CN114095949A

CN114095949A - Method and device for transmitting configuration information in migration process from source network element to target network element

Info

Publication number: CN114095949A
Application number: CN202010761017.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 周叶
Original assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-31
Filing date: 2020-07-31
Publication date: 2022-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2040-07-31
Also published as: CN114095949B

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting configuration information during a migration process from a source network element to a target network element, which solve the problem that in the migration process of a network element, when configuring information for a network element to be migrated, the network element needs to be connected to the target network element and the source network element at the same time, and the method includes: in the process of migrating the network element to be migrated from the source network element to the target network element, responding to the received first interface message, and sending a first F1AP PDU in the first interface message to the network element to be migrated; or/and responding to the received second F1AP PDU, and sending the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message. Therefore, the configuration information of the network element to be migrated is indirectly transmitted by the source network element through the F1AP PDU, and the connection with the target network element is not required to be established before the network element to be migrated is disconnected with the source network element, so that the cost and complexity of hardware are greatly reduced, and the wide-range popularization can be realized.

Description

Method and device for transmitting configuration information in migration process from source network element to target network element

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting configuration information during a migration process from a source network element to a target network element.

Background

To accommodate diverse deployment scenarios, it is proposed that a 5G base station (gNB) can be subdivided into a gNB Central Unit (gNB-CU) network element and one or more gNB distributed Unit (gNB-DU) network elements by considering the design of a "split gNB". The gNB-DUs can provide wireless access service for the user terminal, the gNB-CU is connected with one or more gNB-DUs obtained by subdivision of the gNB, and for one user terminal, one gNB-CU network element provides main service at any time.

Currently, the gNB-DU network element can be deployed on a mobile device, for example, on a mobile carrier such as a satellite, a train, an airplane, etc., and the gNB-DU network element needs to be switched to a different gNB-CU network element along with the position change of the mobile device, so as to enable the gNB-DU network element to continue to provide a wireless access service for the user terminal. Meanwhile, when the gNB-DU network element is disconnected from the current gNB-CU network element and is accessed to other gNB-CU network elements, the user terminal connected with the gNB-DU network element needs to be synchronously switched to other gNB-CU network elements from the current gNB-CU network element.

In the prior art, no specific limited interactive mode is performed for the situation that the gNB-DU network element is switched between different gNB-CU network elements, and the currently proposed scheme is that in the process of transferring the gNB-DU network element, the connection with the target gNB-CU network element must be established first and then the connection with the original gNB-CU network element must be disconnected.

However, in the implementation manner in the prior art, in the transmission process of the configuration information, the gNB-DU network element needs to be connected to the original gNB-CU network element and the target gNB-CU network element at the same time, which greatly increases the connection configuration cost and the complexity of hardware and software, and is difficult to popularize in a large range.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the disclosure provides a method and a device for transmitting configuration information in a migration process from a source network element to a target network element, which are used for solving the problem that the configuration information of a network element to be migrated needs to be connected with the target network element and the source network element simultaneously in the network element migration process in the prior art, so that the configuration information of the network element to be migrated is indirectly transmitted by the source network element in a network element switching process, and the connection with the target network element is not required to be established before the network element to be switched is disconnected with the source network element, thereby greatly reducing the cost and complexity of hardware, and being capable of realizing wide-range popularization.

The specific technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the disclosure is as follows:

in a first aspect, a method for transmitting configuration information in a migration process from a source network element to a target network element is provided, which is applied to the source network element, and includes:

in response to receiving a first interface message which is sent by the target network element and contains a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit F1AP PDU, sending the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated, wherein the first F1AP PDU contains a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed; and/or the first and/or second light sources,

and in response to receiving a second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, sending the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed.

Optionally, before the responding to the reception of the first interface message containing the first F1AP PDU sent by the target network element, or/and responding to the reception of the second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, the method further includes:

and the source network element determines to migrate the network element to be migrated to the target network element.

Optionally, the first part of configuration information at least includes any one or any combination of the following information:

the transport layer configuration information connected to one end of the target network element;

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

Optionally, the second part of configuration information at least includes any one or any combination of the following information:

the transport layer configuration information connected to one end of the network element to be migrated;

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

In a second aspect, a method for transmitting configuration information in a migration process from a source network element to a target network element is provided, which is applied to the target network element, and includes:

sending a first interface message containing a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit (F1AP PDU) to a source network element, and enabling the source network element to send the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated, wherein the first F1AP PDU contains a first part of configuration information used for connection between a target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed;

receiving a second interface message which is sent by the source network element and contains a second F1AP PDU received by the source network element from the network element to be migrated, wherein the second F1AP PDU contains a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after migration is completed.

Optionally, before the sending, to the source network element, the first interface message including the first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit F1AP PDU, or/and receiving, by the source network element, the second interface message including the second F1AP PDU received by the source network element from the network element to be migrated, the method further includes:

and the target network element determines to receive the migration of the network element to be migrated.

Optionally, further comprising:

and after determining that the connection with the network element to be migrated is established, the target network element receives a second F1AP PDU directly sent by the network element to be migrated, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for the connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed.

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

In a third aspect, a device for transmitting configuration information during a process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element is provided, where the device at least includes a memory and a processor, where the processor is configured to read an instruction in the memory and execute the following operations:

Optionally, before receiving the first interface message including the first F1AP PDU sent by the target network element or/and before receiving the second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, the processor is further configured to:

and determining to migrate the network element to be migrated to the target network element.

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

In a fourth aspect, a device for transmitting configuration information during a process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element is provided, where the device at least includes a processor and a memory, where the processor is configured to read an instruction in the memory and execute the following operations:

Optionally, before the sending, to the source network element, the first interface message including the first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit F1AP PDU, or/and the receiving, by the source network element, the second interface message including the second F1AP PDU received by the source network element from the network element to be migrated, the processor is further configured to:

determining to receive the migration of the network element to be migrated.

Optionally, the processor is further configured to:

and after determining that the connection with the network element to be migrated is established, receiving an F1 interface message directly sent by the network element to be migrated, wherein the F1 interface message includes second part of configuration information.

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

In a fifth aspect, a device for transmitting configuration information during a process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element is provided, including:

a first receiving unit, configured to send, in response to receiving a first interface message that is sent by the target network element and includes a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit F1AP PDU, the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed; and/or the first and/or second light sources,

and a second receiving unit, configured to send, in response to receiving a second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed.

In a sixth aspect, a method for transmitting configuration information in a migration process from a source network element to a target network element is provided, including:

a sending unit, configured to send a first interface message including a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit F1AP PDU to a source network element, so that the source network element sends the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed;

a receiving unit, configured to receive a second interface message that is sent by the source network element and includes a second F1AP PDU that is received by the source network element from the network element to be migrated, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed.

In a seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is proposed, in which instructions, when executed by a processor, enable execution of the method for transferring configuration information during migration from a source network element to a target network element in accordance with any one of the above-mentioned first aspects.

In an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is proposed, in which instructions, when executed by a processor, enable execution of the method for transferring configuration information during migration from a source network element to a target network element in any one of the above second aspects.

The beneficial effects of this disclosure are as follows:

in the embodiment of the present disclosure, a method and an apparatus for transmitting configuration information in a migration process from a source network element to a target network element are provided, where in response to receiving a first interface message that is sent by the target network element and includes a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit F1AP PDU, the first F1AP PDU is sent to a network element to be migrated, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed; or/and in response to receiving a second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, sending the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed. Therefore, in the network element migration process, the configuration information of the network element to be migrated is indirectly transmitted by the source network element through the F1AP PDU, and the connection with the target network element is not required to be established before the network element to be migrated is disconnected from the source network element, so that the hardware cost and complexity are greatly reduced, and the wide-range popularization can be realized.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a transmission flow of source network element side configuration information in a network element migration process in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a transmission flow of target network element side configuration information in a network element migration process in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an interaction diagram according to a first embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an interaction diagram of a second embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an interaction diagram of a third embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an interaction diagram of a fourth embodiment of the disclosure;

fig. 7 is a schematic physical structure diagram of a source network element in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 8 is a schematic logical structure diagram of a source network element in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 9 is a schematic physical structure diagram of a target network element in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a logical structure of a target network element in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In order to solve the problem of increased configuration cost caused by the fact that the configuration information of a network element to be migrated needs to be simultaneously connected with a source network element and a target network element in the network element migration process in the prior art, the present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for transmitting configuration information from a source network element to a target network element in the migration process, wherein in the migration process of the network element to be migrated from the source network element to the target network element, the source network element performs any one of the following operations or combinations according to any time sequence, wherein the migration process is used for disconnecting the network element to be migrated from the source network element and establishing connection with the target network element:

receiving a first interface message which is sent by the target network element and contains a first F1 interface Application processing Protocol Data Unit (F1Application Processor Protocol Data Unit, F1AP PDU), and transparently transmitting the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated, wherein the first F1AP PDU contains a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed;

receiving a second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, and transparently transmitting the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the position of the to-be-migrated network element is not fixed, but the position of the source network element is fixed, and in the process of changing the position of the to-be-migrated network element, in order to ensure that a stable service is provided for the to-be-migrated network element, the to-be-migrated network element needs to be migrated from the currently connected source network element to the target network element.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, in the process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element, configuration information between the source network element and the target network element is transparently transmitted in a manner that the source network element indirectly transmits the configuration information, and a specific transparent transmission operation will be described in detail in the following embodiments.

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in further detail below with reference to fig. 1.

Step 101: and the source network element determines to migrate the network element to be migrated to the target network element.

Specifically, after determining that stable connection with the network element to be migrated cannot be maintained continuously based on the current configuration information and the radio link condition information connected with the network element to be migrated, the source network element determines a target network element to which the network element to be migrated is allowed to migrate.

Step 102: and in response to receiving a first interface message which is sent by a target network element and contains a first F1AP PDU, sending the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated.

Specifically, when a source network element determines to migrate a network element to be switched to a target network element, in a process of migrating the network element to be migrated from the source network element to the target network element, a first interface message which is sent by the target network element and contains a first F1AP PDU is received, and the first F1AP PDU is sent to the network element to be migrated, where the first F1AP PDU contains a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed.

In some implementation scenarios of the present disclosure, the first F1AP PDU may be selectively transmitted to the network element to be migrated in a transparent transmission manner.

It should be noted that the first part of configuration information at least includes any one or any combination of the following information:

a1, the transport layer configuration information connected at one end of the target network element.

a2, requesting activated radio cell list information.

a3, requesting the radio link control bearer configuration information to be established.

a4, requesting the established list information of the service cells.

Step 103: and the source network element responds to the second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, and sends the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message.

Specifically, the source network element receives a second F1AP PDU sent by the to-be-migrated network element, and sends the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the to-be-migrated network element and the target network element after migration is completed.

In some implementation scenarios of the present disclosure, the source network element transparently transmits the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message.

It should be noted that the second part of configuration information at least includes any one or any combination of the following information:

b1, the transmission layer configuration information connected at one end of the network element to be migrated;

b2, activated cell list information;

b3, available radio cell list information;

b4, the configuration information of the established radio link control bearing;

b5, established serving cell list information.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, in a process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element, under different scenarios, whether step 102 and step 103 are executed and an execution sequence may be different, and operations defined in step 102 and step 103 have no temporal causal relationship, and only in response to receiving related messages from different network elements, the source network element executes any one of or a combination of step 102 and step 103 according to a need under different scenarios and according to any timing, and specific execution processes and execution details will be described in detail in subsequent embodiments, which is not described herein again.

The following describes, with reference to fig. 2, a transmission process of configuration information in a migration process of a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element, where the transmission process is applied to the target network element:

step 201: and the target network element determines to receive the migration of the network element to be migrated.

Specifically, the target network element determines to accommodate the migration of the network element to be migrated based on the current connection condition and other composite information, and then determines that the network element to be migrated is migrated from the source network element to the target network element.

Step 202: the target network element sends a first interface message containing a first F1AP PDU to a source network element, and the source network element sends the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated.

Specifically, in the process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element, the target network element sends a first interface message including a first F1AP PDU to the source network element, so that the source network element sends the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed.

a2, requesting activated radio cell list information.

a4, requesting the established list information of the service cells.

Step 203: and the target network element receives a second interface message which is sent by the source network element and contains a second F1AP PDU received by the source network element from the network element to be migrated.

Specifically, the target network element receives a second interface message, which is sent by the source network element and includes a second F1AP PDU received by the source network element from the network element to be migrated, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed.

b2, activated cell list information;

b3, available radio cell list information;

b5, established serving cell list information.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, in the process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element, under different scenarios, whether step 202 and step 203 are executed and execution sequences may be different, and operations defined in step 102 and step 103 have no front and rear causal relationship in time sequence, the target network element executes any one of or a combination of step 202 and step 203 according to any time sequence according to needs under different scenarios, and specific execution processes and execution details will be described in detail in subsequent embodiments, which are not described herein again.

For example, in some scenarios, before a target network element establishes a connection with a network element to be migrated, a first interface message including a first F1AP PDU is sent only to the source network element, and the source network element is made to transparently transmit the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated, so that after the target network element determines that the connection with the network element to be migrated is established, a second F1AP PDU directly sent by the network element to be migrated is received, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for the connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed.

In the following embodiments, only the network element to be migrated is a gNB-DU, the source network element is a source gNB-CU currently connected to the gNB-DU, and the target network element is a target gNB-CU to which the gNB-DU is desirably connected.

The first embodiment is as follows:

referring to fig. 3, a currently corresponding scenario is that a source gNB-CU is currently connected to a gNB-DU, after the source gNB-CU determines that the gNB-DU needs to be migrated to a target gNB-CU, in a process that the gNB-DU is migrated from the source gNB-CU to the target gNB-CU, the source gNB-CU receives a first interface message containing a first F1AP PDU sent by the target gNB-CU, and transparently transmits the first F1AP PDU to the gNB-DU, and after a connection between the gNB-DU and the target gNB-CU is established, the gNB-DU directly sends an F1 interface message to the target gNB-CU, where the F1 interface message includes a second part of configuration information.

The method comprises the following specific steps:

s1: the source gNB-CU sends an interface message a1 to the target gNB-CU.

It should be noted that, in the case that the source gNB-CU and the gNB-DU remain connected, the source gNB-CU sends an interface message a1 to the target gNB-CU, where the interface message a1 is used to request the transfer of the gNB-DU to the target gNB-CU.

Specifically, the source gNB-CU determines to migrate to the target gNB-CU after determining that stable connection with the gNB-DU cannot be continued according to the current preconfigured information and the radio link condition information currently connected with the gNB-DU, and the migration process is intended to cause the gNB-DU to be no longer connected with the source gNB-CU but connected with the target gNB-CU, so that the interface message a1 is directly sent to the target gNB-CU.

S2: the target gNB-CU sends an interface message a2 containing the first F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU.

After determining to accommodate the migration of the gNB-DU, a target gNB-CU generates a first F1AP PDU based on composite information such as a current connection condition, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after the migration is completed, and the first part of configuration information specifically includes transport layer configuration information connected to one end of the target network element, and radio cell list information requested to be activated.

It should be noted that the interface message a2 containing the first F1AP PDU corresponds to the first interface message involved in step 102. The content of the first F1AP PDU is an F1 interface message intended to establish an F1 interface between the target gNB-CU and the gNB-DU, or an F1 interface message intended to update configuration information.

S3: the source gNB-CU passes through the first F1AP PDU to the gNB-DU.

S4: the gNB-DU performs the following two operations in arbitrary timing: disconnecting from the source gNB-CU and establishing a connection with the target gNB-CU.

After receiving a first F1AP PDU, a gNB-DU determines first part of configuration information contained in the first F1AP PDU, and then performs the following two operations according to any time sequence: the connection with the source gNB-CU is disconnected, and the connection with the target gNB-CU is established, specifically, the connection with the source gNB-CU is disconnected after the connection with the target gNB-CU is established by the gNB-DU, or the connection with the source gNB-CU is disconnected before the connection with the target gNB-CU is established by the gNB-DU, or the connection with the source gNB-CU is disconnected while the connection with the target gNB-CU is established by the gNB-DU.

Meanwhile, the gNB-DU applies the first part of configuration information.

S5: the gNB-DU sends a second F1AP PDU to the target gNB-CU.

And after establishing connection with a target gNB-CU, a gNB-DU directly sends a second F1AP PDU to the target gNB-CU, wherein the second F1AP PDU contains a second part of configuration information used by the connection between the gNB-DU and the target gNB-CU after migration is completed.

It should be noted that the second part of configuration information includes transport layer configuration information at one end of the gbb-DU and activated cell list information, and the second part of configuration information is used to indicate interface configuration of an F1 interface between the target gbb-CU and the gbb-DU after migration. The second F1AP PDU is a feedback message for the first F1AP PDU transparently passed in step S3.

Example two:

referring to fig. 4, a currently corresponding scenario is that a source gNB-CU is currently connected to a gNB-DU, and after the source gNB-CU determines that the gNB-DU needs to be migrated to a target gNB-CU, in a process of migrating the gNB-DU from the source gNB-CU to the target gNB-CU, the source gNB-CU first receives a first interface message which is sent by the target gNB-CU and includes a first F1AP PDU, and transparently transmits the first F1AP PDU to the gNB-DU, and then receives a second F1AP PDU which is sent by the gNB-DU, and transparently transmits the second F1AP PDU to the target gNB-CU through a second interface message.

The method comprises the following specific steps:

s1: the source gNB-CU sends an interface message b1 to the target gNB-CU.

It should be noted that, in the case that the source gNB-CU and the gNB-DU remain connected, the source gNB-CU sends an interface message b1 to the target gNB-CU, where the interface message b1 is used to request the transfer of the gNB-DU to the target gNB-CU.

Specifically, after determining that stable connection with the gNB-DU cannot be continued according to current preconfigured information and radio link condition information connected with the gNB-DU currently, the source gNB-CU determines to migrate to the target gNB-CU, and directly sends an interface message b1 to the target gNB-CU.

S2: the target gNB-CU sends an interface message b2 containing the first F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU.

After determining to accommodate migration of a gNB-DU based on composite information such as a current connection condition, a target gNB-CU generates a first F1AP PDU, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after the migration is completed, the first part of configuration information includes transport layer configuration information connected to one end of the target network element, radio cell list information requested to be activated, and the like, and the first part of configuration information is used for indicating configuration information of an F1 interface with the target gNB-CU.

It should be noted that the interface message b2 containing the first F1AP PDU corresponds to the first interface message involved in step 102. The content of the first F1AP PDU is an F1 interface message intended to establish an F1 interface between the target gNB-CU and the gNB-DU, or an F1 interface message intended to update configuration information.

S3: the source gNB-CU passes through the first F1AP PDU to the gNB-DU.

S4: the gNB-DU sends a second F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU.

Specifically, the gNB-DU sends a second F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for a connection between the gNB-DU and the target gNB-CU after the migration is completed.

It should be noted that the second part of configuration information includes transport layer configuration information connected to one end of the gbb-DU and activated cell list information, and is used to indicate interface configuration of an F1 interface between the gbb-DU and a target gbb-CU after migration of the gbb-DU. The second F1AP PDU is the feedback message of the first F1APPDU transmitted in step S3.

S5: the source gNB-CU passes through the second F1AP PDU to the target gNB-CU via interface message b 3.

It should be noted that the interface message b3 corresponds to the second interface message corresponding to step 103, and includes the second F1AP PDU sent by the gNB-DU.

S6: the following two operations are performed at arbitrary timing: the gNB-DU is disconnected from the source gNB-CU; and the gNB-DU establishes connection with the target gNB-CU.

The gNB-DU determines the first part of configuration information and the second part of configuration information based on the received first F1AP PDU and the transmitted second interface message, and then performs the following two operations according to any time sequence: the connection with the source gNB-CU is disconnected, and the connection with the target gNB-CU is established, specifically, the connection with the source gNB-CU is disconnected after the connection with the target gNB-CU is established by the gNB-DU, or the connection with the source gNB-CU is disconnected before the connection with the target gNB-CU is established by the gNB-DU, or the connection with the source gNB-CU is disconnected while the connection with the target gNB-CU is established by the gNB-DU.

Meanwhile, the gNB-DU applies the first partial configuration information and the second partial configuration information.

Example three:

referring to fig. 5, the scenario currently corresponds to the source gNB-CU currently remaining connected to the gNB-DU, after the source gNB-CU determines that the gNB-DU needs to be handover connected to the target gNB-CU, the source gNB-CU first sends an interface message to the target gNB-CU requesting migration, to request a determination whether the target gbb-CU allows access to the gbb-DU, and further after receiving the interface message of accepting the migration fed back by the target gNB-CU, sending an interface message for indicating the migration to the gNB-DU, and the source gNB-CU firstly receives a second F1AP PDU, transmits the second F1AP PDU to the gNB-DU through a second interface message, receives a first interface message containing a first F1AP PDU, and transmits the first F1AP PDU to the target gNB-CU.

The method comprises the following specific steps:

s1: the source gNB-CU sends an interface message c1 to the target gNB-CU.

It should be noted that the source gNB-CU sends an interface message c1 to the target gNB-CU, where the interface message c1 is used to determine whether the target gNB-CU allows the migration of the gNB-DU.

Specifically, the source gNB-CU determines to migrate to the target gNB-CU after determining that stable connection with the gNB-DU cannot be continued according to current preconfigured information and radio link condition information currently connected with the gNB-DU, where the migration process is intended to connect the gNB-DU to the target gNB-CU instead of connecting with the source gNB-CU.

S2: the target gbb-CU sends an interface message c2 to the source gbb-CU.

And after determining to accommodate the migration of the gNB-DU based on the composite information such as the current connection situation, the target gNB-CU sends an interface message c2 to the gNB-CU, wherein the interface message c2 is used for indicating the admission of the migration of the gNB-DU.

S3: the source gbb-CU sends an interface message to the gbb-DU indicating the migration.

It should be noted that the handover indication information is used to indicate that the gNB-DU is migrated to the target gNB-CU.

S4: the gNB-DU sends a second F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU.

Specifically, the gNB-DU sends a second F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU, where the second F1AP PDU includes second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed. The second part of configuration information at least comprises transport layer configuration information connected at one end of the gNB-DU and available radio cell list information for establishing an F1 logical interface with a target gNB-CU.

The transport layer configuration information is specifically transport layer address information of the gbb-DU, and the available cell list information may be configured as a list of radio cells currently controlled by the gbb-DU, or may be an available radio cell list, which is pre-configured to the gbb-DU and is related to a target gbb-CU.

S5: the source gNB-CU passes through a second F1AP PDU to the target gNB-CU via interface information c 3.

It should be noted that the interface information c3 corresponds to the second interface message involved in step 103.

S6: the target gNB-CU sends an interface message c4 containing the first F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU.

And the target gNB-CU sends an interface message c4 containing a first F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU, wherein the first F1AP PDU contains a first part of configuration information used by the connection between the target gNB-CU and the gNB-DU after the migration of the gNB-DU is completed, and the first part of configuration information at least comprises the configuration information of a transmission layer at one end of the target gNB-CU and the information of the radio cell list requested to be activated.

It should be noted that the interface message c4 corresponds to the first interface message involved in step 102, and the content of the first F1AP PDU is a feedback message for the second F1AP PDU in step S4, which is used to confirm the establishment of the F1 logical interface between the target gNB-CU and the gNB-DU.

S7: the source gNB-CU passes through the first F1AP PDU to the gNB-DU.

S8: the gNB-DU performs the following two operations in arbitrary timing: disconnecting from the source gNB-CU and establishing a connection with the target gNB-CU.

Example four:

referring to fig. 6, in a currently corresponding scenario, after the source gNB-CU determines that the gNB-DU needs to be migrated to the target gNB-CU, and in a process that the gNB-DU is migrated from the source gNB-CU to the target gNB-CU, it is determined that a handover of a user terminal is associated with a migration process of the gNB-DU to the target gNB-CU, the source gNB-CU first receives a first interface message including a first F1AP PDU, and transparently transmits the first F1AP PDU to the gNB-DU, and then receives a second F1AP PDU, and transparently transmits the second F1AP PDU to the target gNB-CU through a second interface message.

The specific steps for the switching process of the user terminal are as follows:

s1: the source gNB-CU sends handover request information to the target gNB-CU.

And after determining that stable connection with the gNB-DU cannot be continued according to the current pre-configuration information and the radio link condition information currently connected with the gNB-DU, the source gNB-CU determines a target gNB-CU for migration, wherein the migration process is intended to ensure that the gNB-DU is not connected with the source gNB-CU any more but is connected with the target gNB-CU, and as part of the migration process, the source gNB-CU needs to switch all the user terminals connected with the source gNB-CU through the gNB-DU to the target gNB-CU, so that the source gNB-CU sends a switching request message to the target gNB-CU for each user terminal.

It should be noted that the handover request information sent by the source gNB-CU to the target gNB-CU at least carries target cell identification information of the corresponding user terminal.

S2: the target gNB-CU sends an interface message d1 containing the first F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU.

Specifically, after determining to accept a handover request of a corresponding user equipment based on received handover request information, a target gNB-CU generates a first F1AP PDU, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed, and the first part of configuration information includes radio link control bearer configuration information requested to be established, serving cell list information requested to be established, and the like.

It should be noted that the interface message d1 corresponds to the first interface message in step 102, and the first part of configuration information is specifically used to request the gNB-DU to generate configuration information of an air interface between the target gNB-CU and the user terminal after handover. The content of the first F1AP PDU is an F1 interface message intended to establish or modify the user terminal context among the gNB-DUs.

The content requested in the first configuration information specifically includes enabling the gNB-DU to generate a corresponding user terminal context. Specifically, the request includes a plurality of configuration information and requests, such as: transport layer address information of a connection on a target gNB-CU side, which is used by the gNB-DU after the migration is completed and related to the user terminal, and which is also used for requesting the gNB-DU to generate a transport layer address on the gNB-DU side, which is used by the gNB-DU after the migration is completed and related to the user terminal; requesting configured RLC bearing configuration information, wherein the information is also used for requesting the gNB-DU to generate the RLC bearing configuration information used by the gNB-DU after the migration is completed; and requesting configured serving cell list information, which is also used for requesting the gNB-DU to generate serving cell list configuration information used by the gNB-DU after the migration is completed, and the like.

S3: the source gNB-CU passes through the first F1AP PDU to the gNB-DU.

S4: the gNB-DU sends a second F1AP PDU to the source gNB-CU.

When a gNB-DU acquires a first F1AP PDU, a target gNB-CU for generating the first F1AP PDU can be determined through a special Cell Identity (Cell ID) included in the first F1AP PDU, and then the gNB-DU sends a second F1AP PDU to a source gNB-CU, wherein the second F1AP PDU includes second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after migration is completed. The second part of configuration information is specifically information such as a transport layer address, RLC bearer configuration, and a serving cell list connected to the gbb-DU side.

It should be noted that the second F1AP PDU is specifically the feedback message of the first F1AP PDU involved in step S3.

S5: the source gNB-CU passes through a second F1AP PDU to the target gNB-CU through a second interface message.

S6: the target gNB-CU sends a handover request reply message containing an RRC reconfiguration message to the source gNB-CU.

Specifically, the target gNB-CU generates a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message corresponding to the ue based on the second part of configuration information included in the obtained second F1AP PDU, includes the RRC reconfiguration message in the generated handover request response message, and sends the generated handover request response message to the source gNB-CU.

S7: and the source gNB-CU sends downlink RRC message transmission information carrying the RRC reconfiguration message to the gNB-DU, and the gNB-DU sends the RRC reconfiguration message to the user terminal.

S8: and after the gNB-DU determines the access target gNB-CU, indicating the user terminal to access again.

S9: and after determining that all the user terminals are successfully re-accessed, the gNB-DU sends uplink RRC message transmission containing the RRC reconfiguration completion message to the target gNB-CU.

Specifically, after receiving the RRC reconfiguration message, the user terminal re-accesses the gbb-DU after accessing the target gbb-CU according to the indication, and feeds back an RRC reconfiguration complete message, and then the gbb-DU sends an uplink RRC message transmission message to the target gbb-CU to transmit the RRC reconfiguration complete message.

Based on the same inventive concept, referring to fig. 7, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the apparatus at the source network element side at least includes a processor 702 and a memory 701,

the processor 702 is configured to read the program in the memory 701 and perform the following operations:

Optionally, the processor 702 is further configured to, in response to receiving the first interface message containing the first F1AP PDU sent by the target network element, or/and before receiving the second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, further:

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

Based on the same inventive concept, referring to fig. 8, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, a transmission apparatus for configuration information during a migration process of a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element is provided, which at least includes: a first receiving unit 801, and a second receiving unit 802, wherein,

a first receiving unit 801, configured to send, in response to receiving a first interface message that is sent by the target network element and includes a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit F1AP PDU, the first F1AP PDU to the network element to be migrated, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed; and/or the first and/or second light sources,

the second receiving unit 802, in response to receiving a second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, sends the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed.

Based on the same inventive concept, referring to fig. 9, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the apparatus at the source network element side at least includes a processor 902 and a memory 901,

wherein the processor 902 is configured to read the program in the memory 901 and execute the following operations:

determining to receive the migration of the network element to be migrated.

Optionally, the processor 902 is further configured to:

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

Based on the same inventive concept, referring to fig. 10, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, a device for transmitting configuration information during a process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element is provided, which at least includes: a transmitting unit 1001, and a receiving unit 1002, wherein,

a sending unit 1001, configured to send a first interface message including a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit F1AP PDU to a source network element, so that the source network element sends the first F1AP PDU to a network element to be migrated, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between a target network element and the network element to be migrated after migration is completed;

a receiving unit 1002, configured to receive a second interface message that is sent by the source network element and includes a second F1AP PDU that is received by the source network element from the network element to be migrated, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed.

Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium, and when instructions in the storage medium are executed by a processor, the storage medium enables the above-mentioned method for transmitting configuration information in a network element migration process to be performed.

In summary, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, in a process of migrating a to-be-migrated network element from a source network element to a target network element, in response to receiving a first interface message that is sent by the target network element and includes a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit F1AP PDU, sending the first F1AP PDU to the to-be-migrated network element, where the first F1AP PDU includes a first part of configuration information used for connection between the target network element and the to-be-migrated network element after migration is completed; or/and in response to receiving a second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, sending the second F1AP PDU to the target network element through a second interface message, where the second F1AP PDU includes a second part of configuration information used for connection between the network element to be migrated and the target network element after the migration is completed. Therefore, in the network element migration process, the configuration information of the network element to be migrated is indirectly transmitted by the source network element through the F1AP PDU, and the connection with the target network element is not required to be established before the network element to be migrated is disconnected from the source network element, so that the hardware cost and complexity are greatly reduced, and the wide-range popularization can be realized.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present disclosure may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present disclosure 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 so forth) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present disclosure is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. 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.

While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, additional variations and modifications in those embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including preferred embodiments and all alterations and modifications as fall within the scope of the disclosure.

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

Claims

1. A method for transmitting configuration information in a process of migrating from a source network element to a target network element is applied to the source network element and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the responding to the receiving of the first interface message containing the first F1AP PDU sent by the target network element, or/and the responding to the receiving of the second F1AP PDU sent by the network element to be migrated, further comprises:

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first part of configuration information includes at least any one or any combination of the following information:

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second part of configuration information includes at least any one or any combination of the following information:

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

5. A method for transmitting configuration information in a process of migrating from a source network element to a target network element is applied to the target network element and is characterized by comprising the following steps:

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sending a first interface message containing a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit (F1AP PDU) to a source network element, or/and the receiving a second interface message containing a second F1AP PDU sent by the source network element from the network element to be migrated, further comprises:

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the first part of configuration information includes at least any one or any combination of the following information:

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the second part of configuration information includes at least any one or any combination of the following information:

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

10. A device for transmitting configuration information during a process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element, the device being characterized by at least comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to read an instruction in the memory and execute the following operations:

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said processor further configured to, in response to receiving a first interface message sent by said target network element containing a first F1AP PDU or/and in response to receiving a second F1AP PDU sent by said network element to be migrated, further:

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the first part of configuration information includes at least any one or any combination of the following information:

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the second part of configuration information includes at least any one or any combination of the following information:

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

14. A device for transmitting configuration information during a process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element, the device being characterized by at least comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to read an instruction in the memory and execute the following operations:

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said processor is further configured to, before said sending a first interface message comprising a first F1 interface application processing protocol data unit, F1AP PDU, to a source network element, or/and said receiving a second interface message comprising a second F1AP PDU received by said source network element from said network element to be migrated, sent by said source network element:

determining to receive the migration of the network element to be migrated.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is further to:

17. The apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the first part of configuration information includes at least any one or any combination of the following information:

requesting activated radio cell list information;

requesting the established radio link control bearer configuration information;

requesting the established serving cell list information.

18. The apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the second part of configuration information includes at least any one or any combination of the following information:

activated cell list information;

available radio cell list information;

the established radio link controls the bearer configuration information;

established serving cell list information.

19. A device for transmitting configuration information during the process of migrating a network element to be migrated from a source network element to a target network element is characterized by comprising:

20. A method for transmitting configuration information in a migration process from a source network element to a target network element is characterized by comprising the following steps:

21. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein instructions in the storage medium, when executed by a processor, enable execution of the method for transferring configuration information during migration from a source network element to a target network element according to any of claims 1 to 4.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein instructions in the storage medium, when executed by a processor, enable performing the method for transferring configuration information during migration from a source network element to a target network element according to any of claims 5-9.