GW, the first U-GW is additionally a serving U-GW selected by the communication port of control plane for the UE according to the current location information of the UE. That is, the first U-GW is a target U-GW. In this case, the target D-GW can communicate directly with the source D-GW, that is, the target U-GW also plays a role as the forwarding U-GW. It can be understood that when the target U-GW cannot communicate directly with the source D-GW, the forwarding U-GW selected by the C-GW is different from the target U-GW.

[500] The control plane communication port 1200 may additionally perform the method shown in Figure 2, and implements the functions of the C-GW in the embodiments shown in Figure 2 to Figure 4, Figure 7 and Figure 8, and functions of the target C-GW in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6A and Figure 6B. Details are not described in this embodiment of the present invention again.

[501] Figure 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a mobility management network element 1400, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The mobility management network element 1400 may include a receiving unit 1401 , a selecting unit 1402 , and a sending unit 1403 .

[502] The receiving unit 1401 is configured to receive a forwarding relocation request sent by a source mobility management network element serving the UE.

[503] The forward relocation request carries current location information of the UE.

[504] The selection unit 1402 is configured to select a target C-GW of the UE according to the current location information of the UE.

[505] The sending unit 1403 is configured to send the current location information of the UE to the target C-GW, so that the target control plane communication port determines a forwarding U-GW of the UE in accordance with the current location information of the UE.

[506] The sending unit 1403 is further configured to send a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the target control plane communication port.

[507] The data forwarding tunnel establishment request is used to request that the target C-GW establish, for the UE, a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and a source U-GW that serves the UE and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and a target base station serving the UE.

[508] In this embodiment of the present invention, after the UE is moved out of a service range of the source mobility management network element, the mobility management network element 1400 determines the target C-GW of the UE, according to the current location information of the UE, and further establishes a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the target base station of the UE to the UE with the use of the target C-GW so as to ensure service continuity in the UE's moving process and improve the user's service experience.

[509] Optionally, the target control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the UE was moved to the current location area (i.e., the serving C-GW changes in the UE moving process). The sending unit 1403 is further configured to send a change notification message to the originating mobility management network element. The change notification message is used to indicate that a serving control plane communication port of the UE switches to the target control plane communication port.

[510] Additionally, the receiving unit 1401 is further configured to receive an acknowledgment message sent by the source mobility management network element in accordance with the change notification message. The confirmation message carries routing information from the UE's source U-GW.

[511] The mobility management network element 1400 may further perform the method in Figure 9 and deploy functions of the target MME in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6A and Figure 6B. Details are not described in this embodiment of the present invention again.

[512] Figure 15 is a schematic structural diagram of a control plane communication port 1500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Control plane communication port 1500 includes: a receiving unit 1501 configured to receive current location information of the UE sent by a mobility management network element; a selection unit 1502, configured to select a target U-GW for the UE according to the current location information of the UE; and a sending unit 1503 configured to send a request message to the mobility management network element.

[513] The request message is used to request the mobility management network element to release a first bearer context and indicate for the UE to send a set request for a second bearer context. The first bearer context is a bearer context of the UE that is established in a source U-GW of the UE and the second bearer context is a bearer context that is reestablished by the UE in the target U-GW in accordance with the first carrier context.

[514] It is to be understood that in this embodiment of the present invention, the location update notification message is used to notify the C-GW that the current location area of the UE changes. For location update notification, an existing message can be reused, such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message, or a Modify Bearer Request message. modification access bearers (Modify Access Bearers Request); or a new message can be defined. This is not limited in the present invention.

[515] In this embodiment of the present invention, before the UE switches from an idle mode to a connected mode and sends user plane data, the control plane communication port 1500 determines, according to the current location information of the UE, if the serving U-GW needs to switch, triggers a bearer context deactivation procedure and adds a reactivation request indication during the bearer context deactivation procedure to request the UE to immediately initiate a context reestablishment procedure of bearer, to recreate bearer resources in the target U-GW, ensure subsequent user plane data transmission service continuity, and ensure user service experience.

[516] Optionally, in one embodiment, the request message is a deletion carrier request message, the deletion carrier request message carries a reactivation request indication, and the reactivation request indication is used to indicate , using the mobility management network element, for the UE to initiate the set request for the second bearer context after the first bearer context is deleted.

[517] It should be understood that both the MME and the UE write the first bearer context created by the UE to the originating U-GW. After receiving the delete bearer request message, the MME deletes the first bearer context in the MME and instructs the UE to delete the first bearer context in the UE. When the delete bearer request message carries the reactivation request indication, the MME additionally sends the reactivation request indication to the UE to indicate that the UE resends a set request for a bearer context according to the content of the first bearer context after the first bearer context is deleted, and request to create the second bearer context. The second bearer context is a bearer context created on the target U-GW based on the first bearer context.

[518] The control plane communication port 1500 may further perform the method in Figure 10 and implement functions of the C-GW in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. Details are not described in this embodiment of the present invention again.

[519] Figure 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a control plane communication port 1600, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The control plane communication port 1600 may include a processor 1602, a memory 1603, a transmitter 1601, and a receiver 1604.

[520] The receiver 1604, the transmitter 1601, the processor 1602, and the memory 1603 are connected together using a bus 1606. The bus 1606 may be an ISA bus, a PCI bus, an EISA bus, or the like. The bus can be classified into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus and the like. For ease of representation, in Figure 16, the 1606 bus is indicated using just a double-headed arrow. However, this does not indicate that there is only one bus or only one type of bus. In a specific application, the transmitter 1601 and the receiver 1604 may be coupled to an antenna 1605.

[521] Memory 1603 is configured to store a program. Specifically, the program may include program code, and the program code includes a computer operating instruction. Memory 1603 may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provides instruction and data to processor 1602. Memory 1603 may include high-speed RAM, and may additionally include non-volatile memory. -volatile memory), for example, at least one magnetic disk memory.

[522] Processor 1602 executes the program stored in memory 1603 and is specifically configured to perform the following operations: receiving, using receiver 1604, UE current location information sent by a mobility management network element; selecting at least one forwarding U-GW for the UE according to the current location information of the UE; and establishing, using the transmitter 1601 for the UE, a data forwarding tunnel between a source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the originating U-GW forwarding and a target base station of the UE, wherein the data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit uplink user plane data and/or downlink user plane data of the UE into a moving process of the UE .

[523] For a scenario applicable to this embodiment of the present invention, refer to the application scenarios in the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

[524] In application scenario (1), upon receiving a user plane data automatic switching request sent by the originating base station, the mobility management network element may send an automatic service switching notification to the C-GW serving the UE. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the automatic service switching notification using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a bearer request message of modification (Modify Bearer Request) or a message requesting modification access bearers (Modify Access Bearers Request); or the mobility management network element may send the automatic service switching notification using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the automatic service switching notification is not limited in the present invention.

[525] In application scenario (2), upon receiving a location update request sent by the UE, or successfully creating a radio access bearer context for the UE, the mobility management network element may send a request message to the UE serving C-GW. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the request message using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message ( Modify Bearer Request) or a Modify Access Bearers Request message; or the mobility management network element may send the request message using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the request message is not limited in the present invention.

[526] In application scenario (3), after receiving a service request sent by the UE, or successfully creating a radio access bearer context for the UE, the mobility management network element may send a service message request to the UE serving C-GW. It should be understood that the mobility management network element may be an MME or another network element that has a mobility management function of an MME. In specific application, the mobility management network element may send the request message using an existing message such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message ( Modify Bearer Request) or a Modify Access Bearers Request message; or the mobility management network element may send the request message using a newly created message. A specific message used to send the request message is not limited in the present invention.

[527] The UE's current location information includes Tracking Area Identity (TAI) information that corresponds to the UE's current location area, serving base station information that corresponds to the UE's current location area, and /or similar. The corresponding TAI used when the UE is moved to the current location area is a target TAI of the UE. The corresponding serving base station information used after the UE is moved to the current location area is the target base station information of the UE. The target base station information may be a target base station identity (Identity, ID), a target cell identifier (CI), or the like. It can be understood that the current location area of the UE is also referred to as a target location area of the UE, that is, a location area of the UE after the UE is moved out of the service range of the source serving base station. . Similarly, the current location information of the UE is also referred to as the target location information of the UE.

[528] It should be understood that the UE moving process includes procedures that occur in the aforementioned three application scenarios, which specifically include: the automatic service switching procedure in application scenario (1), the location update procedure in application scenario (2) and the service request procedure in the application scenario (3).

[529] It should be understood that the target base station of the UE is a base station that provides an access service to the UE after the UE is moved to the current location area.

[530] It should be understood that data forwarding tunnels are deployed by creating a user plane bearer context between the source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW and a user plane between the forwarding U-GW and the target UE base station. User plane bearer contexts include routing information required to forward user plane data, including routing information of the source U-GW, routing information of the forwarding U-GW, and routing information of the target base station . Specifically, the routing information may include an address (typically an Internet Protocol (IP) address) and tunnel endpoint information (typically a GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP)). is used, the tunnel endpoint information is a GTP Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (TEID).

[531] It should be understood that the forwarding U-GW is the at least one forwarding U-GW selected by the processor 1602. That the processor 1602 establishes, for the UE, a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW source serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the target base station of the UE is that process 1602 establishes a communication path between the forwarding U-GW and source, the at least one forwarding U-GW and the target base station, in order to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the two network elements of the source C-GW to the target base station.

[532] The aforementioned method which is carried out by the C-GW disclosed in any embodiment in Figure 2 to Figure 4 of the present invention or which is carried out by the target C-GW disclosed in any embodiment in Figure 5, Figure 6A and Figure 6B may be applied to the processor 1602, or may be implemented by the processor 1602. The processor 1602 may be an integrated circuit chip and has a signal processing capability. In a deployment process, the steps in the aforementioned method may be completed via a hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor 1602 or an instruction in a software form. The processor 1602 may be a general-purpose processor, including a central processing unit (abbreviated as CPU), a network processor (abbreviated as NP), and the like, or it may be a signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. Processor 1602 can implement or carry out the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, or the like. The method steps disclosed with reference to embodiments of the present invention may be directly performed and completed using a hardware decoding processor, or performed and completed by combining hardware and software modules in a decoding processor. The software module may be located on a field-mature storage medium, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage media is located in memory 1603. Processor 1602 reads information in memory 1603, and completes the steps of the aforementioned method in combination with the hardware of processor 1602.

[533] In this embodiment of the present invention, the control plane communication port 1600 determines the appropriate forwarding U-GW for the UE according to the current location information after movement, and establishes the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the source U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the target base station of the UE, so as to ensure service continuity in the moving process of the UE and improve user service experience.

[534] Optionally, in one embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW is a first U-GW, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after the UE is moved to the current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a serving control plane communication port used before the UE is moved to the current location area, the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE be moved to the current location area.

[535] Processor 1602 is further configured to receive, using receiver 1604, a first request sent by the mobility management network element. The first request carries the routing information of the UE's target base station.

[536] In a process of establishing, using the transmitter 1601 for the UE, the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW and/or the forwarding tunnel of data between the forwarding U-GW and the target UE base station, the processor 1602 is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first U-GW using the transmitter 1601, and send a third request to the source U-GW using transmitter 1601, wherein the second request is used to request that the first U-GW allow the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the source U-GW, the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source U-GW, the third request is used to request the source U-GW to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the first U-GW and the third request carries the routing information from the first U-GW.

[537] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the control plane communication port 1600 is the same as the serving C-GW used before the UE was moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW does not change in the moving process of the UE. It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[538] Of course, it should be understood that the control plane communication port 1600 additionally receives a second response sent by the first U-GW in accordance with the second request, and a third response sent by the originating U-GW in accordance with the third request. The second response is used to confirm that the first U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station, and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station. Original U-GW. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the first U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information, and the third response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the forwarding tunnel. data between the originating U-GW and the first U-GW. After receiving the second response and the third response, the control plane communication port 1600 may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[539] It should be noted that the first request, second request, or third request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request ) or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response, second response, or third response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response or a newly created message. -defined. This is not limited in the present invention.

[540] Optionally, in another embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW includes a first U-GW and a second U-GW, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used After the UE is moved to the current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a serving control plane communication port used before the UE is moved to the current location area, the mobility management network is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a mobility management network element server used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[541] Processor 1602 is further configured to receive, using receiver 1604, a first request sent by the mobility management network element. The first request carries the routing information of the UE's target base station.

[542] In a process of establishing, using the transmitter 1601 for the UE, the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the target base station of the UE, the processor 1602 is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second U-GW using the transmitter 1601, send a third request to the third U-GW, GW using transmitter 1601 and sending a fourth request to the originating U-GW using transmitter 1601, wherein the second request is used to request the second U-GW to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW, the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third U -GW, the third request is used to request the third U-GW to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the source U-GW, the third request carries routing information from the second U-GW and the routing information from the source U-GW, the fourth request is used to request the source U-GW to establish the source U-GW forwarding tunnel. data between the source U-GW and the third U-GW, and the fourth request carries the routing information from the third U-GW.

[543] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the control plane communication port 1600 is the same as the serving C-GW used before the UE was moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW does not change in the moving process of the UE. It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[544] Similarly, control plane communication port 1600 additionally receives a second response sent by the second U-GW in accordance with the second request, a third response sent by the third U-GW in accordance with the third request, and a fourth response sent by the originating U-GW in accordance with the fourth request. The second response is used to confirm that the second U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the second U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The third response is used to confirm that the third U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the U-GW. -GW of origin. Optionally, the third response may carry the routing information of the third U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The fourth response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the third U-GW. After receiving the second response, the third response, and the fourth response, the control plane communication port 1600 may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[545] It should be noted that the first request, second request, third request, or fourth request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect data forwarding tunnel request. Data Forwarding Tunnel Request) or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response, second response, third response, or fourth response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response. or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention.

[546] Optionally, in yet another embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW is a first U-GW, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after the UE is moved for the current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the UE was moved to the current location area, the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE be moved to the current location area.

[547] Processor 1602 is further configured to receive, using receiver 1604, routing information from the source U-GW of the UE.

[548] Processor 1602 is further configured to receive, using receiver 1604, a first request sent by the mobility management network element. The first request carries the routing information of the UE's target base station.

[549] In a process of establishing, using the transmitter 1601 for the UE, the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the target base station of the UE, the processor 1602 is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first U-GW using the transmitter 1601, wherein the second request is used to request that the first U-GW establishes the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the source U-GW, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source U-GW.

[550] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the control plane communication port 1600 is different from the serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW changes in UE moving process. It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[551] Similarly, the control plane communication port 1600 additionally receives a second response sent by the first U-GW in accordance with the second request and a third response sent by the originating U-GW in accordance with the third request. . The second response is used to confirm that the first U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first U-GW and the U -GW of origin. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the first U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information, and the third response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the forwarding tunnel of data between the originating U-GW and the first U-GW. After receiving the second response and the third response the control plane communication port 1600 may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[552] Of course, it should be understood that, due to the fact that the serving C-GW of the UE in this embodiment changes in the moving process of the UE, the control plane communication port 1600 is a target C-GW, i.e. , a serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. Additionally, the processor 1602 must additionally indicate a source C-GW through the mobility management network element to send a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the source U-GW; and sending the routing information from the first U-GW to the source U-GW. The source C-GW is a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area and the source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the location area current.

[553] It should be noted that the first request or second request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request message or a newly defined. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response or second response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention.

[554] Optionally, in yet another embodiment, the at least one forwarding U-GW includes a first U-GW and a second U-GW, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port. used after the UE is moved to the current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the UE is moved to the current location area, the mobility management network is a server mobility management network element used after the UE is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is the same or different from a server mobility management network element. mobility server used before the UE is moved to the current location area.

[555] Processor 1602 is further configured to receive, using receiver 1604, routing information from the source U-GW of the UE.

[556] Processor 1602 is further configured to receive, using receiver 1604, a first request sent by the mobility management network element. The first request carries the routing information of the UE's target base station.

[557] In a process of establishing, using the transmitter 1601 for the UE, the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW serving the UE and the forwarding U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and the target UE base station, the processor 1602 is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second U-GW using the transmitter 1601, and send a third request to the third U -GW using transmitter 1601, wherein the second request is used to request the second U-GW to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and a data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW, with the second request carrying the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the third U-GW, the third request is used to request that the third U-GW GW establishes the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and a data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the source U-GW, and the third request carries routing information from the second U-GW and the routing information of the source U-GW.

[558] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the control plane communication port 1600 is different from the serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, i.e., the serving C-GW changes in UE moving process. It should be understood that this embodiment is applicable to a scenario in which the server mobility management network element changes in the moving process of the UE or a scenario in which the server mobility management network element does not change in the moving process of the UE. UE, that is, the mobility management network element may be the same or different from a server mobility management network element used before the UE was moved to the current location area.

[559] Similarly, control plane communication port 1600 additionally receives a second response sent by the second U-GW in accordance with the second request, a third response sent by the third U-GW in accordance with the third request, and a fourth response sent by the originating U-GW in accordance with the fourth request. The second response is used to confirm that the second U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the second U-GW and the third U-GW. Optionally, the second response may carry the routing information of the second U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The third response is used to confirm that the third U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the second U-GW and the data forwarding tunnel between the third U-GW and the U-GW. -GW of origin. Optionally, the third response may carry the routing information of the third U-GW, such as an IP address and TEID information. The fourth response is used to confirm that the source U-GW allows the establishment of the data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the third U-GW. After receiving the second response, the third response, and the fourth response, the control plane communication port 1600 may send a first response of the first request to the mobility management network element.

[560] Of course, it should be understood that, due to the fact that the serving C-GW of the UE in this embodiment changes in the moving process of the UE, the control plane communication port 1600 in this embodiment is a target C-GW, that is, a serving C-GW used after the UE is moved to the current location area. Additionally, the processor 1602 must additionally indicate a source C-GW through the mobility management network element to send a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the source U-GW; and sending the routing information from the third U-GW to the source U-GW. The source C-GW is a serving C-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area, and the source U-GW is a serving U-GW used before the UE is moved to the current location area. Current location.

[561] It should be noted that the first request, second request, or third request in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request ) or a newly defined message. This is not limited in the present invention. Additionally, the first response, second response, or third response in this embodiment may be sent using an existing message such as a Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Response or a newly created message. -defined. This is not limited in the present invention.

[562] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments of Figure 16, when the at least one routing U-GW is the first U-GW, the processor 1602 is further configured to send, using the transmitter 1601, routing information from a target U-GW to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[563] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments of Figure 16, when the at least one routing U-GW is the first U-GW, the processor 1602 is further configured to send routing information from the first U-GW to the target base station through the mobility management network element.

[564] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments of Figure 16, when the at least one routing U-GW is the second U-GW and the third U-GW, the processor 1602 is further configured to send the routing information of the second U-GW to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[565] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments of Figure 16, the processor 1602 is further configured to send a creation session request to the target U-GW using the transmitter 1601, wherein the creation session request is used to create, on the target U-GW for the UE, a bearer context for transmitting user plane data, wherein each created bearer context includes routing information of the target U-GW and the target U-GW is a U-GW server that corresponds to the current location area of the UE. It can be understood that the target U-GW is generally a serving U-GW that provides an optimal data transmission path for the UE in the current location area. Additionally, the processor 1602 is further configured to send the routing information from the target U-GW to the target base station via the mobility management network element.

[566] Optionally, in the aforementioned four specific embodiments of Figure 16, when the at least one forwarding U-GW is the first U-GW, the first U-GW is additionally a serving U-GW selected by the plane communication port of control to the UE, according to the UE's current location information. That is, the first U-GW is a target U-GW. In this case, the target D-GW can communicate directly with the source D-GW, that is, the target U-GW also plays a role as the forwarding U-GW. It can be understood that when the target U-GW cannot communicate directly with the source D-GW, the forwarding U-GW selected by the C-GW is different from the target U-GW.

[567] The control plane communication port 1600 may additionally perform the method shown in Figure 2, and implement the functions of the C-GW in the embodiments shown in Figure 2 to Figure 4, Figure 7 and Figure 8, and the functions of the target C-GW in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6A and Figure 6B. Details are not described in this embodiment of the present invention again.

[568] Figure 17 is a schematic structural diagram of a mobility management network element 1700, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The mobility management network element 1700 may include a processor 1702 , a memory 1703 , a transmitter 1701 , and a receiver 1704 .

[569] The receiver 1704, the transmitter 1701, the processor 1702, and the memory 1703 are connected together using a bus 1706. The bus 1706 may be an ISA bus, a PCI bus, an EISA bus, or the like. The bus can be classified into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of representation, in Figure 17, the 1706 bus is indicated using just a double-headed arrow. However, this does not indicate that there is only one bus or only one type of bus. In a specific application, the transmitter 1701 and the receiver 1704 may be coupled to an antenna 1705.

[570] Memory 1703 is configured to store a program. Specifically, the program may include program code, and the program code includes a computer operating instruction. Memory 1703 may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provide instruction and data to processor 1702. Memory 1703 may include high-speed RAM, and may additionally include non-volatile memory. -volatile memory), for example, at least one magnetic disk memory.

[571] Processor 1702 executes the program stored in memory 1703 and is specifically configured to perform the following operations: receiving, using receiver 1704, a forward relocation request sent by a source mobility management network element serving the UE, wherein the forwarding relocation request carries current location information of the UE; selecting a target C-GW of the UE according to the current location information of the UE; sending the current location information of the UE to the C-GW using the transmitter 1701, so that the C-GW determines a forwarding U-GW of the UE according to the current location information of the UE; and sending a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the target control plane communication port using transmitter 1701, wherein the data forwarding tunnel establishment request is used to request that the C- Target GW establishes, for the UE, a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and a source U-GW serving the UE and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding U-GW and a station. target base serving the UE.

[572] The aforementioned method that is performed by the mobility management network element disclosed in the embodiment shown in Figure 9 of the present invention or that is performed by the target MME disclosed in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6A and Figure 6B may be applied to the processor 1702, or may be implemented by the processor 1702. The processor 1702 may be an integrated circuit chip and has a signal processing capability. In a deployment process, the steps in the aforementioned method may be completed via a hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor 1702 or an instruction in a software form. The processor 1702 may be a general-purpose processor, including a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, abbreviated as CPU), a network processor (Network Processor, abbreviated as NP), and the like, or it may be a signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. Processor 1702 may implement or carry out the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, or the like. The method steps disclosed with reference to embodiments of the present invention may be performed directly and completed using a hardware decoding processor, or performed and completed by combining hardware and software modules in a decoding processor. The software module may be located on a field-mature storage medium, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage media is located in memory 1703. Processor 1702 reads information in memory 1703, and completes the steps of the aforementioned method in combination with the hardware of processor 1702.

[573] In this embodiment of the present invention, after the UE is moved out of a service range of the source mobility management network element, the mobility management network element 1700 determines the target C-GW of the source mobility management network element. according to the current location information of the UE, and additionally establishes a data forwarding tunnel between the source U-GW and the target base station of the UE to the UE using the target C-GW, so as to ensure service continuity in a UE moving process and improve the user's service experience.

[574] Optionally, the target control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the UE was moved to the current location area (i.e., the serving C-GW changes in a UE moving process). Processor 1702 is further configured to send a change notification message to the source mobility management network element using transmitter 1701. The change notification message is used to indicate that a Serving control of the UE switches to the target control plane communication port.

[575] Additionally, the processor 1702 is further configured to receive, using the receiver 1704, an acknowledgment message sent by the source mobility management network element in accordance with the change notification message. The confirmation message carries routing information from the UE's source U-GW.

[576] The mobility management network element 1700 may further perform the method in Figure 9 and deploy functions of the target MME in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6A and Figure 6B. Details are not described in this embodiment of the present invention again.

[577] Figure 18 is a schematic structural diagram of a control plane communication port 1800, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The control plane communication port 1800 may include a processor 1802, a memory 1803, a transmitter 1801, and a receiver 1804.

[578] The receiver 1804, the transmitter 1801, the processor 1802, and the memory 1803 are connected together using a bus 1806. The bus 1806 may be an ISA bus, a PCI bus, an EISA bus, or the like. The bus can be classified into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of representation, in Figure 18, the 1806 bus is indicated using just a double-headed arrow. However, this does not indicate that there is only one bus or only one type of bus. In a specific application, the transmitter 1801 and the receiver 1804 may be coupled to an antenna 1805.

[579] Memory 1803 is configured to store a program. Specifically, the program may include program code and the program code may include a computer operating instruction. Memory 1803 may include read-only memory and random access memory and provide instruction and data to processor 1802. Memory 1803 may include high-speed RAM, and may additionally include nonvolatile memory. ), for example, at least one magnetic disk memory.

[580] Processor 1802 executes the program stored in memory 1803 and is specifically configured to perform the following operations: receiving, using receiver 1804, current location information of the UE sent by a mobility management network element; selecting a target U-GW for the UE according to the current location information of the UE; and sending, using transmitter 1801, a request message to the mobility management network element, wherein the request message is used to request the mobility management network element to release a first bearer context and indicate for the UE to send a set request to a second bearer context, the first bearer context is a bearer context of the UE that is established in a UE source U-GW, and the second bearer context is a bearer context which is reestablished by the UE in the target U-GW according to the first bearer context.

[581] It is to be understood that in this embodiment of the present invention, the location update notification message is used to notify the C-GW that the current location area of the UE changes. For location update notification, an existing message can be reused, such as a Create Session Request message, a Modify Bearer Request message, or a Modify Bearer Request message. modification access bearers (Modify Access Bearers Request); or a new message can be defined. This is not limited in the present invention.

[582] The aforementioned method that is performed by the C-GW disclosed in any embodiment in Figure 10 and Figure 11 of the present invention can be applied to the processor 1802 or can be implemented by the processor 1802. The processor 1802 can be a circuit chip integrated and have a signal processing capability. In a deployment process, the steps in the aforementioned method may be completed via a hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor 1802 or an instruction in a software form. The processor 1802 may be a general-purpose processor, including a central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, abbreviated as CPU), a network processor (Network Processor, abbreviated as NP), and the like, or it may be a signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. Processor 1802 may implement or carry out the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in embodiments of the present invention. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor, or the like. The method steps disclosed with reference to embodiments of the present invention may be performed directly and completed using a hardware decoding processor, or performed and completed by combining hardware and software modules in a decoding processor. The software module may be located on a field-mature storage medium, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage media is located in memory 1803. Processor 1802 reads information in memory 1803, and completes the steps of the aforementioned method in combination with the hardware of processor 1802.

[583] In this embodiment of the present invention, before the UE switches from an idle mode to a connected mode and sends user plane data, the control plane communication port 1800 determines, according to the current location information of the UE, if the serving U-GW needs to switch, triggers a bearer context deactivation procedure and adds a reactivation request indication during the bearer context deactivation procedure to request the UE to immediately initiate a context reestablishment procedure of bearer, to recreate bearer resources in the target U-GW, ensure service continuity of subsequent user plane data transmission, and ensure user service experience.

[584] Optionally, in one embodiment, the request message is a deletion carrier request message, the deletion carrier request message carries a reactivation request indication, and the reactivation request indication is used through the mobility management network element to indicate to the UE to start the set request for the second bearer context after the first bearer context is deleted.

[585] It should be understood that both the MME and the UE write the first bearer context created by the UE to the originating U-GW. After receiving the delete bearer request message, the MME deletes the first bearer context in the MME, and instructs the UE to delete the first bearer context in the UE. When the delete bearer request message carries the reactivation request indication, the MME additionally sends the reactivation request indication to the UE, to indicate that the UE resends a set request to a bearer context according to content of the first bearer context after the first bearer context is deleted and requests the creation of the second bearer context. The second bearer context is a bearer context created on the target U-GW based on the first bearer context.

[586] The control plane communication port 1800 may further perform the method in Figure 10 and implement functions of the C-GW in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. Details are not described in this embodiment of the present invention again.

[587] It should be understood that sequence numbers of the aforementioned processes do not mean execution sequences in various embodiments of the present invention. The execution sequences of the processes must be determined in accordance with the functions and internal logic of the processes, and must not be interpreted as any limitation in the processes of implementing the embodiments of the present invention.

[588] A person of ordinary skill in the art may be aware that, in combination with the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this specification, algorithm units and steps may be implemented by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware . The realization of functions by hardware or software depends on particular applications and design constraints of technical solutions. A person skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but it should not be considered that the implementation goes beyond the scope of the present invention.

[589] It may be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art that, for the purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed operating process of the above-mentioned system, apparatus and unit, reference may be made to a corresponding process in the method embodiments mentioned above, and details are not described in this document again.

[590] In the various embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the described apparatus embodiment is merely an example. For example, unit division is merely logical function division and may be another division in actual deployment. For example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not realized. Furthermore, the mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections shown or discussed can be implemented using some interfaces. Indirect couplings or communication connections between devices or units can be implemented in electronic, mechanical or other forms.

[591] Units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separated, and parts shown as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed across a plurality of network units. Some or all units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the solution objectives of the modalities.

[592] Furthermore, functional units in embodiments of the present invention may be integrated into a processing unit, or each of the units may exist physically isolated or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

[593] When the functions are implemented in the form of a functional software unit and sold or used as a stand-alone product, the functions may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the present invention essentially, or the part contributing to the prior art, or some of the technical solutions can be implemented in a form of a software product. The software product is stored on a storage medium, and includes various instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or some of the steps of the methods described in embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage media includes: any media that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM, Random Access Memory), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[594] The aforementioned descriptions are merely specific implementations of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any variation or substitution readily devised by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention shall be within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention must be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims (39)

1. Method of ensuring service continuity CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises Receiving (201), through a control plane communication port, current location information of a user equipment from a mobility management network element ; Selecting (202), by the control plane communication port, at least one forwarding user plane communication port to the user equipment in accordance with the current location information of the user equipment, wherein at least one port forwarding user plane communication is used to forward downlink user plane data from the user equipment; and Establishing (203), through the control plane communication port for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and the control plane communication port. forwarding user plane and a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment, wherein the data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit the forwarding user plane data. user equipment downlink user plane in a user equipment moving process. 2. Method, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port is a first user plane communication port, the control plane communication port is a server control plane communication port used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a server control plane communication port used before the equipment user equipment is moved to the current location area and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; and establishing, by the control plane communications port for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communications port serving the user equipment and the source user plane communications port. forwarding user, and a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment comprises: receiving, through the control plane communication port, a first request of the mobility management network element, where the first request carries routing information from the target base station; send, through the control plane communication port, a second request to the first user plane communication port, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the target base station, and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the second request port the routing information of the target base station; and sending, through the control plane communication port, a third request to the source user plane communication port, wherein the third request is used to request the source user plane communication port to establish the control plane communication port. forwarding data between the source user plane communication port and the first user plane communication port, and the third request carries routing information from the first user plane communication port. 3. Method, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port comprises a second user plane communication port and a third user plane communication port, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a communication port server control plane used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area. current location area; and establishing, by the control plane communications port for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communications port serving the user equipment and the source user plane communications port. forwarding user, and a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment comprises: receiving, through the control plane communication port, a first request of the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station of the user equipment; send, through the control plane communication port, a second request to the second user plane communication port, wherein the second request is used to request that the second user plane communication port establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the target base station, and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, and the second request port as routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third user plane communication port; send, through the control plane communication port, a third request to the third user plane communication port, wherein the third request is used to request the third user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the third request carries routing information of the second user plane communication port and routing information of the source user plane communication port; and sending, through the control plane communication port, a fourth request to the source user plane communication port, wherein the fourth request is used to request the source user plane communication port to establish the control plane communication port. forwarding data between the source user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, and the fourth request carries the routing information of the third user plane communication port. 4. Method, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port is a first user plane communication port, the control plane communication port is a server control plane communication port used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved. user being moved to the current location area and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the method further comprises: additionally receiving, through the control plane communication port, routing information from the source user plane communication port of the mobility management network element; and establishing, by the control plane communications port for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communications port serving the user equipment and the source user plane communications port. forwarding user, and a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment comprises: receiving, through the control plane communication port, a first request of the mobility management network element, where the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and sending, through the control plane communication port, a second request to the first user plane communication port, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel. data between the first user plane communication port and the target base station, and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the second request ports the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source user plane communication port. 5. Method, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port comprises a second user plane communication port and a third user plane communication port, The control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a server control plane communication port. server control plane used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the area current location; the method further comprises: additionally receiving, through the control plane communication port, routing information from the source user plane communication port of the mobility management network element; and establishing, by the control plane communications port for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communications port serving the user equipment and the source user plane communications port. forwarding user, and a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment comprises: receiving, through the control plane communication port, a first request of the mobility management network element, where the first request carries routing information from the target base station; send, through the control plane communication port, a second request to the second user plane communication port, wherein the second request is used to request that the second user plane communication port establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the target base station, and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, and the second request port as routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third user plane communication port; and sending, through the control plane communication port, a third request to the third user plane communication port, wherein the third request is used to request the third user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel. data between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the third request carries routing information of the second user plane communication port and the routing information of the source user plane communication port. 6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the method is CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it further comprises: sending, via the control plane communication port, a creation session request to a communication port user plane, wherein the create session request is used to create, on the target user plane communication port for the user equipment, a bearer context for transmitting user plane data, and each created bearer context comprises routing information of the target user plane communication port; and the target user plane communication port is a serving user plane communication port corresponding to a current location area of the user equipment. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method is CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it further comprises: sending, via the control plane communication port, routing information from the target user plane communication port to the target base station through the mobility management network element. 8. Method according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the method is CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it further comprises: sending, through the control plane communication port, the routing information of the first user plane communication port to the target base station via the mobility management network element. 9. Method according to any one of claims 2, 4 or 8, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the first user plane communication port is a serving user plane communication port selected by the control plane communication port to the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment. 10. Method according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the method is CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it further comprises: sending, through the control plane communication port, the routing information of the second user plane communication port to the target base station via the mobility management network element. 11. Service Continuity Guarantee Method CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises: receiving (901), by a target mobility management network element, a forwarding relocation request from a source mobility management network element serving a user equipment, wherein the forwarding relocation request carries current location information of the user equipment; selecting (902), by the target mobility management network element, a control plane communication port of the target user equipment in accordance with the current location information of the user equipment; send (903), by the target mobility management network element, the current location information of the user equipment to the target control plane communication port, so that the target control plane communication port determines a forwarding user plane communication port of the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment, wherein the forwarding user plane communication port is used to forward link user plane data user equipment descendant; and sending (904), by the target mobility management network element, a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the target control plane communication port, wherein the data forwarding tunnel establishment request is used to request the target control plane communication port to establish, for the user equipment, a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a forwarding user plane communication port. source serving the user equipment and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment. 12. Method, according to claim 11, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the target control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to an area of current location, and the method further comprises: sending, by the target mobility management network element, a change notification message to the source mobility management network element, wherein the change notification message is used to indicate that a serving control plane communication port of the user equipment switches to the target control plane communication port. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method is CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it further comprises: receiving, by the target mobility management network element, an acknowledgment message from the target mobility management network element source according to the change notification message, wherein the acknowledgment message carries routing information of the source user plane communication port. 14. Control plane communication port (1200) CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises: a receiving unit (1201) configured to receive current location information of a user equipment from a mobility management network element; a selection unit (1202) configured to select at least one forwarding user plane communication port for the user equipment in accordance with the current location information of the user equipment, wherein the at least one forward plane communication port forwarding user plane is used to forward user equipment downlink user plane data; and a tunnel establishment unit (1203) configured to establish, for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and the source user plane communication port (1203). forwarding user plane and a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment, wherein the data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit the forwarding user plane data. user equipment downlink user plane in a user equipment moving process. 15. Control plane communication port, according to claim 14, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port is a first user plane communication port, the communication port control plane is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a control plane communication port server used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area ; the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first request from the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and the control plane communication port further comprises a sending unit, and the tunneling unit is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first user plane communication port using the sending unit and send a third request to the source user plane communication port using the sending unit, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, the second request carries the routing information from the target base station, the third request is used to request the source user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the first user plane communication port and the third request carries routing information from the first user plane communication port. 16. Control plane communication port according to claim 14, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port comprises a first user plane communication port and a second control plane communication port. user plane communication, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a server control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the equipment user is moved to the current location area; the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first request from the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and the control plane communication port further comprises a sending unit (1204), and the tunneling unit is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second user plane communication port using the send, send a third request to the third user plane communication port using the sending unit, and send a fourth request to the source user plane communication port using the sending unit, where the second request is used to request the second user plane communication port to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the target base station and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port of user plane and the third user plane communication port, the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third user plane communication port, the third request is used to request that the third user plane communication port establishes the data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port user plane and the source user plane communication port, the third request carries routing information from the second user plane communication port and routing information from the source user plane communication port, the fourth request is used to request the source user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, and the fourth request ports the information third user plane communication port routing. 17. Control plane communication port, according to claim 14, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port is a first user plane communication port, the communication port control plane is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the receiving unit is further configured to receive routing information from the source user plane communication port; the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first request from the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and the control plane communication port further comprises a sending unit (1204), and the tunneling unit is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first user plane communication port using the sending, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel data between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the user plane communication port source. 18. Control plane communication port according to claim 14, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port comprises a first user plane communication port and a second control plane communication port. user plane communication, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different of a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area. user is moved to the current location area; the receiving unit is further configured to receive routing information from the source user plane communication port; the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first request from the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and the control plane communication port further comprises a sending unit (1204), and the tunneling unit is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second user plane communication port using the sending and sending a third request to the third user plane communication port using the sending unit, wherein the second request is used to request the second user plane communication port to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the target base station and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, the second request carries the target base station routing and routing information of the third user plane communication port, the third request is used to request the third user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third communication port user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port and the third request port routing information of the second user plane communication port and the routing information of the source user plane communication port. 19. Control plane communication port according to any one of claims 14 to 18, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the tunnel establishment unit is further configured to send a create session request to a plane communication port of the user equipment, wherein the create session request is used to create, on the target user plane communication port for the user equipment, a bearer context for transmitting user plane data , wherein each created bearer context comprises routing information of the target user plane communication port, and the target user plane communication port is a serving user plane communication port corresponding to a location area current of the user equipment. 20. Control plane communication port according to claim 19, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the tunnel establishment unit is further configured to send the routing information from the target user plane communication port to the station. target base through the mobility management network element. 21. Control plane communication port according to claim 15 or 17, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the tunnel establishment unit is further configured to send the routing information from the first user plane communication port to the station - target base through mobility management network element. 22. Control plane communication port according to any one of claims 15, 17 or 21, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the first user plane communication port is a server user plane communication port selected by the port of control plane communication to the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment. 23. Control plane communication port according to claim 16 or 18, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the tunnel establishment unit is further configured to send the routing information from the second user plane communication port to the station - target base through mobility management network element. 24. Mobility management network element (1400) CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises: a receiving unit (1401) configured to receive a forwarding relocation request from a source mobility management network element serving an equipment user, in which the forwarding relocation request carries current location information of the user equipment; a selection unit (1402) configured to select a control plane communication port of the target user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; and a sending unit (1403) configured to send the current location information of the user equipment to the target control plane communication port, such that the target control plane communication port determines a target control plane communication port. forwarding user plane of the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment, wherein the forwarding user plane communication port is used to forward downlink user plane data of the user equipment ; wherein the sending unit is further configured to send a data forward tunnel establishment request to the target control plane communication port, wherein the data forward tunnel establishment request is used to request that the target control plane communications port establishes, for the user equipment, a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communications port and a source user plane communications port serving the target control plane communications port. user and a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment. 25. Mobility management network element according to claim 24, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the target control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the control equipment user be moved to a current location area; and the sending unit is further configured to send a change notification message to the source mobility management network element, wherein the change notification message is used to indicate that a control plane communications port serving the user equipment switches to the target control plane communication port. 26. Mobility management network element according to claim 25, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the receiving unit is further configured to receive an acknowledgment message from the originating mobility management network element according to the message change notification message, wherein the acknowledgment message carries routing information from the source user plane communication port. 27. Control plane communication port (1600) CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises a memory (1603), a processor (1602), a receiver (1604) and a transmitter (1601), wherein the memory is configured to: store a program and provide data and an instruction to the processor; and the processor is configured to execute the program stored in memory and is specifically configured to perform the following operations: receiving, using the receiver, current location information of a user equipment from a mobility management network element; selecting at least one forwarding user plane communication port for the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment, wherein at least one forwarding user plane communication port is used to forward data user equipment downlink user plane; and establishing, for the user equipment, a forwarding data tunnel between a source user plane communications port serving the user equipment and the forwarding user plane communications port and a forwarding data tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment, wherein the data forwarding tunnels are used to transmit the uplink user plane data from the user equipment into a moving process of user equipment. 28. Control plane communication port, according to claim 27, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port is a first user plane communication port, the communication port control plane is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a control plane communication port server used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area ; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, a first request from the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and in a process of establishing, using the transmitter to the user equipment, the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the forwarding user plane communication port and/or the data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communications port and the target base station, the processor is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first user plane communications port using the transmitter and send a third request to the source user plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port user plane communication and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port, the second request carries the station's routing information -target base, the third request is used to request the source user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the first user plane communication port and the third request carries routing information from the first user plane communication port. 29. Control plane communication port according to claim 27, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port comprises a first user plane communication port and a second control plane communication port. user plane communication, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is the same as a server control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the equipment user is moved to the current location area; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, a first request from the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and in a process of establishing, using the transmitter to the user equipment, the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the forwarding user plane communication port and the forwarding data between the forwarding user plane communications port and the target base station, the processor is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second user plane communications port using the transmitter, send a third request to the third user plane communication port using the transmitter and sending a fourth request to the source user plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the second request is used to request that the second user plane communication port user plane communication establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the target base station and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port user plane communication, the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third user plane communication port, the third request is used to request the third user plane communication port establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port source user plane, the third request carries routing information from the second user plane communication port and routing information from the source user plane communication port, the fourth request is used to request that the source user plane communication port source user plane establish the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port and the fourth request port the routing information of the third user plane communication port user. 30. Control plane communication port, according to claim 27, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port is a first user plane communication port, the communication port control plane is a serving control plane communication port used after user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, routing information from the source user plane communication port; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, a first request from the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and in a process of establishing, using the transmitter to the user equipment, the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the forwarding user plane communication port and the forwarding data between the forwarding user plane communication port and the target base station, the processor is specifically configured to: send a second request to the first user plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the second request is used to request the first user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port and the target base station and the data forwarding tunnel between the first user plane communication port base station and the source user plane communication port, and the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and the routing information of the source user plane communication port. 31. Control plane communication port according to claim 27, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one forwarding user plane communication port comprises a first user plane communication port and a second control plane communication port. user plane communication, the control plane communication port is a serving control plane communication port used after the user equipment is moved to a current location area, the control plane communication port is different of a serving control plane communication port used before the user equipment is moved to the current location area, and the mobility management network element is a server mobility management network element used after the user equipment is moved to the current location area. user is moved to the current location area; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, routing information from the source user plane communication port; the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, a first request from the mobility management network element, wherein the first request carries routing information from the target base station; and in a process of establishing, using the transmitter to the user equipment, the data forwarding tunnel between the source user plane communication port and the forwarding user plane communication port and the forwarding data between the forwarding user plane communications port and the target base station, the processor is specifically configured to: send a second request to the second user plane communications port using the transmitter and send a third request to the third user plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the second request is used to request the second user plane communication port to establish a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port user plane and the target base station and a data forwarding tunnel between the second user plane communication port and the third user plane communication port, the second request carries the routing information of the target base station and routing information of the third user plane communication port, the third request is used to request the third user plane communication port to establish the data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the second user plane communication port and a data forwarding tunnel between the third user plane communication port and the source user plane communication port and the third request port routing information from the second user plane communication port user plane and the routing information of the source user plane communications port. 32. Control plane communication port according to any one of claims 27 to 31, wherein the processor is further configured to send a create session request to a user plane communication port. target using the transmitter, wherein the create session request is used to create, on the target user plane communication port for the user equipment, a bearer context for transmitting user plane data, being that each created bearer context comprises routing information of the target user plane communication port, and the target user plane communication port is a serving user plane communication port corresponding to an area of the current location of the user equipment. 33. Control plane communication port, according to claim 32, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the processor is further configured to send the routing information from the target user plane communication port to the target base station through of the mobility management network element. 34. Control plane communication port according to claim 29 or 31, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the processor is further configured to send the routing information from the first user plane communication port to the target base station by through the mobility management network element. 35. Control plane communication port according to claim 29, 31 or 34, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the first user plane communication port is a server user plane communication port selected by the communication port control plane for the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment. 36. Control plane communication port according to claim 30 or 32, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the processor is further configured to send the routing information from the second user plane communication port to the target base station by through the mobility management network element. 37. Mobility management network element (1700) CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises a memory (1703), a processor (1702), a receiver (1704) and a transmitter (1701), wherein the memory is configured to: store a program and provide data and an instruction to the processor; and the processor is configured to execute the program stored in memory and is specifically configured to perform the following operations: receiving, using the receiver, a forwarding relocation request from a source mobility management network element serving a user equipment, wherein the forward relocation request carries current location information of the user equipment; selecting a control plane communication port of the target user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment; send the current location information of the user equipment to the target control plane communication port with the use of the transmitter, so that the target control plane communication port determines a forwarding user plane communication port of the user equipment according to the current location information of the user equipment, wherein the forwarding user plane communication port is used to forward downlink user plane data of the user equipment; and sending a data forwarding tunnel establishment request to the target control plane communication port using the transmitter, wherein the data forwarding tunnel establishment request is used to request that the target control plane communication port target control plane establishes, for the user equipment, a data forwarding tunnel between the forwarding user plane communication port and a source user plane communication port serving the user equipment and a tunnel forwarding data between the forwarding user plane communication port and a target base station serving the user equipment. 38. Mobility management network element according to claim 37, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the target control plane communication port is different from a serving control plane communication port used before the control equipment user be moved to a current location area; and the processor is further configured to send a change notification message to the source mobility management network element using the transmitter, wherein the change notification message is used to indicate that a server control from the user equipment switches to the target control plane communication port. 39. Mobility management network element according to claim 38, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the processor is further configured to receive, using the receiver, an acknowledgment message from the originating mobility management network element according to the change notification message, wherein the acknowledgment message carries routing information of the source user plane communication port of the user equipment.