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-based ocean mobile communication method capable of interfacing with a plurality of base stations and core networks of different operators.
Therefore, the present disclosure provides an ocean mobile communication method based on a convergence gateway, including: the convergence gateway receives uplink communications from a plurality of base stations communicatively coupled to different operators in an ocean-going environment via satellite communications links. And when the convergence gateway identifies that the base station sending the uplink communication information is a distributed base station only equipped with a bottom layer protocol for processing a real-time part based on the uplink communication information, processing a non-real-time part in the uplink communication information to obtain target uplink communication information. And the convergence gateway sends the target uplink communication information or the uplink communication information to a corresponding core Network based on the target uplink communication information or a multiple Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) identifier in the uplink communication information. The convergence gateway receives downlink communication information required by different base stations fed back by a plurality of core networks and sends the downlink communication information to the corresponding base stations.
In the ocean mobile communication method, the convergence gateway can process the non-real-time part in the communication information from the base station and can be seamlessly butted with a base station bottom layer protocol stack for processing the real-time part, so that the load of the base station is reduced. The convergence gateway 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 ocean mobile communication method according to the present disclosure, optionally, the convergence gateway has a packet data convergence protocol layer in a protocol stack of a mobile communication base station and a protocol layer above the packet data convergence protocol layer. In this case, the convergence gateway has the ability to process the non-real-time portion of the communication so that it can interface with distributed base stations that are only equipped with the underlying protocol.
In addition, in the ocean mobile communication method related to the present disclosure, optionally, the convergence gateway further has a radio resource control protocol layer.
In addition, in the ocean mobile communication method according to the present disclosure, optionally, the convergence 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 addition, in the ocean mobile communication method according to the present disclosure, the ocean mobile communication method may further include: and carrying out encryption protection on communication information at the public network side and transmitting the communication information through a safety tunnel. In this case, the security module can increase security if a certain segment of the bearer network interfacing with a plurality of base stations or core networks of different operators is based on public network transmission.
In addition, in the ocean mobile communication method according to the present disclosure, optionally, the convergence gateway 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 ocean mobile communication method related to the present disclosure, optionally, the convergence gateway distinguishes the plurality of base stations based on the user data link resource identifications on the side of the plurality of base stations.
In addition, in the ocean mobile communication method 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.
Further, in the ocean mobile communication method according to the present disclosure, optionally, the ocean environment includes an ocean-going vessel or an offshore operation platform.
Further, in the ocean going mobile communication method to which the present disclosure relates, optionally, the plurality of base stations include 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 ocean mobile communication method based on the convergence gateway, one convergence gateway can be used for connecting base stations and core networks of multiple operators in multiple 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 proportions 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.
Ocean mobile communication refers to communication between a vessel operating in the ocean, user Equipment (UE) (mobile terminal) on an offshore platform and a UE (mobile terminal) on the land through a satellite communication link and a land mobile communication network. Ocean-going mobile communication systems typically include base stations, satellite communication links, and land mobile networks, among others, in an ocean-going environment.
Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an ocean-going mobile communication method to which an example of the present disclosure relates. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the ocean mobile communication system 1 to which an example of the present disclosure relates. Referring to fig. 1 and 2, an ocean-going communication method according to an example of the present disclosure includes: the convergence gateway 30 receives uplink communication information transmitted from a plurality of base stations 10 communicatively connected to different operators in the ocean environment via the satellite communication link 20 (step S101). When the convergence gateway 30 recognizes, based on the uplink communication information, that the base station 10 that transmitted the uplink communication information is a distributed base station equipped with only a lower layer protocol for processing a real-time part, the non-real-time part in the uplink communication information is processed to obtain target uplink communication information (step S102). The convergence gateway 30 transmits the target uplink communication information or the uplink communication information to the corresponding core network 40 based on the target uplink communication information or the multiple PLMN identifiers in the uplink communication information (step S103). The convergence gateway 30 receives downlink communication information required by different base stations fed back by the plurality of core networks 40, and sends the downlink communication information to the corresponding base stations 10 (step S104). The steps are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In some examples, ocean refers to an ocean-going environment, which 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, but not limited to, and may also be an area that cannot be covered by a mobile network, such as a very inhospitable work 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 formats may include global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) of second generation Mobile communication (2nd generation th Generation: 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) th Generation: 5G) New Radio: NR).
In step S101, the base station 10 may be a conventional mobile communication base station installed in an ocean environment by different operators, for example, a base station installed on an ocean 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. 2, satellite link 20 may include ocean-going satellite communication device 21, communication satellite 22, 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.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 2, base stations 10 interface with satellite communication links 20 through aggregation switch 50. The aggregation switch 50 may aggregate user traffic at the access stratum, and perform aggregation, forwarding, and switching of data packet transmissions.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 2, the satellite communication link 20 may connect through a carrier network 60 to a convergence gateway 30, which may be a private network or a public network, for carrying various voice and data traffic.
In step S102 and step S103, the convergence gateway 30 processes the non-real-time part of the uplink communication information and performs aggregation and distribution on the uplink communication information to the corresponding core network 40.
In step S104, the convergence gateway 30 receives the downlink communication information of the core network 40 and performs convergence distribution to the corresponding base station 10.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 3, a convergence gateway 30 to which examples of the present disclosure relate may include a distribution module 31. The distribution module 31 may perform aggregation distribution on uplink communication information transmitted by a plurality of base stations 10 from different operators in a plurality of ocean environments to the core network 40 to which the base stations 10 belong through the satellite link 20, and may also perform aggregation distribution on downlink communication information transmitted by the core networks 40 to which the base stations 10 belong to the different operators in the plurality of ocean environments. In some examples, the distribution module 31 may distinguish multiple base stations 10 of different operators and their respective operators according to the uplink communication information and the downlink communication information, send the uplink communication information from the multiple base stations 10 of the different operators to their own core networks 40, and send 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, in the user data plane, the convergence gateway 30 may distribute the GW-TEID as aggregation to the identifier of the core network side, and the ENB-TEID as the identifiers of the base station 10 and the UE, which are mapped in association.
In some examples, 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.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 3, the Convergence gateway 30 may further include a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) upper layer Protocol stack module 32 in the mobile communication base station Protocol stack for processing the non-real-time part of the communication information from the base station 10. Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a PDCP upper layer protocol stack module to which an example of the present disclosure relates. Referring to fig. 4, in some examples, the PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 32 may include a PDCP321 and above protocol layers, such as a Radio Resource Control 322 (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 stack, e.g., with distributed base stations, in which case PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 32 may be turned on to handle the non-real time portion of the communication information, while the base stations only handle 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 PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 32 may be turned off. In this case, the convergence gateway 30 may decide whether to turn on the PDCP upper layer protocol stack module 32 according to the type of the docked base station, thereby increasing the adaptability of the docked base station.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 3, the convergence gateway 30 further includes a security module 33 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.
Fig. 5 is a network topology diagram illustrating ocean-going mobile communications to which examples of the present disclosure relate. Fig. 5 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 a separate base station 11 of operator 1 and base station 12 of operator 2. 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, 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. 5, 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. 5, on the core network 40 side, the convergence gateway 30 pre-establishes respective signaling links with the core network 41 and the core network 42, respectively, 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 meanwhile reserve corresponding user data link resources.
In some examples, as shown in fig. 5, 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 PDCP upper layer protocol stack 32 of the convergence gateway 30 is closed, and the core network 41 is directly accessed through the distribution module 10. The base station 12 is a distributed base station, and when the base station is connected to the distributed base station, the PDCP upper layer protocol stack 32 of the convergence gateway 30 is started, and the signaling link and the data link pass through the PDCP upper layer protocol stack 32, process the protocol of the non-real-time part, and then access the core network 42 through the distribution module 31.
The following describes the procedure of accessing the core network 41 by using the UE71 as an example.
In some examples, referring to fig. 5, UE71 initiates an uplink registration request, and base station 11 may assign ENB-UE id (as an identifier 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, i.e., 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 UE71.
In some examples, convergence gateway 30 and core network 41 may assign UE71 two respective IDs, namely, a GW-UE ID and a CN-UE ID. Wherein the GW-UE id may be used as the identity of the convergence gateway 30 identifying the UE71 and the CN-UE id may be used as the identity of the core network 41 identifying the UE71. In some examples, in the control plane, convergence gateway 30 may associate to base station 11 and UE71 via ENB-UE id, associate to core network 41 via CN-UE id, and allocate transmission resources on the base station side and 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 over the air to UE71.
In some examples, after the UE71 is successfully registered, 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. 5, after the user link data resources are ready, the UE71 may send the user data to the base station 11 for transmission 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, 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 station 11, base station 12 and UE71, UE72 is not different from the behavior of a terrestrial base station and UE, and seamless interfacing may be achieved through the respective core networks.
Referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is a flow chart illustrating ocean-going mobile communications to which examples of the present disclosure relate. Fig. 6 shows a procedure for UE71 and a terrestrial outdoor UE (not shown) to send WeChat messages based on the network topology shown in fig. 5.
In some examples, for convenience of description, the UE71 may be an initiator of a WeChat message, and the flow of ocean-going communication to which examples of the present disclosure relate includes: UE registration (step S201); initiating a service request (step S202); a paging response (step S203); data is transferred (step S204).
In step S201, the UE71 initiates registration with the base station 11, the convergence gateway 30, and the core network 41 as described above. In some examples, the terrestrial outdoor UE also belongs to the core network 41, and initiates registration with the belonging base station, the convergence gateway 30, and the core network 41 as with the UE71. 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 S202, the UE71 may initiate a service request through the base station 11 to access the convergence gateway 30 through the satellite communication link 20 (see fig. 4). The convergence gateway 30 forwards to the corresponding core network, i.e. core network 41, according to 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 (not shown) through the terrestrial base station. 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 S203, 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 S204, the UE71 sends a wechat message to the terrestrial outdoor UE, whose data is received through the base station 11 and forwarded to the convergence gateway 30 through the satellite communication link 20. The convergence gateway 30 distributes the data to the corresponding core network, i.e. the core network 41, according to the existing data link mapping relationship, 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 UEs and the UEs 71 belong to different core networks, for example, the terrestrial outdoor UEs belong to the core network 42, and the communication between the core network 42 and the core network 41 is forwarded to the terrestrial base stations and the terrestrial outdoor UEs 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 above with reference to 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.