CN114222313A

CN114222313A - Configuration device, method and recording medium for configuring RNA in shared carrier base station

Info

Publication number: CN114222313A
Application number: CN202010917106.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赵晓垠; 谢伟良
Original assignee: China Telecom Corp Ltd
Current assignee: China Telecom Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2020-09-03
Filing date: 2020-09-03
Publication date: 2022-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-03
Also published as: CN114222313B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a configuration apparatus, method and recording medium for configuring an RNA in a shared carrier base station. The invention discloses a method for configuring a radio access network notification area (RNA) in a shared carrier base station, which comprises the following steps: identifying attributions of the user equipment to different operators by utilizing an attribution identifier; determining, by an RNA configuration decision maker, RNA configuration schemes for the user equipment of different operators according to affiliations of the user equipment for the different operators, where the RNA configuration schemes include a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme, and a tracking area identification list configuration scheme; respectively executing the RNA configuration schemes determined by the RNA configuration decision device by a plurality of RNA configurators aiming at user equipment of different operators; and performing, by the shared carrier base station, corresponding location update management for user equipment of different operators based on respective RNA configurations.

Description

Configuration device, method and recording medium for configuring RNA in shared carrier base station

Technical Field

The present invention belongs to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular, to a configuration device, method and recording medium for configuring RNA in a shared carrier base station.

Background

The mainstream scheme of the fifth generation mobile communication (5G) shared network is that multiple operators share one physical base station, and the physical base station transmits data back to core networks independently built by the operators.

The shared network is divided according to a carrier sharing mode and can be divided into a shared carrier mode and an independent carrier mode. Wherein, sharing carrier means that all the frequencies of each operator are shared and used together; independent carriers refer to that although each operator shares base station equipment, only the own frequency of each operator can be used, i.e., the frequency is not shared.

The 5G network will densely deploy small base stations, and the smaller range of cell coverage causes frequent location update and increased difficulty in paging users when users move between cells, which brings a lot of location update and paging signaling overhead to the network. The Inactive (RRC Inactive) state under radio resource control is newly added in the 5G network, and becomes the main state of the 5G network user due to its low power consumption and energy saving features. In order to effectively page the user in the Inactive state and reduce the signaling overhead in the network, the user location needs to be tracked. The tracking Inactive user in 5G is based on a Notification Area (RAN Notification Area, RNA for short) of a Radio Access Network (RAN), and the user may move in the Area without performing core Network tracking Area update.

At present, three RNA configuration methods with different granularities are proposed for Inactive state users in the 3GPP standard, which are respectively as follows: a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme and a tracking area identification list configuration scheme.

The RNA configuration scheme based on the cell list is only suitable for the user scenario with high paging rate, i.e. the user with periodic data transmission, slow moving speed, and data transmission frequency much higher than the moving rate, because the granularity of the configuration is small.

The RAN-based area identity list configuration scheme is only suitable for user scenarios with high mobility, i.e. users with low data transmission frequency but high mobility speed need to be notified in a large area, because of its large configuration granularity.

Disclosure of Invention

Conventionally, a network management device needs to generate configuration information from measurement data and configure an access network RNA according to the configuration information. However, at present, there is no method for implementing RNA configuration differentiation for a shared carrier base station co-established by different operators.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a configuration apparatus, method and recording medium for configuring an RNA in a shared carrier base station, which can set a differential RNA configuration scheme when user services of different operators are different in the shared carrier base station.

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. It should be understood, however, that this summary is not an exhaustive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for configuring a radio access network notification region, namely RNA, in a shared carrier base station, the method comprising: identifying attributions of the user equipment to different operators by utilizing an attribution identifier; determining, by an RNA configuration decision maker, RNA configuration schemes for the user equipment of different operators according to affiliations of the user equipment for the different operators, where the RNA configuration schemes include a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme, and a tracking area identification list configuration scheme; respectively executing the RNA configuration schemes determined by the RNA configuration decision device by a plurality of RNA configurators aiming at user equipment of different operators; and performing, by the shared carrier base station, corresponding location update management for user equipment of different operators based on respective RNA configurations.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for configuring a radio access network notification region, i.e., RNA, in a shared carrier base station, the apparatus including: an affiliation identifier that identifies affiliations of the user equipment to different operators; an RNA configuration decision-making device, which determines RNA configuration schemes for the user equipment of different operators according to the attribution of the user equipment to different operators, wherein the RNA configuration schemes comprise a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme and a tracking area identification list configuration scheme; and a plurality of RNA configurators, which respectively execute the RNA configuration schemes determined by the RNA configuration decision device aiming at the user equipment of different operators, and the shared carrier base station executes corresponding location update management aiming at the user equipment of different operators based on the respective RNA configuration schemes.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the configuration method according to the above.

According to the embodiment of the invention, the differential RNA configuration scheme can be set when the user services of different operators are different under the shared carrier, so that different operators can develop the differential services, the service homogenization is avoided, the limitation of the shared carrier technical scheme is broken through, the service bearing flexibility of the shared carrier system is improved, and the implementation and popularization of the shared carrier technical scheme are facilitated.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a shared carrier base station.

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration apparatus for configuring RNA in a shared carrier base station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a configuration method according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration apparatus for configuring RNA in a shared carrier base station according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that: the relative arrangement of the components and steps, the numerical expressions and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention unless specifically stated otherwise.

Meanwhile, it should be understood that the sizes of the respective portions shown in the drawings are not drawn in an actual proportional relationship for the convenience of description.

The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. Techniques, methods, and apparatus known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail but are intended to be part of the specification where appropriate.

In all examples shown and discussed herein, any particular value should be construed as merely illustrative, and not limiting. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values.

It should be noted that: like reference numbers and letters refer to like items in the following figures, and thus, once an item is defined in one figure, further discussion thereof is not required in subsequent figures.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a shared carrier base station.

In fig. 1, an operator a and an operator B share a wireless network and a carrier, and each independently construct a bearer network and a core network. The user a of the operator A and the user B of the operator B access a wireless network through a shared carrier of the shared network, the wireless network distinguishes user data of different operators and then respectively transmits the user data back to respective core networks, the data of the user a is transmitted back to the core network of the operator A, and the data of the user B is transmitted back to the core network of the operator B.

In the radio access network Sharing (RAN Sharing) technology of the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standard, two or more operators may share a radio access network, Sharing radio access network equipment including a baseband, a radio frequency, an antenna, and the like. More than two operators can use different carriers under the same base station respectively, and can also share the carriers of the base station. When more than two operators share the same carrier, the base station may inform the Mobile Network IDs of multiple operators, i.e. PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) IDs, in a broadcast message SIB1(System Information Block). The UE (User Equipment) receives a broadcast message SIB1 sent by the base station, performs network selection according to a PLMN ID in the broadcast message, and reports the PLMN ID (PLMN identity) of the selected network to the base station.

The fifth generation mobile communication (5G) network will densely deploy small base stations, and the smaller range of cell coverage causes frequent location updating and increased difficulty in paging users when users move between cells, which brings a lot of location updating and paging signaling overhead to the network. The Inactive (RRC Inactive) state under radio resource control is newly added in the 5G network, and becomes the main state of the 5G network user due to its low power consumption and energy saving features. In order to effectively page the user in the Inactive state and reduce the signaling overhead in the network, the user location needs to be tracked. The tracking Inactive user in 5G is based on a Notification Area (RAN Notification Area, RNA for short) of a Radio Access Network (RAN), and the user may move in the Area without performing core Network tracking Area update.

At present, three RNA configuration methods with different granularities are proposed for Inactive state users in the 3GPP standard, which are respectively as follows: a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN area Identification (ID) list configuration scheme, and a Tracking Area Identification (TAI) list configuration scheme.

The RNA configuration scheme based on the cell list is only suitable for the user scenario with high paging rate, i.e. the user with periodic data transmission, slow moving speed, and data transmission frequency much higher than the moving rate, because the granularity of the configuration is small. For a user with a high moving speed, the RNA configured in the cell list is relatively small for the user, and may span different RNAs due to the movement of the user, so that the RNA region update signaling is frequently generated. Meanwhile, each Inactive user needs to configure RNA through dedicated signaling, which will generate a large amount of signaling overhead dedicated to RNA configuration.

The RNA configuration scheme based on the RAN area identity list/TAI list is only suitable for a user scenario with high mobility, that is, a user with a low data transmission frequency but a fast mobility needs to be notified in a large area, because the configuration granularity is large. For users with high paging rates, the RNA configured from the RAN area list is relatively large for users, and a large amount of RAN paging signaling is generated due to frequent paging of users by the network. The user has lower configuration flexibility with respect to the cell list scheme. Broadcasting cell IDs per cell is system mandatory, while broadcasting RAN area IDs adds additional signaling overhead to the base station cell and requires consideration of the mapping between each cell and RAN area ID.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a configuration apparatus for configuring RNA in a shared carrier base station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 2, the configuration apparatus 20 is installed in the shared carrier base station 2. The configuration device 20 includes a home identifier 201, an RNA configuration decision unit 202, and a plurality of RNA configurators. In fig. 2, a case where the RNA configurator is two (i.e., the first RNA configurator 203 and the second RNA configurator 204) is illustrated, but it is to be understood that the number of RNA configurators is not limited to two. In one embodiment, the number of RNA deployers may be 3 or more. Here, the number of RNA configurators corresponds to the number of operators.

The home identifier 201 is used to identify the home of one or more User Equipments (UEs) 300 for different operators. The user equipment 300 is divided into a first home user equipment 301 and a second home user equipment 302 according to affiliations of different operators. In this embodiment, the first home subscriber device 301 belongs to a first operator and the second home subscriber device 302 belongs to a second operator. In one embodiment, the user equipment 300 is a device that needs to access a mobile network. User equipment 300 may be referred to by different names such as terminal, access terminal, terminal unit, terminal station, mobile station, remote terminal, mobile device, wireless communication device, vehicular user equipment, terminal agent, or terminal device. Optionally, the user equipment 300 may be various handheld devices, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, and computers with communication functions, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. For example, the handheld device may be a smartphone. The in-vehicle device may be an in-vehicle navigation system. The wearable device may be a smart bracelet. The computer may be a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) computer, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer. Additionally, in one embodiment, the home identifier 201 may be a PLMN identifier. For example, when more than two operators share the same carrier, the shared carrier base station 2 may inform the PLMN IDs of multiple operators in the broadcast message SIB 1. The user equipment 300 receives the broadcast message SIB1 sent by the shared carrier base station 2, performs network selection according to the PLMN ID in the broadcast message, and reports the PLMN ID of the selected network to the shared carrier base station 2, so that the affiliation identifier 201 determines affiliation of the user equipment 300 with respect to different operators according to the PLMN ID obtained by the shared carrier base station 2, that is, determines whether the user equipment 300 belongs to a first operator or a second operator.

The RNA configuration decision maker 202 is configured to determine an RNA configuration scheme for user equipment of different operators according to their affiliations to the different operators. In one embodiment, the correspondence of operator's attribution to the RNA configuration protocol may be predefined and stored. In another embodiment, the correspondence between PLMN IDs and RNA configuration schemes may also be predefined and stored. Thus, the RNA placement protocol was determined based on the above correspondence.

The RNA configuration scheme includes a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme, and a Tracking Area Identification (TAI) list configuration scheme. The RNA configuration scheme based on the cell list is only suitable for the user scenario with high paging rate, i.e. the user with periodic data transmission, slow moving speed, and data transmission frequency much higher than the moving rate, because the granularity of the configuration is small. For a user with a high moving speed, the RNA configured in the cell list is relatively small for the user, and may span different RNAs due to the movement of the user, so that the RNA region update signaling is frequently generated. Meanwhile, each Inactive user needs to configure RNA through dedicated signaling, which will generate a large amount of signaling overhead dedicated to RNA configuration. The RNA configuration scheme based on the RAN area identity list/TAI list is only suitable for a user scenario with high mobility, that is, a user with a low data transmission frequency but a fast mobility needs to be notified in a large area, because the configuration granularity is large. For users with high paging rates, the RNA configured from the RAN area list is relatively large for users, and a large amount of RAN paging signaling is generated due to frequent paging of users by the network. The user has lower configuration flexibility with respect to the cell list scheme. Broadcasting cell IDs per cell is system mandatory, while broadcasting RAN area IDs adds additional signaling overhead to the base station cell and requires consideration of the mapping between each cell and RAN area ID. In one embodiment, the RNA profiles determined by the RNA profile decision-maker 202 for different operators may be the same RNA profile or different profiles. The following table shows the configuration mode, configuration granularity, scheme characteristics and other related information of the RNA configuration scheme.

The RNA configurator (comprising in the embodiment of fig. 2 a first RNA configurator 301 and a second RNA configurator 302) is configured to execute the RNA configuration scheme determined by the RNA configuration decision maker for user equipments of different operators. In one embodiment, the first RNA configurator 203 performs the RNA configuration scheme determined by the RNA configuration decider 202 for a user equipment of a first operator (e.g. a first home user equipment 301 in fig. 2), and the second RNA configurator 204 performs the RNA configuration scheme determined by the RNA configuration decider 202 for a user equipment of a second operator (e.g. a second home user equipment 302 in fig. 2).

The shared carrier base station 2 performs corresponding location update management for the user equipments 300 of different operators based on respective RNA configuration schemes.

In one embodiment, in case the RNA configuration decision maker 202 determines the RNA configuration scheme allocated to the user equipment of the operator as a Cell list configuration scheme, the shared carrier base station configures the user equipment with a Cell identity (Cell ID) by proprietary signaling.

In one embodiment, in case the RNA configuration decision maker 202 determines the RNA configuration scheme allocated to the user equipment 300 of the operator as a RAN area identification list configuration scheme, the shared carrier base station broadcasts a RAN area code (RANAC) in the cell system information.

The embodiment of the invention can be applied to network sharing of different operators, realizes a configuration scheme that different operators adopt RNAs with different granularities for different services, and improves the service bearing flexibility of a shared carrier system.

In addition, according to the embodiment of the invention, the device and the method for flexibly configuring the RAN notification area can be provided, which are beneficial to different operators to develop differentiated services, avoid service homogenization, break through the limitation of the shared carrier technical scheme, improve the service bearing flexibility of the shared carrier system, and are beneficial to implementation and popularization of the shared carrier technical scheme. In addition, the configuration scheme of RNA with different granularities can be simultaneously selected according to the service requirement under the same carrier, thereby breaking through the limitation of the technical scheme of sharing the carrier and improving the flexibility of service bearing of the system of sharing the carrier.

Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram of a configuration method according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown in fig. 3, in step S301, the attribution of the user equipment 300 to different operators is identified by the attribution identifier 201.

Next, in step S302, an RNA configuration scheme of the user equipment 300 for different operators is determined by the RNA configuration decision maker 202 according to the affiliations of the user equipment 300 for different operators, where the RNA configuration includes a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme, and a tracking area identification list configuration scheme.

Next, in step S303, the RNA configuration scheme determined by the RNA configuration decision unit 202 is executed by a plurality of RNA configurators (e.g. the first RNA configurator 203 and the second RNA configurator 204) for the user equipments 300 of different operators.

Next, in step S304, the shared carrier base station 2 performs corresponding location update management for user equipments of different operators based on respective RNA configurations.

In one embodiment, in step S304, in case that the RNA configuration decision maker 202 determines the RNA configuration scheme allocated to the user equipment of the operator as the Cell list configuration scheme, the shared carrier base station configures the user equipment with a Cell identification number (Cell ID) through a proprietary signaling.

In one embodiment, in step S304, in case the RNA configuration decision maker 202 determines the RNA configuration scheme allocated to the user equipment 300 of the operator as a RAN area identification list configuration scheme, the shared carrier base station broadcasts a RAN area code (RANAC) in the cell system information.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a configuration apparatus for configuring RNA in a shared carrier base station according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, a more specific embodiment of the invention is shown using FIG. 4. The same or similar structures as those in fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof may be omitted.

As shown in fig. 4, the configuration apparatus 20 is installed in the 5G shared carrier base station 2. The configuration device 20 includes a PLMN identifier 201, an RNA configuration decision unit 202, and a plurality of RNA configurators. Fig. 4 illustrates a case where two RNA configurators, that is, an RNA configurator 203 and an RNA configurator 204 are provided.

The PLMN identifier 201 is used to identify the affiliation of one or more user equipments 300 to different operators. In the example of fig. 4, the different operators are the a operator and the B operator. The user equipment 300 is divided into a first home user equipment 301 and a second home user equipment 302 according to the affiliation of the a and B operators. The first home user equipment 301 belongs to the a operator and the second home user equipment 302 belongs to the B operator. When the a and B operators share the same carrier, the 5G shared carrier base station 2 informs the PLMN IDs of the a and B operators in a broadcast message SIB 1. The user equipment 300 receives the broadcast message SIB1 sent by the 5G shared carrier base station 2, performs network selection according to the PLMN ID in the broadcast message, and reports the PLMN ID of the selected network to the 5G shared carrier base station 2, so that the affiliation identifier 201 determines affiliation of the user equipment 300 with respect to different operators according to the PLMN ID obtained by the 5G shared carrier base station 2, that is, determines whether the user equipment 300 belongs to an a operator or a B operator.

The RNA configuration decision maker 202 is configured to determine an RNA configuration scheme for the user equipment 300 of the a and B operators according to the attribution of the user equipment 300 for the a and B operators. The RNA configuration comprises a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme and a tracking area identification list configuration scheme. The RNA profiles determined by the RNA profile decision-maker 202 for operator a and operator B may be the same RNA profile or different profiles. For example, in one scenario, the RNA profiles of both operator a and operator B may be cell list profiles; in another case, the RNA configuration scheme of the operator a is a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme, and the RNA configuration scheme of the operator B is a tracking area identification list configuration scheme; in yet another scenario, the RNA configuration scheme of operator a is a cell list configuration scheme and the RNA configuration scheme of operator B is a tracking area identity list configuration scheme. In one embodiment, the correspondence of operator's attribution to the RNA configuration protocol may be predefined and stored. In another embodiment, the correspondence between PLMN IDs and RNA configuration schemes may also be predefined and stored. Thus, the RNA placement protocol was determined based on the above correspondence.

The first RNA configurator 301 and the second RNA configurator 302 are configured to execute the RNA configuration scheme determined by the RNA configuration decider for the first home user equipment 301 and the second home user equipment 302 of the a operator and the B operator, respectively. The first RNA configurator 203 performs the RNA configuration scheme, i.e. the cell list configuration scheme, determined by the RNA configuration decider 202 for the first home user equipment 301 of the a operator, and the second RNA configurator 204 performs the RNA configuration scheme, i.e. the RAN notification area identity list configuration scheme, determined by the RNA configuration decider 202 for the second home user equipment 302 of the B operator.

The 5G shared carrier base station 2 performs corresponding location update management for the user equipments 300 of the a operator and the B operator B based on the respective RNA configuration schemes.

In case the RNA configuration decision maker 202 configures the RNA configuration scheme allocated to the first home user equipment 301 of the a operator as a Cell list configuration scheme, the shared carrier base station configures the user equipment with a Cell identity (Cell ID) by means of proprietary signaling.

In case the RNA configuration decision maker is to allocate an RNA configuration scheme to the second home user equipment 302 of the B-operator as a RAN-area identification list configuration scheme, the shared carrier base station broadcasts a RAN-area code (RANAC) in the cell system information.

The embodiment of the invention can be applied to network sharing of different operators, realizes the configuration scheme that different operators adopt RNAs with different granularities for different services, and improves the service bearing flexibility of a shared carrier system.

According to the embodiment of the invention, the device and the method for flexibly configuring the RAN notification area can be provided, which are beneficial to different operators to develop differentiated services, avoid service homogenization, break through the limitation of the shared carrier technical scheme, improve the service bearing flexibility of the shared carrier system, and are beneficial to implementation and popularization of the shared carrier technical scheme. In addition, the configuration scheme of RNA with different granularities can be simultaneously selected according to the service requirement under the same carrier, thereby breaking through the limitation of the technical scheme of sharing the carrier and improving the flexibility of service bearing of the system of sharing the carrier.

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in embodiments of the invention" and similar language throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a system, apparatus, method, or computer-readable medium (e.g., non-transitory storage medium) as a computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in various forms, such as an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-program code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," module "or" system. Furthermore, the present invention may also be embodied in any tangible medium as a computer program product having computer usable program code stored thereon.

The present invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of systems, apparatuses, methods and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and any combination of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be executed by a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, 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, implement the functions or acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

Flowcharts and block diagrams of the architecture, functionality, and operation that may be implemented by the systems, devices, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of program code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in the drawings may be executed substantially concurrently, or in some cases, in the reverse order from the drawing depending on the functions involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Having described embodiments of the present invention, the foregoing description is intended to be exemplary, not exhaustive, and not limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen in order to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application, or technical improvements to the market technology, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a radio access network notification area (RNA) in a shared carrier base station comprises the following steps:

identifying attributions of the user equipment to different operators by utilizing an attribution identifier;

determining, by an RNA configuration decision maker, RNA configuration schemes for the user equipment of different operators according to affiliations of the user equipment for the different operators, where the RNA configuration schemes include a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme, and a tracking area identification list configuration scheme;

respectively executing the RNA configuration schemes determined by the RNA configuration decision device by a plurality of RNA configurators aiming at user equipment of different operators; and

performing, by the shared carrier base station, corresponding location update management for user equipment of different operators based on respective RNA configurations.

2. The configuration method of claim 1,

and in the case that the RNA configuration decision device determines the RNA configuration scheme allocated to the user equipment of the operator as a cell list configuration scheme, the shared carrier base station configures a cell label for the user equipment.

3. The configuration method of claim 1,

in case the RNA configuration decision maker determines an RNA configuration scheme allocated to user equipment of an operator as a RAN area identity list configuration scheme, the shared carrier base station broadcasts a RAN area code in cell system information, wherein RAN represents a radio access network.

4. The configuration method of claim 1,

the home identifier is a PLMN identifier that identifies the user equipment as being home to different operators according to a PLMN ID fed back by the user equipment, wherein PLMN represents a public land mobile network.

5. The configuration method of claim 1,

the RNA configuration decision maker determines the RNA configuration scheme according to the preset and stored corresponding relation between the home country or PLMN ID of an operator and the RNA configuration scheme, wherein the PLMN represents a public land mobile network.

6. An apparatus for configuring a radio access network notification area (RNA) in a shared carrier base station, comprising:

an affiliation identifier that identifies affiliations of the user equipment to different operators;

an RNA configuration decision-making device, which determines RNA configuration schemes for the user equipment of different operators according to the attribution of the user equipment to different operators, wherein the RNA configuration schemes comprise a cell list configuration scheme, a RAN notification area identification list configuration scheme and a tracking area identification list configuration scheme; and

a plurality of RNA configurators, which respectively execute the RNA configuration schemes determined by the RNA configuration decision device aiming at the user equipment of different operators,

and the shared carrier base station executes corresponding location update management aiming at user equipment of different operators based on respective RNA configuration schemes.

7. The configuration device of claim 6,

8. The configuration device of claim 6,

in case the RNA configuration decision maker determines an RNA configuration scheme allocated to the user equipment of an operator as a RAN area identity list configuration scheme, the shared carrier base station broadcasts a RAN area code in cell system information, wherein RAN represents a radio access network.

9. The configuration device of claim 6,

10. The configuration device of claim 6,

11. A computer-readable recording medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-5.