CA2847725A1

CA2847725A1 - Method and device for determining data offload access device

Info

Publication number: CA2847725A1
Application number: CA2847725A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Yi Jiang; Wei Quan; Jian Zhang; Peng Zhang; Guanglin Han
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-09-06
Filing date: 2012-08-30
Publication date: 2013-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-30
Also published as: WO2013034064A1; CN102984725B; CA2847725C; CN102984725A

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for determining a data offload access device. A method includes: measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtaining the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device; and sending, by the user equipment, the obtained at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station, so that the base station selects, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. The embodiments of the present invention can meet continuously increasing requirements for mobile bandwidth, while reducing transmission bandwidth of an air interface.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING DATA OFFLOAD
ACCESS DEVICE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.
201110262720.1, filed with the Chinese Patent Office on September 6, 2011 and entitled "METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING DATA OFFLOAD ACCESS DEVICE", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a communications technology, and in particular, to a method and a device for determining a data offload access device.
BACKGROUND

[0003] In a mobile cellular network, for example, an evolved packet system (Evolved Packet System, EPS for short), an evolved base station (Evolved Node B, eNB
for short) is deployed to implement a long term evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE for short) technology on an air interface. To meet continuously increasing requirements for mobile bandwidth and compensate for disadvantages of insufficient transmission bandwidth on the LTE air interface, data to be transmitted on the LTE air interface may be offloaded to an access device using another radio access technology, namely, a data offload access device. For example, the data offload access device may be a wireless fidelity access point (Wireless Fidelity Access Point, WiFi AP for short) in a wireless local area network (Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN for short).

[0004] The prior art does not show how a base station determines a data offload access device that can provide an offload service for a user equipment (User Equipment, UE for short).
SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for determining a data offload access device, so that a base station can determine a data offload access device that can provide an offload service for a UE.

[0006] One aspect provides a method for determining a data offload access device, including:
measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtaining the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device; and sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station, so that the base station selects, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0007] Another aspect provides a method for determining a data offload access device, including:
receiving, by a base station, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a user equipment served by the base station, where the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is obtained by measurement by the user equipment; and selecting, by the base station according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0008] Another aspect provides a user equipment, including:
a measuring unit, configured to measure at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtain the at least one of the signal intensity and ., CA 02847725 2014-03-05 , . signal quality of the data offload access device; and a sending unit, configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device obtained by the measuring unit to the base station, so that the base station selects, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0009] Another aspect provides a base station, including:
a receiving unit, configured to receive at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a user equipment served by the base station, where the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is obtained by measurement by the user equipment; and an offloading unit, configured to select, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality received by the receiving unit, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0010] Another aspect provides a method for determining a data offload access device, including:
obtaining, by a base station, a parameter for offloading transmission data of a user equipment; and selecting, by the base station according to the parameter, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0011] Another aspect provides a base station, including:
an obtaining unit, configured to obtain a parameter for offloading transmission data of a user equipment; and an offloading unit, configured to select, according to the parameter, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0012] As can be known from the foregoing technical solutions, in the embodiments of the present invention, a user equipment measures at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtains the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device, so that the user equipment can send the obtained at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station, so that the base station can select, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. The embodiments of the present invention can meet continuously increasing requirements for mobile bandwidth, while reducing transmission bandwidth of an air interface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or in the prior art more clearly, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of the present invention, and persons of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a data offload access device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a data offload access device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a data offload access device according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0021] FIG 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, the following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely a part rather than all of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0023] The technical solutions of the present invention are applicable to various mobile cellular networks, for example, a global system for mobile communications (Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM for short) network, a general packet radio service (General Packet Radio Service, GPRS for short) network, a code division multiple access (Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA for short) network, a wideband code division multiple access (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, WCDMA for short) network, a time division-synchronous code division multiple access (Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access, TD-SCDMA for short) network, or a long term evolution (Long Term Evolution, LTE for short) network.

[0024] The base station may be a base station (Base Transceiver Station, BTS for short) in the GSM network, GPRS network, or CDMA network, or may also be a base station (NodeB) in the WCDMA network, or may also be an evolved base station (Evolutional Node B, eNB
or eNodeB for short) in the LTE network.

[0025] The data offload access device may be a WIFI AP in a WLAN, or may also be a home base station (Home NodeB, HNB for short) or home evolved base station (Home Evolved NodeB, HeNB for short) in a home network.

[0026] FIG 1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a data offload access device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
1, the method for determining a data offload access device in this embodiment may include the following:

[0027] 101. A user equipment measures at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtains the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device.

[0028] It may be understood that before step 101, the user equipment needs to set up a radio resource control (Radio Resource Control, RRC for short) connection with the base station. Optionally, when or after the user equipment sets up an RRC
connection, the user equipment may send at least one piece of offload capability information about whether the user equipment supports a mobile data offload capability, a supported mobile offload technology, and capability parameters (for example, a frequency range and power) of the supported mobile offload technology to a base station to which the user equipment belongs.
Optionally, the above process of sending offload capability information may be further a process of negotiating offload capability information. For example, the base station may further send an intersection between capabilities of the base station itself and capabilities of the user equipment, namely, at least one piece of offload capability information in the mobile offload technology supported by both the base station and the user equipment and the capability parameters (for example, frequency range and power) of the supported mobile offload technology to the user equipment. Optionally, the user equipment and the base station may perform the process of sending the offload capability information or the process of negotiating the offload capability information through a dedicated message.
For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC message to carry the offload capability information, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload capability information, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the offload capability information.

[0029] Optionally, before step 101, the user equipment may further receive identity information of a data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, where the identity information is broadcast by the base station, so that the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station. For example, the user equipment may receive, through a broadcast message, identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, where the identity information is broadcast by the base station.
Optionally, the user equipment may receive the identity information through an existing RRC
system broadcast message, or may also receive the identity information through a new system , CA 02847725 2014-03-05 broadcast message, which is not limited by this embodiment. The data offload access device that can be connected to the base station may be set separately or may also be integrated with the base station, which is not limited by this embodiment.

[0030] Specifically, the base station may obtain, in multiple manners, the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station.

[0031] For example, the base station may obtain, in a network management device configuration manner, the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station. That is, a network management device may configure the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station for the base station. The network management device configuration manner may be a static configuration or semi-static configuration, which is not limited by this embodiment. The static configuration means that the network management device does not update the identity information of the data offload access device any longer after sending the identity information of the data offload access device to the base station according to network planning information; the semi-static configuration means that the network management device may update the identity information of the data offload access device according to network optimization information after sending the identity information of the data offload access device to the base station according to network planning information.

[0032] For another example, the base station may obtain, in a user equipment sending manner, the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station. That is, after the user equipment sets up an RRC connection with the base station, the user equipment may find the data offload access device corresponding to the base station (namely, the data offload access device that the user equipment can be connected to), and may send the identity information of the found data offload access device to the base station.
Optionally, the base station may further query configuration information, determine whether the data offload access device identified by the identity information of the data offload access device sent by the user equipment can be connected to the base station by itself, and if yes, record the identity information of the data offload access device; otherwise, it is unnecessary to record the identity information of the data offload access device.
Optionally, to avoid the problem of power waste because the user equipment frequently searches for the data offload access device that can be connected, the user equipment may start a search only after receiving search indication information sent by the base station. The base station may notify, through the search indication information carried in the broadcast message, the user equipment of searching. For example, a new information element (Information Element, IE
for short) may be added to an existing RRC system broadcast message to carry the search indication information, or a new RRC system broadcast message may be used to carry the search indication information, which is not limited by this embodiment. After completing the search, the user equipment does not restart a search until next search indication information is received. Optionally, the base station may send the search indication information to a user equipment through a dedicated message. For example, the base station may decide, according to location information of a user equipment that has set up an RRC connection, whether data offload can be performed for the user equipment. If data offload can be performed for the user equipment, the base station notifies, through a dedicated message, the user equipment of searching. For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC message to carry the search indication information, or a new RRC message is used to carry the search indication information, or a new media access control (Media Access Control, MAC for short) control element (Control Element, CE for short) message may be used o carry the search indication information.

[0033] For another example, the base station may further combine the two manners. That is, the base station may obtain, in the network management device configuration manner, identity information of a part of data offload access devices that can be connected to the base station, and then obtain, in the user equipment sending manner, identity information of another part of data offload access devices that can be connected to the base station.

[0034] The identity information of the data offload access device may include but is not limited to at least one of the following:
an identity (Identity, ID for short) of the data offload access device;
a MAC address of the data offload access device;
the ID and an Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol, IP for short) address of the data offload access device; and the MAC address and the IP address of the data offload access device.

[0035] Optionally, before step 101, the user equipment may further scan a first frequency range and find the data offload access device, so that the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device.
For example, the user equipment may scan the first frequency range, and find the data offload access device. It should be noted that the data offload access device corresponding to the base station involved in this embodiment may be regarded as a data offload access device that can be connected to the base station or cannot be connected to the base station. The first frequency range may be sent by the base station to the user equipment according to configuration information; or may also be a frequency range supported by the user equipment; or may also be sent by the base station to the user equipment according to a frequency range supported by the base station and an obtained frequency range supported by the user equipment (namely, through a capability negotiation process).

[0036] Optionally, to avoid the problem of power waste because the user equipment frequently searches for the data offload access device that can be connected, the user equipment may start a search only after receiving search indication information sent by the base station. For example, the base station may determine, according to at least one of the signal intensity, the signal quality, and a transmission data rate of the data offload access device, whether quality of service of a currently connected data offload access device degrades. That is, if the signal intensity of the data offload access device is less than or equal to an intensity threshold, or the signal quality of the data offload access device is less than or equal to a quality threshold, or the transmission data rate of the data offload access device is less than or equal to a rate threshold, it indicates that the quality of service of the currently connected data offload access device degrades, and therefore the base station may notify, through the search indication information carried in the dedicated message, the user equipment of searching. For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC
message to carry the search indication information, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the search indication information, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the search indication information.

[0037] Optionally, before step 101, the user equipment may further receive identity information of the data offload access device sent by the base station, where the identity information of the data offload access device sent by the base station is determined by the base station according to location information of the user equipment or load information of the data offload access device. For example, the base station may specify, according to the location information of the user equipment, one or more data offload access devices to be measured, and send the identity information of the data offload access device to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device identified by the identity information. For another example, the base station may specify, according to the load information of the data offload access device by using a load balancing mechanism, one or more data offload access devices to be measured, and send the identity information of the data offload access device to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device identified by the identity information. For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC message to carry the identity information of the data offload access device, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the identity information of the data offload access device, or a new MAC
CE message may be used to carry the identity information of the data offload access device.

[0038] The location information of the UE may be obtained by the base station through a locating algorithm, or may also be reported by the UE.

[0039] The load information of the data offload access device may be sent by the data offload access device to the base station periodically or aperiodically.

[0040] Optionally, before step 101, for example, when or after the user equipment sets up an RRC connection, the user equipment may further receive offload configuration information sent by the base station.

[0041] For example, the offload configuration information may include at least one of a second frequency range, a measurement interval, and a measurement object, and the measurement object includes at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality;
correspondingly, the user equipment may measure the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the at least one of the second frequency range, the measurement interval, and the measurement object. For example, the base station may send the second frequency rage including the foregoing frequency range to the user equipment according to the frequency range determined in the process of negotiating offload capability information, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure, within the second frequency range, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs.
For example, the base station may send a measurement interval to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment not to transmit data during the measurement interval. For example, the base station may send a measurement object to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure, according to the measurement object, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. The user equipment may obtain the signal intensity by measuring received power, or may also obtain the signal quality by measuring a signal to noise ratio.

[0042] For example, the offload configuration information may include a measurement period, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
correspondingly, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement period; and may further send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication. For example, the base station may send a measurement period to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to periodically measure, according to the measurement period, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the base station may send a sending period to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to send, according to the sending period, at least one of the measured signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the sending trigger event sent by the base station to the user equipment may include a sending condition and a corresponding threshold, so as to instruct the user equipment to send, according to the sending condition and the corresponding threshold, at least one of the measured signal intensity, the measured signal quality, and the transmission data rate of the data offload access device to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the sending condition and the corresponding threshold may be: when signal intensity of n data offload access devices currently connected to the base station is less than or equal to a, triggering the user equipment to perform sending;
or when signal quality of n data offload access devices currently connected to the base station is less than or equal to b, triggering the user equipment to perform sending;
or when signal intensity of n data offload access devices that can be connected to but are currently not connected to the base station is greater than or equal to c, triggering the user equipment to perform sending; or when signal intensity of n data offload access devices that can be connected to but are currently not connected to the base station is greater than or equal to d, triggering the user equipment to perform sending. Further, after receiving the offload configuration information, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the user equipment may measure, according to the received measurement indication sent by the base station, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs; for another example, the user equipment may further measure, according to the measurement condition and the corresponding threshold, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs.

[0043] For another example, the offload configuration information may further include a measurement indication, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication; correspondingly, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and may further send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication. For example, the base station may determine, according to at least one of the signal intensity, the signal quality, and the transmission data rate of the data offload access device, whether quality of service of the currently connected data offload access device degrades. That is, if the signal intensity of the data offload access device is less than or equal to an intensity threshold, or the signal quality of the data offload . CA 02847725 2014-03-05 . access device is less than or equal to a quality threshold, or the transmission data rate of the data offload access device is less than or equal to a rate threshold, it indicates that the quality , of service of the currently connected data offload access device degrades, and therefore the base station may send a measurement indication to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs.

[0044] For another example, the offload configuration information may further include a measurement indication; correspondingly, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and may further send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the measurement indication and a configured subframe pattern. Specifically, after receiving the measurement indication, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device in an nth subframe according to the configured subframe pattern, and send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device in (n+m)th subframe to the base station.

[0045] For another example, the offload configuration information may further include a measurement trigger event, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication; correspondingly, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement trigger event; and may further send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication. For example, the measurement trigger event sent by the base station to the user equipment may include a measurement condition and a corresponding threshold, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure, according to the measurement condition and the corresponding threshold, at least one of the signal intensity, the signal quality, and the transmission data rate of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the measurement condition and the corresponding threshold may be: when signal intensity of n data offload access devices currently connected to the base station is less than or equal to a, triggering the user equipment to perform measurement; or when signal quality of n data offload access devices currently connected to the base station is less than or equal to b, triggering the user equipment to perform measurement.

[0046] If the offload configuration information does not include any piece of the foregoing information, the user equipment may perform the subsequent operation process according to the value configured in the protocol by default.

[0047] Optionally, the user equipment may receive, through a dedicated message, the offload configuration information sent by the base station. For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC message to carry the offload configuration information, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload configuration information, or a new MAC CE
message may be used to carry the offload configuration information.

[0048] 102. The user equipment sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station, so that the base station selects, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0049] The signal intensity of the data offload access device sent by the user equipment to the base station may be a specific measured value, or may also be an indication (for example, high, medium, or low); similarly, the signal quality sent by the user equipment to the base station may be a specific measured value, or may also be an indication (for example, good, general, or bad).

[0050] It may be understood that in step 102, the user equipment may further send identity information of the measured data offload access device to the user equipment, for associating at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the measured data offload access device.

[0051] Optionally, the user equipment may send at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station through a dedicated message. For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC message to carry at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload configuration information, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality.

[0052] Optionally, if the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the data offload access device that is found by the user equipment and corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs, the base station may further update identity information of the data offload access device that is configured by the base station itself and can be connected to the base station.

[0053] It should be noted that an entity for executing the method for determining a data offload access device according to this embodiment, namely, the user equipment, may be a user equipment in an idle state, or may also be a user equipment in a connected state, which is not limited by this embodiment unless otherwise specified.

[0054] It may be understood that after receiving at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device sent by the user equipment, the base station may specifically further query configuration information, determine whether the data offload access device corresponding to the at least one of the received signal intensity and signal quality can be connected to the base station by itself, and then select at least one data offload access device from the data offload access devices that can be connected to the base station by themselves, to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0055] Optionally, in step 102, the base station may initially select, according to at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. For example, the base station may send a data offload setup request message to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to perform data offload (that is, instruct the user equipment to perform at least one of uplink data offload and downlink data offload), where the data offload setup request message includes identity information of the selected at least one data offload access device.
Optionally, the data offload setup request message may further include a configuration parameter of data offload.

[0056] After receiving the data offload setup request message, the user equipment may return a data offload setup complete message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment is ready for data offload. If the user equipment cannot perform data offload, the user equipment may further return a data offload setup failure message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment cannot perform data offload.

[0057] Optionally, the data offload setup request message/data offload setup complete message/data offload setup failure message may be a data offload setup request/complete/failure indication carried in a new IE added to an existing RRC message, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload setup request/complete/failure indication, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the offload setup request/complete/failure indication.

[0058] Optionally, in step 102, the base station may further update, according to at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, the selected at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. For example, the base station currently has selected at least one data offload access device for the user equipment to perform data offload. The base station may reselect, according to at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality sent by the user equipment, other data offload access devices that can transmit data for the user equipment. Optionally, for the method for reselecting, by the base station, other data offload access devices that can offload transmission data of the user equipment, reference may be made to the method for initially selecting other data offload access devices that can offload transmission data of the user equipment, which is not further described herein. Specifically, if signal intensity of one or several data offload access devices that currently perform data offload for the user equipment is less than or equal to the intensity threshold, or signal quality thereof is less than or equal to the quality threshold, or a transmission data rate thereof is less than or equal to the rate threshold, the base station may send an offload modification request message to the user equipment, where the offload modification request message includes identity information of the one or several data offload access devices that currently perform data offload for the user equipment and identity information of the reselected other data offload access devices that can offload transmission data of the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to release data offload of the one or several data offload access devices and set up data offload of other data offload access devices.

[0059] Optionally, if the one or several data offload access devices to be released still have downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment, if the base station backs up downlink data that is offloaded to the data offload access device, the one or several data offload access devices feed back, to the base station, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (Packet Data Convergence Protocol, PDCP for short) sequence number of the downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment; if the base station does not back up downlink data that is offloaded to the data offload access device, the one or several data offload access devices forward, to the base station, the downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment. If the one or several data offload access devices to be released still have uplink data that is not sent to the base station, the uplink data that is not sent to the base station may be sent to the base station. When or after the base station completes the offload modification process, the base station sends a PDCP receiving state to the user equipment, notifying the user equipment of which uplink data the base station has received, so that the user equipment can start sending from an uplink data packet that is not received by the base station, thereby avoiding repetitive sending of the uplink data packet, and saving transmission resources.

[0060] After receiving the data offload modification request message, the user equipment may return a data offload modification complete message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment has modified data offload. If the user equipment cannot modify data offload, the user equipment may further return a data offload modification failure message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment cannot modify dada offload.

[0061] Optionally, the data offload modification request message/data offload modification complete message/data offload modification failure message may be a data offload modification request/complete/failure indication carried in a new IE
added to an existing RRC message, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload modification request/complete/failure indication, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the offload modification request/complete/failure indication.

[0062] Optionally, if signal intensity of one or several data offload access devices that currently perform data offload for the user equipment is less than or equal to the intensity threshold, or the signal quality thereof is less than or equal to the quality threshold, or the transmission data rate thereof is less than or equal to the rate threshold, the base station may send an offload release request message to the user equipment, where the offload release request message includes identity information of the one or several data offload access devices that currently perform data offload for the user equipment.

[0063] Optionally, if the one or several data offload access devices to be released still have downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment, if the base station backs up downlink data that is offloaded to the data offload access device, the one or several data offload access devices feed back, to the base station, the PDCP sequence number of the downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment; if the base station does not back up downlink data that is offloaded to the data offload access device, the one or several data offload access devices forward, to the base station, the downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment. If the one or several data offload access devices to be released still have uplink data that is not sent to the base station, the uplink data that is not sent to the base station may be sent to the base station. When or after the base station completes the offload modification process, the base station sends a PDCP receiving state to the user equipment, notifying the user equipment of which uplink data the base station has received, so that the user equipment can start sending from an uplink data packet that is not received by the base station, thereby avoiding repetitive sending of the uplink data packet, and saving transmission resources.

[0064] After receiving the data offload release request message, the user equipment may return a data offload release complete message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment has released data offload of the one or several data offload access devices. If the user equipment cannot release data offload of the one or several data offload access devices, the user equipment may further return a data offload release failure message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment cannot release data offload of the one or several data offload access devices.

[0065] Optionally, the data offload release request message/data offload release complete message/data offload release failure message may be a data offload release request/complete/failure indication carried in a new IE added to an existing RRC message, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload release request/complete/failure indication, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the offload release request/complete/failure indication.

[0066] In this embodiment, a user equipment measures at least one of signal intensity and s signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtains at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device, so that the user equipment can send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device obtained by measurement to the base station, so that the base station can select, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. This embodiment can meet continuously increasing requirements for mobile bandwidth, while reducing transmission bandwidth of an air interface.

[0067] FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a data offload access device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG 2, the method for determining a data offload access device in this embodiment may include the following:

[0068] 201. A base station receives at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a served user equipment, where the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is measured by the user equipment.

[0069] It may be understood that before step 201, the base station needs to set up a radio resource control (Radio Resource Control, RRC for short) connection with the user equipment.
Optionally, when or after the user equipment sets up an RRC connection, the user equipment may send at least one piece of offload capability information about whether the user equipment supports a mobile data offload capability, a supported mobile offload technology, and capability parameters (for example, a frequency range and power) of the supported mobile offload technology to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. Optionally, the above process of sending offload capability information may be further a process of negotiating offload capability information. For example, the base station may further send an intersection between capabilities of the base station itself and capabilities of the user equipment, namely, at least one piece of offload capability information in the mobile offload technology supported by both the base station and the user equipment and the capability parameters (for example, a frequency range and power) of the supported mobile offload technology to the user equipment. Optionally, the base station and the user equipment may perform the process of sending offload capability information or process of negotiating offload capability information through a dedicated message. For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC message to carry the offload capability information, or a new RRC
message may be used to carry the offload capability information, or a new MAC
CE message may be used to carry the offload capability information.

[0070] Optionally, before step 201, the base station may further broadcast identity information of a data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, so that the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station. For example, the base station may broadcast, through a broadcast message, identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station. Optionally, the base station may broadcast the identity information through an existing RRC system broadcast message, or may also broadcast the identity information through a new system broadcast message, which is not limited by this embodiment. The data offload access device that can be connected to the base station may be set separately or may also be integrated with the base station, which is not limited by this embodiment.

[0071] Specifically, the base station may obtain, in multiple manners, the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station.

[0072] For example, the base station may obtain, in a network management device configuration manner, the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station. That is, a network management device may configure the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station for the base station, so that the base station obtains the configured identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station. The network management device configuration manner may be a static configuration or semi-static configuration, which is not limited by this embodiment. The static configuration means that the network management device does not update the identity information of the data offload access device any longer after sending the identity information of the data offload access device to the base station according to network planning information; the semi-static configuration means that the network management device may update the identity information of the data offload access device according to network optimization information after sending the identity information of the data offload access device to the base station according to network planning information.

[0073] For another example, the base station may obtain, in a user equipment sending manner, the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station. That is, after the user equipment sets up an RRC connection with the base station, the user equipment may find the data offload access device corresponding to the base station (namely, the data offload access device that the user equipment can be connected to), and may send the identity information of the found data offload access device to the base station, so that the base station obtains, from the user equipment, the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station. Optionally, the base station may further query configuration information, determine whether the data offload access device identified by the identity information of the data offload access device sent by the user equipment can be connected to the base station by itself, and if yes, record the identity information of the data offload access device; otherwise, it is unnecessary to record the identity information of the data offload access device. Optionally, to avoid the problem of power waste because the user equipment frequently searches for the data offload access device that can be connected, the user equipment may start a search only after receiving search indication information sent by the base station. The search indication information may be 1 bit, used to instruct the user equipment to start a search. The base station may notify, through the search indication information carried in the broadcast message, the user equipment of searching. For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC
system broadcast message to carry the search indication information, or a new RRC
system broadcast message may be used to carry the search indication information, which is not limited by this embodiment. After completing the search, the user equipment does not restart a search until next search indication information is received. Optionally, the base station may send the search indication information to a user equipment through a dedicated message.
For example, the base station may decide, according to location information of a user equipment that has set up an RRC connection, whether data offload can be performed for the user equipment. If data offload can be performed for the user equipment, the base station notifies, through a dedicated message, the user equipment of searching. For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC message to carry the search indication information, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the search indication information, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the search indication information.

[0074] For another example, the base station may further combine the two manners. That is, the base station may obtain, in the network management device configuration manner, identity information of a part of data offload access devices that can be connected to the base station, and then obtain, in the user equipment sending manner, identity information of another part of data offload access devices that can be connected to the base station.

[0075] The identity information of the data offload access device may include but is not limited to at least one of the following:
an ID of the data offload access device;
a MAC address of the data offload access device;
the ID and an IP address of the data offload access device; and the MAC address and the IP address of the data offload access device.

[0076] Optionally, before step 201, the user equipment may further scan a first frequency range and find the data offload access device, so that the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device.
For example, the base station may send the first frequency range to the user equipment, so that the user equipment scans the first frequency range and finds the data offload access device corresponding to the base station. It should be noted that the data offload access device corresponding to the base station involved in this embodiment may be regarded as a data offload access device that can be connected to the base station or cannot be connected to the base station. Optionally, the base station may send the first frequency range to the user equipment according to configuration information of the base station, or may further send the first frequency range to the user equipment according to a frequency range supported by the base station and an obtained frequency range supported by the user equipment.

[0077] Optionally, to avoid the problem of power waste because the user equipment frequently searches for the data offload access device that can be connected, the base station may send search indication information to the user equipment, notifying the user equipment =
of starting a search. For example, the base station may determine, according to at least one of the signal intensity, the signal quality, and a transmission data rate of the data offload access device, whether quality of service of a currently connected data offload access device degrades. That is, if the signal intensity of the data offload access device is less than or equal to an intensity threshold, or the signal quality of the data offload access device is less than or equal to a quality threshold, or the transmission data rate of the data offload access device is less than or equal to a rate threshold, it indicates that the quality of service of the currently connected data offload access device degrades, and therefore the base station may notify, through the search indication information carried in the dedicated message, the user equipment of searching. For example, a new IE may be added to an existing RRC
message to carry the search indication information, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the search indication information, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the search indication information.

[0078] Optionally, before step 201, the base station may further send identity information of the data offload access device to the user equipment according to location information of the user equipment or load information of the data offload access device, so that the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device. For example, the base station may specify, according to the location information of the user equipment, one or more data offload access devices to be measured, and send the identity information of the data offload access device to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device identified by the identity information. For another example, the base station may specify, according to the load information of the data offload access device by using a load balancing mechanism, one or more data offload access devices to be measured, and send the identity information of the data offload access device to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device identified by the identity information. For example, a new 1E may be added to an existing RRC message to carry the identity information of the data offload access device, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the identity information of the data offload access device, or a new MAC CE
message may be used to carry the identity information of the data offload access device.

[0079] Optionally, before step 201, for example, when or after the user equipment sets up an RRC connection, the base station may further send offload configuration information to the user equipment.

[0080] For example, the offload configuration information may include at least one of a second frequency range, a measurement interval, and a measurement object, and the measurement object includes at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality;
correspondingly, the user equipment may measure the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the at least one of the second frequency range, the measurement interval, and the measurement object. For example, the base station may send the second frequency rage including the foregoing frequency range to the user equipment according to the frequency range determined in the process of negotiating offload capability information, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure, within the second frequency range, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs.
For example, the base station may send a measurement interval to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment not to transmit data during the measurement interval. For example, the base station may send a measurement object to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure, according to the measurement object, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. The user equipment may obtain the signal intensity by measuring received power, or may also obtain the signal quality by measuring a signal to noise ratio.

[0081] For example, the offload configuration information may include a measurement period, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
correspondingly, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement period; and may further send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the . sending indication. For example, the base station may send a measurement period to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to periodically measure, according to the measurement period, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the base station may send a sending period to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to send, according to the sending period, at least one of the measured signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the sending trigger event sent by the base station to the user equipment may include a sending condition and a corresponding threshold, so as to instruct the user equipment to send, according to the sending condition and the corresponding threshold, at least one of the measured signal intensity, the measured signal quality, and the transmission data rate of the data offload access device to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the sending condition and the corresponding threshold may be: when signal intensity of n data offload access devices currently connected to the base station is less than or equal to a, triggering the user equipment to perform sending;
or when signal quality of n data offload access devices currently connected to the base station is less than or equal to b, triggering the user equipment to perform sending;
or when signal intensity of n data offload access devices that can be connected to but are currently not connected to the base station is greater than or equal to c, triggering the user equipment to perform sending; or when signal intensity of n data offload access devices that can be connected to but are currently not connected to the base station is greater than or equal to d, triggering the user equipment to perform sending. Further, after receiving the offload configuration information, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the user equipment may measure, according to the received measurement indication sent by the base station, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs; for another example, the user equipment may further measure, according to the measurement condition and the corresponding threshold, at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base . CA 02847725 2014-03-05 . station to which the user equipment belongs.

[0082] For another example, the offload configuration information may further include a measurement indication, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication; correspondingly, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and may further send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication. For example, the base station may determine, according to at least one of the signal intensity, the signal quality, and the transmission data rate of the data offload access device, whether quality of service of the currently connected data offload access device degrades. That is, if the signal intensity of the data offload access device is less than or equal to an intensity threshold, or the signal quality of the data offload access device is less than or equal to a quality threshold, or the transmission data rate of the data offload access device is less than or equal to a rate threshold, it indicates that the quality of service of the currently connected data offload access device degrades, and therefore the base station may send a measurement indication to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs.

[0083] For another example, the offload configuration information may further include a measurement indication; correspondingly, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and may further send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the measurement indication and a configured subframe pattern. Specifically, after receiving the measurement indication, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device in nth subframe according to the configured subframe pattern, and send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device in (n+m)th subframe to the base station.

[0084] For another example, the offload configuration information may further include a measurement trigger event, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication; correspondingly, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement trigger event; and may further send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication. For example, the measurement trigger event sent by the base station to the user equipment may include a measurement condition and a corresponding threshold, so as to instruct the user equipment to measure, according to the measurement condition and the corresponding threshold, at least one of the signal intensity, the signal quality, and the transmission data rate of the data offload access device corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs. For example, the measurement condition and the corresponding threshold may be: when signal intensity of n data offload access devices currently connected to the base station is less than or equal to a, triggering the user equipment to perform measurement; or when signal quality of n data offload access devices currently connected to the base station is less than or equal to b, triggering the user equipment to perform measurement.

[0085] If the offload configuration information does not include any piece of the foregoing information, the user equipment may perform the subsequent operation process according to the value configured in the protocol by default.

[0086] Optionally, the user equipment may receive, through a dedicated message, the offload configuration information sent by the base station. For example, a new 1E may be added to an existing RRC message to carry the offload configuration information, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload configuration information, or a new MAC CE
message may be used to carry the offload configuration information.

[0087] The signal intensity of the data offload access device received by the base station and sent by the user equipment may be a specific measured value, or may also be an indication (for example, high, medium, or low); similarly, the signal quality of the data offload access device received by the base station and sent by the user equipment may be a specific measured value, or may also be an indication (for example, good, general, or bad).

[0088] It may be understood that in step 201, the base station may further receive identity information of the measured data offload access device sent by the user equipment, for associating at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the measured data offload access device.

[0089] Optionally, if the base station receives at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device, which is measured by the user equipment according to the data offload access device that is found by the user equipment and corresponding to the base station to which the user equipment belongs, the base station may further update identity information of the data offload access device that is configured by the base station itself and can be connected to the base station.

[0090] 202. The base station selects, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0091] It should be noted that the user equipment in the method for determining a data offload access device according to this embodiment may be a user equipment in an idle state, or may also be a user equipment in a connected state, which is not limited by this embodiment unless otherwise specified.

[0092] It may be understood that after step 201 and before step 202, the base station may specifically further query configuration information, determine whether the data offload access device corresponding to the received at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality can be connected to the base station by itself, and then select at least one data offload access device from the data offload access devices that can be connected to the base station by themselves, to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

[0093] Optionally, in step 202, the base station may initially select, according to at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. For example, the base station may send a data offload setup request message to the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to perform data offload (that is, instruct the user equipment to perform at least one of uplink data offload and downlink data offload), where the data offload setup request message includes identity information of the selected at least one data offload access device.
Optionally, the data offload setup request message may further include a configuration parameter of data offload.

[0094] After receiving the data offload setup request message, the user equipment may return a data offload setup complete message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment is ready for data offload. If the user equipment cannot perform data offload, the user equipment may further return a data offload setup failure message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment cannot perform data offload.

[0095] Optionally, the data offload setup request message/data offload setup complete message/data offload setup failure message may be a data offload setup request/complete/failure indication carried in a new IE added to an existing RRC message, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload setup request/complete/failure indication, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the offload setup request/complete/failure indication.

[0096] Optionally, in step 202, the base station may further update, according to at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, the selected at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. For example, the base station currently has selected at least one data offload access device for the user equipment to perform data offload. The base station may reselect, according to at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality sent by the user equipment, other data offload access devices that can transmit data for the user equipment. Optionally, for the method for reselecting, by the base station, other data offload access devices that can offload transmission data of the user equipment, reference may be made to the method for initially selecting other data offload access devices that can offload transmission data of the user equipment, which is not further described herein. Specifically, if signal intensity of one or several data offload access devices that currently perform data offload for the user equipment is less than or equal to the intensity threshold, or signal quality thereof is less than or equal to the quality threshold, or a transmission data rate thereof is less than or equal to the rate threshold, the base station may send an offload modification request message to the user equipment, where the offload modification request message includes identity information of the one or several data offload access devices that currently perform data offload for the user equipment and identity information of the reselected other data offload access devices that can offload transmission data of the user equipment, so as to instruct the user equipment to release data offload of the one or several data offload access devices and set up data offload of other data offload access devices.

[0097] Optionally, if the one or several data offload access devices to be released still have downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment, if the base station backs up downlink data that is offloaded to the data offload access device, the one or several data offload access devices feed back, to the base station, the PDCP sequence number of the downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment; if the base station does not back up downlink data that is offloaded to the data offload access device, the one or several data offload access devices forward, to the base station, the downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment. If the one or several data offload access devices to be released still have uplink data that is not sent to the base station, the uplink data that is not sent to the base station may be sent to the base station. When or after the base station completes the offload modification process, the base station sends a PDCP receiving state to the user equipment, notifying the user equipment of which uplink data the base station has received, so that the user equipment can start sending from an uplink data packet that is not received by the base station, thereby avoiding repetitive sending of the uplink data packet, and saving transmission resources.

[0098] After receiving the data offload modification request message, the user equipment may return a data offload modification complete message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment has modified data offload. If the user equipment cannot modify data offload, the user equipment may further return a data offload modification failure message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment cannot modify dada offload.

[0099] Optionally, the data offload modification request message/data offload modification complete message/data offload modification failure message may be a data offload modification request/complete/failure indication carried in a new IE
added to an existing RRC message, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload modification request/complete/failure indication, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the offload modification request/complete/failure indication.

[01001 Optionally, if signal intensity of one or several data offload access devices that currently perform data offload for the user equipment is less than or equal to the intensity threshold, or the signal quality thereof is less than or equal to the quality threshold, or the transmission data rate thereof is less than or equal to the rate threshold, the base station may send an offload release request message to the user equipment, where the offload release request message includes identity information of the one or several data offload access devices that currently perform data offload for the user equipment.
[0101] Optionally, if the one or several data offload access devices to be released still have downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment, if the base station backs up downlink data that is offloaded to the data offload access device, the one or several data offload access devices feed back, to the base station, the PDCP sequence number of the downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment; if the base station does not back up downlink data that is offloaded to the data offload access device, the one or several data offload access devices forward, to the base station, the downlink data that is not sent to the user equipment. If the one or several data offload access devices to be released still have uplink data that is not sent to the base station, the uplink data that is not sent to the base station may be sent to the base station. When or after the base station completes the offload modification process, the base station sends a PDCP receiving state to the user equipment, notifying the user equipment of which uplink data the base station has received, so that the user equipment can start sending from an uplink data packet that is not received by the base station, thereby avoiding repetitive sending of the uplink data packet, and saving transmission resources.
[0102] After receiving the data offload release request message, the user equipment may return a data offload release complete message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment has released data offload of the one or several data offload access devices. If the user equipment cannot release data offload of the one or several data offload access devices, the user equipment may further return a data offload release failure message to the base station, so as to notify the base station that the user equipment cannot release data offload of the one or several data offload access devices.
[0103] Optionally, the data offload release request message/data offload release complete =
message/data offload release failure message may be a data offload release request/complete/failure indication carried in a new IE added to an existing RRC message, or a new RRC message may be used to carry the offload release request/complete/failure indication, or a new MAC CE message may be used to carry the offload release request/complete/failure indication.
101041 In this embodiment, a base station receives at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a served user equipment, so that the base station can select, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. This embodiment can meet continuously increasing requirements for mobile bandwidth, while reducing transmission bandwidth of an air interface.
[0105] It should be noted that, for ease of description, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. Persons skilled in the art should know that the present invention is not limited to the sequence of actions described herein and that according to the present invention, some steps may be performed in any other sequence or at the same time. In addition, persons skilled in the art should know that the embodiments in the specification are exemplary embodiments and that actions and modules involved in these embodiments are not necessarily required by the present invention.
[0106] In the foregoing embodiments, each embodiment has its emphasis.
For what is not detailed in one embodiment of the present invention, reference may be made to related description of another embodiment.
[0107] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG 3, the user equipment in this embodiment may include a measuring unit 31 and a sending unit 32. The measuring unit 31 is configured to measure at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtain the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device; and the sending unit 32 is configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device obtained by the measuring unit 31 to the base station, so that the base station selects, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.
[0108] Functions of the user equipment in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 1 may be implemented by the user equipment provided by this embodiment.
[0109] Optionally, the measuring unit 31 in this embodiment may further receive identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, where the identity information is broadcast by the base station.
[0110] The identity information of the data offload access device received by the measuring unit 31 may include but is not limited to at least one of the following:
an ID of the data offload access device;
a MAC address of the data offload access device;
the ID and an IP address of the data offload access device; and the MAC address and the IP address of the data offload access device.
[0111] Optionally, the measuring unit 31 in this embodiment may further scan a first frequency range, and find the data offload access device.
[0112] Specifically, the measuring unit 31 may specifically find the data offload access device corresponding to the base station within the first frequency range, where the first frequency range may be sent by the base station to the user equipment according to configuration information; or may also be a frequency range supported by the user equipment;
or may also be sent by the base station to the user equipment according to a frequency range supported by the base station and an obtained frequency range supported by the user equipment.
[0113] Optionally, the measuring unit 31 in this embodiment may further receive identity information of the data offload access device sent by the base station, where the identity information of the data offload access device sent by the base station is determined by the base station according to location information of the user equipment or load information of the data offload access device.
[0114] As shown in FIG 4, optionally, the user equipment provided by this embodiment may further include a first configuring unit 41, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, where the offload configuration information includes at least one of a second frequency range, a measurement interval, and a measurement object, and the measurement object includes at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality; and correspondingly, the measuring unit 31 may be specifically configured to measure the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the at least one of the second frequency range, the measurement interval, and the measurement object.
[0115] Optionally, the user equipment provided by this embodiment may further include a second configuring unit 42, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, where the offload configuration information includes a measurement period, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
correspondingly, the measuring unit 31 may be specifically configured to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement period; and the sending unit 32 may be specifically configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.
[0116] Optionally, the user equipment provided by this embodiment may further include a third configuring unit 43, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, where the offload configuration information includes a measurement indication, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
correspondingly, the measuring unit 31 may be specifically configured to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and the sending unit 32 may be specifically configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.
[0117] Optionally, the user equipment provided by this embodiment may further include a fourth configuring unit 44, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, where the offload configuration information includes a measurement indication;
correspondingly, the measuring unit 31 may be specifically configured to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and the sending unit may be specifically configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the measurement indication and a configured subframe pattern.
Specifically, after receiving the measurement indication, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device in nth subframe according to the configured subframe pattern, and send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device in (n+m)th subframe to the base station.
[0118] Optionally, the user equipment provided by this embodiment may further include a fifth configuring unit 45, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, where the offload configuration information includes a measurement trigger event, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
correspondingly, the measuring unit 31 may be specifically configured to measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement trigger event; and the sending unit may be specifically configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.
[0119] It should be noted that FIG. 4 shows only the case where the first configuring unit 41, the second configuring unit 42, the third configuring unit 43, the fourth configuring unit 44, and the fifth configuring unit 45 are all included. In an optional embodiment, only one, two, three, and four of the five units may be included.
[0120] In this embodiment, in a user equipment, a measuring unit measures at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtains the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device, so that a sending unit can send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device obtained by measurement by the measuring unit to the base station, so that the base station can select, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. This embodiment can meet continuously increasing requirements for mobile bandwidth, while reducing transmission bandwidth of an air interface.
[0121] FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the base station in this embodiment may include a receiving unit 51 and an offloading unit 52. The receiving unit 51 is configured to receive at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a user equipment served by the base station, where the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is obtained by measurement by the user equipment; and the offloading unit 52 is configured to select, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality received by the receiving unit 51, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.
[0122] Functions of the base station in the embodiment corresponding to FIG 2 may be implemented by the base station provided by this embodiment.
[0123] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 6, the base station provided by this embodiment may further include a sending unit 61, configured to broadcast identity information of a data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, so that the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station.
[0124] The identity information of the data offload access device broadcast by the sending unit 61 in this embodiment may include but is not limited to at least one of the following:
an ID of the data offload access device;
a MAC address of the data offload access device;
the ID and an IP address of the data offload access device; and the MAC address and the IP address of the data offload access device.
[0125] Optionally, the sending unit 61 in this embodiment may further obtain the configured identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station; or further obtain the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, where the identity information is sent by the user equipment.
[0126] Optionally, the sending unit 61 in this embodiment may further send a first frequency range to the user equipment according to configuration information, so that the user equipment scans the first frequency range and finds the data offload access device; or send a first frequency range to the user equipment according to a frequency range supported by the base station and an obtained frequency range supported by the user equipment, so that the user equipment scans the first frequency range and finds the data offload access device.
[0127] Optionally, the sending unit 61 in this embodiment may further send offload configuration information to the user equipment, where the offload configuration information includes at least one of a second frequency range, a measurement interval, and a measurement object, and the measurement object includes at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the at least one of the second frequency range, the measurement interval, and the measurement object.
[0128] Optionally, the sending unit 61 in this embodiment may further send offload configuration information to the user equipment, where the offload configuration information includes a measurement period, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication, so that the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement period and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.
[0129] Optionally, the sending unit 61 in this embodiment may further send offload configuration information to the user equipment, where the offload configuration information includes a measurement indication, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication, so that the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.
[0130] Optionally, the sending unit 61 in this embodiment may further send offload configuration information to the user equipment, where the offload configuration information includes a measurement indication, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the measurement indication and a configured subframe pattern. Specifically, after receiving the measurement indication, the user equipment may measure at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device in nth subframe according to the configured subframe pattern, and send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device in (n+m)th subframe to the base station.
[0131] Optionally, the sending unit 61 in this embodiment may further send offload configuration information to the user equipment, where the offload configuration information includes a measurement trigger event, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication, so that the user equipment measures at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement trigger event and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.
[0132] Specifically, the offloading unit 52 in this embodiment may specifically initially select, according to at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment; or may further update, according to at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, the selected at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.
[0133] In this embodiment, in a base station, a receiving unit receives at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a served user equipment, so that an offloading unit can select, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. This embodiment can meet continuously increasing requirements for mobile bandwidth, while reducing transmission bandwidth of an air interface.
[0134] FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method for determining a data offload access device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG 7, the method for determining a data offload access device in this embodiment may include the following:
[0135] 701. A base station obtains a parameter for offloading transmission data of a user equipment.
[0136] 702. The base station selects, according to the parameter, at least one data offload .. CA 02847725 2014-03-05 access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.
[0137] The parameter may include but is not limited to at least one of the following:
at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a user equipment served by the base station, where the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is obtained by measurement by the user equipment;
location information of the user equipment; and load information of the data offload access device.
[0138] In this embodiment, a base station obtains a parameter for offloading transmission data of a user equipment, so that the base station selects, according to the parameter, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. This embodiment can meet continuously increasing requirements for mobile bandwidth, while reducing transmission bandwidth of an air interface.
[0139] FIG 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG 8, the base station in this embodiment may include an obtaining unit 81 and an offloading unit 82. The obtaining unit 81 is configured to obtain a parameter for offloading transmission data of a user equipment; and the offloading unit 82 is configured to select, according to the parameter, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.
[0140] Functions of the base station in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 7 may be implemented by the base station provided by this embodiment.
[0141] The parameter obtained by the obtaining unit 81 may include but is not limited to at least one of the following:
at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a user equipment served by the base station, where the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is obtained by measurement by the user equipment;
location information of the user equipment; and load information of the data offload access device.
[0142] In this embodiment, in a base station, an obtaining unit obtains a parameter for offloading transmission data of a user equipment, so that an offloading unit can select, according to the parameter, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment. This embodiment can meet continuously increasing requirements for mobile bandwidth, while reducing transmission bandwidth of an air interface.
[0143] It may be clearly understood by persons skilled in the art that, for the purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed working process of the foregoing system, apparatus, and unit, reference may be made to a corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described herein again.
[0144] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the described apparatus embodiment is merely exemplary.
For example, the unit division is merely logical function division and may be other division in actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented through some interfaces. The indirect couplings or communication connections between the apparatuses or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.
[0145] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and the parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. A part of or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments.
[0146] In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present invention may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units may exist alone physically, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit may be implemented in a form of hardware, or may be implemented in a form of hardware plus a software functional unit.
[0147] The integrated unit implemented in a form of software functional unit may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. The software functional unit is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device or the like) to perform a part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present invention.
The foregoing storage medium includes various mediums capable of storing program code, such as a USB
flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read only memory (Read Only Memory, ROM for short), a , random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM for short), a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.
[0148] Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are merely intended for describing the technical solutions of the present invention rather than limiting the present invention. Although the present invention is described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, persons of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they may still make modifications to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent replacements to some technical features thereof, as long as such modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of corresponding technical solutions to depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for determining a data offload access device, comprising:
measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtaining the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device; and sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station, so that the base station selects, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein before the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, the method further comprises:
receiving, by the user equipment, identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, wherein the identity information is broadcast by the base station; or scanning, by the user equipment, a first frequency range, and finding the data offload access device; or receiving, by the user equipment, identity information of the data offload access device sent by the base station, wherein the identity information of the data offload access device sent by the base station is determined by the base station according to location information of the user equipment or load information of the data offload access device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the identity information of the data offload access device comprises at least one of the following:
an identity ID of the data offload access device;
a media access control MAC address of the data offload access device;
the ID and an Internet Protocol IP address of the data offload access device;
and the MAC address and the IP address of the data offload access device.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein:
the first frequency range is sent by the base station to the user equipment according to configuration information; or the first frequency range is a frequency range supported by the user equipment; or the first frequency range is determined by the base station according to a frequency range supported by the base station and an obtained frequency range supported by the user equipment, and is configured by the base station for the user equipment.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: before the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, the method further comprises:
receiving, by the user equipment, offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises at least one of a second frequency range, a measurement interval, and a measurement object, and the measurement object comprises the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality;
and the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device comprises:
measuring, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the at least one of the second frequency range, the measurement interval, and the measurement object.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein before the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, the method further comprises:
receiving, by the user equipment, offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement period, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device comprises:
measuring, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement period;
and the sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station comprises:
sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein before the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, the method further comprises:
receiving, by the user equipment, offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement indication, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device comprises:
measuring, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and the sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station comprises:
sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein before the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, the method further comprises:
receiving, by the user equipment, offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement indication;
the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device comprises:
measuring, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and the sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station comprises:

sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the measurement indication and a configured subframe pattern.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein before the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, the method further comprises:
receiving, by the user equipment, offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement trigger event, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
the measuring, by a user equipment, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device comprises:
measuring, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement trigger event; and the sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station comprises:
sending, by the user equipment, the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

10. A method for determining a data offload access device, comprising:
receiving, by a base station, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a user equipment served by the base station, wherein the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is obtained by measurement by the user equipment; and selecting, by the base station according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein before the receiving, by a base station, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a served user equipment, the method further comprises:
broadcasting, by the base station, identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station; or scanning, by the user equipment, a first frequency range, and finding the data offload access device; or sending, by the base station, identity information of the data offload access device to the user equipment according to location information of the user equipment or load information of the data offload access device, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the identity information of the data offload access device comprises at least one of the following:
an identity ID of the data offload access device;
a media access control MAC address of the data offload access device;
the ID and an Internet Protocol IP address of the data offload access device;
and the MAC address and the IP address of the data offload access device.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein before the broadcasting, by the base station, identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, the method further comprises:
obtaining, by the base station, the configured identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station; or obtaining, by the base station, the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, wherein the identity information is sent by the user equipment.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the scanning, by the user equipment, a first frequency range, and finding the data offload access device, further comprises:
sending, by the base station, the first frequency range to the user equipment according to configuration information; or sending, by the base station, the first frequency range to the user equipment according to a frequency range supported by the base station and an obtained frequency range supported by the user equipment.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein before the receiving, by a base station, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a served user equipment, the method further comprises:
sending, by the base station, offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises at least one of a second frequency range, a measurement interval, and a measurement object, and the measurement object comprises the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the at least one of the second frequency range, the measurement interval, and the measurement object.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein before the receiving, by a base station, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a served user equipment, the method further comprises:
sending, by the base station, offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement period, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement period and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

17. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein before the receiving, by a base station, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a served user equipment, the method further comprises:
sending, by the base station, offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement indication, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

18. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein before the receiving, by a base station, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a served user equipment, the method further comprises:
sending, by the base station, offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement indication, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the measurement indication and a configured subframe pattern.

19. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein before the receiving, by a base station, at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a served user equipment, the method further comprises:
sending, by the base station, offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement trigger event, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement trigger event and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

20. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the selecting, by the base station according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment comprises:
initially selecting, by the base station according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, the at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment; or updating, by the base station according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, the selected at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

21. A user equipment, comprising:
a measuring unit, configured to measure at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device, and obtain the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device; and a sending unit, configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device obtained by the measuring unit to the base station, so that the base station selects, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

22. The user equipment according to claim 21, wherein the measuring unit is further configured to:
receive identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, wherein the identity information is broadcast by the base station; or scan a first frequency range, and find the data offload access device; or receive identity information of the data offload access device sent by the base station, wherein the identity information of the data offload access device sent by the base station is determined by the base station according to location information of the user equipment or load information of the data offload access device.

23. The user equipment according to claim 22, wherein the identity information of the data offload access device received by the measuring unit comprises at least one of the following:
an identity ID of the data offload access device;
a media access control MAC address of the data offload access device;
the ID and an Internet Protocol IP address of the data offload access device;
and the MAC address and the IP address of the data offload access device.

24. The user equipment according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein: the user equipment further comprises a first configuring unit, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises at least one of a second frequency range, a measurement interval, and a measurement object, and the measurement object comprises the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality; and the measuring unit is specifically configured to measure the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the at least one of the second frequency range, the measurement interval, and the measurement object.

25. The user equipment according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein: the user equipment further comprises a second configuring unit, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement period, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
the measuring unit is specifically configured to measure the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement period; and the sending unit is specifically configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

26. The user equipment according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein: the user equipment further comprises a third configuring unit, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement indication, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
the measuring unit is specifically configured to measure the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and the sending unit is specifically configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

27. The user equipment according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein: the user equipment further comprises a fourth configuring unit, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement indication;
the measuring unit is specifically configured to measure the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication; and the sending unit is specifically configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the measurement indication and a configured subframe pattern.

28. The user equipment according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein: the user equipment further comprises a fifth configuring unit, configured to receive offload configuration information sent by the base station, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement trigger event, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication;
the measuring unit is specifically configured to measure the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement trigger event; and the sending unit is specifically configured to send the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

29. A base station, comprising:
a receiving unit, configured to receive at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a user equipment served by the base station, wherein the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is obtained by measurement by the user equipment; and an offloading unit, configured to select, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality received by the receiving unit, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

30. The base station according to claim 29, wherein the base station further comprises a sending unit, configured to:
broadcast identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station.

31. The base station according to claim 30, wherein the identity information of the data offload access device broadcast by the sending unit comprises at least one of the following:

an identity ID of the data offload access device;
a media access control MAC address of the data offload access device;
the ID and an Internet Protocol IP address of the data offload access device;
and the MAC address and the IP address of the data offload access device.

32. The base station according to claim 30, wherein the sending unit is further configured to:
obtain the configured identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station; or obtain the identity information of the data offload access device that can be connected to the base station, wherein the identity information is sent by the user equipment.

33. The base station according to claim 30, wherein the sending unit is further configured to:
send a first frequency range to the user equipment according to configuration information, so that the user equipment scans the first frequency range and finds the data offload access device; or send a first frequency range to the user equipment according to a frequency range supported by the base station and an obtained frequency range supported by the user equipment, so that the user equipment scans the first frequency range and finds the data offload access device.

34. The base station according to any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the sending unit is further configured to send offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises at least one of a second frequency range, a measurement interval, and a measurement object, and the measurement object comprises the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the at least one of the second frequency range, the measurement interval, and the measurement object.

35. The base station according to any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the sending unit is further configured to send offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement period, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement period and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

36. The base station according to any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the sending unit is further configured to send offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement indication, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

37. The base station according to any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the sending unit is further configured to send offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement indication, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement indication and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the measurement indication and a configured subframe pattern.

38. The base station according to any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the sending unit is further configured to send offload configuration information to the user equipment, wherein the offload configuration information comprises a measurement trigger event, and a sending period, or a sending trigger event, or a sending indication, so that the user equipment measures the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device according to the measurement trigger event and sends the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality of the data offload access device to the base station according to the sending period, or the sending trigger event, or the sending indication.

39. The base station according to any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the offloading unit is specifically configured to:

initially select, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, the at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment; or update, according to the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality, the selected at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

40. A method for determining a data offload access device, comprising:
obtaining, by a base station, a parameter for offloading transmission data of a user equipment; and selecting, by the base station according to the parameter, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of the following:
at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a user equipment served by the base station, wherein the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is obtained by measurement by the user equipment;
location information of the user equipment; and load information of the data offload access device.

42. A base station, comprising:
an obtaining unit, configured to obtain a parameter for offloading transmission data of a user equipment; and an offloading unit, configured to select, according to the parameter, at least one data offload access device to offload transmission data of the user equipment.

43. The base station according to claim 42, wherein the parameter obtained by the obtaining unit comprises at least one of the following:
at least one of signal intensity and signal quality of a data offload access device sent by a user equipment served by the base station, wherein the at least one of the signal intensity and signal quality is obtained by measurement by the user equipment;
location information of the user equipment; and load information of the data offload access device.