CN103002543A

CN103002543A - Multi-accessing method and multi-accessing system

Info

Publication number: CN103002543A
Application number: CN2011102708444A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 毕以峰; 周晓云; 宗在峰; 卢飞
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2011-09-14
Filing date: 2011-09-14
Publication date: 2013-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2031-09-14
Also published as: WO2013037271A1; CN103002543B

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-accessing method and a multi-accessing system. UE (user equipment) is accessed to network P-GW (packet data network gateway) through 3GPP (3rd generation partnership project) to transmit multi-accessing instructions, and inform P-GW to execute multi-accessing binding. The P-GW executes multi-accessing bindings of at least two accessing networks according to the multi-accessing instructions. The P-GW can acquire accessing scenes and multi-accessing scenes of terminals according to received accessing instructions, and accordingly multi-accessing binding can be performed by the P-GW when received a binding requests of a second accessing network, terminal multi-accessing is achieved, and influences on and modification of non-3GPP networks can be avoided.

Description

A kind of multi-access method and system

Technical field

The present invention relates to the mobile communication technology field, relate in particular to a kind of multi-access method and system.

Background technology

Third generation partner program (3rd Generation Partnership Project, referred to as 3GPP) grouping system (Evolved Packet System is referred to as EPS) of evolution mainly is comprised of the packet-based core networks (EPC) of Access Network and evolution.As shown in Figure 1, the EPS Access Network can be E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, the universal land radio access web of evolution) or UTRAN (Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, universal land radio access web) etc.; EPC comprises: MME (mobile management unit, Mobility Management Entity), SGSN (Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service, general packet radio service) Support Node, Serving GPRS Support Node), S-GW (gateway, Serving Gateway), P-GW (Packet Data Network Gateway, grouped data network gateway), HSS (home subscriber server, Home Subscriber Server), 3GPP aaa server (3GPP authentication and authorization charging server), PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function, "Policy and Charging Rules Function) and other support node.

Wherein, there is eNB (evolved NodeB, the base station of evolution) E-UTRAN inside, and there is NB (NodeB, base station) UTRAN inside; MME is responsible for UE (User Equipment, subscriber equipment) from mobile management, NAS (Non Access Stratum, Non-Access Stratum) processing of signaling and the chain of command related works such as management of user's context of EUTRAN access; SGSN is responsible for terminal UE from mobile management, the processing of Non-Access Stratum signaling and the work such as management of user's context of E-UTRAN access; S-GW is the accessing gateway equipment that links to each other with E-UTRAN, forwarding data between E-UTRAN and P-GW, and be responsible for the pending datas such as paging are carried out buffer memory.P-GW then is the borde gateway of 3GPP evolved packet system and PDN (Packet Data Network, packet data network), be responsible for user terminal to the access of PDN, between EPS and PDN forwarding data etc.Link to each other by the S5/S8 interface between S-GW and the P-GW, adopt GTP (General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol, the general packet radio service tunnel agreement) agreement or PMIPv6 (Proxy Mobile IP version 6, proxy-mobile IP version 6) agreement.PCRF is the "Policy and Charging Rules Function entity, link to each other with the IP operation network that operator provides by Rx interface, obtain business information, and link to each other with gateway device in the network by the Gx/Gxa/Gxb/Gxc interface, be responsible for initiating the foundation of IP (Internet Protocol, Internet protocol) carrying, guarantee QoS (the Quality of Service of business datum, and carry out charging control service quality).

In addition, EPS also supports UE to pass through the access of other non-3 GPP system except E-UTRAN, wherein, (the S2c access is irrelevant with the present invention by the S2a/S2b/S2c Interface realization in the access of non-3 GPP system, so not shown), at this moment, P-GW is as the data anchor point of the access of the access of 3GPP system and non-3 GPP system.In the system architecture of EPS, non-3 GPP system is divided into the non-3GPP IP of trusted Access Network (Trusted non-3GPP IP Access) and trustless non-3GPP IP Access Network (Untrusted non-3GPP IP Access).The non-3GPP IP of trusted Access Network can directly be connected with P-GW by the S2a interface; Trustless non-3GPP IP Access Network need to pass through ePDG (Evolved Packet Data Gateway, the packet data gateway of evolution) and link to each other with P-GW, and the interface between ePDG and P-GW is S2b.The S2a/S2b interface all can adopt GTP or PMIPv6 agreement.

At present, research topic to EPS concentrates on Multiple Access (multiple access) and IP flow mobility (stream migration), wherein multiple access refers to: make EPC support that UE accesses a PDN by multiple Access Network simultaneously through same P-GW, can be linked into simultaneously same P-GW by 3GPP Access Network (EUTRAN Access Network or UTRAN Access Network) and trusted non-3 GPP access network (such as the WLAN Access Network) simultaneously such as terminal, P-GW sets up and the tunnel of S-GW and the tunnel that closes with non-3 GPP access network simultaneously, perhaps terminal can be linked into same P-GW by 3GPP Access Network (EUTRAN Access Network or UTRAN Access Network) and trustless non-3 GPP access network (such as the WLAN Access Network) simultaneously simultaneously, P-GW set up simultaneously with the tunnel of S-GW and with the tunnel of ePDG.Under this scene, UE is attached to EPC by a plurality of Access Networks, and P-GW is that UE distributes an IP address, exists an IP to connect (shown in the dotted line among Fig. 1) between UE and the PDN.Because different business is applicable to adopt different Internet Transmissions, multi-access technology can be selected applicable Access Network transport service according to the characteristic of business, and a plurality of Access Networks can be shared network load, avoid network congestion.

In the prior art, initial access and two kinds of operations of switching access for the P-GW support terminal UE that defines in the current agreement, how notifying the current access of P-GW is " the multiple access scene " that distinguishes over initial access and switch access, is an open question in the agreement.If this problem does not solve, then can cause P-GW to know and currently make faulty operation for the multiple access scene, such as: discharge built vertical connection Access Network connection or refuse the access of current Access Network.

In patent retrieval and relevant research report, also proposed for this way to solve the problem, such as, when terminal UE accesses from the second Access Network, from the second Access Network access operation, carrying multiple access and indicate to P-GW, notice P-GW is the multiple access scene.But there is following defective in this method: when the second Access Network right and wrong 3GPP Access Network, need to strengthen non-3GPP network so that it supports the transmission of multiple access indication, and the non-3 GPP access network network is varied, is difficult to formulate unified standard.

Summary of the invention

The technical problem that the present invention solves provides a kind of multi-access method and system, has avoided impact and modification on non-3GPP network.

For solving the problems of the technologies described above, the invention provides a kind of multi-access method, described method comprises:

Subscriber equipment (UE) sends the multiple access indication by third generation partner program (3GPP) Access Network to grouped data network gateway (P-GW), notifies described P-GW to carry out the multiple access binding;

Described P-GW indicates according to described multiple access, carries out the multiple access binding with two or more Access Networks.

Further, described UE sends the multiple access indication by the 3GPP Access Network to P-GW, specifically comprises:

The 3GPP Access Network is as the first Access Network, and non-3 GPP access network is during as the second Access Network, and attach operation, the PDN of described UE by described 3GPP Access Network connects and set up operation or activate the PDP Context operation, sends the multiple access indication to described P-GW;

Perhaps, the 3GPP Access Network is as the first Access Network, non-3 GPP access network is during as the second Access Network, before described UE initiates access to described non-3 GPP access network, described UE reports operation by request bearing resource retouching operation, tracking area update TAU operation or the special multiple access indication of described 3GPP Access Network, sends the multiple access indication to described P-GW.

Non-3 GPP access network is as the first Access Network, the 3GPP Access Network is during as the second Access Network, when described UE connects the foundation operation or activates the PDP Context operation at the attach operation of initiating by described 3GPP Access Network, PDN, send multiple access to described P-GW and indicate.

Further, described P-GW indicates according to described multiple access, when receiving the access bind request of described the second Access Network, carries out the multiple access binding.

Further, described multiple access indication specifically comprises:

Adhering to request, PDN connects the request of foundation, activates in packet data protocol (PDP) context request cell request type (request type) or adheres to the value of the new definition of request type (attach type); Create in session request, agent binding update (PBU) message, to switching the value of the new definition of indication (handover indication);

Perhaps, adhere to that request, PDN connect the request of foundation, activate the PDP Context request, secondary PDP context activation request message, create the session request, revise carrying request, newly-increased cell or newly-increased indicating bit in the bearing resource order, the modification of request bearing resource, PBU message;

Perhaps, adhere to that request, PDN connect the request of foundation, activate the PDP Context request, the request of secondary PDP context activation, create the session request, revise carrying request, bearing resource order, request bearing resource are revised, newly define cell or indicating bit among the PCO in the PBU message.

Further, when described P-GW receives the access bind request of the second Access Network, carry out the multiple access binding, specifically comprise:

Described P-GW receives the establishment session request that the second Access Network sends, perhaps PBU message;

Described P-GW carries out in the tunnel binding relation that keeps with the first Access Network, namely when GTP tunnel or PMIP tunnel, sets up GTP or PMIP tunnel binding relation with the second Access Network.

The present invention also provides a kind of multi-access systems, and described system comprises: the multiple access indication transmitting element among the UE, and the multiple access indication delivery unit in the 3GPP access network elements, and the binding of the multiple access among P-GW unit,

Described multiple access indication transmitting element is used for, and sends the multiple access indication by the 3GPP access network elements to P-GW, notifies described P-GW to carry out the multiple access binding;

Described multiple access indication delivery unit is used for, and sends the multiple access indication that receives to described P-GW;

Described multiple access binding unit is used for, and according to described multiple access indication, carries out the multiple access binding with two or more Access Networks.

Further, described multiple access indication transmitting element and described multiple access indication delivery unit are used for:

The 3GPP Access Network is as the first Access Network, non-3 GPP access network is during as the second Access Network, multiple access is indicated transmitting element and is connected attach operation, PDN connection foundation operation or the activation PDP Context operation of multiple access indication delivery unit by described 3GPP Access Network, indicates to described P-GW transmission multiple access;

Perhaps, the 3GPP Access Network is as the first Access Network, non-3 GPP access network is during as the second Access Network, before described UE initiates access to described non-3 GPP access network, multiple access indication transmitting element and described multiple access indication delivery unit report operation by request bearing resource retouching operation, tracking area update TAU operation or the special multiple access indication of described 3GPP Access Network, send the multiple access indication to described P-GW;

And, non-3 GPP access network is as the first Access Network, the 3GPP Access Network is during as the second Access Network, multiple access is indicated transmitting element and is connected multiple access indication delivery unit in the attach operation of initiating by described 3GPP Access Network, when PDN connection foundation operates or activate the PDP Context operation, indicates to described P-GW transmission multiple access.

Further, described multiple access indication specifically comprises:

Further, described multiple access binding unit is used for, and according to described multiple access indication, when receiving the access bind request of described the second Access Network, carries out the multiple access binding.

Further, described multiple access binding unit is used for, and carries out in such a way the multiple access binding:

Receive the establishment session request that the second Access Network sends, perhaps during PBU message, described multiple access binding unit is carried out in the tunnel binding relation that keeps with the first Access Network, namely when GTP tunnel or PMIP tunnel, sets up GTP or PMIP tunnel binding relation with the second Access Network.

Adopt the present invention program, so that P-GW can be according to the multiple access indication that receives, the access scene of knowing terminal is the multiple access scene, thereby when receiving the bind request of the second Access Network, the binding of execution multiple access, realize the multiple access of terminal, avoided impact and modification on non-3GPP network.

Description of drawings

Accompanying drawing described herein is used to provide a further understanding of the present invention, consists of the application's a part, and illustrative examples of the present invention and explanation thereof are used for explaining the present invention, do not consist of improper restriction of the present invention.In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the system architecture schematic diagram of EPS in the prior art;

Fig. 2 is the embodiment of the invention one, two schematic flow sheet;

Fig. 3 is the schematic flow sheet of the embodiment of the invention three;

Fig. 4 is the schematic flow sheet of the embodiment of the invention four;

Fig. 5 is the schematic flow sheet of the embodiment of the invention five;

Fig. 6 is the schematic block diagram of the multi-access systems of the embodiment of the invention.

Embodiment

Problem for the prior art existence, present embodiment provides a kind of method that realizes multiple access, send out when setting up multiple access by 3GPP Access Network and non-3 GPP access network at UE, signaling transmission multiple access indication by the 3GPP system sends to P-GW, P-GW is according to the multiple access indication that receives, and the access scene of knowing terminal is the multiple access scene, when the second Access Network request is bound, P-GW carries out many bindings, realizes the multiple access of terminal.P-GW carries out many bindings, refers to that P-GW carries out in the tunnel binding relation that keeps with the first Access Network, namely when GTP tunnel or PMIP tunnel, sets up GTP or PMIP tunnel binding relation with the second Access Network.

Need to prove, the first Access Network of mentioning among the present invention, the second Access Network connect or PDP Context for a PDN, in some PDN connection/PDP Contexts, the 3GPP side be connected the order that the 3GPP side joint enters and determined it is the first Access Network or the second Access Network that this PDN connects.For instance, terminal at first is attached to 3GPP, and the PDN of foundation connects 1, is attached to again non-3GPP, sets up PDN and connects 1 multiple access, then initiates to set up PDN at non-3GPP again and connects 2, sets up PDN at 3GPP again afterwards and connects 2 multiple access.Connect 1,3GPP and non-3GPP is respectively the first Access Network and the second Access Network for PDN, and connect 2,3GPP and non-3GPP is respectively the second Access Network and the first Access Network for PDN.

Particularly, the multi-access method that present embodiment provides is applied to EPS, adopts following technical scheme:

UE sends the multiple access indication by the 3GPP Access Network to P-GW, and notice P-GW carries out the multiple access binding;

P-GW indicates according to described multiple access, carries out the multiple access binding with two or more Access Networks.

Wherein, UE sends the multiple access indication by the 3GPP Access Network to P-GW, comprises following several mode:

One, 3GPP Access Network is as the first Access Network, and non-3 GPP access network is during as the second Access Network, and attach operation, the PDN of UE by the 3GPP Access Network connects and set up operation or activate the PDP Context operation, sends the multiple access indication to P-GW;

Two, the 3GPP Access Network is as the first Access Network, non-3 GPP access network is during as the second Access Network, before UE initiates access to non-3 GPP access network, UE reports operation by request bearing resource retouching operation, tracking area update TAU operation or the special multiple access indication of 3GPP Access Network, sends the multiple access indication to P-GW;

Three, non-3 GPP access network is as the first Access Network, and the 3GPP Access Network is during as the second Access Network, and UE connects when setting up operation or activating the PDP Context operation at the attach operation of initiating by the 3GPP Access Network, PDN, sends the multiple access indication to P-GW.

For making the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, hereinafter in connection with accompanying drawing embodiments of the invention are elaborated.Need to prove, following embodiment is applicable to the E-UTRAN network of 3GPP network and WLAN/ fixed broadband network (fixed network) as the multiple access scene of two kinds of Access Networks, also is applicable to the UTRAN network of network of 3GPP and WLAN/ fixed broadband network (fixed network) as the multiple access scene of two kinds of Access Networks; And in the situation of not conflicting, the feature among the embodiment among the application and each embodiment is combination in any mutually.

Embodiment one

Referring to flow process shown in Figure 2, present embodiment based on be the S5/8 interface, and non-3 GPP access network closes and P-GW between S2a interface, ePDG and P-GW between the S2b interface all adopt the scene of GTP agreement, these flow process concrete steps are described below:

Step 201:UE determines to be attached to EPC by the 3GPP Access Network, operates so initiate to adhere to set up; After perhaps UE had been linked into the EPC network, wish was set up an additional PDN connection (additional PDN connection) again, connected the foundation operation so initiate PDN.

Step 202:UE sends and to adhere to request/PDN and connect to set up and asks to MME, and carries " multiple access indication " in this message.

Step 203:UE carries out access authentication of user by MME to the HSS/AAA request.

" create the session request information to S-GW, S-GW sends and " creates the session request information to P-GW, all carry " the multiple access indication " that be used to indicate multiple access in the message in step 204:MME transmission.

Step 205:P-GW and PCRF carry out the operation of IP-CAN session establishment.

Step 206: as the response message to step 204, P-GW sends " establishment conversational response " message to S-GW, and S-GW sends " establishment conversational response " message to MME.

Step 207: adhere to/ subsequent step that PDN connect to set up.

Step 208: after this, the UE decision is initiated access from non-3GPP network, so initiate to adhere to/PDN connection foundation operation.

This step belongs to the operation of non-3GPP inside, and is relevant from different non-3 GPP systems.

Step 209: non-3 GPP access network pass/ePDG (trustless non-3 GPP access network access) sends and " creates the session request information to P-GW;

After step 210:P-GW receives the request message of step 209, owing to received the multiple access indication in step 204 step, P-GW accepts the request of step 209 at this, and keep the tunnel relation that step 204 and step 205 are set up, so just realized the tunnel binding relation of P-GW with a plurality of IADs, terminal UE has realized multiple access.

After this step, P-GW is state of activation with the tunnel of 3GPP Access Network and non-3 GPP access network, and P-GW can send packet to two Access Networks simultaneously.

Step 211:P-GW sends to non-3 GPP access network pass/ePDG and creates conversational response message.

Step 212:UE finishes at non-3 GPP access network and adheres to/PDN connection foundation operation.

By above step, terminal UE has realized multiple access.

Wherein, optional among the above-mentioned steps 206-207, if P-GW supports many binding/multiple accesses, and accepted " multiple access " request that terminal UE is sent, P-GW can send indication information to end UE.In this step, " the establishment conversational response " that P-GW sends, S-GW sends " establishment conversational response " message and all carries this indication.What this indication information was indicated is whether P-GW has accepted the multiple access request, and has reflected the tenability of P-GW to multiple access.Equally, optional, step 207, MME sends to UE with this indication.UE receives from the indication information of P-GW feedback, can judge accordingly whether P-GW has accepted access request: if fed back indication, show that P-GW has accepted multiple access; If do not return indication, show that P-GW does not accept the multiple access operation.

In addition, multiple access indication information in the step 202,204, if can be by MME, S-GW perception, if then MME and S-GW support multiple access, then further transmit this indication information to next step, if MME and S-GW do not support multiple access, MME and S-GW will can not continue to transmit this indication information to next step information.Like this, for MME, S-GW, the network elements such as P-GW, whether the next stage network element has received that this indication information has also just embodied the upper level network element and whether supported the multiple access function, like this, the multiple access indication information is by step 202, and 204 pass to P-GW, the indication information whether P-GW supports the multiple access ability passes through step 206 again, 207 are delivered to UE, as long as UE has received indication information, just prove MME, SGW and P-GW support the multiple access operation, otherwise as long as middle any one network element is not supported the multiple access operation, UE just can not receive indication information, and UE just can judge that system does not support the multiple access operation.

Embodiment two

Present embodiment is basic identical with aforementioned embodiment one, and the main difference part of the two is, S5/8, and S2a, the S2b interface can adopt the PMIPv6 agreement.Step 204 in Fig. 2 flow process and 206, step 209 and 211 message may be the message of PMIPv6 agreement, perhaps be PBU (Proxy Binding Update, agent binding update) and a pair of message of PBA (Proxy Binding Acknowledgement, agent binding confirm).That is: step 204 and 206, step 209 and 211 or all be PMIP message perhaps all are GTP message (being embodiment one); Perhaps step 204 and 206 is GTP message, and step 209 and 211 is PMIP message, and perhaps step 204 and 206 is PMIP message, and step 209 and 211 is GTP message.

Embodiment afterwards also roughly the same, as long as namely relate to the S5/8 interface, perhaps S2a interface perhaps when the S2b interface, all can adopt GTP agreement and PMIPv6 agreement.

Embodiment three

Present embodiment is with the difference that previous embodiment one is connected with embodiment: embodiment one are connected with embodiment be terminal UE be attached to the 3GPP network or set up PDN from the 3GPP network be connected in, sending multiple access indicates to P-GW, and in the present embodiment, multiple access just will be initiated before the non-3GPP access in terminal, sending this multiple access from the 3GPP Access Network first indicates to P-GW, P-GW receives this indication, judge that current is the multiple access scene, after this, after as long as P-GW has received bind request from non-3 GPP access network gateway or ePDG, P-GW will carry out many bindings.

As shown in Figure 3, these flow process concrete steps are described below:

Step 301:UE is attached to EPC by the 3GPP Access Network, and may set up one or more PDN connection.

Different from previous embodiment is in the present embodiment, when UE is established to the connection of EPC by the 3GPP Access Network, not carry the multiple access indication.

Step 302:UE determines to set up multiple access from the non-3 GPP access network access;

Step 303-307:UE initiating to adhere to non-3 GPP access network/before PDN connects, first through the 3GPP Access Network send carry " multiple access indication " the first request message to MME.

Step 304, the second request message that " multiple access indication " carried in the MME transmission sends to P-GW to S-GW after S-GW receives.

Step 305, P-GW keeps the multiple access indication in this second request message.

Step 306, P-GW responds the second response message to S-GW, and S-GW receives behind this second response message response to MME

Step 307, MME responds the first response message to UE.

Above-mentioned 303-307 step specifically can adopt following various ways to realize:

Mode one: UE sends to P-GW by existing request bearing resource retouching operation with " multiple access indication ".

For example, the second request message between the first request message, MME and the S-GW between UE and the MME, between S-GW and the P-GW, can be respectively: " the request bearing resource is revised " message of NAS message family, and " bearing resource order " message of the message family of GTP.

And P-GW is after receiving the multiple access Indication message, by step 306-307, sends " bearing resource refusal " message of the message family of GTP to S-GW, the bearing resource modification/renewal/activation manipulation of perhaps initiating the network initiation, and 303-304 responds to step.

Mode two: UE sends to P-GW by existing tracking area update operation (Tracking Area Update, TAU) with " connect indication enters more ".

For example, the second request message between the first request message, MME and the S-GW between UE and the MME, between S-GW and the P-GW can be respectively: " TAU " message of NAS message family, and the message family of GTP " revise the carrying request information.

And P-GW by step 306-307, sends " revising the carrying response " message of the message family of GTP to S-GW after receiving the multiple access Indication message, and 303-304 responds to step.

Mode three: report operation to report by special multiple access indication.At UE and MME NAS (Non-Access Stratum, Non-Access Stratum) message is set newly, at MME and S-GW, by newly-increased GTP message, transmits the multiple access indication between S-GW and the P-GW.It also is corresponding newly-increased response message in receiveing the response.

Step 308: after this, UE initiates access from non-3GPP network, or attach operation or PDN connection foundation operation.

Step 309: non-3 GPP access network pass/ePDG transmission " establishment session request " or PBU message (these two kinds of message are collectively referred to as bind request) are given P-GW.

After step 310:P-GW receives the request message of step 309, owing to received the multiple access indication in step 304, P-GW accepts the request of step 309 at this, and with the tunnel relation of S-GW, so just realized the tunnel binding relation of P-GW with a plurality of IADs, terminal UE has realized multiple access.

Step 311:P-GW sends to non-3 GPP access network pass/ePDG and creates conversational response message.

Step 312:UE finishes at non-3 GPP access network and adheres to/PDN connection foundation operation.

By above step, terminal UE has realized multiple access.

Need to prove that if the S2a/2b interface adopts the PMIPv6 agreement, then step 309 is respectively PBU and PBA with the message of step 311.

In addition, above-mentioned description for the 304-306 in the step is based on the hypothesis that S5/S8 adopts the GTP agreement, if S5/S8 adopts the PMIPv6 agreement, then relevant operation may be following mode:

(1) after S-GW receives " the bearing resource order " of MME transmission, send multiple access by " gateway control session " operation and indicate to PCRF, PCRF sends to P-GW by " IP-CAN session " operation with the multiple access indication.There is not direct interaction information between S-GW and the P-GW;

(2) after S-GW receives " the bearing resource order " of MME transmission, send multiple access by " PBU " message and indicate to P-GW, PGW preserves the multiple access indication and responds PBA message to S-GW.

Embodiment four

What present embodiment was described is terminal is set up multiple access by UTRAN and WLAN scene.UE at first accesses from UTRAN, and in attaching process or PDP (Packet Data Protocol, packet data protocol) context activation process, the multiple access indication is carried to SGSN by Attach Request message or activation PDP Context request message.SGSN is again by " creating the session request information and carry to S-GW, send a P-GW by S-GW again.

As shown in Figure 4, these flow process concrete steps are described below:

Step 401:UE determines to initiate to adhere to or PDN connection foundation operation from the 3GPP Access Network.

Step 402:UE sends and to adhere to request/activation PDN context request to SGSN, and carries " multiple access indication " in message.

Step 403:UE carries out access authentication of user by SGSN to the HSS/AAA request.

" create the session request information to S-GW, S-GW sends and " creates the session request information to P-GW, all carry " the multiple access indication " that be used to indicate multiple access in the message in step 404:SGSN transmission.

Step 405:P-GW and PCRF carry out the operation of IP-CAN session establishment.

Step 406: as the response message to step 404, P-GW sends " establishment conversational response " message to S-GW, and S-GW sends " establishment conversational response " message to SGSN.

Step 407: adhere to/activate the contextual subsequent step of PDN.

Step 408: after this, the UE decision is initiated access from non-3GPP network, so initiate to adhere to/PDN connection foundation operation.

Step 409: non-3 GPP access network pass/ePDG (trustless non-3 GPP access network access) sends and " creates the session request information to P-GW;

After step 410:P-GW receives the request message of step 409, owing to received the multiple access indication in step 404 step, P-GW accepts the request of step 409 at this, and keep the tunnel relation that step 404 and step 405 are set up, so just realized the tunnel binding relation of P-GW with a plurality of IADs, terminal UE has realized multiple access.

Step 411:P-GW sends to non-3 GPP access network pass/ePDG and creates conversational response message.

Step 412:UE finishes at non-3 GPP access network and adheres to/PDN connection foundation operation.

By above step, terminal UE has realized multiple access.

Can find out that according to above description present embodiment has in fact also comprised the several scenes of corresponding previous embodiment 1, for example, in the present embodiment, if adopt the PMIPv6 agreement between S-GW and the P-GW, then step 404-406 describes the description with embodiment two.

Now the main difference part with present embodiment and embodiment 1 is listed below:

Present embodiment and previous embodiment one, two main difference part are, in the present embodiment be UE at first from UTRAN access, and adhering to/pdp context activation in the multiple access indication by carrying to SGSN in Attach Request message/activation PDP Context request message; And previous embodiment one, second be that UE is by E-UTRAN access, and adhering to/PDP connects to set up and in the process multiple access indication set up and carried in the request message to MME by Attach Request message/PDP connection;

The main difference part of present embodiment and previous embodiment two is, makes MME into SGSN and gets final product, and remaining flow process is identical.On step was described, what UE issued SGSN can be the secondary PDP context activation request message that strengthens, or the message that increases newly between UE and the SGSN.Message after the SGSN is with the description of embodiment three.

Embodiment five

This embodiment based on scene be terminal first from non-3GPP access, set up again the scene of multiple access from 3GPP.The indication information of multiple access is by the second Access Network, and namely the adhering to of 3GPP Access Network/PDN connects foundations/PDP context activation and operates and carried to P-GW's by UE.

As shown in Figure 5, these flow process concrete steps are described below:

Step 501: terminal accesses from non-3GPP, and has set up one or more PDN connection;

Step 501a.UE initiates to adhere to or PDN connection foundation or PDP context activation from 3GPP Access Network (EUTRAN or UTRAN).

Step 502:UE sends and adheres to request or PDN connection foundation request or PDP context activation request to MME/SGSG, carries the multiple access indication information in the request message;

Step 503 (optional): if initially access the 3GPP system, then carry out first the access authentication of user operation.

Step 504:MME/SGSN sends " creating the session request " to S-GW, and S-GW transmission " establishment session request " or " PBU " message are all carried the multiple access indication information to P-GW in the message.

Step 505:P-GW and PCRF carry out the operation of IP-CAN session modification;

Step 505a:P-GW receives the bind-request message from S-GW, carries out many bindings according to the multiple access indication information.

Step 506:P-GW responds to S-GW and creates conversational response or PBA message, and S-GW responds to MME and creates conversational response message.

Step 507: adhere to/PDN connects foundation/PDP context activation operation subsequent step to be finished.

By above step, terminal UE has realized multiple access.

Wherein, the specific implementation of above-mentioned steps 504-506 can with reference to the detailed description in the previous embodiment, not repeat them here.

Wherein, about the indication of the multiple access in above-described embodiment flow process, its carrying mode can have multiple implementation.For example, this multiple access indication can be a newly-increased cell, or the flag bit of a new definition in the existing cell, or value (value) existing cell or a new definition of existing flag bit.The below enumerates several typical implementations:

(A) for the scheme of embodiment one, embodiment two, embodiment four and embodiment five, " adhering to request/PDN, to connect the request of foundation/activate in the PDP Context request information can be a value to the indication multiple access of the new definition of existing cell request type (request type) to the indication of this multiple access; " creating in session request information or the PBU message value of indication multiple access that " switching indication " (handover indication) newly defined in message.

(B) for previous embodiment one, two, three, four and five, request/PDN connection foundation request/activation PDP Context request/secondary PDP context activation request message can adhered to, " create among the existing cell PCO (Protocol Configuration Option; protocol configuration option) of session request information or PBU message; carry the multiple access indication; because existing PCO message is not affected by MME and S-GW, can reduce like this impact on existing system;

(C) for previous embodiment, all can increase a cell or indicating bit newly, be used for transmitting the multiple access indication.

In addition, as shown in Figure 6, a kind of multi-access systems also is provided in the embodiment of the invention, this system mainly comprises the multiple access indication transmitting element among the UE, multiple access indication delivery unit in the 3GPP access network elements (such as MME, S-GW and/or SGSN etc.), with the multiple access binding unit among the P-GW, wherein:

Further, described multiple access indication specifically comprises:

It below only is preferred case study on implementation of the present invention; be not limited to the present invention; the present invention also can have other various embodiments; in the situation that does not deviate from spirit of the present invention and essence thereof; those of ordinary skill in the art can make according to the present invention various corresponding changes and distortion, but these corresponding changes and distortion all should belong to the protection range of the appended claim of the present invention.

Obviously, those skilled in the art should be understood that, above-mentioned each module of the present invention or each step can realize with general calculation element, they can concentrate on the single calculation element, perhaps be distributed on the network that a plurality of calculation elements form, alternatively, they can be realized with the executable program code of calculation element, thereby, they can be stored in the storage device and be carried out by calculation element, and in some cases, can carry out step shown or that describe with the order that is different from herein, perhaps they are made into respectively each integrated circuit modules, perhaps a plurality of modules in them or step are made into the single integrated circuit module and realize.Like this, the present invention is not restricted to any specific hardware and software combination.

Claims

1. a multi-access method is characterized in that, described method comprises:

2. the method for claim 1 is characterized in that,

Described UE sends the multiple access indication by the 3GPP Access Network to P-GW, specifically comprises:

3. method as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that,

4. method as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 is characterized in that,

Described P-GW indicates according to described multiple access, when receiving the access bind request of described the second Access Network, carries out the multiple access binding.

5. such as claim 1,2 or 3 described methods, it is characterized in that,

Described multiple access indication specifically comprises:

6. method as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that,

When described P-GW receives the access bind request of the second Access Network, carry out the multiple access binding, specifically comprise:

7. a multi-access systems is characterized in that, described system comprises: the multiple access indication transmitting element among the UE, and the multiple access indication delivery unit in the 3GPP access network elements, and the binding of the multiple access among P-GW unit,

8. system as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that,

Described multiple access indication transmitting element and described multiple access indication delivery unit are used for:

9. such as claim 7 or 8 described systems, it is characterized in that,

Described multiple access indication specifically comprises:

10. system as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that,

Described multiple access binding unit is used for, and according to described multiple access indication, when receiving the access bind request of described the second Access Network, carries out the multiple access binding.

11. system as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that,

Described multiple access binding unit is used for, and carries out in such a way the multiple access binding: