CN109565723B

CN109565723B - Network switching method, device and system

Info

Publication number: CN109565723B
Application number: CN201780050062.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金辉; 欧阳国威; 窦凤辉; 何岳
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-21
Filing date: 2017-04-21
Publication date: 2020-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-21
Also published as: WO2018191952A1; CN109565723A

Abstract

The application provides a network switching method, a device and a system, wherein the method comprises the following steps: the UE accesses the first communication system through the base station, and sends a first message to the base station after learning that the base station supports the second communication system, wherein the first message carries first information which is used for indicating switching in the base station, the UE receives a second message sent by the base station, the second message carries second information used by the UE in the second communication system, and the UE uses the second information to access the second communication system.

Description

Network switching method, device and system

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a network switching method, apparatus, and system.

Background

With the development of the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th-generation, abbreviated as 5G), a core network of a 5G network, a 4G network, and a core network of a 2G/3G network coexist, so that a User Equipment (UE) may be switched from the 4G network to the 5G network. At the beginning of 5G networking, there are three types of 4G base stations: a 4G legacy base station (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network, E-UTRAN)), an enhanced E-UTRAN and an Evolved (Evolved) E-UTRAN for performing a 4G to 5G handover, and a UE may Access the 5G Network through the Evolved E-UTRAN.

In the related art, the handover of the UE from 4G to 5G can be realized, but the 4G base station in the handover process is the enhanced E-UTRAN and is not the 4G conventional E-UTRAN, and at the initial stage of 5G network deployment, all 4G E-UTRAN will not be enhanced, and there is a part of the E-UTRAN that is not enhanced. For the unreinforced E-UTRAN, when the target base station for handover is the Evolved E-UTRAN, the unreinforced E-TURTAN considers that the target base station is the 4G base station and switches the UE to the 4G network, and after the UE is switched from the unreinforced E-UTRAN to the Evolved E-UTRAN in the 4G network, namely when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, how to perform handover between the 4G network and the 5G network in the Evolved E-UTRAN is an urgent problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a network switching method, a device and a system, which are used for solving the problem of how to switch between 4G and 5G in an Evolved E-UTRAN when the Evolved E-UTRAN is in a connected state.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a network handover method, including: the UE monitors SIB messages sent by the base station to know that the base station supports the second communication system, and then sends a first message to the base station, wherein the first message carries first information used for indicating switching in the base station, the UE receives a second message sent by the base station, the second message carries second information used by the UE in the second communication system, and the UE uses the second information to access the second communication system. Therefore, when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, the switching between 4G and 5G is carried out in the Evolved E-UTRAN, and the continuity of the service can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G.

In one possible design, the second communication system is of a higher version than the first communication system.

In a possible design, the first message is used to request a handover from the first communication system to the second communication system, so that the base station sends a third message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the third message carries an identifier of the UE and third information, the third message is used to enable the second core network element to know that the UE is handed over from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used to indicate a handover performed in the base station.

In a possible design, the first message is used to request a handover from the first communication system to the second communication system, so that the base station sends a third message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the third message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the third message is used to enable the second core network element to know that the UE is handed over from the first communication system to the second communication system.

In one possible design, the identity of the UE and the first information are carried through a source-to-target transparent container.

In one possible design, the learning, by the UE, that the base station supports the second communication system includes:

the UE monitors indication information carried in system information sent by the base station to acquire that the base station supports the second communication system; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and the UE receives the indication information sent by the base station and acquires that the base station supports the second communication system according to the indication information.

In a possible design, the first message includes a fourth message sent by the UE to the first core network element, so that the base station sends the fourth message to the first core network element, where the fourth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, the fourth information is used to indicate that the handover is performed in the base station, and the fourth message is used for the UE to request location update, or the fourth message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

In a possible design, the first message includes a fifth message sent by the UE to the second core network element, so that the base station sends the fifth message to the first core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE and fifth information, the fifth information is used to indicate switching in the base station, and the fifth message is used for the UE to request location update.

In one possible design, the second information includes: and the UE accesses the wireless resource information used by the second communication system through the base station.

In a possible design, the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by the base station to the UE, or the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by the second core network element to the UE.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a network handover method, including: the base station receives a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, the first message is used for requesting to switch UE from the first communication system to the second communication system, the first message carries an identification of the UE and first information, the first information is used for indicating switching in the base station, the base station determines second information used by the UE in the second communication system according to a first condition, the first condition comprises the identification of the UE and the first information, the base station sends a second message to the UE, and the second message carries the second information. Therefore, when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, the switching between 4G and 5G is carried out in the Evolved E-UTRAN, and the continuity of the service can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G.

In a possible design, before the base station receives the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, the method further includes: the base station receives a third message sent by the UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system; the base station sends a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and third information, the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used for indicating the switching in the base station.

In a possible design, before the base station receives the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, the method further includes: the base station receives a third message sent by the UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system; and the base station sends a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system.

In one possible design, before the base station sends the second message to the UE, the method further includes:

the base station stores the corresponding relation between the UE identifier and the second information; the base station sends a confirmation message of the first message to a first core network element; the base station receives a fifth message sent by a second core network element, wherein the fifth message carries the identifier of the UE, and the base station obtains second information according to the identifier of the UE and the corresponding relation and sends the second information to the UE; or, the base station receives a fifth message sent by the second core network element, where the fifth message carries the UE identifier and the PDU session context, and the base station obtains the second information according to the UE identifier and the corresponding relationship, and sends the second information and the PDU session context to the UE.

In a possible design, before the base station receives the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, the method further includes: the base station receives a sixth message sent by the UE, wherein the sixth message comprises a seventh message sent by the UE to a network element of the first core network, the seventh message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used for indicating switching in the base station;

and the base station sends a seventh message to the first core network element, wherein the seventh message is used for the UE to request location updating, or the seventh message is used for the UE to request mobile registration updating.

In a possible design, before the base station receives the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, the method further includes: the base station receives an eighth message sent by the UE, wherein the eighth message comprises a ninth message sent by the UE to a second core network element, the ninth message carries the identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used for indicating switching in the base station;

and the base station sends a ninth message to the first core network element, wherein the ninth message is used for the UE to request the updating of the tracking area.

In one possible design, the first information further includes a PDU session context, and the base station determines second information used by the UE in the second communication system according to the first condition, including: the base station obtains the wireless resource information of the UE in the first communication system according to the first condition, and the base station generates second information based on the wireless resource information of the first communication system and the PDU session context.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a network handover method, including: a first core network element of a second communication system receives a second message which is sent by a third core network element of the second communication system and used for establishing a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session for User Equipment (UE), wherein the second message carries a PDU context, the first core network element sends a first message to a base station, the first message is used for requesting to switch the UE from the first communication system to the second communication system, the first message carries an identification of the UE and first information, and the first information is used for indicating switching in the base station. Therefore, when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, the switching between 4G and 5G is carried out in the Evolved E-UTRAN, and the continuity of the service can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G.

In a possible design, before the first core network element receives a second message sent by a third core network element of the second communication system and used for establishing a PDU session for the UE, the method further includes: and the first core network element receives a third message sent by a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the third message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the first information is used for indicating switching in the base station.

In a possible design, the third message is sent by the second core network element after receiving a fourth message sent by the base station, and the fourth message carries the first information and the identifier of the UE.

In a possible design, the third message is sent by the second core network element after receiving a fifth message sent by the UE, where the fifth message is used for the UE to request location update.

In a possible design, before the first core network element receives the second message sent by the third core network element, the method further includes: and the first core network element receives a sixth message sent by the UE, wherein the sixth message is used for the UE to request location updating, or the sixth message is used for the UE to request mobile registration updating.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a user equipment, comprising: the base station comprises a processing module, a sending module and a switching module, wherein the processing module is used for accessing a first communication system through a base station to acquire that the base station supports a second communication system; a receiving module, configured to receive a second message sent by the base station, where the second message carries second information used by the UE in a second communication system; the processing module is further configured to access a second communication system using the second information. Therefore, when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, the switching between 4G and 5G is carried out in the Evolved E-UTRAN, and the continuity of the service can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G.

In one possible design, the processing module is specifically configured to:

monitoring indication information carried in system information sent by the base station to acquire that the base station supports the second communication system; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the receiving module is further configured to receive indication information sent by the base station, and the processing module is specifically configured to learn, according to the indication information, that the base station supports the second communication system.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a base station, comprising: a receiving module, configured to receive a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, where the first message is used to request to switch a user equipment UE from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the first message carries an identifier of the UE and first information, and the first information is used to indicate that switching is performed in a base station; the processing module is used for determining second information used by the UE in the second communication system according to a first condition, wherein the first condition comprises the identification of the UE and the first information; and the sending module is used for sending a second message to the UE, wherein the second message carries second information. Therefore, when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, the switching between 4G and 5G is carried out in the Evolved E-UTRAN, and the continuity of the service can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G.

In one possible design, the receiving module is further configured to: before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, receiving a third message sent by UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system; the sending module is further configured to: and sending a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and third information, the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used for indicating the switching in the base station.

In one possible design, the receiving module is further configured to: before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, receiving a third message sent by UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system;

the sending module is further configured to: and sending a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system.

In one possible design, the processing module is further to: before the sending module sends the second message to the UE, the corresponding relation between the identity of the UE and the second message is stored;

the sending module is further configured to send a confirmation message of the first message to the first core network element;

the receiving module is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by a second core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE, and the sending module is further configured to obtain second information according to the identifier of the UE and the corresponding relationship, and send the second information to the UE; or, the receiving module is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the second core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE and a protocol data unit PDU session context, and the sending module is further configured to obtain the second information according to the identifier of the UE and the corresponding relationship, and send the second information and the PDU session context to the UE.

In one possible design, the receiving module is further configured to: before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, receiving a sixth message sent by UE, wherein the sixth message comprises a seventh message sent by the UE to the first core network element, the seventh message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used for indicating switching in a base station; the sending module is further configured to send a seventh message to the first core network element, where the seventh message is used for the UE to request location update, or the seventh message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

In one possible design, the receiving module is further configured to: before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, receiving an eighth message sent by the UE, wherein the eighth message comprises a ninth message sent by the UE to a second core network element, the ninth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used for indicating switching in the base station;

the sending module is further configured to send a ninth message to the first core network element, where the ninth message is used for the UE to request tracking area update.

In one possible design, the first information further includes a PDU session context, and the processing module is specifically configured to: and obtaining the radio resource information of the UE in the first communication system according to the first condition, and generating second information based on the radio resource information of the first communication system and the PDU session context.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a core network element, including:

a receiving module, configured to receive a second message, which is sent by a third core network element of a second communication system and used to establish a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session for User Equipment (UE), where the second message carries a PDU context; the base station comprises a sending module used for sending a first message to the base station, wherein the first message is used for requesting to switch the UE from the first communication system to the second communication system, the first message carries the identification of the UE and first information, and the first information is used for indicating the switching in the base station. Therefore, when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, the switching between 4G and 5G is carried out in the Evolved E-UTRAN, and the continuity of the service can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G.

In one possible design, the receiving module is further configured to: before receiving a second message which is sent by a third core network element of a second communication system and used for establishing a PDU session for UE, receiving a third message which is sent by a second core network element of a first communication system and carries an identifier of the UE and first information, wherein the first information is used for indicating switching in a base station.

In one possible design, the receiving module is further configured to: and before receiving the second message sent by the third core network element, receiving a sixth message sent by the UE, wherein the sixth message is used for the UE to request location updating, or the sixth message is used for the UE to request mobile registration updating.

In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication system comprising the user equipment in each possible design of the fourth aspect and the base station in each possible design of the fifth aspect and the fifth aspect.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a readable storage medium, in which an execution instruction is stored, and when the execution instruction is executed by at least one processor of a network switching apparatus, the network switching apparatus executes the network switching method of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a program product comprising executable instructions, the executable instructions being stored in a readable storage medium. The at least one processor of the network switching apparatus may read the execution instruction from the readable storage medium, and the execution of the execution instruction by the at least one processor causes the network switching apparatus to implement the network switching method of the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided herein;

fig. 2 is an interaction flow diagram of a first embodiment of a network handover method provided in the present application;

fig. 3 is an interaction flow diagram of a second embodiment of a network handover method provided in the present application;

fig. 4 is an interaction flow diagram of a third embodiment of a network handover method provided in the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a UE according to a first embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station according to a first embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a UE according to a second embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of a base station in the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solution of the present application may be applied to various communication systems of a wireless cellular network, for example: global System for Mobile communications (GSM) System, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) System, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) System, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) System, LTE System, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), etc., which are not limited in this application.

The technical scheme of the application is mainly applied to a 4G communication system and a 5G communication system, and the involved network elements in the communication system of the application are a base station (also called access network equipment) and UE.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided in the present application, including: UE, Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SGW), User plane Function (User plane Function, UPF) + Control plane (PDN Gateway-Control plane, PGW-C) of PDN Gateway, Session Management Function (Session Management Function, SMF) + User plane (PDN Gateway-User plane, PGW-U) of PDN Gateway, Policy Control Function (PCF) + policy and Charging Rules Function (policy and Charging Rules Function, PCRF), Home subscription Server (Home Subscriber, HSS) + Unified Data Management (Management module, mobility and Access Management Function (UTRAN), and Evolved UMTS Access Network (E-UTRAN).

The network architecture of the application comprises a first communication system, a second communication system and a UE, wherein a shared network element and a shared base station are arranged between the first communication system and the second communication system ("Evolved" E-UTRAN "), the version of the second communication system is higher than that of the first communication system, in the embodiment of the application, the first communication system is a 4G communication system, and the second communication system is a 5G communication system.

The E-UTRAN is a base station at the 4G side, and the UE can access a 4G communication system through the base station; the 'Evolved' E-UTRAN is an enhancement to the base station of the 4G side, and the UE can access to the 5G communication system through the base station.

The MME is 4G core network equipment and is responsible for authentication, authorization, mobility management and session management of the UE; the associated EPS Bearer identity (LBI) of the UE in the Protocol Data Network (PDN) Connection (Connection or Connectivity) of 4G is allocated by the entity.

The SGW is a 4G core network device (core network gateway) and is responsible for data forwarding, downlink data storage, and the like.

The UPF + PGW-U is core network equipment shared by the 4G and the 5G, namely core network equipment combined by the 4G and the 5G, and comprises functions of the UPF and the PGW-U. Wherein, the UPF is a user plane device of a 5G core network and provides user plane service for PDU session of the UE; is an interface gateway between the operator network and the external network. The PGW-U is user plane equipment of a 4G core network and provides user plane service for PDN connection of the UE; is an interface gateway between the operator network and the external network. The UPF + PGW-U can also be called PGW-U + UPF, and the equipment is the same as the equipment as long as the equipment comprises the functions of the UPF and the PGW-U.

The SMF + PGW-C is core network equipment shared by 4G and 5G, namely core network equipment combined by 4G and 5G, and comprises functions of the SMF and the PGW-C. The SMF is control plane equipment of a 5G core network and provides control plane service for PDU conversation of the UE; and managing the PDU session of the 5G, managing the QoS of the 5G, and being responsible for allocating an IP address for the UE and selecting a UPF for the UE. The PGW-C is control plane equipment of a 4G core network and provides user plane service for PDN connection of the UE; and the UE is responsible for allocating an IP address to the UE and establishing an EPS bearer for the UE. SMF + PGW-C may also be referred to as PGW-C + SMF, and is the same as the present device as long as it includes SMF and PGW-C functionality.

The PCF + PCRF is a core network device shared by the 4G and the 5G, that is, a core network device combined by the 4G and the 5G, including the PCF and the PCRF. The PCRF is a 4G core network device and is responsible for generating a policy for a user to establish a data bearer (bearer). The PCF is a 5G core network device, similar to the PCRF function. The PCF + PCRF may also be referred to as PCRF + PCF, as long as the device includes PCF and PCRF functions, which are the same as the present device.

The UDM + HSS is core network equipment shared by 4G and 5G, that is, core network equipment combined by 4G and 5G, including the HSS and the UDM. The HSS is 4G core network equipment and is used for storing subscription data of a user. The SDM is 5G core network equipment, and is used to store subscription data of a user. UDM + HSS may also be referred to as HSS + UDM, as long as the device includes both HSS and UDM functionality, which is the same as the present device.

The AMF is a 5G core network device and is used for authenticating and authorizing a user and managing the mobility of the user.

The Nx interface is an interface between the MME and the AMF, which is optional.

In the related art, the flow of switching from 4G to 5G is as follows:

1. and the enhanced E-UTRAN determines that the UE needs to be switched from 4G to 5G according to the measurement report reported by the UE.

2. The enhanced E-UTRAN sends a handover request message to a 4G network element-Mobility Management Entity (MME), wherein the message carries a Source to target transparent Container (Source to target transparent Container), an identifier of a target 5G base station and a location area information Tracking Area Identifier (TAI) to which the target 5G base station belongs, and the Source to target transparent Container carries the wireless capability information of the UE, the enhanced E-UTRAN distributes wireless resource information for the UE, the target cell information and the like. The target 5G base station comprises a base station defined by the 5G system and specially used for accessing the 5G core network, and Evolved E-UTRAN.

3. The MME determines an Access and mobility management Function (AMF) of a core network element of the 5G, and sends a forwarding redirection Request message (forwarding Request) to the AMF.

4. The AMF determines a Session Management Function (SMF) for providing service for the UE according to the forward-to-redirect request message, and sends a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Session (Session) establishment request to the SMF, wherein the message carries a Packet Data Network (PDN) Connection (Connection or Connectivity) Context (Context).

5. The SMF determines the PDU session context used by the UE in 5G according to the PDN connection context.

6. The SMF sends a session establishment request to a User Plane Function (UPF) gateway to establish a session at 5G for the UE.

7. The SMF returns a PDU session establishment response message to the AMF, and the PDU session context is carried in the message.

8. The AMF sends a handover request message to the 5G base station, in which the source-to-target transparent container and PDU session context are carried.

9. The 5G base station determines the wireless resource information used by the UE in the 5G base station according to the source-to-target transparent container and the PDU session context, generates a target-to-source transparent container (target-to-source transparent container), and sends a handover response message carrying the target-to-source transparent container to the AMF.

10. The AMF sends a forward redirection response message to the MME, and the message contains the target-to-source transparent container.

11. And the MME sends a handover command to the enhanced E-UTRAN, and the message carries the target-to-source transparent container.

12. And the enhanced E-UTRAN sends a handover command message to the UE, the message carries the target-to-source transparent container, and the UE updates the radio resource information according to the handover message and replies a handover completion message to the 5G base station.

The 4G base station in the handover procedure is an enhanced E-UTRAN, which is not a 4G traditional E-UTRAN, but in the initial stage of 5G networking, all 4G E-UTRAN is not enhanced, and a part of E-UTRAN which is not enhanced exists. For the non-enhanced E-UTRAN, when the target base station for handover is the Evolved E-UTRAN, the non-enhanced E-TURTAN may regard the target base station as the 4G base station and handover the UE to the 4G network, and after the UE is handed over from the non-enhanced E-UTRAN to the Evolved E-UTRAN inside the 4G network, that is, when the UE is in a connected state at the Evolved E-UTRAN, how to perform handover between the 4G network and the 5G network inside the Evolved E-UTRAN is the problem to be solved next in the present application.

The network switching method, device and system provided by the application are used for solving the problem of how to switch between 4G and 5G in an Evolved E-UTRAN when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, so that the continuity of services can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G. In the embodiment of the present application, a first core network element of a second communication system is AMF, a second core network element of the first communication system is MME, a third core network element of the second communication system is SMF, a base station of the first communication system is E-UTRAN and Evolved E-UTRAN, and a UE can access the first communication system or the second communication system through the Evolved E-UTRAN.

It should be noted that the names of the devices, messages or parameters in the present application are only used for describing the embodiments, and do not limit the functions or features of the devices, messages or parameters.

Before describing various embodiments of the present application, a difference between inter-base station handover, in which a UE is handed over from a base station of a first communication system to a base station of a second communication system, and intra-base station handover, in which the UE performs handover between 4G and 5G within a base station Evolved E-UTRAN of a 4G communication system, is described first. The intra-base station handover includes performing inter-communication system handover, for example, handover from 4G to 5G, by the UE, while the base station is not changed; or perform inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) handover without changing the base station.

Fig. 2 is an interaction flow diagram of a first embodiment of a network handover method provided in the present application, in this embodiment, a UE initiates a request to an Evolved E-UTRAN to request handover or switching from a 4G communication system to a 5G communication system within the Evolved E-UTRAN, as shown in fig. 2, the method includes:

s101, the UE knows that the currently accessed base station supports a 5G communication system.

The base station is Evolved E-UTRAN, and the UE can acquire the indication information of the base station supporting access to the 5G core network, wherein the indication information is carried in System Information (SIB) sent by the monitoring base station; or, the UE may acquire the indication information that the base station supports accessing the 5G core network, where the indication information is carried in Radio Resource Control (RRC) sent by the base station.

S102, sending a request message to the base station, wherein the request message is used for requesting to carry out intra-base station switching. The request message may specifically be a switch request (switch request), where the switch request carries first information, and the first information is used to indicate that the base station performs handover. Performing intra-base station handover comprises performing inter-communication system handover without changing the base station; or, under the condition that the base station is not changed, performing inter-RAT handover; or, under the condition that the base station is not changed, switching from the 4G system to the 5G system; or, in the case of a base station not changing, switching from the 4G RAT to the 5G RAT.

It should be noted that the first information, the second information, the third information, the fourth information, the fifth information, and the like in this application may be one specific parameter or a combination of a plurality of parameters.

S103, the base station sends a Handover required message to the MME according to the request message, wherein the Handover required message carries the identity and the third information of the UE, or the Handover required message carries the identity and the first information of the UE, and also carries the identity and a target Tracking Area Identity (TAI) of the target base station. The handover application message is used for enabling an MME to know that the UE is handed over from the 4G communication system to the 5G communication system, and the third information is used for indicating that handover is performed in a base station. Performing intra-base station handover comprises performing inter-communication system handover without changing the base station; or, under the condition that the base station is not changed, performing inter-RAT handover; or, under the condition that the base station is not changed, switching from the 4G system to the 5G system; or, in the case of a base station not changing, switching from the 4G RAT to the 5G RAT.

The base station may specifically send a handover application message to the MME according to the first information carried in the request message.

The identity of the UE is an identity allocated by the base station to the UE, for example, a C-RNTI of the UE in a 4G communication system, or the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by the MME to the UE. Such as the S-TMSI of the UE in a 4G communication system. Alternatively, the third information may be the same as or different from the first information.

The UE may carry the UE identifier in the request message, the base station obtains the UE identifier from the request message, and the handover request message carries the UE identifier obtained from the request message; or, the base station locally obtains the UE identity, and carries the locally obtained UE identity in the handover request message.

Optionally, the identifier of the UE and the first information, or the identifier of the UE and the third information are carried by a source-to-target transparent container.

The advantage of carrying through the source-to-target transparent container is that the MME can handle the inter-system handover procedure according to the prior art without modifying the MME.

S104, the MME determines that the UE needs to switch from the 4G communication system to the 5G communication system according to the switching application message, and sends a Forward redirection request message (forwarded redirection request) to an AMF (advanced mobile switching) of the 5G communication system, wherein the Forward redirection request message carries the identification of the UE, indication information used for indicating switching in a base station, the identification of a target base station, a target TAI (target traffic indicator), an MM (MM context) and a PDN (public data network) connection context.

S105, the AMF determines the SMF of the second communication system providing service for the UE, and sends a PDU session establishment request to the SMF, wherein the PDU session establishment request carries the PDN connection context.

Optionally, the first information or the third information is further carried.

S106, the SMF determines a PDU Session (Session) context used by the UE in the second communication system according to the PDN connection (connection or connection) context.

Optionally, the SMF may send the PDN connection context to the PCF, and the PCF determines a PDU Session (Session) context used by the UE in the second communication system and sends the PDU Session (Session) context to the SMF.

S107, the SMF sends a Session Creation (Session Creation) request to the UPF, and a PDU Session is established in the 5G communication system for the UE.

S108, the SMF returns a PDU Session Establishment response (Session Establishment response) to the AMF, wherein the PDU Session Establishment response carries a PDU Session context (context), and the PDU Session context comprises one or more rules (Rule) of Quality of Service (QoS) flows (flow) distributed to the UE by the SMF. The QoS Rule includes the following information: traffic Flow Template (TFT), QoS configuration (Profile), QoS Flow Identification (ID), priority (Precedence).

S109, the AMF sends a handover request message to the base station, wherein the handover request message carries the UE identifier, the PDU session context and the indication information for indicating the handover in the base station. The indication information may be the first information or the third information.

Optionally, the UE identity and indication information are carried by the source-to-target transparent container.

S110, the base station determines second information used by the UE in the 5G communication system according to the switching request message.

The second information includes radio resource information used by the UE accessing the second communication system through the base station, and specifically, the base station determines the radio resource information used by the UE in 4G according to the UE identifier and the indication information for indicating handover in the base station, and determines the session information of the UE in 5G according to the PDU session context. And the base station determines the radio resource information used by the UE in the 5G by combining the radio resource information used by the UE in the 4G and the session information used by the UE in the 5G. And then the base station stores the corresponding relation between the UE identification and the second information. The radio resource information includes a Data Radio Bearer (DRB) and/or a Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) used by the UE to access the second communication system through the base station.

S111, the base station sends a switching request confirmation message to the AMF.

S112, the AMF sends a PDU Session modification request (Session modification request) to the SMF, which is used to establish a tunnel for transmitting data between the base station and the UPF for the UE.

S113, the AMF sends a Forward redirection response message (Forward redirection response) to the MME, where the message carries the SM context and the identifier of the UE.

S114, the MME sends a handover command (handover command) to the base station, and the handover command carries the SM context and the UE identifier.

S115, the base station determines the radio resource information stored in S110 according to the identity of the UE, and sends a switching command message to the UE, wherein the switching command message further carries a PDU session context.

And S116, the UE updates the wireless resource information according to the switching command message and replies a switching completion (handover) message to the base station.

And S117, the base station sends a switching completion message to the AMF.

And S118, the AMF updates the SMF.

S119, the UE sends a 5G location update message to the AMF.

In the network switching method provided in this embodiment, after knowing that a current base station supports a 5G communication system, a UE initiates a request for requesting intra-base-station switching to the current base station, and then, through signaling interaction between the base station and an MME, an AMF, and an SMF, the base station determines radio resource information used by the UE in the 5G communication system and stores a correspondence between an identifier of the UE and the radio resource information, and after the MME sends a switching command to the base station, the base station determines the radio resource information used by the UE in the 5G communication system according to the identifier of the UE, and sends a switching command message to the UE, and finally, the UE updates the radio resource information according to the switching command message, and the switching is completed. Therefore, when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, the switching between 4G and 5G is carried out in the Evolved E-UTRAN, and the continuity of the service can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G.

Fig. 3 is an interaction flow diagram of a second embodiment of a network handover method provided in the present application, in this embodiment, a UE initiates a request to a core network element MME where the UE is currently located to request handover or switching from a 4G communication system to a 5G communication system within an Evolved E-UTRAN, and as shown in fig. 3, the method includes:

s201, the UE knows that the currently accessed base station supports a 5G communication system.

Specifically, the process is the same as S101 shown in fig. 2, and is not described here again.

S202, the UE sends a RAT change request (RAT change request) or a Tracking Area Update (TAU) request to the MME through the base station, where the RAT change request or the TAU request is used to request intra-base station handover. Performing intra-base station handover comprises performing inter-communication system handover without changing the base station; alternatively, inter-RAT handover is performed without changing the base station.

The request may carry an identifier of the UE and fifth information, where the fifth information is used to indicate handover in the base station.

S203, the MME determines an AMF of the second communication system, the MME determines that the UE needs to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system according to the first information, and sends a Forward relocation request message (forwarded relocation request) to the AMF, wherein the Forward relocation request message carries the identity of the UE, indication information used for indicating switching in the base station, the identity and target TAI of the target base station, Mobility Management (MM) context and PDN connection context.

S204 to S207 are the same as the steps S105 to S108 shown in FIG. 2, and are not described again here.

S208, the AMF sends a handover request message to the base station, wherein the handover request message carries the UE identifier, the PDU session context, the first information and the SM context.

Wherein, the AMF determines the base station according to the identifier of the target base station in S203.

S209, the base station determines second information used by the UE in the 5G communication system according to the switching request message.

The second information includes radio resource information used by the UE accessing the 5G communication system through the base station, and specifically, the base station determines the radio resource information used by the UE in 4G according to the UE identifier and the first information, and determines the session information of the UE in 5G according to the PDU session context. And the base station determines the radio resource information used by the UE in the 5G by combining the radio resource information used by the UE in the 4G and the session information used by the UE in the 5G.

S210, the base station sends a switching command message to the UE, the switching command message carries the radio resource information determined in S209, and the switching command message can also carry a PDU session context. The PDU session context contains information of one or more QoS flows used by the UE within 5G, including QoS of the flow, flow ID, TFT, priority, etc. When the UE has uplink data transmission, the correct QoS flow can be selected for transmission according to the PDU session context.

The same procedure is followed as in S116 to S119. And will not be described in detail herein.

In the network switching method provided in this embodiment, after knowing that the current base station supports the 5G communication system, the UE initiates a request to the MME, where the request carries a message for instructing switching in the base station, and then, through signaling interaction between the base station and the MME, the AMF, and the SMF, the base station determines radio resource information used by the UE in the 5G communication system, and sends a switching command message to the UE, and finally, the UE updates the radio resource information according to the switching command message, and the switching is completed. Therefore, when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, the switching between 4G and 5G is carried out in the Evolved E-UTRAN, and the continuity of the service can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G.

Fig. 4 is an interaction flow diagram of a third embodiment of a network handover method provided in the present application, where in the embodiment, a UE initiates a request to a target core network element AMF to request handover or switching from a 4G communication system to a 5G communication system in an Evolved E-UTRAN, and as shown in fig. 4, the method includes:

s301, the UE knows that the currently accessed base station supports the 5G communication system.

S302, the UE sends a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message to the base station, where the RRC message includes a 5G indication message (indication), and the RRC message includes a 5G mobility registration update message, where the 5G mobility registration update message carries an identifier of the UE, fourth information, and a 5G Globally Unique temporary UE Identity (GUTI), and the fourth information is used to indicate switching in the base station. The 5G mobility registration update message may specifically be a registration (registration) message carrying a mobility registration update message (mobility registration update) indication. The 5G GUTI may be obtained by the UE according to a 4G GUTI mapping.

S303, the base station sends the 5G mobile registration update message in the RRC message to the AMF according to the 5G indication message in the radio resource control message. The 5G mobility registration update message is used for the UE to request location update, or for the UE to request mobility registration update.

S304, the AMF acquires the context information of the UE from the MME.

The UE can obtain the 4G GUTI according to the 5G GUTI mapping, and the 4G GUTI is carried in a message sent by the AMF to the MME.

S305-S308 are the same as S105-S108 shown in FIG. 2, and are not described here again.

S309-S311 are the same as S208-S210 shown in FIG. 3, and are not described here again.

The same steps are followed as in S116 to S118. And will not be described in detail herein.

In the network switching method provided by this embodiment, after knowing that the current base station supports the 5G communication system, the UE initiates a request carrying a message for instructing switching in the base station to the AMF through the base station, and then, through signaling interaction between the base station and the MME, the AMF, and the SMF, the base station determines radio resource information used by the UE in the 5G communication system, and sends a switching command message to the UE, and finally, the UE updates the radio resource information according to the switching command message, and the switching is completed. Therefore, when the UE is in a connected state in the Evolved E-UTRAN, the switching between 4G and 5G is carried out in the Evolved E-UTRAN, and the continuity of the service can be ensured when the UE moves between 4G and 5G.

The present application may perform the functional module division for the UE and the base station according to the above method example, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode. It should be noted that the division of the modules in the embodiments of the present application is schematic, and is only one division of logic functions, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

Fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a UE according to a first embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 5, the apparatus according to the present embodiment may include: the system comprises a sending module 21, a receiving module 22 and a processing module 23, wherein the processing module 23 is used for accessing a first communication system through a base station to acquire that the base station supports a second communication system, and the sender 41 is used for sending a first message to the base station after acquiring that the base station supports the second communication system by monitoring an SIB message sent by the base station, wherein the first message carries first information used for indicating switching in the base station; the receiving module 22 is configured to receive a second message sent by the base station, where the second message carries second information used by the UE in the second communication system; the processing module 23 is further adapted to access the second communication system using the second information. Wherein the second communication system is of a higher version than the first communication system.

Optionally, the first message is used to request for switching from the first communication system to the second communication system, so that the base station sends a third message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the third message carries an identifier of the UE and third information, the third message is used to enable the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used to indicate that switching is performed in the base station.

Optionally, the first message is used to request for switching from the first communication system to the second communication system, so that the base station sends a third message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the third message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the third message is used to enable the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system.

Optionally, the identity of the UE and the first information are carried through a source-to-target transparent container.

Optionally, the processing module 23 is specifically configured to: monitoring indication information carried in system information sent by the base station to acquire that the base station supports the second communication system; or, the receiving module 22 is further configured to receive indication information sent by the base station, and the processing module 23 is specifically configured to learn, according to the indication information, that the base station supports the second communication system.

Further, the first message includes a fourth message sent by the UE to the first core network element, so that the base station sends the fourth message to the first core network element, where the fourth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, the fourth information is used to indicate switching in the base station, and the fourth message is used for the UE to request location update, or the fourth message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

Further, the first message includes a fifth message sent by the UE to the second core network element, so that the base station sends the fifth message to the first core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE and fifth information, the fifth information is used to indicate switching in the base station, and the fifth message is used for the UE to request location update.

Wherein the second information includes: and the UE accesses the wireless resource information used by the second communication system through the base station. The identifier of the UE is an identifier allocated by the base station to the UE, or the identifier of the UE is an identifier allocated by the second core network element to the UE.

The user equipment of this embodiment may be configured to execute the technical solution of any one of the method embodiments shown in fig. 4 to fig. 6, and the implementation principle and the technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station according to a first embodiment of the present application, and as shown in fig. 6, the base station according to the present embodiment may include: the UE switching system comprises a receiving module 31, a processing module 32 and a sending module 33, wherein the receiving module 31 is configured to receive a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, the first message is used to request that a UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system, the first message carries an identifier of the UE and first information, and the first information is used to indicate that switching is performed in a base station; the processing module 32 is configured to determine second information used by the UE in the second communication system according to a first condition, where the first condition includes an identifier of the UE and the first information; the sending module 33 is configured to send a second message to the UE, where the second message carries second information.

Wherein the second communication system is of a higher version than the first communication system.

Optionally, the receiving module 31 is further configured to: and before receiving the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, receiving a third message sent by the UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system. The sending module 33 is further configured to: and sending a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and third information, the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used for indicating the switching in the base station.

Optionally, the receiving module 31 is further configured to: and before receiving the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, receiving a third message sent by the UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system. The sending module 33 is further configured to: and sending a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system.

Wherein the identity of the UE and the first information are carried through a source-to-target transparent container.

Optionally, the processing module 32 is further configured to: before the sending module 33 sends the second message to the UE, the corresponding relationship between the UE identifier and the second message is saved; the sending module 33 is further configured to send a confirmation message of the first message to the first core network element; the receiving module 31 is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the second core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE, and the sending module 33 is further configured to obtain second information according to the identifier of the UE and the corresponding relationship, and send the second information to the UE; or, the receiving module 31 is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the second core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE and a protocol data unit PDU session context, and the sending module 33 is further configured to obtain the second information according to the identifier of the UE and the corresponding relationship, and send the second information and the PDU session context to the UE.

Optionally, the receiving module 31 is further configured to: before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, receiving a sixth message sent by UE, wherein the sixth message comprises a seventh message sent by the UE to the first core network element, the seventh message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used for indicating switching in a base station; the sending module 33 is further configured to send a seventh message to the first core network element, where the seventh message is used for the UE to request location update, or the seventh message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

Optionally, the receiving module 31 is further configured to: before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, receiving an eighth message sent by the UE, wherein the eighth message comprises a ninth message sent by the UE to a second core network element, the ninth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used for indicating switching in the base station; the sending module 33 is further configured to send a ninth message to the first core network element, where the ninth message is used for the UE to request tracking area update.

Further, the first information further includes a PDU session context, and the processing module 32 is specifically configured to: and obtaining the radio resource information of the UE in the first communication system according to the first condition, and generating second information based on the radio resource information of the first communication system and the PDU session context.

The base station of this embodiment may be configured to execute the technical solution of any one of the method embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 4, and the implementation principle and the technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

The communication system provided by the present application includes the UE shown in fig. 5 and the base station shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of the UE in the present application, and as shown in fig. 7, the apparatus in this embodiment may include: the system comprises a transmitter 41, a receiver 42 and a processor 43, wherein the processor 43 is used for accessing a first communication system through a base station to know that the base station supports a second communication system, the transmitter 41 is used for sending a first message to the base station after knowing that the base station supports the second communication system by monitoring an SIB message sent by the base station, and the first message carries first information used for indicating switching in the base station; the receiver 42 is configured to receive a second message sent by the base station, where the second message carries second information used by the UE in the second communication system; the processor 43 is also arranged to access the second communication system using the second information. Wherein the second communication system is of a higher version than the first communication system.

Wherein, optionally, the processor 43 is specifically configured to: monitoring indication information carried in system information sent by the base station to acquire that the base station supports the second communication system; or, the receiver 42 is further configured to receive indication information sent by the base station, and the processor 43 is specifically configured to learn, according to the indication information, that the base station supports the second communication system.

Further, the first message includes a fourth message sent by the UE to the first core network element, where the fourth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used to indicate switching in the base station, so that the base station sends the fourth message to the first core network element, and the fourth message is used for the UE to request location update, or the fourth message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

Further, the first message includes a fifth message sent by the UE to the second core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE and fifth information, and the fifth information is used to indicate switching in the base station, so that the base station sends the fifth message to the first core network element, and the fifth message is used for the UE to request location update.

The user equipment of this embodiment may be configured to execute the technical solution of any one of the method embodiments shown in fig. 2 to fig. 4, and the implementation principle and the technical effect are similar, which are not described herein again.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of a base station in the present application, and as shown in fig. 8, the base station in this embodiment may include: the UE switching system comprises a receiver 51, a processor 52 and a transmitter 53, wherein the receiver 51 is configured to receive a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, the first message is used to request that a UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system, the first message carries an identifier of the UE and first information, and the first information is used to indicate that the UE is switched in a base station; the processor 52 is configured to determine second information used by the UE in the second communication system according to a first condition, where the first condition includes an identity of the UE and the first information; the transmitter 53 is configured to transmit a second message to the UE, where the second message carries second information.

Optionally, the receiver 51 is further configured to: and before receiving the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, receiving a third message sent by the UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system. The transmitter 53 is also configured to: and sending a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and third information, the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used for indicating the switching in the base station.

Optionally, the receiver 51 is further configured to: and before receiving the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, receiving a third message sent by the UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system. The transmitter 53 is also configured to: and sending a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system.

Optionally, the processor 52 is further configured to: before the transmitter 53 transmits the second message to the UE, the correspondence between the UE identifier and the second information is saved; the sender 53 is further configured to send an acknowledgement message of the first message to the first core network element; the receiver 51 is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the second core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE, and the sender 53 is further configured to obtain second information according to the identifier of the UE and the corresponding relationship, and send the second information to the UE; or, the receiver 51 is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the second core network element, where the fifth message carries the identifier of the UE and the PDU session context, and the sender 53 is further configured to obtain the second information according to the identifier of the UE and the corresponding relationship, and send the second information and the PDU session context to the UE.

Optionally, the receiver 51 is further configured to: before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, receiving a sixth message sent by UE, wherein the sixth message comprises a seventh message sent by the UE to the first core network element, the seventh message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used for indicating switching in a base station; the transmitter 53 is further configured to send a seventh message to the first core network element, where the seventh message is used for the UE to request location update, or the seventh message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

Optionally, the receiver 51 is further configured to: before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, receiving an eighth message sent by the UE, wherein the eighth message comprises a ninth message sent by the UE to a second core network element, the ninth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used for indicating switching in the base station; the transmitter 53 is further configured to send a ninth message to the first core network element, where the ninth message is used for the UE to request tracking area update.

Further, the first information further includes a PDU session context, and the processor 52 is specifically configured to: and obtaining the radio resource information of the UE in the first communication system according to the first condition, and generating second information based on the radio resource information of the first communication system and the PDU session context.

The communication system provided by the present application includes the UE shown in fig. 7 and the base station shown in fig. 8.

The embodiments in the present specification are described in a progressive manner, and the same and similar parts among the embodiments are referred to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from the other embodiments. In particular, as for the apparatus and system embodiments, since they are substantially similar to the method embodiments, the description is relatively simple, and reference may be made to some descriptions of the method embodiments for relevant points.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, various aspects of the present application, or possible implementations of various aspects, may be embodied as a system, method, or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present application, or possible implementations of aspects, may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," module "or" system. Furthermore, aspects of the present application, or possible implementations of aspects, may take the form of a computer program product referring to computer readable program code stored in a computer readable medium.

The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing, such as Random Access Memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fiber, and portable read-only memory (CD-ROM).

A processor in the computer reads the computer-readable program code stored in the computer-readable medium, so that the processor can perform the functional actions specified in each step, or a combination of steps, in the flowcharts; and means for generating a block diagram that implements the functional operation specified in each block or a combination of blocks.

The computer readable program code may execute entirely on the user's local computer, partly on the user's local computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's local computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the flowchart or block diagram block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two steps or two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.

Claims

1. A method for network handover, comprising:

user Equipment (UE) accesses a first communication system through a base station, and after learning that the base station supports a second communication system, the UE sends a first message to the base station, wherein the first message carries first information which is used for indicating switching in the base station;

the UE receives a second message sent by the base station, wherein the second message carries second information used by the UE in a second communication system;

the UE accesses the second communication system using the second information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication system is of a higher version than the first communication system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is used to request handover from a first communication system to the second communication system, so that the base station sends a third message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the third message carries an identifier of the UE and third information, and the third message is used to enable the second core network element to know that the UE is handed over from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used to indicate handover within the base station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is used to request handover from the first communication system to the second communication system, so that the base station sends a third message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the third message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the third message is used to enable the second core network element to know handover of the UE from the first communication system to the second communication system.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the identity of the UE and the first information are carried through a source-to-target transparent container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE knows that the base station supports the second communication system, comprising:

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message includes a fourth message sent by the UE to a first core network element, so that the base station sends the fourth message to the first core network element, where the fourth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, the fourth information is used to indicate handover in the base station, and the fourth message is used for the UE to request location update, or the fourth message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first message includes a fifth message sent by the UE to a second core network element, so that the base station sends the fifth message to a first core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE and fifth information, the fifth information is used to indicate handover in the base station, and the fifth message is used for the UE to request tracking area update.

9. The method of any of claims 1-4 or 6-8, wherein the second information comprises:

and the UE accesses the wireless resource information used by the second communication system through the base station.

10. The method according to any of claims 1-4 or 6-8, wherein the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by the base station to the UE, or wherein the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by a second core network element to the UE.

11. A method for network handover, comprising:

a base station receives a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, wherein the first message is used for requesting to switch User Equipment (UE) from the first communication system to the second communication system, the first message carries an identifier of the UE and second information, and the second information is used for indicating switching in the base station;

the base station determines first information used by the UE in the second communication system according to a first condition, wherein the first condition comprises the identity of the UE and the second information;

and the base station sends a second message to the UE, wherein the second message carries the first information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second communication system is of a higher version than the first communication system.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein before the base station receives the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, the method further comprises:

the base station receives a third message sent by the UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch in the base station;

and the base station sends a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and third information, the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used for indicating switching in the base station.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein before the base station receives the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, the method further comprises:

the base station receives a third message sent by the UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system;

and the base station sends a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, wherein the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the fourth message is used for enabling the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system.

15. The method according to claim 11 or 14, wherein the identity of the UE and the first information are carried through a source-to-target transparent container.

16. The method according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein before the base station sends the second message to the UE, the method further comprises:

the base station stores the corresponding relation between the UE identification and the second information;

the base station sends a confirmation message of the first message to the first core network element;

the base station receives a fifth message sent by a second core network element, wherein the fifth message carries the identifier of the UE, and the base station obtains the second information according to the identifier of the UE and the corresponding relation and sends the second information to the UE; or, the base station receives a fifth message sent by the second core network element, where the fifth message carries the UE identifier and a PDU session context, and the base station obtains the second information according to the UE identifier and the corresponding relationship, and sends the second information and the PDU session context to the UE.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein before the base station receives the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, the method further comprises:

the base station receives a sixth message sent by the UE, where the sixth message includes a seventh message sent by the UE to the first core network element, where the seventh message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used to indicate that switching is performed in the base station;

and the base station sends the seventh message to the first core network element, where the seventh message is used for the UE to request location update, or the seventh message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein before the base station receives the first message sent by the first core network element of the second communication system, the method further comprises:

the base station receives an eighth message sent by the UE, where the eighth message includes a ninth message sent by the UE to a second core network element, and the ninth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, where the fourth information is used to indicate switching in the base station;

and the base station sends the ninth message to the first core network element, wherein the ninth message is used for the UE to request the tracking area update.

19. The method of any of claims 11-14 or 17-18, wherein the first information further comprises a PDU session context, and wherein the base station determines second information used by the UE in the second communication system according to the first condition, comprising:

and the base station acquires the radio resource information of the UE in the first communication system according to the first condition, and the base station generates the second information based on the radio resource information of the first communication system and the PDU session context.

20. The method of any of claims 11-14 or 17-18, wherein the second information comprises:

21. The method according to any of claims 11-14 or 17-18, wherein the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by the base station to the UE, or wherein the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by a second core network element to the UE.

22. A user device, comprising:

the processing module is used for accessing a first communication system through a base station and acquiring that the base station supports a second communication system;

a sending module, configured to send a first message to the base station, where the first message carries first information, and the first information is used to indicate that handover is performed in the base station;

a receiving module, configured to receive a second message sent by the base station, where the second message carries second information used by the UE in a second communication system;

the processing module is further configured to access the second communication system using the second information.

23. The UE of claim 22, wherein the second communication system is of a higher version than the first communication system.

24. The UE of claim 22, wherein the first message is used to request handover from a first communication system to the second communication system, so that the base station sends a third message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the third message carries an identifier of the UE and third information, and the third message is used to enable the second core network element to know that the UE is handed over from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used to indicate handover in the base station.

25. The UE of claim 22, wherein the first message is used to request handover from the first communication system to the second communication system, so that the base station sends a third message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the third message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the third message is used to enable the second core network element to know that the UE is handed over from the first communication system to the second communication system.

26. The UE of claim 22 or 25, wherein the UE identity and the first information are carried by a source-to-target transparent container.

27. The ue of claim 23 or 25, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to:

28. The UE of claim 22, wherein the first message includes a fourth message sent by the UE to a first core network element, so that the base station sends the fourth message to the first core network element, where the fourth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, the fourth information is used to indicate handover in the base station, and the fourth message is used for the UE to request location update, or the fourth message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

29. The UE of claim 22, wherein the first message includes a fifth message sent by the UE to a second core network element, so that the base station sends the fifth message to a first core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE and fifth information, the fifth information is used to indicate handover in the base station, and the fifth message is used for the UE to request tracking area update.

30. The user equipment according to any of claims 22-24 or 28-29, wherein the second information comprises:

31. The UE according to any one of claims 22-24 or 28-29, wherein the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by the base station to the UE, or wherein the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by a second core network element to the UE.

32. A base station, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, where the first message is used to request to switch a User Equipment (UE) from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the first message carries an identifier of the UE and first information, and the first information is used to indicate that switching is performed in a base station;

a processing module, configured to determine second information used by the UE in the second communication system according to a first condition, where the first condition includes an identity of the UE and the first information;

and a sending module, configured to send a second message to the UE, where the second message carries the second information.

33. The base station of claim 32, wherein the second communication system is of a higher version than the first communication system.

34. The base station of claim 32, wherein the receiving module is further configured to:

before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of a second communication system, receiving a third message sent by the UE, wherein the third message is used for requesting to switch from the first communication system to the second communication system;

the sending module is further configured to: and sending a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and third information, the fourth message is used to enable the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system, and the third information is used to indicate that switching is performed in a base station.

35. The base station of claim 32, wherein the receiving module is further configured to:

the sending module is further configured to: and sending a fourth message to a second core network element of the first communication system, where the fourth message carries the identifier of the UE and the first information, and the fourth message is used to enable the second core network element to know that the UE is switched from the first communication system to the second communication system.

36. The base station according to claim 32 or 35, wherein the UE identity and the first information are carried through a source-to-target transparent container.

37. The base station of any of claims 32 to 35, wherein the processing module is further configured to:

before the sending module sends a second message to the UE, storing the corresponding relation between the UE identifier and the second message;

the receiving module is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by a second core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE, and the sending module is further configured to obtain the second information according to the identifier of the UE and the corresponding relationship, and send the second information to the UE; or, the receiving module is further configured to receive a fifth message sent by the second core network element, where the fifth message carries an identifier of the UE and a protocol data unit PDU session context, and the sending module is further configured to obtain the second information according to the identifier of the UE and the correspondence, and send the second information and the PDU session context to the UE.

38. The base station of claim 32, wherein the receiving module is further configured to:

before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of the second communication system, receiving a sixth message sent by the UE, where the sixth message includes a seventh message sent by the UE to the first core network element, and the seventh message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used to indicate that handover is performed in the base station;

the sending module is further configured to send the seventh message to the first core network element, where the seventh message is used for the UE to request location update, or the seventh message is used for the UE to request mobile registration update.

39. The base station of claim 32, wherein the receiving module is further configured to:

before receiving a first message sent by a first core network element of the second communication system, receiving an eighth message sent by the UE, where the eighth message includes a ninth message sent by the UE to a second core network element, and the ninth message carries an identifier of the UE and fourth information, and the fourth information is used to indicate that handover is performed in the base station;

the sending module is further configured to send the ninth message to the first core network element, where the ninth message is used for the UE to request tracking area update.

40. The base station according to any of claims 32-35 or 38-39, wherein the first information further comprises a PDU session context, and wherein the processing module is specifically configured to:

and acquiring the radio resource information of the UE in the first communication system according to the first condition, and generating the second information based on the radio resource information of the first communication system and the PDU session context.

41. The base station according to any of claims 32-35 or 38-39, wherein the second information comprises:

42. The base station according to any of claims 32-35 or 38-39, wherein the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by the base station to the UE, or wherein the identity of the UE is an identity allocated by a second core network element to the UE.

43. A communication system comprising a user equipment according to any of claims 22 to 31 and a base station according to any of claims 32 to 42.