Disclosure of Invention
The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described state of the art, and an object thereof is to provide a convergence gateway for ocean mobile communication that can interface a plurality of base stations of different operators and a core network.
Therefore, the present disclosure provides a Convergence gateway for ocean mobile communication, which includes a base station communication module, a base station identification module, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) upper Protocol stack module, and a distribution module, wherein the base station communication module receives uplink communication information sent by a plurality of base stations of different operators in an ocean environment connected by satellite communication link communication and sends the uplink communication information to the base station identification module, and the base station communication module receives downlink communication information from the distribution module and sends corresponding downlink communication information of a core network to the plurality of base stations. The base station identification module identifies the base station which sends the uplink communication information based on the uplink communication information and sends the uplink communication information to the PDCP upper protocol stack module when the base station is a distributed base station which is only provided with a bottom layer protocol for processing a real-time part; and the base station identification module sends the uplink communication information to the distribution module when identifying that the base station sending the uplink communication information is an integrated base station equipped with a complete protocol based on the uplink communication information. The PDCP upper layer protocol stack module receives the uplink communication information from the base station identification module, processes a non-real time part of the uplink communication information to obtain target uplink communication information, and sends the target uplink communication information to the distribution module. The distribution module is connected with core networks to which the base stations belong, the distribution module sends the target uplink communication information or the uplink communication information to corresponding core networks based on Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) identifiers in the received target uplink communication information or the uplink communication information from the base station communication module, and the distribution module receives downlink communication information required by different base stations fed back by the core networks and sends the downlink communication information to the base station communication module.
In the converged gateway related by the present disclosure, the PDCP upper layer protocol stack module can process the non-real time part in the communication information from the base station, and can seamlessly interface with the base station bottom layer protocol stack that processes the real time part, thereby reducing the load of the base station. The distribution module can distinguish different operators to which the base station belongs to carry out uplink and downlink distribution of communication information, so that mobile terminal equipment of multiple systems of multiple operators can be used in an ocean environment without changing the use habit by intentionally limiting the use of mobile terminal equipment of a certain system, and various mobile equipment can be used for communication like in a land environment covered by a mobile network. The convergence gateway can also handle distribution of uplink and downlink communication data of a plurality of base stations of different operators in a plurality of ocean environments, thereby saving the cost for setting a plurality of gateways.
In addition, in the converged gateway related to the present disclosure, optionally, the PDCP upper layer protocol stack module includes a packet data convergence protocol layer in a protocol stack of the mobile communication base station and a protocol layer above the packet data convergence protocol layer. In this case, the convergence gateway has the capability of processing the non-real-time part of the communication information by being equipped with a higher-layer protocol, so that the convergence gateway can be interfaced with the distributed base station only equipped with a lower-layer protocol.
In addition, in the converged gateway related to the present disclosure, optionally, the PDCP upper layer protocol stack module further includes a radio resource control protocol layer.
In addition, in the converged gateway according to the present disclosure, optionally, the converged gateway determines that the base station is the distributed base station or the integrated base station according to a base station type carried in an initial link establishment request message sent by the base station. In this case, the convergence gateway can flexibly interface with different types of base stations, thereby increasing the adaptability of base station interfacing.
In addition, in the converged gateway according to the present disclosure, optionally, the converged gateway further includes a security module that performs encryption protection on communication information on the public network side and transmits the communication information through a security tunnel. Thus, the security module can increase security in the case that a certain segment of bearer network interfacing a plurality of base stations or core networks of different operators is based on public network transmission.
In addition, in the converged gateway according to the present disclosure, optionally, the distribution module distinguishes an operator to which each of the plurality of base stations belongs based on a user data link resource identifier on a core network side to which each of the plurality of base stations belongs.
In addition, in the converged gateway according to the present disclosure, optionally, the distribution module distinguishes an operator to which each of the plurality of base stations belongs based on the user data link resource identifiers on the side of the plurality of base stations.
In addition, in the converged gateway according to the present disclosure, optionally, the user data link resource identifier of the core network side to which each of the plurality of base stations belongs is mapped in association with the user data link resource identifier of the plurality of base stations.
Additionally, in the converged gateway of the present disclosure, optionally, the ocean environment comprises an ocean-going vessel or offshore work platform.
Further, in the converged gateway to which the present disclosure relates, optionally, the plurality of base stations includes a plurality of base stations of several separate different operators and/or a plurality of public land mobile network configuration base stations integrating several different operators.
According to the convergence gateway for the ocean mobile communication provided by the disclosure, one convergence gateway can be used for docking base stations and core networks of a plurality of operators in a plurality of ocean environments, and the uplink distribution of communication information to the core network to which the base station belongs and the downlink distribution of communication information to the corresponding base station can be realized at low cost.
Detailed Description
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted. The drawings are schematic and the ratio of the dimensions of the components and the shapes of the components may be different from the actual ones.
It is noted that the terms "comprises," "comprising," and "having," and any variations thereof, in this disclosure, for example, a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises or has a list of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to those steps or elements expressly listed, but may include or have other steps or elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
In addition, the headings and the like referred to in the following description of the present disclosure are not intended to limit the content or scope of the present disclosure, but merely serve as a reminder for reading. Such a subtitle should neither be understood as a content for segmenting an article, nor should the content under the subtitle be limited to only the scope of the subtitle.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communication system 1 in an ocean environment to which an example of the present disclosure relates. As shown in fig. 3, in some examples, a mobile communication system 1 to which examples of the present disclosure relate may include: a plurality of base stations 10 of different operators in an ocean-going environment, a satellite communication link 20, a convergence gateway 30 and a core network 40 to which the plurality of base stations 10 belong. The convergence gateway 30 interfaces with the base stations 10 on the one hand and with the core network 40 on the other hand via the satellite communication link 20.
In some examples, the ocean environment may include ocean-going vessels, offshore work platforms, such as large container vessels, cruise ships, tankers, offshore oil drilling platforms, and the like. The ocean environment in the present disclosure is exemplary and not limited thereto, and may be an area that cannot be covered by a mobile network, such as a very inhospitable operation area on land, a desert area, and the like.
In some examples, the operator may include china mobile, china unicom, and chinese telecommunications, among others. The standards may include Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) for second-Generation Mobile Communications (2nd Generation:2G), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 1X, Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) for third-Generation Mobile Communications (3rd Generation: 3G), wideband Code Division Multiple Access (Wide-band CDMA: WCDMA), Evolution-Data Optimized/Evolution-pure Data (EV-DO), fourth-Generation Mobile Communications (4 nd Mobile Communications (2nd Generation:2G)thGeneration: 4G) time Division Long term Evolution (Time Division Long term Evolution: TD-LTE), Frequency Division Duplex Long term Evolution (FDD-LTE), and fifth Generation Mobile communication (5)thGeneration: 5G) new Radio: NR).
In some examples, the base station 10 may be a conventional mobile communications base station installed in an ocean-going environment by a different operator, such as a base station installed on an ocean-going vessel. In some examples, the multiple base stations 10 of different operators may be different standards of different operators, separate base stations of different frequency bands. In other examples, the base station 10 may also be a multi-PLMN configured base station, i.e. a multi-operator configured integrated base station. The base station 10 may be a distributed base station configured with only the underlying protocol for processing the real-time part, or may be an integrated base station configured with a complete protocol. The base station 10 may interface UEs of respective operators.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 1, the satellite communication link 20 may include an ocean-going satellite communication device 21, a communication satellite 22, a terrestrial satellite communication device 23. In some examples, the ocean satellite communication means 21, the communication satellites 22, and the terrestrial satellite communication means 23 may be conventional satellite communication equipment, wherein the ocean satellite communication means 21 and the terrestrial satellite communication means 23 may include satellite routers and antennas.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of a convergence gateway 30 to which examples of the present disclosure relate. In some examples, as shown in fig. 2, a convergence gateway 30 to which examples of the present disclosure relate may include a base station communication module 31 and a distribution module 32. In some examples, the base station communication module 31 may be communicatively coupled to the satellite communication link 20, receive uplink communication information from the base station 10 to the core network 40, and transmit downlink communication information from the core network 40 to the base station 10 through the distribution module 32.
In some examples, the distribution module 32 may perform aggregate distribution on uplink communication information transmitted by a plurality of base stations 10 from different operators in a plurality of ocean environments respectively to the core network 40 to which the base stations 10 belong through the satellite link 20, and may also perform aggregate distribution on downlink communication information transmitted by the core network 40 to which each base station 10 belongs to the plurality of base stations 10 of different operators in the plurality of ocean environments respectively. In some examples, the distribution module 32 may distinguish multiple base stations 10 of different operators and their respective operators according to the uplink communication information and the downlink communication information, transmit the uplink communication information from the multiple base stations 10 of the different operators to their own core networks 40, and transmit the downlink communication information from their own core networks 40 to the multiple base stations 10 of the different operators.
In some examples, convergence gateway 30 and core network 40 may assign the respective two IDs, namely, GW-UE ID and CN-UE ID, to the UE during the UE registration phase. Wherein the GW-UE id may serve as the identity of the convergence gateway 30 identifying the UE and the CN-UE id may serve as the identity of the core network 40 identifying the UE. In some examples, in the control plane, convergence gateway 30 may associate to base station 10 and UE via ENB-UE id and to core network 40 via CN-UE id.
In some examples, in a phase of initiating a data service request of uplink communication information by the UE, the convergence gateway 30 forwards the uplink communication information to the core network 40 according to the ID carried by the UE, and the core network 40 notifies the convergence gateway 30 to allocate a user data link resource identifier GW-TEID on the core network side. The convergence gateway 30 allocates a user data link resource identifier ENB-TEID at the base station side, and notifies the base station 10 of allocating a corresponding Radio link Bearer (RB) resource. In some examples, at the user data level, the convergence gateway 30 may distribute the GW-TEID as aggregation to the core network side identifier and the ENB-TEID as the base station 10 and UE identifiers, which are mapped in association.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 2, the convergence gateway 30 may further include a base station identification module 33 and a PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 34. The base station identification module 33 may be connected to the base station communication module 31, and identify the uplink communication information transmitted by the base station 10 through the satellite communication link 20, and the convergence gateway 30 determines whether the base station 10 is a distributed base station or an integrated base station according to the base station type carried in the initial link establishment request message sent by the base station 10. When the base station in the base stations 10 is identified as a distributed base station, the uplink communication information sent by the base station is transferred to the PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 34 for processing. When the base station 10 is identified as an integrated base station, the uplink communication information sent by the base station is directly transmitted to the distribution module 32 for processing. In this case, the convergence gateway 30 can decide whether its communication information needs to be processed by the PDCP upper layer protocol stack 34 according to the type of the docked base station, thereby increasing the adaptability of the docked base station.
Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 34 according to an example of the present disclosure. Referring to fig. 3, in some examples, the PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 34 processes the non-real time portion of the uplink communication information to form target uplink communication information, and sends the target uplink communication information to the distribution module 32. The PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 34 may include PDCP341 and higher layer protocols above in the mobile communication base station protocol stack, such as Radio Resource Control 342(Radio Resource Control: RRC). In this case, convergence gateway 30 may seamlessly interface with the base station underlying protocol stack that handles the real-time portion. In some examples, convergence gateway 30 may interface with base stations that only configure the underlying protocol stacks, e.g., with distributed base stations, in which case PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 34 processes the non-real time portion of the upstream communication information, while the base stations process only the real time portion, reducing the load on the base stations. In some examples, convergence gateway 30 may interface with a base station that configures a complete protocol stack, such as a unified base station, in which case the upstream communication information is passed directly to distribution module 32.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 2, the convergence gateway 30 further includes a security module 35 that performs encryption protection on the communication information on the public network side and transmits the communication information through a secure tunnel, thereby increasing information security when interfacing with the public network.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 1, the mobile communication system 1 in an ocean environment to which the present disclosure relates may further include an aggregation switch 50. The aggregation switch 50 may interface the base station 10 and the satellite communication link 20 to aggregate user traffic at the access stratum for aggregation, forwarding, and switching of data packet transmissions.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 1, the mobile communication system 1 in an ocean environment to which the present disclosure relates may further include a carrying network 60. The bearer network 60 may connect the satellite communication link 20 and the convergence gateway 30 for carrying various voice and data traffic, and may be a private network or a public network.
Fig. 4 is a network topology diagram illustrating ocean-going mobile communications to which examples of the present disclosure relate. Fig. 4 illustrates the working principle of the present disclosure by taking two UEs, two operator base stations and the core network to which the UE belongs as an example. The two operators are operator 1 and operator 2, respectively, to which the two UEs belong.
In some examples, base station 10 may include base station 11 of operator 1 and base station 12 of operator 2, which are separate. In some examples, base station 11 may be configured as a unified base station with a complete protocol stack and base station 12 may be configured as a distributed base station with an underlying protocol stack.
In some examples, core network 40 includes a core network 41 belonging to operator 1 and a core network 42 belonging to operator 2.
In some examples, the UEs 70 include UE71 belonging to operator 1 and UE72 belonging to operator 2, UE71 accessing base station 11, and UE72 accessing base station 12.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 4, on the base station 10 side, the base station 11 and the base station 12 may have their own signaling links established in advance through the satellite link 20 and the convergence gateway 30, where the signaling links may be PLMN and CELLID to distinguish different base stations, and serve as a basis for distributing downlink signaling messages to different base stations, while reserving corresponding user data link resources.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 4, on the core network 40 side, the convergence gateway 30 establishes respective signaling links with the core network 41 and the core network 42 in advance, where the signaling links distinguish different core networks by PLMNs and serve as a basis for distributing uplink signaling messages to different core networks, and simultaneously reserves corresponding user data link resources.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 4, on the UE70 side, UE71, UE72, and base stations 11 and 12 may be devices on ocean-going ships. Since the base station 11 is an integrated base station, when the base station is connected to the integrated base station, the base station communication module 31 of the convergence gateway 30 transmits the uplink communication information transmitted by the base station 11 to the base station identification module 33, and the base station identification module 33 identifies that the base station 11 is an integrated base station based on the uplink communication information, and then directly transmits the uplink communication information to the distribution module 32, and the distribution module 32 identifies that the base station 11 belongs to the core network 41 based on the uplink communication information, and transmits the uplink communication information to the core network 41. The base station 12 is a distributed base station, when the base station is connected with the distributed base station, the base station communication module 31 of the convergence gateway 30 sends uplink communication information sent by the base station 12 to the base station identification module 33, the base station identification module 33 identifies that the base station 12 is a distributed base station based on the uplink communication information, and sends the uplink communication information to the PDCP upper protocol stack module 34, after the uplink communication information is processed by the PDCP upper protocol stack module 34 by a non-real-time part protocol, target uplink communication information is formed and then sent to the distribution module 32, and the distribution module 32 identifies that the base station 12 belongs to the core network 42, and sends the target uplink communication information to the core network 42.
The following describes the procedure of accessing the core network 41 by using the UE71 as an example.
In some examples, referring to fig. 4, when UE71 initiates an uplink registration request, base station 11 may assign ENB-UE id (as an identification for the base station to identify the UE) to UE71 and forward to convergence gateway 30 via a pre-established signaling link with convergence gateway 30. The convergence gateway 30 finds a corresponding core network, that is, the core network 41, according to the ENB-UE id and the PLMN information carried in the request message and according to the PLMN, and sends the core network to the control node of the core network 41 through a pre-established signaling link, thereby implementing registration of the UE 71.
In some examples, convergence gateway 30 and core network 41 may assign UE71 with respective two IDs, namely, a GW-UE ID and a CN-UE ID. Where the GW-UE id may identify the UE71 as the convergence gateway 30 and the CN-UE id may identify the UE71 as the core network 41. In some examples, in the control plane, convergence gateway 30 may associate to base station 11 and UE71 through an ENB-UE id, associate to core network 41 through a CN-UE id, and allocate transmission resources on the base station side and the core network side. Convergence gateway 30 may then transmit the downlink response message back to base station 11 via satellite communication link 20, and base station 11 may transmit the downlink response message to UE71 via the air interface.
In some examples, after the UE71 successfully registers, an uplink data service request may be initiated, the convergence gateway 30 forwards the uplink data service request to the core network 41 according to the ID carried by the UE71, and the core network 41 notifies the convergence gateway 30 to allocate a user data link resource GW-TEID on the core network side. The convergence gateway 30 allocates an ENB-TEID as a user data link resource on the base station side, and notifies the base station 11 of allocating a corresponding Radio Bearer (RB) resource. In some examples, at the user data level, the convergence gateway 30 may distribute the GW-TEID as aggregation to the core network side identifier and the ENB-TEID as the base station and UE identifiers, which are mapped in association.
In some examples, referring to fig. 4, after the user link data resources are ready, the UE71 may send the user data to the base station 11 for communication to the convergence gateway 30 via the satellite communication link 20. The convergence gateway 30 distributes the user data to the corresponding core network data node (not shown) according to the mapping relationship between the ENB-TEID and the GW-TEID. And the core network data node can access the public network through the external network interface, and simultaneously receive the response data of the public network and forward the response data to the convergence gateway 30, and the convergence gateway 30 can transmit the downlink response data back to the base station 11 and the UE71 through the satellite communication link 20.
In some examples, the behavior of base stations 11, 12 and UEs 71, 72 and the behavior of terrestrial base stations and UEs are not different, and seamless interfacing may be achieved through the respective core networks.
Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating ocean-going mobile communications to which examples of the present disclosure relate. Fig. 5 shows a process for sending a wechat message by UE71 and a terrestrial outdoor UE (not shown) based on the network topology shown in fig. 4.
In some examples, for ease of description, the UE71 may be the originator of a WeChat message, and examples of the disclosure relate to a flow of ocean-going communications including: UE registration (step S101); initiating a service request (step S102); a paging response (step S103); data is transferred (step S104).
In step S101, the UE71 initiates registration with the base station 11, the convergence gateway 30, and the core network 41 as described above. In some examples, a terrestrial outdoor UE also belongs to the core network 41, and initiates registration with the affiliated base station, the convergence gateway 30, and the core network 41 as with the UE 71. In other embodiments, the terrestrial outdoor UE belongs to another core network, such as the core network 42, and then needs to register with the core network 42 according to a similar procedure.
In step S102, UE71 may initiate a service request via base station 11 to access convergence gateway 30 via satellite communication link 20 (see fig. 4). Convergence gateway 30 forwards to the corresponding core network, core network 41, based on the ue id and PLMN information. In some examples, the terrestrial outdoor UE and the UE71 belong to the same core network, i.e., the core network 41, and the core network 41 initiates paging, which is forwarded to the terrestrial outdoor UE through a terrestrial base station (not shown). In other examples, the terrestrial outdoor UE and the UE71 are not in the same core network, for example, the terrestrial outdoor UE belongs to the core network 42, and the communication between the core networks 41 and 42 is performed, and the interaction is performed according to a conventional standard procedure.
In step S103, the terrestrial outdoor UE receives the page, responds, and allocates the data link resources required by the terrestrial outdoor UE from the core network and the terrestrial base station (not shown). The core network 41 notifies the convergence gateway 30 that the core network side data link resource GW-TEID is established, and the convergence gateway 30 and the base station 11 establish the base station side data link resource ENB-TEID, and notifies the base station 11 that the radio link resource is ready.
In step S104, UE71 sends a WeChat message to the terrestrial outdoor UE, whose data is received by base station 11 and forwarded to convergence gateway 30 via satellite communication link 20. The convergence gateway 30 distributes the data to the corresponding core network, i.e. the core network 81, according to the existing data link mapping relationship, and in some examples, the terrestrial outdoor UE and the UE71 belong to the same core network 41, and then the core network 41 forwards the data to the terrestrial base station and the terrestrial outdoor UE. In other examples, the terrestrial outdoor UE and the UE71 belong to different core networks, for example, the terrestrial outdoor UE belongs to the core network 42, and the communication between the core network 42 and the core network 41 is forwarded to the terrestrial base station and the terrestrial outdoor UE by the core network 42. After receiving the data of the UE71, the terrestrial outdoor UE responds, the response data is forwarded to the core network through the terrestrial base station, and then forwarded to the convergence gateway 30 by the core network, and the convergence gateway 30 returns and forwards to the base station 11 and the UE71 through the satellite communication link 20 according to the mapping relationship of the data link.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to interface the base stations 10 of a plurality of operators and the core network 40 in a plurality of ocean environments with one convergence gateway 30, and to realize uplink distribution of communication information to the core network to which the base station belongs and downlink distribution of communication information to the corresponding base station at a low cost.
While the present disclosure has been described in detail in connection with the drawings and examples, it should be understood that the above description is not intended to limit the disclosure in any way. Those skilled in the art can make modifications and variations to the present disclosure as needed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure, which fall within the scope of the disclosure.