CN108282827B

CN108282827B - Method, node and equipment for interoperation between networks

Info

Publication number: CN108282827B
Application number: CN201710010114.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 柯小婉; 王弘; 许丽香
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-01-06
Filing date: 2017-01-06
Publication date: 2022-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2037-01-06
Also published as: CN108282827A

Abstract

The invention provides a method, a node and user equipment for interoperation between networks. The invention provides a method for interoperation between networks, which comprises the following steps: the first node acquires the information about the inter-network interoperation, and can select a proper user plane data termination point to establish a session of the UE according to the acquired information about the inter-network interoperation; judging whether the UE meets a preset condition of dual attachment; and judging whether the UE meets a preset condition among networks. The present application also discloses another method, comprising: the first node determines whether a dual attach predetermined condition is satisfied; and if it is determined that the predetermined condition for dual attach is satisfied, the first node decides a dual attach operation with respect to the UE. By applying the technical scheme disclosed by the application, on one hand, the throughput rate of the UE can be improved by applying the advantages of the next generation network, and on the other hand, excessive signaling overhead caused by frequent switching of the UE between two networks when the UE moves due to introduction of the next generation network is avoided.

Description

Method, node and equipment for interoperation between networks

Technical Field

The present invention relates to wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a method, a node, and a user equipment for inter-network interoperation.

Background

Modern mobile communications are increasingly tending to provide users with multimedia services for high-rate transmission.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a System Architecture Evolution (SAE). Wherein: a User Equipment (UE)101 is a terminal device that supports a network protocol. An evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN)102 is a radio access network that includes base stations (eNodeB/NodeB) that provide access to a radio network interface for UEs. A Mobility Management Entity (MME)103 is responsible for managing mobility context, session context and security information of the UE. Serving Gateway (SGW)104 mainly provides the functions of the user plane, and MME 103 and SGW 104 may be in the same physical entity. A packet data network gateway (PGW)105 is responsible for charging, lawful interception, etc., and may also be in the same physical entity as the SGW 104. A Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF)106 provides quality of service (QoS) policies and charging criteria. The general packet radio service support node (SGSN)108 is a network node device in the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) that provides routing for the transmission of data. The Home Subscriber Server (HSS)109 is the home subsystem of the UE and is responsible for protecting user information including the current location of the user equipment, the address of the serving node, user security information, the packet data context of the user equipment, etc.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the initial system architecture of the next generation network (5G). The architecture includes a Next generation (NextGen) UE 201, a Next generation access network or Next generation radio access network (Next Gen (R) AN)202, a Next generation Core network (NextGen Core)203, and a data network 204. The control plane interface between Next Gen (R) AN and NextGen Core is NG2 and the user plane interface is NG 3. However, it should be understood that the names of these interfaces are only temporary names and may also be named by other names depending on the final decision of the 3GPP or similar organization. Furthermore, the NextGen Core further comprises a user plane functional entity and a control plane functional entity.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the architecture between the fourth Generation network system (EPC/SAE) and the Next Generation network system (5G/NR 5th Generation/Next Radio). The architecture in FIG. 3 includes: user equipment 301, AN EUTRAN Radio Access Network (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network) 302, AN EPC Core Network (Evolved Packet Core evolution data Core Network) 303, a Next generation Radio Access Network (Next Gen (R) AN)304, a Next generation Core Network (Next Gen Core)305, a public HSS UDM (User data management)306, and a public PGW 307. The public HSS 306 is common to both network systems (i.e., the existing network system (EPC/SAE) and the next generation network system (5G/NR)) with a public PGW/TUPF (termination User Plane function). The interface between EUTRAN 302 and EPC 303 is S1; the control plane interface between Next Gen (R) AN 304 and NextGen Core 305 is NG2 and the user plane interface is NG 3. The interface between EPC 303 and public HSS/UDM 306 is S6 a; the interface between NextGen Core 305 and the public HSS/UDM 306 is NG S6a or NG 8. The interface between EPC 303 and common PGW/TUPF 307 is S5, and the interface between NextGen Core 305 and common PGW/TUPF 307 is Ng S5 or Ng 4. However, it should be understood that the names of these interfaces are only temporary names and may also be named by other names depending on the final decision of the 3GPP or the like organization.

In the foreseeable future, more and more electrical equipment is intelligentized, and articles around the life are interconnected and have the function of accessing to the network. On the one hand, a part of future UEs tend to have the following features: is static or low-mobility and low-cost, and the data transmitted and received are often small data quantity and discontinuous. For these UEs, the signaling overhead caused by establishing and releasing connections is much larger than the amount of data to be transceived. On the other hand, to support more and more real-time applications such as virtual reality, the access delay of future mobile communication networks is greatly reduced. In order to save signaling overhead, improve data transmission efficiency, and reduce the time delay of UE accessing the network, many problems of the existing network still need to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method, a node and User Equipment (UE) for interoperation between networks, which can still maintain data continuity and save corresponding signaling overhead when the UE moves between the networks.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for interoperation between networks, including: the first node acquires information about interoperation between networks; and the first node controls the operation of User Equipment (UE) in the first network and/or the second network according to the acquired information about the network interoperation.

Optionally, the information about inter-network interoperation may include at least one of the following information: the information of the inter-network topology, the attachment information of the UE, the session information of the UE, the dual-attachment capability information of the core network, the dual-attachment capability information of the radio access network, the dual-attachment subscription information of the UE, the capability information of the inter-network handover of the UE, the inter-network handover capability information of the core network, the inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network, the inter-network handover subscription information of the UE, and the selection information of the user plane data termination point.

Optionally, the inter-network topology information may include at least one of the following information: topology information between a network where the first node is located and other networks, and topology information between the first network and the second network; the attachment information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: the dual attachment indication indicates whether the UE is attached, the number of the UE and the network information of the network to which the UE is attached; the session information of the UE comprises at least one of the following information: the method comprises the steps of identifying UE, judging whether the UE has a session supporting double attachment or not, whether the UE has a session supporting inter-network switching or not, whether a user plane data destination node of the session of the UE is a public user plane data destination node or not, identifying the session of the UE, an IP address of the UE in the session of the UE, information of the user plane data destination node of the session of the UE and network information of a network of a session channel of the UE; the dual attach capability information of the UE includes at least one of: whether dual attachment is supported or not, whether single-sided wireless access of time division multiplexing is supported or not, whether double-sided wireless access is supported or not, and whether network information of a network attached at the same time is supported or not, and network information of a network attached at the same time is not supported; the dual attach capability information of the core network comprises at least one of the following information: whether dual attachment is supported or not, network information of a network supporting simultaneous attachment, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, and whether a common user data management node is deployed between the network where the core network node is located and other networks; the dual attachment capability information of the radio access network comprises at least one of the following information: whether dual attach is supported, whether configuration dual attach is supported; the dual attach subscription information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether the UE allows dual attachment, network information of a network to which the UE does not allow dual attachment, network information of a network to which the UE allows access, and network information of a network to which the UE does not allow access; the capability information of inter-network handover of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether to support inter-network handover, network information of a network supporting inter-network handover, and network information of a network not supporting inter-network handover; the inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network includes at least one of the following information: whether inter-network handover is supported, whether inter-network handover is configured, network information of a network supporting inter-network handover, and network information of a network not supporting inter-network handover; the inter-network handover capability information of the core network includes at least one of the following information: whether inter-network switching is supported, network information of a network supporting inter-network switching, network information of a network not supporting inter-network switching, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, and whether a common user data management node is deployed between the network where the core network node is located and other networks; the inter-network handover subscription information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether the UE allows the inter-network switching, the network information of the network which the UE does not allow the inter-network switching, the network information of the network which the UE allows the access, and the network information of the network which the UE does not allow the access; the selection information of the user plane data termination point includes at least one of the following information: an indication to select a common user plane data termination, an indication to select a user plane data termination for the UE session.

Optionally, the topology information between the network in which the first node is located and other networks may include at least one of the following information: information of a user plane data termination point of a network where the first node is located, information of a user information management node of the network where the first node is located, whether an interface exists between the network where the first node is located and other networks, whether a common user plane data termination point is disposed between the network where the first node is located and other networks, information of a user plane data termination point common to the network where the first node is located and other networks, whether a common user information management node is disposed between the network where the first node is located and other networks, information of a user information management node common to the network where the first node is located and other networks, network information of other networks where an interface exists with the network where the first node is located, network information of other networks where an interface does not exist with the network where the first node is located, whether an interface exists with a node of other networks, and node information of other nodes where an interface exists with the first node, node information of other nodes having no interface with the first node; the topology information between the first network and the second network comprises at least one of the following information: whether an interface exists between a first network and a second network, whether an interface exists between a node of the first network and a node of the second network, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between the first network and the second network, information of the common user plane data termination point of the first network and the second network, whether a common user information management node is deployed between the first network and the second network, and information of the common user information management node of the first network and the second network.

Optionally, the information of the user plane data termination point may include at least one of the following information: whether the data is a public user plane data destination, an identifier of the user plane data destination, a transport layer address of the user plane data destination, an IP address of the user plane data destination, network information of a network supported by the user plane data destination, and network information of a network not supported by the user plane data destination; the information of the user information management node includes at least one of the following information: the user information management node comprises an identifier of the user information management node, a transmission layer address of the user information management node and network information of a network supported by the user information management node.

Optionally, the network information may include at least one of the following information: network type, network identification. Further, the node information may include at least one of the following information: node identification, node group identification and node transport layer address.

Optionally, controlling the UE-related operation may include at least one of: selecting proper user plane data terminal points and establishing a session or session channel of the UE, judging whether the UE meets the preset conditions of double attachment and executes corresponding operation, sending information about interoperation between networks to the UE, and judging whether the UE meets the preset conditions of switching between networks and executes corresponding operation.

Optionally, the step of controlling the operation with respect to the UE may include: when the first node is in the first network, the first node controls the operation of UE in the first network and the operation of UE between the first network and the second network according to the obtained information about the interoperation between the networks, and when the first node is in the second network, the first node controls the operation of UE in the second network according to the obtained information about the interoperation between the networks.

Optionally, the step of the first node learning information about inter-network interoperation may include the first node obtaining information about inter-network interoperation from at least one of: a core network node, a wireless access network node, UE, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data terminal node; and/or

Optionally, the first node may comprise at least one of: the node of the first network, the node of the second network, the radio access network node of the first network, the core network node of the first network, the radio access network node of the second network, the core network node of the second network, the UE, the information management node of the UE, and the user plane data termination point.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a node for implementing inter-network interoperation, the node including: a receiving module for receiving information about interoperation between networks; a control module for controlling an operation with respect to the user equipment UE in the first network and/or the second network according to the received information with respect to the inter-network interoperation.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for inter-network interoperation, the method including: the first node determines whether a predetermined condition that a User Equipment (UE) is dual-attached to a first network and a second network is satisfied; when the first node determines that a predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network is satisfied, the first node decides dual attachment operation information on the UE.

Optionally, the predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network may include at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, an interface does not exist between the first network and the second network, an interface does not exist between a node of the first network and a node of the second network, the UE supports dual attachment to the first network and the second network, a core network supports dual attachment, a radio access network node supports dual attachment, the UE allows dual attachment to be performed to the first network and the second network, the UE is already attached to the first network, the UE is not yet attached to the second network, the UE has a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a user plane data termination point common to the first network and the second network, and the requirement of UE data transmission exists.

Optionally, the step of the first node determining whether a predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network is satisfied may comprise: the first node determines whether a predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network is satisfied according to at least one of the following information: topology information between a first network and a second network, UE attachment information, UE session information, UE dual-attachment capability information, core network dual-attachment capability information, wireless access network dual-connection capability information, and UE dual-attachment subscription information, wherein the first network and the second network both comprise a wireless access network and a core network.

Optionally, the dual attach operation information on the UE may include at least one of: executing the dual attach indication, the network information of the second network, the information of the second network cell, the information about the inter-network interoperation, maintaining the indication of the first network, the indication of selecting the anchor user plane data termination point, and establishing a data channel between the UE and the user plane data termination point of the anchor point of the UE session in the second network.

Optionally, the deciding, by the first node, the dual attach operation information on the UE may include: the first node transmits dual attach operation information on the UE to at least one of: the system comprises the UE, a node of a first network, a node of a second network, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a radio access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data termination node.

Optionally, the first node may comprise at least one of: a first network node, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a node for interoperation between networks, the node including: a determining module, configured to determine whether a predetermined condition that a user equipment UE is dual-attached to a first network and a second network is satisfied; a control module for deciding dual attach operation information on the UE when it is determined that a predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network is satisfied.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for inter-network interoperation, the method including: the method comprises the steps that a first node determines whether a preset condition of inter-network handover of User Equipment (UE) from a first network to a second network is met; the first node decides inter-network handover operation information on the UE when it is determined that a predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network is satisfied.

Optionally, the predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network may include at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, an interface exists between the first network and the second network, the UE supports inter-network handover from the first network to the second network, a core network supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, a wireless access network node supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, the UE allows execution of inter-network handover from the first network to the second network, the UE exists a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a user plane data termination point common to the first network and the second network, and the requirement of UE data transmission exists.

Optionally, the step of the first node determining whether a predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network is satisfied may comprise: the first node determines whether a predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network is satisfied according to at least one of the following information: topology information between the first network and the second network, attachment information of the UE, session information of the UE, dual-attachment capability information of the UE, inter-network switching capability information of a core network, inter-network switching capability information of a wireless access network, and inter-network switching subscription information of the UE.

Optionally, the inter-network operation information on the UE may include at least one of: performing an inter-network handover indication, network information of the second network, information of the second network cell, information about inter-network interoperation.

Optionally, the step of the first node deciding the inter-network handover operation information about the UE may include: the first node sends information about inter-network handover operations of the UE to at least one of: the system comprises the UE, a node of a first network, a node of a second network, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a radio access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data termination node.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a node for interoperation between networks, the node including: the device comprises a determining module, a judging module and a judging module, wherein the determining module is used for determining whether a preset condition of inter-network handover of User Equipment (UE) from a first network to a second network is met; and a control module which decides inter-network handover operation information on the UE when it is determined that a predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network is satisfied.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for enabling interoperation between a first network and a second network, the method including: user Equipment (UE) determines whether a condition of interoperation between networks is met; and when the condition of the inter-network interoperation is determined to be met, the UE performs the corresponding inter-network interoperation.

Optionally, the inter-network interoperation may include a dual attach operation or an inter-network handover operation.

Optionally, the condition of inter-network interoperation may include at least one of: determining that a dual-attachment preset condition is met, acquiring dual-attachment operation information of UE, acquiring operation information of switching between networks, and acquiring information of interoperation between networks; the step that the UE executes the corresponding inter-network interoperation comprises the following steps: when determining that the dual attach predetermined condition is satisfied, the UE performs a dual attach operation; when the dual attach operation information about the UE is known, the UE performs the dual attach operation; when inter-network handover operation information about the UE is known, the UE performs an inter-network handover operation.

Optionally, the UE performing dual attach may include at least one of: the method comprises the steps of keeping the attachment of a first network, keeping a UE session or a session channel established in the first network, initiating a second attachment to a second network by the UE, requesting the establishment of the second channel of the UE session to a user plane data termination point of the UE session by the UE, providing session information of the UE in the first network by the UE to the second network, providing information of an anchor user plane data termination point of the UE session by the UE to the second network, and sending information about interoperation between networks by the UE to the second network.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a user equipment UE for implementing inter-network interworking, wherein the UE includes: the determining module is used for determining whether the condition of the network interoperation is met; and the control module is used for correspondingly executing the inter-network interoperation when the condition of the inter-network interoperation is determined to be met.

According to the technical scheme, the inter-network interoperation comprises dual attachment or inter-network switching. The data channels are established between the UE and the public user plane data terminal node based on two networks, so that the data continuity and the service continuity of the UE can be kept when the UE moves between the networks. By dual attachment of the UE in both networks, a loose inter-network inter-operation can be achieved without requiring a tight fit between the networks. Because the deployment of the next generation network is mostly hot spot deployment on the basis of the existing network full coverage, the movement between networks frequently occurs along with the movement of the UE. Through the technical scheme, on one hand, the throughput rate of the UE can be improved by applying the advantages of the next generation network, on the other hand, excessive signaling overhead caused by frequent switching of the UE between two networks when the UE moves due to the introduction of the next generation network can be avoided, and a foundation can be laid for the rapid application of the next generation network.

Drawings

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, an example in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a System Architecture Evolution (SAE) architecture diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the initial system architecture of the next generation network (5G/NR) according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an architecture between a fourth generation network system (SAE/EPC) and a next generation network system (5G/NR) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for inter-network interoperability according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a flowchart illustrating a method for inter-network interoperability in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a flowchart illustrating a method for inter-network interoperability in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for inter-network interoperability in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a diagram of a method for inter-network interoperability in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a method for inter-network interoperability according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a method for inter-network interoperability according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of a method embodiment of the present invention relating to inter-network interoperation, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a method of interoperation between networks according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a diagram of a method for inter-network interoperability in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating a method for inter-network interoperability according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9C is a diagram illustrating a method of inter-network interoperation according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a node for interoperation between networks in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a node for inter-network interoperation in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a node for inter-network interoperability in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a block diagram of a user equipment for inter-network interworking of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

For the purpose of making the objects, technical means and advantages of the present application more apparent, the present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Future next generation network deployments are expected to coexist with existing networks and to be deployed more in hot spots. It may be a common scenario for a UE to move around between two networks. Generally, since the user plane data termination points of different networks are generally different, when the UE moves between networks, the user plane data termination point (e.g. PGW, TUPF) changes, which may cause data interruption. To ensure data continuity or traffic continuity and reduce data loss, a common user plane termination point (e.g., PGW, TUPF) may be deployed in two or more networks. When the UE moves between two networks, the common user plane termination point is kept as the anchor point and is unchanged, so that the data continuity guarantee becomes possible.

When the UE moves from the first network to the second network, the UE has detached from the first network when the UE establishes a connection with the second network. When the connection between the UE and the second network is not ready, the user plane termination point of the anchor point may also continue to send data to the first network, which may be lost. In order to avoid data loss, a technical scheme is proposed, namely during the connection establishment of the UE and the second network, the UE also keeps the connection with the first network and continues to receive and transmit data through the first network. This mechanism requires the UE to attach to both networks simultaneously and establish a connection with the same anchor user plane data termination point through both networks, so it is also called dual attach or dual connection. Other names may be made subsequently in the technical scheme, and the naming mode does not influence the main content of the invention.

Dual attachment is mainly UE-dominated and requires no interaction between the first and second networks, so dual attachment is also particularly suitable for situations where there is no interface between the first and second networks. This can be a common scenario in the early days of next generation network deployment, requiring extensive upgrade work as existing networks are required to support the interface with the next generation network.

It should be noted that when there is an interface between two network entities, the UE may also apply a dual-attach method to reduce the overhead of network signaling. As handover between networks will result in more signalling overhead. It can be said that dual attachment is a way of loose inter-network inter-operation.

For inter-network interoperation, a series of problems are not solved, and the following analysis is performed one by one:

problem 1: whether inter-network handover or dual attachment, data continuity needs to be maintained. If the selection of the anchor user data termination point is not yet clear

Problem 2: different sessions of the UE may have different anchor user data destinations, and it is not clear how the second network selects an anchor user data destination for the UE session.

Problem 3: it is not clear how the anchor user data termination associates the UE with the UE in both networks for the UE session.

Inter-network interoperation may include dual attachment and inter-network handover. For double attachment, there are a number of problems that have not been solved, one for each:

problem 1: it is not clear who decides the initiation of the dual attach. For the connected UE, the radio access network node determines a switching event or a network reselection event, including an inter-network switching or reselection event. For idle state UE, it is the UE that decides the selection of network and the establishment of connection.

Problem 2: it is not clear whether the predetermined condition for the dual attach execution is complete. The necessary information required in determining whether the predetermined condition is satisfied is also unclear. It is not clear from where the necessary information is obtained.

Problem 3: how to configure the UE for dual attach. The UE lacks what necessary information to attach to the second network. The initiating node of the dual attachment is the UE.

Problem 4: how the second network performs the second attachment of the UE. Which necessary information the second network lacks to perform the second attachment. First, how the second network knows that the UE has an attachment to the first network; second, how the second network knows that the session establishment request of the UE needs to be established to the anchor PGW, i.e. how to select the anchor PGW for the UE.

For inter-network handover, there are a series of problems that have not been solved, and the following are analyzed one by one:

Problem 1: it is not clear who decides the initiation between networks. For the connected UE, the radio access network node determines a switching event or a network reselection event, including an inter-network switching or reselection event. For idle state UE, it is the UE that decides the selection of network and the establishment of connection.

Selecting: a radio access network node of a first network, a core network node of the first network, a UE.

Problem 2: it is not clear whether the predetermined conditions for inter-network handover execution are complete. The necessary information required in determining whether the predetermined condition is satisfied is also unclear. It is not clear from where the necessary information is obtained.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar function throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are illustrative only and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the prior art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

To facilitate an understanding of the principles of the invention, it is necessary to first make the following instructive reference to the principles and corresponding terminology of the invention.

Some terms are described herein as follows:

in some embodiments, the radio access network node may be a base station, an eNB, a NodeB, a radio access network central control unit, a radio access network node distribution unit, or the like. In next generation networks, the concept of a node may be virtualized as a function or unit. The radio access network central control unit may be connected to a plurality of radio access network node distribution units.

In some embodiments, the core network node may be an MME, SGSN, SGW, CCNF, AMF, SMF, etc., a core network control node (e.g., MME, CCNF, AMF), a core network user plane node (SMF, UDF), a core network control plane function, a core network user plane function, a core network control plane element, a core network user plane element, etc. In next generation networks, the concept of a node may be virtualized as a function or unit.

In some embodiments, the core network control node may be at least one of: mme (mobility management entity), SGSN, core Network Control plane function, core Network Control plane unit, ccnf (common Control Network function), amf (access and mobility function), smf (session management function), and the like.

In some embodiments, the core network user plane node may be at least one of: SGW, SGSN, User Plane Function (UPF), User Plane element (core Plane Function), network slice, etc.

In some embodiments, the UE information management node may be at least one of: HSS, UDM

In some embodiments, the user plane data termination point may be at least one of: is PGW, UPF, TUPF. The anchor user plane data termination for the UE session may be the user plane data termination selected when the UE session is established.

Data referred to herein may include control plane data (such as NAS signaling, TAU Request, Service Request, user plane data conveyed by packets of the control plane, etc.) or user plane data. The indication of whether there is data transmission can be further divided into an indication of whether there is a need for uplink control plane data transmission and an indication of whether there is a need for uplink user plane data transmission. The indication of whether there is data transmission can be further divided into an indication of whether there is uplink data transmission requirement and an indication of whether there is downlink data transmission requirement.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for inter-network interoperation according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 4, the process includes the following steps:

In step 401, a first node learns information about inter-network interoperation.

Optionally, the information about the inter-network interoperation includes at least one of: inter-network topology information, attachment information of the UE, session information of the UE, information of a user plane data termination point of the UE, dual attachment capability information of a core network, dual attachment capability information of a radio access network, dual attachment subscription information of the UE, inter-network handover capability information of the core network, inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network, inter-network handover subscription information of the UE, inter-network interoperability capability information of the core network, inter-network interoperability capability information of the radio access network, inter-network interoperability subscription information of the UE, selection information of the user plane data termination point.

In some embodiments, a first node may obtain information about inter-network interoperation from a second node. The second node may comprise at least one of: a core network node (e.g. MME, SGW, CCNF, SMF), a radio access network node (e.g. eNB, gNB), a UE information management node (e.g. HSS, UDM), a user plane data termination node (e.g. PGW, UPF, TUPF), a UE, a node of a first network, a second network node, a radio access network node of a first network, a core network node of a first network, a radio access network node of a second network, a core network node of a second network.

Optionally, the first node may be one of: a node of the first network, a node of the second network, a node of the radio access network of the first network, a node of the core network of the first network, a node of the radio access network of the second network, a node of the core network, a node of the radio access network, a UE information management node (e.g. HSS, UDM), a user plane data termination node (e.g. PGW, UPF, TUPF). The UE information management node may be more than or equal to a UE information management node shared between two networks (e.g., a UE information management node shared by a first network and a second network); the user plane data termination may be more than or equal to a user plane data termination common between two networks (e.g., a user plane data termination common to a first network and a second network).

Optionally, the inter-network interoperability capability information of the UE may include at least one of: dual attach capability information of the UE, and attachment capability information of inter-network handover of the UE.

Optionally, the inter-network interoperability capability information of the radio access network may include at least one of: dual attachment capability information for radio access networks, and capability information for inter-network handover for radio access networks.

Optionally, the inter-network interoperability capability information of the core network may include at least one of the following: dual attachment capability information of the core network, and capability information of inter-network handover of the core network.

Optionally, the inter-network interoperation subscription information of the UE may include at least one of the following: dual attach subscription information for the UE, subscription information for inter-network handover for the UE.

Optionally, the dual attach capability information of the UE may include at least one of: whether dual attachment is supported, whether single-side wireless access (such as single radio) is supported, whether time division multiplexing single-side wireless access is supported, whether dual-side wireless access (such as dual radio) is supported, network information of networks which are simultaneously attached is supported, and network information of networks which are simultaneously attached is not supported. In some real-time approaches, unilateral radio access means that the UE can access only one radio access network at the same time; in order to realize dual attachment, data can be transceived in a dual-attached network in a time division multiplexing manner. If the UE supports only single-sided radio access and does not support time division multiplexing, the UE may be equivalent to not supporting dual attachment.

Optionally, the inter-network handover capability information of the UE may include at least one of the following: whether to support inter-network handover, network information of a network supporting inter-network handover, and network information of a network not supporting inter-network handover.

Optionally, the network information may include at least one of: network type (e.g., GERAN, UMTS, EUTRAN, EPC, 5G/NR, NR Core, EPC), network identification (e.g., PLMN),

in some embodiments, when the first node establishes the UE session for the UE, for the UE supporting dual attach or inter-network handover, a user plane data termination (e.g., PGW) common to other networks may be selected, for example, a user plane data termination common to two or more networks that the UE supports simultaneous attach or the UE supports access. When the UE moves to other networks, the service continuity of the UE can still be maintained through inter-network interworking. For UEs that do not support dual attachment or inter-network handover, a common user plane data termination point may not be selected. In other embodiments, after the first node establishes the UE session for the UE, for the UE supporting dual attach or inter-network handover, the session information of the UE may be stored in a user information management node shared with other networks. When the UE moves to another network, the other network may obtain session information of the UE through a common user information management node. And other networks still select the user plane data termination point of the previous session for the UE through the obtained session information, so that the service continuity of the UE is maintained.

Optionally, the dual attach capability information of the radio access network may include at least one of: whether dual attach is supported, whether configuration dual attach is supported.

Optionally, the inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network may include at least one of: whether to support inter-network handover, whether to support inter-configuration-network handover, network information of a network supporting inter-network handover, and network information of a network not supporting inter-network handover.

Optionally, the dual attach capability information of the core network may include at least one of: whether dual attachment is supported, network information of a network supporting simultaneous attachment (as described above, it is not described herein any more), whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, whether a common user data management node is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, information of a common user plane data termination point deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, and information of a common user data management node deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks.

Optionally, the inter-network handover capability information of the core network may include at least one of the following: whether inter-network handover is supported, network information of a network supporting inter-network handover (as described above, which is not described herein again), network information of a network not supporting inter-network handover, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, whether a common user data management node is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, information of a common user plane data termination point deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, and information of a common user data management node deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks.

Optionally, the dual attach subscription information of the UE may include at least one of the following: whether the UE allows dual attach, network information of a network to which the UE does not allow dual attach, network information of a network to which the UE allows access (as described above, which is not described herein again), and network information of a network to which the UE does not allow access (as described above, which is not described herein again).

Optionally, the subscription information for inter-network handover of the UE may include at least one of the following: whether the UE allows inter-network handover, network information of a network that the UE does not allow inter-network handover, network information of a network that the UE allows access (as described above, which is not described herein again), and network information of a network that the UE does not allow access (as described above, which is not described herein again).

In some embodiments, when the first node establishes a UE session for a UE, for a UE that allows dual attachment or a UE that allows inter-network handover, a user plane data termination point that is common to other networks may be selected, for example, a user plane data termination point that is common to two or more networks to which the UE allows simultaneous attachment or access may be selected. When the UE moves to other networks, the service continuity of the UE can still be maintained through inter-network interoperation. For UE which does not allow double attachment or UE which does not allow switching between networks, a common user plane data termination point is not selected; in other embodiments, after the first node establishes the UE session for the UE, the UE session information may be stored to a user information management node shared with other networks for the UE that allows dual attachment or for the UE that allows inter-network handover. When the UE moves to another network, the other network may obtain session information of the UE through a common user information management node. And other networks still select the user plane data termination point of the previous session for the UE through the obtained session information, so that the service continuity of the UE is maintained.

Optionally, the inter-network topology information may include at least one of: topology information between the network where the first node is located and other networks, and topology information between the first network and the second network. The first network may be a source network where the UE moves and the second network may be a target network where the UE moves. The first node may be a node of a first network or a node of a second network

The topology information between the network where the first node is located and other networks may include at least one of: information of a user plane data termination point of a network where the first node is located, information of a user information management node of a network where the first node is located, whether an interface exists between the network where the first node is located and other networks, whether a common user plane data termination point is disposed between the network where the first node is located and other networks, information of a user plane data termination point shared by the network where the first node is located and other networks, whether a common user information management node is disposed between the network where the first node is located and other networks, information of a user information management node shared by the network where the first node is located and other networks, network information of other networks where an interface exists with the network where the first node is located (network information is described above, and is not described here again), network information of other networks where an interface does not exist with the network where the first node is located, whether an interface exists between the first node and a node of other networks (such as a radio access network node or a core network node), node information of other nodes (such as a radio access network node, a core network node, a user plane data termination node, or a user information management node) having an interface with the first node, and node information of other nodes having no interface with the first node.

The topology information between the first network and the second network may comprise at least one of: whether an interface exists between a first network and a second network, whether an interface exists between a node of the first network and a node of the second network, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between the first network and the second network, information of the common user plane data termination point of the first network and the second network, whether a common user information management node is deployed between the first network and the second network, and information of the common user information management node of the first network and the second network.

Optionally, the node information may include at least one of: node identification (e.g. GUMMEI, GUTI of core network node, radio access network node identification, user plane data termination point identification, UE identification), node group identification (e.g. MMEGI), node transport layer address.

Optionally, the information of the user plane data termination point may include at least one of: whether the network information is a public user plane data destination, an identifier of the user plane data destination, a transport layer address of the user plane data destination (e.g., PGW), an IP address of the user plane data destination, network information of a network supported by the user plane data destination (as described above, it is not described here any more), and network information of a network not supported by the user plane data destination (as described above, it is not described here any more).

Alternatively, the information of the user plane data termination point of the UE may be UE-level or session-level of the UE. I.e. the user plane data termination point for different UEs may be different or the user plane data termination point for different UE sessions may be different. Maintaining data continuity may be maintaining the user plane data termination of the UE or maintaining the user plane data termination of the UE session unchanged.

Optionally, the information of the user information management node may include at least one of: the user information management node comprises an identifier of the user information management node, a transmission layer address of the user information management node and network information of a network supported by the user information management node.

In some embodiments, only if there is no interface between the first network and the second network is one of the prerequisites for configuring the UE to perform dual attach to the first network and the second network, otherwise an inter-network handover procedure may be performed. In other embodiments, the presence of a common user plane data termination point between the first network and the second network is one of the prerequisites for configuring the UE to perform a dual attach or inter-network handover, otherwise data continuity cannot be maintained. In other embodiments, the presence of a common user information management node between the first network and the second network may help the second network to obtain the UE context (e.g., session information) of the UE in the first network, and may select the original common user plane data termination point when the UE session is established or modified, so as to ensure data continuity. If there is no common user information management node, the node of the first network may forward the UE context (e.g., session information) of the UE in the first network to the node of the second network through the UE.

Optionally, the attach information of the UE may include at least one of: the dual attach indication indicates whether the UE has an attach, the number of the UE having an attach, and network information of the network to which the UE attaches (the network information is described above and is not described herein again).

In some embodiments, the node of the second network needs to refer to the context of the UE in the first network only if the UE already has an attachment to the first network.

Optionally, the session information of the UE may include at least one of the following: the UE identifier, whether the UE has a session supporting dual attach, whether the UE has a session supporting inter-network handover, whether a user plane data destination node of the session of the UE is a common user plane data destination node, the UE session identifier, the IP address of the UE in the UE session, information of the user plane data destination node of the UE session (the information of the user plane data destination node is as described above and is not described here any more), and network information of the network establishing the UE session channel (the network information is as described above and is not described here any more). The user plane data termination of the UE session may also be referred to as the anchor user plane data termination of the UE session.

Optionally, the selection information of the user plane data termination point may include at least one of the following: an indication to select a common user plane data termination, an indication to select an anchor user plane data termination for the UE session.

In some embodiments, dual attachment is only supported for sessions established on a common user plane data termination, otherwise, there is no interface between the target network and the user plane data termination, a data continuity approach guarantees. In other embodiments, there may be several common user plane data terminations, and it is not clear which is the user plane data termination where the UE session is located. The second network may be assisted in selecting a previous user plane data termination by providing a transport layer address of the user plane data termination.

In step 402, the first node may control an operation related to the UE in the first network and/or the second network according to the learned information related to the inter-network interoperation.

Optionally, the controlling, by the first node, the operation related to the UE according to the learned information related to the inter-network interoperation includes at least one of: 1) selecting a proper user plane data terminal point to establish a session or a session channel of the UE; 2) judging whether the UE meets a preset condition of double attachment; 3) transmitting information about inter-network interoperation to the UE; 4) and judging whether the UE meets a preset condition among networks. When the core network node is the first node, it may be sent directly to the UE or via a radio access network node.

1) Selecting proper user plane data terminal point to establish conversation or conversation channel of UE

In some embodiments, for a UE that supports and/or allows inter-operation between multiple networks, selecting an appropriate user plane data termination point to establish a session for the UE includes at least one of: a) the first node is a node of a first network and may select a user plane data termination point common among a plurality of networks supported by and/or allowed by the UE to establish a session for the UE. At this time, the selected user plane data termination point becomes the anchor user plane data termination point of the UE session, i.e. the UE remains unchanged during the inter-network interoperation. b) The first node is a second network node, and selects an anchor user plane data termination point of the UE in the session established by the first network to establish the session or session channel of the UE in the second network. When the UE requests a session in the second network, the UE may provide a session identifier of the session established in the first network by the UE, and then a second channel of the same session is established in the second network; the UE may also provide a session identification of a session established by the UE in the first network and a new session identification, and then the new session established in the second network is associated with the session established by the UE in the first network. By selecting the appropriate user plane data termination point, when the UE moves from the first network to the second network, the user plane data termination point of the UE session can be kept unchanged, and there are two associated sessions or two channels of the same session between the UE and the anchor user plane data termination point, so that the data in the UE session of the first network can be sent in the associated session in the second network, making it possible to maintain the data continuity of the UE. At this time, the network supported by the anchor user plane data termination point needs to include the second network.

In some embodiments, when the UE is attached to the first network and the first node is a node of the first network. The first node may select an appropriate common user plane data termination for the UE when establishing the UE session based on at least one of the following information.

■ can know that the UE allows inter-network interoperation according to the known subscription information of the inter-network interoperation of the UE. Inter-network interworking of the UE may further include dual attachment or inter-network handover.

■ may know that the UE is allowed to perform dual attach according to the known dual attach subscription information of the UE.

■ may know that the UE allows inter-network handover based on the known subscription information of inter-network handover of the UE.

■ can know the network information of the network that the UE supports dual attachment according to the dual attachment capability information of the UE.

■ may know network information of the network that the UE supports inter-network handover from the inter-network handover capability information of the UE.

■ can know that there is a common user plane data termination point between networks based on the topology information of the networks.

■ may select the user plane data termination point based on the user plane data termination point selection information. According to the instruction of selecting the common user plane data destination, the first node may select a user plane data destination common to the current access network of the UE and other networks for the UE, where the current access network of the UE and the other networks should both be supported by the UE and allowed to be accessed; according to the indication of selecting the anchor user plane data termination point of the UE session, the first node may select the anchor user plane data termination point of the session established by the UE in the first network when the session or the session channel of the UE in the second network is established.

2) Determining whether UE satisfies a predefined condition for dual attachment

In some embodiments, when the UE is attached to the first network and the first node is a node of the first network. When the first node performs dual-attach configuration for the UE, information about inter-network interoperation may be transmitted to the UE as dual-attach configuration information about the UE.

■ the inter-network topology information may help the idle UE to select a second network that has a common user plane data termination point with the first network when deciding on dual attachment.

■ the session information of the UE can help the UE provide the session information of the UE to the second network when initiating the second attachment to the second network, help the second network establish the UE session to select the proper user plane data termination point.

■ the dual attachment capability information of the second network core network and the dual attachment capability information of the radio access network is helpful to whether the UE initiates the second attachment under the second network.

In some embodiments, when the UE is attached to the first network and the first node is a node of the first network. The first node sends information about inter-network interoperation to the UE, and the UE can automatically judge and select the second network with double attachment after entering an idle state or an inactive state. In some embodiments, the first node may inform the UE of the configuration information of the UE dual attach in advance before deciding the UE dual attach, so as to reduce the configuration of the UE during the dual attach operation.

In some embodiments, after the UE attaches to the first network to establish the session, it attempts to attach and establish the session to the second network, and the first node is a node of the second network. When establishing UE session, the first node selects the common user data plane termination point of the anchor point for the UE.

■ may know the network types supported by the UE based on the dual attach capability information of the UE.

■ can know that the UE is currently attached for the second time and that the UE context for the first time is already present according to the UE's attachment information.

■ may know the user plane data termination (also referred to as anchor user plane data termination) of the UE session based on the session information of the UE in the first network.

■ may know that the second network supports anchor user plane data termination based on network topology information.

In some embodiments, after the UE attaches to the first network to establish the session, it attempts to attach and establish the session to the second network, and the first node is a node of the second network. The second network may broadcast capability information indicating dual attachment capability information of the second network and/or inter-network handover capability information.

In some embodiments, when the first node is in the first network, the first node controls the operation of the UE in the first network and the operation of the UE between the first network and the second network according to the known information about the inter-network interoperation; in other embodiments, when the first node is in the second network, the first node controls the operation of the UE in the second network according to the learned information about inter-network interoperation.

Fig. 5A is a flowchart illustrating a method for inter-network interworking in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 5A, the process includes the following steps:

step 5-101, the first node determines whether the UE satisfies a predetermined condition for dual attachment to the first network and the second network.

Optionally, the predetermined condition may comprise at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, no interface exists between the first network and the second network, no interface exists between a node of the first network and a node of the second network (such as between core network nodes of the two networks and between nodes of two network radio access networks), the UE supports dual attachment to the first network and the second network, the core network supports dual attachment, the radio access network node supports dual attachment, the UE allows dual attachment to the first network and the second network, the UE is already attached to the first network, the UE does not yet attach to the second network, the UE has a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a common user plane data termination point of the first network and the second network, and the requirement of UE data transmission exists.

In some embodiments, the UE needing to move from the first network to the second network may include one of: the first node receives a measurement report of the UE to indicate that a network switching event occurs, the switching event is an inter-network switching event, and the first node needs to reselect the UE from the first network to the second network.

In some embodiments, the information for determining whether the predetermined condition is satisfied and the information is obtained as described in step 401, which is not described herein again.

Optionally, the first node may include one of: the node of the first network, the radio access network node of the first network, the core network node of the first network, the second network node, the radio access network node of the second network, the core network node, the radio access network node, the UE information management node and the user plane data termination node.

In some embodiments, the first node may learn that there is no interface between the first network and the second network by one of: 1) when the first node initiates handover to the core network node, the core network node returns handover failure and inter-network topology information (as described in step 401, which is not described herein again), where the inter-network topology information is the cause of the handover failure, for example, there is no interface between the first network and the second network. 2) Topology information between the network where the first node is located and other networks is obtained through configuration (as described in step 401, which is not described herein again). 3) The topology information between the network where the first node is located and other network networks, which is obtained by establishing an interface between the radio access network and the core network node, may be network information of a network without an interface with the network where the first node is located (as described in step 401, details are not described here). The inter-network topology information may then indicate that there is no interface between the first network and the second network.

1) Optionally, the UE supporting dual attach may include at least one of: the UE supports simultaneous attachment to a first network and a second network, the UE supports access to the first network, and the UE supports access to the second network. The first node may determine whether the UE supports dual attach by acquiring dual attach capability of the UE.

2) Optionally, the core network node supporting dual attachment may include at least one of: the core network node of the first network supports dual attachment and the core network node of the second network supports dual attachment. The first node may determine whether the UE supports dual attach by acquiring dual attach capability of the core network.

3) Optionally, the radio access network node supporting dual attachment may include at least one of: the radio access network node of the first network supports dual attachment and the radio access network node of the second network supports dual attachment. The first node may determine whether the UE supports dual attach by knowing the dual attach capability of the radio access network.

And 5-102, when determining that the preset condition of the UE to be dually attached to the first network and the second network is met, the first node decides dual-attachment operation information about the UE.

In some embodiments, the first node sends information regarding UE dual attach operation to at least one of: the system comprises UE, a wireless access network node, a core network node, a node of a first network, a second network node, a wireless access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a wireless access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, the UE, a UE information management node and a user plane data termination node.

The dual attach operation information on the UE may include at least one of: executing a dual attach indication, network information of the second network (the network information is described in step 401 and is not described herein again), information of the second network cell, information about inter-network interoperation (the inter-network interoperation information is described in step 401 and is not described herein again), maintaining the indication of the first network, selecting an indication of the anchor user plane data termination point, and establishing a session or a data channel of the session between the UE and the anchor user plane data termination point in the second network. The user plane data termination of the anchor may be the user plane data termination of the anchor of the UE or the user plane data termination of the anchor of the UE session.

Optionally, the indication to maintain the first network may comprise at least one of: 1) the UE attachment to the first network is maintained. When the UE is attached to a second network, the UE is still in an active state without deleting or suspending the context attached to the first network; 2) including a UE session or session tunnel in the first network. The session established by the UE in the first network is still in an active state, and a channel established between the UE and the user plane data termination point of the session anchor point of the UE in the first network can still receive and transmit data.

Optionally, the second network cell information may include at least one of the following: the identification of the cell, the frequency of the cell, and the network information of the network in which the cell is located.

Fig. 5B is a flowchart illustrating a method for interoperation between networks according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 5B, the process includes the following steps:

step 5-201, the first node determines whether the UE satisfies a predetermined condition for inter-network handover from the first network to the second network.

Optionally, the predetermined condition may comprise at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, an interface exists between the first network and the second network (such as between core network nodes of two wireless networks and between nodes of a wireless access network), the UE supports inter-network handover from the first network to the second network, the core network supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, the wireless access network node supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, the UE allows inter-network handover from the first network to the second network to be performed, the UE exists a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a user plane data termination point common to the first network and the second network, and a requirement of UE data transmission exists.

In some embodiments, the obtaining manner for determining whether the predetermined condition is satisfied is as described in step 401, and is not described herein again.

In some embodiments, the first node may learn that an interface exists between the first network and the second network by one of: 1) topology information between the network where the first node is located and other networks is obtained through configuration (as described in step 401, which is not described herein again). The inter-network topology information may be network information of a network having an interface with the network where the first node is located (as described in step 401, which is not described herein again). 2) Topology information between the network where the first node is located and other networks is obtained through interface establishment between the radio access network and the core network node (as described in step 401, details are not described here). At this time, the inter-network topology information may indicate that an interface exists between the first network and the second network.

1) Optionally, the UE supporting inter-network handover may include at least one of: the UE supports handover from a first network to a second network, the UE supports access to the first network, and the UE supports access to the second network. The first node may determine whether the UE supports inter-network handover by knowing inter-network handover capability information of the UE.

2) Optionally, the core network node supporting inter-network handover may include at least one of: the core network node of the first network supports inter-network handover and the core network node of the second network supports inter-network handover. The first node can determine whether the core network node supports inter-network handover by knowing the inter-network handover capability information of the core network.

3) Optionally, the radio access network node supporting inter-network handover may include at least one of: the radio access network node of the first network supports inter-network handover and the radio access network node of the second network supports inter-network handover. The first node can determine whether the wireless access network node supports inter-network handover by acquiring the inter-network handover capability information of the wireless access network.

Step 5-202, the first node decides an inter-network handover operation with respect to the UE when it is determined that a predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network is satisfied.

In some embodiments, the first node sends information regarding inter-UE-network handover operations to at least one of: the system comprises the UE, a radio access network node, a core network node, a node of a first network, a second network node, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a radio access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, the UE, a UE information management node and a user plane data termination node.

The inter-network handover operation information on the UE may include at least one of: performing an inter-network handover instruction, network information of the second network (the network information is described in step 401 and is not described herein again), information of a cell of the second network, and information about inter-network interoperation (which is consistent with that described in step 401 and is not described herein again).

Optionally, the cell information of the second network may include at least one of the following: cell identification, frequency of the cell, and network information of the network in which the cell is located.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for interoperation between networks according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 6, the process includes the following steps:

in step 601, the UE determines whether a predetermined condition for inter-network interworking is satisfied.

The predetermined condition for interoperation between networks includes at least one of: 1) determining that a predetermined condition for dual attachment to the first network and the second network is satisfied (as described in steps 5-101, which is not described herein); 2) obtaining dual attach operation information about the UE (as described in steps 5-102, which is not described herein); 3) information about the inter-network interoperation is known (as described in step 401, which is not described herein again); 4) information about inter-network handover operations is known (as described in steps 5-202, which will not be described herein).

In some embodiments, a UE obtains dual attach operation information about the UE from a first node.

In some embodiments, the manner determined according to the predetermined condition is particularly suitable for the UE moving to other networks in the idle mode or the inactive mode, and the UE can determine whether to initiate the dual attach operation by itself; the knowledge of the dual attach operation information about the UE is particularly suitable for UEs moving to other networks in connected mode, where the network can decide whether to request the UE to initiate the dual attach operation.

In some embodiments, the UE learns about inter-network interoperation or dual attach operation information about the UE through at least one of: a radio access network, a core network.

Step 602, when the UE satisfies the predetermined condition of inter-network interoperation, performing corresponding inter-network interoperation.

Further, when the UE determines that the predetermined condition of the dual attach satisfies or receives the dual attach operation information about the UE, the UE performs the dual attach operation.

Optionally, the UE performing the dual attach operation may include one of: 1) keeping the UE of the first network attached. It can be made to remain active. 2) A UE session or session tunnel established in the first network is maintained. It can be made active. The session or session channel established in the first network between the UE and the user plane data termination point of the anchor point of the UE session may still transceive data. 3) The UE initiates a second attachment to a second network; 4) the UE initiates a session request to a second network to request to establish a second channel of the UE session to an anchor user plane data termination point of the UE session. The UE may provide at least one of the following information in the session establishment request: the session information of the UE in the first network (the session information is described in step 401 and is not described herein again), and the information of the anchor user plane data termination point (the information of the user plane data termination point is described in step 401 and is not described herein again). 5) The UE sends information about inter-network interoperation to the second network (as described in step 401, which is not described herein again). The information about inter-network interoperation may assist the second network in selecting an anchor user plane data termination for the UE session (the specific operation is described in step 402, and is not described herein again).

Further, when the predetermined condition for inter-network interworking is that operation information regarding inter-network handover of the UE is received, the UE performs an inter-network handover operation.

Fig. 7A is a first attachment process. A second attachment or inter-network handover may occur if inter-network mobility occurs after the first attachment of the UE. Fig. 7B is a second attachment process. Fig. 7C illustrates an inter-network handover procedure.

Fig. 7A is a diagram illustrating a method for interoperation between networks according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The UE first attaches to a first network. The UE may establish the UE session at attach or after attach. As shown in fig. 7A, the method includes the steps of:

and 7-101, establishing connection between the UE and the wireless access network node. At connection setup, the UE may provide the radio access network node with capability information of dual attach of the UE and/or capability information of inter-network handover of the UE (the capability information of dual attach of the UE and the capability information of inter-network handover of the UE are described in step 401). The radio access network node can select a core network control node (such as MME, CCNF, AMF) according to the corresponding UE capability

Step 7-102, the UE sends an attach request or a session establishment request to the core network control node. The radio access network node or UE (in the attach request or the session setup request) may provide the core network control node with capability information of dual attach of the UE and/or capability information of inter-network handover of the UE (the capability information of dual attach of the UE and the capability information of inter-network handover of the UE are as described in step 401).

And 7-103, the core network control node inquires the information of the UE to the public HSS/UDM. Upon a query request, the core network node may indicate to the HSS/UDM at least one of: capability information of dual attachment of the UE or capability information of inter-network handover of the UE.

And 7-104, the HSS/UDM returns a query response to the core network control node. In the query response, the HSS/UDM may return at least one of: whether the UE allows dual attach, whether the UE allows inter-network handover, information of common user plane data termination (the information of user plane data termination is as described in step 401).

And 7-105, after the UE passes the verification, the core network control node sends a session establishment request to a core network user plane node (SGW, SMF, UDF). For the UE supporting and allowing dual attachment or for the UE supporting and allowing inter-network handover, the following method is used: the core network control node selects a common user plane data termination point for the session of the UE, and provides the information of the common user plane data termination point to the core network user plane node in the session establishment request (the information of the user plane data termination point is as described in step 401); the second method comprises the following steps: the core network control node provides information about inter-network interoperation in a session establishment request (as described in step 401), and a common user plane data termination is selected for the UE by the core network user plane node. The operation of selecting the user data termination point for the UE session is described in step 402, and is not described herein again. And 7-106, the core network user plane node sends a UE session establishment request to the selected common user plane data termination point. The session request provides the UE identity and the session identity of the UE.

And 7-107, the public user plane data terminal node can distribute the IP address of the UE, store the session context of the UE and return a session establishment response to the user plane control node of the core network. At this time, the core network user plane node becomes the anchor user plane data termination point of the UE session.

And 7-108, the core network user plane node returns a session establishment response to the core network control node.

And 7-109, after receiving the request, the core network control node can send at least one of the following information to the HSS/UDM: session information of the UE, and attach information of the UE (the attach information of the UE and the session information of the UE are as described in step 401). At this time, the network in the session information of the UE for establishing the session of the UE is already the first network, and the network in the attach information of the UE to which the UE attaches is attached to the first network.

Step 7-110, the core network control node establishes the context of the UE to the radio network node. Alternatively, the core network control node may send information about inter-network interoperation to the radio network node or the UE (the information about inter-network interoperation is as described in step 401).

The radio access network node may establish a radio bearer for the UE, steps 7-111. Optionally, the radio access network node may send information about inter-network interoperation to the UE (the information about inter-network interoperation is as described in step 401).

At this point, a tunnel is established between the UE and the common user plane data termination point in the first network, and data interaction begins. The present embodiment ends. Irrelevant steps are omitted.

Fig. 7B is a diagram illustrating a method for interoperation between networks according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The UE is attached to a second network. The UE may establish the UE session at attach or after attach. There are two ways to provide UE session information and/or UE attachment information of the UE in the first network to the second network, where way 1 is forwarding through the UE, as in steps 7-202; mode 2 is obtained by a common HSS/UDM query, steps 7-204; the UE initiates a second attachment or a second session establishment attachment to the second network as shown in fig. 7B, the method includes the following steps:

and 7-201, connection establishment between the UE and the wireless access network node. The UE may simultaneously provide information regarding inter-network interoperation to the radio access network node (as described in step 401).

Step 7-202, the UE sends an attach request or a session setup request to the core network control node. The radio access network node or UE (in an attach request or a session setup request) may provide information about inter-network inter-operation to the core network control node (as described in step 401), such as at least one of: dual-attach capability information of the UE (the dual-attach capability information of the UE is described in step 401), session information of the UE, and attach information of the UE in the first network (the attach information of the UE and the session information of the UE are described in step 401).

Step 7-203, the core network control node queries the public HSS/UDM for the UE, which may indicate at least one of: capability information of dual attach of UE.

In steps 7-204, based on the information provided by the core network control node, the HSS/UDM may return information about the inter-network interoperation (as described in step 401), such as at least one of: whether the UE allows dual attachment, session information of the UE, attachment information of the UE, and information of a common user plane data termination point.

And 7-205, after the UE passes the verification, the core network control node sends a session establishment request to a core network user plane node (SGW, SMF, UDF). For the UE supporting and allowing dual attach, the following method: providing information of an anchor user plane data termination of the UE session to the core network user plane node in the session establishment request of the core network control node (the information of the user plane data termination is as described in step 401); the second method comprises the following steps: the core network control node provides information about inter-network interoperation in the session establishment request (as described in step 401), and the core network user plane node determines whether to select an anchor user plane data termination point of the UE session for the UE. The operation of selecting the user data termination point for the UE session is as described in step 402, and will not be described herein.

And 7-206, the core network user plane node requests the anchor user plane data termination point of the selected UE session to establish the UE session.

Step 7-207, the public user plane data terminal node can associate the existing context of the UE according to the UE identity and the session identity, keep the IP of the UE unchanged (i.e. the IP of the session corresponding to the UE in the first network), and return a session establishment response to the core network user plane node.

And 7-208, the core network user plane node returns a session establishment response to the core network control node.

Step 7-209, the core network control node can send at least one of the following to the HSS/UDM after receiving the request: session information of the UE, and attachment information of the UE (the attachment information of the UE and the session information of the UE are as described in step 401). At this time, the network establishing the session channel of the UE in the session information of the UE has been updated to the first network and the second network, and the network to which the UE attaches in the attachment information of the UE is also updated to be attached to the first network and the second network.

Step 7-210, the core network control node establishes the context of the UE to the radio network node. Alternatively, the core network control node may send information about inter-network interoperation to the radio network node or the UE (the information about inter-network interoperation is as described in step 401).

The radio access network node may establish a radio bearer for the UE, steps 7-211. Optionally, the radio access network node may send information about inter-network interoperation to the UE (the information about inter-network interoperation is as described in step 401).

At this point, a channel between the UE and the anchor user plane data destination node in the second network is established, and data interaction begins, during which channel data between the UE and the anchor user plane data destination node in the second network is still being transmitted and received. The present embodiment ends. Irrelevant steps are omitted.

Fig. 7C is a diagram illustrating a method for inter-network interoperation according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The first network hands over the UE to the second network. There are three ways to provide UE session information and/or UE attachment information of a UE in a first network to a second network, where way 1 is sent by a first network node, as in steps 7-303; mode 2 is forwarding by the UE, as in steps 7-313; mode 2 is obtained by a common HSS/UDM query, steps 7-304; mode 3 is through an interface between a first network and a second network. As shown in fig. 7C, the method includes the steps of:

and 7-301, reporting the measurement report to the first network wireless access network node by the UE. And the first network wireless access network node judges the occurrence of the switching event and initiates a switching request to the first network core network.

And 7-302, the first network core network finds that the target cell belongs to the second network. The first network radio access network node determines that the UE satisfies a predetermined condition for inter-network handover (as depicted in step 502),

step 7-303 the first network core network switches the request to the second network core network. Optionally, information about inter-network interoperation is included in the message, as described in step 402.

Step 7-304, the second network core network node queries the public HSS/UDM for the UE, which may indicate at least one of: capability information for handover between UE networks.

The HSS/UDM may return information about inter-network interoperation, such as at least one of: whether the UE allows inter-network handover, session information of the UE, attach information of the UE, and information of the common user plane data termination (the information of the user plane data termination is as described in step 401).

Step 7-305 the second network control node sends a session establishment request to a core network user plane node (SGW, SMF, UDF). For the UE supporting and allowing dual attach, the following method: the core network control node provides the information of the anchor user plane data termination of the UE session to the core network user plane node in the session establishment request (the information of the user plane data termination is as described in step 401); the second method comprises the following steps: the core network control node provides information about inter-network interoperation in the session establishment request (as described in step 401), and the core network user plane node determines whether to select an anchor user plane data termination point for the UE session for the UE. The operation of selecting the user data termination point for the UE session is as described in step 402, and will not be described herein.

And 7-306, the second core network user plane node requests the selected common user plane data termination node to establish the UE session.

And 7-307, the common user plane data terminal node establishes the session for the UE and returns a session establishment response to the core network user plane node.

And 7-308, the second network core network user plane node returns a session establishment response to the second network core network control node.

Step 7-309, the second network core network control node, after receiving it, may send at least one of the following to the HSS/UDM: session information of the UE, and attach information of the UE (the attach information of the UE and the session information of the UE are as described in step 401). At this time, the network establishing the session channel of the UE in the session information of the UE is already updated to the second network, and the network to which the UE attaches in the attach information of the UE is also updated to be attached to the second network.

Step 7-310, the second network core network control node sends a handover request to the second network radio network node.

And 7-311, the second network wireless access network node makes switching preparation for the UE and returns switching request confirmation to the second network core network control node.

And 7-312, after the UE passes the verification, the second network core network returns a switching request confirmation to the first network core network.

Step 7-313 the first network core network sends a handover command for the UE to the first network radio access network node.

Step 7-314 the first network radio access network node sends a handover command to the UE regarding the UE.

And 7-315, connection between the UE and the second network wireless access network node is established. The UE may simultaneously provide information regarding inter-network interoperation to the radio access network node (as described in step 401).

And 7-316, the second network radio access network node informs the second core network node of UE access. The second network radio access network node or UE may simultaneously provide information about inter-network inter-operation to the core network control node (as described in step 401).

So far, the handover between the UE networks is finished. The present embodiment ends. Irrelevant steps are omitted.

Fig. 8A is a fourth schematic diagram illustrating a method for interoperation between networks according to an embodiment of the present invention. And exchanging mutual information when an interface between the wireless access network node and the core network node is established. As shown in fig. 8A, the method includes the steps of:

and 8-101, the wireless access network node sends an interface establishment request to the core network node. Optionally, the radio access network node sends the dual attach capability information of the radio access network to the core network node (the dual attach capability information of the radio access network is described in step 401).

Step 8-102, the core network node sends an interface establishment response to the radio access network node. Optionally, the core network node sends at least one of the following to the radio access network node: inter-network topology information, dual attach capability information of the core network (inter-network topology information, dual attach capability information of the core network as described in step 401).

This embodiment ends by this. Irrelevant steps are omitted.

Fig. 8B is a fifth schematic diagram illustrating a method for interoperation between networks according to an embodiment of the present invention. Mutual information is interacted between the wireless access network node and the wireless access network node. As shown in fig. 8B, the method includes the steps of:

step 8-201, the first radio access network node sends an interface establishment request or a handover request to the second radio access network node. Optionally, the first radio access network node sends information about inter-network interworking (the information about inter-network interworking is described in step 401) or dual attachment capability information of the radio access network of the first radio access network node (the dual attachment capability information of the radio access network is described in step 401) to the second radio access network node.

Step 8-202, the second radio access network node sends an interface setup response or a handover request acknowledge message to the second radio access network node. Optionally, the second radio access network node sends information about inter-network interworking (the information about inter-network interworking is described in step 401) or dual attachment capability information of a radio access network of the second radio access network node (the dual attachment capability information of the radio access network is described in step 401) to the first radio access network node.

This embodiment ends by this. Irrelevant steps are omitted.

Fig. 9A to 9C are three embodiments of methods for configuring a UE to perform a dual attach operation.

Fig. 9A is a schematic diagram of a method of inter-network interoperation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. And the connected UE moves to the second network, and the wireless access network node of the first network determines that the UE carries out double-attachment operation. As shown in fig. 9A, the method includes the steps of:

and 9-101, reporting the measurement report to the first network wireless access network node by the UE. And the first network wireless access network node judges the occurrence of the switching event and initiates a switching requirement to the first network core network.

And 9-102, the first network core network finds that the target cell belongs to the second network. And returning switching refusal to the first network access network node because no interface exists between the first network and the second network.

Step 9-103, the first network radio access network node determines that the UE satisfies the predefined condition for dual attach (as described in step 501), and configures the UE to perform dual attach operation (as described in step 502).

Fig. 9B is a diagram illustrating a method for inter-network interoperation according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. And the connected UE moves to the second network, and the core network node of the first network determines that the UE carries out double-attachment operation. As shown in fig. 9B, the method includes the steps of:

And 9-201, the UE reports the measurement report to the first network wireless access network node. And the first network wireless access network node judges the occurrence of the switching event and sends a switching request to the first network core network node.

Step 9-202, the first network core network node finds that the target cell belongs to the second network. There is no interface between the first network and the second network. The first network core network node determines that the UE satisfies the predefined condition for dual attach (as shown in step 501), configures the UE to perform dual attach operation (as shown in step 502), and the core network node may return a handover command to the first network radio access network node. Optionally, the message includes dual attach operation information about the UE (the dual attach operation information about the UE is described in step 501).

Step 9-203, the first network radio access network node sends a handover command to the UE. Optionally, the message includes dual attach operation information about the UE (the dual attach operation information about the UE is as described in step 501).

Fig. 9C is a diagram illustrating a method for inter-network interoperation according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. And the idle UE moves to the second network, and the UE determines to perform the dual-attachment operation. As shown in fig. 9C, the method includes the steps of:

9-301, the UE moves into the second network, and the session established by the UE in the first network has data transmission requirement. When the UE determines that the predetermined condition for dual attach is satisfied (as described in step 601), it initiates a second attach to the second network. The specific operation is as described in fig. 7B.

Fig. 10 is a block diagram of a node for interoperation between networks according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the node may include a receiving module for receiving information on inter-network interoperation and a control module for controlling an operation on the user equipment UE in the first network and/or the second network according to the received information on inter-network interoperation.

Optionally, the information on inter-network interoperation includes at least one of the following information: the information of the inter-network topology, the attachment information of the UE, the session information of the UE, the dual-attachment capability information of the core network, the dual-attachment capability information of the radio access network, the dual-attachment subscription information of the UE, the capability information of the inter-network handover of the UE, the inter-network handover capability information of the core network, the inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network, the inter-network handover subscription information of the UE, and the selection information of the user plane data termination point.

Optionally, the inter-network topology information may include at least one of the following information: topology information between a network where the node is located and other networks, and topology information between a first network and a second network; the attachment information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: the dual attachment indication indicates whether the UE is attached, the number of the UE and the network information of the network to which the UE is attached; the session information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: the method comprises the steps of identifying UE, judging whether the UE has a session supporting double attachment or not, whether the UE has a session supporting inter-network switching or not, whether a user plane data destination node of the session of the UE is a public user plane data destination node or not, identifying the session of the UE, an IP address of the UE in the session of the UE, information of an anchor user plane data destination node of the session of the UE, and network information of a network establishing a session channel of the UE; the dual attach capability information of the UE includes at least one of: whether dual attachment is supported, whether unilateral wireless access of time division multiplexing is supported, whether bilateral wireless access is supported, network information of simultaneously attached networks is supported, and network information of the simultaneously attached networks is not supported; the dual attach capability information of the core network comprises at least one of the following information: whether dual attachment is supported or not, network information of a network supporting simultaneous attachment, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, and whether a common user data management node is deployed between the network where the core network node is located and other networks; the dual attachment capability information of the radio access network comprises at least one of the following information: whether dual attach is supported, whether configuration dual attach is supported; the dual attach subscription information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether the UE allows dual attachment, network information of a network to which the UE does not allow dual attachment, network information of a network to which the UE allows access, and network information of a network to which the UE does not allow access; the capability information of inter-network handover of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether to support inter-network handover, network information of a network supporting inter-network handover, and network information of a network not supporting inter-network handover; the inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network includes at least one of the following information: whether the switching among the networks is supported or not, whether the switching among the configured networks is supported or not, the network information of the network supporting the switching among the networks, and the network information of the network not supporting the switching among the networks; the inter-network handover capability information of the core network includes at least one of the following information: whether inter-network switching is supported, network information of a network supporting inter-network switching, network information of a network not supporting inter-network switching, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, and whether a common user data management node is deployed between the network where the core network node is located and other networks; the inter-network handover subscription information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether the UE allows the inter-network switching or not, network information of a network which the UE allows the inter-network switching, network information of a network which the UE does not allow the inter-network switching, network information of a network which the UE allows the access, and network information of a network which the UE does not allow the access; the selection information of the user plane data termination point comprises at least one of the following information: an indication to select a common user plane data termination, an indication to select a UE session anchor user plane data termination.

Optionally, the topology information between the network where the node is located and other networks includes at least one of the following information: the information of the user plane data termination point of the network where the node is located, the information of the user information management node of the network where the node is located, whether an interface exists between the network where the node is located and other networks, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between the network where the node is located and other networks, the information of the user plane data termination point shared by the network where the node is located and other networks, whether a common user information management node is deployed between the network where the node is located and other networks, the information of the user information management node shared by the network where the node is located and other networks, the network information of other networks where the interface exists with the network where the node is located, the network information of other networks where the interface does not exist with the network where the node is located, whether an interface exists between the node and the node of other networks, and the node information of other nodes where the interface exists with the node, node information of other nodes having no interface with the node; the topology information between the first network and the second network comprises at least one of the following information: whether an interface exists between a first network and a second network, whether an interface exists between a node of the first network and a node of the second network, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between the first network and the second network, information of the common user plane data termination point of the first network and the second network, whether a common user information management node is deployed between the first network and the second network, and information of the common user information management node of the first network and the second network.

Alternatively, the network information may comprise at least one of the following information: network type, network identification. Further, the node information may include at least one of the following information: node identification, node group identification and node transport layer address.

Optionally, the UE-related operation may include at least one of: selecting proper user plane data terminal points and establishing the conversation of the UE, judging whether the UE meets the preset conditions of double attachment, sending the information about the interoperation between networks to the UE, and judging whether the UE meets the preset conditions of switching between networks.

Optionally, the operations with respect to the UE may include: when the node is in the first network, the control module controls the operation of the UE in the first network and the operation of the UE between the first network and the second network according to the acquired information on the network interoperation, and when the node is in the second network, the control module controls the operation of the UE in the second network according to the acquired information on the network interoperation.

Optionally, the receiving module may receive information about inter-network interoperation from at least one of: the system comprises a core network node, a wireless access network node, the UE, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data terminal node.

Optionally, the node comprises at least one of: the node of the first network, the node of the second network, the radio access network node of the first network, the core network node of the first network, the radio access network node of the second network, the core network node of the second network, the UE, the information management node of the UE, and the user plane data termination point.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a node for interoperation between networks according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The node comprises: a determining module, configured to determine whether a predetermined condition that a user equipment UE is dual-attached to a first network and a second network is satisfied; a control module for deciding dual attach operation information on the UE when it is determined that a predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network is satisfied.

Optionally, the predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network may comprise at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, an interface does not exist between the first network and the second network, an interface does not exist between a node of the first network and a node of the second network, the UE supports dual attachment to the first network and the second network, a core network supports dual attachment, a radio access network node supports dual attachment, the UE allows dual attachment to be performed to the first network and the second network, the UE is already attached to the first network, the UE is not yet attached to the second network, the UE has a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a user plane data termination point common to the first network and the second network, and the requirement of UE data transmission exists.

Alternatively, the operation of the control module determining whether a predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network is satisfied may include: the control module determines whether a predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network is satisfied based on at least one of: topology information between the first network and the second network, attachment information of the UE, session information of the UE, dual attachment capability information of a core network, dual connection capability information of a radio access network, and dual attachment subscription information of the UE.

Alternatively, the dual attach operation information on the UE may include at least one of: executing the dual attach indication, the network information of the second network, the information of the second network cell, the information about the inter-network interoperation, maintaining the indication of the first network, the indication of selecting the anchor user plane data termination point, and establishing a data channel between the UE and the user plane data termination point of the anchor point of the UE session in the second network.

Optionally, the node may further include a transmitting module, wherein the transmitting module transmits the dual attach operation information on the UE to at least one of: the system comprises the UE, a node of a first network, a node of a second network, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a radio access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data termination node.

Alternatively, the node may comprise at least one of: a first network node, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network.

Fig. 12 is a block diagram of a node for interoperation between networks according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The node comprises: the device comprises a determining module, a judging module and a judging module, wherein the determining module is used for determining whether a preset condition of inter-network handover of User Equipment (UE) from a first network to a second network is met; and a control module which decides inter-network handover operation information on the UE when it is determined that a predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network is satisfied.

Optionally, the predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network includes at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, an interface exists between the first network and the second network, the UE supports inter-network handover from the first network to the second network, a core network supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, a wireless access network node supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, the UE allows execution of inter-network handover from the first network to the second network, the UE exists a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a user plane data termination point common to the first network and the second network, and the requirement of UE data transmission exists.

Alternatively, the determining module may determine whether a predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network is satisfied based on at least one of: topology information between the first network and the second network, attachment information of the UE, session information of the UE, dual-attachment capability information of the UE, inter-network switching capability information of a core network, inter-network switching capability information of a wireless access network, and inter-network switching subscription information of the UE.

Optionally, the inter-network handover operation information on the UE may include at least one of the following information: performing an inter-network handover indication, network information of the second network, information of the second network cell, information about inter-network interoperation.

Optionally, the node may further include a transmitting module, wherein the transmitting module transmits information about the inter-UE-network handover operation to at least one of: the system comprises the UE, a node of a first network, a node of a second network, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a radio access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data termination node.

Alternatively, the first node may comprise at least one of: a first network node, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram of a User Equipment (UE) for inter-network interworking in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The UE includes: the determining module is used for determining whether the condition of the network interoperation is met; and the control module is used for correspondingly executing the inter-network interoperation when the condition of the inter-network interoperation is determined to be met.

Alternatively, the condition of inter-network interoperation may include at least one of: determining that a dual attach predetermined condition is satisfied, receiving dual attach operation information on the UE, receiving operation information on inter-network handover, and receiving inter-network interoperation information.

Alternatively, the control module may perform the dual attach when the determination module determines that the dual attach predetermined condition is satisfied. In addition, the control module may perform a dual attach operation when the determination module determines that the dual attach operation information about the UE is received. Further, the control module may perform an inter-network handover operation when the determination module determines that operation information regarding the inter-network handover of the UE is received.

Optionally, the operation of the control module performing the dual attachment may include at least one of: keeping the attachment of a first network in an active state, keeping a UE session established in the first network in the active state, initiating a second attachment to a second network by the UE, requesting to establish a second channel of the UE session to an anchor point user plane data termination point of the UE session by the UE, providing session information of the UE in the first network by the UE to the second network, providing information of the anchor point user plane data termination point of the UE session by the UE to the second network, and sending information about interoperation between networks to the second network by the UE.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the application and is illustrative of the principles of the technology employed. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention as referred to in the present application is not limited to the embodiments with a specific combination of the above-mentioned features, but also covers other embodiments with any combination of the above-mentioned features or their equivalents without departing from the inventive concept. For example, the above features may be replaced with (but not limited to) features having similar functions disclosed in the present application.

The above description is only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention, and any modifications, equivalents, improvements and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for inter-network interoperation, wherein the method comprises:

the first node learns information about interoperation between networks;

the first node controls inter-network interoperation related to the user equipment UE in the first network and/or the second network according to the learned information related to inter-network interoperation,

wherein the inter-network interoperation includes a dual attach operation or an inter-network handover operation,

wherein the information on inter-network interoperation includes selection information of a user plane data termination point, and the selection information of the user plane data termination point includes at least one of the following information: an indication to select a common user plane data termination, an indication to select a user plane data termination for the UE session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about inter-network interoperation further comprises at least one of: the information of the inter-network topology, the attachment information of the UE, the session information of the UE, the dual attachment capability information of the core network, the dual attachment capability information of the radio access network, the dual attachment subscription information of the UE, the capability information of the inter-network handover of the UE, the inter-network handover capability information of the core network, the inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network, and the inter-network handover subscription information of the UE.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein,

the inter-network topology information includes at least one of the following information: topology information between a network where the first node is located and other networks, and topology information between the first network and the second network; and/or

The attachment information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: the dual attachment indication indicates whether the UE is attached, the number of the UE and the network information of the network to which the UE is attached; and/or

The session information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: the method comprises the steps of identifying UE, judging whether the UE has a session supporting double attachment or not, whether the UE has a session supporting inter-network switching or not, whether a user plane data destination node of the session of the UE is a public user plane data destination node or not, identifying the session of the UE, an IP address of the UE in the session of the UE, information of the user plane data destination node of the session of the UE and network information of a network of a session channel of the UE; and/or

The dual attach capability information of the UE includes at least one of: whether dual attachment is supported or not, whether single-sided wireless access of time division multiplexing is supported or not, whether double-sided wireless access is supported or not, and whether network information of a network attached at the same time is supported or not, and network information of a network attached at the same time is not supported; and/or

The dual attach capability information of the core network comprises at least one of the following information: whether dual attachment is supported or not, network information of a network supporting simultaneous attachment, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, and whether a common user data management node is deployed between the network where the core network node is located and other networks; and/or

The dual attachment capability information of the radio access network comprises at least one of the following information: whether dual attach is supported, whether configuration dual attach is supported; and/or

The dual attach subscription information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether the UE allows double attachment or not, network information of a network to which the UE allows double attachment, network information of a network to which the UE does not allow double attachment, network information of a network to which the UE allows access, and network information of a network to which the UE does not allow access; and/or

The capability information of inter-network handover of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether to support inter-network handover, network information of a network supporting inter-network handover, and network information of a network not supporting inter-network handover; and/or

The inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network includes at least one of the following information: whether inter-network handover is supported, whether inter-network handover is configured, network information of a network supporting inter-network handover, and network information of a network not supporting inter-network handover; and/or

The inter-network handover capability information of the core network includes at least one of the following information: whether inter-network switching is supported, network information of a network supporting inter-network switching, network information of a network not supporting inter-network switching, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between a network where a core network node is located and other networks, and whether a common user data management node is deployed between the network where the core network node is located and other networks; and/or

The inter-network handover subscription information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether the UE allows inter-network handover, network information of a network to which the UE does not allow inter-network handover, network information of a network to which the UE allows access, and network information of a network to which the UE does not allow access.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein,

the topology information between the network where the first node is located and other networks includes at least one of the following information: information of a user plane data termination point of a network where the first node is located, information of a user information management node of the network where the first node is located, whether an interface exists between the network where the first node is located and other networks, whether a common user plane data termination point is disposed between the network where the first node is located and other networks, information of a user plane data termination point common to the network where the first node is located and other networks, whether a common user information management node is disposed between the network where the first node is located and other networks, information of a user information management node common to the network where the first node is located and other networks, network information of other networks where an interface exists with the network where the first node is located, network information of other networks where an interface does not exist with the network where the first node is located, whether an interface exists with a node of other networks, and node information of other nodes where an interface exists with the first node, node information of other nodes having no interface with the first node; and/or

The topology information between the first network and the second network comprises at least one of the following information: whether an interface exists between a first network and a second network, whether an interface exists between a node of the first network and a node of the second network, whether a common user plane data termination point is deployed between the first network and the second network, information of the common user plane data termination point of the first network and the second network, whether a common user information management node is deployed between the first network and the second network, and information of the common user information management node of the first network and the second network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein,

the information of the user plane data termination point comprises at least one of the following information: whether the data is a public user plane data destination, an identifier of the user plane data destination, a transport layer address of the user plane data destination, an IP address of the user plane data destination, network information of a network supported by the user plane data destination, and network information of a network not supported by the user plane data destination; and/or

The information of the user information management node includes at least one of the following information: the identifier of the user information management node, the transport layer address of the user information management node, and the network information of the network supported by the user information management node.

6. The method of any one of claims 3 and 4,

the network information contains at least one of the following information: network type, network identification; and/or

The node information contains at least one of the following information: node identification, node group identification and node transport layer address.

7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein controlling the inter-network inter-operation with respect to the UE comprises at least one of: selecting proper user plane data terminal points and establishing a session or session channel of the UE, judging whether the UE meets the preset conditions of double attachment and executes corresponding operation, sending information about interoperation between networks to the UE, and judging whether the UE meets the preset conditions of switching between networks and executes corresponding operation.

8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of controlling inter-network interoperation with respect to the UE comprises: when the first node is in the first network, the first node controls the operation of UE in the first network and the operation of UE between the first network and the second network according to the obtained information about the interoperation between the networks, and when the first node is in the second network, the first node controls the operation of UE in the second network according to the obtained information about the interoperation between the networks.

9. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of the first node learning information about inter-network interoperation comprises the first node obtaining information about inter-network interoperation from at least one of: a core network node, a wireless access network node, UE, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data terminal node; and/or

The first node comprises at least one of: the node of the first network, the node of the second network, the radio access network node of the first network, the core network node of the first network, the radio access network node of the second network, the core network node of the second network, the UE, the information management node of the UE, and the user plane data termination point.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the UE satisfying the predetermined condition for dual attach comprises at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, an interface does not exist between the first network and the second network, an interface does not exist between a node of the first network and a node of the second network, the UE supports dual attachment to the first network and the second network, a core network supports dual attachment, a radio access network node supports dual attachment, the UE allows dual attachment to be performed to the first network and the second network, the UE is already attached to the first network, the UE is not yet attached to the second network, the UE has a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a user plane data termination point common to the first network and the second network, and the requirement of UE data transmission exists.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the UE satisfies the predetermined condition for dual attach comprises:

the first node determines whether a predetermined condition for dual attachment of the UE to the first network and the second network is satisfied according to at least one of the following information: topology information between the first network and the second network, attachment information of the UE, session information of the UE, dual attachment capability information of a core network, dual connection capability information of a radio access network, dual attachment subscription information of the UE,

the first network and the second network both comprise a radio access network and a core network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about dual attach operation of the UE comprises at least one of: executing the dual attach indication, the network information of the second network, the information of the second network cell, the information about the inter-network interoperation, maintaining the indication of the first network, the indication of selecting the anchor user plane data termination point, and establishing a data channel between the UE and the user plane data termination point of the anchor point of the UE session in the second network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

the first node transmits information on a dual attach operation of the UE to at least one of: the system comprises the UE, a node of a first network, a node of a second network, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a radio access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data termination node.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the UE satisfying the predetermined condition for inter-network handover comprises at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, an interface exists between the first network and the second network, the UE supports inter-network handover from the first network to the second network, a core network supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, a wireless access network node supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, the UE allows execution of inter-network handover from the first network to the second network, the UE exists a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a user plane data termination point common to the first network and the second network, and the requirement of UE data transmission exists.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the UE satisfies the predetermined condition for inter-network handover comprises: the first node determines whether a predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network is satisfied according to at least one of the following information: topology information between the first network and the second network, attachment information of the UE, session information of the UE, dual-attachment capability information of the UE, inter-network switching capability information of a core network, inter-network switching capability information of a wireless access network, and inter-network switching subscription information of the UE.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the information regarding inter-network handover operation of the UE comprises at least one of: performing an inter-network handover indication, network information of the second network, information of the second network cell, information about inter-network interoperation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

the first node transmits information on an inter-network handover operation of the UE to at least one of: the system comprises the UE, a node of a first network, a node of a second network, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a radio access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data termination node.

18. A first node for enabling inter-network interoperability, wherein the first node comprises:

a receiving module for receiving information about interoperation between networks;

a control module for controlling inter-network interoperation with respect to a User Equipment (UE) in the first network and/or the second network according to the received information on inter-network interoperation,

19. The first node of claim 18, wherein the information about inter-network interoperation comprises at least one of: the information of the inter-network topology, the attachment information of the UE, the session information of the UE, the dual attachment capability information of the core network, the dual attachment capability information of the radio access network, the dual attachment subscription information of the UE, the capability information of the inter-network handover of the UE, the inter-network handover capability information of the core network, the inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network, and the inter-network handover subscription information of the UE.

20. The first node of claim 19,

The dual attach subscription information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether the UE allows dual attachment, network information of a network to which the UE does not allow dual attachment, network information of a network to which the UE allows access, and network information of a network to which the UE does not allow access; and/or

The inter-network handover capability information of the radio access network includes at least one of the following information: whether the switching among the networks is supported or not, whether the switching among the configured networks is supported or not, the network information of the network supporting the switching among the networks, and the network information of the network not supporting the switching among the networks; and/or

The inter-network handover subscription information of the UE includes at least one of the following information: whether the UE allows the inter-network switching, network information of a network that the UE does not allow the inter-network switching, network information of a network that the UE allows the access, and network information of a network that the UE does not allow the access.

21. The first node of claim 20,

22. The first node of claim 21,

The information of the user information management node comprises at least one of the following information: the identification of the user information management node, the transport layer address of the user information management node, and the network information of the network supported by the user information management node.

23. The first node of any one of claims 20 and 21, wherein,

24. The first node of any of claims 18 to 21, wherein the control module is configured to perform at least one of: selecting proper user plane data terminal points and establishing a session or session channel of the UE, judging whether the UE meets the preset conditions of double attachment and executes corresponding operation, sending information about interoperation between networks to the UE, and judging whether the UE meets the preset conditions of switching between networks and executes corresponding operation.

25. The first node of any of claims 18 to 21, wherein the control module is configured to: and when the first node is in the second network, controlling the operation of the UE in the second network according to the acquired information on the inter-network interoperation.

26. The first node as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the receiving module is configured to obtain information about inter-network interoperation from at least one of: a core network node, a wireless access network node, UE, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data terminal node; and/or

27. The first node of claim 24, wherein the UE meeting the predetermined condition for dual attach comprises at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, an interface does not exist between the first network and the second network, an interface does not exist between a node of the first network and a node of the second network, the UE supports dual attachment to the first network and the second network, a core network supports dual attachment, a radio access network node supports dual attachment, the UE allows dual attachment to be performed to the first network and the second network, the UE is already attached to the first network, the UE is not yet attached to the second network, the UE has a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a user plane data termination point common to the first network and the second network, and the requirement of UE data transmission exists.

28. The first node of claim 24, wherein determining whether the UE satisfies the predetermined condition for dual attach comprises:

29. The first node of claim 18, wherein the information about dual attach operation of the UE comprises at least one of: executing the dual attach indication, the network information of the second network, the information of the second network cell, the information about the inter-network interoperation, maintaining the indication of the first network, the indication of selecting the anchor user plane data termination point, and establishing a data channel between the UE and the user plane data termination point of the anchor point of the UE session in the second network.

30. The first node of claim 29, wherein the control module is configured to: transmitting information about a dual attach operation of the UE to at least one of: the system comprises the UE, a node of a first network, a node of a second network, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a radio access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data termination node.

31. The first node of claim 24, wherein the UE satisfying the predetermined condition for inter-network handover comprises at least one of: the UE needs to move from a first network to a second network, an interface exists between the first network and the second network, the UE supports inter-network handover from the first network to the second network, a core network supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, a wireless access network node supports inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network, the UE allows execution of inter-network handover from the first network to the second network, the UE exists a session, a user plane data termination point established by the session is a user plane data termination point common to the first network and the second network, and the requirement of UE data transmission exists.

32. The first node of claim 24, wherein determining whether the UE satisfies the predetermined condition for inter-network handover comprises: the first node determines whether a predetermined condition for inter-network handover of the UE from the first network to the second network is satisfied according to at least one of the following information: topology information between the first network and the second network, attachment information of the UE, session information of the UE, dual-attachment capability information of the UE, inter-network switching capability information of a core network, inter-network switching capability information of a wireless access network, and inter-network switching subscription information of the UE.

33. The first node of claim 18, wherein the information regarding inter-network handover operation of the UE comprises at least one of: performing an inter-network handover indication, network information of the second network, information of the second network cell, information about inter-network interoperation.

34. The first node of claim 33, wherein the control module is configured to: transmitting information about an inter-network handover operation of the UE to at least one of: the system comprises the UE, a node of a first network, a node of a second network, a radio access network node of the first network, a core network node of the first network, a radio access network node of the second network, a core network node of the second network, an information management node of the UE and a user plane data termination node.

35. A method for enabling interoperation between a first network and a second network, wherein the method comprises:

user Equipment (UE) determines whether a condition of interoperation between networks is met;

when it is determined that the inter-network interworking condition is satisfied, the UE performs corresponding inter-network interworking,

wherein the information about inter-network interoperation includes selection information of a user plane data termination, and the selection information of the user plane data termination includes at least one of the following information: an indication of a common user plane data termination is selected, an indication of a user plane data termination of the UE session is selected, and the information on inter-network interworking is used to perform corresponding inter-network interworking.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the inter-network interoperation condition comprises at least one of: determining that a dual-attachment preset condition is met, acquiring dual-attachment operation information of UE, acquiring operation information of switching between networks, and acquiring information of interoperation between networks;

the step that the UE executes the corresponding inter-network interoperation comprises the following steps:

when determining that the dual attach predetermined condition is satisfied, the UE performs a dual attach operation;

when the dual attach operation information about the UE is known, the UE performs the dual attach operation;

when inter-network handover operation information about the UE is known, the UE performs an inter-network handover operation.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the UE performing dual attach comprises at least one of: the method comprises the steps of keeping the attachment of a first network, keeping a UE session or a session channel established in the first network, initiating a second attachment to a second network by the UE, requesting the establishment of the second channel of the UE session to a user plane data termination point of the UE session by the UE, providing session information of the UE in the first network by the UE to the second network, providing information of an anchor user plane data termination point of the UE session by the UE to the second network, and sending information about interoperation between networks to the second network by the UE.

38. A user equipment, UE, for enabling inter-network interoperation, wherein the UE comprises:

the determining module is used for determining whether the condition of the network interoperation is met;

a control module for performing inter-network interoperation correspondingly when it is determined that the inter-network interoperation condition is satisfied,

wherein, the inter-network interoperation comprises a dual attachment operation or an inter-network handover operation,

wherein the information about inter-network interoperation includes selection information of a user plane data termination, and the selection information of the user plane data termination includes at least one of: an indication of a common user plane data termination is selected, an indication of a user plane data termination of the UE session is selected, and the information on inter-network interoperation is used to perform a corresponding inter-network interoperation.

39. The UE of claim 38, wherein the inter-network interoperation condition includes at least one of: determining that a dual-attachment preset condition is met, acquiring dual-attachment operation information of UE, acquiring operation information of switching between networks, and acquiring information of interoperation between networks;

the control module is configured to:

when the double-attachment preset condition is determined to be met, executing double-attachment operation;

Performing a dual attach operation when dual attach operation information on the UE is known;

when inter-network handover operation information about the UE is known, an inter-network handover operation is performed.

40. The UE of claim 39, wherein the control module is configured to perform at least one of: the method comprises the steps of keeping the attachment of a first network, keeping a UE session or a session channel established in the first network, initiating a second attachment to a second network by the UE, requesting the establishment of the second channel of the UE session to a user plane data termination point of the UE session by the UE, providing session information of the UE in the first network by the UE to the second network, providing information of an anchor user plane data termination point of the UE session by the UE to the second network, and sending information about interoperation between networks to the second network by the UE.