CN108702727B

CN108702727B - Communication method, core network device and controller device

Info

Publication number: CN108702727B
Application number: CN201680082567.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 彭文杰; 张宏卓; 罗海燕; 石小丽
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-03-14
Filing date: 2016-03-14
Publication date: 2020-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-14
Also published as: WO2017156668A1; CN108702727A

Abstract

The invention provides a communication method, core network equipment and controller equipment. The method comprises the following steps: core network equipment sends a query message to at least one controller equipment, wherein the query message carries an identifier of User Equipment (UE), and the query message is used for indicating the controller equipment to determine whether the UE is located in a cell range covered by the controller equipment according to the identifier of the UE; the core network device receives an acknowledgement message sent by a first controller device, where the acknowledgement message is used to indicate that the UE is located in a cell range covered by the first controller device, and the first controller device belongs to the at least one controller device. According to the method provided by the embodiment of the invention, the core network equipment does not need to send the paging message to all base stations in the TAI List of the UE, so that the air interface resource when the UE is paged is saved, and the paging efficiency of the UE is improved.

Description

Communication method, core network device and controller device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to communications technologies, and in particular, to a communication method, a core network device, and a controller device.

Background

In an existing Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, each LTE cell corresponds to a Tracking Area Identity (TAI), which is an Area Identity and is used to identify a location of the LTE cell. The TAI of each LTE cell is configured through the network manager, and generally, at least two LTE cells use the same TAI. After a User Equipment (UE) is powered on, an attach procedure (attach procedure) is initiated, and after a Mobility Management Entity (MME) receives an attach request, a TAI list (TAI list) is configured for the UE.

When the MME learns that there is a downlink service, the MME needs to initiate paging for the idle-state UE, including that, according to the TAI list configured for the UE, the MME can determine that the idle-state UE is located in an LTE cell corresponding to the TAI list. However, the MME cannot determine the specific location of the idle UE according to taiiiist, so the MME sends a paging message to all evolved node bs (evolved node bs, eNB for short) corresponding to the TAI list to find the idle UE, and then sends a downlink service to the UE.

However, the method for determining the UE location in the prior art causes a large waste of air interface resources.

Disclosure of Invention

The communication method, the core network device and the controller device provided by the embodiment of the invention are used for solving the technical problem that the air interface resource is wasted greatly when the position of the UE is determined in the prior art.

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

core network equipment sends a query message to at least one controller equipment, wherein the query message carries an identifier of User Equipment (UE), and the query message is used for indicating the controller equipment to determine whether the UE is located in a cell range covered by the controller equipment according to the identifier of the UE;

the core network device receives an acknowledgement message sent by a first controller device, where the acknowledgement message is used to indicate that the UE is located in a cell range covered by the first controller device, and the first controller device belongs to the at least one controller device.

According to the communication method provided by the first aspect, the core network device sends the query message to the at least one controller device, so that the at least one controller device determines whether the UE is located within its coverage area according to the query message, and when the first controller device in the at least one controller device determines that the UE is located within its coverage area, sends the acknowledgement message to the core network device, so that the core network device knows the specific location of the UE.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the core network device sends a paging message to a first controller device or a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE, and the paging message is used to instruct the first controller device or the first base station associated with the first controller device to initiate a paging procedure.

According to the communication method provided by the embodiment, after receiving the confirmation message, the core network device sends the paging message to the first controller device in a directional manner, so that the first controller device UE initiates the paging process, the UE does not need to be paged on the cells of all base stations in the TAILIst of the UE, the air interface resources during paging are saved, and the paging efficiency is improved.

With reference to the first aspect and one possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the first aspect, before the core network device sends the query message to at least one controller device, the method further includes:

the core network equipment acquires the tracking area identification information of the at least one controller equipment;

and when the core network equipment determines that the tracking area identification information of at least one controller equipment is matched with the tracking area identification TAI in the tracking area identification list of the UE, the core network equipment determines to send the query message to the at least one controller equipment.

With reference to the first aspect and each possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the at least one controller device is a base station, and when the core network device determines that tracking area identification information of the at least one controller device matches a tracking area identification TAI in a tracking area identification list of the UE, before the core network device determines to send the query message to the at least one controller device, the method further includes:

the core network equipment receives first indication information sent by the base station, and the first indication information is used for indicating that the base station has a controller function to the core network equipment.

With reference to the first aspect and each possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the at least one controller device is a device independent of a base station, and before the core network device sends the query message to the at least one controller device, the method further includes:

the core network device establishes a first communication interface with each of the controller devices.

With reference to the first aspect and each possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the acquiring, by the core network device, tracking area identification information of the at least one controller device specifically includes:

when the core network device and the controller device establish the first communication interface, the core network device obtains an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the core network equipment and the controller equipment establish the first communication interface, the core network equipment acquires the ID of the controller equipment and the ID of a second base station with a second communication interface existing between the core network equipment and the controller equipment;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the core network equipment and the controller equipment establish the first communication interface, the core network equipment acquires the ID of the controller equipment and the TAI of a second base station with a second communication interface existing between the core network equipment and the controller equipment;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the core network device and the controller device establish the first communication interface, the core network device acquires an ID of the controller device, a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, and an ID of the second base station;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the core network device and a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device establish a third communication interface, the core network device obtains an ID of the second base station, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the controller device having the second communication interface with the second base station.

According to the communication method provided by the embodiment, the tracking area identification information of at least one controller device is interacted between the core network device and at least one controller device, so that the core network device can determine to send the query message to at least one controller device according to the tracking area identification information, the query message does not need to be sent to all the controller devices, interface resources between the core network device and the controller device are greatly saved, and the paging efficiency is further improved.

With reference to the first aspect and each possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the at least one controller device is a device that has a first communication interface with the core network device and is independent of a base station, and before the core network device sends a paging message to a first base station associated with the first controller device, the method further includes:

the core network device determines a first mapping relationship, where the first mapping relationship includes: a correspondence between the controller device and a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, or a correspondence between the controller device and a third base station having a same TAI as the controller device, where the first base station includes the second base station and the third base station.

With reference to the first aspect and each possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the determining, by the core network device, a first mapping relationship specifically includes:

the core network device and the controller device establish a first communication interface, and determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when establishing the first communication interface, where the corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device.

the core network device establishes a third communication interface with the second base station, and determines a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when establishing the third communication interface, where the corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the single controller device corresponding to the second base station.

the core network equipment and the controller equipment establish a first communication interface, and the corresponding relation between the controller equipment and the second base station is determined when the first communication interface is established;

the core network equipment and the second base station establish a third communication interface, and the corresponding relation between the controller equipment and the second base station is determined when the third communication interface is established;

the correspondence between the controller device and the second base station includes: an ID of the controller device corresponding to the second base station, or an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device.

With the communication method provided in the foregoing embodiment, after receiving the confirmation message from the Controller, the core network device may accurately locate the second base station where the UE is located according to the first mapping relationship between the Controller and the second base station, and page the UE by sending the paging message to the second base station, so that it is not necessary to send the paging message to all base stations related to the TAI List of the UE, that is, it is not necessary to page the UE on all base stations, thereby greatly saving air interface resources, and improving air interface utilization rate and paging efficiency.

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

the method comprises the steps that controller equipment receives a query message sent by core network equipment, wherein the query message carries an identifier of User Equipment (UE);

the controller equipment determines whether the UE is positioned in a cell range covered by the controller equipment according to the query message;

and when the controller equipment determines that the UE is positioned in the range of the cell covered by the controller equipment, the controller equipment sends a confirmation message to the core network equipment.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, after the controller device sends an acknowledgement message to the core network device, the method further includes:

the controller device receives a paging message sent by the core network device, wherein the paging message carries the identifier of the UE;

and the controller equipment initiates a paging process according to the paging message.

With reference to the second aspect and various possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the second aspect, before the controller device receives the query message sent by the core network device, the method further includes:

and the controller equipment sends tracking area identification information to the core network equipment.

With reference to the second aspect and various possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the controller device is a base station having a controller function, and before the controller device receives the query message sent by the core network device, the method further includes:

and the base station sends first indication information to the core network equipment, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the core network equipment that the base station has the function of a controller.

With reference to the second aspect and various possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the controller device is a device independent of a base station, and before the controller device receives the query message sent by the core network device, the method further includes:

the controller device establishes a first communication interface with the core network device.

With reference to the second aspect and various possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the sending, by the controller device, tracking area identification information to the core network device specifically includes:

when the controller device establishes the first communication interface with the core network device, sending an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device to the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the controller device and the core network device establish the first communication interface, sending the ID of the controller device and the ID of a second base station with a second communication interface existing between the controller device and the core network device to the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

when the controller device and the core network device establish the first communication interface, sending the ID of the controller device and the TAI of a second base station with a second communication interface existing between the controller device and the core network device to the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and when the controller device and the core network device establish the first communication interface, sending the ID of the controller device, the TAI of a second base station with a second communication interface with the controller device and the ID of the second base station to the core network device.

With reference to the second aspect and various possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the second aspect, before the controller device sends, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, or the controller device sends, to the core network device, the ID of the controller device and a TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device, or the controller device sends, to the core network device, the ID of the controller device, the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device and the ID of the second base station, the method further includes:

the controller device establishes a second communication interface with the second base station, and acquires the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station when establishing the second communication interface; or, when the second communication interface is established, the ID of the controller device is indicated to the second base station.

With reference to the second aspect and various possible embodiments of the second aspect, in another possible embodiment of the second aspect, the method further includes:

when the controller device determines that the UE is not located within a cell range covered by the controller device, the controller device sends a negative message to the core network device.

the controller device establishes a second communication interface with a second base station, and determines a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when establishing the second communication interface, wherein the corresponding relationship comprises an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device;

and the controller equipment and the core network equipment establish a first communication interface and send the corresponding relation to the core network equipment when establishing the first communication interface.

The beneficial effects of the communication method provided by the second aspect and each possible implementation manner of the second aspect may refer to the beneficial effects brought by each possible implementation manner of the first aspect, and are not described herein again.

With reference to the second aspect and various possible implementation manners of the second aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the controller device is a device independent of a base station, and after the controller device sends an acknowledgement message to the core network device, the method further includes:

and the controller device sends second indication information to the UE, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the UE to access the core network device.

According to the communication method provided by the embodiment, when the controller device determines that the UE is located in the cell range covered by the controller device, the controller device directly sends the second indication information to the UE after sending the confirmation message to the core network device, so that the UE can be accessed to the core network device according to the second indication information, the core network device or the base station is not required to send any paging message, air interface resources are saved, and paging efficiency and air interface resource utilization rate are greatly improved.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a core network device, including:

a sending module, configured to send a query message to at least one controller device, where the query message carries an identifier of a User Equipment (UE), and the query message is used to instruct the controller device to determine, according to the identifier of the UE, whether the UE is located within a cell covered by the controller device;

a receiving module, configured to receive an acknowledgement message sent by a first controller device, where the acknowledgement message is used to indicate that the UE is located in a cell range covered by the first controller device, and the first controller device belongs to the at least one controller device.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the sending module is further configured to send a paging message to a first controller device or a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE, and the paging message is used to instruct the first controller device or the first base station associated with the first controller device to initiate a paging procedure.

With reference to the third aspect and each possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the core network device further includes a determining module,

the receiving module is configured to acquire tracking area identification information of at least one controller device before the sending module sends a query message to the at least one controller device;

the determining module is configured to determine to send the query message to the at least one controller device when the tracking area identity information of the at least one controller device matches a tracking area identity TAI in the tracking area identity list of the UE.

With reference to the third aspect and possible embodiments of the third aspect, in another possible embodiment of the third aspect, the at least one controller device is a base station,

the receiving module is further configured to receive first indication information sent by the base station before the determining module determines to send the query message to the at least one controller device, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the core network device that the base station has a controller function.

With reference to the third aspect and possible embodiments of the third aspect, in another possible embodiment of the third aspect, the at least one controller device is a base station-independent device,

the first interface establishing module is used for establishing a first communication interface with each controller device before the sending module sends the inquiry message to at least one controller device.

With reference to the third aspect and various possible implementation manners of the third aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the receiving module includes:

a first receiving unit, configured to obtain an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when the first interface establishing module establishes the first communication interface with the controller device;

or alternatively.

A second receiving unit, configured to obtain an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first interface establishing module establishes the first communication interface with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a third receiving unit, configured to obtain, when the first interface establishment module establishes the first communication interface with the controller device, an ID of the controller device and a TAI of a second base station where a second communication interface exists with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a fourth receiving unit, configured to obtain, when the first interface establishment module establishes the first communication interface with the controller device, an ID of the controller device, a TAI of a second base station where a second communication interface exists with the controller device, and an ID of the second base station;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a fifth receiving unit, configured to acquire an ID of the second base station, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the controller device having the second communication interface with the second base station when the first interface establishing module establishes the third communication interface with the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device.

With reference to the third aspect and various possible implementation manners of the third aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the third aspect, each of the at least one controller device is a device that has a first communication interface with the core network device and is independent of a base station, and the core network device further includes:

a second interface establishing module, configured to determine a first mapping relationship before the sending module sends the paging message to the first base station associated with the first controller device, where the first mapping relationship includes: a correspondence between the controller device and a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, or a correspondence between the controller device and a third base station having a same TAI as the controller device, where the first base station includes the second base station and the third base station.

With reference to the third aspect and various possible implementation manners of the third aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the second interface establishing module is specifically configured to establish a first communication interface with the controller device, and determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when the first communication interface is established, where the correspondence between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the second base station to which the controller device corresponds.

With reference to the third aspect and various possible implementation manners of the third aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the second interface establishing module is specifically configured to establish a third communication interface with the second base station, and determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when the third communication interface is established, where the correspondence between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the controller-only device corresponding to the second base station.

With reference to the third aspect and various possible implementation manners of the third aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the second interface establishing module is specifically configured to establish a first communication interface with the controller device, and determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the first communication interface is established; establishing a third communication interface with the second base station, and determining a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the third communication interface is established;

The beneficial effects of the communication methods provided by the third aspect and the possible embodiments of the third aspect may refer to the beneficial effects brought by the possible embodiments of the first aspect and the first aspect, and are not described herein again.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a controller device, including:

a receiving module, configured to receive an inquiry message sent by a core network device, where the inquiry message carries an identifier of a user equipment UE;

a determining module, configured to determine whether the UE is located within a cell covered by the controller device according to the query message;

a sending module, configured to send a confirmation message to the core network device when the determining module determines that the UE is located within a cell range covered by the controller device.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the receiving module is further configured to receive a paging message sent by the core network device after the sending module sends an acknowledgement message to the core network device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE;

the sending module is further configured to initiate a paging procedure according to the paging message.

With reference to the fourth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the sending module is further configured to send tracking area identification information to a core network device before the receiving module receives an inquiry message sent by the core network device.

With reference to the fourth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the controller device is a base station having a controller function,

the sending module is further configured to send first indication information to the core network device before the receiving module receives the query message sent by the core network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the core network device that the base station has a controller function.

With reference to the fourth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the controller device is a device independent of a base station, and the controller device further includes:

a first interface establishing module, configured to establish a first communication interface with the core network device before the receiving module receives the query message sent by the core network device.

With reference to the fourth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the sending module includes:

a first sending unit, configured to send, to the core network device, an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when the first interface establishing module establishes the first communication interface with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a second sending unit, configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first interface establishing module establishes the first communication interface with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a third sending unit, configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first interface establishing module establishes the first communication interface with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a fourth sending unit, configured to send, to the core network device, the ID of the controller device, the TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, and the ID of the second base station when the first interface establishing module establishes the first communication interface with the core network device.

With reference to the fourth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the controller device further includes:

a second interface establishing module, configured to, when the second sending unit sends, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, or when the third sending unit sends, to the core network device, the ID of the controller device and a TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device, or when the fourth sending unit sends, to the core network device, the ID of the controller device, the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device, and the ID of the second base station, establish a second communication interface with the second base station, and acquire, when establishing the second communication interface, the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station; or, when the second communication interface is established, the ID of the controller device is indicated to the second base station.

With reference to the fourth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the sending module is further configured to send a negative message to the core network device when the determining module determines that the UE is not located within a cell covered by the controller device.

With reference to the fourth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the controller device is a device independent of a base station, and the controller device further includes a first interface establishing module and a second interface establishing module;

the second interface establishing module is configured to establish a second communication interface with a second base station, and determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the second communication interface is established, where the corresponding relationship includes an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device;

the first interface establishing module is configured to establish a first communication interface with the core network device, and send the correspondence to the core network device when the first communication interface is established.

In combination with the fourth aspect and each possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the controller device is a device independent of a base station,

the sending module is further configured to send second indication information to the UE after sending a confirmation message to the core network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the UE accesses the core network device.

The beneficial effects of the communication method provided by the fourth aspect and each possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect may refer to the beneficial effects brought by each possible implementation manner of the first aspect, and are not described herein again.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a core network device, including:

a transceiver for transmitting a query message to at least one controller device and receiving an acknowledgement message transmitted by a first controller device;

the query message carries an identifier of User Equipment (UE), the query message is used for instructing controller equipment to determine whether the UE is located in a cell range covered by the controller equipment according to the identifier of the UE, the confirmation message is used for instructing the UE to be located in a cell range covered by the first controller equipment, and the first controller equipment belongs to the at least one controller equipment.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the transceiver is further configured to send a paging message to a first controller device or a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE, and the paging message is used to instruct the first controller device or the first base station associated with the first controller device to initiate a paging procedure.

With reference to the fifth aspect and possible implementation manners of the fifth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the core network device further includes a processor,

the transceiver is further configured to acquire tracking area identification information of at least one controller device before sending a query message to the at least one controller device;

the processor is configured to determine to send the query message to the at least one controller device when tracking area identity information of the at least one controller device matches a tracking area identity, TAI, in the tracking area identity list of the UE.

With reference to the fifth aspect and possible embodiments of the fifth aspect, in another possible embodiment of the fifth aspect, the at least one controller device is a base station,

the transceiver is further configured to receive first indication information sent by the base station before the processor determines to send the query message to the at least one controller device, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the core network device that the base station has a controller function.

With reference to the fifth aspect and possible embodiments of the fifth aspect, in another possible embodiment of the fifth aspect, the at least one controller device is a base station independent device,

the transceiver is further configured to establish a first communication interface with each of the controller devices prior to sending the query message to the at least one controller device.

With reference to the fifth aspect and possible embodiments of the fifth aspect, in another possible embodiment of the fifth aspect,

the transceiver is specifically configured to acquire an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver is specifically configured to acquire an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver is specifically configured to, when the first communication interface is established with the controller device, acquire an ID of the controller device and a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver is specifically configured to, when the first communication interface is established with the controller device, acquire an ID of the controller device, a TAI of a second base station where a second communication interface exists with the controller device, and an ID of the second base station;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver is specifically configured to acquire an ID of the second base station, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the controller device having the second communication interface with the second base station when the transceiver establishes the third communication interface with the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device.

With reference to the fifth aspect and possible implementation manners of the fifth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the at least one controller device is a device that has a first communication interface with the core network device and is independent of a base station,

the processor is further configured to determine a first mapping relationship before the transceiver transmits a paging message to a first base station associated with the first controller device, the first mapping relationship including: a correspondence between the controller device and a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, or a correspondence between the controller device and a third base station having a same TAI as the controller device, where the first base station includes the second base station and the third base station.

the processor is specifically configured to determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when the transceiver and the controller device establish the first communication interface, where the correspondence between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device.

With reference to the fifth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the fifth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the processor is specifically configured to determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when the transceiver establishes a third communication interface with the second base station, where the correspondence between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the controller device corresponding to the second base station.

With reference to the fifth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the fifth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the processor is specifically configured to determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when the transceiver establishes a first communication interface with the controller device, and determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when the transceiver establishes a third communication interface with the second base station;

The beneficial effects of the communication methods provided by the fifth aspect and the possible embodiments of the fifth aspect may refer to the beneficial effects brought by the possible embodiments of the first aspect and the first aspect, and are not described herein again.

In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a controller device comprising:

the device comprises a transceiver and a core network device, wherein the transceiver is used for receiving a query message sent by the core network device, and the query message carries an identifier of User Equipment (UE);

a processor, configured to determine whether the UE is located within a cell covered by the controller device according to the query message;

the transceiver is further configured to send a confirmation message to the core network device when the processor determines that the UE is located within a cell range covered by the controller device.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the transceiver is further configured to receive a paging message sent by the core network device after sending an acknowledgement message to the core network device, and initiate a paging procedure according to the paging message; and the paging message carries the identifier of the UE.

With reference to the sixth aspect and various possible implementation manners of the sixth aspect, in another possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the transceiver is further configured to send tracking area identification information to a core network device before receiving a query message sent by the core network device.

With reference to the sixth aspect and possible embodiments of the sixth aspect, in another possible embodiment of the sixth aspect, the controller device is a base station with a controller function,

the transceiver is further configured to send first indication information to a core network device before receiving an inquiry message sent by the core network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the core network device that the base station has a controller function.

With reference to the sixth aspect and possible embodiments of the sixth aspect, in another possible embodiment of the sixth aspect, the controller device is a device independent of the base station,

the transceiver is further configured to establish a first communication interface with the core network device before receiving the query message sent by the core network device.

With reference to the sixth aspect and the possible embodiments of the sixth aspect, in another possible embodiment of the sixth aspect,

the transceiver is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device, a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, and an ID of the second base station when the first communication interface is established with the core network device.

the transceiver is further configured to establish a second communication interface with the second base station before sending the ID of the controller device and the ID of the second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device to the core network device, or sending the ID of the controller device and the TAI of the second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device to the core network device, or sending the ID of the controller device, the TAI of the second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device and the ID of the second base station to the core network device, and acquiring the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station when establishing the second communication interface; or, when the second communication interface is established, the ID of the controller device is indicated to the second base station.

the transceiver is further configured to send a negative message to the core network device when the processor determines that the UE is not located within a cell covered by the controller device.

the transceiver is further configured to establish a second communication interface with a second base station before receiving an inquiry message sent by a core network device, determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when establishing the second communication interface, establish a first communication interface with the core network device, and send the correspondence to the core network device when establishing the first communication interface; the correspondence includes an ID of the second base station to which the controller device corresponds.

the transceiver is further configured to send second indication information to the UE after sending the acknowledgement message to the core network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the UE accesses the core network device.

The beneficial effects of the communication methods provided by the sixth aspect and the possible embodiments of the sixth aspect may refer to the beneficial effects brought by the possible embodiments of the first aspect and the first aspect, and are not described herein again.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a communication system, where the communication system may include the core network device according to each possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect and the fifth aspect, and may further include the controller device according to each possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect and the sixth aspect.

The beneficial effects of the communication system provided in the seventh aspect may refer to the beneficial effects brought by the possible embodiments of the first aspect and the first aspect, and are not described herein again.

Drawings

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

Fig. 1 is a system architecture diagram of a nocell according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a first schematic diagram of a multiplexing network architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a multiplexing network architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a multiplexing network architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a signaling flow chart of a first embodiment of a communication method according to the present invention;

fig. 6 is a signaling flowchart of a second embodiment of a communication method according to the present invention;

fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a third communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a first signaling flow chart of a core network device obtaining tracking area identification information of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a first flowchart of signaling establishment for a first communication interface according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a second flowchart of signaling establishment of the first communication interface according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a signaling flowchart of a core network device obtaining tracking area identification information of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a first flowchart of signaling establishment for a second communication interface according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a second flowchart of signaling establishment for a second communication interface according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 14 is a signaling flow chart of acquiring, by a core network device, tracking area identification information of a controller device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 15 is a first flowchart of signaling establishment for a third communication interface according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 16 is a second flowchart of signaling establishment for a third communication interface according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 17 is a signaling flowchart of a core network device sending an inquiry message to a base station having a controller function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 19 is a first signaling flow diagram for determining a first mapping relationship by a core network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 20 is a signaling flowchart of determining, by a core network device, a first mapping relationship according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 21 is a signaling flowchart of a fifth embodiment of a communication method according to the present invention;

fig. 22 is a schematic structural diagram of a first core network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 23 is a schematic structural diagram of a second core network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 24 is a schematic structural diagram of a third core network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 25 is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth core network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 26 is a schematic structural diagram of a first embodiment of a controller device according to the present invention;

fig. 27 is a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 28 is a schematic structural diagram of a sixth embodiment of a core network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 29 is a schematic structural diagram of a third embodiment of a controller device according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the invention can be suitable for determining the position of the UE under the 3G core network and can also be suitable for determining the position of the UE under the 4G core network. It should be noted that, the 3G core network or the 4G core network according to the embodiment of the present invention may be combined with a new system architecture, and optionally, the new system architecture may be a nocell system architecture. As shown in fig. 1, the nocell system may include a Controller (Controller) and a plurality of Transmission Points (TPs), where a TP is used to provide an air interface service, and the Controller is used to perform coordinated scheduling and resource management on each TP. The coverage of the Controller constitutes a cell, which may be a super cell (super cell), and a super cell may include cells covered by a plurality of TPs. In the initial deployment phase of the nocell, in order to reduce the deployment cost, the deployment of the nocell system may depend on the current UMTS system or LTE system, that is, the nocell system only deploys the corresponding TP and Controller, and does not have the core network of the corresponding nocell system, but multiplexes the core network of the current UMTS system or multiplexes the core network of the LTE system. The method is suitable for a network architecture of a core network of a NoCell multiplexing UMTS system or a network architecture of a core network of a NoCell multiplexing LTE system. In addition, no matter which of the above multiplexing network architectures, the multiplexing network architecture may include a core network device and a Controller device, and optionally, the Controller device according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a base station having a Controller function, may also be an independent Controller, and may also be another device having a Controller function, for example, a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in a UMTS system. Alternatively, in a multiplexed network architecture, the controller device may be multiple.

Taking a network architecture of a core network of a multiplexing LTE system as an example, the network architecture can be divided into two scenarios: the first scenario is that a base station and a Controller share a station, where the Controller device is a base station with a Controller function, and a multiplexing network architecture includes a core network device and the base station with the Controller function, see a first multiplexing network architecture diagram shown in fig. 2, where a super cell covered by the Controller has an overlapping area with a cell range of the base station, and a specific super cell and an LTE cell may completely overlap, or the super cell is in a coverage range of the LTE cell, or the LTE cell is in a coverage range of the super cell, or the super cell and the coverage range of the LTE cell partially overlap, it should be noted that fig. 2 is only an example; the second scenario is a scenario in which the base station and the Controller do not share a common station, at this time, the Controller device is an independent Controller, and the multiplexed network architecture includes a core network device, the base station, and the Controller. For the latter scenario, referring to the second multiplexed network architecture diagram shown in fig. 3 and the third multiplexed network architecture diagram shown in fig. 4, as in the first scenario, an overlapping area exists between a hyper cell covered by a Controller and a base station cell, specifically, the hyper cell and an LTE cell may be completely overlapped, or the hyper cell is in an LTE cell coverage area, or the LTE cell is in the hyper cell coverage area, or the hyper cell and the LTE cell coverage area are partially overlapped, where the foregoing fig. 3 and fig. 4 are merely an example. It should be noted that, in fig. 2 to fig. 4, the outermost circle in the figures represents LTE cell coverage, where the LTE cell coverage may be coverage of all cells under a corresponding LTE base station, or coverage of a certain cell under a corresponding LTE base station, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto; the dashed circle represents the super cell overlay, and the innermost solid circle represents the single TP overlay under the nocell. It should be noted that, the above scenarios are also applicable to a network architecture of a core network of a multiplexing UMTS system, and are not described herein again.

For the first scenario, the information interaction between the controller device and the core network device may reuse an interface between the existing base station and the core network device; for the second scenario, the controller device may have a direct communication interface with the core network device, or may perform information interaction with the core network device through the communication interface with the base station (see the description of the following embodiments specifically).

Of course, the communication method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, the above application scenarios, and the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present invention may be adopted in all scenarios related to the participation of the controller device in paging.

In addition, the user equipment UE according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a wireless terminal such as a mobile phone and a tablet computer, where the wireless terminal includes a device for providing voice and/or data services to a user, and optionally, the device may be a handheld device having a wireless connection function, or another processing device connected to a wireless modem. Moreover, the wireless terminal may also communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (e.g., RAN), for example, the wireless terminal may specifically be a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone (or referred to as "cellular" phone) and a computer with a mobile terminal, which may be a portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included or vehicle-mounted mobile device, and may interact with the core Network through voice and/or data.

A base station according to an embodiment of the present invention may refer to a device in an access network that communicates over an air interface with wireless terminals via at least one sector. The base station may be configured to interconvert received air frames and IP packets as a router between the wireless terminal and the rest of the access network, which may include an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The base station may also coordinate attribute management of the air interface, for example, the base station may be a base station (NodeB) in WCDMA, and may also be an evolved Node B (eNodeB or eNB or e-NodeB, evolved Node B) in LTE, which is not limited in this application.

The core network device according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the LTE system, or may be a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) in the UMTS system.

It is to be understood that the appearance of "at least one" in embodiments of the present invention means "one" or "more than one".

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the invention aims to solve the technical problem that air interface resources are wasted greatly because paging messages need to be sent to all base stations when the position of the UE is determined in the prior art.

The following describes the technical solution of the present invention and how to solve the above technical problems with specific examples. The following several specific embodiments may be combined with each other, and details of the same or similar concepts or processes may not be repeated in some embodiments.

Fig. 5 is a signaling flowchart of a first communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment relates to a specific process in which core network equipment pages a UE through controller equipment to save air interface resources. As shown in fig. 5, the method includes the steps of:

s101: the core network device sends a query message to at least one controller device.

The query message carries an identifier of the UE, and the query message is used to instruct the at least one controller device to determine whether the UE is located in a cell range covered by the at least one controller device according to the identifier of the UE.

Specifically, when the core network device determines that there is service data of the UE to be transmitted currently, the core network device sends an inquiry message to at least one Controller device, optionally, the at least one Controller device may be all Controller devices having interfaces with the core network device, or may be a part of Controller devices screened from all Controller devices by the core network device, and the at least one Controller device may be a base station having a Controller function, or may be a device independent of the base station and having a communication interface with the base station, for example, a Controller in the above-mentioned multiplexing network architecture, where this embodiment does not limit the at least one Controller device. The query message is used to indicate at least one controller device to determine, according to an Identifier of the UE, whether the UE is located in a Cell range covered by at least one controller device, where the Identifier of the UE may be an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or a Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (S-TMSI) of the UE, or a Cell Radio Network Temporary Identity (C-RNTI) allocated by the eNB for the UE, or a dedicated link Identity (DCID) allocated by the controller device for the UE, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It should be noted that the DCID is a unique identifier of the UE in the supercell,

s102: at least one controller device receives the query message.

S103: and at least one controller device determines whether the UE is positioned in the range of the cell covered by the at least one controller device according to the inquiry message.

Specifically, after receiving the query message, at least one controller device queries whether the UE is located within a cell covered by the UE according to the query message. Optionally, the accurate position of the UE may be determined by receiving a tracking signal sent by the UE at an interval in a certain specific state, specifically: in a nocell related to a multiplexed network architecture, a UE has two states: in the ACTIVE state, the UE may support scheduling data transmission, and the UE in the ECO state (at this time, the UE may not have service transmission) may send a tracking signal to a TP under the at least one controller device at intervals, and the TP may report a measurement report to the controller device to which the TP belongs after receiving the tracking signal. Optionally, the "certain specific state" may be an ECO state in a multiplexed network architecture, where the ECO state is actually a state in a power saving mode, and is between an idle state and a connected state, and in this state, the UE may send some signals to the network side.

S104: when the first controller device determines that the UE is located in a cell range covered by the first controller device, the first controller device sends a confirmation message to the core network device; wherein the first controller device belongs to the at least one controller device.

Specifically, when a first controller device of the at least one controller device determines that the UE is located within a cell range covered by the first controller device, the first controller device sends an Acknowledgement (ACK) message to the core network device to notify the core network device that the UE is located within the coverage of the first controller device.

S105: and the core network equipment receives the confirmation message sent by the first controller equipment.

The acknowledgement message is used to indicate that the UE is located within a cell covered by the first controller device.

Specifically, after the core network device receives the acknowledgement message sent by the first controller device, it knows that the UE is located within the coverage of the first controller device, that is, the core network device knows the specific location of the UE through the acknowledgement message, and can determine the location of the UE without sending paging messages to all base stations in the TAI List of the UE (that is, without paging the UE on cells covered by all base stations), thereby greatly saving air interface resources when paging the UE.

Optionally, if the core network device does not receive any acknowledgement message replied by the controller device for the query message, the paging method in the prior art is adopted, which is not described herein again. The core network device does not receive any acknowledgement message replied by the controller device for the query message, and may be that all the controller devices receiving the query message reply a Negative (NACK) message, or that the core network device starts a timer when sending the query message, and still does not receive the acknowledgement message when the timer is overtime, so that the core network device can resend the query message or adopt a paging method in the prior art, thereby avoiding the indefinite waiting of the core network device.

In the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the core network device sends the query message to the at least one controller device, so that the at least one controller device determines whether the UE is located within its coverage area according to the query message, and when the first controller device in the at least one controller device determines that the UE is located within its coverage area, sends the acknowledgement message to the core network device, so that the core network device knows the specific location of the UE.

Fig. 6 is a signaling flowchart of a second communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment relates to a specific process in which a core network device sends a paging message to a first controller device after receiving a confirmation message sent by the first controller device, so that a UE accesses the core network device. On the basis of the foregoing embodiment, further, after the foregoing S105, the method may further include:

s106: the core network device sends a paging message to the first controller device.

The paging message carries the identifier of the UE, and the paging message is used to instruct the first controller device to initiate a paging process.

S107: the first controller device initiates a paging procedure according to the paging message.

In this embodiment, after receiving the acknowledgement message sent by the first controller device, the core network device learns that the UE is located within the coverage area of the first controller device, and therefore, the core network device sends a paging message carrying the UE identifier to the first controller device, so that the first controller device can initiate a paging process to the UE to enable the UE to access the core network device after being switched from the idle state to the active state. Optionally, after the core network device instructs the first controller device to send the paging message to the UE, the core network device instructs the UE to initiate a random access process to the first controller device, that is, the UE switches to an active state, and then the first controller device sends service data to the UE; alternatively, the first controller device may be instructed to directly send the traffic data to the UE. Optionally, in this embodiment, the first controller device may be a device independent from the base station, for example, may be a controller (controller), and may also be a base station having a controller function.

In the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, after receiving the acknowledgment message, the core network device sends the paging message to the first controller device in a directional manner, so that the first controller device UE initiates a paging process without paging the UE in all cells of the base stations in the TAIList of the UE, thereby saving air interface resources during paging and improving paging efficiency.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a third communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment relates to a specific process in which a core network device selects to send a query message to at least one controller device, so as to save interface resources between the core network device and the at least one controller device. On the basis of the foregoing embodiment, further before S101, the method may further include:

s201: at least one controller device sends tracking area identification information to a core network device.

S202: and the core network equipment acquires the tracking area identification information of the at least one controller equipment.

S203: and when the core network equipment determines that the tracking area identification information of at least one controller equipment is matched with the TAI in the tracking area identification list of the UE, the core network equipment determines to send the query message to the at least one controller equipment.

Specifically, the core network device may obtain tracking area identification information of all controller devices under the core network device, and optionally, the tracking area identification information may be used to characterize the TAIs of base stations with which the controller devices are related. Therefore, after the core network device receives the tracking area identification information, it determines that the tracking area identification information of some of the controller devices matches the TAI in the tracking area identification List (TAI List) of the UE, and thus, the core network device determines to send the query message to the controller devices. It should be noted that "matching" referred to herein may be that at least one TAI in the tracking area identity information of the controller device is the same as a TAI in a tracking area identity List (TAI List) of the UE.

Optionally, when the at least one Controller device is a device independent of the base station, such as a Controller (in the following embodiments, the device independent of the base station is exemplified by the Controller), the core network device may directly send the query message to the at least one Controller device (i.e., the at least one Controller) when it is determined that the tracking area identification information of the at least one Controller device matches the TAI in the TAI List of the UE. Further, before the core network device sends the query message to at least one Controller, the core network device needs to establish a first communication interface with the controllers. The process of establishing the first communication interface may be a core network device trigger or a Controller trigger. Moreover, the manner for the core network device to obtain the tracking area identification information of at least one controller device may include the following:

the first method comprises the following steps: referring to the steps shown in fig. 8, the step S201 specifically includes:

s301: the OAM configures the Controller with the TAI of the Controller.

S302: the Controller establishes a first communication interface with the core network device, and sends the ID of the Controller and the TAI of the Controller to the core network device when establishing the first communication interface.

Specifically, when the first communication interface is established, the following may be performed: the Controller sends a first communication interface establishment request message to the core network device (step a), where the first communication interface establishment request message carries an ID of the Controller and a TAI of the Controller, and after receiving the first communication interface establishment request message, the core network device sends a first communication interface establishment response message to the Controller (step B), where the first communication interface is successfully established, see first communication interface establishment signaling flow chart first shown in fig. 9. The method can also be as follows: the core network device sends a first communication interface establishment request message to the Controller (step a '), after receiving the first communication interface establishment request message, the Controller carries the ID of the Controller and the TAI of the Controller in a first communication interface establishment response message and sends the first communication interface establishment response message to the core network device (step B'), where the first communication interface is successfully established, see fig. 10, which shows a second signaling flow chart for establishing the first communication interface. That is to say, in this implementation, the tracking area identification information of the Controller is the ID of the Controller and the TAI of the Controller, so that the core network device may determine, according to the ID and the TAI of the Controller, whether the Controller matches the TAI in the TAI List of the UE, and further determine to send the query message to the Controller whose TAI matches the TAI in the TAI List of the UE, thereby saving interface resources between the Controller and the core network device.

And the second method comprises the following steps: referring to the steps shown in fig. 11, the step S201 specifically includes:

s401: the Controller establishes a second communication interface with a second base station, and acquires the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station when establishing the second communication interface.

Specifically, in this implementation manner, the tracking area identification information of the Controller may be an ID of the Controller and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the Controller, or may be an ID of the Controller and a TAI of the second base station, or may be an ID of the Controller, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the second base station.

When the tracking area identification information of the Controller is the ID of the Controller and the ID of the second base station, since the core network device may obtain the ID of the second base station and the TAI of the second base station through information interaction with the second base station, when the core network device obtains the ID of the Controller and the ID of the second base station, the core network device may know which TAI the Controller is associated with, and then the core network device checks whether the TAI List of the UE includes the TAI, and if so, the core network device determines to send a query message to the Controller.

When the tracking area identification information of the Controller is the ID of the Controller and the TAI of the second base station, after acquiring the tracking area identification information of the Controller, the core network device may directly acquire which TAI the Controller is associated with, and then check whether the TAI List of the UE includes the TAI, if so, the core network device determines to send a query message to the Controller.

When the tracking area identification information of the Controller is the ID of the Controller, the TAI of the second base station, and the ID of the second base station, after acquiring the tracking area identification information of the Controller, the core network device may also directly acquire which TAI the Controller is associated with, and then check whether the TAI List of the UE includes the TAI, if so, the core network device determines to send a query message to the Controller.

Therefore, before the Controller sends the ID of the Controller and the ID of the second base station to the core network device, or the Controller sends the ID of the Controller and the TAI of the second base station to the core network device, or before the Controller sends the ID of the Controller, the TAI of the second base station and the ID of the second base station to the core network device, the Controller needs to establish a second communication interface with the second base station, and acquire the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station when establishing the second communication interface. When the second communication interface is established, the trigger may be a Controller trigger or a second base station trigger. When the Controller triggers the establishment of the second communication interface, the method specifically comprises the following steps: optionally, the second communication interface establishment request message carries an ID of the Controller, and after receiving the second communication interface establishment request message, the second base station sends a second communication interface establishment response message to the Controller (step D), where the second communication interface establishment response message carries the ID of the second base station and/or a TAI of the second base station, and the second communication interface is successfully established, see fig. 12, which is a first signaling flow chart for establishing the second communication interface. When the second base station triggers the establishment of the second communication interface, the following steps are specifically performed: the second base station sends a second communication interface establishment request message to the Controller (step C '), where the second communication interface establishment request message carries an ID of the second base station and/or a TAI of the second base station, and after receiving the second communication interface establishment request message, the Controller sends a second communication interface establishment response message to the second base station (step D'), optionally, the second communication interface establishment response message may carry the ID of the Controller, and the second communication interface is successfully established, see second communication interface establishment signaling flow diagram second shown in fig. 13.

S402: the Controller establishes a first communication interface with the core network device, and sends the ID of the Controller and the ID of the second base station to the core network device when establishing the first communication interface, or sends the ID of the Controller and the TAI of the second base station to the core network device, or sends the ID of the Controller and the TAI of the second base station and the ID of the second base station to the core network device.

Specifically, when the Controller acquires the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station, the Controller establishes a first communication interface with the core network device, and sends the acquired ID of the Controller, the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station to the core network device when the first communication interface is established.

When the Controller obtains the ID of the second base station from the process of establishing the second communication interface, the Controller sends the ID of the Controller and the ID of the second base station to the core network device when establishing the first communication interface with the core network device, that is, the tracking area identification information of the Controller obtained by the core network device at this time is the ID of the Controller and the ID of the second base station; when the Controller obtains the TAI of the second base station from the process of establishing the second communication interface, the Controller sends the ID of the Controller and the TAI of the second base station to the core network device when establishing the first communication interface with the core network device, that is, the tracking area identification information of the Controller obtained by the core network device at this time is the ID of the Controller and the TAI of the second base station; when the Controller obtains the TAI of the second base station and the ID of the second base station from the process of establishing the second communication interface, the Controller sends the ID of the Controller, the TAI of the second base station and the ID of the second base station to the core network device when establishing the first communication interface with the core network device, that is, the tracking area identification information of the Controller obtained by the core network device at this time is the ID of the Controller, the TAI of the second base station and the ID of the second base station.

When the Controller and the core network device establish the first communication interface, the Controller sends the ID of the Controller, the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station to the core network device (i.e. the tracking area identification information of the Controller is sent to the core network device), optionally, the Controller triggers to establish the first communication interface, specifically: the Controller sends a first communication interface establishment request message to the core network device, the first communication interface establishment request message carries tracking area identification information of the Controller, the core network device sends a first communication interface establishment response message to the Controller after receiving the first communication interface establishment request message, the first communication interface establishment response message can carry an ID of the core network device, and the first communication interface is successfully established. Optionally, the method may further include the step of triggering establishment of the first communication interface by the core network device, specifically: the core network device sends a first communication interface establishment request message to the Controller, where the first communication interface establishment request message may carry an ID of the core network device, and after receiving the first communication interface establishment request message, the Controller carries tracking area identification information of the Controller in a first communication interface establishment response message and sends the tracking area identification information to the core network device.

And the third is that: referring to the steps shown in fig. 14, the step S201 specifically includes:

s501: and the Controller establishes a second communication interface with the second base station and sends the ID of the Controller to the second base station when the second communication interface is established.

Specifically, in this implementation manner, the core network device may obtain tracking area identification information of the Controller from a process of establishing the third communication interface with the second base station, where the tracking area identification information of the Controller may be an ID of the second base station, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the Controller. Therefore, the Controller needs to establish a second communication interface with the second base station in advance, and send the ID of the Controller to the second base station in the process of establishing the second communication interface.

The establishment of the second communication interface may be triggered by a Controller or a second base station. When the Controller triggers the establishment of the second communication interface, the method specifically comprises the following steps: the Controller sends a second communication interface establishment request message to the second base station, wherein the second communication interface establishment request message carries the ID of the Controller, the second base station sends a second communication interface establishment response message to the Controller after receiving the second communication interface establishment request message, and the second communication interface is successfully established. When the second base station triggers the establishment of the second communication interface, the method specifically comprises the following steps: and the second base station sends a second communication interface establishment request message to the Controller, and after receiving the second communication interface establishment request message, the Controller sends a second communication interface establishment response message to the second base station, wherein the second communication interface establishment response message can carry the ID of the Controller, and the second communication interface is successfully established.

S502: and the second base station establishes a third communication interface with the core network equipment, and sends the ID of the second base station, the TAI of the second base station and the ID of the Controller to the core network equipment when the third communication interface is established.

Specifically, after the second base station obtains the ID of the Controller, the second base station establishes a third communication interface with the core network device, and sends the ID of the second base station, the TAI of the second base station, and the ID of the Controller to the core network device when the third communication interface is established. The establishment of the third communication interface may be triggered by the second base station or triggered by the core network device. When the second base station triggers to establish the third communication interface, the method specifically comprises the following steps: the second base station sends a third communication interface establishment request message to the core network device (step E), where the third communication interface establishment request message carries an ID of the second base station, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the Controller, and after receiving the third communication interface establishment request message, the core network device sends a third communication interface establishment response message to the second base station (step F), where the third communication interface is successfully established, see a first diagram for establishing the third communication interface shown in fig. 15. When the core network device triggers to establish the third communication interface, the method specifically comprises the following steps: the core network device sends a third communication interface establishment request message to the second base station (step E '), and after receiving the third communication interface establishment request message, the second base station sends a third communication interface establishment response message to the core network device (step F'), where the third communication interface establishment response message carries an ID of the second base station, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the Controller, and the third communication interface is successfully established, see fig. 16, which is a second schematic diagram for establishing the third communication interface.

In the above three implementation manners, all related to a specific process that when the at least one Controller device is a Controller (i.e., a device independent from the base station), the core network device acquires the tracking area identification information of the Controller by establishing a first communication interface with the Controller, establishing a second communication interface between the Controller and the second base station, or establishing a third communication interface between the core network device and the second base station.

Optionally, when the at least one controller device is a base station, the tracking area identification information of the controller device may include a TAI of the base station, so that when the core network device determines that the tracking area identification information of the base station matches the TAI in the TAIList of the UE, the core network device further needs to determine whether the base station has a controller function, and when the core network device determines that the tracking area identification information of the base station matches the TAI in the TAIList of the UE and the base station is the base station having the controller function, the core network device determines to send the query message to the base station, so as to save interface resources between the core network device and the base station. That is, the step S202 may specifically refer to the step shown in fig. 17, and specifically includes:

s601: and the base station sends the first indication information to the core network equipment.

S602: and the core network equipment receives the first indication information and determines that the base station has the controller function according to the first indication information.

Optionally, the first indication information may be carried in a third interface setup request message between the core network device and the base station, when the core network device is an MME, the first indication information may be carried in an S1 interface setup request message, and when the core network device is an SGSN or an MSC, the first indication information may be carried in an Iu interface setup request message.

S603: the core network device further determines whether the tracking area identification information of the controller-capable base station matches a TAI in a TAI List of the UE to be paged. If yes, go to step S604.

S604: and the core network equipment sends the inquiry message to the base station with the controller function.

S605: the core network device does not transmit the inquiry message to the base station having the controller function.

Specifically, when the core network device determines that the base station has the controller function and that the tracking area identification information of the base station matches the TAI in the TAI List of the UE to be paged, the core network device determines to send the query message to the base station, thereby greatly saving interface resources between the core network device and the base station.

According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the invention, the core network equipment can determine to send the query message to the at least one controller equipment according to the tracking area identification information by interacting the tracking area identification information of the at least one controller equipment between the core network equipment and the at least one controller equipment, so that the query message does not need to be sent to all the controller equipment, interface resources between the core network equipment and the controller equipment are greatly saved, and the paging efficiency is further improved.

Fig. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the at least one Controller device and the first Controller device are both devices that have a first communication interface with the core network device and are independent of the base station, and optionally, the device independent of the base station may be a Controller that is independently set from the base station in the above multiplexing network architecture. In this embodiment, the Controller is taken as an example for the device independent from the base station. The present embodiment relates to a specific process in which the core network device directly sends a paging message to the first base station associated with the first controller device after receiving the acknowledgment message sent by the first controller device (the second embodiment sends a paging message to the first controller device, and then the first controller device initiates a paging process), so that the UE accesses the core network device. On the basis of the foregoing embodiment, further before the foregoing S101 or before the core network device sends the paging message to the first base station associated with the first controller device, as shown in fig. 18, the method may further include:

s701: the core network device determines a first mapping relationship.

Specifically, the first mapping relationship may include: a correspondence between a Controller (i.e., a first Controller device) and a second base station having a second communication interface with the Controller, or a correspondence between the Controller and a third base station that is the same as the TAI of the Controller may be included, and the first base station may be the second base station or the third base station. Wherein, the corresponding relation between the Controller and the second base station includes the ID of the second base station corresponding to the Controller, and the corresponding relation between the Controller and the third base station includes the TAI of the third base station.

S702: and the core network equipment determines to send a paging message to the first base station associated with the Controller according to the first mapping relation.

Specifically, after the core network device determines the first mapping relationship, when the core network device receives a confirmation message sent by a Controller (i.e., a first Controller device), the core network device may send a paging message to a first base station associated with the Controller according to the first mapping relationship, and does not need to send the paging message to all base stations related to the TAI List of the UE, that is, does not need to page the UE on all base stations, thereby greatly saving air interface resources.

Further, the specific process of determining the first mapping relationship by the core network device may specifically refer to the following two implementation manners:

the first method comprises the following steps: the core network device obtains the first mapping relationship through interaction with the Controller, specifically referring to the steps described in fig. 19:

s801: the Controller and a second base station establish a second communication interface, and determine a corresponding relationship between the Controller and the second base station when establishing the second communication interface, where the corresponding relationship includes an ID of the second base station corresponding to the Controller.

Specifically, the Controller may set up the second communication interface with the second base station, where the second communication interface may be triggered by the Controller, and the specific setup process of the second communication interface may refer to the foregoing embodiment, and is not described herein again, when the Controller triggers to set up the second communication interface, the ID of the second base station corresponding to the Controller may be carried in the second communication interface setup request message, and when the second base station triggers to set up the second communication interface, the ID of the second base station may be carried in the second communication interface setup response message. Thus, the Controller can know which second base station IDs correspond to itself.

S802: and the Controller establishes a first communication interface with the core network equipment and sends the corresponding relation to the core network equipment when establishing the first communication interface.

Specifically, the Controller may establish the first communication interface with the core network device, where the first communication interface may be triggered by the Controller, and may also be triggered by the core network device, and a specific establishment process of the first communication interface may refer to the above-mentioned embodiment, which is not described herein again. In summary, the core network device obtains the correspondence between the Controller and the second base station, that is, obtains the ID of the second base station corresponding to the Controller. For the scenario shown in fig. 4, there may be multiple second base stations corresponding to the Controller, that is, there may be multiple IDs of the second base stations interacted during the establishment of the second communication interface.

And the second method comprises the following steps: the core network device obtains the first mapping relationship through interaction with the second base station, specifically referring to the steps described in fig. 20:

s901: and the second base station and the Controller establish a second communication interface, and determine a corresponding relation between the second base station and the Controller in the process of establishing the second communication interface, wherein the corresponding relation comprises the ID of the Controller corresponding to the second base station.

Specifically, the second base station and the Controller establish the second communication interface, which may be triggered by the Controller, or triggered by the second base station, and a specific establishment process of the second communication interface may refer to the above-mentioned embodiment, which is not described herein again. Thus, the second base station can know which Controller IDs the second base station corresponds to.

S902: the core network device establishes a third communication interface with a second base station, and determines a corresponding relationship between the second base station and a Controller when establishing the third communication interface, where the corresponding relationship between the second base station and the Controller includes an ID of the Controller corresponding to the second base station.

Specifically, the core network device and the second base station establish the third communication interface, which may be triggered by the second base station, or triggered by the core network device, and a specific establishment process of the third communication interface may refer to the above-mentioned embodiment, which is not described herein again, when the second base station triggers establishment of the third communication interface, the ID of the Controller corresponding to the second base station may be carried in the first communication interface establishment request message, and when the core network device triggers establishment of the third communication interface, the ID of the Controller corresponding to the second base station may be carried in the third communication interface establishment response message. In summary, the core network device obtains the correspondence between the Controller and the second base station, that is, obtains the ID of the Controller corresponding to the second base station. Optionally, for a scenario where the hyper cell is covered within the cell range of the second base station, there may be multiple controllers corresponding to the second base station, that is, multiple IDs of the controllers interacted during the establishment of the third interface may be used.

Optionally, the core network device may further obtain the first mapping relationship by interacting with the Controller and interacting with the core network device and the second base station, so that the obtained first mapping relationship is more accurate, and the specific process may refer to the specific processes in fig. 19 and fig. 20, which are not described herein again, and the obtained corresponding relationship between the device (Controller) independent of the base station and the second base station includes: an ID of a Controller corresponding to the second base station, or an ID of the second base station corresponding to the Controller.

In the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present invention, after receiving the confirmation message from the Controller, the core network device may accurately locate the second base station where the UE is located according to the first mapping relationship between the Controller and the second base station, and page the UE by sending the paging message to the second base station, so that it is not necessary to send the paging message to all base stations related to the TAI List of the UE, that is, it is not necessary to page the UE on all base stations, thereby greatly saving air interface resources, and improving air interface utilization rate and paging efficiency.

Fig. 21 is a signaling flowchart of a fifth communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the at least one Controller device and the first Controller device are both devices independent of the base station, and optionally, the device independent of the base station may be a Controller independently set from the base station in the above multiplexing network architecture. In this embodiment, the Controller is taken as an example for the device independent from the base station. The embodiment relates to a specific process that, when a Controller (i.e., a first Controller device) determines that a UE is located in a coverage cell of the Controller, the Controller directly instructs the UE to access a core network device after sending a confirmation message to the core network device. In this embodiment, no core network device is required to send any paging message, which further saves air interface resources. On the basis of the foregoing embodiment, further, after the foregoing S105, as shown in fig. 21, the method may further include:

s1001: and the Controller sends second indication information to the UE, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the UE to access the core network equipment.

Specifically, when the Controller determines that the UE is located in the cell range covered by the Controller, the Controller sends a confirmation message to the core network device, but different from the above embodiment, in this embodiment, after the core network device receives the confirmation message sent by the Controller, the core network device stops paging and ends the procedure, but the Controller directly sends the second indication information to the UE, and at this time, the Controller has accurately known which TP of the Controller the UE is located under, so as to indicate the UE to select a suitable cell to access the core network device.

S1002: and the UE receives the second indication information and accesses the core network equipment according to the second indication information.

In the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present invention, when the Controller determines that the UE is located in the cell range covered by the Controller, the Controller directly sends the second indication information to the UE after sending the confirmation message to the core network device, so that the UE can access the core network device according to the second indication information, and thus, the core network device or the base station is not required to send any paging message, air interface resources are saved, and paging efficiency and air interface resource utilization rate are greatly improved.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that: all or part of the steps for implementing the method embodiments may be implemented by hardware related to program instructions, and the program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, and when executed, the program performs the steps including the method embodiments; and the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as ROM, RAM, magnetic or optical disks.

Fig. 22 is a schematic structural diagram of a first core network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 22, the core network device may include: a transmitting module 10 and a receiving module 11.

A sending module 10, configured to send an inquiry message to at least one controller device, where the inquiry message carries an identifier of a user equipment UE, and the inquiry message is used to instruct the controller device to determine, according to the identifier of the UE, whether the UE is located within a cell covered by the controller device;

a receiving module 11, configured to receive an acknowledgement message sent by a first controller device, where the acknowledgement message is used to indicate that the UE is located in a cell range covered by the first controller device, where the first controller device belongs to the at least one controller device.

The transmitting module 10 may correspond to a transmitter or a transmitting antenna of a core network device, the receiving module 11 may correspond to a receiver or a receiving antenna of the core network device, and optionally, the transmitting module 10 and the receiving module 11 may be integrated in a transceiver or a transceiver of the core network device.

The core network device provided in the embodiment of the present invention may implement the method embodiments described above, and the implementation principle and technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

Further, with reference to fig. 22 continuously, the sending module 10 is further configured to send a paging message to a first controller device or a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE, and the paging message is used to instruct the first controller device or the first base station associated with the first controller device to initiate a paging procedure.

Fig. 23 is a schematic structural diagram of a second core network device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 22, the core network device further includes a determining module 12,

the receiving module 11 is configured to obtain tracking area identification information of at least one controller device before the sending module 10 sends a query message to the at least one controller device;

the determining module 12 is configured to determine to send the query message to the at least one controller device when the tracking area identity information of the at least one controller device matches a tracking area identity TAI in the tracking area identity list of the UE.

Optionally, when the at least one controller device is a base station, the receiving module 11 is further configured to receive first indication information sent by the base station before the determining module 12 determines to send the query message to the at least one controller device, where the first indication information is used to indicate, to the core network device, that the base station has a controller function.

Optionally, when the at least one controller device is a device independent from the base station, on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 23, the core network device further includes: a first interface establishing module 13. Specifically, refer to a schematic structural diagram of a third embodiment of a core network device shown in fig. 24. The first interface establishing module 13 is configured to establish a first communication interface with each of the controller devices before the sending module 10 sends the query message to at least one of the controller devices.

The receiving module 11 may include a first receiving unit 111, a second receiving unit 112, a third receiving unit 113, a fourth receiving unit 114, or a fifth receiving unit 115; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

a first receiving unit 111, configured to obtain an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when the first interface establishing module 13 establishes the first communication interface with the controller device;

or alternatively.

A second receiving unit 112, configured to obtain an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first interface establishing module 13 establishes the first communication interface with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a third receiving unit 113, configured to obtain an ID of the controller device and a TAI of a second base station where a second communication interface exists with the controller device when the first interface establishing module 13 establishes the first communication interface with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a fourth receiving unit 114, configured to obtain, when the first interface establishing module 13 establishes the first communication interface with the controller device, an ID of the controller device, a TAI of a second base station where a second communication interface exists with the controller device, and an ID of the second base station;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a fifth receiving unit 115, configured to obtain an ID of the second base station, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the controller device having the second communication interface with the second base station when the first interface establishing module 13 establishes the third communication interface with the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device.

Fig. 25 is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth core network device according to the embodiment of the present invention. On the basis of the foregoing embodiment, when the at least one controller device is a device that has a first communication interface with the core network device and is independent of a base station, the core network device further includes:

a second interface establishing module 14, configured to determine a first mapping relationship before the sending module 10 sends a paging message to a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the first mapping relationship includes: a correspondence between the controller device and a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, or a correspondence between the controller device and a third base station having a same TAI as the controller device, where the first base station includes the second base station and the third base station.

Optionally, the second interface establishing module 14 is specifically configured to establish a first communication interface with the controller device, and determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the first communication interface is established, where the corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device.

Optionally, the second interface establishing module 14 is specifically configured to establish a third communication interface with the second base station, and determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the third communication interface is established, where the corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the controller device corresponding to the second base station.

Optionally, the second interface establishing module 14 is specifically configured to establish a first communication interface with the controller device, and determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the first communication interface is established; establishing a third communication interface with the second base station, and determining a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the third communication interface is established;

Fig. 26 is a schematic structural diagram of a first embodiment of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 26, the controller device includes a receiving module 20, a determining module 21, and a transmitting module 22.

A receiving module 20, configured to receive an inquiry message sent by a core network device, where the inquiry message carries an identifier of a user equipment UE;

a determining module 21, configured to determine whether the UE is located within a cell covered by the controller device according to the query message;

a sending module 22, configured to send an acknowledgement message to the core network device when the determining module 21 determines that the UE is located in a cell range covered by the controller device.

The transmitting module 22 may correspond to a transmitter or a transmitting antenna of a core network device, the receiving module 20 may correspond to a receiver or a receiving antenna of the core network device, and optionally, the transmitting module 22 and the receiving module 20 may be integrated into a transceiver of the core network device.

The controller device provided by the embodiment of the present invention may implement the above method embodiments, and the implementation principle and technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

Optionally, the receiving module 20 is further configured to receive a paging message sent by the core network device after the sending module 22 sends an acknowledgement message to the core network device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE;

the sending module 22 is further configured to initiate a paging procedure according to the paging message.

Optionally, when the controller device is a base station with a controller function, the sending module 22 is further configured to send first indication information to the core network device before the receiving module 20 receives an inquiry message sent by the core network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the core network device that the base station has the controller function.

Optionally, when the controller device is a device independent of the base station, as shown in an embodiment two of the controller device shown in fig. 27, on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 26, as shown in fig. 27, the controller device may further include: the first interface establishing module 23 is configured to establish a first communication interface with the core network device before the receiving module 20 receives the query message sent by the core network device. With reference to fig. 27, the sending module 22 may include a first sending unit 221, a second sending unit 222, a third sending unit 223, or a fourth sending unit 224, specifically:

a first sending unit 221, configured to send, to the core network device, an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when the first interface establishing module 23 establishes the first communication interface with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a second sending unit 222, configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first interface establishing module 23 establishes the first communication interface with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a third sending unit 223, configured to send, to the core network device, the ID of the controller device and the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device when the first interface establishing module 23 establishes the first communication interface with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

a fourth sending unit 224, configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device, a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, and an ID of the second base station when the first interface establishing module 23 establishes the first communication interface with the core network device;

further, with continued reference to fig. 27, the controller device may further include: a second interface establishing module 24;

the second interface establishing module 24 is configured to, when the second sending unit 222 sends the ID of the controller device and the ID of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device to the core network device, or when the third sending unit 223 sends the ID of the controller device and the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device to the core network device, or before the fourth sending unit 224 sends the ID of the controller device, the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device and the ID of the second base station to the core network device, establish the second communication interface with the second base station, and acquire the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station when establishing the second communication interface; or, when the second communication interface is established, the ID of the controller device is indicated to the second base station.

Optionally, the sending module 22 is further configured to send a negative message to the core network device when the determining module 21 determines that the UE is not located in a cell covered by the controller device.

Optionally, on the basis of the foregoing embodiment, when the controller device is a device independent from a base station, the second interface establishing module 24 is configured to establish a second communication interface with a second base station, and determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the second communication interface is established, where the corresponding relationship includes an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device; the first interface establishing module 23 is configured to establish a first communication interface with the core network device, and send the correspondence to the core network device when establishing the first communication interface.

Optionally, on the basis of the foregoing embodiment, when the controller device is a device independent from the base station, the sending module 22 is further configured to send second indication information to the UE after sending the acknowledgement message to the core network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the UE accesses the core network device.

The fifth embodiment of the invention provides core network equipment. The core network device may include a transceiver 30. The transceiver 30 may include a separate transmitter and a separate receiver, or may integrate the transmitter and the receiver. The transceiver 30 may operate under the instruction of the corresponding processing chip, and may also operate in real time according to its own function, and optionally, the transceiver 30 may correspond to a transceiver or a transceiver antenna in the core network device.

Specifically, the transceiver 30 is configured to send a query message to at least one controller device, and receive an acknowledgement message sent by a first controller device;

Further, the transceiver 30 is further configured to send a paging message to a first controller device or a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE, and the paging message is used to instruct the first controller device or the first base station associated with the first controller device to initiate a paging procedure.

On the basis of the above embodiments, as shown in fig. 28, the core network device in the sixth embodiment includes a processor 31 in addition to the transceiver 30. In this embodiment, the transceiver 30 is further configured to acquire tracking area identification information of at least one controller device before sending the query message to the at least one controller device;

the processor 31 is configured to determine to send the query message to the at least one controller device when the tracking area identity information of the at least one controller device matches a tracking area identity TAI in the tracking area identity list of the UE.

Optionally, when the at least one controller device is a base station, the transceiver 30 is further configured to receive first indication information sent by the base station before the processor 31 determines to send the query message to the at least one controller device, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the core network device that the base station has a controller function.

Optionally, when the at least one controller device is a device independent from the base station, the transceiver 30 is further configured to establish a first communication interface with each of the controller devices before sending the query message to the at least one controller device. In this possible implementation manner, the transceiver 30 obtains the tracking area identification information of the at least one controller device, which may specifically be:

the transceiver 30 is specifically configured to acquire an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when establishing the first communication interface with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver 30 is specifically configured to, when establishing the first communication interface with the controller device, acquire an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver 30 is specifically configured to, when establishing the first communication interface with the controller device, acquire an ID of the controller device and a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver 30 is specifically configured to, when establishing the first communication interface with the controller device, acquire an ID of the controller device, a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, and an ID of the second base station;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver 30 is specifically configured to acquire an ID of the second base station, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the controller device having the second communication interface with the second base station when the third communication interface is established with the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device.

Optionally, when the at least one controller device is a device that has a first communication interface with the core network device and is independent of a base station, the processor 31 is further configured to determine a first mapping relationship before the transceiver 30 sends a paging message to a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the first mapping relationship includes: a correspondence between the controller device and a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, or a correspondence between the controller device and a third base station having a same TAI as the controller device, where the first base station includes the second base station and the third base station.

In a possible embodiment, optionally, the processor 31 is specifically configured to determine a correspondence relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the transceiver 30 and the controller device establish the first communication interface, where the correspondence relationship between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device.

Optionally, the processor 31 is specifically configured to determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the transceiver 30 establishes the third communication interface with the second base station, where the corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the controller device corresponding to the second base station.

Optionally, the processor 31 is specifically configured to determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the transceiver 30 establishes the first communication interface with the controller device, and determine a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the transceiver 30 establishes the third communication interface with the second base station;

Fig. 29 is a schematic structural diagram of a third embodiment of a controller device according to the present invention. The controller device may include a transceiver 40 and a processor 41. The transceiver 40 may include a separate transmitter and a separate receiver, or may integrate the transmitter and the receiver. The transceiver 40 may operate under the direction of a corresponding processor 41, and may also operate in real time depending on its own function, and optionally, the transceiver 40 may correspond to a transceiver or a transceiver antenna in a controller device.

As shown in fig. 29, a transceiver 40 is configured to receive an inquiry message sent by a core network device, where the inquiry message carries an identifier of a user equipment UE;

a processor 41, configured to determine whether the UE is located in a cell covered by the controller device according to the query message;

the transceiver 40 is further configured to send an acknowledgement message to the core network device when the processor 41 determines that the UE is located within a cell covered by the controller device.

For the controller device provided in the embodiment of the present invention, the execution process may refer to the specific description of the above method embodiment, and the implementation principle and the technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

Further, the transceiver 40 is further configured to receive a paging message sent by the core network device after sending the acknowledgement message to the core network device, and initiate a paging procedure according to the paging message; and the paging message carries the identifier of the UE.

Further, the transceiver 40 is further configured to send tracking area identification information to the core network device before receiving the query message sent by the core network device.

Optionally, when the controller device is a base station having a controller function, the transceiver 40 is further configured to send first indication information to a core network device before receiving an inquiry message sent by the core network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the core network device that the base station has the controller function.

Optionally, when the controller device is a device independent from a base station, the transceiver 40 is further configured to establish a first communication interface with a core network device before receiving an inquiry message sent by the core network device. In a possible implementation manner, the transceiver 40 is specifically configured to send the identifier ID of the controller device and the TAI of the controller device to the core network device when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver 40 is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver 40 is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the transceiver 40 is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, the ID of the controller device, the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device, and the ID of the second base station when the first communication interface is established with the core network device.

In a possible implementation manner, further, the transceiver 40 is further configured to establish a second communication interface with the second base station before sending the ID of the controller device and the ID of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device to the core network device, or sending the ID of the controller device and the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device to the core network device, or sending the ID of the controller device, the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device and the ID of the second base station to the core network device, and acquiring the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station when establishing the second communication interface; or, when the second communication interface is established, the ID of the controller device is indicated to the second base station.

Optionally, the transceiver 40 is further configured to send a negative message to the core network device when the processor 41 determines that the UE is not located in a cell covered by the controller device.

Optionally, on the basis of the foregoing embodiment, when the controller device is a device independent from a base station, the transceiver 40 is further configured to establish a second communication interface with a second base station before receiving an inquiry message sent by a core network device, determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when establishing the second communication interface, establish a first communication interface with the core network device, and send the correspondence to the core network device when establishing the first communication interface; the correspondence includes an ID of the second base station to which the controller device corresponds.

Optionally, on the basis of the foregoing embodiment, when the controller device is a device independent of a base station, the transceiver 40 is further configured to send second indication information to the UE after sending a confirmation message to the core network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the UE accesses the core network device.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a communication system which can comprise core network equipment and controller equipment. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the core network device is used for sending a query message to at least one controller device and receiving a confirmation message sent by the first controller device; the query message carries an identifier of User Equipment (UE), and the query message is used for instructing controller equipment to determine whether the UE is located in a cell range covered by the controller equipment according to the identifier of the UE; the acknowledgement message is used to indicate that the UE is located in a cell covered by the first controller device, where the first controller device belongs to the at least one controller device.

The controller device is configured to receive an inquiry message sent by a core network device, and determine whether the UE is located in a cell range covered by the controller device according to the inquiry message; and when the controller equipment determines that the UE is positioned in the range of the cell covered by the controller equipment, sending a confirmation message to the core network equipment.

Further, the core network device is further configured to send a paging message to a first controller device or a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE, and the paging message is used to instruct the first controller device or the first base station associated with the first controller device to initiate a paging process;

the controller device is further configured to receive a paging message sent by the core network device after sending a confirmation message to the core network device.

Optionally, the core network device is further configured to, before sending the query message to the at least one controller device, obtain tracking area identification information of the at least one controller device, and determine to send the query message to the at least one controller device when the tracking area identification information of the at least one controller device matches a tracking area identification TAI in the tracking area identification list of the UE;

the controller device is further configured to send tracking area identification information to the core network device before receiving the query message sent by the core network device.

Optionally, when the at least one controller device is a base station, the core network device is further configured to receive first indication information sent by the base station before determining that the query message is sent to the at least one controller device, where the first indication information is used to indicate to the core network device that the base station has a controller function;

the controller device is further configured to send first indication information to the core network device before receiving the query message sent by the core network device.

Optionally, when the at least one controller device is a device independent from the base station, the core network device is further configured to establish a first communication interface with each controller device before sending the query message to the at least one controller device;

the core network device is further configured to acquire tracking area identifier information of the at least one controller device, and specifically:

the core network device is specifically configured to acquire an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when establishing the first communication interface with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the core network device is specifically configured to acquire an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the core network device is specifically configured to, when the first communication interface is established with the controller device, obtain an ID of the controller device and a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the core network device is specifically configured to, when the first communication interface is established with the controller device, obtain an ID of the controller device, a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, and an ID of the second base station;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the core network device is specifically configured to, when establishing a third communication interface with a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, acquire an ID of the second base station, a TAI of the second base station, and an ID of the controller device having the second communication interface with the second base station;

in this possible implementation manner, the controller device is further configured to establish a first communication interface with the core network device, and further, the controller device is further configured to send tracking area identification information to the core network device, specifically:

the controller device is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the controller device is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the controller device is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the controller device is specifically configured to send, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device, a TAI of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, and an ID of the second base station when the first communication interface is established with the core network device;

in this possible implementation manner, optionally, the controller device is further configured to establish a second communication interface with the second base station before sending the ID of the controller device and the ID of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device to the core network device, or sending the ID of the controller device and the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device to the core network device, or sending the ID of the controller device, the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device and the ID of the second base station to the core network device, and acquiring the ID of the second base station and/or the TAI of the second base station when establishing the second communication interface; or, when the second communication interface is established, the ID of the controller device is indicated to the second base station.

Optionally, when the at least one controller device is a device that has a first communication interface with the core network device and is independent of a base station, the core network device is further configured to determine a first mapping relationship before sending a paging message to a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the first mapping relationship includes: a correspondence between the controller device and a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, or a correspondence between the controller device and a third base station having a same TAI as the controller device, where the first base station includes the second base station and the third base station.

Further, the core network device is further configured to determine a first mapping relationship, specifically:

the core network device is specifically configured to establish a first communication interface with the controller device, determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when the first communication interface is established, establish a third communication interface with the second base station, and determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when the third communication interface is established;

Optionally, the controller device is further configured to send a negative message to the core network device when it is determined that the UE is not located within a cell covered by the controller device.

Optionally, when the controller device is a device independent from a base station, the controller device is further configured to establish a second communication interface with a second base station before receiving an inquiry message sent by a core network device, determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when establishing the second communication interface, establish a first communication interface with the core network device, and send the correspondence to the core network device when establishing the first communication interface; the correspondence includes an ID of the second base station to which the controller device corresponds;

optionally, when the controller device is a device independent from the base station, the controller device is further configured to send second indication information to the UE after sending the acknowledgement message to the core network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the UE accesses the core network device.

The communication system provided by the embodiment of the present invention may implement the above method embodiments, and the implementation principle and technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present invention are mutually referred to. For convenience and simplicity of description, the above-described device, the specific working process of the module or unit in the device, and the working process of the communication system including the above-described device may refer to the corresponding process descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments.

Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the present invention can be implemented by software plus a necessary general hardware platform, and certainly can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases, the former is a better implementation manner. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present invention may be embodied in the form of 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) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods according to the embodiments of the present invention. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a U disk, a removable hard disk, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be implemented in other ways without departing from the scope of the application. For example, the above-described base station 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. 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 modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the present embodiment. One of ordinary skill in the art can understand and implement it without inventive effort.

Additionally, the systems, devices, and methods described, as well as the illustrations of various embodiments, may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present application. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection of the base station or unit through some interfaces, and may be in an electronic, mechanical or other form.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, and not to limit the same; while the invention has been described in detail and with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some or all of the technical features may be equivalently replaced; and the modifications or the substitutions do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions depart from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

the core network device receives an acknowledgement message sent by a first controller device, where the acknowledgement message is used to indicate that the UE is located in a cell range covered by the first controller device, where the first controller device belongs to the at least one controller device;

before the core network device sends the query message to at least one controller device, the method further includes:

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the core network device sends a paging message to a first controller device or a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE, and the paging message is used to instruct the first controller device or the first base station associated with the first controller device to initiate a paging process.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controller device is a base station, and when the core network device determines that tracking area identity information of the at least one controller device matches tracking area identity TAI in a tracking area identity list of the UE, the core network device determines to send the query message to the at least one controller device, the method further includes:

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller device is a device independent of a base station, and before the core network device sends the query message to the at least one controller device, the method further comprises:

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the obtaining, by the core network device, the tracking area identification information of the at least one controller device specifically includes:

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one controller device is a device having a first communication interface with the core network device and being independent of a base station, and wherein before the core network device sends the paging message to a first base station associated with the first controller device, the method further comprises:

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the determining, by the core network device, the first mapping relationship specifically includes:

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the determining, by the core network device, the first mapping relationship specifically includes:

the core network device establishes a third communication interface with the second base station, and determines a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when establishing the third communication interface, where the corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the controller device corresponding to the second base station.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the determining, by the core network device, the first mapping relationship specifically includes:

the core network equipment and the controller equipment establish a first communication interface, and the corresponding relation between the controller equipment and the second base station is determined when the first communication interface is established; and/or

wherein the correspondence between the controller device and the second base station includes: an ID of the controller device corresponding to the second base station, or an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device.

10. A method of communication, comprising:

when the controller device determines that the UE is located in a cell range covered by the controller device, the controller device sends a confirmation message to the core network device;

before the controller device receives the query message sent by the core network device, the method further includes:

11. The method of claim 10, wherein after the controller device sends an acknowledgement message to the core network device, the method further comprises:

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the controller device is a base station with a controller function, and before the controller device receives the query message sent by the core network device, the method further comprises:

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the controller device is a base station-independent device, and before the controller device receives the query message sent by the core network device, the method further comprises:

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the controller device sends tracking area identification information to the core network device, specifically including:

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the controller device sends, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and an ID of a second base station having a second communication interface with the controller device, or the controller device sends, to the core network device, an ID of the controller device and a TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device, or the controller device sends, to the core network device, the ID of the controller device, the TAI of the second base station having the second communication interface with the controller device, and before the ID of the second base station, the method further comprises:

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the controller device is a base station-independent device, and before the controller device receives the query message sent by the core network device, the method further comprises:

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the controller device is a base station-independent device, and wherein after the controller device sends the acknowledgement message to the core network device, the method further comprises:

19. A core network device, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive an acknowledgement message sent by a first controller device, where the acknowledgement message is used to indicate that the UE is located in a cell range covered by the first controller device, where the first controller device belongs to the at least one controller device;

the core network device further comprises a determining module,

20. The core network device of claim 19, wherein the sending module is further configured to send a paging message to a first controller device or a first base station associated with the first controller device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE, and the paging message is used to instruct the first controller device or the first base station associated with the first controller device to initiate a paging procedure.

21. Core network device according to claim 19, wherein said at least one controller device is a base station,

22. The core network device of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller device is a base station independent device, and the core network device further comprises:

23. The core network device of claim 22, wherein the receiving module comprises:

a first receiving unit, configured to obtain an identifier ID of the controller device and a TAI of the controller device when the first interface establishing module establishes the first communication interface with the controller device; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

24. The core network device of claim 20, wherein the at least one controller device is a device that has a first communication interface with the core network device and is independent of a base station, and wherein the core network device further comprises:

25. The core network device according to claim 24, wherein the second interface establishing module is specifically configured to establish a first communication interface with the controller device, and determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when establishing the first communication interface, where the correspondence between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the second base station corresponding to the controller device.

26. The core network device according to claim 24, wherein the second interface establishing module is specifically configured to establish a third communication interface with the second base station, and determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when the third communication interface is established, where the correspondence between the controller device and the second base station includes an ID of the controller device corresponding to the second base station.

27. The core network device according to claim 24, wherein the second interface establishing module is specifically configured to establish a first communication interface with the controller device, and determine a correspondence between the controller device and the second base station when establishing the first communication interface; and/or establishing a third communication interface with the second base station, and determining a corresponding relationship between the controller device and the second base station when the third communication interface is established;

28. A controller device, comprising:

a sending module, configured to send a confirmation message to the core network device when the determining module determines that the UE is located within a cell range covered by the controller device;

the sending module is further configured to send tracking area identification information to the core network device before the receiving module receives the query message sent by the core network device.

29. The controller device according to claim 28, wherein the receiving module is further configured to receive a paging message sent by the core network device after the sending module sends an acknowledgement message to the core network device, where the paging message carries an identifier of the UE;

30. The controller device of claim 28, wherein the controller device is a base station having a controller function,

31. The controller device of claim 28, wherein the controller device is a base station independent device, the controller device further comprising:

32. The controller device of claim 31, wherein the sending module comprises:

alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

33. The controller device of claim 32, further comprising:

34. The controller device of claim 28, wherein the sending module is further configured to send a negative message to the core network device when the determining module determines that the UE is not located within a cell covered by the controller device.

35. The controller device of claim 28, wherein the controller device is a base station independent device, the controller device further comprising a first interface establishing module and a second interface establishing module;

36. The controller device of claim 28, wherein the controller device is a base station independent device,