CN111615163A

CN111615163A - Method for supporting bearer establishment, base station and mobility management entity

Info

Publication number: CN111615163A
Application number: CN202010048641.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 柯小婉; 王弘; 许丽香
Original assignee: Beijing Samsung Telecommunications Technology Research Co Ltd; Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beijing Samsung Telecommunications Technology Research Co Ltd; Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-15
Filing date: 2014-06-13
Publication date: 2020-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-13
Also published as: CN104378843A; CN104378843B; CN111615163B

Abstract

The application discloses a method for supporting bearer establishment, which comprises the following steps: the MeNB sends CSG identifications supported by cells under all secondary base stations (SeNB) under the MeNB coverage or CSG identifications of the cells under the SeNB where the UE is located to an MME; and the MeNB receives the access authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the CSG identification from the MME, and establishes, moves or moves the UE in or out of the corresponding cell according to the access authentication result and/or the CSG member state of the UE in the hybrid cell. The application also discloses a method for supporting bearer establishment, a base station and a mobility management entity. By applying the technical scheme disclosed by the application, the UE bearer can be correctly established or transferred to a proper small cell.

Description

Method for supporting bearer establishment, base station and mobility management entity

The application is a divisional application of an invention patent application with the application date of 2014 13, the application number of 201410264341.X and the name of 'a method for supporting bearer establishment, a base station and a mobility management entity'.

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of wireless communications technologies, and in particular, to a method, a base station, and a mobility management entity for supporting bearer establishment.

Background

Modern mobile communications are increasingly tending to provide users with high-rate transmission multimedia services, as shown in fig. 1, which is a system architecture diagram of System Architecture Evolution (SAE). Wherein:

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

The 3GPP has proposed a need for small cell (small cell) enhancement in release 12(Rel-12), and a target scenario of small cell enhancement includes: scenarios with and without macro cell coverage, indoor and outdoor, enhancement of ideal and non-ideal backhaul, as shown in fig. 2.

For a scene covered by a macro cell, a technology capable of applying carrier aggregation between different base stations is provided, and the macro cell and a small cell can work in different frequency bands and simultaneously serve UE. There are various architectures applying carrier aggregation among different base stations, and in a control plane, the MeNB mainly controls and establishes the UE bearer on a macro cell served by the MeNB (Master eNB: main base station) and a small cell served by a SeNB (Secondary eNB: auxiliary base station) under coverage of the macro cell, so as to achieve the effects of enhancing capacity and increasing UE rate.

Currently, a home base station (HeNB) is one of the deployment options of small cells, and the MeNB can establish bearers on the small cells served by the HeNB according to the demand. Within the coverage of a macro cell, multiple small cells, multiple henbs, may be deployed. However, the CSG (Closed Subscriber Group) to which the HeNB/small cell belongs may be different, and for a small cell with a Closed (Closed) or Hybrid (Hybrid) cell access mode, UEs that are not members of the CSG do not allow access, or QoS for establishing bearers is different. Under a signaling plane Radio Access Network (RAN) separated architecture, the MeNB determines whether a bearer is established on a small cell, and how the MeNB knows whether a UE is a member of a CSG to which the small cell belongs, there is no reasonable solution at present, and there are the following specific problems:

1) when the UE attaches or cuts into the MeNB, the MeNB may establish the UE bearer on the small cell provided by the SeNB, and if the small cell is a CSG cell, there is no signaling to notify the core network to perform CSG authentication on the UE according to the CSG subscription information of the UE.

2) When the UE attaches or cuts into the MeNB, the MeNB may establish a UE bearer on a small cell provided by the SeNB, and if the small cell is a CSG cell and a cell access mode is a closed mode, the MeNB cannot verify whether the UE is a CSG member, and may establish a UE bearer that is not a CSG member on the closed mode small cell.

3) When the UE attaches or cuts into the MeNB, the MeNB may establish a UE bearer on a small cell provided by the SeNB, and if the small cell is a CSG cell and a cell access mode is a promiscuous mode, the MeNB cannot verify whether the UE is a CSG member or not and cannot respectively allocate resources of different QoS levels to the CSG member or a non-CSG member.

4) For the UE bearer established or transferred to the CSG small cell, the core network does not know that the core network occupies the CSG resource, and the core network cannot support the CSG-based charging.

5) When the inter-MeNB handover occurs, the source eNB does not know that the SeNB cell under the target MeNB is the CSG cell, and triggers X2 handover, and the target MeNB can establish the UE on the CSG cell when receiving the handover request, but does not inform the core network of authentication of the UE according to the CSG subscription information of the UE. The MeNB does not know whether the UE is allowed to access the CSG cell.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a method for supporting bearer establishment, a base station and a mobility management entity, which can support the accurate establishment or transfer of UE bearer to a proper small cell.

The application discloses a method for supporting bearer establishment, which comprises the following steps:

a main base station MeNB sends CSG identifications supported by cells under all auxiliary base stations SeNB under coverage of the MeNB or CSG identifications of cells where UE under the SeNB is located to a mobility management entity MME;

and the MeNB receives an admission authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the CSG identification from the MME, and establishes, moves or moves the UE in or out of the corresponding cell according to the admission authentication result.

Preferably, the method further comprises: the MeNB sends the CSG identification supported by the cell under the MeNB or the CSG identification of the cell where the UE is located under the MeNB to the MME;

the cell in which the UE is located comprises: and the UE establishes a cell with a bearer or the MeNB determines the cell of the UE under the coverage of the UE according to the measurement report of the UE.

Preferably, the method further comprises: the MeNB sends to the MME a PLMN identity selected for the UE to serve the UE in the SeNB cell.

Preferably, the MeNB acquires, from the SeNB, CSG identities supported by cells under all senbs under coverage of the MeNB and/or CSG identities of cells in which UEs under the SeNB are located;

when acquiring the CSG identities supported by all cells under the SeNB covered by the MeNB and/or the CSG identity of the cell in which the UE is located under the SeNB, the method further includes: when the cell is a hybrid cell, acquiring a cell access mode of the cell: and (4) mixing.

Preferably, the MeNB acquires information related to the SeNB through an interface between the MeNB and the SeNB GW;

when a new SeNB is accessed under the SeNB GW and the CSG id supported by the cell under the new SeNB is different from the CSG id supported by the cell under the original SeNB, the method further includes: updated SeNB related information is obtained over an interface with the SeNB GW.

Preferably, the method further comprises: the method comprises the steps that the MeNB sends CSG identifications supported by cells under all SeNB covered by the MeNB to a neighbor eNB or sends a CSG switching instruction to the neighbor eNB, wherein the CSG switching instruction indicates that S1 switching is carried out when the switching with the MeNB as a target base station is required; the neighbor eNB stores the received information;

at the time of handover, the method further comprises: judging whether a CSG identifier supported by a switched target MeNB or a cell under an SeNB under the coverage of the switched target MeNB is different from a CSG identifier supported by a source MeNB or a cell under an SeNB under the coverage of the source MeNB according to the stored information, if so, triggering S1 switching, and sending the CSG identifiers supported by the target MeNB or all cells under the SeNB under the coverage of the target MeNB to the MME; or, judging whether a CSG handover instruction sent by the target MeNB exists according to the stored information, if so, triggering S1 handover according to the CSG handover instruction, and executing the request for initiating the CSG authentication for the UE to the MME.

Preferably, the receiving, by the MeNB, an admission authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the CSG identifier from the MME includes:

the MeNB receives an access authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the CSG identification from the MME, and learns that the access authentication result of the UE in the MeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identification is allowed to be accessed; wherein, if the cell corresponding to the CSG id is the promiscuous cell and the admission authentication result is allowed to access, the admission authentication result includes an indication of allowed access and a CSG membership status of the UE in the promiscuous cell: a member or non-member; or only including the CSG member state of the UE in the promiscuous cell, and the MeNB accordingly learns that the CSG access authentication result of the UE in the promiscuous cell is allowed to access;

or, the MeNB receives attachment rejection, location update rejection or handover request rejection from the MME, and learns that the admission authentication result of the UE in the MeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identity is not allowed to access.

Preferably, the establishing, moving in, or moving out of the UE bearer in the corresponding cell according to the admission authentication result includes one or more of the following:

when the access authentication results of the UE in the cells corresponding to the CSG identifications are not allowed to be accessed, the MeNB does not establish the UE bearer in the cell corresponding to any CSG identification, and for the cell corresponding to the CSG identification established with the UE bearer, the MeNB moves the UE bearer out of the cell;

when the SeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identification is a promiscuous cell and the access authentication result of the UE in the SeNB cell is allowed to access, the MeNB can establish the UE bearer in the SeNB cell; for the UE bearer in the SeNB cell, the MeNB can further establish the UE bearer for the member UE and the non-member UE respectively based on member and non-member resource allocation strategies;

when an SeNB cell corresponding to a CSG identification is a closed cell and an access authentication result of UE in the SeNB cell is allowed to access, an MeNB can establish a UE bearer in the SeNB cell, and when a user plane bearer of non-member UE exists under the SeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identification, the MeNB moves the user plane bearer of the UE out of the SeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identification;

the method further comprises the following steps: and when the MeNB establishes or transfers the UE bearer to the SeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identification, the MME is informed of the CSG identification supported by the SeNB cell.

Preferably, the method further comprises: the MeNB indicates to the MME the serving PLMN identity selected for the UE in the SeNB cell.

Preferably, the method further comprises: receiving, from the MME, a changed CSG member status of the UE;

when the CSG member state of the UE is changed into a non-member state, for the SeNB cell supporting the CSG identification, if the SeNB cell is a closed cell, the MeNB moves the UE bearer of the UE out of the SeNB cell; if the SeNB cell is a promiscuous cell, the MeNB can change the QoS carried by the UE based on member and non-member resource allocation strategies;

when the CSG member state of the UE is changed into a member, for the SeNB cell supporting the CSG identification, if the SeNB cell is a closed cell, the MeNB can establish the UE bearer to the SeNB cell; if the SeNB cell is a promiscuous cell, the MeNB can change the QoS carried by the UE based on member and non-member resource allocation strategies.

The application also discloses a method for supporting bearer establishment, which comprises the following steps:

the MME receives CSG identifications which are sent by the MeNB and supported by cells under all secondary base stations SeNB under coverage of the MeNB or CSG identifications of cells under the SeNB where the UE is located;

and the MME performs CSG admission authentication on the UE and returns an admission authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the CSG identification to the MeNB.

Preferably, the method further comprises: the MME receives CSG identification supported by a cell under the MeNB or CSG identification of a cell where UE is located under the MeNB, wherein the CSG identification is sent by the MeNB;

Preferably, the method further comprises: and the MME receives the PLMN identification which is sent by the MeNB and is selected by the MeNB for the UE to serve the UE in the SeNB cell.

Preferably, the performing, by the MME, CSG admission authentication on the UE includes: MME performs CSG access authentication on UE according to a CSG list allowed to be accessed by the UE under different PLMNs;

and the admission authentication result is the admission authentication result of different PLMNs of the same CSG.

Preferably, the receiving, by the MME, the CSG identities supported by the cells under the SeNB of all secondary base stations covered by the MeNB or the CSG identity of the cell in which the UE is located under the SeNB, sent by the MeNB, includes: the MME receives CSG identifications sent by the MeNB when switching is carried out in S1, wherein the CSG identifications are one or more CSG identifications;

the MME returns the admission authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the CSG identification to the MeNB, wherein the admission authentication result comprises one or more of the following items:

if the CSG admission authentication result of the target MeNB switched by the S1 is that the access is not allowed, returning to the switching refusal;

if the cell corresponding to the CSG id is the target MeNB switched in S1 and the CSG access authentication result is a cell corresponding to the CSG id allowed to be accessed, returning the access authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to each CSG id to the target MeNB switched in S1;

if the cell indicated by the CSG identification is a promiscuous cell and the UE is allowed to access, the returned access authentication result is the CSG member state of the UE in the promiscuous cell, and the CSG access authentication result of the UE in the promiscuous cell is implicitly indicated as the allowed access; or, the returned admission authentication result includes an indication of allowing access and a CSG membership status of the UE in the promiscuous cell: a member or a non-member.

Preferably, the MME returning, to the MeNB, the admission authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the CSG identifier includes one or more of the following:

if the cell corresponding to the CSG identification is the MeNB cell attached to the UE and the CSG access authentication result is that the access is not allowed, returning the attachment rejection;

if the cell corresponding to the CSG identification is the MeNB cell of the UE position updating request and the CSG access authentication result is not allowed to access, returning position updating refusal;

if the cell corresponding to the CSG identification is the MeNB cell corresponding to the UE service request and the CSG admission authentication result is that the access is not allowed, returning to the service request rejection;

if the cell corresponding to the CSG identification is the MeNB cell of the UE and the CSG access authentication result is that the access is allowed or the MeNB cell of the UE does not support the CSG, returning the access authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to each CSG identification;

if the cell corresponding to the CSG identification is a promiscuous cell and the UE is allowed to access, the returned access authentication result is the CSG member state of the UE in the promiscuous cell, and the CSG access authentication result of the UE in the promiscuous cell is implicitly indicated as the allowed access; or, the returned admission authentication result includes an indication of allowing access and a CSG membership status of the UE in the promiscuous cell: a member or a non-member.

Preferably, the method further comprises: and receiving a CSG identification reported by the MeNB for establishing the UE bearer, and charging the UE based on a charging standard corresponding to the CSG.

Preferably, the method further comprises: when the CSG member state of the UE in the closed or mixed cell is changed, the MME sends the corresponding CSG identification and the changed CSG member state of the UE to the MeNB where the SeNB is located.

The application discloses a base station includes: authentication request module and bear the weight of the management module, wherein:

the authentication request module is configured to send, to the MME, CSG identifiers supported by all cells under the SeNB covered by the base station or CSG identifiers of a cell in which the UE is located under the SeNB;

and the bearer management module is used for establishing, moving in or moving out the UE bearer in the corresponding cell according to the admission authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the CSG identification returned by the MME and/or the CSG member state of the UE in the hybrid cell.

The application discloses a mobility management entity includes: communication module and authentication module, wherein:

the communication module is configured to receive, from the MeNB, CSG identifiers supported by cells under an SeNB of all secondary base stations covered by the MeNB or CSG identifiers of a cell in which the UE is located under the SeNB;

and the authentication module is used for performing CSG admission authentication on the UE and returning an admission authentication result of the UE in a cell corresponding to the CSG identification to the MeNB.

According to the technical scheme, the CSG identification supported by the cell under the MeNB or the CSG identification of the cell where the UE under the SeNB is located is sent to the MME through the MeNB; and the MeNB establishes, moves or moves the UE bearer in or out of the corresponding cell according to the CSG admission authentication result returned by the MME, thereby supporting the correct establishment or transfer of the UE bearer to a proper small cell, ensuring the correct processing of bearer shunting when the UE moves in the small cell scene, improving the data rate perceived by the UE and the user experience on one hand, and supporting the charging requirement on the other hand, and ensuring the correct provision of services.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a conventional SAE system architecture;

figure 2 is a deployment scenario of small cell enhancements;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a method for supporting bearer establishment according to the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for supporting bearer establishment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a method for supporting bearer establishment according to the present invention;

fig. 6 is a third schematic diagram illustrating a method for supporting bearer establishment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a fourth schematic diagram illustrating a method for supporting bearer establishment according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a fifth schematic diagram illustrating a method for supporting bearer establishment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a preferred base station according to the present invention;

fig. 10 is a block diagram of a preferred mobility management entity according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more apparent, the present application is further described in detail below by referring to the accompanying drawings and examples.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a method for supporting bearer establishment according to the present invention. The method comprises processing on an MeNB side and processing on an MME side, and in the following description, the two parts of processing are described in combination, and the method shown in fig. 3 comprises the following steps:

step 301: and the MeNB sends the CSG identifications supported by the cells under all the SeNB under the coverage of the MeNB or the CSG identification of the cell under the SeNB where the UE is located to the MME.

Further, the MeNB may simultaneously send, to the MME, a PLMN identity selected for the UE to serve the UE in the secondary base station cell.

Further, when the MeNB supports CSG, the MeNB may indicate a CSG identifier supported by a cell under the MeNB or a CSG identifier of a cell in which the UE is located under the MeNB.

The cell where the UE is located may be a cell where a bearer is established for the UE or a cell where the MeNB determines that the UE is under its coverage according to a measurement report of the UE. For example: assuming that the MeNB knows that the radio signal strength measured by the UE in the neighboring cell 1 is sufficient for access according to the measurement report of the UE, the CSG id of the cell 1 may be considered to be the CSG id of the cell where the UE is located.

Further, when the MeNB obtains the CSG identifier supported by the cell under the SeNB, and the cell is a promiscuous cell, the MeNB may also obtain a cell access mode of the cell: promiscuous (Hybrid).

Since the SeNB may access the MeNB directly or via the SeNB GW, a direct interface between the MeNB and the SeNB may be possible, and information interaction with the SeNB via the interface between the SeNB GW and the SeNB GW may be required. The CSG identity and the cell access mode supported by the cell under the SeNB obtained by the MeNB may be obtained by the MeNB directly from an interface with the SeNB, or obtained by an interface with an SeNB GW.

And when the SeNB GW accesses a new SeNB and the CSG supported by the cell under the new SeNB is different from the CSG supported by the cell under the original SeNB, the SeNB GW updates the new CSG identification and/or the cell access mode to the MeNB.

Further, through information interaction between the MeNB and a neighbor eNB (MeNB or a general eNB), the MeNB notifies the neighbor eNB of CSG identities supported by all senbs under coverage of the MeNB or sends a CSG handover instruction to the neighbor eNB, where the CSG handover instruction indicates that, when handover with the MeNB as a target base station is required, S1 handover is performed.

Further, when the UE is switched into the target MeNB from the source MeNB or the general eNB, if the CSG identifier supported by the target MeNB or the SeNB cell under the target MeNB is different from the CSG identifier supported by the source MeNB or the SeNB cell under the target MeNB, or the CSG identifier is not changed but the serving PLMN is changed, the source MeNB or the general eNB triggers S1 handover, notifies the MME of performing CSG authentication on the UE, and notifies the MME of the CSG identifiers supported by the target MeNB or all the SeNB cells under the target MeNB or the coverage thereof; or the source MeNB or the general eNB triggers S1 handover according to the CSG handover indication, and informs the MME to perform CSG authentication on the UE.

Step 302: the MME performs CSG authentication on the UE, sends an admission authentication result of the UE in the corresponding cell to the MeNB, and can also send a CSG member state of the UE in the mixed cell to the MeNB.

Further, when the (target) MeNB does not support CSG and the SeNB under its coverage supports CSG, the CSG authentication does not allow access, and the MME sends an indication that the CSG authentication does not allow access to the (target) MeNB.

Further, if the MeNB sends a CSG identity to the MME at the time of UE attach or location update or service request, where the CSG identity is one or more identities, then:

when the access authentication result of the MeNB cell attached to the UE is not allowed to access, the MME returns attachment rejection to the UE;

when the cell corresponding to the CSG identification is the MeNB cell of the UE and the CSG admission authentication result is allowed to be accessed or the MeNB cell of the UE does not support the CSG, the MME returns the admission authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to each CSG identification to the MeNB;

if the cell indicated by the CSG identification is a promiscuous cell and the UE is allowed to access, returning the CSG member state of the UE in the promiscuous cell, and implicitly indicating that the CSG access authentication result of the UE in the promiscuous cell is allowed to access; or the admission authentication result of the promiscuous cell comprises an indication of access permission and a CSG member state of the UE in the promiscuous cell: a member or a non-member.

If the MeNB sends the CSG identity to the MME at the time of the handover at S1, where the CSG identity is one or more identities, then:

when the CSG admission authentication result of the target MeNB switched by the S1 is that the access is not allowed, the MME returns a switching refusal;

when the CSG admission authentication result of the target MeNB switched by the S1 is allowed to be accessed, the MME returns the admission authentication result of the cell corresponding to each CSG identification of the UE to the switched target MeNB;

Further, if the cell corresponding to the CSG identity is a promiscuous cell and the admission authentication result of the UE in the promiscuous cell is passed, the MME returns to the MeNB the CSG membership status of the UE in the promiscuous cell: a member or a non-member.

Step 303: and the MeNB determines whether to establish, move in or move out the UE bearer in the corresponding cell according to the CSG authentication result of the UE sent by the MME.

Preferably, the MeNB may receive an admission authentication result of the closed or promiscuous cell corresponding to each CSG identifier returned by the MME, where the admission authentication result of the promiscuous cell further includes a CSG member state of the UE in the promiscuous cell: a member or a non-member.

Further, when the admission authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to each CSG id is not passed, the MeNB cannot establish the UE bearer in the cell corresponding to any CSG id, and when the cell corresponding to the CSG id establishes the UE bearer, the MeNB needs to move the UE bearer out of the cell.

Further, when the SeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identifier is a promiscuous cell and the result of the admission authentication of the UE in the SeNB cell is passed, the MeNB may establish the UE bearer in the SeNB cell; for the UE bearer in the SeNB cell, the MeNB may further establish the UE bearer for the member UE and the non-member UE based on the member and non-member resource allocation policies, respectively.

Further, when the SeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identifier is a closed cell and the result of the admission authentication of the UE in the SeNB cell is passed, the MeNB can establish a UE bearer in the SeNB cell, and when a user plane bearer of a non-member UE exists under the SeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identifier, the MeNB moves the user plane bearer of the UE out of the SeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identifier.

Further, when the CSG member status of the UE changes to non-member, for the SeNB cell supporting the CSG identifier, if the SeNB cell is a closed cell, the MeNB moves the UE bearer out of the SeNB cell; if the SeNB cell is a promiscuous cell, the MeNB can change the QoS carried by the UE based on member and non-member resource allocation strategies.

Further, when the CSG member status of the UE becomes a member, for the SeNB cell supporting the CSG identifier, if the SeNB cell is a closed cell, the MeNB may establish a UE bearer to the SeNB cell; if the SeNB cell is a promiscuous cell, the MeNB can change the QoS carried by the UE based on member and non-member resource allocation strategies.

Further, when the MeNB establishes or transfers the UE bearer to the SeNB cell corresponding to the CSG identifier, the MeNB informs the MME of the CSG identifier supported by the SeNB cell.

Step 304: and the MME receives the CSG identification reported by the MeNB for establishing the UE bearer, and the MME charges the UE based on the corresponding charging standard of the CSG.

Step 305: when the CSG member state of the UE in the closed or mixed cell is changed, the MME informs the changed CSG member state of the UE to the MeNB where the SeNB is located, and indicates the CSG identification and the changed CSG member state of the UE.

The technical solution of the present application is further described in detail by several preferred embodiments.

The first embodiment is as follows:

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a method for supporting bearer establishment according to the present invention. The embodiment is suitable for a scenario that the SeNB has a direct interface with the MeNB, and when a bearer is established in a UE attach or location update process, the MeNB establishes the bearer to an SeNB cell supporting the CSG, where the SeNB1 and the SeNB2 are two senbs under the SeNB. The method shown in fig. 4 comprises the following steps:

step 401: the MeNB obtains the CSG identification and/or the cell access mode supported by the SeNB cell through OAM, or in the process of establishing an interface between the MeNB and the SeNB, or in the process of updating the eNB configuration. In the UE attach or location update process, the MeNB may report the CSG identifier supported by the SeNB cell under the MeNB coverage to the MME in two ways, which are step 403 and step 406, respectively.

Step 402: the UE initiates an attach request or a location update request to the MeNB.

Step 403: and when the MeNB forwards the attachment request or the location update request of the UE to the MME through the initial UE message or the uplink NAS transmission message, reporting the CSG identification supported by the SeNB cell covered by the MeNB to the MME. Further, the MeNB may simultaneously send, to the MME, a PLMN identity selected for the UE to serve the UE in the secondary base station cell through the initial UE message or the uplink NAS transport message.

Step 404: the MME authenticates the UE according to the CSG subscription information (CSG lists allowed under different PLMNs) of the UE, and when the CSG identifications are all CSG identifications of the SeNB cell or CSG identifications of the MeNB cell and access authentication is passed, the MME sends the CSG authentication result of the UE to the MeNB through an initial context establishment request or a downlink NAS transmission message: allowed or not allowed; and returning the CSG member state of the UE to the hybrid cell passing the access authentication, wherein the returned CSG member state can implicitly indicate that the UE is allowed to access the hybrid cell, and the CSG authentication result can not be returned at the moment.

The same CSG access authentication result and the member state of the CSG of the UE in different PLMNs may be different, and when receiving the PLMN identifier of the UE served by the secondary base station cell sent by the MeNB in step 403, the MME sends the access authentication result and/or the member state of the CSG of the UE in the PLMN to the MeNB.

Step 405: the MeNB forwards the attach accept or the location update accept to the UE.

Step 406: in the process of establishing an S1 interface between the MeNB and the MME, the MME obtains a CSG identity and/or a cell access mode supported by an SeNB cell under the MeNB coverage. Further, the MME may simultaneously obtain a PLMN identity selected by the MeNB for the UE to serve the UE in the secondary base station cell.

Step 407: the UE initiates an attach request or a location update request to the MeNB.

Step 408: the MeNB forwards an attach request or a location update request of the UE to the MME through the initial UE message or the uplink NAS transport message. Further, the MeNB may simultaneously send, to the MME, a PLMN identity selected for the UE to serve the UE in the secondary base station cell through the initial UE message or the uplink NAS transport message.

Step 409: the MME authenticates the UE according to CSG subscription information (CSG lists allowed under different PLMNs) of the UE, and sends a CSG authentication result of the UE to the MeNB through an initial context establishment request or a downlink NAS transmission message when the CSG identifications are all CSG identifications of the SeNB cell or CSG identifications of the MeNB cell are allowed to pass the authentication; and returning the CSG member state of the UE to the hybrid cell passing the access authentication. The returned CSG membership status may implicitly indicate that the UE is allowed to access the promiscuous cell, and at this time, the CSG authentication result may not be returned.

The same CSG access authentication result and the member state of the CSG of the UE in different PLMNs may be different, and when receiving the PLMN identifier of the UE served by the secondary base station cell sent by the MeNB in step 408, the MME sends the access authentication result and/or the member state of the CSG of the UE in the PLMN to the MeNB.

Step 410: the MeNB forwards the attach accept or the location update accept to the UE.

Step 411: and the MeNB receives the CSG authentication result of the UE sent by the MME. For the promiscuous cell passing the access authentication, the MeNB receives the CSG member state of the UE and aims at the CSG identification passing the access authentication, the MeNB can establish the UE load on the SeNB cell supporting the CSG identification, and the MeNB sends a cell adding request or a load activation request to the SeNB.

Step 412: and the SeNB returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the MeNB.

Step 413: and the MeNB sends an initial context establishment response to the MME, and indicates the CSG identification where the UE is loaded.

Step 414: the MME initiates an E-RAB establishment request to the MeNB.

Step 415: for the CSG id that the admission authentication passes, the MeNB may establish the UE bearer on the SeNB cell supporting the CSG id, and send a cell addition request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 416: and the SeNB sends a new cell response or a bearer activation response to the MeNB.

Step 417: and the MeNB sends an E-RAB establishment response to the MME, and indicates the CSG identification where the UE is loaded.

Step 418: for the CSG id that passes the authentication, the MeNB may establish the UE bearer on the SeNB cell supporting the CSG id, and send a cell addition request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 419: and the target SeNB sends a new cell response or a bearer activation response to the MeNB.

Step 420: and the MeNB sends a path switching request or a bearer modifying request to the MME, and indicates the CSG identification where the UE bears the bearer. The MME may charge the UE based on the CSG identity.

Step 421: the MME returns a path switch request acknowledgement or modify bearer response to the MeNB.

Step 422: the MeNB releases resources and sends a cell deletion request or a bearer deactivation request to the source SeNB.

Step 423: the source SeNB returns a delete cell response or a bearer deactivation response to the MeNB.

Step 424: and when the CSG member state of the UE in the closed or mixed cell is changed, the MME sends a UE context modification request to the MeNB to indicate the CSG member states changed by the CSG and the UE.

Step 425: the MeNB returns a UE context modification response to the MME.

Example two:

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of a method for supporting bearer establishment according to the present invention. The embodiment is suitable for a scenario that the SeNB has a direct interface with the MeNB, and when the UE switches to the MeNB through S1, the MeNB establishes a bearer to the SeNB cell supporting the CSG. The method shown in fig. 5 comprises the following steps:

step 501: the MeNB obtains the CSG identification and/or the cell access mode supported by the SeNB cell through OAM, or in the process of establishing an interface between the MeNB and the SeNB, or in the process of updating the eNB configuration. In the S1 handover procedure, the CSG id supported by the SeNB cell under MeNB coverage may be reported to the MME in two ways, which are step 502 and step 505, respectively.

Step 502: in the process of establishing an X2 interface between the source eNB and the target MeNB or in the eNB configuration updating process, the source eNB obtains a CSG identifier or a CSG handover indication supported by an SeNB cell covered by the target MeNB. And initiating S1 handover by the source eNB according to the CSG identification or the CSG handover indication.

Step 503: and when the source eNB sends a switching requirement to the MME, reporting the CSG identification supported by the SeNB cell covered by the target MeNB to the MME. Further, the MeNB sends the PLMN identity serving the UE in the secondary base station cell selected for the UE to the MME through the handover request message at the same time.

Step 504: the MME authenticates the UE according to the CSG subscription information of the UE, and sends the CSG authentication result of the UE to the target MeNB through the switching request when the CSG identifications are all the CSG identifications of the SeNB cell or the CSG identifications of the MeNB cell are allowed to pass the authentication; and returning the CSG member state of the UE to the hybrid cell passing the authentication. The returned CSG membership status may implicitly indicate that the UE is allowed to access the promiscuous cell, and at this time, the CSG authentication result may not be returned.

The same CSG access authentication result and the member state of the CSG of the UE in different PLMNs may be different, and when receiving the PLMN identifier of the UE served by the secondary base station cell sent by the source eNB in step 503, the MME sends the access authentication result and/or the member state of the CSG of the UE in the PLMN to the target MeNB through the handover request message.

Step 505: in the process of establishing an S1 interface between the MeNB and the MME, the MME obtains a CSG identity and/or a cell access mode supported by an SeNB cell under the MeNB coverage.

Step 506: and the source eNB sends a switching requirement to the MME, and indicates the CSG identification supported by the SeNB cell under the coverage of the MeNB. Further, the source eNB may indicate, by the handover required message, the selected PLMN identity serving the UE in the secondary base station cell for the UE to the MME at the same time.

Step 507: the MME authenticates the UE according to the CSG subscription information of the UE, and sends the CSG authentication result of the UE to the target MeNB through the switching request when the CSG identifications are all the CSG identifications of the SeNB cell or the CSG identifications of the MeNB cell are allowed to pass the authentication; and returning the CSG member state of the UE to the hybrid cell passing the access authentication.

The same CSG admission authentication result and the member state of the CSG of the UE in different PLMNs may be different, and when receiving the PLMN identifier of the UE served by the secondary base station cell sent by the source MeNB in step 506, the MME sends the admission authentication result and/or the member state of the CSG of the UE in the PLMN to the target MeNB through the handover request message.

Step 508: the MeNB receives the CSG access authentication result of the UE sent by the MME and/or the CSG member state of the UE in each mixed cell passing the access authentication, for the CSG identification passing the authentication, the MeNB can establish the UE bearer on the SeNB cell supporting the CSG identification, and the MeNB sends a new cell request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 509: and the SeNB returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the MeNB.

Step 510: and the MeNB sends a switching request confirmation to the MME to indicate the CSG identification of the UE bearer.

Step 511: and the MME sends a switching command to the source eN to indicate the bearer configuration of the newly added SeNB cell.

Step 512: and the source eNB sends a switching command to the UE to indicate the bearer configuration of the newly added SeNB cell.

Example three:

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a method for supporting bearer establishment according to the present invention. The embodiment is suitable for a scenario that the SeNB has a direct interface with the MeNB, and when the UE switches to the MeNB through X2, the MeNB establishes a bearer to the SeNB cell supporting the CSG. The method shown in fig. 6 comprises the following steps:

step 601: the MeNB obtains the CSG identification and/or the cell access mode supported by the SeNB cell through OAM, or in the process of establishing an interface between the MeNB and the SeNB, or in the process of updating the eNB configuration.

Step 602: the source eNB sends a handover request to the target MeNB.

Step 603: and the target MeNB establishes the UE bearer in the MeNB cell and sends a switching request confirmation to the source eNB.

Step 604: the source eNB sends an RRC reconfiguration to the UE.

Step 605: and the target MeNB initiates a CSG admission authentication request or a path switching request to the MME, and indicates the CSG identification supported by the SeNB cell covered by the target MeNB. Further, the MeNB simultaneously indicates to the MME a PLMN identity selected for the UE to serve the UE in the secondary base station cell.

Step 606: the MME authenticates the UE according to the CSG subscription information of the UE, and when the CSG identifications are all CSG identifications of the SeNB cell and the MeNB cell does not support the CSG or the MeNB cell supports the CSG and the CSG access authentication of the MeNB cell is allowed, the MME sends an access CSG authentication result of the UE to the target MeNB through a CSG authentication response or a path switching request confirmation message; and returning the CSG member state of the UE to the hybrid cell passing the authentication. The returned CSG membership status may implicitly indicate that the UE is allowed to access the promiscuous cell, and at this time, the CSG authentication result may not be returned.

The same CSG access authentication result and the member state of the CSG of the UE in different PLMNs may be different, and when receiving the PLMN identifier of the UE served by the secondary base station cell sent by the MeNB in step 605, the MME sends the access authentication result and/or the member state of the CSG of the UE in the PLMN to the target MeNB through a CSG authentication response or a path switching request acknowledgement message.

Step 607: the MeNB receives the CSG access authentication result of the UE sent by the MME and/or the CSG member state of the UE in each mixed cell passing the access authentication, for the CSG identification passing the authentication, the MeNB can establish the UE bearer on the SeNB cell supporting the CSG identification, and the MeNB sends a new cell request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 608: and the SeNB returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the MeNB.

Step 609: and the MeNB requests or modifies the bearer to the MME path switching request and indicates the CSG identification of the UE bearer.

Step 610: the MME returns a path switch request acknowledgement or modify bearer response to the MeNB. And the MeNB releases the UE bearing resources in the source Pcell.

Example four:

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of a method for supporting bearer establishment according to the present invention. The embodiment is suitable for a scenario that the SeNB is connected with the MeNB through the SeNB GW, and when a bearer is established in the UE attachment or location update process, the MeNB establishes the bearer to the SeNB cell supporting the CSG. The method shown in fig. 7 comprises the following steps:

step 701: and when an interface between the SeNB GW and the SeNB is established, obtaining the CSG identification and/or the cell access mode supported by the SeNB cell.

Step 702: and when an interface between the MeNB and the SeNB GW is established, the MeNB obtains the CSG identification and/or the cell access mode supported by the SeNB cell through the SeNB GW. In the UE attach or location update process, the MeNB may report the CSG identifier supported by the SeNB cell covered by the MeNB to the MME in two ways, which are step 703 and step 706, respectively.

Steps 703 to 711 are the same as steps 402 to 410, and are not described herein again.

Step 712: the MeNB receives the CSG access authentication result of the UE sent by the MME and/or the CSG member state of the UE in each mixed cell passing the access authentication, for the CSG identification passing the authentication, the MeNB can establish the UE bearer on the SeNB cell supporting the CSG identification, and the MeNB sends a new cell request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 713: the SeNB GW sends a cell addition request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 714: and the SeNB returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the SeNB GW.

Step 715: and the SeNB GW returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the MeNB.

Step 716: and the MeNB sends an initial context establishment response to the MME, indicating the CSG identification of the UE bearer.

Step 717: the MME initiates an E-RAB establishment request to the MeNB.

Step 718: for the CSG id that passes the authentication, the MeNB may establish the UE bearer on the SeNB cell supporting the CSG id, and send a cell addition request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 719: the SeNB GW sends a cell addition request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 720: and the SeNB returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the SeNB GW.

Step 721: and the SeNB GW returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the MeNB.

Step 722: and the MeNB sends an E-RAB establishment response to the MME, and indicates the CSG identification of the UE bearer.

Step 723: for the CSG id that passes the authentication, the MeNB may establish the UE bearer on the SeNB cell supporting the CSG id, and send a cell addition request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 724: the SeNB GW sends a cell addition request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 725: and the SeNB returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the SeNB GW.

Step 726: and the target SeNB GW returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the MeNB.

Step 727: and the MeNB sends a path switching request or a bearer modification request to the MME, and indicates the CSG identification of the UE bearer.

Example five:

fig. 8 shows an embodiment of a method for supporting bearer establishment according to the present invention. The embodiment is suitable for a scenario that the SeNB has a direct interface with the MeNB, and when the UE switches to the MeNB through S1, the MeNB establishes a bearer to the SeNB cell supporting the CSG. The method shown in fig. 8 comprises the following steps:

step 801: and when an interface between the SeNB GW and the SeNB is established, obtaining the CSG identification and/or the cell access mode supported by the SeNB cell.

Step 802: in the process of establishing an X2 interface between the MeNB and the SeNB GW or updating eNB configuration, the MeNB obtains CSG identities and/or cell access modes supported by the SeNB cell through the SeNB GW. In the S1 handover process, the CSG supported by the SeNB cell under the MeNB coverage may be reported to the MME in two ways, which are step 803 and step 806, respectively.

Steps 803 to 808 are the same as steps 502 to 507, and are not described herein again.

Step 809: the MeNB receives the CSG access authentication result of the UE sent by the MME and/or the CSG member state of the UE in each mixed cell passing the access authentication, for the CSG identification passing the authentication, the MeNB can establish the UE bearer on the SeNB cell supporting the CSG identification, and the MeNB sends a new cell request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 810: the SeNB GW sends a cell addition request or a bearer activation request to the SeNB.

Step 811: and the SeNB returns a newly added cell response or a bearer activation response to the SeNB GW.

Step 812: and the SeNB GW adds a cell response or a bearer activation response to the MeNB.

Step 813: and the MeNB sends a switching request confirmation to the MME, and indicates the CSG identification carried by the UE.

Step 814: and the MME sends a switching command to the source eNB to indicate the bearer configuration of the newly added cell.

Step 815: and the source eNB sends a switching command to the UE to indicate the bearer configuration of the newly added cell.

Corresponding to the above method, the present application also discloses a base station and a mobility management entity, which are briefly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a preferred base station according to the present invention, which includes: authentication request module and bear the weight of the management module, wherein:

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a preferred structure of a mobility management entity according to the present invention, the mobility management entity includes: communication module and authentication module, wherein:

the communication module is configured to receive, from the MeNB, CSG identifiers supported by cells under all senbs under coverage of the MeNB or CSG identifiers of cells in which UEs under the SeNB are located;

The above description is only exemplary of the present application and should not be taken as limiting the present application, as any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. An authentication method, comprising:

the main base station sends the closed user group identification of the cell where the UE is located under the auxiliary base station to the mobile management entity;

and the main base station receives the authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier from the mobile management entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the method further comprises the following steps: the primary base station sends to the mobility management entity a public land mobile network, PLMN, identity selected for the UE to serve the UE in the secondary base station cell.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the main base station acquires the closed user group identification of the cell where the UE is located from the auxiliary base station; the method further comprises: when the cell is a hybrid cell, acquiring a cell access mode of the cell: and (4) mixing.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that:

the receiving, by the master base station, the authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the csg id from the mobility management entity includes:

the master base station receives the authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the closed subscriber group identifier from the mobile management entity, and acquires that the authentication result of the UE in the master base station cell corresponding to the closed subscriber group identifier is allowed to be accessed; wherein, if the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier is a promiscuous cell and the authentication result is allowed to access, the authentication result includes an indication of allowed access and the closed user group member state of the UE in the promiscuous cell: a member or non-member; or only including the closed user group member state of the UE in the promiscuous cell, and the main base station learns that the closed user group authentication result of the UE in the promiscuous cell is allowed to access.

5. An authentication method, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a mobile management entity receives a closed user group identifier of a cell where User Equipment (UE) is located under a secondary base station, wherein the closed user group identifier is sent by a main base station;

and the mobile management entity authenticates the UE according to the closed user group identifier of the cell in which the UE is positioned under the auxiliary base station, and returns the authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier to the main base station.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the method further comprises the following steps: and the mobile management entity receives the public land mobile network PLMN identification which is sent by the main base station and is selected by the main base station for the UE and used for serving the UE in the secondary base station cell.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the mobile management entity performs closed subscriber group admission authentication on the UE, and comprises the following steps: and the mobile management entity performs closed subscriber group authentication on the UE according to the closed subscriber group identifier of the cell in which the UE is positioned under the auxiliary base station and the PLMN identifier which is selected by the main base station for the UE and serves the UE in the auxiliary base station cell.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the performing, by the mobility management entity, closed subscriber group authentication on the UE according to the closed subscriber group identifier of the cell in which the UE is located under the secondary base station and the PLMN identifier, which is selected by the primary base station for the UE and serves the UE in the secondary base station cell, comprises:

and the mobile management entity performs closed subscriber group authentication on the UE according to the closed subscriber group list allowed to be accessed by the UE under different PLMNs, the closed subscriber group identifier of the cell in which the UE is positioned under the auxiliary base station and the PLMN identifier which is selected by the main base station for the UE and serves the UE in the cell of the auxiliary base station.

9. The method of claim 7 or 8, the authentication result comprising: and the authentication result of the UE under the PLMN.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the mobile management entity returns the authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the closed subscriber group identifier to the main base station, wherein the authentication result comprises one or more of the following items:

if the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier is a main base station cell attached to the UE and the authentication result of the closed user group is that the access is not allowed, returning attachment rejection;

if the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier is a main base station cell of the UE position updating request and the authentication result of the closed user group is not allowed to be accessed, returning position updating refusal;

if the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier is a main base station cell corresponding to the UE service request and the authentication result of the closed user group is not allowed to access, returning service request rejection;

if the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier is a main base station cell of the UE and the authentication result of the closed user group is that the access is allowed or the main base station cell of the UE does not support the closed user group, returning the authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to each closed user group identifier;

if the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier is a promiscuous cell and the UE is allowed to access, the returned authentication result is the closed user group member state of the UE in the promiscuous cell, and the closed user group authentication result of the UE in the promiscuous cell is implicitly indicated as the allowed access; or the returned authentication result comprises an indication of access permission and the closed user group member state of the UE in the hybrid cell: a member or a non-member.

11. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein:

the method further comprises the following steps: and receiving a closed user group identifier reported by a main base station and used for establishing the UE bearer, and charging the UE based on a charging standard corresponding to the closed user group.

12. A base station, comprising: authentication request module and bear the weight of the management module, wherein:

the authentication request module is used for sending the closed user group identification of the cell in which the UE is positioned under the auxiliary base station to the mobile management entity;

and the bearer management module is used for receiving an authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier, which is returned by the mobile management entity.

13. A mobility management entity, comprising: communication module and authentication module, wherein:

the communication module is used for receiving the closed user group identification of the cell where the UE is located under the auxiliary base station from the main base station;

and the authentication module is used for authenticating the closed user group for the UE and returning the authentication result of the UE in the cell corresponding to the closed user group identifier to the main base station.