CN113141675A

CN113141675A - RRC connection reconfiguration method and device

Info

Publication number: CN113141675A
Application number: CN202010066147.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李煜焱
Original assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-20
Filing date: 2020-01-20
Publication date: 2021-07-20

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a method and a device for RRC connection reconfiguration, which are used for improving the reconfiguration efficiency and success rate of RRC connection. In the method, after an RLC entity in a base station receives a reconfiguration message sent by a PDCP entity, the reconfiguration message is sent to an MAC entity; the reconfiguration message is used for informing the terminal equipment of carrying out the reconfiguration process of RRC connection; and when the RLC entity determines that a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time length, executing a retransmission process of the reconfiguration message, wherein the reconfiguration result message is used for indicating a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection. In the method, the RLC entity directly sends the reconfiguration message to the MAC entity, thereby shortening the time delay of reconfiguration transmission; and when the RLC entity determines that the reconfiguration result message is not received within the first set time length, the retransmission process is executed, the process avoids the terminal equipment from being accessed again, the success rate of reconfiguration is ensured, and the signaling overhead in the communication system is reduced.

Description

RRC connection reconfiguration method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for RRC connection reconfiguration.

Background

At present, in a communication system, after a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection is established between a base station and a terminal device, since a service type or a service requirement of a service changes, in order to ensure normal transmission of service data, the base station and the terminal device need to modify the established RRC connection, so as to execute a RRC connection reconfiguration process of the connection.

In the prior art method, the RRC connection reconfiguration process is as follows:

1. the RRC layer of the base station sends reconfiguration Data to a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer of the base station. The reconfiguration data includes an RRC connection reconfiguration request message and reconfiguration parameters.

2. The PDCP layer of the base station receives the reconfiguration data and transmits the reconfiguration data to a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer of the base station.

3. After receiving the reconfiguration data, the RLC layer sends the reconfiguration data to a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of the base station in a Transport Block (BT) mode.

4. And after receiving the reconfiguration data, the MAC layer sends the reconfiguration data to a terminal device.

5. And the terminal equipment performs reconfiguration according to the received reconfiguration data so as to complete the reconfiguration of the RRC connection. Then, the terminal device sends the reconfiguration result to the MAC layer of the base station.

6. And the MAC layer of the base station sends the reconfiguration result to the RLC layer of the base station.

7. And after receiving the reconfiguration result, the RLC layer of the base station sends the reconfiguration result to the RRC layer of the base station through the PDCP layer of the base station, thereby completing the reconfiguration.

When a problem occurs in the RRC connection reconfiguration process of the terminal device, the terminal device needs to be re-accessed, which results in low RRC connection reconfiguration efficiency and increases signaling overhead in the communication system.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a device for RRC connection reconfiguration, which are used for improving the reconfiguration efficiency and success rate of RRC connection.

The embodiment of the invention provides the following specific technical scheme:

in a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for RRC connection reconfiguration, where the method specifically includes the following steps:

after receiving a reconfiguration message sent by a packet data convergence protocol PDCP entity in a base station, a radio link control RLC entity in the base station sends the reconfiguration message to a media access control MAC entity in the base station; the reconfiguration message is used for notifying the terminal equipment to carry out the reconfiguration process of RRC connection;

and when the RLC entity determines that a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time length, executing a retransmission process of the reconfiguration message, wherein the reconfiguration result message is used for indicating a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection.

In one possible implementation manner, the RLC entity performs a retransmission procedure of the reconfiguration message, including: the RLC entity sends the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity again; or the RLC entity sends a configuration indication to a radio resource control RRC entity in the base station, where the configuration indication is used to notify the RRC entity to reconfigure a new reconfiguration message.

In one possible implementation, before the RLC entity sends a configuration indication to a radio resource control, RRC, entity in the base station, the method further includes: the RLC entity determines that a successful response message of the reconfiguration message is received.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: when the RLC entity determines that the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is received within a first set time length, the RLC entity determines the reconfiguration result of the RRC connection according to the reconfiguration result message; when the reconfiguration result is failure, the RLC entity sends a configuration instruction to an RRC entity of the base station, wherein the configuration instruction is used for notifying the RRC of reconfiguring a new reconfiguration message; and when the reconfiguration result is successful, the RLC entity sends the reconfiguration result message to the RRC entity through the PDCP entity.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: after receiving a reconfiguration message sent by the PDCP, the RLC entity buffers the reconfiguration message;

and when the RLC entity determines that a successful response message of sending the reconfiguration message by the MAC entity is not received within a second set time length, resending the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity.

In a possible implementation manner, the reconfiguration message includes an RRC connection reconfiguration request identifier; and the reconfiguration result message comprises an RRC connection reconfiguration result identifier.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, which is applied in a radio link control, RLC, entity in a base station, and includes:

a communication unit, configured to send a reconfiguration message to a medium access control MAC entity in the base station after receiving the reconfiguration message sent by a packet data convergence protocol PDCP entity in the base station; the reconfiguration message is used for notifying the terminal equipment to carry out the reconfiguration process of RRC connection;

and the processing unit is configured to execute a retransmission process of the reconfiguration message when it is determined that the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time duration, where the reconfiguration result message is used to indicate a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection.

In a possible implementation manner, when determining that the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time period, and when executing a retransmission procedure of the reconfiguration message, the processing unit is specifically configured to: resending, by the communication unit, the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity; or sending a configuration indication to a Radio Resource Control (RRC) entity in the base station through the communication unit, wherein the configuration indication is used for informing the RRC entity to reconfigure a new reconfiguration message.

In one possible implementation manner, the processing unit is further configured to: determining that a successful response message to the reconfiguration message is received before sending a configuration indication to a radio resource control, RRC, entity in the base station through the communication unit.

In one possible implementation manner, the processing unit is further configured to: when the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is received within a first set time length, determining a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection according to the reconfiguration result message;

when the reconfiguration result is failure, sending a configuration indication to an RRC entity of the base station through the communication unit, wherein the configuration indication is used for notifying the RRC of reconfiguring a new reconfiguration message;

and when the reconfiguration result is successful, sending the reconfiguration result message to the RRC entity through the PDCP entity by the communication unit.

In one possible implementation, the processing unit is further configured to: after the communication unit receives a reconfiguration message sent by the PDCP, caching the reconfiguration message;

and when determining that the successful response message of sending the reconfiguration message by the MAC entity is not received within a second set time length, sending the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity again through the communication unit.

In a possible implementation manner, the reconfiguration message carries the RRC connection reconfiguration request identifier; and the reconfiguration result message comprises an RRC connection reconfiguration result identifier.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, including: the computer-readable storage medium has stored therein a computer program which, when run on an electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform any of the above possible implementations.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, where the chip is configured to read a computer program stored in a memory, and execute any one of the above possible implementation manners.

As can be seen from the above description, in the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, after receiving a reconfiguration message sent by a packet data convergence protocol PDCP entity in a base station, a radio link control RLC entity in the base station sends the reconfiguration message to a medium access control MAC entity in the base station; the reconfiguration message is used for notifying the terminal equipment to carry out the reconfiguration process of RRC connection; and when the RLC entity determines that a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time length, executing a retransmission process of the reconfiguration message, wherein the reconfiguration result message is used for indicating a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection. In the method, the RLC entity directly sends the reconfiguration message to the MAC entity, thereby shortening the transmission delay of the reconfiguration message; and when the RLC entity determines that the reconfiguration result is not received within the first set time length, the retransmission process is executed, so that the terminal equipment can complete the reconfiguration of the RRC connection through the retransmitted reconfiguration message. Obviously, the process can not only avoid the terminal device from performing the re-access process, but also improve the success rate and efficiency of the reconfiguration of the RRC connection, and reduce the signaling overhead in the communication system.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained according to these drawings without inventive exercise.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flowchart of a RRC connection reconfiguration method in the prior art;

fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an RRC connection reconfiguration method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart of a RRC connection reconfiguration method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

The embodiment of the application provides a method for RRC connection reconfiguration, which is used for improving the reconfiguration efficiency and success rate of RRC connection. The method and the device are based on the same inventive concept, and because the principles of solving the problems of the method and the device are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can be mutually referred, and repeated parts are not repeated.

In the technical scheme of the embodiment of the application, after a Radio Link Control (RLC) entity in a base station receives a reconfiguration message sent by a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) entity in the base station, the reconfiguration message is sent to a Media Access Control (MAC) entity in the base station; the reconfiguration message is used for notifying the terminal equipment to carry out the reconfiguration process of RRC connection; and when the RLC entity determines that a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time length, executing a retransmission process of the reconfiguration message, wherein the reconfiguration result message is used for indicating a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection. In the method, the RLC entity directly sends the reconfiguration message to the MAC entity, thereby shortening the transmission delay of the reconfiguration message; and when the RLC entity determines that the reconfiguration result is not received within the first set time length, the retransmission process is executed, so that the terminal equipment can complete the reconfiguration of the RRC connection through the retransmitted reconfiguration message. Obviously, the process can not only avoid the terminal device from performing the re-access process, but also improve the success rate and efficiency of the reconfiguration of the RRC connection, and reduce the signaling overhead in the communication system.

Some terms in the embodiments of the present application will be explained below to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

1. A Base Station (BS), also referred to as a network device, is a device deployed in a radio access network to provide wireless communication functions.

Currently, some examples of base stations are: a gbb, an NR base station, an evolved Node B (eNB), a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), a Radio Network Controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a Base Station Controller (BSC), a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B, HNB), or a Base Band Unit (BBU), etc.

In addition, in a network structure, the base station may include a Centralized Unit (CU) node and a Distributed Unit (DU) node. The structure separates the protocol layers of the eNB in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, the functions of part of the protocol layers are controlled in the CU in a centralized way, the functions of the rest part or all of the protocol layers are distributed in the DU, and the CU controls the DU in a centralized way.

2. A terminal device is a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to a user. The terminal device may also be referred to as a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (MT), and so on.

For example, the terminal device may be a handheld device, a vehicle-mounted device, or the like having a wireless connection function. Currently, some examples of terminal devices are: a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm top computer, a Mobile Internet Device (MID), a wearable device, a Virtual Reality (VR) device, an Augmented Reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote surgery (remote medical supply), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (smart security), a wireless terminal in city (smart city), a wireless terminal in home (smart home), and the like.

3. A Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection may include the following states: RRC connected state, RRC idle state, and RRC inactive state. The primary purpose of RRC connection establishment is to establish SRB1, SRB1 is used to send Non-Access Stratum (NAS) messages and RRC messages (piggybacked NAS messages) on DCCH logical channels. If the terminal equipment needs to be modified or added in the RRC connection state, the RRC connection reconfiguration process needs to be initiated at the current base station.

4. "or", which describes the association relationship of the associated objects, means that there may be two cases, for example, a or B, which may mean: a is present alone, and B is present alone.

Additionally, the terms "first," "second," and the like, are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, nor order.

Embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a possible base station structure to which the RRC connection reconfiguration method is applicable. The base station 101 mainly includes an RRC layer 1011, a PDCP layer 1012, an RLC layer 1013, and a MAC layer 1014, according to the functional division of the protocol layers. After the RRC connection is established between the terminal device and the base station 101, each protocol layer establishes a corresponding entity to implement the specific functions of the protocol layer, as shown in the figure.

The Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer 1011 implements functions including broadcasting information provided by a non-access stratum, broadcasting information related to an access stratum, establishing, maintaining, and releasing an RRC connection between a base station and a terminal device, and allocating, reconfiguring, and releasing Radio resources for the RRC connection.

A Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer 1012, which performs functions including compressing and decompressing an IP header, transmitting user Data, and maintaining a sequence number of a radio bearer set for a lossless radio network service subsystem (SRNS).

The Radio Link Control (RLC) layer 1013 implements functions including segmentation, reassembly, concatenation, padding, transfer of user data, error checking, in-order transmission of higher-layer PDUs, duplicate detection, flow Control, unacknowledged data transfer mode sequence number checking, protocol error detection and recovery, ciphering, suspension, and recovery functions.

The Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, which mainly includes mapping between logical channels and transport channels, selecting appropriate transport format for each transport channel, priority processing between user data streams, re-reading the high-level PDU into transport blocks transmitted to the physical layer via the transport channels, and re-connecting the transport blocks from the physical layer via the transport channels into high-level PDU, traffic detection, dynamic transport channel type switching, transparent RLC encryption, and Access service level selection.

Based on the structure of the base station shown in fig. 1, fig. 2 shows a flowchart of a conventional RRC connection reconfiguration method. As shown in the figure, when the base station performs RRC connection reconfiguration, the base station needs to sequentially transmit a reconfiguration message to the terminal device through entities corresponding to several protocol layers, and after the terminal device performs RRC connection reconfiguration according to the reconfiguration message, the base station also needs to receive a reconfiguration result message of the terminal device through the entities corresponding to the protocol layers. When the base station needs to reestablish, modify or release the established RRC connection with the terminal device, the following RRC connection reconfiguration procedure needs to be performed:

an RRC entity in a base station sends reconfiguration data to an RLC entity through a PDCP entity, wherein the reconfiguration data comprises an RRC connection reconfiguration request message and reconfiguration parameters; after receiving the reconfiguration data, the RLC entity sends the reconfiguration data to an MAC entity in a Transport Block (BT) mode, and the MAC entity sends the received reconfiguration data to a terminal device; the terminal equipment reconfigures according to the reconfiguration data to complete the reconfiguration of RRC connection and returns a reconfiguration result message to the RLC entity through the MAC entity; after receiving the message, the RLC entity sends the message to the RRC entity through the PDCP entity, thereby completing the reconfiguration.

As can be seen from the above description, in the RRC connection reconfiguration process, the RLC entity of the base station sends reconfiguration data to the MAC entity of the base station in a TB manner, and cannot send complete reconfiguration data at one time, and needs to perform multiple transmissions, so that signaling interactions generated in the reconfiguration process are more, and transmission delay is larger.

Secondly, in the RRC connection reconfiguration process, the reconfiguration data of the RRC entity needs to be transmitted to the terminal device side through the RLC entity and the MAC entity of the base station, and the RRC entity of the base station also needs to receive the reconfiguration result message sent by the terminal device through the transmission of the RLC entity and the MAC entity.

Finally, when a problem occurs in the RRC connection reconfiguration process of the terminal device, the terminal device needs to be re-accessed, and the retransmission process of the RRC connection reconfiguration message is executed again, which results in lower RRC connection reconfiguration efficiency and increases signaling overhead in the communication system.

In order to solve the above problem, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for RRC connection reconfiguration. The method may be applied in a communication system as shown in fig. 1. The following describes in detail a flow of a method for RRC connection reconfiguration according to an embodiment of the present application with reference to fig. 3.

S301: and the RRC entity of the base station sends a reconfiguration message to the PDCP entity in the base station.

Optionally, the reconfiguration message carries the RRC connection reconfiguration request identifier.

S302: and the PDCP entity receives the reconfiguration message and sends the reconfiguration message to a Radio Link Control (RLC) entity in the base station.

S303: after receiving the reconfiguration message sent by the PDCP entity, the RLC entity sends the reconfiguration message to a Media Access Control (MAC) entity in the base station; the reconfiguration message is used for notifying the terminal equipment to perform a reconfiguration process of RRC connection.

Optionally, the RLC entity buffers the reconfiguration message after receiving the reconfiguration message sent by the PDCP entity.

Optionally, the RLC entity starts a reconfiguration timer and a poll timer when receiving a reconfiguration message sent by the PDCP entity.

The reconfiguration timer is used for timing the RLC entity in the process of waiting for receiving a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity, wherein the initial value of the reconfiguration timer is 0 or the value of a first set time length; when the RLC entity receives a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity, if the reconfiguration timer is not overtime, the reconfiguration timer stops timing; when the reconfiguration timer is overtime (the value of the reconfiguration timer is the value of the first set time length or is 0), it indicates that the RLC entity does not receive the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity within the first set time length.

The poll timer is used for timing the process that the RLC entity waits for receiving the successful response message of the MAC entity for sending the reconfiguration message. Similarly, the initial value of the poll timer is 0 or the value of a second set time length. When the RLC entity receives a successful response message (ACK) of the reconfiguration message sent by the MAC entity and the poll timer is not overtime, the poll timer stops timing; when the poll timer is overtime (the value of the poll timer is the value of a second set time length or 0), it indicates that the RLC entity does not receive a successful response message of the reconfiguration message sent by the MAC entity within the second set time length.

In this step, the RLC entity avoids sending the reconfiguration data to the MAC entity in the form of a transport block TB group by directly sending the reconfiguration message to the MAC entity, and thus this step shortens the time delay of transmission between the RLC entity and the MAC entity.

S304: and after receiving the reconfiguration message sent by the RLC, the MAC entity sends the reconfiguration message to terminal equipment.

S305: and after receiving the reconfiguration message sent by the MAC entity, the terminal equipment performs RRC connection reconfiguration and sends a reconfiguration result message to the MAC entity of the base station.

S306: and the MAC entity of the base station receives the reconfiguration result message sent by the terminal equipment and sends the reconfiguration result message to the RLC entity of the base station, wherein the reconfiguration result message comprises an RRC connection reconfiguration result identifier.

Optionally, after receiving the reconfiguration result message sent by the terminal device, the MAC entity of the base station parses the reconfiguration result message, and stores the parsed reconfiguration result identifier in the reconfiguration result message.

As can be seen from the above description, the MAC entity parses the received reconfiguration result message, and can determine whether the message is a message before the reconfiguration is completed or a message after the reconfiguration is completed. Therefore, when the reassortment process is abnormal, the rapid positioning is facilitated.

S307: and when the RLC entity determines that a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time length, executing a retransmission process of the reconfiguration message, wherein the reconfiguration result message is used for indicating a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection.

In an embodiment, when the RLC entity performs the retransmission procedure of the reconfiguration message in step S302, the following two cases are further included:

in the first case: the RLC entity determines that a successful response message of the reconfiguration message is not received, and the RLC entity resends the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity, which specifically includes:

and when the RLC entity determines that a successful response message of sending the reconfiguration message by the MAC entity is not received within a second set time length, the RLC entity sends the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity again.

In the first case, the RLC entity determines that a successful response message of the reconfiguration message is not received, and directly sends the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity through the RLC entity, so that the reconfiguration message is prevented from being sent again through the RRC entity, thereby not only effectively shortening retransmission delay, but also reducing additional overhead of the system.

In the second case: the RLC entity determines that a successful response message of the reconfiguration message is received. The RLC entity sends a configuration instruction to a radio resource control RRC entity in the base station, where the configuration instruction is used to notify the RRC entity of reconfiguring a new reconfiguration message, and the configuration instruction specifically includes:

and when the RLC entity determines that a successful response message of sending the reconfiguration message by the MAC entity is received within a second set time length, the RLC entity sends a configuration instruction to a Radio Resource Control (RRC) entity in the base station, wherein the configuration instruction is used for informing the RRC entity to reconfigure a new reconfiguration message.

In this case, when the RLC entity executes the retransmission process of the reconfiguration message, the RLC entity determines that the successful response message of the reconfiguration message is received, and the RLC entity directly sends the configuration instruction to the RRC entity without sending the configuration instruction to the RRC entity through the PDCP entity, thereby reducing overhead of the PDCP entity in the base station.

S308: when the RLC entity determines that a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is received within a first set time length, the RLC entity determines a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection according to the reconfiguration result message, wherein the reconfiguration result message is used for indicating the reconfiguration result of the RRC connection.

Optionally, the RLC entity determines the reconfiguration result of the RRC connection according to the reconfiguration result message, including: the result of the reconfiguration is failure or the result of the reconfiguration is success.

S309: according to the reconfiguration result of the step S308, when the RLC entity determines that the reconfiguration result of the RRC connection is successful according to the reconfiguration result message, the RLC entity sends the reconfiguration result message to the RRC entity through the PDCP entity, and the RRC entity receives the reconfiguration result.

Optionally, the RLC entity stops the reconfiguration timer when determining that the reconfiguration result is successful.

Optionally, after receiving the reconfiguration result sent by the PDCP entity, the RRC entity releases the buffer of the reconfiguration message.

S310: according to the reconfiguration result of the step S308, when the RLC entity determines that the reconfiguration result of the RRC connection is a failure according to the reconfiguration result message, the RLC entity sends a configuration indication to the RRC entity of the base station, where the configuration indication is used to notify the RRC of reconfiguring a new reconfiguration message.

As can be seen from the above description, when the RLC entity determines that the reconfiguration result of the RRC connection is a failure, the RLC entity directly sends a configuration instruction to the RRC entity of the base station, and does not need to transmit through an intermediate PDCP entity, thereby reducing overhead of the PDCP entity of the base station. And the RRC reconfigures a new reconfiguration message to the lower layer entity again according to the received configuration indication without additional access of the base station, thereby ensuring the success rate of reconfiguration and reducing the overhead of the system.

Through the above description, an embodiment of the present application further provides another decision flowchart of a method for RRC connection reconfiguration, as shown in fig. 4, where an RRC entity sends a reconfiguration message to an RLC entity through a PDCP entity, and the RLC entity sends the reconfiguration message to an MAC entity after receiving the reconfiguration message, and starts a poll timer and a reconfiguration timer. The MAC entity sends the received reconfiguration message to the terminal equipment, the terminal equipment confirms the status report of the RLC side after receiving the reconfiguration message, and feeds the status report confirmed by the status report back to the MAC entity, and the MAC entity returns to the RLC entity.

When the RLC entity receives the status report, whether the set time length of the Poll timer is exceeded or not is judged, and if the time length of the Poll timer is exceeded, the RLC entity sends the cached reconfiguration message to the terminal equipment through the MAC entity again.

If the status report received by the RLC entity is not overtime, the terminal equipment sends a reconfiguration result message to the RLC entity through the MAC entity, and the RLC entity continuously judges whether the reconfiguration result message exceeds the set duration of the reconfiguration timer when receiving the reconfiguration result message. If it times out, the RLC entity sends a configuration indication to the RRC.

If not, the RLC entity judges whether the reconfiguration result is completed or failed according to the received reconfiguration result message. When the reconfiguration result is determined to be failure, the RLC entity sends a configuration indication to the RRC. When the reconfiguration result is determined to be complete, the RLC entity sends a reconfiguration result message to the RRC entity through the PDCP entity to inform the RRC entity that the reconfiguration is complete.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device for implementing the RRC connection reconfiguration method, where the communication device is applied to a radio link control RLC entity in a base station, and the structure of the communication device is as shown in fig. 5, and the communication device includes a communication unit 501 and a processing unit 502. The communication apparatus can be applied to the communication system shown in fig. 2, and can implement the RRC connection reconfiguration method shown in fig. 3. The functions of the various units in the apparatus 500 are described below.

A communication unit 501, configured to receive a reconfiguration message sent by a packet data convergence protocol PDCP entity in the base station, and send the reconfiguration message to a MAC entity in the base station; the reconfiguration message is used for notifying the terminal equipment to carry out the reconfiguration process of RRC connection;

a processing unit 502, configured to execute a retransmission procedure of a reconfiguration message when it is determined that a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time duration, where the reconfiguration result message is used to indicate a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection.

In an embodiment, when determining that the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time period, the processing unit 502 is specifically configured to: resending the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity through the communication unit 501; or send a configuration indication to a radio resource control RRC entity in the base station through the communication unit 501, where the configuration indication is used to notify the RRC entity to reconfigure a new reconfiguration message.

In one embodiment, the processing unit 502 is further configured to: determining that a successful response message of the reconfiguration message is received before sending a configuration indication to a radio resource control, RRC, entity in the base station through the communication unit 501.

In one embodiment, the processing unit 502 is further configured to: when the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is received within a first set time length, determining a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection according to the reconfiguration result message;

when the reconfiguration result is failure, sending a configuration indication to an RRC entity of the base station through the communication unit 501, where the configuration indication is used to notify the RRC of reconfiguring a new reconfiguration message;

when the reconfiguration result is successful, the reconfiguration result message is sent to the RRC entity through the PDCP entity through the communication unit 501.

In one embodiment, the processing unit is further configured to: after the communication unit 501 receives the reconfiguration message sent by the PDCP, the reconfiguration message is buffered; when it is determined that a successful response message of sending the reconfiguration message by the MAC entity is not received within a second set time period, the cached reconfiguration message is sent to the MAC entity again through the communication unit 501.

In an embodiment, the reconfiguration message carries the RRC connection reconfiguration request identifier; and the reconfiguration result message comprises an RRC connection reconfiguration result identifier.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which can implement the method for RRC connection reconfiguration as shown in fig. 3. Referring to fig. 6, the communication apparatus includes: a communication interface 601, a processor 602, and a memory 603. The communication interface 601, the processor 602, and the memory 603 are connected to each other.

Optionally, the communication interface 601, the processor 602, and the memory 603 are connected to each other through a bus 604. The bus 604 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, or the like. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc.

The communication interface 601 is used for receiving and sending messages, and implementing communication interaction with other devices.

The processor 602 is configured to implement a method for RRC connection reconfiguration as shown in fig. 3.

The following description is provided by way of the functionality of each of the devices 500.

A communication interface 601, configured to receive a reconfiguration message sent by a packet data convergence protocol PDCP entity in the base station, and send the reconfiguration message to a medium access control MAC entity in the base station; the reconfiguration message is used for notifying the terminal equipment to carry out the reconfiguration process of RRC connection;

a processor 602, configured to execute a retransmission procedure of a reconfiguration message when it is determined that a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time duration, where the reconfiguration result message is used to indicate a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection.

In an embodiment, when determining that the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time period, the processor 602 is specifically configured to: resending the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity through the communication interface 601; or send a configuration indication to a radio resource control RRC entity in the base station through the communication interface 601, where the configuration indication is used to notify the RRC entity to reconfigure a new reconfiguration message.

In one embodiment, the processor 602 is further configured to: determining that a successful response message to the reconfiguration message is received before sending a configuration indication to a radio resource control, RRC, entity in the base station over the communication interface 601.

In one embodiment, the processor 602 is further configured to: when the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is received within a first set time length, determining a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection according to the reconfiguration result message;

when the reconfiguration result is failure, sending a configuration indication to an RRC entity of the base station through the communication interface 601, where the configuration indication is used to notify the RRC of reconfiguring a new reconfiguration message;

and when the reconfiguration result is successful, sending the reconfiguration result message to the RRC entity through the PDCP entity through the communication interface 601.

In one embodiment, the processing unit is further configured to: after the communication interface 601 receives the reconfiguration message sent by the PDCP, caching the reconfiguration message; and when determining that the successful response message of sending the reconfiguration message by the MAC entity is not received within a second set time length, sending the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity again through the communication interface 601.

A memory 603 for storing program instructions, data, and the like. In particular, the program instructions may include program code comprising computer operational instructions. The memory 603 may include a Random Access Memory (RAM) and may also include a non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as at least one disk memory. The processor 602 executes the program instructions stored in the memory 603, and uses the data stored in the memory 603 to implement the above functions, thereby implementing the RRC connection reconfiguration method provided by the above embodiments.

Based on the above embodiments, the present application further provides a computer program, when the computer program runs on a computer, the computer is caused to execute a method for RRC connection reconfiguration provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 3.

Based on the above embodiments, the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored, and when the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer program causes the computer to execute a method for RRC connection reconfiguration provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 3.

Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a chip, where the chip is used to read a computer program stored in a memory, and implement the method for RRC connection reconfiguration provided in the embodiment shown in fig. 3.

Based on the foregoing embodiments, the present application provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor, and is configured to support a computer device to implement the functions related to the base station or the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 3. In one possible design, the system-on-chip further includes a memory for storing programs and data necessary for the computer device. The chip system may be constituted by a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

To sum up, in the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, after receiving a reconfiguration message sent by a packet data convergence protocol PDCP entity in a base station, a radio link control RLC entity in the base station sends the reconfiguration message to a medium access control MAC entity in the base station; the reconfiguration message is used for notifying the terminal equipment to carry out the reconfiguration process of RRC connection; and when the RLC entity determines that a reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time length, executing a retransmission process of the reconfiguration message, wherein the reconfiguration result message is used for indicating a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection. In the method, the RLC entity directly sends the reconfiguration message to the MAC entity, thereby shortening the transmission delay of the reconfiguration message; and when the RLC entity determines that the reconfiguration result is not received within the first set time length, the retransmission process is executed, so that the terminal equipment can complete the reconfiguration of the RRC connection through the retransmitted reconfiguration message. Obviously, the process can not only avoid the terminal device from performing the re-access process, but also improve the success rate and efficiency of the reconfiguration of the RRC connection, and reduce the signaling overhead in the communication system.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as well.

Claims

1. A method for RRC connection reconfiguration, comprising:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the RLC entity performs a retransmission procedure for the reconfiguration message, comprising:

the RLC entity sends the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity again; or

The RLC entity sends a configuration indication to a Radio Resource Control (RRC) entity in the base station, wherein the configuration indication is used for informing the RRC entity to reconfigure a new reconfiguration message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein prior to the RLC entity sending a configuration indication to a radio resource control, RRC, entity in the base station, the method further comprises:

the RLC entity determines that a successful response message of the reconfiguration message is received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

when the RLC entity determines that the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is received within a first set time length, the RLC entity determines the reconfiguration result of the RRC connection according to the reconfiguration result message;

when the reconfiguration result is failure, the RLC entity sends a configuration instruction to an RRC entity of the base station, wherein the configuration instruction is used for notifying the RRC of reconfiguring a new reconfiguration message;

and when the reconfiguration result is successful, the RLC entity sends the reconfiguration result message to the RRC entity through the PDCP entity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

after receiving a reconfiguration message sent by the PDCP, the RLC entity buffers the reconfiguration message;

6. The method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the reconfiguration message includes an RRC connection reconfiguration request identifier; and the reconfiguration result message comprises an RRC connection reconfiguration result identifier.

7. A communication apparatus, which is applied in a radio link control, RLC, entity in a base station, comprising:

8. The communications apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the processing unit, when determining that the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is not received within a first set time period, is specifically configured to:

resending, by the communication unit, the cached reconfiguration message to the MAC entity; or

Transmitting, by the communication unit, a configuration indication to a radio resource control, RRC, entity in the base station, wherein the configuration indication is used to inform the RRC entity to reconfigure a new reconfiguration message.

9. The communications apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determining that a successful response message to the reconfiguration message is received before sending a configuration indication to a radio resource control, RRC, entity in the base station through the communication unit.

10. The communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

when the reconfiguration result message sent by the MAC entity is received within a first set time length, determining a reconfiguration result of the RRC connection according to the reconfiguration result message;

11. The communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

after the communication unit receives a reconfiguration message sent by the PDCP, caching the reconfiguration message;

12. The communications apparatus according to any of claims 7-11, wherein the reconfiguration message carries the RRC connection reconfiguration request identifier; and the reconfiguration result message comprises an RRC connection reconfiguration result identifier.

13. A computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored which, when run on an electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-6.

14. A chip for reading a computer program stored in a memory for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.