CN107645765B

CN107645765B - Cell communication method, device and system

Info

Publication number: CN107645765B
Application number: CN201710818935.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李亚娟
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-11-09
Filing date: 2012-11-09
Publication date: 2020-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-09
Also published as: WO2014071882A1; CN103813423A; CN107645765A; CN103813423B

Abstract

The invention discloses a cell communication method, a device and a system, relates to the field of communication, and aims to solve the problem of low utilization rate of air interface resources of a macro base station. The method provided by the invention comprises the following steps: establishing Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with User Equipment (UE), and transmitting RRC signaling with the UE through the RRC connection; and respectively sending indication signaling for establishing an auxiliary Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) to the UE and the small cell base station so as to indicate the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRB, wherein the auxiliary SRB is used for the UE and the small cell base station to transmit RRC signaling. The invention is suitable for the communication field and is used for realizing cell communication.

Description

Cell communication method, device and system

The present application claims a divisional application of chinese patent application with application number 201210447240.7 entitled "a cell communication method, apparatus and system", filed by the chinese patent office on 09.11/2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a cell communication method, apparatus, and system.

Background

With the development of mobile communication technology and the increase in the number of people using mobile data services, existing macrocells are increasingly heavily loaded. Due to the limited carrying capacity of the macro cell, if UE (User Equipment) within a cell is dense, it may cause that individual UE cannot normally communicate or the data transmission speed of the UE is slow. In order to provide better service, The 3GPP (The 3rd Generation Partnership Project, third Generation Partnership Project) has introduced a CA (Carrier Aggregation) technology, by which a UE can simultaneously use a plurality of Component Carriers (CCs) for uplink and downlink communication, thereby supporting high-speed data transmission.

In order to reduce the load of the macro cell, the UE may be cooperatively served by a small cell base station (small cell base station) and a macro base station (macro base station), where the small cell base station provides user data enhancement for undertaking transmission of user traffic data; the macro base station is configured to undertake transmission of control signaling to control user data transmission between the UE and the small cell base station. The power consumption and coverage of small cell base stations are typically lower than that of macro base stations, both of which may collectively serve UEs. In order for the macro base station to Control the small cell base station and the UE, an RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection needs to be established between the macro base station and the UE.

In order to maintain uplink synchronization of the UE in the communication process, the macro base station needs to frequently transmit RRC signaling to the UE through air interface resources, so that more air interface resources are occupied, and the utilization rate of the air interface resources of the macro base station is low; meanwhile, the UE needs to maintain communication with the macro base station and the small cell base station at the same time, and power consumption is large.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments of the present invention provide a cell communication method, apparatus, and system, which can solve the problems in the prior art that the utilization rate of air interface resources of a macro base station is low, and power consumption of communication equipment is large.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiment of the invention adopts the following technical scheme:

in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cell communication method, including:

establishing Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with User Equipment (UE), and transmitting RRC signaling with the UE through the RRC connection;

and respectively sending indication signaling for establishing an auxiliary Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) to the UE and the small cell base station so as to indicate the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRB, wherein the auxiliary SRB is used for the UE and the small cell base station to transmit RRC signaling.

In a first possible implementation manner, after sending instruction signaling for establishing the assisted SRB to the UE and the small cell base station, the method further includes:

actively suspending the RRC connection;

sending an indication signaling for suspending the RRC connection to the UE, and indicating the UE to suspend the RRC connection; and

sending indication signaling to the small cell base station to activate the secondary SRB, such that the small cell base station communicates RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB.

In a second possible implementation manner, after sending instruction signaling for establishing the assisted SRB to the UE and the small cell base station, the method further includes:

receiving an indication signaling which is sent by the UE and used for suspending the RRC connection, and suspending the RRC connection according to the indication signaling;

sending indication signaling to the small cell base station to activate the auxiliary SRB to indicate the small cell base station to activate the auxiliary SRB, so that the small cell base station transmits RRC signaling with the UE using the auxiliary SRB.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner or the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

and reactivating the RRC connection, and transmitting RRC signaling with the UE by using the RRC connection.

In a fourth possible implementation manner, before the sending, to the UE and the small cell base station, indication signaling for establishing an auxiliary signaling radio bearer SRB, respectively, the method further includes:

interacting with the small cell base station, determining auxiliary SRB parameters, and sending the auxiliary SRB parameters to the UE, so that the UE and the small cell base station establish the auxiliary SRB according to the auxiliary SRB parameters;

or

Instructing the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRB using the SRB or the default parameters of the auxiliary SRB.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cell communication method, including:

receiving an indication signaling for establishing an auxiliary Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) sent by a macro base station, and establishing an auxiliary SRB between the macro base station and User Equipment (UE);

transmitting RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB.

In a first possible implementation manner, the establishing of the assisted SRB with the UE includes:

and establishing the auxiliary SRB between the UE and the UE according to the indication instruction.

Or

And receiving an indication signaling which is sent by the UE and used for activating the auxiliary SRB, and activating the auxiliary SRB according to the indication signaling.

With reference to the second aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, after the transmitting RRC signaling with the UE using the auxiliary SRB, the method further includes:

suspending the auxiliary SRB such that the UE transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station using a radio resource control, RRC, connection established between the UE and the macro base station.

In a third possible implementation manner, before the receiving an indication signaling sent by a macro base station for establishing an auxiliary signaling radio bearer SRB and establishing an auxiliary SRB with a user equipment UE, the method further includes:

interacting with the macro base station, and determining auxiliary SRB parameters for establishing the auxiliary SRB;

or

Using default parameters of SRB or auxiliary SRB as auxiliary SRB parameters for establishing the auxiliary SRB

In a third aspect, the present embodiment provides a cell communication method, including:

establishing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with a macro base station, and transmitting an RRC signaling with the macro base station by using the RRC connection;

receiving an indication signaling for establishing the auxiliary SRB sent by the macro base station, and establishing the auxiliary SRB between the macro base station and the small cell base station;

the auxiliary SRB is used for transmitting RRC signaling with the small cell base station.

In a first possible implementation manner, the suspending the RRC connection is:

and receiving an indication signaling which is sent by the macro base station and used for suspending the RRC connection, and suspending the RRC connection according to the indication signaling.

In a second possible implementation manner, the suspending the RRC connection is:

measuring signal quality between User Equipment (UE) and the small cell base station;

and when the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is higher than or equal to a first preset threshold, suspending the RRC connection, and sending an indication signaling for suspending the RRC connection to the macro base station.

With reference to the third aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

suspending the auxiliary SRB, activating the RRC connection, and transmitting RRC signaling with the macro base station by using the RRC connection.

In a fourth possible implementation manner, before the receiving the indication signaling sent by the macro base station for establishing the auxiliary SRB and establishing the auxiliary SRB with the small cell base station, the method further includes:

determining auxiliary SRB parameters, wherein the auxiliary SRB parameters are used for establishing the auxiliary SRB.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a communication apparatus, which may also be referred to as a network device, for example, a first network device, when the first network device interacts with a UE and a small cell base station, the UE may be referred to as a terminal device, and the small cell base station may be referred to as a second network device. The communication apparatus includes:

the system comprises a processing unit and a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is used for establishing Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with User Equipment (UE) and transmitting RRC signaling with the UE through the RRC connection;

a sending unit, configured to send, to the UE and the small cell base station, indication signaling for establishing an auxiliary signaling radio bearer SRB, so as to indicate the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRB, where the auxiliary SRB is used for the UE and the small cell base station to transmit an RRC signaling.

In a first possible implementation form of the method,

the processing unit is further configured to actively suspend the RRC connection;

the sending unit is further configured to send an indication signaling for suspending the RRC connection to the UE, and instruct the UE to suspend the RRC connection; and

In a second possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

a receiving unit, configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the UE to suspend the RRC connection;

the processing unit is further configured to suspend the RRC connection according to the indication signaling received by the receiving unit;

the sending unit is further configured to send, to the small cell base station, an indication signaling for activating the auxiliary SRB to instruct the small cell base station to activate the auxiliary SRB, so that the small cell base station transmits RRC signaling with the UE using the auxiliary SRB.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner or the second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the processing unit is further configured to activate the RRC connection, so that the communication device transmits RRC signaling with the UE using the RRC connection.

the processing unit is further configured to interact with the small cell base station, determine an auxiliary SRB parameter, and instruct the sending unit to send the auxiliary SRB parameter to the UE, so that the UE and the small cell base station establish the auxiliary SRB according to the auxiliary SRB parameter;

or

The processing unit is further configured to instruct the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRB using default parameters of an SRB or an auxiliary SRB.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a communication apparatus, and it is worth to be noted that the communication apparatus may also be referred to as a network device, for example, a second network device, when the second network device interacts with a UE and a macro base station, the UE may be referred to as a terminal device, and the macro base station may be referred to as a first network device. The communication apparatus includes:

a receiving unit, configured to receive an indication signaling for establishing an auxiliary signaling radio bearer SRB sent by a macro base station;

a processing unit, configured to establish an auxiliary SRB with a user equipment UE according to the indication signaling received by the receiving unit; and

the processing unit is further configured to cause the communication device to transmit RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB.

In one possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

the processing unit is further configured to suspend the auxiliary SRB such that the UE transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station using a radio resource control, RRC, connection established between the UE and the macro base station.

In yet another possible implementation manner, the processing unit is further configured to interact with the macro base station, and determine an auxiliary SRB parameter for establishing the auxiliary SRB;

or

The processing unit uses the default parameters of the SRB or the auxiliary SRB as auxiliary SRB parameters for establishing the auxiliary SRB

In a sixth aspect, this embodiment provides a communication apparatus, and it is worth to say that the communication apparatus may also be referred to as a terminal device, and when the terminal device interacts with a small cell base station and/or a macro base station, the small cell base station may be referred to as a second network device, and the macro base station may be referred to as a first network device. The communication apparatus includes:

a processing unit, configured to establish a radio resource control, RRC, connection with a macro base station, so that the communication device transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection;

a receiving unit, configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the macro base station for establishing an auxiliary SRB, so that the processing unit establishes the auxiliary SRB with the small cell base station according to the indication signaling received by the receiving unit;

the processing unit is further configured to suspend the RRC connection, activate the secondary SRB, and cause the communication device to transmit RRC signaling with the small cell base station using the secondary SRB.

In a first possible implementation manner, the receiving unit is configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the macro base station to suspend the RRC connection; the processing unit is used for suspending the RRC connection according to the indication signaling received by the receiving unit.

In a second possible implementation form, the processing unit is configured to measure a signal quality between the communication device and the small cell base station; suspending the RRC connection when signal quality between the communication device and the small cell base station is greater than or equal to a first preset threshold;

the communication apparatus further includes:

a sending unit, configured to send, to the macro base station, an indication signaling for suspending the RRC connection after the processing unit suspends the RRC connection.

With reference to the sixth aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

the processing unit is further configured to suspend the secondary SRB, activate the RRC connection, and cause the communication device to transmit RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection.

In a fourth possible implementation manner, the processing unit is configured to determine an auxiliary SRB parameter, where the auxiliary SRB parameter is used to establish the auxiliary SRB.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a system for cell communication, including the communication apparatus provided in the fourth aspect, the communication apparatus provided in the fifth aspect, and the communication apparatus provided in the sixth aspect.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first, second, or third aspect described above.

In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a communication apparatus, which includes a processor and a memory, where the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication apparatus to perform the method of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect. According to the cell communication method, device and system provided by the embodiment of the invention, when the macro base station and the small cell base station can provide communication service for the UE at the same time, the auxiliary SRB can be established between the small cell base station and the UE, the RRC signaling is transmitted through the auxiliary SRB, and the RRC connection between the UE and the macro base station is suspended, so that the macro base station does not need to transmit the RRC signaling for the UE, the air interface resources of the macro base station can be saved, and the air interface resource utilization rate of the macro base station is improved; on the other hand, the communication between the macro base station and the UE does not need to be maintained, and the power consumption of the UE and the macro base station can be reduced.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described below, it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without creative efforts.

Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a cell communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a cell communication method according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a cell communication method according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a cell communication method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a macro base station according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a macro base station according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a macro base station according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Example one

An embodiment of the present invention provides a cell communication method, as shown in fig. 1, the method includes:

101. the macro base station establishes Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the UE, and transmits RRC signaling with the UE through the RRC connection.

The RRC connection is used to manage mobility of the UE, transmit RRC signaling, perform radio resource control, and the like. Specifically, when the UE performs handover between cells, or performs configuration of a service bearer, etc., RRC signaling needs to be transmitted through an RRC connection established between the UE and the macro base station.

102. The macro base station sends an indication signaling for establishing an auxiliary SRB (signaling radio Bearer) to the UE and the small cell base station, respectively, so as to indicate the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRB, where the auxiliary SRB is used for the UE and the small cell base station to transmit an RRC signaling.

The small cell base station refers to a communication station with a relatively small coverage and relatively low transmission power, such as an HeNB (Home eNB, Home base station), pico (micro base station), RRH (Radio remote head), and the like. Specifically, the small cell base station is managed and controlled by the macro base station, and is used for providing communication services for the UE.

It should be noted that, in the prior art, when the macro base station and the small cell base station provide communication services for the UE at the same time, RRC signaling related to the UE is transmitted by the macro base station, and the small cell base station only transmits traffic data with the UE. Different from the prior art, the method provided by the embodiment of the invention can establish the auxiliary SRB between the UE and the small cell base station, and the small cell base station and the UE can transmit RRC signaling through the auxiliary SRB. SRB is the resource allocated by the access network node for signaling and the relationship of mapping, multiplexing, etc.

According to the cell communication method provided by the embodiment of the invention, the small cell base station can transmit the RRC signaling with the UE, and the macro base station does not need to transmit the RRC signaling related to the UE, so that the air interface resource of the macro base station can be saved, and the utilization rate of the air interface resource of the macro base station is improved; meanwhile, the macro base station does not need to maintain communication with the UE, and power consumption of the macro base station and the UE can be reduced.

Example two

An embodiment of the present invention provides a cell communication method, as shown in fig. 2, the method includes:

201. and a Small Cell (Small Cell) base station receives an indication signaling sent by a macro base station for establishing the auxiliary SRB, and establishes the auxiliary SRB with the user equipment UE.

The method provided by this embodiment may be implemented by a small cell base station, which refers to a communication station with a relatively small coverage and relatively low transmission power, such as a HeNB, pico, RRH, and the like, or may also be implemented by a micro base station, but is not limited thereto. Generally, a small cell base station is managed and controlled by a macro base station for providing a communication service to a UE.

202. The small cell base station activates the secondary SRB, and transmits RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB.

It should be noted that the auxiliary SRB in this embodiment is an SRB established between a small cell base station and a UE, and an RRC connection can be established between the small cell base station and the UE through the auxiliary SRB, so as to transmit an RRC signaling related to the UE, and realize control of the UE by the small cell base station, so as to establish a service connection between the small cell base station and the UE, and realize transmission of service data.

In the cell communication method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the small cell base station may establish an auxiliary SRB with the UE, and transmit an RRC signaling with the UE through the auxiliary SRB, so that the small cell base station can independently communicate with the UE. By adopting the method provided by the embodiment of the invention, the RRC signaling does not need to be transmitted between the macro base station and the UE, so that the air interface resource of the macro base station can be saved; meanwhile, communication does not need to be maintained between the macro base station and the UE, and power consumption of the macro base station and the UE can be reduced.

EXAMPLE III

An embodiment of the present invention provides a cell communication method, as shown in fig. 3, the method includes:

301. and the UE establishes RRC connection with the macro base station and transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station by using the RRC connection.

The method provided by the embodiment of the invention is mainly executed by the UE side, and the UE suitable for the method provided by the embodiment of the invention is mainly a mobile phone and can also be other user terminal equipment with a communication function, such as a tablet computer and a multimedia player supporting communication services.

The macro base station has a large coverage area and can provide wide coverage for the UE. When the UE is switched between cells or initially accesses a communication network after the UE is started, the RRC connection is required to be established with the macro base station, and after the first RRC connection is established, RRC signaling can be transmitted between the macro base station and the UE, so that service connection is established to realize data transmission.

302. And the UE receives an indication signaling sent by the macro base station for establishing the auxiliary SRB, and establishes the auxiliary SRB with the small cell base station.

The auxiliary SRB in this embodiment refers to an SRB established between a small cell base station and a UE, where the small cell base station refers to a micro base station that covers a cell to which the UE currently belongs and can provide service for the UE, such as an HeNB, pico, and RRH. In this embodiment, the UE can transmit an RRC signaling with the small cell base station through the auxiliary SRB, and perform radio resource control according to the transmitted RRC signaling, thereby implementing transmission of service data.

303. The UE suspends the RRC connection, activates the auxiliary SRB, and transmits RRC signaling with the small cell base station by using the auxiliary SRB.

It should be noted that, after suspending the RRC connection, the UE suspends signaling transmission with the macro base station; on one hand, air interface resources of the macro base station can be saved; on the other hand, the UE does not need to maintain communication with the macro base station, and power consumption can be reduced. It should be particularly noted that, after suspending the RRC connection, the UE still needs to receive the paging message and the system message at the macro base station, or may receive the paging message and the system message of the macro base station through the small cell base station, and optionally, the system message of the macro base station may be sent to the UE through RRC dedicated signaling of the small cell base station.

According to the cell communication method provided by the embodiment of the invention, the UE can establish the auxiliary SRB with the small cell base station, and the UE communicates with the small cell base station through the auxiliary SRB without acquiring RRC signaling from the macro base station, so that air interface resources of the macro base station can be saved, and the power consumption of the UE is reduced.

Example four

An embodiment of the present invention provides a cell communication method, as shown in fig. 4, the method includes:

401. and the UE establishes RRC connection with the macro base station, transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station through the RRC connection and accesses the macro base station for communication.

In the communication system, the macro base station has a large coverage area and can provide wide coverage for the UE. After establishing the RRC connection, the macro base station can transmit RRC signaling with the UE, so that service connection is established to realize data transmission. Specifically, when the location of the UE changes, handover is performed between cells, or the UE initially accesses a communication network after being started, RRC connection needs to be established between the UE and the macro base station.

402. When the macro base station detects that the small cell base station can provide communication service for the UE, the macro base station performs information interaction with the small cell base station, determines auxiliary SRB parameters, and instructs the small cell base station to negotiate to provide auxiliary SRB service for the UE.

Specifically, the UE reports measurement information to the macro base station during the communication process, and the macro base station can determine, according to the measurement information of the UE, a small cell base station capable of providing a communication service for the UE. Optionally, when the macro base station determines the small cell base station providing the communication service for the UE, one or more of the following information may be referred to: the load of the macro base station, the load of the small cell base station, the interference situation caused by the UE to the small cell base station, and the like.

For ease of understanding, the present embodiment provides the following 3 methods for determining the auxiliary SRB parameters for reference:

(1) and the macro base station takes the SRB parameters used when the RRC connection is established between the UE and the macro base station as the auxiliary SRB parameters, sends the auxiliary SRB parameters to the small cell base station and sends the auxiliary SRB parameters to the UE.

(2) The small cell base station sets the auxiliary SRB parameters and sends the auxiliary SRB parameters to the macro base station;

and the macro base station receives the auxiliary SRB parameters sent by the small cell base station and sends the auxiliary SRB parameters to the UE.

(3) And the macro base station indicates the UE and the small cell base station to adopt default parameters of SRB or auxiliary SRB specified by a protocol, and the default parameters are used as auxiliary SRB parameters.

It should be noted that, when the auxiliary SRB parameter is determined by the method (3), i.e., the default parameter specified by the protocol is used as the auxiliary SRB, the relevant operation of determining the auxiliary SRB parameter may be omitted in step 402.

Optionally, the macro base station may establish an auxiliary DRB (Data Radio Bearer) between the UE and the small cell base station while instructing the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRB, where the auxiliary SRB is used for transmitting service Data between the UE and the small cell base station, and the auxiliary DRB in this embodiment refers to a DRB established between the UE and the small cell base station. Optionally, the secondary DRB may also be established before the secondary SRB is established. If the small cell base station already provides secondary DRB service for the UE before negotiating secondary SRB, the relevant operations of determining secondary SRB parameters may be omitted in step 402.

403. And the macro base station respectively sends indication signaling for establishing auxiliary SRBs to the UE and the small cell base station so as to indicate the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRBs, wherein the auxiliary SRBs are used for the UE and the small cell base station to transmit RRC signaling.

404. And the UE and the small cell base station receive an indication signaling sent by the macro base station for establishing the auxiliary SRB, and establish the auxiliary SRB between the UE and the small cell base station according to the indication signaling.

Specifically, if the macro base station sends the message for establishing the auxiliary SRB and further includes a DRB parameter between the macro base station and the small cell base station, the UE and the small cell base station may establish a DRB between the macro base station and the small cell base station according to the DRB parameter information. The DRB parameter may be configured by the macro base station, or may be configured by the macro base station and the small cell base station through negotiation.

If no DRB is established between the UE and the small cell base station before the auxiliary SRB is established, the macro base station may carry a dedicated RACH (random access channel) resource of the small cell base station in the auxiliary SRB establishment indication signaling, and the UE may establish a connection with the small cell base station in a non-contention RACH manner according to the dedicated RACH resource of the small cell base station.

It should be noted that the auxiliary SRB in this embodiment refers to an SRB established between a small cell base station and a UE, and the auxiliary SRB can transmit RRC signaling related to the UE between the small cell base station and the UE, so as to control the UE by the small cell base station, and thus implement management of service connection and transmission of service data between the small cell base station and the UE.

405. And the macro base station suspends the RRC connection and sends indication signaling for activating the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station and/or the UE so as to activate the auxiliary SRB.

Specifically, in order to implement step 405, the following two implementation methods are provided in this embodiment for reference, specifically as follows:

the method comprises the following steps:

s1, the macro base station receives a measurement report sent by the UE, and determines the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station according to the measurement report;

s2, when the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is higher than or equal to a first preset threshold, the macro base station actively suspends the RRC connection, and sends an indication signaling for suspending the RRC connection and activating the auxiliary SRB to the UE;

s3, the macro base station sending an indication signaling to activate the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station.

The first preset threshold is preset by the macro base station.

It should be noted that step S3 in the first method is optional. After the macro base station sends the indication signaling for suspending the RRC connection to the UE, the macro base station does not need to send the indication signaling for activating the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station; the UE may transmit RRC signaling directly to the small cell base station using the secondary SRB; after the small cell base station receives RRC signaling sent by the UE through the auxiliary SRB, the auxiliary SRB can be actively activated.

The second method comprises the following steps:

s1, the UE measures the signal quality, and when the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is detected to be higher than or equal to a first preset threshold, an indication signaling for suspending the RRC connection is sent to the macro base station;

and S2, the macro base station suspends the RRC connection according to the indication signaling, and sends an indication signaling for activating the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station.

The first preset threshold is preset by a macro base station and is configured to the UE in advance.

In step S2 of method two, the small cell base station is instructed by the macro base station to activate the secondary SRB. Optionally, as an alternative to step S2, the UE may also instruct the small cell base station to activate the auxiliary SRB, for example: the UE sends indication signaling for activating the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station, so that the small cell base station activates the auxiliary SRB after receiving the indication signaling.

It should be noted that step S2 in the second method is optional. After the macro base station receives the indication signaling for suspending the RRC connection sent by the UE, the UE and the macro base station do not need to send the indication signaling for activating the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station. The UE may transmit RRC signaling directly to the small cell base station using the secondary SRB; after the small cell base station receives RRC signaling sent by the UE through the auxiliary SRB, the auxiliary SRB can be actively activated.

Specifically, the auxiliary SRB of the small cell base station is mainly used for transmitting RRC signaling; optionally, the small cell base station may further have a partial RRC function, for example: the transmission of NSA (non access stratum) signaling, the management of SRB parameters, DRB parameters, etc. of the small cell base station. When the SRB parameter and the DRB parameter of the small cell base station change, the small cell base station needs to send a reconfiguration message to reconfigure the UE.

It should be noted that the macro base station may still maintain the functions of paging the UE, processing a measurement report of the UE, managing mobility of the UE, and the like after suspending the RRC connection with the UE. Optionally, the measurement report processing of the UE may also be performed by the small cell base station.

406. The small cell base station and the UE transmit RRC signaling using the auxiliary SRB.

Specifically, the UE can transmit an RRC signaling with the small cell base station through the auxiliary SRB, and manage service connection according to the RRC signaling, thereby implementing transmission of service data.

It should be noted that, during the process of transmitting RRC signaling using the auxiliary SRB, the small cell base station may forward RRC signaling related to the macro base station and sent by the UE to the macro base station, for example, location information of the UE, a measurement report of the UE, and the like.

407. And when a specified condition is met, suspending the auxiliary SRB between the UE and the small cell base station, and activating the RRC connection between the UE and the macro base station.

Wherein the "specified condition" includes at least the following three scenarios:

scene one: and the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is lower than the first preset threshold.

For example, the location of the UE changes and exceeds the coverage of the small cell base station, the small cell base station cannot guarantee normal communication of the UE, and at this time, the macro base station needs to provide communication service for the UE.

Scene two: and the signal quality between the UE and the macro base station is lower than a second preset threshold.

For example: the location of the UE changes and an inter-cell handover is required. And the macro base station needs to activate the RRC connection so as to reestablish the RRC connection for the UE according to the target cell to be switched by the UE.

Scene three: the small cell base station has a large load, and cannot ensure normal communication of the UE.

At this time, the small cell base station cannot guarantee the communication quality of the UE, and the number of terminals in the coverage area of the small cell base station is large and the load is too heavy, so that the macro base station is required to reselect a new small cell base station for the UE to serve, or return to the macro base station to receive the service.

Specifically, regarding the specific implementation manner of step 407, the present embodiment provides the following three methods for reference:

the method comprises the following steps:

instructing, by the macro base station, the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB, comprising:

s1, the macro base station receives the UE measurement report forwarded by the small cell base station, and determines the signal quality between the UE and the macro base station and the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station according to the measurement report.

And S2, when the macro base station detects that the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is lower than a first preset threshold or the signal quality between the UE and the macro base station is lower than a second preset threshold, sending an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station, and simultaneously indicating the small cell base station to inform the UE of activating the RRC connection with the macro base station.

The first preset threshold and the second preset threshold are preset by the macro base station.

Specifically, in a scenario where the macro base station determines that the RRC connection needs to be activated, the macro base station allocates a dedicated RACH (Random Access Channel) resource to the UE. The macro base station may carry the dedicated RACH resource in an indication signaling sent to the UE, or the macro base station may instruct the small cell to notify the UE to listen to a PDCCH order (Physical Downlink Control Channel order) of the macro base station, so that the UE acquires the non-contention RACH resource information.

It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the UE listening to the PDCCH order of the macro base station refers to the UE listening to the PDCCH of the macro base station to obtain the PDCCH order included in the PDCCH.

And S3, the small cell base station receives the indication signaling sent by the macro base station, sends the indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB to the UE, and simultaneously indicates the UE to activate the RRC connection with the macro base station and suspend the auxiliary SRB.

Specifically, the small cell base station may instruct the UE to activate RRC connection with the macro base station by using the following method:

the small cell base station forwards the special RACH resource acquired from the macro base station to the UE, so that the UE initiates a non-competitive random access process to the macro base station according to the special RACH resource; or

And the small cell base station sends an indication signaling for intercepting the PDCCH order of the macro base station to the UE, so that the UE intercepts the PDCCH order of the macro base station.

S4, the small cell base station feeds back acknowledgement information of the suspend assist SRB to the macro base station.

S5, after receiving the confirmation information sent by the small cell base station, the macro base station actively activates the RRC connection and starts to monitor the UE to send a special preamble; or, the macro base station issues the PDCCH order to the UE so that the UE obtains the resource information of the dedicated RACH.

And S6, suspending the auxiliary SRB by the UE according to the indication signaling sent by the small cell base station, and activating the RRC connection with the macro base station.

Specifically, the method for activating the RRC connection with the macro base station by the UE may be as follows:

the UE sends a special preamble to the macro base station according to the special RACH resource sent by the small cell base station, so that a non-competitive random access process is initiated, uplink synchronization is acquired, and the RRC connection and the macro base station are activated to transmit RRC signaling; or

And the UE monitors the PDCCH order of the macro base station according to an indication signaling sent by the small cell base station, initiates a non-competitive random access process to the macro base station according to the information of the PDCCH order, acquires uplink synchronization, and activates and uses the RRC connection to transmit RRC signaling with the macro base station.

It should be noted that, if the dedicated RACH resource is not included in the indication signaling sent by the small cell base station received by the UE, or the small cell base station does not send the indication signaling for monitoring the PDCCH order of the macro base station to the UE, the UE may acquire uplink synchronization by using the contention RACH resource, and activate RRC connection with the macro base station.

The second method comprises the following steps:

actively suspending, by a small cell base station, the auxiliary SRB connection and instructing the UE to suspend the auxiliary SRB connection, comprising:

s1, the small cell base station receives the measurement report sent by the UE, and determines the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station and the signal quality between the UE and the macro base station according to the measurement report.

S2, when the small cell base station detects that the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is lower than a first preset threshold, or the signal quality between the UE and the macro base station is lower than a second preset threshold, or the small cell base station needs to reduce the load, the small cell base station actively suspends the auxiliary SRB, and sends an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection to the macro base station.

The first preset threshold and the second preset threshold are preset by a macro base station and are preset and configured to the small cell base station.

S3, after receiving the instruction signaling for activating the RRC connection sent by the small cell base station, the macro base station sends a confirmation message for activating the RRC connection to the small cell base station.

Optionally, the macro base station may carry, in an acknowledgement message sent to the small cell base station, a dedicated RACH resource allocated by the macro base station to the UE, where the dedicated RACH resource is used for the UE to activate an RRC connection with the macro base station; or, the macro base station may instruct the small cell base station to notify the UE to listen to a PDCCH order (Physical Downlink Control Channel order) of the macro base station, so that the UE acquires the non-contention RACH resource information.

And S4, after receiving the acknowledgement message sent by the macro base station, the small cell base station sends an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB to the UE, and informs the UE to activate the RRC connection with the macro base station.

Specifically, the small cell base station may notify the UE to activate the RRC connection with the macro base station by using the following method:

And the small cell base station sends an indication signaling for monitoring the PDCCH order to the UE, so that the UE monitors the PDCCH order of the macro base station.

And S5, suspending the auxiliary SRB by the UE according to the indication signaling sent by the small cell base station, and activating the RRC connection with the macro base station.

The third method comprises the following steps:

actively suspending, by a UE, the auxiliary SRB connection and instructing the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB connection, comprising:

s1, the UE measures signals of the small cell base station and the macro base station; and when detecting that the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is lower than a first preset threshold or the signal quality between the UE and the macro base station is lower than a second preset threshold, the UE suspends the auxiliary SRB, activates RRC connection between the UE and the macro base station, and sends an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station.

And the first preset threshold and the second preset threshold are configured to the UE by the macro base station in advance.

Specifically, if the UE performs a contention random access procedure to access the macro base station to activate the RRC connection, steps S2 and S3 are performed; if the UE performs a non-contention random access procedure to access the macro base station to activate the RRC connection, steps S2 and S3 are omitted and step S4 is directly performed.

And S2, the small cell base station suspends the auxiliary SRB according to the instruction signaling sent by the UE.

S3, the UE initiates a competition random access process to the macro base station to acquire the uplink synchronization of the macro base station and activate the RRC connection with the macro base station.

Optionally, in a contention random access procedure performed by the UE to the macro base station, the UE may carry an indication message indicating that the macro base station activates the RRC connection in an msg3 (message 3, which is generally an RRC connection request) of the contention random access procedure.

It should be noted that the sequence of steps S2 and S3 may also be performed first in S3 and then in S2, which is not limited herein.

And S4, the small cell base station sends an indication signaling for activating RRC connection to the macro base station according to the indication signaling sent by the UE.

S5, after receiving the RRC connection activation instruction signaling sent by the small cell base station, the macro base station sends an RRC connection activation confirmation message to the small cell base station, where the RRC connection activation confirmation message may include: the macro base station allocates a dedicated RACH resource for the UE, and the dedicated RACH resource is used for the UE to activate RRC connection with the macro base station; or, the macro base station may also instruct the small cell base station to notify the UE to listen to the PDCCH order of the macro base station, so as to acquire the non-contention RACH resource.

S6, the small cell base station receives the acknowledgement message sent by the macro base station, and forwards the dedicated RACH resource to the UE, or the small cell base station instructs the UE to listen to the PDCCH order of the macro base station.

S7, the UE executes a non-contention random access process according to the dedicated RACH resource forwarded by the small cell base station or the indication signaling for monitoring the PDCCH order, and activates RRC connection with the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling with the macro base station.

Specifically, the UE sends a dedicated preamble (preamble) to the macro base station according to a dedicated RACH resource sent by the small cell base station, so as to initiate a non-contention random access procedure, acquire uplink synchronization, and activate transmission of an RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection; or

In this embodiment, the measurement and monitoring of the Signal Quality may be RSRP (Reference Signal Receiving Power)/RSRQ (Reference Signal Receiving Quality) measurement, or CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) measurement, but is not limited thereto.

408. And the UE and the macro base station transmit RRC signaling through the RRC connection, and the macro base station provides communication service for the UE and performs radio resource control.

According to the cell communication method provided by the embodiment of the invention, when a macro base station and a small cell base station can provide communication service for UE at the same time, an auxiliary SRB can be established between the small cell base station and the UE, RRC signaling is transmitted through the auxiliary SRB, and RRC connection between the UE and the macro base station is suspended, so that the macro base station does not need to transmit RRC signaling for the UE, air interface resources of the macro base station can be saved, and the utilization rate of the air interface resources of the macro base station is improved; on the other hand, the communication between the macro base station and the UE does not need to be maintained, and the power consumption of the UE and the macro base station can be reduced.

EXAMPLE five

An embodiment of the present invention provides a macro base station, which is capable of implementing the method performed by the macro base station in the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment, where as shown in fig. 5, the macro base station includes:

a processor 51, configured to establish a radio resource control, RRC, connection with a user equipment, UE, and transmit RRC signaling with the UE through the RRC connection;

a transmitter 52, configured to send indication signaling for establishing an auxiliary signaling radio bearer SRB to the UE and the small cell base station, respectively, so as to instruct the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRB, where the auxiliary SRB is used for the UE and the small cell base station to transmit RRC signaling.

Optionally, the processor 51 is further configured to actively suspend the RRC connection;

the transmitter 52 is further configured to send an indication signaling to the UE to suspend the RRC connection, instructing the UE to suspend the RRC connection; and

As shown in fig. 5, the macro base station further includes:

a receiver 53, configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the UE to suspend the RRC connection;

the processor 51 is further configured to suspend the RRC connection according to the indication signaling received by the receiver 53;

the transmitter 52 is further configured to send indication signaling to the small cell base station to activate the secondary SRB to instruct the small cell base station to activate the secondary SRB, so that the small cell base station transmits RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB.

Optionally, the processor 51 is further configured to activate the RRC connection, so that the macro base station transmits RRC signaling with the UE using the RRC connection.

Optionally, the processor 51 is specifically configured to actively activate the RRC connection;

the transmitter 52 is configured to send an indication signaling to suspend the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station, instructing the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB, so that the UE transmits RRC signaling using the RRC connection.

Optionally, the receiver 53 is configured to receive an indication signaling that the RRC connection is activated, where the indication signaling is sent by the small cell base station;

the processor 51 is configured to activate the RRC connection according to the indication signaling received by the receiver.

Optionally, the processor 51 is further configured to allocate a dedicated RACH resource to the UE, instruct the transmitter 52 to send a physical downlink control channel command PDCCH order to the UE, trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access procedure to a macro base station, so that the UE obtains uplink synchronization, and activate transmission of RRC signaling using the RRC connection;

or

The processor 51 is further configured to allocate a dedicated RACH resource to the UE, forward the dedicated RACH resource to the UE through the small cell base station, and trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access procedure to a macro base station, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates RRC connection transmission RRC signaling.

Optionally, the receiver 53 is configured to receive an indication message for activating an RRC connection sent by the UE, where the indication message is included in the message 3 of the contention random access procedure;

the processor 51 is further configured to process a contention random access procedure initiated by the UE according to the indication message received by the receiver, and activate the RRC connection.

Optionally, the processor 51 is further configured to interact with the small cell base station, determine auxiliary SRB parameters, and instruct the transmitter 52 to send the auxiliary SRB parameters to the UE, so that the UE and the small cell base station establish the auxiliary SRB according to the auxiliary SRB parameters;

or

The processor 51 is further configured to instruct the UE and the small cell base station to establish the auxiliary SRB using default parameters of SRB or auxiliary SRB.

Optionally, the transmitter 52 is configured to send the SRB parameter of the RRC connection to the small cell base station as the auxiliary SRB parameter;

or

The receiver 53 is configured to receive the auxiliary SRB parameters sent by the small cell base station.

The macro base station provided by the embodiment of the invention can enable the small cell base station to transmit the RRC signaling with the UE, and the macro base station does not need to transmit the RRC signaling related to the UE, so that the air interface resource of the macro base station can be saved, and the air interface resource utilization rate of the macro base station is improved; meanwhile, the macro base station does not need to maintain communication with the UE, and power consumption of the macro base station can be reduced.

EXAMPLE six

An embodiment of the present invention provides a small cell base station, which is capable of implementing the methods performed by the small cell base station in the second embodiment and the fourth embodiment, and as shown in fig. 6, the small cell base station includes:

a receiver 61, configured to receive an indication signaling sent by a macro base station to establish an auxiliary signaling radio bearer SRB;

a processor 62, configured to establish a secondary SRB with a user equipment UE according to the indication signaling received by the receiver 61; and

activating the secondary SRB such that the small cell base station transmits RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB.

Optionally, the receiver 61 is configured to receive an indication signaling, sent by the macro base station, for activating the secondary SRB;

the processor 62 is configured to activate the secondary SRB according to the indication signaling received by the receiver 61.

Or

The receiver 61 is configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the UE to activate the auxiliary SRB;

As shown in fig. 6, the small cell base station further includes:

a transmitter 63, configured to forward the RRC signaling related to the macro base station sent by the UE to the macro base station.

Optionally, the processor 62 is further configured to suspend the auxiliary SRB, so that the UE transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station using a radio resource control, RRC, connection, where the RRC connection is established between the UE and the macro base station.

Optionally, the receiver 61 is configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the macro base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB;

the processor 62 is configured to suspend the secondary SRB according to the indication signaling received by the receiver 61.

Optionally, the transmitter 63 is configured to send, to the UE, an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB and monitoring a PDCCH order of a physical downlink control channel after the processor 62 suspends the auxiliary SRB, instruct the UE to suspend the auxiliary SRB, instruct the UE to monitor the PDCCH order of the macro base station, and trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access procedure, so that the UE obtains uplink synchronization and activates RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling;

or

The transmitter 63 is further configured to, after the processor 62 suspends the auxiliary SRB, forward the acquired dedicated RACH resource allocated by the macro base station to the UE, and trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access procedure to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resource, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling.

Optionally, the receiver 61 is further configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the UE to suspend the auxiliary SRB;

Optionally, the transmitter 63 is configured to send, to the macro base station, an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection after the processor 62 suspends the secondary SRB, and instruct the macro base station to establish the RRC connection; and

and sending an indication signaling for intercepting a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) order to the UE, indicating the UE to suspend the auxiliary SRB, indicating the UE to intercept the PDCCH order of the macro base station, and triggering the UE to initiate a non-contention random access process, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates the RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling.

Optionally, the transmitter 63 is further configured to send, to the macro base station, an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection after the processor 62 suspends the secondary SRB, and instruct the macro base station to establish the RRC connection; and

sending a dedicated RACH resource request message to the macro base station to acquire dedicated RACH resources allocated by the macro base station to the UE, forwarding the dedicated RACH resources to the UE, and triggering the UE to initiate a non-contention random access process to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resources, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates the RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling.

Optionally, the processor 62 is further configured to actively suspend the auxiliary SRB.

The transmitter 63, after the processor suspends the auxiliary SRB, sends an indication signaling to suspend the auxiliary SRB to the UE, so that the UE performs a contention random access procedure to the macro base station; and

and sending an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection to the macro base station, and indicating the macro base station to activate the RRC connection.

Optionally, the transmitter 63 is configured to send, to the macro base station, an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection after the processor 62 suspends the secondary SRB, and instruct the macro base station to activate the RRC connection; and

sending an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB and intercepting a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) order to the UE, indicating the UE to suspend the auxiliary SRB, and indicating the UE to intercept the PDCCH order of the macro base station, triggering the UE to initiate a non-contention random access process, so that the UE obtains uplink synchronization, and activating the RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling; or

The transmitter 63 is further configured to forward the acquired dedicated RACH resource allocated by the macro base station to the UE, and trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access procedure to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resource, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates RRC signaling transmission with the macro base station using the RRC connection.

Optionally, the processor 62 is further configured to interact with the macro base station, and determine an auxiliary SRB parameter for establishing the auxiliary SRB;

or

The processor 62 uses the SRB or default parameters of the auxiliary SRB as auxiliary SRB parameters for establishing the auxiliary SRB.

Optionally, the processor 62 is configured to set the SRB parameter, and the transmitter 63 is configured to send the SRB parameter set by the processor 62 to the macro base station;

or

The receiver 61 is configured to receive an SRB parameter of an RRC connection sent by the macro base station, and the processor 62 is configured to use the SRB parameter received by the receiver 61 as the auxiliary SRB parameter, where the RRC connection is established between the UE and the macro base station.

The small cell base station provided by the embodiment of the invention can establish the auxiliary SRB with the UE and transmit RRC signaling with the UE through the auxiliary SRB, so that the small cell base station can independently communicate with the UE. By adopting the method provided by the embodiment of the invention, the RRC signaling does not need to be transmitted between the macro base station and the UE, so that the air interface resource of the macro base station can be saved; meanwhile, communication does not need to be maintained between the macro base station and the UE, and power consumption of the macro base station and the UE can be reduced.

EXAMPLE seven

An embodiment of the present invention provides a UE, which is capable of implementing a method performed by the UE in the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, as shown in fig. 7, where the UE includes:

a processor 71 configured to establish a radio resource control, RRC, connection with a macro base station, such that the UE transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection;

a receiver 72, configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the macro base station for establishing the auxiliary SRB, so that the processor 71 establishes the auxiliary SRB with the small cell base station according to the indication signaling received by the receiver 72;

the processor 71 is further configured to suspend the RRC connection, and activate the secondary SRB, so that the UE transmits RRC signaling with the small cell base station using the secondary SRB.

Optionally, the receiver 72 is configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the macro base station to suspend the RRC connection;

the processor 71 is configured to suspend the RRC connection according to the indication signaling received by the receiver 72.

Optionally, the processor 71 is configured to measure signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station; suspending the RRC connection when the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is higher than or equal to a first preset threshold;

as shown in fig. 7, the user equipment further includes:

a transmitter 73, configured to send, to the macro base station, an indication signaling to suspend the RRC connection after the processor 71 suspends the RRC connection.

Optionally, the processor 71 is further configured to suspend the auxiliary SRB, and activate the RRC connection, so that the UE transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection.

Optionally, the receiver 72 is configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB;

the processor 71 is configured to suspend the secondary SRB according to the indication signaling received by the receiver 72.

Optionally, the processor 71 is configured to measure signals of the small cell base station and signals of the macro base station; suspending the auxiliary SRB when the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is lower than a first preset threshold or when the signal quality between the UE and the macro base station is lower than a second preset threshold;

the transmitter 73 is configured to send an indication signaling to the small cell base station to suspend the secondary SRB, instructing the small cell base station to suspend the secondary SRB;

the processor 71 is configured to execute a contention random access procedure to the macro base station, send an indication message for activating the RRC connection to the macro base station, instruct the macro base station to activate the RRC connection, and transmit an RRC signaling of the UE using the RRC connection of the macro base station, where the indication message is included in the message 3 of the contention random access procedure.

Optionally, the receiver 72 is configured to receive a signaling message sent by the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB, and the processor 71 is configured to suspend the auxiliary SRB according to the signaling message received by the receiver 72;

the processor 71 is configured to, after the receiver 72 receives an indication signaling sent by the small cell base station and used for intercepting a PDCCH order of a physical downlink control channel command of the macro base station, intercept the PDCCH order, initiate a non-contention random access procedure to the macro base station, acquire uplink synchronization, and activate transmission of an RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection;

or

The processor 71 is configured to, after the receiver 72 receives the dedicated RACH resource forwarded by the small cell base station, initiate a non-contention random access procedure to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resource, acquire uplink synchronization, and activate transmission of an RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection, where the dedicated RACH resource is allocated by the macro base station to the UE.

Optionally, the processor 71 is configured to determine an auxiliary SRB parameter, where the auxiliary SRB parameter is used to establish the auxiliary SRB.

Optionally, the processor 71 is specifically configured to receive an auxiliary SRB parameter sent by the macro base station;

or

The processor 71 is configured to use default parameters of the SRB or the auxiliary SRB as the auxiliary SRB parameters.

Optionally, the receiver 72 is further configured to obtain the first preset threshold and the second preset threshold configured by the macro base station.

The UE provided by the embodiment of the invention can establish the auxiliary SRB with the small cell base station, and the auxiliary SRB is communicated with the small cell base station without acquiring RRC signaling from the macro base station, so that the air interface resource of the macro base station can be saved, and the power consumption of the UE can be reduced.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a cell communication system, which includes the macro base station shown in fig. 5, the small cell base station shown in fig. 6, and the user equipment shown in fig. 7, and is capable of implementing the cell communication method provided in the fourth method embodiment, which is not described herein again.

Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the present invention may be implemented by software plus necessary general hardware, and certainly may also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases, the former is a better embodiment. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present invention may be substantially implemented or a part of the technical solutions contributing to the prior art may be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a readable storage medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, or an optical disk of a computer, and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute the methods according to the embodiments of the present invention.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present invention, and all the changes or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of cell communication, comprising:

transmitting RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after transmitting RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB:

and forwarding the RRC signaling which is sent by the UE and is related to the macro base station.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after transmitting RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB:

4. The method of claim 3, wherein suspending the auxiliary SRB comprises:

and receiving an indication signaling sent by the macro base station for suspending the auxiliary SRB, and suspending the auxiliary SRB according to the indication signaling.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving the indication signaling sent by the macro base station to suspend the secondary SRB, and after suspending the secondary SRB according to the indication signaling, the method further comprises:

sending an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB and intercepting a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) order to the UE, indicating the UE to suspend the auxiliary SRB, and indicating the UE to intercept the PDCCH order of the macro base station, triggering the UE to initiate a non-contention random access process, so that the UE obtains uplink synchronization, and activating the RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling;

or

Acquiring a dedicated Random Access Channel (RACH) resource distributed by the macro base station for the UE, forwarding the dedicated RACH resource to the UE, and triggering the UE to initiate a non-competitive random access process to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resource, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates the transmission of RRC signaling with the macro base station by using the RRC connection.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein suspending the secondary SRB such that the UE transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station using a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection comprises:

and receiving an indication signaling sent by the UE for suspending the auxiliary SRB, and suspending the auxiliary SRB according to the indication signaling.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiving indication signaling sent by the UE to suspend the auxiliary SRB, and wherein after suspending the auxiliary SRB according to the indication signaling, the method further comprises:

sending an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection to the macro base station, and indicating the macro base station to establish the RRC connection;

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiving indication signaling sent by the UE to suspend the auxiliary SRB, and wherein after suspending the auxiliary SRB according to the indication signaling, the method further comprises:

sending a dedicated RACH resource request message to the macro base station to acquire the dedicated RACH resource request message allocated by the macro base station for the UE: and RACH resources, wherein the special RACH resources are forwarded to the UE, and the UE is triggered to initiate a non-competitive random access process to the macro base station according to the special RACH resources, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates the RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein suspending the auxiliary SRB comprises:

actively suspending the auxiliary SRB.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein after suspending the auxiliary SRB, further comprising:

sending an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB to the UE so that the UE executes a contention random access process to the macro base station;

11. The method of claim 9, wherein after suspending the auxiliary SRB, further comprising:

sending an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection to the macro base station, and indicating the macro base station to activate the RRC connection;

And acquiring a dedicated RACH resource distributed by the macro base station for the UE, forwarding the dedicated RACH resource to the UE, and triggering the UE to initiate a non-contention random access process to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resource, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates the transmission of RRC signaling with the macro base station by using the RRC connection.

12. The method according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein, before the receiving the indication signaling sent by the macro base station for establishing the secondary signaling radio bearer SRB and establishing the secondary SRB with the user equipment UE, the method further comprises:

or

Default parameters of the SRB or the auxiliary SRB are used as auxiliary SRB parameters for establishing the auxiliary SRB.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said interacting with the macro base station to determine secondary SRB parameters for establishing the secondary SRB comprises:

setting the SRB parameters and sending the SRB parameters to the macro base station;

or

And receiving the SRB parameter of the RRC connection sent by the macro base station, and taking the SRB parameter as the auxiliary SRB parameter, wherein the RRC connection is established between the UE and the macro base station.

14. A method of cell communication, comprising:

establishing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with a macro base station, and transmitting RRC signaling with the macro base station by using the RRC connection;

and receiving an indication signaling for establishing the auxiliary SRB sent by the macro base station, and establishing the auxiliary SRB between the macro base station and the small cell base station, wherein the auxiliary SRB is used for transmitting RRC signaling with the small cell base station.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

suspending the secondary SRB, activating the RRC connection, and transmitting RRC signaling with the macro base station by using the RRC connection.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein suspending the auxiliary SRB comprises:

and receiving an indication signaling sent by the small cell base station for suspending the auxiliary SRB, and suspending the auxiliary SRB according to the indication signaling.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein prior to suspending the auxiliary SRB, comprising:

measuring signals of the small cell base station and signals of the macro base station;

the suspending the auxiliary SRB, comprising:

suspending the auxiliary SRB when the signal quality between the UE and the small cell base station is lower than a first preset threshold or when the signal quality between the UE and the macro base station is lower than a second preset threshold;

sending an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station, and indicating the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB;

the activating the RRC connection, and using the RRC connection to transmit RRC signaling with the macro base station, includes:

and executing a contention random access process to the macro base station, sending an indication message for activating the RRC connection to the macro base station, indicating the macro base station to activate the RRC connection, and transmitting an RRC signaling of the UE by using the RRC connection of the macro base station, wherein the indication message is contained in a message 3 of the contention random access process.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein suspending the auxiliary SRB comprises:

receiving an indication signaling sent by the small cell base station for suspending the auxiliary SRB, and suspending the auxiliary SRB according to the indication signaling;

receiving an indication signaling sent by the small cell base station for intercepting a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) order of the macro base station, intercepting the PDCCH order, initiating a non-contention random access process to the macro base station, acquiring uplink synchronization, and activating the RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling;

or

Receiving the dedicated RACH resource forwarded by the small cell base station, initiating a non-contention random access process to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resource, acquiring uplink synchronization, and activating the RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling, wherein the dedicated RACH resource is allocated to the UE by the macro base station.

21. The method according to any of claims 14-20, wherein said receiving signaling indicating establishment of a secondary SRB sent by said macro base station, before establishing a secondary SRB with a small cell base station, further comprises:

22. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the secondary SRB parameter comprises:

receiving auxiliary SRB parameters sent by the macro base station;

or

And acquiring default parameters of the SRB or the auxiliary SRB as the auxiliary SRB parameters.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

and acquiring the first preset threshold and the second preset threshold configured by the macro base station.

24. A communications apparatus, comprising:

25. The apparatus of claim 24,

the processing unit is further configured to actively suspend the RRC connection after the sending unit sends, to the UE and the small cell base station, indication signaling for establishing the auxiliary SRB, respectively;

26. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive an indication signaling for suspending the RRC connection sent by the UE after the sending unit sends, to the UE and the small cell base station, an indication signaling for establishing the auxiliary SRB respectively;

the sending unit is further configured to send, to the small cell base station, indication signaling for activating the auxiliary SRB to instruct the small cell base station to activate the auxiliary SRB, so that the small cell base station transmits RRC signaling with the UE using the auxiliary SRB.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the processing unit is further configured to reactivate the RRC connection such that a macro base station transmits RRC signaling with the UE using the RRC connection.

28. The apparatus of claim 27,

the processing unit is specifically configured to actively reactivate the RRC connection;

the sending unit is configured to send, to the small cell base station, an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB, and instruct the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB, so that the UE transmits RRC signaling using the RRC connection.

29. The apparatus of claim 27,

the receiving unit is configured to receive an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection, where the indication signaling is sent by the small cell base station;

the processing unit is configured to reactivate the RRC connection according to the indication signaling received by the receiving unit.

30. The apparatus of claim 28,

the processing unit is further configured to allocate a dedicated Random Access Channel (RACH) resource to the UE, instruct the sending unit to send a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) order to the UE, and trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access process to a macro base station by using the RACH resource, so that the UE obtains uplink synchronization and reactivates transmission of RRC signaling by using the RRC connection;

or

The processing unit is further configured to allocate a dedicated RACH resource to the UE, forward the dedicated RACH resource to the UE through the small cell base station, and trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access procedure to a macro base station by using the RACH resource, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and reactivates transmission of RRC signaling using the RRC connection.

31. The apparatus of claim 27,

the receiving unit is configured to receive an indication message for activating an RRC connection sent by the UE, where the indication message is included in a message 3 of a contention random access procedure;

the processing unit is further configured to process a contention random access procedure initiated by the UE according to the indication message received by the receiving unit, and reactivate the RRC connection.

32. The apparatus of any one of claims 26-31,

or

33. The apparatus of claim 32,

the sending unit is configured to send the SRB parameter of the RRC connection to the small cell base station as the auxiliary SRB parameter;

or

The receiving unit is configured to receive the auxiliary SRB parameter sent by the small cell base station.

34. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a processing unit, configured to establish an auxiliary SRB with a user equipment UE according to the indication signaling received by the receiving unit, and the processing unit is further configured to enable the apparatus to transmit an RRC signaling with the UE using the auxiliary SRB.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a sending unit, configured to forward, to the macro base station, the RRC signaling related to the macro base station and sent by the UE after the device uses the auxiliary SRB to transmit the RRC signaling with the UE.

36. The apparatus of claim 35,

the processing unit is further configured to suspend the auxiliary SRB after the apparatus transmits the RRC signaling with the UE using the auxiliary SRB, so that the UE transmits the RRC signaling with the macro base station using a radio resource control RRC connection, where the RRC connection is established between the UE and the macro base station.

37. The apparatus of claim 36,

the receiving unit is configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the macro base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB;

the processing unit is configured to suspend the auxiliary SRB according to the indication signaling received by the receiving unit.

38. The apparatus of claim 37,

the sending unit is configured to send, to the UE, an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB and monitoring a PDCCH order of a physical downlink control channel command after the processing unit suspends the auxiliary SRB, instruct the UE to suspend the auxiliary SRB, and instruct the UE to monitor the PDCCH order of the macro base station, trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access process, so that the UE obtains uplink synchronization and activates RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit an RRC signaling; or

The sending unit is further configured to forward, after the processing unit suspends the auxiliary SRB, the acquired dedicated random access channel RACH resource allocated by the macro base station to the UE, and trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access procedure to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resource, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates RRC connection and the macro base station to transmit RRC signaling.

39. The apparatus of claim 36,

the receiving unit is configured to receive an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB sent by the UE;

40. The apparatus of claim 39,

the sending unit is configured to send, to the macro base station, an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection after the processing unit suspends the auxiliary SRB, and instruct the macro base station to establish the RRC connection; and

41. The apparatus of claim 39,

the sending unit is further configured to send, to the macro base station, an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection after the processing unit suspends the auxiliary SRB, and instruct the macro base station to establish the RRC connection; and

42. The apparatus of claim 36,

the processing unit is configured to actively suspend the auxiliary SRB.

43. The apparatus of claim 42,

the sending unit sends an indication signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB to the UE after the processing unit suspends the auxiliary SRB, so that the UE executes a contention random access process to the macro base station; and

44. The apparatus of claim 42,

the sending unit is configured to send, to the macro base station, an indication signaling for activating the RRC connection after the processing unit suspends the auxiliary SRB, and instruct the macro base station to activate the RRC connection; and

The sending unit is further configured to forward the acquired dedicated RACH resource allocated by the macro base station to the UE, and trigger the UE to initiate a non-contention random access procedure to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resource, so that the UE acquires uplink synchronization and activates RRC signaling transmission with the macro base station using the RRC connection.

45. The apparatus of any one of claims 35 to 44,

the processing unit is further configured to interact with the macro base station, and determine an auxiliary SRB parameter for establishing the auxiliary SRB; or

The processing unit uses the default parameters of the SRB or the auxiliary SRB as auxiliary SRB parameters for establishing the auxiliary SRB.

46. The apparatus of claim 45,

the processing unit is configured to set the SRB parameter, and the sending unit is configured to send the SRB parameter set by the processing unit to the macro base station;

or

The receiving unit is configured to receive an SRB parameter of an RRC connection sent by the macro base station, the processing unit is configured to use the SRB parameter received by the receiving unit as the auxiliary SRB parameter, and the RRC connection is established between the UE and the macro base station.

47. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a processing unit configured to establish a radio resource control, RRC, connection with a macro base station, so that the apparatus transmits RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection;

a receiving unit, configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the macro base station for establishing an auxiliary SRB, so that the processing unit establishes an auxiliary SRB with the small cell base station according to the indication signaling received by the receiving unit, where the auxiliary SRB is used for the apparatus and the small cell base station to transmit an RRC signaling.

48. The apparatus of claim 47,

the receiving unit is configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the macro base station to suspend the RRC connection;

the processing unit is used for suspending the RRC connection according to the indication signaling received by the receiving unit.

49. The apparatus of claim 47,

the processing unit is to measure a signal quality between the device and the small cell base station; suspending the RRC connection when signal quality between the apparatus and the small cell base station is greater than or equal to a first preset threshold;

the device further comprises:

50. The apparatus of claim 49,

the processing unit is further configured to suspend the secondary SRB, activate the RRC connection, and cause the apparatus to transmit RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection.

51. The apparatus of claim 50,

the receiving unit is configured to receive an indication signaling sent by the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB;

52. The apparatus of claim 50,

the processing unit is used for measuring signals of the small cell base station and signals of the macro base station; suspending the auxiliary SRB when the signal quality between the device and the small cell base station is below a first preset threshold or when the signal quality between the device and the macro base station is below a second preset threshold;

the sending unit is configured to send an instruction signaling for suspending the auxiliary SRB to the small cell base station, and instruct the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB;

the processing unit is configured to execute a contention random access procedure to the macro base station, send an indication message for activating the RRC connection to the macro base station, instruct the macro base station to activate the RRC connection, and transmit an RRC signaling of the device using the RRC connection of the macro base station, where the indication message is included in message 3 of the contention random access procedure.

53. The apparatus of claim 49,

the receiving unit is configured to receive a signaling message sent by the small cell base station to suspend the auxiliary SRB, and the processing unit is configured to suspend the auxiliary SRB according to the signaling message received by the receiving unit;

the processing unit is configured to, after the receiving unit receives an indication signaling sent by the small cell base station and used for intercepting a PDCCH order of a physical downlink control channel command of the macro base station, intercept the PDCCH order, initiate a non-contention random access process to the macro base station, acquire uplink synchronization, and activate transmission of an RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection;

or

The processing unit is configured to initiate a non-contention random access procedure to the macro base station according to the dedicated RACH resource after the receiving unit receives the dedicated RACH resource forwarded by the small cell base station, acquire uplink synchronization, and activate transmission of an RRC signaling with the macro base station using the RRC connection, where the dedicated RACH resource is allocated by the macro base station to the device.

54. The apparatus of any one of claims 47-53,

the processing unit is configured to determine an auxiliary SRB parameter, where the auxiliary SRB parameter is used to establish the auxiliary SRB.

55. The apparatus of claim 54,

the processing unit is used for receiving the auxiliary SRB parameters sent by the macro base station;

or

The processing unit is configured to use a default parameter of the SRB or the auxiliary SRB as the auxiliary SRB parameter.

56. The apparatus of claim 49 or 52,

the receiving unit is further configured to obtain the first preset threshold and the second preset threshold configured by the macro base station.

57. A communication system comprising the apparatus of any of claims 24-33, the apparatus of any of claims 34-46, and the apparatus of any of claims 47-56.

58. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method performed by the apparatus of any of claims 24-33.

59. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1-23.

60. A communication apparatus, wherein the communication apparatus is the apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 33, or a chip provided in the apparatus, and the communication apparatus comprises: a memory for storing computer executable program code; a communication interface, and a processor coupled with the memory, the communication interface; wherein the program code stored in the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to perform the method performed by the apparatus of any of claims 24-33.

61. A communication device, wherein the communication device is the device according to any one of claims 34 to 46, or a chip provided in the device, and the communication device comprises: a memory for storing computer executable program code; a communication interface, and a processor coupled with the memory, the communication interface; wherein the program code stored in the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to perform the method performed by the apparatus of any of claims 34-46.

62. A communication device, wherein the communication device is the device according to any one of claims 47 to 56, or a chip provided in the device, and the communication device comprises: a memory for storing computer executable program code; a communication interface, and a processor coupled with the memory, the communication interface; wherein the program code stored in the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to perform the method performed by the apparatus of any of claims 47-56.

63. A communications apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communications apparatus to perform the steps of:

64. A communications apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communications apparatus to perform the steps of:

transmitting RRC signaling with the UE using the secondary SRB.

65. A communications apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communications apparatus to perform the steps of: