Background technology
EPS(Evolved Packet System, the grouping system of evolution) be ambulant system between a multiple access technology of support and multiple access.Under multiple access scene, UE(User Equipment, subscriber equipment) may be in multiple 3GPP(3rd Generation Partnership Project, third generation partner program) and/or the common covering of non-3 GPP access network network under.These access networks may use different access technologies, may belong to different operators, also may be provided to the access of different core network.
For example, under prior art, UMTS(Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)/LTE(Long Term Evolution, Long Term Evolution) and WLAN(Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN (wireless local area network)) network coexisted scene is as shown in Figure 1.The access control network node of UMTS/LTE (as, the Node B in UMTS, the eNB in LTE) coverage in, there is the AP(Access Point of multiple WLAN, access point), the relative base station of coverage of access point is smaller.
Under above-mentioned scene, as shown in Figure 2, this framework is based on PDN(Packet DataNetwork, Packet Data Network for a kind of UMTS/LTE having supported at present and the network architecture of WLAN interoperability) S2c interface between Gateway and UE realizes interoperability.Wherein, the AP of PDN Gateway and WLAN all can with Internet in server carry out information interaction.Relevant communication adopts 802.3 agreements.
Accordingly, back haul link comprises between access control network node and PDN Gateway, between the AP of WLAN and PDN Gateway and WLAN AP and lead to the link between the router of Internet, also can comprise the link between the service server in PDN Gateway and Internet.
Based on above-mentioned network scenarios and framework, having at present a kind of network selection mechanism is based on ANDSF(Access Network Discovery and Selection Function, access network discovery and selection function) strategy realizes.Particularly, as shown in Figure 3, wherein UE and ANDSF be by S14 interactive interfacing for the framework of communicating by letter between ANDSF and UE, this interface be one based on IP(Internet Protocol, Internet Protocol) interface.Communicated by letter Pull and two kinds of patterns of Push between UE and ANDSF, the former is that UE initiatively sends request to ANDSF, the latter is ANDSF active push information.ANDSF strategy is more static.
Under prior art, Network finding be provided and select relevant information to UE based on ANDSF strategy, comprising following three classes:
The first kind is: ISMP(Inter-system mobility policy, the mobility strategy of cross-system).
ISMP is rule and the preference information of a series of operators definition, this policy definition whether allow that cross-system moves, the most applicable access EPC(Evolved packet core, the block core of evolution) the information such as access technology type, the different priorities of different access technologies.ISMP can be prewired in UE, also can in the time that UE asks, send, and can also under certain triggers, be pushed to UE by ANDSF.For example, ANDSF can issue the priority of WLAN higher than the strategy of LTE, like this, when UE covers lower time at the two, can preferential choose WLAN system access.
Equations of The Second Kind is: ANDI(Access Network Discovery Information, access network discovery information).
ANDSF can for UE provide in its vicinity can with, the access network list and the relevant parameter that meet asked access style, as access technology (as, WLAN, WiMAX etc.), Radio Access Network mark, carrier frequency etc.
The 3rd class is: ISRP(Inter-System Routing Policy, cross-system routing policy).
ISRP comprises the required information of some cross-system routes, for the UE with many radio access interfaces, as, support IFOM(IP Flow Mobility, IP flows mobility) or MAPCON(Multi Access PDN Connectivity, multiple access PDN connect) UE, these information can for determine:
A) in the time meeting specific route conditions, with which kind of can with access network send data;
B) for specific IP traffic and/or specific APN(Access Point Name, APN), when disabled certain access network is.
Existing protocol regulation, ANDSF selects to offer ISMP, ANDI and the ISRP of UE according to Carrier Requirements and roaming agreement, and ANDSF can provide above-mentioned three kinds of strategies simultaneously, and partial strategy wherein also can be only provided.ANDSF can with carrier network in some databases mutual, as HSS(Home Subscriber Server, home subscriber server), to obtain required information.
When UE receives the access network information of available priority higher than existing access network, if user allows, UE should carry out discovery and the reuse adoption process of this high priority.In the time that UE selects access network automatically, can not be linked into EPC by be marked as the access network of forbidding in ISMP.
Except the network selection mechanism based on tactful, under prior art, also propose some networks based on wireless access network and selected mechanism, for example, consider the information such as channel quality, load, geographical position of wireless access network, then carry out network selection.A kind of possible mode is: UE obtains the geographical location information of WLANAP by the broadcast of UMTS/LTE network, then in the time that UE approaches this geographical position, start the scanning to WLANAP, after finding AP, assess its channel quality and load and whether be applicable to access, consider afterwards after the channel quality and load information of UMTS/LTE side and WLAN side, UMTS/LT network or wlan network are selected in judgement.The network selection strategy of Access Network is more dynamic, can be along with changing as channel quality, load information etc.Which is to carry out access network selection based on the metrical information of eating dishes without rice or wine, and for example, measures channel quality obtaining on WLAN and UMTS/LTE network etc. by UE on eating dishes without rice or wine.
On the other hand, under prior art, the loop link (being designated hereinafter simply as loop) of network side uses Ethernet as carrying medium conventionally, and the cable that Ethernet uses according to reality can be divided into several as follows: 10M:10base-T(copper cash UTP pattern), 100M:100base-TX(copper cash UTP pattern), 100base-FX(optical fiber cable), 1000M:1000base-T(copper cash UTP pattern) and ten thousand mbit ethernets.
Ethernet has two kinds of flow control modes: half-duplex and full duplex are in different ways.Half-duplex adopts implicit expression flow control (being back pressure technology), and full duplex adopts and shows flow control (being that MAC sends PAUSE frame).
Back pressure technology is that Switch controller sends a kind of pseudo-collision alarm technology.Back pressure technology is conventionally according to realizing by the capacity ratio of buffering area, in the time reaching a predefined ratio with buffer pool size, port will generate block signal according to this threshold value, and in the time that freebuf capacity exceedes another lower ratio, port will be cancelled block signal.In the network segment at congested port place, the transmission of block signal can make ports all in this network segment conflict can be detected, wait for block signal finish after transmitting data frame again, thereby stop more collision, supspend the transmission of data, the space of buffering area is discharged.
Under full duplex MAC control framework, flow control mechanism is realized by PAUSE function.Unnecessary LOF when PAUSE function can prevent that instantaneous overload from causing buffer overflow.PAUSE operation has realized a kind of simply stop-equation flow control mechanism.If certain port will stop the reception of frame, can send a PAUSE frame with parameter, parameter instruction full-duplex link the other side needs the time of waiting for before starting to send data.When link the other side receives after PAUSE frame, in the time of specifying in parameter, stop sending data.Exceed when the fixed time, or after port flow state of a control removes, it is 0 PAUSE frame that former congested port sends operating parameter again, link the other side continues to send Frame from the position of suspending.
By the content in PAUSE frame, can know the congestion situation of port.Can judge the congested order of severity according to stopping sending Frame time span in this frame.
Along with the growth of user's request and the development of the communication technology, there is more and more wireless communication technologys and network of relation, 2G/3G/4G mobile communication technology and the network of wide covering for example can be provided, and wifi technology and the wlan network that can provide focus to cover.Therefore also there is in a large number the scene that different communication networks coexists, the scene coexisting as 2G/3G/4G network and WLAN.Under these network coexisted scenes, how UE carries out rational network selection, better to be served and to save UE electric weight, is the problem that needs research.In prior art, based on the measurement situation of eating dishes without rice or wine strategy or select mainly to have considered selection strategy and wireless network based on the network of wireless access network, but, in selecting access network for UE, do not consider loop (the being backhaul) situation of each network.And access control node cannot obtain the signal intelligence of whole network side at present, eat dishes without rice or wine to load at the access network that carries out may selecting when network is selected low, but its loop is also not smooth, thereby affects the business use of UE, reduce the overall performance of system.
Embodiment
In order to ensure the service quality of communication system, in the embodiment of the present invention, access control node assists UE to carry out access network selection or network switch decision by collection network side loop state information etc., wherein, access control node can be that base station can be also RNC(Radio Network Controller, radio network controller), the embodiment of the present invention had both gone for LTE system, also went for UMTS system.
Below taking access control node be base station as example, by reference to the accompanying drawings the preferred embodiment of the present invention is elaborated.
Consult shown in Fig. 4, in the embodiment of the present invention, network node provides the detailed process of loop state information as follows to base station:
Step 400: network node is measured the loop state information in local associated loop.Wherein, each loop state information at least comprises loop-type information and the loop link quality information of corresponding circuit.
In the embodiment of the present invention, network node can be PDN Gateway, also can be WLANAP, the loop state information in every loop that network node measurement obtains at least comprises loop-type information and the loop link quality information of corresponding circuit, and its particular content can configure as follows:
Loop-type information: can comprise the Ethernet that loop uses bandwidth (as, 10,000,000,100,000,000, gigabit, 10,000,000,000 etc.), the duplex mode that adopts of loop (as, half-duplex, full duplex).
Loop link quality information: can comprise to characterize the parameter of loop Congestion Level SPCC, as, the propagation delay time in loop, or, the buffering area seizure condition in loop (can with percentage or level value representation).
In the embodiment of the present invention, the loop bandwidth type of the loop-type information instruction comprising in the loop state information that base station receives is clear and definite, because using which kind of cable in actual deployment determines, thereby loop bandwidth type can be passed through OM(Operations and Maintenance, Operation and Maintenance) physical arrangements is to relevant network node, and the network node at two ends, loop can be known the bandwidth situation in this section of loop.
And the duplex mode (being half-duplex or full duplex) of the loop-type information comprising in the loop state information that base station receives instruction is also clear and definite, because the network node at two ends, loop can obtain the duplex mode in this section of loop by the driving of Ethernet or according to OM notice.
The loop link quality information comprising in the loop state information that base station receives (is that propagation delay time is or/and buffering area seizure condition is relevant with the duplex mode that loop adopts.
The loop connecting for half-duplex: the network node at two ends, loop (as, PDN Gateway or WLAN AP) in the time receiving the pseudo-collision alarm of opposite end, the buffer occupancy that can determine opposite end has exceeded setting threshold, and be converted into the buffering area that characterizes buffering area seizure condition take percentage (as, 80%) or buffering area take level value (as, be set to height), and loop link quality information using the parameter of generation as corresponding circuit is sent to base station; And the network node at two ends, loop do not receive opposite end send pseudo-collision alarm time, the buffer occupancy that can determine opposite end does not reach setting threshold, and be converted into characterize buffering area seizure condition buffering area percentage (as, 50%) or buffering area take level value (as, be set to low); And the network node at two ends, loop is in the time setting the pseudo-collision alarm that does not all receive opposite end transmission in duration, can determine the buffering area free time of opposite end, and be converted into the buffering area that characterizes buffering area seizure condition take percentage (as, 10%) or buffering area take level value (as, be set to sky).
The loop situation that above-mentioned reckoning can be applied to PDN Gateway prediction Internet section is used, the loop situation that also can be applied to WLANAP prediction Internet section is used, if consider the loop situation between base station and PDN Gateway or WLANAP, PDN Gateway or WLANAP can be directly take situation the buffering area of self associated queue, and actual buffering area takies percentage or buffering area and takies level value and send to base station.
And the loop connecting for full duplex: the network node at two ends, loop (as, PDN Gateway or WLAN AP) can be according to the time-out PAUSE frame of opposite end transmission, determine the propagation delay time in loop or/and the buffering area of sign buffering area seizure condition takies percentage or buffering area takies level value.For example, the network node at two ends, loop, according to the instruction of the PAUSE frame receiving, is determined the temporal information that stops transmission, and judges the Congestion Level SPCC of corresponding circuit according to this temporal information; Be specially: if the waiting time of PAUSE frame instruction, (this waiting time was definite according to propagation delay time, propagation delay time is more than or equal to this waiting time) exceed the first thresholding, can think corresponding circuit heavy congestion, if the waiting time of PAUSE frame instruction is lower than the second thresholding, can think that corresponding circuit moderate is congested, if the waiting time of PAUSE instruction is overtime or receive the instruction that opposite end sends and cancel the frame stopping, the buffering area of local terminal takies level value lower than certain threshold value simultaneously, can think that corresponding circuit is not congested.Again for example, if also there is mass data to overstock in the buffering area of local terminal, also think that associated loop is congested.The network node at two ends, loop can be using the propagation delay time that characterizes each section of loop Congestion Level SPCC or/and buffering area seizure condition sends to base station as loop link information.
Step 410: the loop state information of network node local measurement mails to access control node, this loop state information is used to indicate UE access or switches to corresponding objective network in access control node side.
For example: the loop state information that network node sends, eat dishes without rice or wine metrical information or/and ANDSF strategy indicates UE to access or switch to corresponding objective network in access control node side for combination.
Based on above-described embodiment, corresponding, to consult shown in Fig. 5, in the embodiment of the present invention, the detailed process that network control is carried out to UE in base station is as follows:
Step 500: the loop state information in each loop in base station system, wherein, each loop state information at least comprises loop-type information and the loop link quality information of corresponding circuit.
As shown in Figure 1, in the embodiment of the present invention, WLANAP can be connected to Internet network by PDN Gateway, also can be connected directly to Internet network, different according to connected mode between WLAN AP and Internet network, base station obtains the also difference of mode of the loop state information in each loop in system, concrete, can adopt but be not limited to following two kinds of modes:
First kind of way is: in the time that WLANAP is connected to Internet network by PDN Gateway, base station can between base station and PDN Gateway, increase in advance first kind interface (as, chain of command interface or S1 interface etc.) and corresponding interface message is set, then, obtain again the loop state information in loop between base station and Internet network (being the router of service server or service server place network) from PDN Gateway by first kind interface, the loop state information in loop between base station and PDN Gateway, the loop state information in loop between base station and WLAN AP, and the loop state information in loop between WLAN AP and Internet network (being the router of service server or service server place network).
The second way is: in the time that WLAN AP is connected directly to Internet network, base station can between base station and PDN Gateway, increase in advance interface (as, chain of command interface or S1 interface etc.) and corresponding interface message is set, and between base station and WLAN AP, increase Equations of The Second Kind interface (as, the interface of new definition) and corresponding interface message is set, then, obtain again the loop state information in loop between base station and Internet network from PDN Gateway by first kind interface, the loop state information in loop between base station and PDN Gateway, the loop state information in loop between base station and WLAN AP, and obtain the loop state information in loop between base station and WLAN AP from WLAN AP by Equations of The Second Kind interface, or, base station obtains the loop state information in loop between loop state information, base station and the PDN Gateway in loop between base station and Internet network from PDN Gateway by first kind interface, and obtain the loop state information in loop between the loop state information in loop between base station and WLAN AP and WLANAP and Internet network from WLAN AP by Equations of The Second Kind interface.
In practical application, in the time adopting above-mentioned two kinds of modes, base station also can be measured the loop state information in loop between base station and PDN Gateway voluntarily, does not repeat them here.
Preferably, the loop state information being sent by PDN Gateway of getting can be obtained by newly-increased first kind interface direct in base station, also can by newly-increased first kind interface obtain by PDN Gateway send and by MME(Mobile Management Entity, mobile management entity) or Serving Gateway(gateway) the loop state information in above-mentioned each loop that forwards of transparent transmission.Wherein, the loop state information that PDN Gateway can measure self according to base station requests is aperiodically sent to base station, and the loop state information that also can periodically self be measured is sent to base station.
In practical application, in the time adopting above-mentioned two kinds of modes, base station also can be measured the loop state information in the loop between base station and PDN Gateway voluntarily, does not repeat them here.
On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, the loop state information in every loop that base station obtains at least comprises loop-type information and the loop link quality information of corresponding circuit, and its particular content can configure as follows:
Loop-type information: can comprise the Ethernet that loop uses bandwidth (as, 10,000,000,100,000,000, gigabit, 10,000,000,000 etc.), the duplex mode that adopts of loop (as, half-duplex, full duplex etc.).
Loop link quality information: can comprise to characterize the parameter of loop Congestion Level SPCC, as, the propagation delay time in loop, or, the buffering area seizure condition in loop (can with percentage or level value representation).
Step 510: base station is in the time judging that UE needs access network maybe to need to carry out network switching, and the loop state information instruction UE based on obtaining accesses or switch to corresponding objective network.
In base station acquisition system after the loop state information in each loop, can in conjunction with eating dishes without rice or wine metrical information or/and which objective network the ANDSF strategy judgement/decision-making UE formulating for UE accesses, or which suitable objective network judgement/decision-making need to switch to UE.
Base station also the loop state information exchange in each loop in the system of acquisition can be crossed to broadcast signaling or dedicated signaling is issued UE, allows UE decide which objective network of access in its sole discretion, or, decide in its sole discretion and switch to which objective network, and notify UE by objective network.For example, UE can be according to the loop state information obtaining, with reference to ANDSF strategy, and the 3G/4G network of monitoring and measuring further combined with the UE signal quality of eating dishes without rice or wine, the load condition of disturbed condition and wlan network and signal quality, select suitable objective network access or switch.
Certainly, UE also can provide loop state information by active request network side, does not repeat them here.
In the embodiment of the present invention, performing step at 510 o'clock, if base station is according to the loop state information obtaining, in conjunction with the metrical information of eating dishes without rice or wine or/and default ANDSF strategy, determine UE access or the objective network switching, and by described objective network notice UE, the Ethernet bandwidth in each loop can the loop state information based on obtaining be determined in base station, the duplex mode adopting, and propagation delay time is or/and buffering area seizure condition, again according to confirming result, in conjunction with the metrical information of eating dishes without rice or wine or/and default ANDSF strategy, determine UE access or the objective network switching, and by described objective network notice UE.
One or combination in any in specifically can be in the following ways.
Mode one: base station is according to confirming that the loop generation in the current use network of result judgement UE is congested, and the objective network that another congested network is UE switching does not occur in selected loop.
For example, PDN Gateway is congested to Internet section, but WLANAP is not congested to Internet section, and base station can be triggered in the network that UE is switched to WLAN.Select LTE network for fear of some UE, the congestion condition of each Access Network can be broadcasted in base station in broadcast.
Mode two: when base station judges that according to confirmation result the bandwidth in any one section of loop reaches setting threshold, determine that this any one section of loop can not occur congested, the objective network that can serve as UE access or switch.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the information of the quality aspects such as the sign Congestion Level SPCC that carry in needing reference loop state information base station, also need the bandwidth of reference loop.The bandwidth in loop is just fixed up when operator carries out network design, and the network node at two ends, loop all can be known.When the bandwidth in loop acquires a certain degree, such as, gigabit or 10,000,000,000, base station can think that this section of loop can not exist the problem of transmission aspect, can not occur congested, thereby do not need loop quality to monitor yet.
Certainly, base station can consider the bandwidth in loop, and loop link-quality, as, base station can preferentially select the bandwidth in loop high, and the low network of Congestion Level SPCC provides service for UE.
Mode three: except the factor of considering in embodiment above, base station also can for the selected access of UE or switch objective network time, with reference to default ANDSF strategy.Under prior art, ANDSF strategy is transparent for base station, and base station does not also know what an ANDSF strategy corresponding to UE is.Base station can obtain its corresponding ANDSF strategy from core network requests, also can allow UE that its corresponding ANDSF strategy is reported to base station.
Thereby, base station can adopt following strategy: when the duplex mode of the each self-corresponding Ethernet bandwidth in each loop at least two networks to be selected, employing, propagation delay time or/and buffering area seizure condition and eating dishes without rice or wine in quality, each parameter all meets user demand or each parameter and does not all meet while only having partial parameters to meet user demand in user demand or each network to be selected, and UE access or the objective network switching are determined according to the priority of default ANDSF policy development in base station.In other words,, in the time cannot judging that according to the loop state information in each loop loop performance in any network to be selected is more excellent, suitable objective network, with reference to default ANDSF strategy, is selected in base station.
Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, if the network node that UE can access is a junction network node, so also need to consider the loop state information between this junction network node and its host base station, aerial quality information etc., the measurement of correlation that can be provided for reference can be the measuring amount having defined in 36.314 specifications at present.
Can make base station and UE obtain the situation of network loop, auxiliary its carries out better network selection and switch decision, thereby for UE provides better service, and load that can balance different access networks.
Certainly, in the various embodiments described above only taking access control node be base station as example is introduced, if access control node is RNC, can be suitable for equally, do not repeat them here.
Based on above-mentioned each enforcement, consult shown in Fig. 6, in the embodiment of the present invention, the network node at two ends, loop (as, PDN Gateway or WLAN AP) comprise measuring unit 60 and communication unit 61, wherein,
Measuring unit 60, for measuring the loop state information in local associated loop, wherein, each loop state information at least comprises loop-type information and the loop link quality information of corresponding circuit;
Communication unit 61, for the loop state information of local measurement is mail to access control node, this loop state information is used to indicate UE access or switches to corresponding objective network in access control node side.
Consult shown in Fig. 7, in the embodiment of the present invention, access control node (as, base station or RNC) comprise communication unit 70 and main control unit 71, wherein,
Communication unit 70, for obtaining the loop state information in the each loop of system, wherein, each loop state information at least comprises loop-type information and the loop link quality information of corresponding circuit;
Main control unit 71, accesses or switches to corresponding objective network for the loop state information instruction UE in the time judging that UE needs access network maybe to need to carry out network switching, based on obtaining.
The performed concrete operations of above-mentioned measuring unit 60, communication unit 61, communication unit 70 and main control unit 71 are corresponding with the method in embodiment before, and this is no longer going to repeat them.
In sum, in the embodiment of the present invention, access control node (as, base station or RNC) assist UE to carry out access network selection or network switch decision by collection network side loop state information etc., like this, can make the working condition in each loop in access control node grasp system comprehensively, thereby the selected more applicable access of auxiliary UE or the objective network of switching, and then can provide the service that quality is higher for UE, in safeguards system performance, the load between also can balanced heterogeneous networks.
Those skilled in the art should understand, embodiments of the invention can be provided as method, system or computer program.Therefore, the present invention can adopt complete hardware implementation example, completely implement software example or the form in conjunction with the embodiment of software and hardware aspect.And the present invention can adopt the form at one or more upper computer programs of implementing of computer-usable storage medium (including but not limited to magnetic disc store, CD-ROM, optical memory etc.) that wherein include computer usable program code.
The present invention is with reference to describing according to flow chart and/or the block diagram of the method for the embodiment of the present invention, equipment (system) and computer program.Should understand can be by the flow process in each flow process in computer program instructions realization flow figure and/or block diagram and/or square frame and flow chart and/or block diagram and/or the combination of square frame.Can provide these computer program instructions to the processor of all-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, Embedded Processor or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, the instruction that makes to carry out by the processor of computer or other programmable data processing device produces the device for realizing the function of specifying at flow process of flow chart or multiple flow process and/or square frame of block diagram or multiple square frame.
These computer program instructions also can be stored in energy vectoring computer or the computer-readable memory of other programmable data processing device with ad hoc fashion work, the instruction that makes to be stored in this computer-readable memory produces the manufacture that comprises command device, and this command device is realized the function of specifying in flow process of flow chart or multiple flow process and/or square frame of block diagram or multiple square frame.
These computer program instructions also can be loaded in computer or other programmable data processing device, make to carry out sequence of operations step to produce computer implemented processing on computer or other programmable devices, thereby the instruction of carrying out is provided for realizing the step of the function of specifying in flow process of flow chart or multiple flow process and/or square frame of block diagram or multiple square frame on computer or other programmable devices.
Although described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, once those skilled in the art obtain the basic creative concept of cicada, can make other change and amendment to these embodiment.So claims are intended to be interpreted as comprising preferred embodiment and fall into all changes and the amendment of the scope of the invention.
Obviously, those skilled in the art can carry out various changes and modification and not depart from the spirit and scope of the embodiment of the present invention the embodiment of the present invention.Like this, if these amendments of the embodiment of the present invention and within modification belongs to the scope of the claims in the present invention and equivalent technologies thereof, the present invention is also intended to comprise these changes and modification interior.