CN108632928B

CN108632928B - Method and device for switching core network

Info

Publication number: CN108632928B
Application number: CN201710186113.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王瑞; 戴明增; 曾清海
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-03-24
Filing date: 2017-03-24
Publication date: 2020-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-24
Also published as: CN108632928A

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a method and a device for switching a core network, relates to the technical field of communication, and can realize the switching of the core network accessed by a terminal device in a scene that no interface exists between core network equipment of a 4G network and core network equipment of a 5G network. The method comprises the following steps: when determining to update the network accessed by the terminal equipment, the source wireless access network equipment acquires switching mode information, wherein the switching mode information is used for indicating a mode adopted by the terminal equipment to be accessed to a second network under the condition that the terminal equipment is already accessed to a first network; the source wireless access network equipment sends a first message to the terminal equipment, wherein the first message carries switching mode information and is used for indicating the terminal equipment to access a second network according to the switching mode information; wherein the source radio access network device belongs to a first network, and the terminal device has accessed the first network through the source radio access network device.

Description

Method and device for switching core network

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of communication, in particular to a method and a device for switching a core network.

Background

In an Evolved Long Term Evolution (edte) system, an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network of a fourth Generation Communication Technology (4G) network and a Next-Generation Core (NG-Core) network of a fifth Generation Communication Technology (5G) network coexist, where The EPC network is a Core network of a 4G network and The NG-Core network is a Core network of a 5G network. With this, a need arises for a terminal device to switch between EPC networks and NG-Core networks.

Currently, the third Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) TS23.401 communication protocol specifies a method for a terminal device to switch between a 3G network and a 4G network. The method comprises the following steps: an interface exists between the core network equipment of the 3G network and the core network equipment of the 4G network, and when the network accessed by the terminal equipment changes, the context of the terminal equipment can be transmitted to the target core network equipment from the source core network equipment; after acquiring the context of the terminal equipment sent by the source core network equipment, the target core network equipment converts the acquired context of the terminal equipment according to the basic granularity controlled by Quality of Service (QoS) in a target network to which the target core network equipment belongs; the target core network device may trigger the establishment of a transmission path of the data of the terminal device in the target network according to the converted context of the terminal device, and transmit the data of the terminal device that is not transmitted in the source network in the target network.

It can be seen that in the above method, an interface needs to exist between the core network device of the 3G network and the core network device of the 4G network, and the context of the terminal device needs to be converted. However, there may be no interface between the Core network device of the 4G network and the Core network device of the 5G network, and the complexity of converting the context of the terminal device between the 4G network and the 5G network is high, so in a scenario where there is no interface between the Core network device of the 4G network and the Core network device of the 5G network, the above method is not applicable to the terminal device switching between the EPC network and the NG-Core network.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a device for switching a core network, which can realize the switching of the core network accessed by a terminal device in a scene that no interface exists between the core network device of a 4G network and the core network device of a 5G network.

In order to achieve the purpose, the technical scheme is as follows:

in a first aspect, a method for switching a core network is provided, where when a source radio access network device determines to update a network to which a terminal device is accessed, the source radio access network device obtains switching manner information, and sends a first message carrying the switching manner information to the terminal device, where the switching manner information is used to indicate a manner in which the terminal device is accessed to a second network when the terminal device has been accessed to a first network, and the first message is used to indicate that the terminal device is accessed to the second network according to the switching manner information. Here, the source radio access network device belongs to the first network.

The switching mode information is used for indicating the mode adopted by the terminal equipment to access the second network when the network accessed by the terminal equipment is switched from the first network to the second network, so that the terminal equipment can be accessed to the second network according to the switching mode information after the source wireless access network equipment sends the first message carrying the switching mode information to the terminal equipment. The method can realize that the network accessed by the terminal equipment is switched from the first network to the second network no matter whether an interface exists between the core network equipment of the first network and the core network equipment of the second network.

Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the present application, a method for acquiring handover manner information by a source radio access network device is as follows: the method comprises the steps that a source wireless access network device obtains registration mode information and second capability information of a terminal device, the registration mode information is determined by a source control plane network element according to first capability information, the first capability information is used for representing a network registration mode supported by the terminal device, the source control plane network element belongs to a first network, the second capability information is used for representing interaction capability between the source control plane network element and other control plane network elements, and the other control plane network elements are different from the network to which the source control plane network element belongs; and the source wireless access network equipment determines the switching mode information according to the registration mode information and the second capability information. Or, the method for the source radio access network device to obtain the switching mode information includes: the source wireless access network equipment sends a second message to the source control plane network element, the second message carries the identifier of the terminal equipment and the first information, the first information is the identifier of the target wireless access network equipment or the identifier of the target cell, the target wireless access network equipment is the wireless access network equipment to which the target cell belongs, and the second message is used for indicating the source control plane network element to allocate resources for the terminal equipment in a second network; correspondingly, the source radio access network device receives a third message carrying the switching mode information sent by the source control plane network element, so that the source radio access network device acquires the switching mode information from the third message. Or the source radio access network equipment acquires the registration mode information of the terminal equipment, wherein the registration mode information is determined by the source control plane network element according to the first capability information; the source wireless access network device determines the switching mode information according to the registration mode information, and at this time, the switching mode information and the registration mode information may be the same information.

Core network devices often have control plane functionality and user plane functionality. Generally, a control plane network element is used to refer to a device capable of implementing a control plane function of a core network device, and a user plane network element is used to refer to a device capable of implementing a user plane function of a core network device. The control plane network element and the user plane network element can be independently arranged or integrated in the same equipment. The switching mode information in the embodiment of the application is determined by the source radio access network device or the source control plane network element according to the registration mode information and the second capability information of the terminal device, that is, the switching mode information is determined by the source radio access network device or the source control plane network element after the terminal device capability and the source control plane network element capability are considered comprehensively, so that a network accessed by the terminal device can better meet the network requirement when the network is switched from the first network to the second network.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the method for acquiring the registration mode information of the terminal device by the source radio access network device includes: the source wireless access network equipment receives registration mode information sent by the terminal equipment, wherein the registration mode information is obtained by the terminal equipment from a fourth message which is sent by a source control plane network element and carries the registration mode information; or, the source radio access network device receives a fifth message carrying the registration mode information sent by the source control plane network element, so that the source radio access network device acquires the registration mode information from the fifth message.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the handover manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a redirection manner. In this application scenario, the first message further carries second information, where the second information is the first information or a frequency point of the target cell, the first information is an identifier of the target radio access network device or an identifier of the target cell, the target radio access network device is a radio access network device to which the target cell belongs, and the target radio access network device belongs to the second network.

In a scenario that the handover mode information is specifically used for indicating that the terminal device accesses the second network in a redirection mode, the source radio access network device needs to send the second information to the terminal device while sending the handover mode information to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can directly send an access request to the target radio access network device indicated by the second information or to the radio access network device of any cell in at least one cell working at a frequency point indicated by the second information. In this application scenario, no matter whether an interface exists between the source control plane network element and the target control plane network element, the network accessed by the terminal device can be switched from the first network to the second network.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a manner of using a single data channel, where the manner of using the single data channel is that data of the terminal device is transmitted in one network. In this application scenario, after acquiring the handover mode information, the source radio access network device further sends a sixth message carrying third information to the user plane network element, where the third information is used to instruct the user plane network element to terminate sending data of the terminal device in the first network, and the user plane network element belongs to both the first network and the second network.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, in an application scenario where the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel manner, the sixth message further carries fourth information, where the fourth information is used to instruct the user plane network element to cache the data of the terminal device after the user plane network element terminates sending the data of the terminal device in the first network.

In an application scenario in which the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel manner, the terminal device may register in both the first network and the second network, and therefore, when the network to which the terminal device accesses is switched from the first network to the second network, the target control plane network element does not need to convert the context of the terminal device. After the user plane network element stops sending the data of the terminal equipment in the first network, the data of the terminal equipment is cached, so that after the terminal equipment is accessed to the second network, the user plane network element can send the cached data to the terminal equipment through the second network, the transmission continuity of the data of the terminal equipment is ensured, and the data of the terminal equipment cannot be lost.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the handover manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a dual-registration dual-data channel manner, where the dual-registration dual-data channel manner is that the terminal device is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in both networks. In this application scenario, after acquiring the handover mode information, the source radio access network device further sends a seventh message to the user plane network element, where the seventh message is used to instruct the user plane network element to send the same data packet in the first network and the second network, and the user plane network element belongs to both the first network and the second network. Or, the seventh message is used to instruct the user plane network element to send the last data packet to the terminal device in the first network, and to send a data packet subsequent to the last data packet to the terminal device in the second network. Correspondingly, after sending the seventh message, the source radio access network device receives, from the user plane network element, a first data packet carrying a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to indicate that the user plane network element has sent the first data packet in both the first network and the second network, and thus, the source radio access network device recognizes the first identifier, disconnects the connection with the terminal device, and sends an eighth message to the source control plane network element, where the eighth message is used to instruct the source control plane network element to release the context of the terminal device. Or, after sending the seventh message, the source radio access network device receives, from the user plane network element, a second data packet carrying a second identifier, where the second identifier is used to indicate that the second data packet is a last data packet sent by the user plane network element to the terminal device in the first network. In this way, the source radio access network device recognizes the second identifier, sends the eighth message to the control plane network element, and disconnects the connection with the terminal device after the source radio access network device sends the second packet to the terminal device. Or after the source radio access network device sends the seventh message, starting the first timer, and after the first timer exceeds a first preset time, the source radio access network device disconnects the terminal device, and sends an eighth message to the source control plane network element.

In an application scenario in which the switching mode information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a dual-registration dual-data channel mode, the terminal device may be registered in both the first network and the second network, and therefore, when the terminal device accesses the second network, the target control plane network element does not need to convert the context of the terminal device. The source wireless access network equipment informs the user plane network element to respectively send the same data packet to the terminal equipment in the first network and the second network, so that even if the network accessed by the terminal equipment is switched from the first network to the second network, the data of the terminal equipment cannot be lost, and the transmission of the data of the terminal equipment is not interrupted. The source wireless access network equipment determines to disconnect the connection with the terminal equipment by adopting a mode of identifying the identifier or starting the first timer, and informs the source control plane network element to release the context of the terminal equipment, so that the waste of resources of the terminal equipment and the source control plane network element can be reduced, and unnecessary signaling and data transmission can be reduced.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network by using a time-division shared dual data channel, where the time-division shared dual data channel is that the terminal device is registered in the two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in one of the two networks in a first preset time period and is transmitted in the other of the two networks in a second preset time period. In this application scenario, the first message further carries fifth information, where the fifth information is used to indicate time information of communication between the source radio access network device and the terminal device, or is used to indicate time information of communication between the target radio access network device and the terminal device, or is used to indicate index information of a preset time allocation mode, and the target radio access network device belongs to the second network.

In an application scenario in which the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a time-division shared dual-data channel manner, the terminal device may be registered in both the first network and the second network, and therefore, when the network to which the terminal device accesses is switched from the first network to the second network, the context of the terminal device does not need to be converted.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the first message further carries sixth information, where the sixth information is first configuration information, or the first configuration information and the second configuration information, the first configuration information is configuration information of a Data Radio Bearer (DRB) used by the terminal device in the second network, and the second configuration information is configuration information of a Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) used by the terminal device in the second network.

After receiving the first message carrying the sixth information, the terminal device may reserve the radio resource used by the terminal device in the first network, and configure the radio resource used by the terminal device in the second network according to the sixth information, so that the terminal device transmits data of the terminal device in different networks by using the radio resource corresponding to the networks.

In a second aspect, a radio access network device is provided, where the radio access network device is a source radio access network device and includes a processing unit and a sending unit.

The functions implemented by the unit modules provided by the present application are specifically as follows:

the processing unit is configured to, when the source radio access network device determines to update a network to which the terminal device is accessed, acquire switching manner information, where the switching manner information is used to indicate a manner in which the terminal device is accessed to a second network when the terminal device has been accessed to a first network; the sending unit is configured to send a first message to the terminal device, where the first message carries the switching mode information obtained by the processing unit, and the first message is used to instruct the terminal device to access to a second network according to the switching mode information; wherein the source radio access network device belongs to the first network.

Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the present application, the processing unit is specifically configured to acquire registration mode information of the terminal device, where the registration mode information is determined by the source control plane network element according to the first capability information, the first capability information is used to indicate a network registration manner supported by the terminal device, the source control plane network element belongs to the first network, acquire second capability information, the second capability information is used to indicate an interaction capability between the source control plane network element and other control plane network elements, the other control plane network elements are different from the network to which the source control plane network element belongs, and determine the switching manner information according to the registration mode information and the second capability information. Or, the sending unit is further configured to send a second message to the source control plane network element, where the second message carries an identifier of the terminal device and first information, the first information is an identifier of a target radio access network device or an identifier of a target cell, the target radio access network device is a radio access network device to which the target cell belongs, and the second message is used to instruct the source control plane network element to allocate resources to the terminal device in a second network; the source radio access network equipment also comprises a receiving unit, wherein the receiving unit is used for receiving a third message sent by the source control plane network element, and the third message carries the switching mode information; the processing unit is specifically configured to acquire the handover mode information from the third message received by the receiving unit. Or, the processing unit is specifically configured to acquire registration mode information of the terminal device, where the registration mode information is determined by the source control plane network element according to the first capability information, and is specifically configured to determine the switching manner information according to the registration mode information.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the receiving unit is further configured to receive registration mode information sent by the terminal device, where the registration mode information is obtained by the terminal device from a fourth message sent by the source control plane network element, and the fourth message carries the registration mode information. Or, the receiving unit is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the source control plane network element, where the fifth message carries the registration mode information; the processing unit is specifically configured to acquire the registration mode information from the second message received by the receiving unit.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the handover manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network by using a redirected handover manner. In this application scenario, the first message further carries second information, where the second information is the first information or a frequency point of the target cell, the first information is an identifier of the target radio access network device or an identifier of the target cell, the target radio access network device is a radio access network device to which the target cell belongs, and the target radio access network device belongs to the second network.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a manner of using a single data channel, where the manner of using the single data channel is that data of the terminal device is transmitted in one network. In this application scenario, the sending unit is further configured to send a sixth message to the user plane network element, where the sixth message carries third information, the third information is used to instruct the user plane network element to terminate sending data of the terminal device in the first network, and the user plane network element belongs to both the first network and the second network.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the sixth message further carries fourth information, where the fourth information is used to instruct the user plane network element to cache the data of the terminal device after the user plane network element terminates sending the data of the terminal device in the first network.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the handover manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a dual-registration dual-data channel manner, where the dual-registration dual-data channel manner is that the terminal device is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in both networks. In this application scenario, the sending unit is further configured to send a seventh message to the user plane network element, where the seventh message is used to instruct the user plane network element to send the same data packet in the first network and the second network, and the user plane network element belongs to both the first network and the second network; or, the seventh message is used to instruct the user plane network element to send the last data packet to the terminal device in the first network, and to send a data packet subsequent to the last data packet to the terminal device in the second network. The receiving unit is further configured to receive a first data packet from the user plane network element after the sending unit sends the seventh message, where the first data packet carries a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the first data packet in both the first network and the second network; the processing unit is also used for identifying the first identifier and disconnecting the connection with the terminal equipment; the sending unit is further configured to send, after the processing unit recognizes the first identifier, an eighth message to the source control plane network element, where the eighth message is used to instruct the source control plane network element to release the context of the terminal device. Or, the receiving unit is further configured to receive a second data packet from the user plane network element after the sending unit sends the seventh message, where the second data packet carries a second identifier, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the second data packet is a last data packet sent by the user plane network element to the terminal device in the first network; the processing unit is further configured to identify a second identifier; the sending unit is further configured to send an eighth message to the source control plane network element after the processing unit identifies the second identifier; the processing unit is further configured to disconnect the terminal device after the sending unit sends the second packet to the terminal device. Or, the processing unit is further configured to start a first timer after the sending unit sends the seventh message, and disconnect the source radio access network device from the terminal device after the first timer exceeds a first preset duration; the sending unit is further configured to send an eighth message to the source control plane network element after the first timer started by the processing unit exceeds a first preset duration.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network by using a time-division shared dual data channel, where the time-division shared dual data channel is that the terminal device is registered in the two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in one of the two networks in a first preset time period and is transmitted in the other of the two networks in a second preset time period. The first message also carries fifth information, where the fifth information is used to indicate time information of communication between the source radio access network device and the terminal device, or is used to indicate time information of communication between the target radio access network device and the terminal device, or is used to indicate index information of a preset time allocation mode, and the target radio access network device belongs to the second network.

In a third aspect, a radio access network device is provided, the radio access network device being a source radio access network device, the radio access network device comprising a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. Wherein the memory is configured to store a computer program code, the computer program code includes instructions, and the processor and the communication interface are connected to the memory through the bus, and when the radio access network device operates, the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, so that the radio access network device performs the method for switching the core network according to the first aspect and various possible implementations thereof.

In a fourth aspect, there is also provided a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein; when run on a radio access network device, causes the radio access network device to perform a method of switching a core network as in the first aspect and its various possible implementations described above.

In a fifth aspect, there is also provided a computer program product containing instructions which, when run on a radio access network device, cause the radio access network device to perform the method of switching a core network as in the first aspect and its various possible implementations.

In the present application, the names of the above-mentioned radio access network devices do not constitute a limitation on the devices or functional modules themselves, which may appear by other names in actual implementations. Insofar as the functions of the respective devices or functional modules are similar to those of the present application, they fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

For a detailed description of the second, third, fourth, fifth and their various implementations in this application, reference may be made to the detailed description of the first aspect and its various implementations; moreover, the beneficial effects of the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect and various implementation manners thereof may refer to the beneficial effect analysis of the first aspect and various implementation manners thereof, and are not described herein again.

In a sixth aspect, a method for switching a core network is provided, in which a terminal device sends an access request message carrying switching manner information to a target access network device after receiving a first message carrying switching manner information sent by a source radio access network device, so as to request to access a second network. The terminal device has accessed the first network through the source wireless access network device, the switching mode information is used for indicating the mode adopted by the terminal device to access the second network under the condition that the terminal device has accessed the first network, and the target access network device belongs to the second network.

Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a dual-registration dual-data channel manner, where the dual-registration dual-data channel manner is that the terminal device is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in both networks. In the application scenario, after the terminal device accesses the second network, the terminal device receives a first data packet from the source radio access network device, where the first data packet carries a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the user plane network element has sent the first data packet in both the first network and the second network; the terminal equipment identifies the first identifier and disconnects the connection with the source wireless access network equipment. Or after the terminal device accesses to the second network, the terminal device receives a second data packet from the source radio access network device, where the second data packet carries a second identifier, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the second data packet is a last data packet sent by the user plane network element to the terminal device in the first network; the terminal equipment identifies the second identifier and disconnects the connection with the source wireless access network equipment. Or after the terminal equipment is accessed to the second network, the terminal equipment starts a second timer, and after the second timer exceeds a second preset time length, the terminal equipment is disconnected with the source wireless access network equipment.

In an application scenario in which the switching mode information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a dual-registration dual-data channel mode, the terminal device may be registered in both the first network and the second network, and therefore, when the terminal device accesses the second network, the target control plane network element does not need to convert the context of the terminal device. In the application scenario, the user plane network element sends the same data packet to the terminal device in the first network and the second network respectively, so that even if the network accessed by the terminal device is switched from the first network to the second network, the data of the terminal device does not have a packet loss phenomenon, and the transmission of the data of the terminal device is not interrupted. The terminal equipment adopts a mode of identifying the identifier or starting the second timer to determine to disconnect the connection with the source wireless access network equipment, so that the waste of terminal equipment resources can be reduced, and unnecessary signaling transmission can be reduced.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel manner, where the single data channel manner is that data of the terminal device is transmitted in one network. In this application scenario, after the terminal device receives the first message, the terminal device starts the second timer, and after the second timer exceeds a second preset duration, the terminal device disconnects the source radio access network device.

In an application scenario in which the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel manner, the terminal device may be registered in both the first network and the second network, and therefore, when the network to which the terminal device accesses is switched from the first network to the second network, the target control plane network element does not need to convert the context of the terminal device. In the application scenario, the terminal device determines to disconnect the connection with the source radio access network device by adopting a mode of identifying the identifier or starting the second timer, so that the continuity of data transmission of the terminal device can be ensured, the waste of terminal device resources is reduced, and unnecessary signaling transmission is reduced.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a redirected switching manner; or, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a manner of a time-division shared dual data channel, where the manner of the time-division shared dual data channel is that the terminal device is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in one of the two networks in a first preset time period and is transmitted in the other of the two networks in a second preset time period, and the first message further includes fifth information, where the fifth information is used to indicate time information for the source radio access network device to communicate with the terminal device, or is used to indicate time information for the target radio access network device to communicate with the terminal device, or is used to indicate index information of a preset time allocation mode.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the first message further includes sixth information, where the sixth information is first configuration information, or the first configuration information and the second configuration information, the first configuration information is configuration information of a DRB used by the terminal device in the second network, and the second configuration information is configuration information of an SRB used by the terminal device in the second network. In this application scenario, after receiving the first message, the terminal device further reserves a radio resource used by the terminal device in the first network, and configures a radio resource used by the terminal device in the second network according to the sixth information.

In a seventh aspect, a terminal device is provided, which includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit.

the receiving unit is configured to receive a first message sent by a source radio access network device, where the first message carries switching manner information, where the terminal device has accessed to the first network through the source radio access network device, and the switching manner information is used to indicate a manner adopted by the terminal device to access to the second network when the terminal device has accessed to the first network; the sending unit is configured to send an access request message to the target access network device, where the access request message carries switching manner information to request access to a second network, and the target access network device belongs to the second network.

Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a dual-registration dual-data channel manner, where the dual-registration dual-data channel manner is that the terminal device is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in both networks. In this application scenario, the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first data packet from the source radio access network device after the terminal device accesses the second network, where the first data packet carries a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the user plane network element has sent the first data packet in both the first network and the second network; the terminal device further comprises a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is used for identifying the first identifier and disconnecting the connection with the source wireless access network device after the receiving unit receives the first data packet. Or, in this application scenario, the receiving unit is further configured to receive a second data packet from the source radio access network device after the terminal device accesses the second network, where the second data packet carries a second identifier, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the second data packet is a last data packet sent by the user plane network element to the terminal device in the first network; the terminal device further comprises a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is used for identifying the second identifier and disconnecting the connection with the source wireless access network device after the receiving unit receives the second data packet. Or, in this application scenario, the processing unit is configured to start a second timer after the terminal device accesses the second network, and disconnect the source radio access network device after the second timer exceeds a second preset duration.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel manner, where the single data channel manner is that data of the terminal device is transmitted in one network. In this application scenario, the processing unit is configured to, after the receiving unit receives the first message, start a second timer by the terminal device, and disconnect the connection with the source radio access network device after the second timer exceeds a second preset duration.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the first message further includes sixth information, where the sixth information is first configuration information, or the first configuration information and the second configuration information, the first configuration information is configuration information of a DRB used by the terminal device in the second network, and the second configuration information is configuration information of an SRB used by the terminal device in the second network. In this application scenario, the terminal device further includes a processing unit, where the processing unit is configured to reserve the radio resource used by the terminal device in the first network after the receiving unit receives the first message, and configure the radio resource used by the terminal device in the second network according to the sixth information.

In an eighth aspect, a terminal device is provided that includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. When the terminal device runs, the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, so that the terminal device executes the method for switching the core network according to the sixth aspect and various possible implementations thereof.

In a ninth aspect, there is also provided a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein; when run on a terminal device, cause the terminal device to perform the method of switching core networks as described above in the sixth aspect and its various possible implementations.

In a tenth aspect, there is also provided a computer program product containing instructions which, when run on a terminal device, cause the terminal device to perform the method of switching a core network as in the sixth aspect and its various possible implementations.

In the present application, the names of the above-mentioned terminal devices do not limit the devices or the functional modules themselves, and in actual implementation, the devices or the functional modules may appear by other names. Insofar as the functions of the respective devices or functional modules are similar to those of the present application, they fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

For a detailed description of the seventh aspect, the eighth aspect, the ninth aspect, the tenth aspect, and various implementations thereof in the present application, reference may be made to the detailed description of the sixth aspect and various implementations thereof; moreover, for the beneficial effects of the seventh aspect, the eighth aspect, the ninth aspect, the tenth aspect and various implementation manners thereof, reference may be made to beneficial effect analysis in the sixth aspect and various implementation manners thereof, and details are not repeated here.

In an eleventh aspect, a method for switching a core network is provided, where a user plane network element receives handover mode information from a first device, and determines seventh information according to the handover mode information. The first device is a source radio access network device or a target radio access network device, the source radio access network device belongs to a first network, the target radio access network device belongs to a second network, the user plane network element belongs to both the first network and the second network, the switching mode information is used for indicating a mode adopted by the terminal device to access the second network when the terminal device has accessed the first network, and the seventh information is used for indicating a mode adopted by the user plane network element to transmit data of the terminal device.

The user plane network element belongs to the first network and the second network at the same time, and the switching mode information is used for indicating the mode adopted by the terminal equipment to access the second network when the network accessed by the terminal equipment is switched from the first network to the second network, so that the method provided by the embodiment of the application can realize that the network accessed by the terminal equipment is switched from the first network to the second network no matter whether an interface exists between the source control plane network element and the target control plane network element or not.

Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a manner of using a single data channel, where the manner of using the single data channel is that data of the terminal device is transmitted in one network. In this application scenario, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element terminates the data of the terminal device in the first network.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, in an application scenario where the handover manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel manner, the seventh information is further used to indicate that the user plane network element buffers data of the terminal device after terminating sending the data of the terminal device to the source radio access network device.

In an application scenario in which the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel manner, the terminal device may be registered in both the first network and the second network, and therefore, when the network to which the terminal device accesses is switched from the first network to the second network, the target control plane network element does not need to convert the context of the terminal device. After the user plane network element stops sending the data of the terminal equipment in the first network, the data of the terminal equipment is cached, so that after the terminal equipment is accessed to the second network, the user plane network element can send the cached data to the terminal equipment through the second network, the transmission continuity of the data of the terminal equipment is ensured, and the data of the terminal equipment cannot be lost.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a dual-registration dual-data channel manner, where the dual-registration dual-data channel manner is that the terminal device is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in both networks. In this application scenario, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the same data packet in the first network and the second network; or the seventh message is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the last data packet to the terminal device in the first network, and sends a data packet subsequent to the last data packet to the terminal device in the second network.

In an application scenario in which the switching mode information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a dual-registration dual-data channel mode, the terminal device may be registered in both the first network and the second network, and therefore, when the terminal device accesses the second network, the target control plane network element does not need to convert the context of the terminal device. The user plane network element respectively sends the data packets to the terminal equipment in the first network and the second network, so that even if the network accessed by the terminal equipment is switched from the first network to the second network, the data of the terminal equipment cannot be lost, and the transmission of the data of the terminal equipment is not interrupted.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a manner of using a time-division shared dual data channel, where the time-division shared dual data channel is used by the terminal device to register in the two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in one of the two networks in a first preset time period and is transmitted in the other of the two networks in a second preset time period. In this application scenario, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element communicates with the source radio access network device within a first preset time period, or specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element communicates with the target radio access network device within a second preset time period.

In a twelfth aspect, a user plane network element is provided, which includes a receiving unit and a processing unit.

the processing unit is configured to receive handover mode information from a first device, where the first device is a source radio access network device or a target radio access network device, the source radio access network device belongs to a first network, the target radio access network device belongs to a second network, and a user plane network element belongs to both the first network and the second network, and the handover mode information is used to indicate a mode used by a terminal device to access to the second network when a network accessed by the terminal device is switched from the first network to the second network; the processing unit is configured to determine seventh information according to the handover mode information received by the receiving unit, where the seventh information is used to indicate a mode used by the user plane network element to transmit data of the terminal device.

Optionally, in a possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a manner of using a single data channel, where the manner of using the single data channel is that data of the terminal device is transmitted in one network. In this application scenario, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element terminates sending data of the terminal device in the first network.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the present application, the switching manner information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a manner of using a time-division shared dual data channel, where the time-division shared dual data channel is used by the terminal device to register in the two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in one of the two networks in a first preset time period and is transmitted in the other of the two networks in a second preset time period. In this application scenario, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element communicates with the source radio access network device within a first preset time period, or to indicate that the user plane network element communicates with the target radio access network device within a second preset time period.

In a thirteenth aspect, a user plane network element is provided that includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. Wherein, the memory is used for storing a computer program code, the computer program code includes instructions, the processor and the communication interface are connected with the memory through the bus, when the user plane network element runs, the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, so as to enable the user plane network element to execute the method for switching the core network according to the eleventh aspect and various possible implementations thereof.

In a fourteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein is also provided; when run on a user plane network element, cause the user plane network element to perform a method of switching a core network as in the eleventh aspect and its various possible implementations described above.

In a fifteenth aspect, there is also provided a computer program product containing instructions which, when run on a user plane network element, cause the user plane network element to perform the method of switching a core network as in the eleventh aspect and its various possible implementations.

In this application, the names of the above-mentioned user plane network elements do not constitute a limitation on the devices or functional modules themselves, which may appear by other names in an actual implementation. Insofar as the functions of the respective devices or functional modules are similar to those of the present application, they fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

Reference may be made to the detailed description of the twelfth aspect, the thirteenth aspect, the fourteenth aspect, the fifteenth aspect and various implementations thereof in this application for reference to the detailed description of the eleventh aspect and various implementations thereof; moreover, for the beneficial effects of the twelfth aspect, the thirteenth aspect, the fourteenth aspect, the fifteenth aspect and various implementation manners thereof, reference may be made to analysis of the beneficial effects of the eleventh aspect and various implementation manners thereof, and details are not described here.

These and other aspects of the present application will be more readily apparent from the following description.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional LTE system;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system of a 5G network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of components of each device in a communication system of a 5G network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a first flowchart illustrating a method for switching a core network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a second flowchart illustrating a method for switching a core network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a third flowchart illustrating a method for switching a core network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a fourth flowchart illustrating a method for switching a core network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a first schematic structural diagram of a radio access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a radio access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a first schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a first schematic structural diagram of a user plane network element according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a user plane network element according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth," etc. in the description and claims of this application and the above-described drawings are used for distinguishing between different objects and not for limiting a particular order.

In the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "e.g.," is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the word "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present concepts related in a concrete fashion.

In the current 4G network, each evolved Node Base Station (eNB) in the LTE system, referred to as LTE eNB in the embodiments of the present application, is all accessed to the EPC network through an S1 interface, and different LTE enbs are connected through an X2 interface. Each LTE eNB is connected to at least one UE in the LTE system, and the UE in the LTE system is referred to as an LTE UE in the embodiments of the present application. Fig. 1 shows a network architecture of an LTE system. In practical applications, the connections between the plurality of devices are wireless connections, and fig. 1 is illustrated with solid lines for the convenience of intuitively showing the connection relationship between the devices.

With the continuous development of mobile communication technology, 4G networks gradually evolve towards 5G networks. In the evolution process, the LTE system may evolve into an LTE system.

In the eLTE system, an EPC network and an NG-Core network coexist. An eNB in the lte system is referred to as an lte eNB, and a User Equipment (UE) having an access to an NG-Core network function is referred to as a next generation UE. The eLTE eNB can access to an EPC network and can also access to an NG-Core network. The next generation UE wirelessly connected with the eLTE eNB can access to the EPC network or the NG-Core network through the eLTE eNB. As shown in fig. 2, the lte eNB may access the EPC network through an S1 interface, and may also access the NG-Core network through other corresponding interfaces (denoted NG in fig. 2). The next generation UE connected with the eLTE eNB can access to the EPC network through the eLTE eNB and can also access to the NG-Core network through the eLTE eNB. The LTE UE connected with the eLTE eNB can access the EPC network through the LTE eNB. In fig. 2, a base station accessing only an NG-Core network is denoted by NR gbb, an LTE eNB and an LTE eNB are connected by an X2 interface, and the LTE eNB and the NR gbb are connected by an Xn interface. Similarly, in practical applications, the connections between the multiple devices are wireless connections, and fig. 2 is illustrated with solid lines for convenience of intuitively representing the connection relationships between the devices.

In the communication system of the 5G network shown in fig. 2, the Core network to which the next generation UE accesses can be switched between the EPC network and the NG-Core network. The existing method for switching the core network needs to have interfaces among different core network devices and switch the context of the terminal device in the switching process of the core network. However, there may not be an interface between the devices of the EPC network and the devices of the NG-Core network, and the complexity of converting the context of the terminal device between the EPC network and the NG-Core network is high and is not easy to implement. Therefore, in a scenario where there is no interface between the devices of the EPC network and the devices of the NG-Core network, the existing method of switching the Core network is not suitable for the terminal device to switch between the EPC network and the NG-Core network.

In view of this problem, embodiments of the present application provide a method for switching a core network, so that a terminal device accesses a second network according to handover mode information determined by handover mode information used for indicating that the terminal device accesses the second network when the terminal device has accessed a first network. In this way, whether an interface exists between the core network device of the first network and the core network device of the second network or not, the access network of the terminal device can be switched from the first network to the second network.

A terminal device in embodiments of the present application may refer to a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to a user, a handheld device with wireless connection capability, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem. A wireless terminal may communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN). The wireless terminals may be mobile terminals such as mobile phones (or "cellular" phones) and computers with mobile terminals, as well as portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange language and/or data with a wireless access network, such as cell phones, tablets, laptops, netbooks, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).

The wireless Access device in this embodiment may be an Access Point (AP), an evolved Node Base Station (eNB), or an NR gbb, where the NR gbb represents a Base Station in the 5Generation Mobile Communication Technology (5G) network, and this is not limited in this embodiment.

The method for switching the core network provided by the embodiment of the application is applicable to the communication system of the 5G network shown in fig. 2. With reference to fig. 2, the source radio access network device in the embodiment of the present application may be an LTE eNB, or an NR gbb, and the terminal device may be a next generation UE.

The core network device of the 4G network and the core network device of the 5G network may be interworked (english). With reference to fig. 2, fig. 3 shows a composition structure between devices in a communication system of a 5G network in a scenario in which a core network device of the 4G network and a core network device of the 5G network are in interworking.

The core network device has a user plane function and a control plane function, generally, a user plane network element is used to represent a device capable of implementing the user plane function of the core network device, a control plane network element is used to represent a device capable of implementing the control plane function of the core network device, and the user plane network element and the control plane network element may be integrated in the same device or may be independently set. The embodiment of the present application is described by taking an example in which a user plane network element and a control plane network element are independently set.

In fig. 3, a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) of the 4G network and a Unified Data Management (UDM) entity of the 5G network are integrated in the same device, a policy and Charging Rules Function pcrf (policy and Charging Rules Function) entity of the 4G network and a policy Function pcf (policy Function) entity of the 5G network are integrated in the same device, a PGW-C network element of a Public Data network Gateway (PGW) of the 4G network and a Session Management Function (SMF) entity of the 5G network are integrated in the same device, and a PGW-U network element of the 4G network and a User plane Function (User plane Function, UPF) entity of the 5G network are integrated in the same device. The Mobility Management Entity (MME) in fig. 3 is a control plane network element of the 4G network, and the MME and the LTE eNB are connected through an S1-MME interface. A Core Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) entity is a control plane network element in a 5G network, and the AMF is connected to the NR gbb/lte eNB through an N2 interface or directly connected to a next generation UE through an N1 interface. The MME and the AMF may be connected through an Nx interface, and the Nx interface may not exist, so the dashed line in fig. 3 represents the Nx interface. A Serving GateWay (SGW) is a device in the 4G network that is responsible for processing such as routing and forwarding of packets. In addition, relevant interfaces of S5-U, S5-C, S11, S1-U, S6a, N1, N2, N3, N4, N7, N8, N10, N11, N15 and the like are also shown in FIG. 3, and the interfaces are not described in detail herein.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for switching a core network according to an embodiment of the present application, where the method may be applied to a communication system of a 5G network shown in fig. 2 or fig. 3. For convenience of description, the embodiment of the present application refers to a radio access network device as a base station.

Referring to fig. 4, the method for switching the core network includes:

s400, in the scene that the terminal device has accessed the first network through the source base station, the source base station judges whether to update the network accessed by the terminal device.

In a scenario that the terminal device accesses the first network through the source base station, the source base station is a base station of a serving cell of the terminal device. The terminal device may periodically measure the channel quality of the serving cell of the terminal device and the channel quality of the neighbor cells of the terminal device. The terminal device may periodically send the channel measurement result to the source base station, may also send the channel measurement result to the source base station triggered by an event, and may also send the channel measurement result to the source base station after a Tracking Area (TA) to which the terminal device belongs changes. And the source base station judges whether to update the network accessed by the terminal equipment according to the channel measurement result reported by the terminal equipment.

The first network in the embodiment of the present application is an EPC network or an NG-Core network.

S401, if the source base station determines to update the network accessed by the terminal equipment, the source base station acquires the switching mode information.

The handover mode information is used to indicate a mode adopted by the terminal device to access the second network when the terminal device has accessed the first network. The second network is different from the first network.

Optionally, the method for the source base station to obtain the handover mode information may be: the source base station acquires the registration mode information of the terminal equipment and acquires the second capability information, so that the source base station can determine the switching mode information according to the registration mode information and the second capability information. The registration mode information is determined by the source control plane network element according to the first capability information, the first capability information is used for representing a network registration mode supported by the terminal equipment, the source control plane network element belongs to a first network, the second capability information is used for representing interaction capability between the source control plane network element and other control plane network elements, and the other control plane network elements are different from the network to which the source control plane network element belongs.

Wherein the first capability information may represent any one of the following information:

1A, the terminal equipment supports registration in a network;

1B, the terminal equipment supports simultaneous registration in the two networks, and the data supporting the terminal equipment is transmitted in one of the two networks;

1C, the terminal equipment supports simultaneous registration in the two networks, and the data supporting the terminal equipment is transmitted in both the two networks;

and 1D, the terminal equipment supports registration in two networks, and data supporting the terminal equipment is transmitted in one of the two networks in a first preset time period and transmitted in the other of the two networks in a second preset time period.

Specifically, the terminal device sends a message carrying the first capability information to the source control plane network element through the source base station, so that the source control plane network element can obtain the first capability information and allocate the registration mode information to the terminal device according to the first capability information.

The message carrying the first capability information may be a certain Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message carrying the first capability information, for example, an attach request (attach request) message carrying the first capability information, so that the source base station directly transmits the message to the source control plane network element after receiving the message.

And the source control plane network element determines corresponding registration mode information according to the first capability information. Corresponding to the specific content of the first capability information, the registration mode information may indicate any one of the following:

2A, registering in a network;

2B, registering in the two networks, and transmitting data in one of the two networks;

2C, registering in the two networks, and simultaneously respectively transmitting data in the two networks;

and 2D, registering in the two networks, and transmitting data in one of the networks within a first preset time period and transmitting data in the other network within a second preset time period.

It can be understood that, if the first capability information is 1A, the registration mode information determined by the source control plane network element is 2A. Correspondingly, if the first capability information is 1B, the registration mode information determined by the source control plane network element is 2B. And if the first capability information is 1C, the registration mode information determined by the source control plane network element is 2C. And if the first capability information is 1D, the registration mode information determined by the source control plane network element is 2D.

Specifically, after determining the registration mode information of the terminal device, the source control plane network element sends a fourth message carrying the registration mode information of the terminal device to the terminal device through the source base station. The fourth message may be a certain NAS message of the registration mode information of the portable terminal device, for example, the fourth message is an Attach accept (Attach accept) message of the registration mode information of the portable terminal device, so that the source base station directly passes through the fourth message to the terminal device after receiving the fourth message.

Correspondingly, the terminal device may obtain the registration mode information of the terminal device from the fourth message, and after obtaining the registration mode information of the terminal device, send a message carrying the registration mode information of the terminal device to the source base station, so that the source base station may obtain the registration mode information of the terminal device from the message. Here, the message of the registration mode information of the portable terminal device may be a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message of the registration mode information of any portable terminal device, for example, an RRC Connection Request (rrcconnection Request) message of the registration mode information of the portable terminal device, or an RRC Connection Setup Complete (RRC Connection Setup Complete) message.

Optionally, after determining the registration mode information of the terminal device, the source control plane network element sends a fifth message carrying the registration mode information of the terminal device to the source base station, so that the source base station can obtain the registration mode information of the terminal device from the fifth message.

Illustratively, the fifth message is an Initial Context Setup (Initial Context Setup) message, or a Handover Command (Handover Command) message, or a Handover Preparation Failure (Handover Failure) message.

No matter which method is adopted by the source base station to obtain the registration mode information of the terminal equipment, the source base station can determine the switching mode information when obtaining the registration mode information and the second capability information of the terminal equipment.

The second capability information includes at least one of information such as whether an interface exists between the source control plane network element and another control plane network element, whether the source control plane network element supports interoperation with another control plane network element, whether the source control plane network element supports direct handover with another control plane network element, whether the source control plane network element supports context conversion of the terminal device with another control plane network element, and the like.

And the source base station receives a message carrying the second capability information sent by the source control plane network element and acquires the second capability information from the message. For example, the message carrying the second capability information may be an NG Setup Response (NG Setup Response) message for the interface carrying the second capability information.

The source base station determines that the switching mode information is specifically used for representing any one of the following information according to the registration mode information and the second capability information of the terminal equipment:

3A, switching a redirection mode;

3B, switching modes of single data channels, namely switching modes of data transmission of the terminal equipment in a network;

the switching method indicated by 3B may be applied to a scenario in which the terminal device is registered in two networks, or may be applied to a scenario in which the terminal device is registered in only one network.

3C, switching modes of double registration double data channels, namely switching modes that the terminal equipment registers in the two networks and data of the terminal equipment is transmitted in the two networks;

the method comprises the following steps of switching a 3D and time division shared double data channel mode, namely registering the terminal equipment in two networks, transmitting data in one network by the data of the terminal equipment within a first preset time period, and switching the mode in the other network within a second preset time period.

And 3E, switching based on the control plane network element interface.

Optionally, the method for the source base station to obtain the handover mode information may also be: and when configuring the registration mode information for the terminal equipment, the source control plane network element simultaneously considers the second capability information of the source control plane network element, so that the registration mode information which is the same as the content represented by the switching mode information is configured for the terminal equipment. After determining the registration mode information, the source control plane network element sends the registration mode information to the source base station, and since the registration mode information and the switching mode information have the same content, the source base station acquiring the registration mode information means that the source base station acquires the switching mode information.

Optionally, in a scenario where the content indicated by the registration mode information and the content indicated by the switching manner information are the same, after determining the registration mode information, the source control plane network element may also send the registration mode information to the terminal device. The terminal device sends the registration mode information to the source base station, so that the source base station can also acquire the registration mode information, namely acquire the switching mode information.

Optionally, the method for the source base station to obtain the handover mode information may also be: in a scene that the source base station does not acquire the registration mode information of the terminal equipment, the source base station sends a second message carrying the identifier of the terminal equipment and the first information to a source control plane network element, and instructs the source control plane network element to update the source base station to a target base station; correspondingly, the source base station receives a third message carrying the switching mode information sent by the source control plane network element, so that the source base station can acquire the switching mode information from the third message. The first information is an identifier of a target base station or an identifier of a target cell, and the target base station is a base station to which the target cell belongs.

Illustratively, the second message is a Handover request (Handover Required) message, and the third message is an initialcontextsetup message, or a Handover Command message, or a Handover preparation Failure (Handover Failure) message.

S402, the source base station sends a first message carrying the switching mode information to the terminal equipment.

The first message is used for indicating the terminal equipment to access to the second network according to the switching mode information.

The first message also carries the first information, that is, carries the identifier of the target base station or the identifier of the target cell. Illustratively, the first message is an RRC Connection Release (RRC Connection Release) message, or an RRC Connection Reconfiguration (RRC Connection Reconfiguration) message, or a handover command message, or a message instructing the terminal to perform pre-registration with the target cell.

Optionally, if the handover mode information is the above 3A, the first message further carries second information, where the second information is the first information or the frequency point of the target cell, the first information is an identifier of the target base station or an identifier of the target cell, the target base station is a base station to which the target cell belongs, and the target base station belongs to the second network.

If the handover mode information is the 3D, the first message further carries fifth information, where the fifth information is used to indicate time information of communication between the source base station and the terminal device, or time information of communication between the target base station and the terminal device, or index information of a preset time allocation mode. The preset time allocation mode is one of at least one time allocation mode appointed by the source base station and the target base station in advance.

S403, the terminal device sends an access request message carrying the switching mode information to the target base station to request to access the second network.

The access request message may include an NAS message for initiating registration to the target control plane network element and handover mode information, or may include an NAS message carrying handover mode information.

Optionally, if the switching manner information is the 3D, the access request message further carries fifth information. In addition to the above information, the access request message may also carry core network type information of the first network.

Illustratively, if the access Request message includes the NAS message and the handover mode information, the access Request message is an rrcconnection Request message or an RRC Connection Setup Complete message.

It can be understood that, if the switching manner information is the above-mentioned 3A, the terminal device disconnects from the source base station, and starts to execute a new network access procedure in the second network, which is not described in detail in this embodiment of the present application. If the switching mode information is the above 3E, the process of switching the access network of the terminal device from the first network to the second network is similar to the process of the switching method of the core network in the prior art, and details are not repeated here.

S404, after receiving the access request message, the target base station sends the received switching mode information to the target control plane network element.

As can be seen from the above description, the access request message in S403 includes a certain NAS message, regardless of whether the handover mode information is in the NAS message. And after acquiring the NAS message included in the access request message, the target base station transparently transmits the NAS message to the target control plane network element.

Specifically, if the NAS message in the access request message does not carry the handover mode information, the target base station further sends the handover mode information to the target control plane network element. And if the NAS message in the access request message carries the switching mode information, the target base station sends the NAS message to the target control plane network element.

S405, the target control plane network element acquires the identification of the user plane network element according to the switching mode information.

S406, the target control plane network element sends a session establishment request message carrying the switching mode information to the user plane network element.

Optionally, the session establishment request further carries at least one of an identifier of the terminal device and network type information of the first network.

S407, the user plane network element determines the seventh information according to the handover mode information in the session establishment request message in S406.

The seventh information is used for indicating a mode adopted by the user plane network element for transmitting the data of the terminal equipment. And after determining the seventh information, the user plane network element transmits the data of the terminal equipment according to the seventh information.

Specifically, if the handover mode information is 3B, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element terminates data of the terminal device in the first network. Further, if the handover mode information is 3B, the seventh information is also used to indicate that the user plane network element buffers the data of the terminal device after terminating sending the data of the terminal device in the first network. Optionally, after determining that the data transmission of the terminal device in the first network is terminated, the user plane network element adds a second identifier to a last data packet sent to the terminal device in the first network, where the second identifier is used to indicate that the data packet is the last data packet received by the terminal device in the first network.

If the switching mode information is 3C, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the same data packet in the first network and the second network; or specifically, the present invention is used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the last data packet to the terminal device in the first network, and sends the subsequent data packet of the last data packet to the terminal device in the second network; or specifically for indicating that the user plane network element sends different data packets in the first network and the second network. If the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the same data packet in the first network and the second network, when the user plane network element sends the same data packet in the first network and the second network, a first identifier is added to the same data packet, and the first identifier is used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the same data packet in the first network and the second network. For example, the first identifier is used to indicate that the user plane network element has sent the first data packet in both the first network and the second network. The first identifier may be located in a tunneling Protocol header of the first packet, for example, a GPRS tunneling Protocol (GTP-U) header located in a user plane. If the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the last data packet to the terminal device in the first network and sends a data packet subsequent to the last data packet to the terminal device in the second network, the user plane network element adds a second identifier to the last data packet sent in the first network, where the second identifier is used to indicate that the data packet is the last data packet sent by the user plane network element to the terminal device in the first network. For example, the second packet carrying the second identifier is used to indicate that the second packet is the last packet sent by the user plane network element to the terminal device in the first network. Similarly, the second identifier may be located in a tunneling protocol header of the second packet, for example, the second identifier may be located in a GTP-U header. If the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends different data packets in the first network and the second network, the user plane network element further needs to determine which data is transmitted in the first network and which data is transmitted in the second network.

S408, the user plane network element sends a session establishment response message carrying the seventh information to the target control plane network element.

Optionally, the session establishment response message further carries at least one of an identifier of the terminal device, an identifier of the session, tunnel information corresponding to the session, QoS information corresponding to the session, a slice identifier corresponding to the session, and data transmission mode information. The data transmission mode information is used to indicate whether the user plane network element simultaneously transmits data in the first network and the second network. The session identifier corresponds to a determination result of which data is transmitted in the first network and which data is transmitted in the second network, which is determined by the user plane network element.

Illustratively, if the user plane network element determines that the data 1 is transmitted in the first network, the session in the first network is the first session, the user plane network element determines that the data 2 is transmitted in the second network, and the session in the second network is the second session, the session establishment response message carries the identifier of the first session and the identifier of the second session, the identifier of the first session corresponds to the data 1, and the identifier of the second session corresponds to the data 2.

Illustratively, the tunnel information corresponding to the session is uplink tunnel information corresponding to the session, and includes a tunnel identifier and a tunnel Address (Endpoint Address).

S409, the target control plane network element sends a message to the target base station, which indicates that the registration of the terminal equipment is received and the initial context is established for the terminal equipment.

And S410, the target base station sends a message to the terminal equipment, wherein the message indicates that the registration of the terminal equipment is accepted.

S411, the terminal device sends a message to the target base station to indicate that the registration is completed, and the target base station forwards the message indicating that the registration is completed to the target control plane network element.

S412, after the terminal device successfully registers in the second network, the target control plane network element sends a notification message carrying the seventh information to the user plane network element, and notifies the user plane network element to modify the session of the terminal device.

Illustratively, the message includes the downlink tunnel information of the session, including a tunnel identifier and a tunnel Address (Endpoint Address).

And S413, the user plane network element modifies the session of the terminal equipment according to the notification message.

After the user plane network element modifies the session of the terminal device according to the notification message, the data channel for transmitting data in the second network is established by the terminal device, and the data of the terminal device can be transmitted by using the data channel.

Optionally, the user plane network element S413 performs S414 thereafter.

And S414, the user plane network element determines seventh information according to the switching mode information.

If the user plane network element has determined the seventh information before S414, the user plane network element determines in S414 whether to terminate sending data in the first network; or judging whether to send the first data packet in the first network; or whether to send a second packet over the first network; or whether to send a packet over the second network, etc.

Since S414 is optional, it is indicated by a dashed box in fig. 4.

S415, the user plane network element sends a response message carrying the seventh information to the target control network element.

Optionally, after S415, the user plane network element may further send a response message carrying the seventh information to the source control plane network element source base station or the terminal device.

S416, the user plane network element sends a response message carrying the seventh information to the source control plane network element, the source base station, or the terminal device.

Similar to the session establishment response message, the response message further carries at least one of an identifier of the terminal device, an identifier of the session, tunnel information corresponding to the session, QoS information corresponding to the session, a slice identifier corresponding to the session, and data transmission mode information.

The user plane network element may transparently transmit the handover message via the source control plane network element, or may directly send the handover message to the source base station. The switching message sent by the user plane network element to the terminal equipment is sent by the user plane network element and forwarded to the terminal equipment through the source base station.

S416 is optional and is therefore indicated by the dashed line in fig. 4.

After the user plane network element determines the seventh information in S414, the data of the terminal device is transmitted according to the determined seventh information.

S417, the source base station identifies the received data packet or starts the first timer according to the seventh information in the response message.

If the user plane network element sends a response message carrying the seventh information to the source base station in S416, then S417 is executed after S416.

In an application scenario where the switching manner information is 3C, and the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the same data packet in the first network and the second network, if the source base station recognizes the first identifier, the source base station disconnects the connection with the terminal device, and sends an eighth message to the source control plane network element to instruct the source control plane network element to release the context of the terminal device. Or, in the application scenario, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends a second data packet with a second identifier in the first network, and if the source base station recognizes the second identifier, after the source base station sends the second data packet to the terminal device, the source base station disconnects the connection with the terminal device, and sends an eighth message to the source control plane network element to instruct the source control plane network element to release the context of the terminal device. Or, in the application scenario, after the source base station sends the first message, starting the first timer, and after the first timer exceeds a first preset time, disconnecting the terminal device. In this way, the waste of resources of the terminal device and the source base station can be reduced, and unnecessary signaling transmission can be reduced.

And S418, the terminal equipment identifies the received data packet or starts a second timer according to the seventh information in the response message.

If the user plane network element sends the handover message carrying the seventh information to the terminal device in S416, then S418 is executed after S416.

And in the application scenario that the switching information is 3B and the seventh information is specifically used for indicating that the user plane network element terminates sending data in the first network, if the terminal device identifies the second identifier, the terminal device disconnects the source base station. Subsequently, the terminal device initiates access to the target base station.

In an application scenario where the switching manner information is 3C and the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the same data packet in the first network and the second network, if the terminal device identifies the first identifier, the terminal device disconnects from the source base station. Or, in the application scenario, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends a second data packet with a second identifier in the first network, and if the terminal device identifies the second identifier, the source terminal device disconnects from the source base station. Or, in the application scenario, after the terminal device accesses the second network, the terminal device starts the second timer, and after the second timer exceeds a second preset time, the terminal device disconnects the source base station. In this way, waste of resources of the terminal device can be reduced, and unnecessary signaling transmission can be reduced.

S419, the source control plane network element identifies the received data packet or starts a third timer according to the seventh message in the response message.

If the user plane network element sends the handover message carrying the seventh information to the source control plane network element in S416, then S419 is performed after S416.

In an application scenario where the switching manner information is 3C and the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the same data packet in the first network and the second network, if the source control plane network element recognizes the first identifier, the source control plane network element disconnects from the source base station. Or, in the application scenario, the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends a second data packet with a second identifier in the first network, and if the source control plane network element identifies the second identifier, the source control plane network element disconnects the connection with the source base station after sending the second data packet to the source base station. Or, in the application scenario, after the source control plane network element receives the handover message, the source control plane network element starts the third timer, and disconnects the connection with the source base station after the third timer exceeds a third preset duration. In this way, the waste of resources of the source control plane network element can be reduced, and unnecessary signaling transmission can be reduced.

Further, after the source base station acquires the switching mode information, the source base station also sends the switching mode information to the user plane network element, so that the user plane network element can determine the mode for transmitting the data of the terminal equipment according to the switching mode information. Specifically, S401 is followed by S420 and S421.

And S420, the source base station sends switching mode information to the user plane network element.

Specifically, if the switching manner information is 3B, the source base station sends a sixth message carrying third information to the user plane network element, where the third information is used to instruct the user plane network element to terminate sending data of the terminal device in the first network. Further, the sixth message also carries fourth information, where the fourth information is used to instruct the user plane network element to cache the data of the terminal device after the user plane network element terminates sending the data of the terminal device in the first network. In a scene where the sixth message carries the switching mode information, the third information and the fourth information, it can be ensured that no packet loss occurs in the data of the terminal device.

If the switching mode information is 3C, the source base station sends a seventh message to the user plane network element, wherein the seventh message is used for indicating the user plane network element to send the same data packet in the first network and the second network; or, the seventh message is used to instruct the user plane network element to send a second data packet carrying the second identifier to the terminal device in the first network, and send a subsequent data packet of the second data packet to the terminal device in the second network. The second data packet is the last data packet sent by the user plane network element to the terminal device in the first network.

S421, the user plane network element determines the seventh information according to the switching manner information in S420.

As can be seen from the above description, in the method for switching a core network provided in the embodiment of the present application, even if there is no interface between the source control plane network element and the target control plane network element, it is possible to switch a network to which the terminal device accesses from a first network to a second network, and during a network switching process, there is no need to switch a context of the terminal device. The user plane network element in the embodiment of the application can terminate sending the data of the terminal device in the first network and cache the data of the terminal device, and can also send the data of the terminal device in both the first network and the second network, so that no packet loss of the data of the terminal device is ensured, and the continuity of the data of the terminal device is realized.

In particular, as can be seen from the above description, an lte eNB may be connected to the EPC network through an S1 interface, and may also be connected to the NG-Core network through other corresponding interfaces. The next generation UE can access to EPC network through eLTE eNB and can also access to NG-Core network through eLTE eNB. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, there is a case where the source base station and the target base station are the same base station. Because the source base station and the target base station are the same base station, no matter whether the terminal equipment has the capacity of dual data channel transmission or not, the terminal equipment does not need to reestablish RRC connection when accessing the second network, and the source data link does not need to be interrupted.

In order to more conveniently understand the situation that the source base station and the target base station are the same base station, the embodiment of the present application takes the source base station and the target base station as the same lte eNB as an example for description.

As shown in fig. 5, a method for switching a core network according to an embodiment of the present application includes:

s500, the terminal equipment accesses the first network through the eLTE eNB.

S501, the eLTE eNB determines to switch the network accessed by the terminal equipment from a first network to a second network.

S501 differs from S400 described above in that: the judgment basis of the base station is at least one of the following information: the method comprises the following steps of load information of a first network, load information of a second network, information of base station resources occupied by the first network, information of base station resources occupied by the second network, strategy information of an operator, service type information of terminal equipment, slice type information of the terminal equipment, and source core network indication base station migration of a terminal to the second network.

S502, the eLTE eNB sends a first message carrying the switching mode information to the terminal equipment.

Optionally, the first message further includes a core network type of the second network.

Here, the handover mode information is used to instruct the terminal device to access the second network through a registration procedure.

S503, the terminal equipment UE sends a registration request message carrying the switching mode information to the target control plane network element through the eLTE eNB.

S504, the target control plane network element receives the registration of the terminal equipment, triggers the establishment process of the user plane, and establishes a data transmission channel for the terminal equipment. And the target control plane network element establishes the context of the terminal equipment for the terminal equipment and sends the context of the terminal equipment to the eLTE eNB.

The context of the terminal device includes the security context and the session context of the terminal device.

And S505, the eLTE eNB determines the sixth information according to the context of the terminal equipment and sends the sixth information to the terminal equipment.

The sixth information is the first configuration information, or the first configuration information and the second configuration information. The first configuration information is configuration information of data radio bearer resources used by the terminal device in the second network, and the second configuration information is configuration information of signaling radio bearer resources used by the terminal device in the second network.

S506, the terminal device reserves the radio bearer resource used by the terminal device in the first network, and configures the radio bearer resource used by the terminal device in the second network according to the sixth information.

Optionally, if the sixth information includes the second configuration information, the terminal device reconfigures the security mode of the signaling radio bearer, which is specifically embodied in that the signaling message sent by the terminal device later adopts the security mode of the second network.

S507, after the radio bearer resource used by the terminal equipment in the second network is successfully configured, the terminal equipment sends a configuration completion message to the eLTE eNB.

Optionally, the configuration completion message is in a secure manner of the second network.

S508, the eLTE eNB sends an access completion message to the target control plane network element.

It should be noted that, before S508, the lte eNB may continue to transmit data of the terminal device in the first network, where the data is carried in the radio bearer resource used by the terminal device in the first network, for example, in the DRB used by the terminal device in the first network.

After S508, the data sent by the target control plane network element to the terminal device may be carried in the data radio bearer resource used by the terminal device in the second network, for example, in the DRB used by the terminal device in the second network.

After S508, the lte eNB continues to transmit the data of the terminal device of the first network to the terminal device until the transmission is completed. After the data transmission of the terminal device of the first network is completed, the eLTE eNB transmits configuration information to the terminal device to instruct the terminal device to delete the data radio bearer resource, such as DRB, used by the terminal device in the first network, so as to reduce the waste of the resource of the terminal device. Optionally, the lte eNB sends a second data packet carrying the second identifier to the terminal. The second packet indicates that the packet is the last packet of the first network. And the terminal equipment receives the second data packet, and deletes the data radio bearer resource, such as DRB, used by the terminal equipment in the first network after recognizing the second identifier.

With reference to fig. 5, fig. 6 shows a flow of a method for switching a core network in an application scenario where a source base station and a target base station are the same lte eNB and an interface exists between a source control plane network element and a target control network element.

As shown in fig. 6, the method for switching a core network provided in this embodiment of the present application includes S600 to S607, where S600 to S601 refer to S500 to S501, and S604 to S607 refer to S505 to S508, which are not described in detail in this embodiment. S602 and S603 are:

s602, the eLTE eNB sends a first migration requirement to a source control plane network element, and the source control plane network element sends a second migration requirement to a target control plane network element.

Optionally, the second migration requirement carries a context of the terminal device in the first network or a context of the terminal device in the second network.

S603, the target control plane network element sends a migration command to the eLTE eNB, and the eLTE eNB forwards the migration command to the terminal equipment.

Optionally, after receiving the second migration request, the target control plane network element converts the context of the terminal device in the first network into the context of the terminal device in the second network. And after the context of the terminal equipment in the second network is acquired, the target control plane network element sends a migration instruction to the eLTE eNB. And after the terminal equipment receives the migration command, the terminal equipment is successfully accessed to the second network.

With reference to fig. 6, fig. 7 shows another flow of the method for switching the core network in an application scenario where the source base station and the target base station are the same lte eNB and an interface exists between the source control plane network element and the target control network element.

As shown in fig. 7, the method for switching a core network provided in this embodiment of the present application includes S700-S708, where S700-S703 refer to S600-S603 described above, which is not described in detail in this embodiment.

The specific contents of S704-S708 are:

s704, the eLTE eNB determines the sixth information according to the context of the terminal equipment and sends the sixth information to the terminal equipment.

The sixth information is the first configuration information and the second configuration information. The first configuration information is configuration information of a DRB resource used by the terminal device in the second network, and the second configuration information is configuration information of an SRB used by the terminal device in the second network.

S705, the terminal device updates the radio bearer resource used by the terminal device in the first network to the configuration in the sixth information, and uses the security mode of the second network.

S706, the terminal equipment sends a configuration completion message to the eLTE eNB.

S707, the eLTE eNB sends an access completion message to the target control plane network element.

S708, the lte eNB establishes a mapping between radio resources used by the terminal device in the first network and radio resources used by the terminal device in the second network.

After mapping between the radio resource used by the terminal device in the first network and the radio resource used by the terminal device in the second network, the data sent by the source control plane network element to the terminal device is transmitted by using the radio resource used by the terminal device in the second network.

If the eLTE eNB receives the data sent by the target control plane network element to the terminal equipment and the data sent by the source control plane network element to the terminal equipment is not sent completely, the eLTE eNB caches the data sent by the target control plane network element to the terminal equipment until the data sent by the source control plane network element to the terminal equipment is transmitted by using the wireless resource used by the terminal equipment in the second network, and the data sent by the target control plane network element to the terminal equipment is transmitted by using the wireless resource used by the terminal equipment in the second network.

The embodiment of the present application provides a radio access network device, where the radio access network device is configured to perform the steps performed by the source radio access network device in the above method for switching a core network. The radio access network device provided by the embodiment of the present application may include modules corresponding to the respective steps.

In the embodiment of the present application, the radio access network device may be divided into the functional modules according to the above method example, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode. The division of the modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic, and is only a logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

Fig. 8 shows a possible structure diagram of the radio access network device in the above embodiment, in the case of dividing the functional modules according to the respective functions. As shown in fig. 8, the radio access network apparatus 800 includes a processing unit 80, a transmitting unit 81, and a receiving unit 82. The processing unit 80 is configured to support the radio access network apparatus 800 to perform S400, S417, S501, S505, and/or the like in the above embodiments, and/or other processes for the techniques described herein; the sending unit 81 is configured to support the radio access network apparatus 800 to perform S402, S420, S502, S508, and the like in the foregoing embodiments, and/or other processes for the technology described herein; the receiving unit 82 is used to support the radio access network apparatus 800 to perform S416, S422, S504, S507, etc. in the above embodiments, and/or other processes for the techniques described herein. All relevant contents of each step related to the above method embodiment may be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and are not described herein again. Of course, the radio access network device 800 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes, but is not limited to, the above modules, for example, the radio access network device 800 may further include the storage unit 83. The memory unit 83 may be used to store program codes and data of the radio access network device.

In the case of an integrated Unit, the Processing Unit 80 in the embodiment of the present application may be a Processor or a controller, and may be, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). Which may implement or perform the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the disclosure. Processing unit 80 may also be a combination that performs computing functions, e.g., comprising one or more microprocessors, a combination of DSPs and microprocessors, or the like. The sending unit 81 and the receiving unit 82 may be implemented integrally in one communication unit, which may be a communication interface. The storage unit 83 may be a memory.

When the processing unit is a processor, the storage unit is a memory, and the communication unit is a communication interface, the radio access network device 800 according to the embodiment of the present application may be the radio access network device 900 shown in fig. 9. As shown in fig. 9, the radio access network apparatus 900 includes: a processor 91, a memory 92 and a communication interface 93. Wherein the processor 91, the memory 92 and the communication interface 93 are connected to each other by a bus 94.

The bus 94 may be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, an Extended ISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) bus, or the like. The bus 94 may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in FIG. 9, but this does not indicate only one bus or one type of bus.

Illustratively, the radio access network device 900 may include one or more processors 91, i.e., the radio access network device 900 may include a multicore processor.

When the radio access network apparatus 900 operates, the radio access network apparatus 900 performs the method of switching the core network according to the embodiment shown in any one of fig. 4 to 7. For a specific method for switching the core network, reference may be made to the related description in the embodiment shown in any one of fig. 4 to 7, which is not described herein again.

Another embodiment of the present application also provides a computer readable storage medium including one or more program codes, the one or more programs including instructions, when the program codes are executed by the processor 91 in the radio access network apparatus 900, the radio access network apparatus 900 performs the method for switching the core network as shown in any of fig. 4-7.

In another embodiment of the present application, there is also provided a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored in a computer readable storage medium; the computer executable instructions may be read by the at least one processor of the radio access network device from a computer readable storage medium, and execution of the computer executable instructions by the at least one processor causes the radio access network device to perform the steps of performing the source base station or the lte eNB in the method of handing over a core network as shown in any of fig. 4-7.

The embodiment of the present application provides a terminal device, where the terminal device is configured to execute the steps executed by the terminal device in the above method for switching a core network. The terminal device provided by the embodiment of the application can comprise modules corresponding to the corresponding steps.

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may be divided into the functional modules according to the above method example, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode. The division of the modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic, and is only a logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

In the case of dividing each functional module by corresponding functions, fig. 10 shows a possible structural diagram of the terminal device involved in the above-described embodiment. As shown in fig. 10, the terminal device 1000 includes a processing unit 100, a receiving unit 101, and a transmitting unit 102. The processing unit 100 is configured to support the terminal device 1000 to perform S418, S506, S605, S705, and the like in the above embodiments, and/or other processes for the technology described herein; the receiving unit 101 is configured to support the terminal device 1000 to perform S402, S410, S416, S502, S505, and the like in the foregoing embodiments, and/or other processes for the technology described herein; the sending unit 102 is configured to support the terminal device 1000 to perform S403, S411, S503, S507, and the like in the foregoing embodiments, and/or other processes for the technology described herein. All relevant contents of each step related to the above method embodiment may be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and are not described herein again. Of course, the terminal device 1000 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes, but is not limited to, the above modules, for example, the terminal device 1000 may further include the storage unit 103. The memory unit 103 may be used to store program codes and data of the terminal device.

In the case of an integrated unit, the processing unit 100 in the embodiment of the present application may be a processor or a controller, for example, a CPU, a DSP. Which may implement or perform the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the disclosure. Processing unit 100 may also be a combination that performs computing functions, e.g., comprising one or more microprocessors, a combination of DSPs and microprocessors, or the like. The obtaining unit 101 and the sending unit 102 may be implemented integrally in one communication unit, which may be a communication interface. The storage unit 103 may be a memory.

When the processing unit is a processor, the storage unit is a memory, and the communication unit is a communication interface, the terminal device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present application may be the terminal device 1100 shown in fig. 11. As shown in fig. 11, the terminal device 1100 includes: a processor 111, a memory 112, and a communication interface 113. Wherein the processor 111, the memory 112 and the communication interface 113 are connected to each other by a bus 114.

The bus 114 may be a PCI bus, an EISA bus, or the like. The bus 114 may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in FIG. 11, but this is not intended to represent only one bus or type of bus.

Illustratively, end device 1100 may include one or more processors 111, i.e., end device 1100 may include a multicore processor.

When the terminal device 1100 operates, the terminal device 1100 performs the method of switching the core network according to the embodiment shown in any one of fig. 4 to 7. For a specific method for switching the core network, reference may be made to the related description in the embodiment shown in any one of fig. 4 to 7, which is not described herein again.

Another embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium including one or more program codes, where the one or more programs include instructions, and when the processor 111 in the terminal device 1100 executes the program codes, the terminal device 1100 performs the method for switching the core network as shown in any of fig. 4 to 7.

In another embodiment of the present application, there is also provided a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored in a computer readable storage medium; the computer executable instructions may be read by at least one processor of the terminal device from a computer readable storage medium, and the computer executable instructions executed by the at least one processor cause the terminal device to perform the steps of executing the terminal device in the method for switching the core network as shown in any one of fig. 4-7.

The embodiment of the present application provides a user plane network element, which may include modules corresponding to the corresponding steps.

In the embodiment of the present application, the functional modules may be divided for the user plane network element according to the above method example, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode. The division of the modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic, and is only a logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

Fig. 12 shows a possible structure diagram of the user plane network element involved in the above embodiment, in the case of dividing each functional module by corresponding functions. As shown in fig. 12, the user plane network element 1200 includes a receiving unit 120, a processing unit 121, and a transmitting unit 122. The receiving unit 120 is configured to support the user plane network element 1200 to perform S406, S416, S412, S420, and the like in the foregoing embodiments, and/or other processes for the technology described herein; the processing unit 121 is configured to enable the user plane network element 1200 to perform S421, S407, S413, S414, etc. in the foregoing embodiments, and/or other processes for the techniques described herein; the sending unit 122 is configured to support the user plane network element 1200 to perform S408, S415, S422, and the like in the foregoing embodiments, and/or other processes for the technology described herein. All relevant contents of each step related to the above method embodiment may be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and are not described herein again. Of course, the user plane network element 1200 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes, but is not limited to, the above modules, for example, the user plane network element 1200 may further include the storage unit 123. The memory unit 123 may be used to store program codes and data of the user plane network element.

In case of an integrated unit, the processing unit 121 in the embodiment of the present application may be a processor or a controller, for example, a CPU, a DSP. Which may implement or perform the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the disclosure. The processing unit 121 may also be a combination that performs computing functions, e.g., comprising one or more microprocessors, a combination of DSPs and microprocessors, or the like. The obtaining unit 121 and the sending unit 122 may be implemented integrally in one communication unit, which may be a communication interface. The storage unit 123 may be a memory.

When the processing unit is a processor, the storage unit is a memory, and the communication unit is a communication interface, the user plane network element 1200 according to the embodiment of the present application may be the user plane network element 1300 shown in fig. 13. As shown in fig. 13, the user plane network element 1300 includes: a processor 131, a memory 132, and a communication interface 133. Wherein the processor 131, the memory 132, and the communication interface 133 are connected to each other through a bus 134.

The bus 134 may be a PCI bus or an EISA bus, for example. The bus 134 may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in FIG. 13, but this is not intended to represent only one bus or type of bus.

Illustratively, the user plane network element 1300 may include one or more processors 131, i.e., the user plane network element 1300 may include a multicore processor.

When the user plane network element 1300 operates, the user plane network element 1300 performs the method for switching the core network according to the embodiment shown in any one of fig. 4 to 7. For a specific method for switching the core network, reference may be made to the related description in the embodiment shown in any one of fig. 4 to 7, which is not described herein again.

Another embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium including one or more program codes, where the one or more programs include instructions, and when the processor 131 in the user plane network element 1300 executes the program codes, the user plane network element 1300 performs the method for switching the core network as shown in any one of fig. 4 to 7.

In another embodiment of the present application, there is also provided a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored in a computer readable storage medium; the computer executable instructions may be read by the at least one processor of the user plane network element from a computer readable storage medium, and execution of the computer executable instructions by the at least one processor causes the user plane network element to perform the steps of performing the user plane network element in the method of switching the core network as shown in any one of fig. 4-7.

Through the above description of the embodiments, it is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and simplicity of description, the foregoing division of the functional modules is merely used as an example, and in practical applications, the above function distribution may be completed by different functional modules according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the device may be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the above described functions. For the specific working processes of the system, the apparatus and the unit described above, reference may be made to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described here again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the modules or units is only one logical division, and there may be other divisions when actually implemented, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or may be integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in a form of hardware, and can also be realized in a form of a software functional unit.

The integrated unit, if implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be substantially implemented or contributed to by the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution may be embodied in a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: flash memory, removable hard drive, read only memory, random access memory, magnetic or optical disk, and the like.

The above description is only an embodiment of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present disclosure should be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for switching a core network, comprising:

when a source wireless access network device determines to update a network accessed by a terminal device, the source wireless access network device acquires switching mode information, wherein the switching mode information is used for indicating a mode adopted by the terminal device to access a second network under the condition that the terminal device has accessed a first network;

the source wireless access network equipment sends a first message to the terminal equipment, wherein the first message carries the switching mode information, and the first message is used for indicating the terminal equipment to access to the second network according to the switching mode information;

wherein the source radio access network device belongs to the first network;

the switching mode information is specifically used for indicating that the terminal equipment accesses the second network in a dual-registration dual-data channel mode, the dual-registration dual-data channel mode is that the terminal equipment is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal equipment is transmitted in the two networks;

the method further comprises the following steps:

the source radio access network equipment sends a seventh message to a user plane network element, where the seventh message is used to instruct the user plane network element to send the same data packet in the first network and the second network, and the user plane network element belongs to both the first network and the second network; or, the seventh message is used to instruct the user plane network element to send a last data packet to the terminal device in the first network, and send a data packet subsequent to the last data packet to the terminal device in the second network;

after sending the seventh message, the source radio access network device receives a first data packet from the user plane network element, where the first data packet carries a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to indicate that the user plane network element has sent the first data packet in both the first network and the second network, the source radio access network device identifies the first identifier, disconnects the connection with the terminal device, and sends an eighth message to the source control plane network element, where the eighth message is used to instruct the source control plane network element to release the context of the terminal device; or after the source radio access network device sends the seventh message, receiving a second data packet from the user plane network element, where the second data packet carries a second identifier, where the second identifier is used to indicate that the second data packet is a last data packet sent by the user plane network element to the terminal device in the first network, and the source radio access network device identifies the second identifier, sends the eighth message to the source control plane network element, and disconnects the connection with the terminal device after the source radio access network device sends the second data packet to the terminal device; or, after the source radio access network device sends the seventh message, starting a first timer, and after the first timer exceeds a first preset duration, the source radio access network device disconnects the terminal device, and sends the eighth message to the source control plane network element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the handover mode information by the source radio access network device comprises:

the source radio access network equipment acquires registration mode information of the terminal equipment, wherein the registration mode information is determined by a source control plane network element according to first capability information, the first capability information is used for representing a network registration mode supported by the terminal equipment, and the source control plane network element belongs to a first network; the source radio access network equipment acquires second capability information, wherein the second capability information is used for representing the interaction capability between the source control plane network element and other control plane network elements, and the other control plane network elements are different from the network to which the source control plane network element belongs; the source wireless access network equipment determines the switching mode information according to the registration mode information and the second capability information;

or,

the source radio access network equipment sends a second message to the source control plane network element, the second message carries an identifier of the terminal equipment and first information, the first information is an identifier of target radio access network equipment or an identifier of a target cell, the target radio access network equipment is radio access network equipment to which the target cell belongs, and the second message is used for indicating the source control plane network element to configure resources for the terminal equipment in the second network; the source radio access network equipment receives a third message sent by the source control plane network element, wherein the third message carries the switching mode information; and the source wireless access network equipment acquires the switching mode information from the third message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the obtaining, by the source radio access network device, the registration mode information of the terminal device comprises:

the source radio access network device receives the registration mode information sent by the terminal device, wherein the registration mode information is obtained by the terminal device from a fourth message sent by the source control plane network element, and the fourth message carries the registration mode information;

or,

the source radio access network equipment receives a fifth message sent by the source control plane network element, wherein the fifth message carries the registration mode information; the source radio access network device obtains the registration mode information from the fifth message.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handover mode information is further specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a redirection mode;

the first message also carries second information, the second information is first information or a frequency point of a target cell, the first information is an identifier of target wireless access network equipment or an identifier of the target cell, the target wireless access network equipment is wireless access network equipment to which the target cell belongs, and the target wireless access network equipment belongs to the second network.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handover mode information is further specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel mode, where the single data channel mode is that data of the terminal device is transmitted in one network;

the method further comprises the following steps:

the source radio access network device sends a sixth message to a user plane network element, where the sixth message carries third information, where the third information is used to instruct the user plane network element to terminate sending data of the terminal device in the first network, and the user plane network element belongs to both the first network and the second network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sixth message further carries fourth information, and the fourth information is used to instruct the user plane network element to buffer the data of the terminal device after terminating sending the data of the terminal device in the first network.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handover mode information is further specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network by using a time-division shared dual data channel, where the time-division shared dual data channel is used by the terminal device to register in two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in one of the two networks within a first preset time period and is transmitted in the other of the two networks within a second preset time period;

the first message further carries fifth information, where the fifth information is used to indicate time information of communication between the source radio access network device and the terminal device, or is used to indicate time information of communication between the target radio access network device and the terminal device, or is used to indicate index information of a preset time allocation mode, and the target radio access network device belongs to the second network.

8. A method for switching a core network, comprising:

a terminal device receives a first message sent by a source wireless access network device, wherein the first message carries switching mode information, the terminal device has accessed a first network through the source wireless access network device, and the switching mode information is used for indicating a mode adopted by the terminal device to access a second network under the condition that the terminal device has accessed the first network;

the terminal equipment sends an access request message to target access network equipment, wherein the access request message carries the switching mode information to request to access the second network, and the target access network equipment belongs to the second network;

the switching mode is specifically used for indicating that the terminal equipment accesses the second network in a mode of dual-registration dual-data channel, the mode of dual-registration dual-data channel is that the terminal equipment is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal equipment is transmitted in the two networks;

the method further comprises the following steps:

after the terminal device accesses the second network, the terminal device receives a first data packet from the source radio access network device, where the first data packet carries a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate that a user plane network element has sent the first data packet in both the first network and the second network; the terminal equipment identifies the first identifier and disconnects the connection with the source wireless access network equipment;

or,

after the terminal device accesses the second network, the terminal device receives a second data packet from the source radio access network device, where the second data packet carries a second identifier, and the second identifier is used to indicate that the second data packet is a last data packet sent by the user plane network element to the terminal device in the first network; the terminal equipment identifies the second identifier and disconnects the connection with the source wireless access network equipment;

or,

and after the terminal equipment is accessed to the second network, the terminal equipment starts a second timer, and after the second timer exceeds a second preset time length, the terminal equipment is disconnected from the source wireless access network equipment.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the handover mode is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel mode, where the single data channel mode is that data of the terminal device is transmitted in one network;

the method further comprises the following steps:

and after the terminal equipment receives the first message, the terminal equipment starts a second timer, and after the second timer exceeds a second preset time length, the terminal equipment is disconnected with the source wireless access network equipment.

10. The method of claim 8,

the switching mode information is specifically used for indicating that the terminal equipment accesses the second network by adopting a redirected switching mode;

or,

the switching mode information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network by using a time-division shared dual data channel, where the time-division shared dual data channel is that the terminal device is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in one of the two networks within a first preset time period and is transmitted in the other of the two networks within a second preset time period, and the first message further includes fifth information, where the fifth information is used to indicate time information for communication between the source radio access network device and the terminal device, or time information for communication between the target radio access network device and the terminal device, or index information for indicating a preset time allocation mode.

11. The method according to any of claims 8-10, wherein the first message further includes sixth information, and the sixth information is first configuration information, or the first configuration information and second configuration information, the first configuration information is configuration information of a Data Radio Bearer (DRB) used by the terminal device in the second network, and the second configuration information is configuration information of a Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) used by the terminal device in the second network;

the method further comprises the following steps:

and the terminal equipment reserves the wireless resource used by the terminal equipment in the first network, and configures the wireless resource used by the terminal equipment in the second network according to the sixth information.

12. A method for switching a core network, comprising:

receiving, by a user plane network element, handover mode information from a first device, where the first device is a source radio access network device or a target radio access network device, the source radio access network device belongs to a first network, the target radio access network device belongs to a second network, the user plane network element belongs to both the first network and the second network, and the handover mode information is used to indicate a mode used by a terminal device to access to the second network when the terminal device has accessed to the first network;

the user plane network element determines seventh information according to the switching mode information, wherein the seventh information is used for indicating a mode adopted by the user plane network element for transmitting the data of the terminal equipment;

the switching mode information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network by using a dual-registration dual-data channel mode, where the dual-registration dual-data channel mode is that the terminal device is registered in two networks, and data of the terminal device is transmitted in both the two networks, and the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the same data packet in the first network and the second network, or specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element sends the last data packet to the terminal device in the first network, and sends a data packet subsequent to the last data packet to the terminal device in the second network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the handover mode information is specifically used to indicate that the terminal device accesses the second network in a single data channel mode, the single data channel mode is that data of the terminal device is transmitted in one network, and the seventh information is specifically used to indicate that the user plane network element terminates sending the data of the terminal device in the first network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the seventh information is further used to indicate that the user plane network element buffers the data of the terminal device after terminating the transmission of the data of the terminal device in the first network.

15. A radio access network device, characterized in that the radio access network device is a source radio access network device, the radio access network device comprising a processor, a memory and a communication interface, wherein the memory is configured to store computer program code, the computer program code comprising instructions which, when the radio access network device is run, the processor executes the instructions stored by the memory to cause the radio access network device to perform the method of switching core networks according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

16. A terminal device, characterized in that the terminal device comprises a processor, a memory and a communication interface, wherein the memory is configured to store computer program code, the computer program code comprising instructions which, when the terminal device is running, the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory to cause the terminal device to perform the method of switching a core network according to any one of claims 8-11.

17. A user plane network element, characterized in that the user plane network element comprises a processor, a memory and a communication interface, wherein the memory is used for storing computer program code, the computer program code comprising instructions, which when the user plane network element is run, the processor executes the instructions stored by the memory to cause the user plane network element to execute the method of switching a core network according to any one of claims 12 to 14.