CN105323813B - A kind of method and user equipment returning to network - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for returning to a network, comprising: when it is necessary to return to a second network, user equipment UE residing in the first network, according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network, Determine the frequency point of the second network where it is currently located; the UE searches for the cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network; The camping on the second network is initiated on the cell. The present invention also discloses a UE.

Description

A method for returning to the network and user equipment

technical field

The present invention relates to the field of wireless communication, and in particular, to a method for returning to a network and a user equipment (UE, UserEquipment).

Background technique

For operators operating multiple mode networks, it is necessary to consider the issue of how to ensure that UEs interoperate in multiple networks due to coverage or other reasons.

At present, when the Long Term Evolution (LTE, Long Term Evolution) terminal falls back to the 2G/3G network and needs to return to the LTE network, in order to save operating costs (OPEX, OPerating EXpense), after the introduction of the LTE network, the operator does not The network element of the 3G network is modified, and only the algorithm of the terminal itself is used to scan the frequency, so as to return to the LTE network. The reasons for the LTE terminal falling back to the 2G/3G network may be: Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB), Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC), or loss of LTE network coverage, etc. Under this condition, since the network elements of the 2G/3G network are not modified, many traditional interoperability functions from the 2G/3G network to the 4G network, such as inter-system switching and redirection, cannot be realized; It can search for some or all of the supported LTE frequency points by itself, and the LTE frequency points supported by the LTE terminal can be the historical frequency points stored by the LTE terminal or the frequency points measured by other methods, that is, the LTE terminal The information of the searched frequency points is the historical frequency point information. In this way, the success rate of the LTE terminal returning to the LTE network will be reduced, and at the same time, there will be a problem of large delay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the existing technical problems, the embodiments of the present invention provide a method for returning to the network and a UE.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for returning to a network, including:

When it is necessary to return to the second network, the UE residing on the first network determines the frequency point of the second network where it is currently located according to the currently stored corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network;

The UE searches for a cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network; and initiates camping on the second network on the searched cell of the second network.

In the above solution, before determining the frequency of the second network where the self is currently located, the method further includes:

The UE acquires the corresponding position relationship and saves it.

In the above solution, the user equipment UE residing on the first network determines the frequency point of the second network at its current location according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network. ,include:

The UE searches for the location area code of the second network corresponding to the cell where it is currently located according to the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the first network and the location area code of the second network;

The UE determines, according to the searched location area code of the second network and the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the second network and the frequency point of the second network, the location area code corresponding to the cell where it is currently located. The frequency of the second network.

In the above solution, the first network is a 2G/3G network; correspondingly, the second network is an LTE network.

In the above solution, the corresponding location relationship includes: the location area code (LAC, LocationArea Code) of the 2G/3G network, the tracking area code (TAC, Tracking Area Code) of the LTE network and the corresponding relationship of the LTE frequency point .

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a UE, including: a determining unit, a searching unit, and a camping initiating unit; wherein,

The determining unit is configured to determine the frequency point of the second network where the UE is currently located according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network when it is necessary to return to the second network; the UE resides in the first network;

the search unit, configured to search for a cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network;

The camping initiating unit is configured to initiate camping on the second network on the searched cell of the second network.

In the above solution, the UE further includes: an acquiring unit, configured to acquire and save the corresponding position relationship.

In the above solution, the determination unit includes: a search module and a determination module; wherein,

The search module is configured to search for the location area code of the second network corresponding to the cell where it is currently located according to the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the first network and the location area code of the second network ;

The determining module is configured to determine the cell where it is currently located according to the searched location area code of the second network and the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the second network and the frequency of the second network The corresponding frequency point of the second network.

In the above solution, the first network is a 2G/3G network; correspondingly, the second network is an LTE network.

In the above solution, the UE further includes: a storage unit configured to store the corresponding position relationship.

According to the method and UE for returning to the network provided by the embodiment of the present invention, when it is necessary to return to the second network, the UE residing on the first network determines itself according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network. The frequency point of the second network at the current location; the UE searches for the cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network; and searches for the cell of the second network that has been searched Initiating the camping on the second network, because the UE determines the frequency of the second network based on the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network, and is on the determined frequency of the second network When searching for a cell of the second network, in this way, frequency sweeping of the whole frequency band can be avoided, that is, there is no need to search for other unnecessary frequency points, which ensures the accuracy and delay of the UE returning to the second network.

Description of drawings

In the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, like reference numerals may describe like parts in the different views. Similar reference numbers with different letter suffixes may denote different instances of similar components. The accompanying drawings generally illustrate, by way of example and not limitation, the various embodiments discussed herein.

1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for returning to a network according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

2 is a schematic flowchart of a method for returning to a network according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

3 is a schematic diagram of a network location relationship in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a network location relationship in a building in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a UE according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Detailed ways

At present, when an LTE terminal that falls back to the 2G/3G network returns to the LTE network, it can only search for some or all of the LTE frequency points supported by itself. That is to say, the return performance completely depends on the performance of the LTE terminal, and the network side does not Any auxiliary measures, and the LTE frequency information supported by the LTE terminal is the historical frequency information, which will reduce the success rate of the LTE terminal returning to the LTE network; longer problems.

Based on this, in various embodiments of the present invention: when it is necessary to return to the second network, the UE residing on the first network determines itself according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network The frequency point of the second network at the current location; the UE searches for the cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network; and searches for the cell of the second network that has been searched Initiating the residency of the second network, because the corresponding location relationship is changed according to the network deployment, that is, the corresponding location relationship is constantly updated, so the frequency determined by the terminal is consistent with the current network deployment Therefore, determining the frequency point of the second network based on the currently saved corresponding position relationship will greatly reduce the error rate and delay of the UE returning to the second network.

The present invention will be described in further detail below in conjunction with the embodiments.

Example 1

The method for returning to the network in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, includes the following steps:

Step 101: When it needs to return to the second network, the UE residing on the first network determines the current location of the second network according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network. Frequency;

Specifically, the UE searches for the location area code of the second network corresponding to the cell where it is currently located according to the currently stored correspondence between the location area code of the first network and the location area code of the second network;

The UE determines, according to the searched location area code of the second network and the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the second network and the frequency point of the second network, the location area code corresponding to the cell where it is currently located. The frequency of the second network.

Wherein, in practical application, the first network may be a 2G/3G network, and correspondingly, the second network may be an LTE network, a B4G network, a 5G network, etc.; of course, the first network may also be an LTE network Or B4G network, 5G network, etc. Correspondingly, the second network may be a 2G/3G network; in other words, this embodiment does not limit the first network and the second network; with the development of technology The first network and the second network may also be other networks.

When the first network is a 2G/3G network and the second network is an LTE network, the location area code of the first network refers to: LAC, and correspondingly, the location area code of the second network refers to TAC; in other words, the corresponding location relationship includes: the location area code LAC of the 2G/3G network, the tracking area code TAC of the LTE network, and the corresponding relationship of LTE frequency points. When the first network and the second network are other networks, and so on.

In practical application, the correspondence between the location area code of the first network, the location area code of the second network, and the frequency point of the second network can be saved in the form of a table, as shown in Table 1. Show.

Table 1

Before performing this step, the method may further include:

The UE acquires the corresponding position relationship and saves it.

The corresponding location relationship may be notified to the UE by the network side through system information of the first network or other signaling; or, generated by a network administrator or a network operation, management and maintenance (OAM, Operation Administration and Maintenance) system The corresponding location relationship is automatically generated, and the UE may acquire the corresponding location relationship by downloading; that is, the corresponding location relationship may be acquired in a pre-configured way.

Here, when the corresponding location relationship is notified to the UE by the network side through system information or other signaling, the air interface specification of the network side and the UE needs to be defined. Repeat.

Step 102: The UE searches for a cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network; and initiates camping on the second network on the searched cell of the second network.

Here, when the cell of the second network is not searched on the determined frequency point of the second network, the UE searches for the cell of the second network on the whole frequency band.

The method for returning to the network provided by the embodiment of the present invention is especially suitable for the application scenario in which the UE does not configure the neighbor cell of the second network in the first network.

In the method for returning to the network provided by the embodiment of the present invention, when it is necessary to return to the second network, the UE residing on the first network determines the current location of the UE according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network. The frequency point of the second network of the location; the UE searches for the cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network; and initiates the search on the cell of the second network that has been searched. The second network resides, because the UE determines the frequency of the second network based on the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network, and searches for the first network on the determined frequency of the second network. In the cells of the second network, in this way, the full frequency sweep can be avoided, that is, there is no need to search for other unnecessary frequency points, which ensures the accuracy and delay of the UE returning to the second network.

In addition, this solution has relatively small changes to the network side and the UE, the UE does not need to add hardware equipment, and the cost is low.

Embodiment 2

The application scenario of this embodiment is: the UE is an LTE terminal, and the LTE terminal falls back to the 2G/3G network and needs to return to the LTE network.

The method for returning to the network in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, includes the following steps:

Step 201: the LTE terminal obtains the correspondence between the LAC of the 2G/3G network, the TAC of the LTE network and the LTE frequency point, and saves it;

Here, the corresponding relationship can be notified to the LTE terminal by the network side through the system information of the 2G/3G network or other signaling; or, the corresponding relationship can be generated by the network administrator or automatically generated by the OAM system of the network, and the LTE can be obtained by downloading. to the corresponding position relationship, that is, to obtain the corresponding relationship in a pre-configured manner.

The minimum coverage unit of the LTE network is a cell, and several cells form a tracking area (TrackingArea), and have a common TAC, surrounded by the coverage of the tracking areas corresponding to other TACs. Generally, several tracking areas covered continuously will have one or several frequency points as basic coverage, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 . For hotspot areas, inter-frequency coverage can also be used to supplement heat, as shown in Figure 3 area shown.

At present, the coverage area corresponding to a LAC of a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network is greater than or equal to the coverage area corresponding to a TAC of an LTE network. Therefore, in a certain area, the LAC of the GSM network can be mapped to To several LTE TACs with the same coverage, and then mapped to LTE frequency points, namely: GSMLAC->LTE TAC->LTE frequency points, as shown in Figure 3, LAC 1 of the GSM network corresponds to LTE frequency points f0, f1, as shown in Figure 3 As shown in 4, the LAC of the GSM network corresponds to the LTE frequency points f2, f3 and f4.

In practical application, for the scenario of LTE inter-frequency hotspot coverage, in order to simplify the configuration, only the LTE frequency point for coverage may be configured in the corresponding relationship, that is, the GSM LAC1 in FIG. 3 only corresponds to the LTE frequency point f0.

The LTE terminal may be a Time Division Duplex-LTE (TDD-LTE, Time Division Duplex-LTE) LTE terminal or a Frequency Division Duplex-LTE (FDD-LTE, Frequency Division Duplex-LTE) terminal; Limited to data terminals, Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB, Circuit Switched Fallback) terminals, LTE-based voice (VoLTE, Voice over LTE) terminals, dual standby terminals, etc.

It should be noted that the 2G/3G network in this embodiment is not limited to the GSM network and the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System Radio Access Network (UTRAN, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System Radio Access Network).

Step 202: when it needs to return to the LTE network, the LTE terminal searches for the TAC of the LTE network corresponding to the cell where it is currently located according to the currently saved correspondence between the LAC of the 2G/3G network and the TAC of the LTE network;

Here, it is assumed that the LTE terminal uses the CSFB technology to fall back to the GSM network. After the LTE terminal hangs up a circuit switched (CS, Circuit Switched) phone call, it needs to return to the LTE network.

Step 203: The LTE terminal determines the LTE frequency point corresponding to the cell where it is currently located according to the searched TAC of the LTE network and the currently saved correspondence between the LAC of the LTE network and the LTE frequency point;

Step 204: the LTE terminal searches for a cell of the LTE network on the determined corresponding LTE frequency point;

Step 205: The LTE terminal determines whether the cell of the LTE network is searched, and if so, executes step 206, otherwise, executes step 207;

Here, in practical application, the corresponding relationship between the LAC of the 2G/3G network, the TAC of the LTE network, and the LTE frequency points can be stored in the LTE terminal in the form of a table shown in Table 1; Determine the LTE frequency point corresponding to the cell where you are currently located from the table in the order from top to bottom. If no cell of the LTE network is searched on the determined LTE frequency point, then use the LTE frequency point in the next corresponding relationship in the table as your current cell. The LTE frequency point corresponding to the cell where the cell is located, and searches for the cell of the LTE network on the determined LTE frequency point. If the cell of the LTE network has not been searched, the LTE frequency point in the next corresponding relationship in the table is used as the current one. The LTE frequency point corresponding to the cell where the cell is located, and the cell of the LTE network is searched on the determined LTE frequency point, and so on, until the cell of the LTE network is searched on the determined LTE frequency point; When no cell of the LTE network is searched on any of the points, the LTE terminal searches for a cell of the LTE network on the entire frequency band.

Step 206: Initiating the camping of the second network on the searched cell of the second network, and ending the current processing process;

Step 207: The LTE terminal searches for cells of the LTE network on the full frequency band, initiates camping on the second network on the searched cells, and ends the current processing flow.

Embodiment 3

In order to implement the method of Embodiment 1, this embodiment provides a UE. As shown in FIG. 5 , the UE includes: a determining unit 51, a searching unit 52 and a camping initiating unit 53; wherein,

The determining unit 51 is configured to determine the frequency point of the second network where the UE is currently located according to the currently saved corresponding positional relationship between the first network and the second network when it is necessary to return to the second network; the UE is camped on the first network;

the searching unit 52, configured to search for the cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network;

The camping initiating unit 53 is configured to initiate camping on the second network on the searched cell of the second network.

Wherein, the determining unit 51 may further include: a searching module and a determining module; wherein,

The search module is configured to search for the location area code of the second network corresponding to the cell where it is currently located according to the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the first network and the location area code of the second network ;

The determining module is configured to determine the cell where it is currently located according to the searched location area code of the second network and the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the second network and the frequency of the second network The corresponding frequency point of the second network.

Here, in practical application, the first network may be a 2G/3G network, and correspondingly, the second network may be an LTE network, a B4G network, a 5G network, etc.; of course, the first network may also be an LTE network Or B4G network, 5G network, etc. Correspondingly, the second network may be a 2G/3G network; in other words, this embodiment does not limit the first network and the second network; with the development of technology The first network and the second network may also be other networks.

When the first network is a 2G/3G network and the second network is an LTE network, the location area code of the first network refers to: LAC, and correspondingly, the location area code of the second network refers to TAC; in other words, the corresponding location relationship includes: the location area code LAC of the 2G/3G network, the tracking area code TAC of the LTE network, and the corresponding relationship of LTE frequency points. When the first network and the second network are other networks, and so on.

In practical application, the correspondence between the location area code of the first network, the location area code of the second network, and the frequency point of the second network can be saved in the form of a table, as shown in Table 1. Show.

The UE may further include: an acquiring unit, configured to acquire and save the corresponding position relationship.

The UE may further include: a storage unit configured to store the corresponding position relationship.

The corresponding location relationship may be notified to the acquisition unit by the network side through system information of the first network or other signaling; or, the corresponding location relationship may be generated by a network administrator or automatically generated by an OAM system of the network. The acquiring unit may acquire the corresponding position relationship by downloading; that is, the corresponding position relationship may be acquired in a pre-configured manner.

Here, when the corresponding location relationship is notified to the acquisition unit by the network side through system information or other signaling, the air interface specification of the network side and the UE needs to be defined, and the specific implementation is for those skilled in the art, No longer.

When no cell of the second network is found on the determined frequency point of the second network, the searching unit 52 searches for the cell of the second network on the entire frequency band.

The solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention is especially suitable for an application scenario in which the UE is not configured with the second network neighbor cell in the first network.

In practical applications, the search module and the determination module can be a central processing unit (CPU, Central Processing Unit), a digital signal processor (DSP, Digital Signal Processor) or a programmable logic array (FPGA, Field-Programmable Gate Array) in the UE. Implementation; the searching unit 52, the resident initiating unit 53 and the acquiring unit may be implemented by a CPU, DSP or FPGA in the UE in combination with a transceiver; the storage unit may be implemented by a memory in the UE.

When the UE provided by the embodiment of the present invention needs to return to the second network, the determining unit 51 determines the current location of the UE according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network. The frequency point of the second network; the search unit 52 searches for the cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network; the camping initiating unit 53 searches for the cell of the second network Initiating the camping of the second network on the cell, because the frequency point of the second network is determined based on the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network, and the frequency point of the second network is searched. In the cells of the second network, in this way, frequency sweeping of the whole frequency band can be avoided, that is, there is no need to search for other unnecessary frequency points, which ensures the accuracy and delay of the UE returning to the second network.

In addition, this solution has relatively small changes to the network side and the UE, the UE does not need to add hardware equipment, and the cost is low.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the invention may take the form of a hardware embodiment, a software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media having computer-usable program code embodied therein, including but not limited to disk storage, optical storage, and the like.

The present invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each process and/or block in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of processes and/or blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to the processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine such that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce Means for implementing the functions specified in a flow or flow of a flowchart and/or a block or blocks of a block diagram.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory result in an article of manufacture comprising instruction means, the instructions The apparatus implements the functions specified in the flow or flow of the flowcharts and/or the block or blocks of the block diagrams.

These computer program instructions can also be loaded on a computer or other programmable data processing device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process such that The instructions provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flow or blocks of the flowcharts and/or the block or blocks of the block diagrams.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. A method for returning to a network, wherein the method comprises: The user equipment UE acquires the corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network, and saves it; When it needs to return to the second network, the UE residing on the first network determines the second network where it is currently located according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network frequency; The UE searches for a cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network; and initiates camping on the second network on the searched cell of the second network. 2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UE residing on the first network determines its current location according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network. 3 . The frequency of the second network at the location, including: The UE searches for the location area code of the second network corresponding to the cell where it is currently located according to the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the first network and the location area code of the second network; The UE determines, according to the searched location area code of the second network and the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the second network and the frequency point of the second network, the location area code corresponding to the cell where it is currently located. The frequency of the second network. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network is a 2G/3G network; correspondingly, the second network is an LTE network. 4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the corresponding location relationship comprises: a corresponding relationship between a location area code LAC of the 2G/3G network, a tracking area code TAC of the LTE network, and an LTE frequency point. 5 . . 5. A UE, characterized in that the UE comprises: an acquisition unit, a determination unit, a search unit, and a residency initiation unit; wherein, The obtaining unit is used to obtain and save the corresponding positional relationship between the first network and the second network; The determining unit is configured to determine the frequency point of the second network where the UE is currently located according to the currently saved corresponding position relationship between the first network and the second network when it is necessary to return to the second network; the UE resides in the first network; the search unit, configured to search for a cell of the second network on the determined frequency point of the second network; The camping initiating unit is configured to initiate camping on the second network on the searched cell of the second network. 6. The UE according to claim 5, wherein the determining unit comprises: a searching module and a determining module; wherein, The search module is configured to search for the location area code of the second network corresponding to the cell where it is currently located according to the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the first network and the location area code of the second network ; The determining module is configured to determine the cell where it is currently located according to the searched location area code of the second network and the currently saved correspondence between the location area code of the second network and the frequency of the second network The corresponding frequency point of the second network. 7. The UE according to claim 5, wherein the first network is a 2G/3G network; correspondingly, the second network is an LTE network. 8 . The UE according to claim 5 , wherein the UE further comprises: a storage unit, configured to store the corresponding position relationship. 9 .