CN111526560B

CN111526560B - Method and device for updating service cell information

Info

Publication number: CN111526560B
Application number: CN201910105750.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 晋英豪; 谭巍; 杨晨晨
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-01
Filing date: 2019-02-01
Publication date: 2022-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-01
Also published as: WO2020156182A1; CN111526560A

Abstract

The application provides a method and a device for updating service cell information, relates to the technical field of communication, and is used for simplifying an updating process of the service cell information. The method comprises the following steps: a CU-CP receives N pieces of service cell information sent by a DU, wherein N is a positive integer; then, the CU-CP sends N pieces of service cell information to the CU-UP; the CU-CP receives indication information sent by the CU-UP, and the indication information is used for indicating whether one or more pieces of serving cell information in the N pieces of serving cell information are updated successfully. The method and the device are suitable for the process of deploying the DU.

Description

Method and device for updating service cell information

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for updating serving cell information.

Background

In a fifth generation (5G) communication system, a base station adopts a centralized node (CU) -distributed node (DU) architecture. Furthermore, the CUs may be divided into a user plane (CU-UP) of the centralized node and a control plane (CU-CP) of the centralized node.

Due to some reasons (e.g., deployment of DUs), CU-UP and CU-CP often need to update the serving cell information. However, the current update process of the serving cell information is cumbersome, which results in a long update time of the serving cell information and affects the normal use of the access network.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a device for updating service cell information, which aim to reduce the updating time of the service cell information.

In order to achieve the purpose, the application provides the following technical scheme:

in a first aspect, a method for updating serving cell information is provided, including: a CU-CP receives N pieces of service cell information sent by a DU, wherein N is a positive integer; the CU-CP sends N pieces of service cell information to the CU-UP; and the CU-CP receives the indication information sent by the CU-UP, wherein the indication information is used for indicating whether the updating of one or more of the N pieces of serving cell information is successful. Based on the technical scheme, N pieces of service cell information are directly sent to the CU-UP by the CU-UP, and the N pieces of service cell information are determined by the CU-UP to be updated or not. Therefore, according to the technical scheme, multiple OAM systems are not needed to negotiate, so that the updating time of the service cell information is reduced, and the updating process of the service cell information is simplified. In addition, the update procedure of the serving cell information is usually part of the deployment procedure of the DU. Therefore, the updating process of the service cell information is simplified, and the deployment process and the deployment cycle of the DU can be simplified. That is, the technical scheme of the application is favorable for supporting the automatic deployment of the access network and saving the deployment cost.

In one possible design, the serving cell information includes at least one of the following parameters: a serving cell identifier, a Tracking Area (TA) identifier to which the serving cell belongs, and a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) identifier supported by the serving cell.

In one possible design, the CU-CP receives N pieces of serving cell information sent by the DU, and includes: and the CU-CP receives an F1 interface establishment request sent by the DU, wherein the F1 interface establishment request comprises N pieces of serving cell information.

In one possible design, the method further includes: the CU-CP sends F1 interface setup response information to the DU, and the F1 interface setup response information includes indication information.

In a second aspect, a method for updating serving cell information is provided, including: a CU-UP receives N pieces of service cell information of a DU sent by a CU-CP, wherein N is a positive integer; CU-UP determines whether to update N serving cell information; the CU-UP sends indication information to the CU-CP, wherein the indication information is used for indicating whether one or more pieces of service cell information in the N pieces of service cell information are updated successfully. Based on the technical scheme, N pieces of service cell information are directly sent to the CU-UP by the CU-UP, and the N pieces of service cell information are determined by the CU-UP to be updated or not. Therefore, according to the technical scheme, multiple OAM systems are not needed to negotiate, so that the updating time of the service cell information is reduced, and the updating process of the service cell information is simplified. In addition, the update procedure of the serving cell information is usually part of the deployment procedure of the DU. Therefore, the updating process of the service cell information is simplified, and the deployment process and the deployment cycle of the DU can be simplified. That is, the technical scheme of the application is favorable for supporting the automatic deployment of the access network and saving the deployment cost.

In one possible design, the serving cell information includes at least one of the following parameters: the system comprises a service cell identifier, tracking area information to which the service cell belongs, and a PLMN identifier supported by the service cell.

In one possible design, the method further includes: the CU-UP receives location information of the DU transmitted by the CU-CP. The CU-UP determines whether to update the N serving cell information, including: the CU-UP determines whether to update the N serving cell information according to the location information of the DU and the N serving cell information.

In one possible design, the location information of the DU includes at least one of the following information: geographic coordinates, network connection information, coverage information, and other coverage information. The network connection information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The coverage information includes an antenna downtilt angle and/or downlink transmission power corresponding to each cell supported by the DU. Other coverage information includes: an identity of the macro cell in which the DU is located, and/or an identity of a neighbor cell of the DU.

In one possible design, the method further comprises: the CU-UP sends notification information to an Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) system, wherein the notification information is used for indicating M pieces of service cell information which are updated successfully, the M pieces of service cell information are non-zero subsets of the N pieces of service cell information, and M is a positive integer.

In a third aspect, a method for updating serving cell information is provided, including: the DU sends N pieces of service cell information to the CU-CP, wherein N is a positive integer; and the DU receives indication information sent by the CU-CP, wherein the indication information is used for indicating whether one or more pieces of service cell information in the N pieces of service cell information are updated successfully. Based on the technical scheme of the application, the DU sends N pieces of service cell information to the CU-CP, so that the CU-CP and the CU-UP can update the service cell information. In the process, a plurality of OAM systems are not needed to carry out negotiation, so that the updating time of the service cell information is reduced, and the updating process of the service cell information is simplified.

In one possible design, the method further includes: the DU sends the position information of the DU to the CU-CP

In one possible design, the location information of the DU includes at least one of the following information: geographic coordinates, network connection information, coverage information, and other coverage information. Wherein the network connection information includes an IP address. The coverage information includes an antenna downtilt angle and/or downlink transmission power corresponding to each cell supported by the DU. Other coverage information includes: an identity of the macro cell in which the DU is located, and/or an identity of a neighbor cell of the DU.

It is understood that the DU may be a home distributed node (HDU), and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

In a fourth aspect, a method for reporting configuration is provided, including: a CU acquires information of K Closed Subscriber Group (CSG), wherein K is a positive integer; after that, the CU sends K pieces of CSG information to the core network device. Wherein the CSG information includes a public land mobile network identity (PLMN ID) and at least one CSG ID. Alternatively, the CSG information includes tracking area information and at least one CSG ID. Still alternatively, the CSG information includes a cell identity and at least one CSG ID. Based on the above technical solution, the CSG information includes tracking area information (or cell identifier) and at least one CSG ID. Therefore, the CU enables the core network device to know the correspondence between the TA (or cell) and the CSG ID by sending K pieces of CSG information to the core network device. In this way, in the registration process or other processes performed by the terminal, the core network device may allocate an appropriate registration area to the terminal.

In one possible design, a CU sends K pieces of CSG information to a core network device, including: and the CU sends Ng interface establishment request information to the core network equipment, wherein the Ng interface establishment request information comprises K CSG information.

In one possible design, the CU includes CU-UP and CU-CP. In this case, the CU acquires K pieces of CSG information, including: the CU-CP acquires K pieces of CSG information.

In one possible design, the CU includes CU-UP and CU-CP. In this case, the CU sends K pieces of CSG information to the core network device, including: and the CU-CP sends the K pieces of CSG information to the core network equipment.

In a fifth aspect, a CSG management method is provided, including: a CU acquires CSG subscription information corresponding to a terminal from core network equipment; and the CU stores the CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal. The CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal is used for indicating at least one CSG ID subscribed by the terminal. Based on the above technical solution, since the core network device sends the CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal to the CU in advance, in some flows, for example, in a flow in which the terminal prepares to access a CSG cell, the CU may authenticate the terminal according to the CSG subscription information of the terminal without authenticating the terminal through the core network, thereby reducing signaling interaction between the access network and the core network and saving signaling overhead.

In one possible design, a CU acquires CSG subscription information corresponding to a terminal from a core network device, including: and the CU receives initial context establishment request information sent by the core network equipment, wherein the initial context establishment request information comprises CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal.

In one possible design, a CU acquires CSG subscription information corresponding to a terminal from a core network device, including: CU sends user context modification request information to core network equipment, wherein the user context modification request information comprises information of a terminal; and then, the CU receives user context modification response information sent by the core network equipment, wherein the user context modification response information comprises CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal.

In one possible design, a CU acquires CSG subscription information corresponding to a terminal from a core network device, including: CU sends path transfer request information to the core network equipment, wherein the path transfer request information comprises information of a terminal; and then, the CU receives path transfer request response information sent by the core network equipment, wherein the path transfer request response information comprises CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal.

In one possible design, the CU includes CU-UP and CU-CP. In this case, the acquiring, by the CU, CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal from the core network device includes: and the CU-CP acquires CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal from the core network equipment.

In one possible design, the CU includes CU-UP and CU-CP. In this case, the CU stores CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal, and includes: and the CU-UP stores the CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal.

In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, including: and the receiving module is used for receiving the information of the N service cells sent by the DU, wherein N is a positive integer. And the sending module is used for sending the N pieces of service cell information to the CU-UP. And the receiving module is further configured to receive indication information sent by the CU-UP, where the indication information is used to indicate whether one or more pieces of serving cell information in the N pieces of serving cell information are updated successfully.

In a possible design, the receiving module is specifically configured to receive an F1 interface establishment request sent by the DU, where the F1 interface establishment request includes information about N serving cells.

In a possible design, the sending module is further configured to send an F1 interface setup response message to the DU, where the F1 interface setup response message includes indication information.

It is to be understood that the communication device provided by the sixth aspect is a CU-CP in a specific implementation.

In a seventh aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, including: and the receiving module is used for receiving N pieces of service cell information of the DU sent by the CU-CP, wherein N is a positive integer. And the processing module is used for determining whether to update the N pieces of service cell information. And a sending module, configured to send indication information to the CU-CP, where the indication information is used to indicate whether one or more pieces of serving cell information in the N pieces of serving cell information are updated successfully.

In a possible design, the receiving module is further configured to receive location information of the DU sent by the CU-CP. And the processing module is specifically configured to determine whether to update the N pieces of serving cell information according to the location information of the DU and the N pieces of serving cell information.

In one possible design, the sending module is further configured to send notification information to an Operation and Maintenance Administration and Maintenance (OAM) system, where the notification information is used to indicate that the update is successful for M serving cell information, where the M serving cell information is a non-zero subset of the N serving cell information, and M is a positive integer.

It is to be understood that the communication device provided in the seventh aspect is, in a specific implementation, a CU-UP.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: a sending module, configured to send N pieces of serving cell information to the CU-CP, where N is a positive integer; a receiving module, configured to receive indication information sent by the CU-CP, where the indication information is used to indicate whether one or more pieces of serving cell information in the N pieces of serving cell information are updated successfully.

In one possible design, the sending module is further configured to send location information of the DU to the CU-CP.

It is understood that the communication apparatus provided by the eighth aspect is a DU or HDU in specific implementations.

In a ninth aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: and the receiving module is used for acquiring K pieces of CSG information, wherein K is a positive integer. And the sending module is used for sending the K pieces of CSG information to the core network equipment. Wherein the CSG information comprises a PLMN identification and at least one CSG ID. Alternatively, the CSG information includes tracking area information and at least one CSG ID. Still alternatively, the CSG information includes a cell identity and at least one CSG ID.

In a possible design, the sending module is specifically configured to send Ng interface establishment request information to the core network device, where the Ng interface establishment request information includes K pieces of CSG information.

It is to be understood that the communication device provided by the ninth aspect is a CU or a CU-CP in a specific implementation.

In a tenth aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: the receiving module is used for acquiring CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal from the core network equipment; and the storage module is used for storing the CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal. The CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal is used for indicating at least one CSG ID subscribed by the terminal.

In a possible design, the receiving module is specifically configured to receive initial context establishment request information sent by a core network device, where the initial context establishment request information includes CSG subscription information corresponding to a terminal.

In a possible design, the sending module is further configured to send user context modification request information to the core network device, where the user context modification request information includes information of the terminal. A receiving module, configured to receive user context modification response information sent by a core network device, where the user context modification response information includes CSG subscription information corresponding to a terminal.

In a possible design, the sending module is further configured to send path transfer request information to the core network device, where the path transfer request information includes information of the terminal. The receiving module is specifically configured to receive path transfer request response information sent by the core network device, where the path transfer request response information includes CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal.

It is to be understood that the communication means provided by the tenth aspect is, in a specific implementation, a CU or a CU-CP.

In an eleventh aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: a processor, configured to couple with the memory, read the instructions in the memory, and implement the method according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

In a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when run on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method of any of the first to fifth aspects described above.

In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a communication device, enables the communication device to perform the method of any of the first to fifth aspects described above.

In a fourteenth aspect, a chip is provided, where the chip includes a processing module and a communication interface, the communication interface is configured to transmit a received code instruction to the processing module, and the processing module is configured to execute the code instruction to support a communication device to perform the method of any one of the first to fifth aspects. The code instructions may come from the memory of the chip contents or from a memory external to the chip. Alternatively, the processing module may be a processor or a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip. The communication interface may be an input-output circuit or a transceiver pin on a chip.

The technical effects brought by any one of the design manners of the sixth aspect to the fourteenth aspect may refer to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods provided above and the technical effects brought by the design manners, and are not described herein again.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic architecture diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of an access network device according to an embodiment of the present application

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of an access network in which HDUs are deployed according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic hardware structure diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method for updating serving cell information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 6 is a flowchart of another method for updating serving cell information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 7 is a flowchart of a method for reporting configuration according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a flowchart of a CSG management method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a flowchart of an authentication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

Detailed Description

Currently, indoor coverage schemes mainly include the following two:

in the first scheme, a Base station is separated into a Base Band Unit (BBU) and a Radio Remote Unit (RRU), and the BBU and the RRU are connected by an optical fiber. Thus, RRUs can be deployed indoors to achieve indoor coverage. However, the connection Interface between the RRU and the BBU is a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI). Limited by the CPRI capacity, the first solution is not suitable for high capacity scenarios.

And in the second scheme, the micro base station is deployed indoors. The transmitting power of the micro base station is low, and the micro base station can be directly connected with the gateway. However, the distributed deployment of the femtocell may cause interference among a plurality of femtocells, which may affect normal communication of users.

In order to solve the above problems, the industry proposes a new indoor coverage scheme: the HDU is deployed indoors. First, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer are divided between the HDU and the CU, and an F1 interface is used between the HDU and the CU. Compared with the CPRI, the F1 interface is located at a higher layer of the protocol stack, and the capacity required by the F1 interface is smaller, so that the problem of capacity limitation can be overcome. Secondly, the HDUs are centrally deployed under the CUs, and a plurality of HDUs under one CU can be centrally coordinated through the CUs, so that mutual interference among the HDUs is avoided, and normal communication of users can be guaranteed.

The above is a brief introduction to the HDU. In addition, the following text may be referred to for a detailed description of the architecture of the access network in which the HDU is deployed, and details are not repeated here.

To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, some terms referred to in the present application will be briefly described below.

1. Tracking area, Registration Area (RA)

The tracking area is a geographical area formed by a continuous coverage cell and is used for position management of the terminal. One tracking area may include one or more cells, but one cell can only belong to one tracking area.

And in the registration area, the network side allocates a continuous geographical area for the terminal. The registration area may include one tracking area or a plurality of tracking areas. When the terminal moves in the registration area, the updating process of the tracking area is not triggered.

2、PLMN ID

The PLMN ID is composed of a mobile equipment country code (MCC) and a mobile equipment network code (MNC). The PLMN ID is used to identify the network operator.

3. Tracking Area Identification (TAI)

The tracking area identification is formed of a PLMN ID and a Tracking Area Code (TAC). Where the TAC may also be referred to as a tracking area code, for identifying a tracking area.

In the description of this application, "/" means "or" unless otherwise stated, for example, A/B may mean A or B. "and/or" herein is merely an association describing an associated object, and means that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Further, "at least one" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more. The terms "first", "second", and the like do not necessarily limit the number and execution order, and the terms "first", "second", and the like do not necessarily limit the difference.

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

In addition, the network architecture and the service scenario described in the embodiment of the present application are for more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation to the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, and it can be known by a person skilled in the art that the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems along with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of a new service scenario.

The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, such as a 5G communication system, a future evolution system or a plurality of communication convergence systems and the like. The technical scheme provided by the application can be applied to various application scenarios, for example, scenarios such as machine-to-machine (M2M), macro-micro communication, enhanced mobile bandwidth (eMBB), ultra-reliable and ultra-low latency communication (urlcc), and mass internet of things communication (mtc).

Fig. 1 is a schematic architecture diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the communication system includes an access network and a core network. Taking the 5G communication system as an example, the access Network is a next generation radio access Network (NG-RAN), and the core Network is a 5G core Network (5G core Network, 5 GC).

The core network includes various core network devices, such as access and mobility management function (AMF), User Plane Function (UPF), Session Management Function (SMF), and so on.

The AMF belongs to a core network entity and is mainly responsible for a mobility management processing part, such as: access control, mobility management, attach and detach, and SMF selection. When the AMF provides a service for a session in a terminal, it provides a storage resource of a control plane for the session, so as to store a session identifier, an SMF identifier associated with the session identifier, and the like.

The SMF is mainly used for session management, Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation and management of a terminal, selection of a termination point that can manage a user plane function, policy control, or charging function interface, downlink data notification, and the like.

UPF may be used for packet routing and forwarding, or QoS processing of user plane data, etc. The user data can be accessed to a Data Network (DN) through the network element.

The AMF, SMF, and UPF are only names, and do not limit the device itself. It is understood that in the 5G network and other networks in the future, the AMF, the SMF, and the UPF may also be named otherwise, and the embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited thereto. For example, the UPF may also be referred to as a UPF network element or a UPF entity, which is described herein in a unified manner and will not be described in detail below.

Optionally, the core network device may be implemented by one device, may also be implemented by multiple devices together, and may also be a functional module in one device, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. It is to be understood that the functional modules described above may be network elements in a hardware device, or may be software functional modules running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functional modules instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

The access network includes access network equipment. The access network device may be a base station or a base station controller for wireless communication, etc. For example, the base station may include various types of base stations, such as: a micro base station (also referred to as a small station), a macro base station, a relay station, an access point, and the like, which are not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, the base station may be a base station (BTS) in a global system for mobile communication (GSM), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a base station (node B) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), an evolved base station (eNB or e-NodeB) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE), an internet of things (IoT) or a narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT), a future 5G mobile communication network or a netgb in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), which is not limited in this embodiment.

Taking the access network device as an gNB as an example, in the communication system, an interface, referred to as an Xn interface, exists between two gnbs. There is an interface between the gNB and the 5GC, referred to herein as the Ng interface.

The gNB may employ a CU-DU architecture. That is, the gNB is composed of a CU and at least one DU. In this case, part of the function of the gNB is deployed on the CU, and another part of the function of the gNB is deployed on the DU. Multiple DUs can share the same CU to save cost.

There is an interface between the CU and the DU, referred to herein as the F1 interface. There is an interface between the CU and the 5GC, referred to herein as the Ng interface. There is an interface between two CUs, referred to herein as an Xn interface. It will be appreciated that the interfaces described above are all logical interfaces. In the 5G network and other networks in the future, the above-mentioned interface may also have other names, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The CU and DU are divided according to the protocol stack. As an implementation manner, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, a PDCP layer, and a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer in a protocol stack are deployed by a CU; the DU is deployed with an RLC layer, a Media Access Control (MAC) layer, and a physical layer (PHY) in a protocol stack. Thus, the CU has the processing capabilities of RRC, PDCP, and SDAP. The DU has the processing capabilities of RLC, MAC and PHY. It is understood that the above division of functions is only an example, and does not constitute a limitation on CUs and DUs. That is to say, there may be other function splitting manners between the CU and the DU, which are not described herein again in this embodiment of the present application.

As shown in FIG. 2, a CU can also be divided into a CU-CP and a CU-UP. The CU-CP and the CU-UP may be deployed on the same physical device, or may be deployed on different physical devices, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

An interface exists between the CU-CP and the CU-UP, referred to herein as the E1 interface. There is an interface between the CU-CP and the 5GC, referred to herein as the Ng interface (not shown in FIG. 2). An interface exists between the CU-CP and the DU, referred to herein as the F1-C interface. An interface exists between the CU-UP and the DU, referred to herein as the F1-U interface. It will be appreciated that the interfaces described above are all logical interfaces. In the 5G network and other networks in the future, the above-mentioned interface may also have other names, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Alternatively, one DU may connect one or more CU-UP. One CU-UP may connect one or more DUs. One DU can only connect one CU-CP. One CU-CP may connect one or more DUs. One CU-UP can only connect to one CU-CP. One CU-CP may connect one or more CU-UPs.

As an implementation, in the case that a CU deploys an RRC layer, a PDCP layer, and an SDAP layer, the CU-CP is responsible for the RRC layer, and control plane part functions of the PDCP layer, such as functions for handling Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs). The CU-UP is responsible for the SDAP layer, as well as the user plane part functions of the PDCP layer, e.g., functions for handling Data Radio Bearers (DRBs).

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of an access network with an HDU deployed therein according to an embodiment of the present application.

Under the scene that the CU is divided into the CU-UP and the CU-CP, the HDU is connected with the CU-UP through an F1-U interface, and the HDU is connected with the CU-CP through an F1-C interface.

The HDU management system can be integrated in the CU or can be collocated with the CU for deployment. The HDU management system is used to manage the HDUs, for example, manage the installation of the HDUs and configure the relevant parameters of the HDUs.

The HDU gateway is an optional device in the HDU architecture. The gateway of the HDU is used for realizing the aggregation of the HDU, so that the number of F1 interfaces between the HDU and the CU is reduced, and the cost is reduced.

It should be noted that, the main difference between the HDU and the DU is that the DU is deployed by an operator; the HDUs may not be operator-deployed, such as personal, home, or corporate. The HDU is generally deployed indoors, and is used to ensure that the terminal can normally communicate indoors.

In the embodiment of the present application, CU-UP, CU-CP, DU, HDU, or core network device may be implemented by the communication apparatus in fig. 4.

As shown in fig. 4, the communication apparatus includes: at least one processor 101, a communication link 102, a memory 103, and at least one communication interface 104.

The processor 101 may be a general-purpose Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more ics for controlling the execution of programs in accordance with the present disclosure.

The communication line 102 is used to transmit information between the above components.

The communication interface 104 may be any device, such as a transceiver, for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as ethernet, RAN, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), etc.

The memory 103 may be, but is not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that may store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that may store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, optical disk storage (including compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, blu-ray disc, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. The memory may be separate and coupled to the processor via communication line 102. The memory may also be integral to the processor. The memory provided by the embodiment of the application can be generally nonvolatile. The memory 103 is used for storing computer-executable instructions for executing the scheme of the application, and is controlled by the processor 101 to execute. The processor 101 is configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 103, thereby implementing the methods provided by the embodiments described below in the present application.

Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application program codes, which are not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

In particular implementations, processor 101 may include one or more CPUs such as CPU0 and CPU1 in fig. 4 for one embodiment.

In particular implementations, the communication device may include multiple processors, such as processor 101 and processor 107 in fig. 4, as one embodiment. Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

In a specific implementation, the communication apparatus may further include an output device 105 and an input device 106, as an embodiment. The output device 105 is in communication with the processor 101 and may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device 105 may be a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display device, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display device, a projector (projector), or the like. The input device 106 is in communication with the processor 101 and may receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device 106 may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensing device, among others.

The technical solution in the embodiments of the present application is described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

Example one

For convenience of description, hereinafter, an OAM system responsible for managing CU-CP is simply referred to as an OAM-CU-CP system, an OAM system responsible for managing CU-UP is simply referred to as an OAM-CU-UP system, and an OAM system responsible for managing DU is simply referred to as an OAM-DU system.

Taking an example of adding a serving cell information by an operator, the current serving cell information updating process is as follows: and the OAM-DU system, the OAM-CU-CP system and the OAM-CU-UP system negotiate with each other, and if the three OAM systems confirm that the serving cell can be added after negotiation, the three OAM systems respectively inform the DU, the CU-CP and the CU-UP system to add the serving cell information.

Since the negotiation between the OAM systems requires a long time, the update time of the serving cell information is long. In addition, OAM-DU systems, OAM-CU-CP systems, OAM-CU-UP systems may belong to equipment of different manufacturers. Since different vendors have their own proprietary signaling, these three OAM systems may need to perform signaling adaptation and capability coordination, thereby further increasing the update time of the serving cell information.

In order to solve the above technical problem, as shown in fig. 5, a method for updating serving cell information provided in an embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

s501, the DU sends N pieces of service cell information to the CU-CP. Accordingly, the CU-CP receives N serving cell information transmitted by the DU.

The N pieces of serving cell information are pre-configured in the DU, where N is a positive integer.

Optionally, the serving cell information includes at least one of the following parameters: the system comprises a serving cell identifier, tracking area information to which the serving cell belongs, and a PLMN identifier supported by the serving cell. In the embodiment of the present application, the tracking area information includes a TAI or a TAC.

As an implementation, the DU sends an F1 interface setup request to the CU-CP. Wherein the F1 interface establishment request is used for requesting the establishment of the F1 interface. The F1 interface setup request includes the N serving cell information.

S502, the CU-CP sends the N pieces of service cell information to the CU-UP. Accordingly, the CU-UP receives the N pieces of serving cell information transmitted by the CU-CP.

As an implementation, the CU-CP sends configuration update information to the CU-UP, where the configuration update information carries the N serving cell information. It is understood that the configuration update information may have different names in different application scenarios, such as DU addition request message. It is understood that, after receiving the DU addition request message, the CU-UP may learn that the DU is newly added in the network and acquire the serving cell information of the DU.

S503, CU-UP determines whether to update the N pieces of service cell information.

Wherein, the updating operation of the CU-UP to the service cell information comprises the following steps: add operations and/or delete operations. It is understood that the add operation refers to the CU-UP adding the serving cell information to the serving cell record information. The deletion operation means that the CU-UP deletes the serving cell information from the serving cell registration information.

It should be noted that the serving cell registration information is used to register one or more serving cell information that the CU-UP can provide a service. In other words, if one serving cell information does not exist in the serving cell record information, the CU-UP does not provide a service to the cell corresponding to the serving cell information. Alternatively, the serving cell record information may be implemented in a list form, or in another form, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto. When the serving cell record information is implemented in the form of a list, the serving cell record information may be referred to as a serving cell list.

Optionally, the N pieces of serving cell information include one or more pieces of first serving cell information and one or more pieces of second serving cell information.

The updating operation corresponding to the first serving cell information is an adding operation, that is, the first serving cell information is serving cell information to be added. In this embodiment of the present application, updating the first serving cell information specifically means adding the first serving cell information to the serving cell record information. Correspondingly, not updating the first serving cell information specifically means not adding the first serving cell information to the serving cell record information.

The updating operation corresponding to the second serving cell information is a deleting operation, that is, the second serving cell information is serving cell information to be deleted. In this embodiment of the present application, the updating of the second serving cell information specifically means deleting the second serving cell information recorded in the serving cell record information. Correspondingly, not updating the second serving cell information specifically means not deleting the second serving cell information recorded in the serving cell record information.

Alternatively, the CU-UP may determine whether one serving cell information is the first serving cell information or the second serving cell information according to any one of the following cases.

In case one, the serving cell information further includes operation information, where the operation information is used to indicate an update operation corresponding to the serving cell information, that is, the operation information is used to indicate whether the serving cell information is the first serving cell information or the second serving cell information. In this way, the CU-UP determines whether the serving cell information is the first serving cell information or the second serving cell information based on the operation information included in the serving cell information.

Alternatively, the operation information may be represented by at least one bit. For example, taking one bit as an example, "0" indicates that the serving cell information is the first serving cell information, and "1" indicates that the serving cell information is the second serving cell information.

Case two, the location of the serving cell information in the signaling, is used to indicate whether the serving cell information is the first serving cell information or the second serving cell information. In this way, the CU-UP determines whether the serving cell information is the first serving cell information or the second serving cell information according to the position of the serving cell information in the signaling. For example, if the serving cell information is located at a first position in the signaling, the serving cell information is the first serving cell information. The serving cell information is the second serving cell information if the serving cell information is located at the second position in the signaling.

The signaling in case two may be the configuration update information in the foregoing, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto. The location of the serving cell information in the signaling specifically refers to a field (or bit field) in the signaling for carrying the serving cell information.

How CU-UP determines whether to update the first serving cell information is described in detail below.

In the first mode, for any first serving cell information sent by the CU-CP, the CU-UP updates the first serving cell information by default.

In the second mode, the CU-UP may determine whether the cell corresponding to the first serving cell information is located in the serving area of the CU-UP according to the tracking area information included in the first serving cell information. And if the cell is not located in the service area of the CU-UP, the CU-UP determines not to update the first service cell information, namely not to add the first service cell information to the service cell record information. If the cell is located within the service area of the CU-UP, the CU-UP determines to update the first serving cell information, i.e., to add the first serving cell information to the serving cell record information.

And thirdly, the CU-UP determines whether to update the first service cell information according to the capability information of the CU-UP. Illustratively, the capability information of a CU-UP can be used to indicate the number of cells served by the CU-UP. For example, if the number of cells currently serviced by the CU-UP reaches an upper limit value indicated by the capability information, the CU-UP does not update the first serving cell information. And if the number of the cells served by the current CU-UP does not reach the upper limit value indicated by the capability information, the CU-UP updates the first serving cell information.

It is to be appreciated that the CU-UP can determine whether to update the first serving cell information in at least one of the first through third manners described above.

In addition, the first to third manners are only examples provided in the embodiment of the present application, and the embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited to how the CU-UP determines whether to update the first serving cell information.

How the CU-UP determines whether to update the second serving cell information is described in detail below.

And fourthly, for any second serving cell information sent by the CU-CP, updating the second serving cell information by the CU-UP in a default mode.

And fifthly, the CU-UP determines whether to update the second service cell information according to whether the cell corresponding to the second service cell information has service. That is, if there is a service in the cell corresponding to the second serving cell information, the CU-UP does not delete the second serving cell information from the serving cell record information. And if the cell corresponding to the second service cell information has no service, the CU-UP deletes the second service cell information from the service cell record information.

It is to be understood that the fourth and fifth manners are only examples provided in the embodiment of the present application, and the embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited to how the CU-UP determines whether to update the second serving cell information.

S504, the CU-UP sends indication information to the CU-CP. Accordingly, the CU-CP receives the indication information sent by the CU-UP.

Wherein the indication information is used to indicate whether one or more pieces of serving cell information in the N pieces of serving cell information are updated successfully.

Optionally, the indication information may adopt one or more of the following implementation manners:

in a first implementation manner, the indication information includes N update result messages, where the N update result messages correspond to the N serving cell information one to one, and the update result message is used to indicate whether the corresponding serving cell information is updated successfully.

Illustratively, the update result message may be represented in one or more bits. For example, taking one bit as an example, "0" indicates that the serving cell information update fails; "1" indicates that the serving cell information update is successful.

Optionally, the N update result messages may be implemented in the form of a bitmap, so as to reduce signaling overhead.

Optionally, when the update result message indicates that the corresponding serving cell information is not updated successfully, the update result message may further include: and updating failure reason information, wherein the updating failure reason information is used for explaining the reason of the failure of the information updating of the service cell. Optionally, the update failure reason information includes reason indexes, and each reason index corresponds to one reason for update failure.

For example, the reason for the failure of the first service message information update may be: (1) the number of cells currently served by the CU-UP reaches an upper limit value indicated by the capability information; (2) the cell corresponding to the first serving cell information is not located in the service area of the CU-UP.

For example, the reason for the failure of the second serving cell information update may be: and the cell corresponding to the second service cell information has service.

In a second implementation manner, the indication information includes at least one of a first message, a second message, a third message and a fourth message. The first message is used for indicating the first serving cell information which is updated successfully. The second message is used for indicating the second serving cell information which is updated successfully. The third message is used for indicating the first serving cell information of which the update fails. The fourth message is for indicating the second serving cell information for which the update failed.

Optionally, the third message may further include update failure reason information corresponding to each piece of first serving cell information that fails to be updated, where the update failure reason information is used to explain a reason why the first serving cell information fails to be updated.

Optionally, the fourth message may further include update failure reason information corresponding to each piece of information of the second serving cell that fails to be updated, where the update failure reason information is used to explain a reason why the information of the second serving cell fails to be updated.

The first implementation manner and the second implementation manner are only examples provided in the embodiment of the present application, and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the indication information.

Based on the solution shown in fig. 5, N pieces of serving cell information are sent by the CU-CP to the CU-UP, and the N pieces of serving cell information are determined by the CU-UP whether to be updated. Therefore, according to the technical scheme, multiple OAM systems are not needed to negotiate, so that the updating time of the service cell information is reduced, and the updating process of the service cell information is simplified. In addition, the update procedure of the serving cell information is usually part of the deployment procedure of the DU. Therefore, the updating process of the service cell information is simplified, and the deployment process and the deployment cycle of the DU can be simplified. That is, the technical scheme of the application is favorable for supporting the automatic deployment of the access network and saving the deployment cost.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 5, after step S503, the method further includes step S505.

And S505, the CU-UP sends a notification message to the OAM system.

The notification message is used to indicate that the update of the M pieces of serving cell information is successful, where the M pieces of serving cell information are a non-zero subset of the N pieces of serving cell information, and M is a positive integer.

The OAM system may be the OAM-CU-UP system mentioned above, i.e. an OAM system used for managing CU-UP.

In this way, the OAM system can be informed of changes in the cell served by the CU-UP in time to better manage the CU-UP.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 5, after step S104, the method further includes step S106.

S506, the CU-CP sends indication information to the DU.

As one implementation, the CU-UP sends F1 interface setup response information to the DU, and the F1 interface setup response information includes the indication information.

In this way, the DU can know whether its serving cell information is successfully updated.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, steps S501-S503 may be replaced with steps S601-S603.

S601, the DU sends the position information of the DU and the N pieces of service cell information to the CU-CP.

Wherein the location information of the DU is pre-configured in the DU.

Optionally, the location information of the DU is at least one of the following information: geographic coordinates, network connection information, coverage information, and other coverage information. The geographic coordinates may be global navigation satellite system (GPS) coordinates, for example, Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates. The network connection information includes an IP address and/or a MAC address. The coverage information includes an antenna downtilt angle and/or downlink transmission power corresponding to each cell supported by the DU. The other coverage information includes: an identity of a macro cell (or macro base station) in which the DU is located, and/or an identity of a neighboring cell (or neighboring base station) of the DU.

Optionally, the location information of the DU and the information of the N serving cells may be sent independently, or may be encapsulated in the same signaling and sent in a unified manner.

As an implementation, the DU sends an F1 interface setup request to the CU-CP, where the F1 interface setup request includes location information of the DU and N serving cell information.

S602, CU-CP sends the position information of the DU and N pieces of service cell information to CU-UP.

S603, CU-UP determines whether to update the N pieces of service cell information according to the position information of the DU.

In one implementation, the CU-UP determines whether a DU is located within the service area of the CU-UP based on the location information of the DU. If the DU is located in the service area of CU-UP, CU-UP determines whether to update the N serving cell information with reference to the implementation of step S103. If the DU is not located in the service area of the CU-UP, the CU-UP does not update the N pieces of serving cell information.

Based on the solution shown in fig. 6, the location information of the DU is used to enable the CU-UP to determine the location of the DU. Accordingly, the CU-UP can determine whether the DU is located in the service area of the CU-UP based on the location of the DU, so that the CU-UP can determine whether to update the serving cell information of the DU, i.e., the CU-UP can determine whether to provide a service for the DU. In this way, on the one hand, it is avoided that a CU-UP connects DUs that exceed the service area; on the other hand, DU deployment under CU-UP that cannot provide normal service is avoided.

It is understood that the steps performed by the DU in the solutions shown in fig. 5 or fig. 6 may also be performed by the HDU. That is, the solution shown in fig. 5 or 6 is applicable to HDUs. Based on the technical scheme, when the network adds the HDU and needs to update the information of the service cell, the negotiation between OAM systems is not needed, so that the updating time of the information of the service cell is reduced, the fast deployment of the HDU is facilitated, and the method and the device can adapt to the random deployment scene of the HDU.

Example two

The network supported by the HDU includes three access types, CSG, Hybrid Subscriber Group (HSG), and Open Subscriber Group (OSG). Wherein the CSG supports only subscriber access. The HSG supports access of subscribers and non-subscribers, but the subscribers have higher priority than the non-subscribers. The OSG supports all user access. In the embodiment of the present application, a network with an access type of CSG or HSG may be referred to as a CSG network, and each CSG network has a corresponding CSG ID.

In the case where HDUs are deployed, some of the cells served by CUs may be CSG cells. Currently, a CU only reports TAI and CSG ID to the core network. In this way, the core network only knows that the CSG cell exists in the cells served by the CU, but does not know which cell is the CSG cell, and does not know which cell corresponding to the TAI is the CSG cell. Therefore, when the core network allocates a corresponding registration area or tracking area for the terminal, the registration area allocated by the core network may not be suitable for the terminal, and normal communication of the terminal is affected. For example, the access type of the CSG cell #1 is CSG, and the terminal is not a subscriber of the CSG cell #1, so the terminal cannot access the CSG cell # 1. If the registration area allocated by the core network for the terminal includes the CSG cell #1, the terminal does not initiate an update procedure of the registration area when the terminal moves to the CSG cell # 1. However, if downlink data arrives at this time, the core network cannot transmit the downlink data to the terminal through the CSG cell #1, so that the data packet is discarded, thereby affecting normal communication of the terminal.

To solve the above technical problem, as shown in fig. 7, a method for reporting configuration provided in an embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

s701, the CU acquires K pieces of CSG information.

The K pieces of CSG information are from one or more DUs, and K is a positive integer.

As an implementation manner, the CU may obtain one or more CSG information from one or more DUs, respectively.

Note that, the K pieces of CSG information are pre-configured in the CU, and the CU may not perform step S701. That is, step S701 is an optional execution step.

In an embodiment of the present application, the CSG information is used to indicate at least one CSG ID supported by a CU. In this embodiment of the present application, the CSG information is used to indicate a correspondence between a TA and a CSG ID. Or, the CSG information is used to indicate a correspondence between a PLMN and a CSG ID. Still alternatively, the CSG information is used to indicate a correspondence between a cell and a CSG ID.

Optionally, the CSG information includes tracking area information and at least one CSG ID. Optionally, the tracking area information is a TAI or a TAC. It can be understood that the tracking area information included in the CSG information is used to indicate a tracking area corresponding to the CSG information.

Or, the CSG information includes a PLMN identity and at least one CSG ID. It can be understood that the PLMN identity included in the CSG information is used to indicate a PLMN corresponding to the CSG information.

Still alternatively, the CSG information includes a cell identifier and at least one CSG ID. It can be understood that the cell identifier included in the CSG information is used to indicate a cell to which the CSG information corresponds.

Still alternatively, the CSG information includes tracking area information and at least one CSG sub-information. The CSG sub-information includes at least one CSG ID. And, the CSG sub-information further includes at least one of a cell identity and a PLMN identity.

Or, the CSG information includes a PLMN identity and at least one CSG sub-information. The CSG sub-information includes a cell identity and at least one CSG ID.

Optionally, the CSG information may further include an access type. Wherein the access type comprises a first access type and a second access type. The network of the first access type allows access only to subscribers. The second access type network allows access to both subscribers and non-subscribers, but subscribers have a higher priority than non-subscribers. The first access type may also be referred to as a CSG access type, or simply CSG. The second access type may also be referred to as HSG access type or simply HSG directly. The range of the network to which the access type is applicable may be a tracking area, or a PLMN, or a cell, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

Optionally, when the CU adopts the architecture shown in fig. 2, that is, when the CU is divided into a CU-CP and a CU-UP, the step S701 is specifically implemented as: the CU-CP acquires K pieces of CSG information.

S702, the CU sends the K pieces of CSG information to core network equipment.

Optionally, when the CU adopts the architecture shown in fig. 2, that is, when the CU is divided into a CU-CP and a CU-UP, the step S702 is specifically implemented as: and the CU-CP sends the K pieces of CSG information to the core network equipment.

As an implementation manner, the CU sends Ng interface establishment request information (Ng setup request) to the core network device, where the Ng interface establishment request information carries the K pieces of CSG information. Optionally, after receiving the Ng interface establishment request information, the core network device sends Ng interface establishment response information (Ng setup response) to the CU.

As another implementation, the CU configures update information (RAN configuration update) to the radio access network of the core network device, where the update information carries the K pieces of CSG information. Optionally, after receiving the radio access network configuration update information, the core network device sends radio access network configuration update response information (reconfiguration update ACK) to the CU.

In this embodiment of the present application, the core network device may be an AMF or other core network devices, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Based on the technical solution shown in fig. 7, the CSG information includes tracking area information (or cell identifier) and at least one CSG ID. Therefore, the CU enables the core network device to know the correspondence between the TA (or cell) and the CSG ID by sending K pieces of CSG information to the core network device. In this way, in the registration process or other processes performed by the terminal, the core network device may allocate an appropriate registration area to the terminal.

EXAMPLE III

In the case where HDUs are deployed, some of the cells served by CUs may be CSG cells. Currently, when a terminal is ready to access a CSG cell, the communication network needs to authenticate the terminal to determine whether the terminal is a subscriber to the CSG cell. At present, the authentication process of the terminal is responsible for by the core network, and the authentication process is tedious. And, the core network only authenticates whether the terminal is the CSG subscriber of the current service cell. This results in that in each handover process (or moving process, or process added by the secondary base station) of the terminal, the core network needs to perform authentication on the terminal once, which further increases signaling overhead.

In order to solve the above technical problem, as shown in fig. 8, a CSG management method provided in an embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

s801, the CU acquires CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal from the core network equipment.

The CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal is used for indicating at least one CSG ID subscribed by the terminal. In an embodiment of the present application, the CSG subscription information includes a plurality of pieces of CSG ID information, and each piece of CSG ID information includes one CSG ID.

In one implementation, the CSG ID indicated by each piece of CSG ID information is a CSG ID subscribed to the terminal. In other words, the core network device only informs the CU of which CSG IDs the terminal has subscribed to.

As another implementation manner, each piece of CSG ID information further includes indication information, where the indication information is used to indicate whether a CSG ID included in the piece of CSG ID information is a CSG ID subscribed by the terminal.

Optionally, the CSG ID information may further include at least one of a PLMN identity, tracking area information, and a cell identity. It should be noted that the PLMN identifier included in the CSG ID information is used to indicate the PLMN with the CSG ID in effect. The tracking area information included in the CSG ID information is used to indicate a tracking area for which the CSG ID is valid. The cell identity included in the CSG ID information is used to indicate the cell for which the CSG ID is valid.

Optionally, the CSG ID information further includes an access type. Wherein the access type comprises a first access type and a second access type. Wherein the network of the first access type only allows access by subscribers. The second access type network allows access to both subscribers and non-subscribers, but subscribers have a higher priority than non-subscribers. The first access type may also be referred to as a CSG access type, or simply CSG. The second access type may also be referred to as HSG access type or simply HSG directly. The range of the network to which the access type is applicable may be a tracking area, or a PLMN, or a cell, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

Optionally, when the CU adopts the architecture shown in fig. 2, that is, when the CU is divided into a CU-CP and a CU-UP, step S801 is specifically implemented as: and the CU-CP acquires CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal from the core network equipment.

As an implementation manner, the CU receives initial context setup request information (initial context setup request) sent by a core network device, where the initial context setup request information includes CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal. Then, the CU transmits initial context setup response information (initial context setup response) to the core network device, the initial context setup response information being a response to the initial context setup request information.

As another implementation, the CU sends path switch request information (path switch request) to the core network device, where the path switch request information includes information of a terminal. And then, the CU receives path switch request response information (path switch request ACK) sent by the core network device, where the path switch request response information includes CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal.

As another implementation, the CU sends user context modification request information (UE context modification request) to the core network device, where the user context modification request information includes information of a terminal. Then, the CU receives user context modification response information (UE context modification response) sent by the core network device. The user context modification response information comprises CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal.

Optionally, the information of the terminal includes an identifier of the terminal. For example, the identifier of the terminal may be at least one of an IP address, a MAC address, and a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

And S802, the CU stores the CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal.

When the CU adopts the architecture shown in fig. 2, that is, when the CU is divided into CU-CP and CU-UP, step S302 is specifically implemented as: and the CU-CP stores the CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal.

Based on the technical scheme shown in fig. 8, since the core network device sends the CSG subscription information corresponding to the terminal to the CU in advance, in some flows, for example, in a flow in which the terminal prepares to access a CSG cell, the CU may authenticate the terminal according to the CSG subscription information of the terminal without authenticating the terminal through the core network, thereby reducing signaling interaction between the access network and the core network and saving signaling overhead.

As shown in fig. 9, an authentication method provided for the embodiment of the present application includes the following steps:

s901, the terminal sends an RRC connection request, where the RRC connection request is used to request establishment of an RRC connection with the first CSG cell, so as to access the first CSG cell.

The first CSG cell may be any one CSG cell, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

S902, the CU determines whether the terminal can access the first CSG cell or not according to the CSG subscription information of the terminal.

It can be understood that, the method for acquiring the CSG subscription information of the terminal may refer to the embodiment shown in fig. 8, and is not described herein again.

As an implementation manner, the CU determines whether the terminal is a subscriber of the first CSG cell according to the CSG subscription information of the terminal. And if the terminal is not the subscriber of the first CSG cell and the access type of the first CSG cell is CSG, the CU determines that the terminal cannot access the first CSG cell. If the terminal is a subscriber of the first CSG cell or the access type of the first CSG cell is HSG, the CU determines that the terminal can access the first CSG cell.

If the terminal can access the first CSG cell, the CU executes step S903a described below.

If the terminal cannot access the first CSG cell, the CU performs step S903b described below.

Or, if the terminal cannot access the first CSG cell, the CU determines whether a second CSG cell subscribed to by the terminal exists according to the CSG subscription message of the terminal. If there is no second CSG cell to which the terminal subscribes, the CU executes step S903b described below. If a second CSG cell subscribed by the terminal exists, the CU sends a UE context establishment flow to a DU to which the second CSG cell belongs, so that the DU to which the second CSG cell belongs is used as an auxiliary node of the terminal; after that, the CU performs the following step S903c to configure the second CSG cell to which the terminal subscribes as the secondary cell of the terminal.

Optionally, the second CSG cell and the first CSG cell may be located under the same DU or under different DUs.

Optionally, the second CSG cell and the first CSG cell are located in the same TA.

S903a, the CU sends an RRC setup message to the terminal.

It is to be appreciated that the CU sends an RRC setup message to the terminal to allow the terminal to establish an RRC connection to access the first CSG cell.

S903b, the CU sends an RRC release message to the terminal.

It is understood that the CU sends an RRC release message to the terminal to reject the terminal to establish an RRC connection, thereby avoiding the terminal connecting to the non-subscribed CSG cell.

Optionally, the RRC release message may also be referred to as an RRC reject message, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

S903c, the CU sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the terminal.

Optionally, the RRC reconfiguration message includes configuration information of a DU to which the second CSG cell belongs. The RRC reconfiguration message is used to reconfigure the RRC connection of the terminal to enable the terminal to access the second CSG cell.

Based on the technical scheme, in the process of accessing the terminal to the CSG cell, the CU can authenticate the terminal according to the CSG subscription information of the terminal without authenticating the terminal through the core network, so that the signaling interaction between the access network and the core network is reduced, and the signaling overhead is saved.

It will be appreciated that in order to carry out the above functions, the communication device comprises corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules for performing each of the functions. Those of skill in the art would readily appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is performed as hardware or computer software drives hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

In the embodiment of the present application, the communication apparatus may be divided into the functional modules according to the method example, for example, each functional module may be divided for 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, in the embodiment of the present application, the division of the module is schematic, and is only one logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation. The following description will be given by taking the case of dividing each function module corresponding to each function:

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device comprises a receiving module 201, a processing module 202, and a transmitting module 203. Optionally, the communication device further comprises a storage module 204.

When the schematic structural diagram shown in fig. 10 is used to implement the DU or HDU in the foregoing embodiment, the sending module 203 is configured to execute steps S501 and S506 in fig. 5, step S601 in fig. 6, and/or other processes used in the technical solutions described herein.

When the schematic structure shown in fig. 10 is used to implement the CU-CP in the foregoing embodiment, the receiving module 201 is configured to execute steps S501 and S504 in fig. 5, step S601 in fig. 6, and/or other processes used in the technical solutions described herein. The sending module 203 is configured to perform step S502 in fig. 5, step S602 in fig. 6, and/or other processes for the technical solutions described herein.

When the schematic structure shown in fig. 10 is used to implement CU-UP in the above-described embodiment, the receiving module 201 is used to execute step S502 in fig. 5, step S602 in fig. 6, and/or other processes used in the technical solutions described herein. The processing module 202 is configured to perform step S503 in fig. 5, step S603 in fig. 6, and/or other processes for the solutions described herein. The sending module is configured to perform steps S504 and S505 in fig. 5, and/or other processes for the technical solutions described herein.

When the schematic structure shown in fig. 10 is used to implement a CU in the foregoing embodiment, the receiving module 201 is configured to execute step S701 in fig. 7, step S801 in fig. 8, step S901 in fig. 9, and/or other processes used in the technical solutions described herein. The sending module 203 is configured to execute step S702 in fig. 7, step S903a, S903b, or S903c in fig. 9, and/or other processes for the technical solutions described herein. The storage module 204 is configured to perform step S802 in fig. 8, step S902 in fig. 9, and/or other processes for the solutions described herein.

When the schematic structure shown in fig. 10 is used to implement the terminal in the foregoing embodiment, the sending module 203 is used to execute step S901 in fig. 9 and/or other processes used in the technical solutions described herein. The receiving module 201 is configured to perform steps S903a, S903b, or S903c in fig. 9, and/or other processes for the technical solutions described herein.

All relevant contents of each step related to the above method embodiment may be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and are not described herein again.

As an example, in conjunction with the communication apparatus shown in fig. 4, the sending module 203 and the receiving module 201 in fig. 10 may be implemented by the communication interface 104 in fig. 4, the processing module 202 in fig. 10 may be implemented by the processor 101 in fig. 4, and the storing module 204 in fig. 10 may be implemented by the memory 103 in fig. 4, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The embodiment of the application also provides a computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores computer instructions; the computer readable storage medium, when run on a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the method as shown in fig. 5-9. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wire (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or can comprise one or more data storage devices, such as a server, a data center, etc., that can be integrated with the medium. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium, or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a chip, which includes a processing module and a communication interface, where the communication interface is configured to transmit a received code instruction to the processing module, where the code instruction may be from a memory inside the chip or from a memory outside the chip or other devices, and the processing is configured to execute the code instruction to support a communication apparatus to perform the method shown in fig. 5 to 9. Wherein, the processing module is a processor or a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip. The communication interface may be an input-output circuit or a transceiving pin.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product containing computer instructions, which when run on a communication apparatus, enables the communication apparatus to execute the methods shown in fig. 5 to 9.

The communication device, the computer storage medium, the chip and the computer program product provided in the embodiments of the present application are all configured to execute the method provided above, and therefore, the beneficial effects achieved by the communication device, the computer storage medium, the chip and the computer program product may refer to the beneficial effects corresponding to the method provided above, and are not described herein again.

Although the present application has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments thereof, it will be evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Accordingly, the specification and figures are merely exemplary of the present application as defined in the appended claims and are intended to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of the present application. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as well.

Claims

1. A method for updating serving cell information, the method comprising:

a control plane CU-CP of the centralized node receives N pieces of service cell information sent by a distributed node DU, wherein N is a positive integer;

the CU-CP sending the N pieces of serving cell information to a user plane CU-UP of a centralized node; the serving cell information comprises at least one of the following parameters: a service cell identifier, tracking area information of the service cell, and a public land mobile network PLMN identifier supported by the service cell;

and the CU-CP receives indication information sent by the CU-UP, wherein the indication information is used for indicating whether one or more pieces of serving cell information in the N pieces of serving cell information are updated successfully.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the CU-CP receives N pieces of serving cell information sent by the DU, and comprises:

and the CU-CP receives an F1 interface establishment request sent by the DU, wherein the F1 interface establishment request comprises the N pieces of service cell information.

3. The method for updating serving cell information according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

the CU-CP sends F1 interface setup response information to the DU, wherein the F1 interface setup response information comprises the indication information.

4. A method for updating serving cell information, the method comprising:

a user plane CU-UP of a centralized node receives N pieces of service cell information of a distributed node DU sent by a control plane CU-CP of the centralized node, wherein N is a positive integer;

the CU-UP determines whether to update the N serving cell information, the serving cell information including at least one of the following parameters: a service cell identifier, tracking area information of the service cell, and a public land mobile network PLMN identifier supported by the service cell;

the CU-UP sends indication information to the CU-CP, wherein the indication information is used for indicating whether one or more pieces of service cell information in the N pieces of service cell information are updated successfully.

5. The method for updating serving cell information according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

the CU-UP receives the position information of the DU sent by the CU-CP;

the CU-UP determines whether to update the N serving cell information, including:

the CU-UP determines whether to update the N pieces of serving cell information according to the position information of the DU and the N pieces of serving cell information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the location information of the DU comprises at least one of the following information:

geographic coordinates, network connection information, coverage information, and other coverage information; wherein the network connection information comprises an internet protocol, IP, address; the coverage area information includes an antenna downtilt angle and/or downlink transmission power corresponding to each cell supported by the DU; the other coverage information includes: an identity of a macro cell in which the DU is located, and/or an identity of a neighboring cell of the DU.

7. The method for updating serving cell information according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

and the CU-UP sends notification information to an operation maintenance management OAM system, wherein the notification information is used for indicating M pieces of service cell information which are updated successfully, the M pieces of service cell information are non-zero subsets of the N pieces of service cell information, and M is a positive integer.

8. A method for updating serving cell information, the method comprising:

the distributed node DU sends N pieces of service cell information to a control plane CU-CP of the centralized node, wherein N is a positive integer, and the service cell information comprises at least one of the following parameters: a service cell identifier, tracking area information of the service cell, and a public land mobile network PLMN identifier supported by the service cell;

and the DU receives indication information sent by the CU-CP, wherein the indication information is used for indicating whether one or more pieces of service cell information in the N pieces of service cell information are successfully updated by a user plane CU-UP of a centralized node.

9. The method for updating serving cell information according to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

and the DU sends the position information of the DU to the CU-CP.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the location information of the DU comprises at least one of the following information:

11. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive N pieces of serving cell information sent by a distributed node DU, where N is a positive integer, and the serving cell information includes at least one of the following parameters: the method comprises the steps of identifying a service cell, tracking area information to which the service cell belongs and PLMN identification supported by the service cell;

a sending module, configured to send the N pieces of serving cell information to a user plane CU-UP of a centralized node;

the receiving module is further configured to receive indication information sent by the CU-UP, where the indication information is used to indicate whether one or more pieces of serving cell information in the N pieces of serving cell information are updated successfully.

12. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receiving module is configured to receive N serving cell information sent by a DU, and includes:

receiving an F1 interface establishment request sent by the DU, wherein the F1 interface establishment request comprises the N pieces of serving cell information.

13. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sending module is further configured to send F1 interface setup response information to the DU, and the F1 interface setup response information includes the indication information.

14. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive N pieces of serving cell information of a distributed node DU sent by a control plane CU-CP of a centralized node, where N is a positive integer, and the serving cell information includes at least one of the following parameters: a service cell identifier, tracking area information of the service cell, and a public land mobile network PLMN identifier supported by the service cell;

a processing module for determining whether to update the N serving cell information;

a sending module, configured to send indication information to the CU-CP, where the indication information is used to indicate whether one or more pieces of serving cell information in the N pieces of serving cell information are updated successfully.

15. The communication device of claim 14,

the receiving module is further configured to receive location information of the DU sent by the CU-CP;

the processing module is specifically configured to determine whether to update the N pieces of serving cell information according to the location information of the DU and the N pieces of serving cell information.

16. The communications apparatus of claim 15, wherein the location information of the DU comprises at least one of the following information:

17. The communication device of claim 14,

the sending module is further configured to send notification information to an operation, maintenance and management, OAM, system, where the notification information is used to indicate that the update is successful for M serving cell information, where the M serving cell information is a non-zero subset of the N cell information, and M is a positive integer.

18. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a sending module, configured to send N pieces of serving cell information to a control plane CU-CP of a centralized node, where N is a positive integer, and the serving cell information includes at least one of the following parameters: a service cell identifier, tracking area information of the service cell, and a public land mobile network PLMN identifier supported by the service cell;

a receiving module, configured to receive indication information sent by the CU-CP, where the indication information is used to indicate whether one or more pieces of serving cell information in the N pieces of serving cell information are successfully updated by a user plane CU-UP of a centralized node.

19. The communication device of claim 18,

the sending module is further configured to send location information of the DU to the CU-CP.

20. The communications apparatus of claim 19, wherein the location information of the DU comprises at least one of the following information:

21. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program comprising program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute the method of updating serving cell information according to any one of claims 1 to 3; or, the program instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of updating serving cell information according to any one of claims 4 to 7; alternatively, the program instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of updating serving cell information according to any one of claims 8 to 10.