JP2010004565A - Mobile communication method and mobile station - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile communication method for solving a drawback with an LTE-AS function by defining a concrete reconnection procedure by an NAS function in a mobile station. <P>SOLUTION: This mobile communication method includes: a step in which the LTE-AS function transmits a reconnection request to an EMM function upon detecting that an RRC connection becomes an idle state; a step in which the EMM function activates a service request timer upon receiving the reconnection request; and a step in which the EMM function transmits a service request when detecting that the LTE-AS function is in a cell before expiration of the service request timer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, a mobile station uses a first protocol function and a second protocol function to perform a first connection between the mobile station and a radio base station and a second connection between the radio base station and an exchange station. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

  In an LTE (Long Term Evolution) mobile communication system defined by 3GPP, an AS (Access Stratum) function (hereinafter, LTE-AS function) of a mobile station UE is caused by a handover failure or radio quality degradation. When “Radio Link Failure” is detected, a reconnection procedure is performed.

3GPP TS36.331 v8.1.0 (March 2008 edition)

  Here, the LTE-AS function can perform the reconnection procedure only for the radio base station eNB (cell) that holds the “UE Context” of the mobile station UE.

  That is, when the LTE-AS function transmits “RRC Connection Reestablishment Request” to a radio base station eNB (cell) that does not hold “UE Context” of the mobile station UE, The RRC connection between the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB transitions to an idle state without receiving “RRC Connection Reestablishment Reject” and waiting for the expiration of the T311 timer.

  In such a case, since the T311 timer has not expired, the S1 connection between the radio base station eNB and the switching center MME is maintained without being disconnected, so that the switching center MME receives an incoming signal addressed to the mobile station UE, When data or the like is received, an incoming signal or the like is transmitted to the radio base station eNB in which the RRC connection with the mobile station UE is released, and the mobile station UE receives the incoming signal or the like There was a problem that it was not possible.

  In order to solve such a problem, it has been studied to perform a reconnection procedure using the NAS (Non Access Stratum) function of the mobile station UE. At present, a specific reconnection procedure using the NAS function of the mobile station UE is studied. I have not been able to consider.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and by defining a specific reconnection procedure by the NAS function in the mobile station, the above-described problems of the LTE-AS function can be solved. An object is to provide a mobile communication method and a mobile station.

  The first feature of the present invention is that the mobile station uses the first protocol function and the second protocol function to establish a first connection between the mobile station and the radio base station and between the radio base station and the exchange station. The first protocol function performs processing corresponding to the first protocol terminated with the radio base station, and the second protocol function Is a higher-order protocol of the first protocol, performs processing corresponding to the second protocol terminated between the mobile station and the switching center, and the first protocol function sets the first connection in an idle state. A step of transmitting a reconnection request to the second protocol function when the second protocol function is detected, and a service request tag when the second protocol function receives the reconnection request. And a step of transmitting a service request when the second protocol function detects that the first protocol function is within range before the service request timer expires. Is the gist.

  The second feature of the present invention is that, using the first protocol function and the second protocol function, via the first connection between the radio base station and the second connection between the radio base station and the exchange. A mobile station configured to perform communication, wherein the first protocol function is configured to perform processing corresponding to a first protocol terminated with the radio base station, and 2 protocol function is an upper protocol of the first protocol, and is configured to perform processing corresponding to the second protocol that terminates between the mobile station and the switching center, and the first protocol function is When the first connection is detected to be idle, the second protocol function is configured to transmit a reconnection request to the second protocol function. It is configured to start a service request timer when the reconnection request is received, and the second protocol function is within range of the first protocol function before the service request timer expires. The gist of the present invention is that it is configured to transmit a service request when it is detected.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a mobile communication method and a mobile station that can solve the above-described problems of the LTE-AS function by defining a specific reconnection procedure using the NAS function in the mobile station. Can be provided.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a mobile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a mobile station according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(Mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention)
With reference to FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 7, the mobile communication system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment includes a core network CN, a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems) switching center SGSN, a radio network controller RNC, a radio base station NB, and an LTE switching system. A station MME and a radio base station eNB.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile station UE includes an ESM function, an EMM function, and an LTE-AS function as LTE functions, and an SM / SMS function and a GMM as UMTS functions. And a UMTS-AS function.

  Here, the LTE-AS function and the UMTS-AS function are configured to perform processing corresponding to the AS protocol (first protocol) terminated with the mobile station UE radio base station eNB / NB.

  The EMM function and the GMM function are protocols higher than the AS protocol (first protocol), and perform processing corresponding to the NAS protocol (second protocol) that terminates between the mobile station UE and the switching center MME / SGSN. Configured to do.

  The mobile station UE has an RRC connection (first connection) between the radio base station eNB / NB and an S1 connection / Iu connection (second connection) between the radio base station eNB / NB and the exchange MME / SGSN. ) To perform communication.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

  First, with reference to FIG. 3, the operation (1) when the reconnection procedure by the NAS function in the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment ends normally will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in step S1000, when communication via the RRC connection is performed between the LTE-AS function of the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB-A, in step S1001, the LTE -When the AS function detects “Radio Link Failure” in the RRC connection, it starts the T311 timer.

  The LTE-AS function performs a cell search in step S1002, and detects a communicable cell (a cell under the radio base station eNB-B in the example of FIG. 3) before the T311 timer expires in step S1003. Then, in step S1004, “RRC Connection Reestablishment Request (re-configuration request)” is transmitted to the radio base station eNB-B.

  In step S1005, since the radio base station eNB-B does not hold the “UE Context” of the mobile station UE, the “RRC Connection Reestablishment Reject (re-set rejection)” is performed for the LTE-AS function of the mobile station UE. Response) ".

  In step S1006, since the LTE-AS function receives the “RRC Connection Reestablishment Reject”, the RRC connection between the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB does not wait for the T311 timer to expire. , Transition to the idle state.

  In step S1007, when there is a communicable cell (that is, in the range), the LTE-AS function transmits an in-range notification indicating that to the EMM function, and in step S1008, the “Reconnect request ( Reconnection request) ”is sent to the EMM function.

  When receiving the “Reconnect request (reconnection request)”, the EMM function activates the “Reconnect timer (service request timer)”. The time counted by the “Reconnect timer” may be set via a network or may be a fixed value.

  Here, since the EMM function detects that the LTE-AS function is within the range before the Reconnect timer expires due to the reception of the above-mentioned range notification, in step S1009, the EMM function detects the LTE-AS function. , "Service Request" is transmitted.

  In step S1010, the LTE-AS function performs “RRC Connection Request (RRC connection request)” to the radio base station eNB-B managing a communicable cell in response to “Service Request (service request)”. ".

  In step S1011, the radio base station eNB-B transmits “RRC Connection Setup (RRC connection setup)” to the LTE-AS function. In step S1012, the radio base station eNB-B In response, “RRC Connection Setup Complete (RRC Connection Setting Complete)” and “Service Request (Service Request)” are transmitted.

  In step S1013, the radio base station eNB-B transmits “S1 Initial UE Message” to the switching center MME. In step S1014, the switching base station MME transmits “S1 Initial UE Message” to the radio base station eNB-B. "Initial UE Context Setup" is returned.

  In step S1015, the radio base station eNB-B transmits “S1 Setup Complete” to the exchange MME. In step S1016, the exchange MME sends a radio base station to the radio base station eNB-A. “S1 Release” instructing to release the S1 connection established between the eNB-A and the switching center MME is transmitted.

  In step S1017, after the radio base station eNB-A releases the S1 connection established with the switching center MME, the radio base station eNB-A transmits “S1 Release Complete” indicating that fact to the switching center MME.

  In step S1018, after the above-described S1 connection is established, by continuing the transmission procedure, that is, by performing the authentication procedure, the concealment procedure, and the call control procedure, the LTE-AS function and the radio base station eNB-B And between the LTE-NAS function and the switching center MME.

  Secondly, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation (2) when the reconnection procedure by the NAS function in the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment is normally completed will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in step S2000, when communication via the RRC connection is performed between the LTE-AS function of the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB-A, in step S2001, LTE is performed. -When the AS function detects “Radio Link Failure” in the RRC connection, it starts the T311 timer.

  The LTE-AS function performs a cell search in step S2002, and detects a communicable cell (cell under the radio base station eNB-A in the example of FIG. 4) before the T311 timer expires in step S2003. Then, in Step S2004, “RRC Connection Reestablishment Request (re-configuration request)” is transmitted to the radio base station eNB-A.

  In step S2005, before the LTE-AS function receives a response to “RRC Connection Reestablishment Request (re-configuration request)”, the T311 timer has expired, so the RRC connection between the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB is , Transition to the idle state.

  In step S2007, the LTE-AS function confirms that there is no communicable cell (that is, out of service area), transmits an out-of-service notification indicating that to the EMM function, and in step S2008, "Reconnect" Request (reconnection request) "is sent to the EMM function.

  When receiving the “Reconnect request (reconnection request)”, the EMM function activates the “Reconnect timer”.

  Thereafter, in step S2008, the LTE-AS function confirms that there is a communicable cell (that is, has entered the range), and transmits a range notification indicating that to the EMM function.

  Here, since the EMM function detects that the LTE-AS function is within the range before the Reconnect timer expires due to the reception of the above-mentioned range notification, in step S2009, for the LTE-AS function. , "Service Request" is transmitted.

  In step S2010, the LTE-AS function performs "RRC Connection Request (RRC connection request)" to the radio base station eNB-A managing a communicable cell in response to "Service Request (service request)". ".

  In step S2011, the radio base station eNB-A transmits “RRC Connection Setup (RRC connection setup)” to the LTE-AS function. In step S2012, the LTE-AS function is transmitted to the radio base station eNB-A. In response, “RRC Connection Setup Complete (RRC Connection Setting Complete)” and “Service Request (Service Request)” are transmitted.

  Here, when the S1 connection between the radio base station eNB-A and the switching center MME is not established, in step S2013, the radio base station eNB-A sends a “S1 Initial UE Message” to the switching center MME. In step S2014, the switching center MME returns “S1 Initial UE Context Setup” to the radio base station eNB-B. In step S2015, the radio base station eNB-A In response to this, “S1 Setup Complete” is transmitted.

  Thereafter, in step S2016, by continuing the transmission procedure, that is, by performing the authentication procedure, the concealment procedure, and the call control procedure, between the LTE-AS function and the radio base station eNB-A, and the LTE-NAS. Communication can be performed between the function and the exchange MME.

  Thirdly, with reference to FIG. 5, description will be given of an operation when the reconnection procedure by the NAS function in the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment ends abnormally.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in step S3000, when communication via the RRC connection is performed between the LTE-AS function of the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB, in step S3001, the LTE-AS When the function detects “Radio Link Failure” in the RRC connection, the T311 timer is started.

  The LTE-AS function performs a cell search in step S3002, and since a communicable cell could not be detected before the T311 timer expired in step S3003, in step S3004, the mobile station UE and the radio base station The RRC connection with the station eNB transitions to the idle state.

  In step S3005, the LTE-AS function confirms that there is no communicable cell (that is, out of service area), transmits an out-of-service notification indicating that to the EMM function, and in step S3006, “Reconnect”. Request (reconnection request) "is sent to the EMM function.

  When receiving the “Reconnect request (reconnection request)”, the EMM function activates the “Reconnect timer”.

  After that, since the EMM function could not detect that the LTE-AS function is within the range before the Reconnect timer expires, in step S3007, the EMM function receives the range notification from the LTE-AS function. In addition, “Service Request” is not transmitted to the LTE-AS function.

  Fourthly, with reference to FIG. 6, the operation (3) in the case where the reconnection procedure by the NAS function in the mobile communication system according to the present embodiment ends normally will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in step S4000, when communication via the RRC connection is performed between the LTE-AS function of the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB-A, in step S4001, LTE is performed. -When the AS function detects “Radio Link Failure” in the RRC connection, it starts the T311 timer.

  The LTE-AS function performs a cell search in step S4002, and detects a UTRA (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) type cell that can be communicated before the T311 timer expires in step S4003.

  In such a case, in step S4004, the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB are not transmitted by the LTE-AS function without transmitting “RRC Connection Reestablishment Request (reconfiguration request)” and without waiting for the expiration of the T311 timer. The RRC connection between and transitions to the idle state.

  In step S4005, the UMTS-AS function is changed to perform the reconnection procedure instead of the LTE-AS function.

  In step S4006, the UMTS-AS function transmits a “Reconnect request (reconnection request)” to the GMM function. In step S4007, the UMTS-AS function confirms that a communicable cell exists (that is, is within range). An in-zone notification indicating that fact is transmitted to the GMM function.

  Alternatively, in step S4004, as described above, after the RRC connection between the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB transitions to an idle state, the LTE-AS function performs the “Reconnect request (reconnection) in step S4004A. Request) ”to the EMM function, and the RAT may be changed in step S4005 (see FIG. 7). In such a case, in step S4006, the EMM function needs to transmit a “Reconnect request (reconnection request) to the GMM function.

  When the “Reconnect request (reconnection request)” is received, the GMM function activates the “Reconnect timer”.

  Here, since the GMM function detects that the UMTS-AS function is within the range before the Reconnect timer expires due to the reception of the above-mentioned range notification, in step S4008, the GMM function detects the UMTS-AS function. , "Service Request" is transmitted.

  In step S4009, the UMTS-AS function performs “RRC Connection Request (RRC) to the radio base station NB and the radio network controller RNC that manage the communicable cells in response to“ Service Request ”. Connection request) ".

  In step S4010, the radio network controller RNC transmits “RRC Connection Setup (RRC connection setup)” to the UMTS-AS function. In steps S4011 and S4012, the UMTS-AS function is connected to the radio base station NB and the radio base station NB. “RRC Connection Setup Complete” and “Service Request (service request)” are transmitted to the control device RNC.

  In step S4013, the radio network controller RNC transmits “S1 Initial UE Message” and “Service Request” to the switching center SGSN.

  Thereafter, the exchange SGSN transmits “S1 Release” instructing the exchange MME to release the S1 connection established between the radio base station eNB and the exchange MME.

  Here, when such an S1 connection exists, in step S4015, the exchange MME releases the S1 connection established between the radio base station eNB and the exchange MME to the radio base station eNB. “S1 Release” is transmitted to instruct to do so.

  In step S4016, after the radio base station eNB releases the S1 connection established with the exchange MME, the radio base station eNB transmits “S1 Release Complete” indicating that to the exchange MME.

  In step S4017, after the above-described Iu connection is established, the UMTS-AS function, the radio base station NB, and the radio control are performed by continuing the transmission procedure, that is, by performing the authentication procedure, the concealment procedure, and the call control procedure. Communication can be performed with the device RNC and between the UMTS-NAS function and the switching center SGSN.

(Operations and effects of the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention)
According to the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the RRC connection is in an idle state, the EMM function is triggered by reception of a service area notification and a Reconnect request from the LTE-AS function. By transmitting the Service Request, it is possible to release the S1 connection that remains without being disconnected after the RRC connection enters the idle state.

  As a result, it is possible to solve the problem caused by the exchange MME transferring the incoming signal addressed to the mobile station UE to the radio base station eNB for which no RRC connection is established.

  In addition, according to the mobile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the EMM function sets the Service Request after the Service Request timer expires even if the LTE-AS function is within range. By configuring so as not to transmit, useless transmission of Service Request can be avoided.

(Example of change)
Note that the operations of the exchange MME, the radio base station eNB, and the mobile station UE described above may be implemented by hardware, may be implemented by a software module executed by a processor, or may be implemented by a combination of both. May be.

  The software module includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM, a hard disk, a registerable ROM, a hard disk). Alternatively, it may be provided in a storage medium of an arbitrary format such as a CD-ROM.

  Such a storage medium is connected to the processor so that the processor can read and write information from and to the storage medium. Further, such a storage medium may be integrated in the processor. Such a storage medium and processor may be provided in the ASIC. Such an ASIC may be provided in the exchange MME, the radio base station eNB, or the mobile station UE. Further, the storage medium and the processor may be provided as a discrete component in the exchange MME, the radio base station eNB, or the mobile station UE.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-described embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. The present invention can be implemented as modified and changed modes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the description of the scope of claims. Therefore, the description of the present specification is for illustrative purposes and does not have any limiting meaning to the present invention.

UE ... mobile station MME, SGSN ... exchange eNB, NB ... radio base station RNC ... radio control device

Claims (2)

The mobile station communicates via the first connection between the mobile station and the radio base station and the second connection between the radio base station and the exchange using the first protocol function and the second protocol function. A mobile communication method for performing
The first protocol function performs processing corresponding to the first protocol terminated with the radio base station,
The second protocol function is an upper protocol of the first protocol, and performs processing corresponding to the second protocol terminated between the mobile station and the exchange,
Transmitting a reconnection request to the second protocol function when the first protocol function detects that the first connection is in an idle state;
When the second protocol function receives the reconnection request, starting a service request timer;
A mobile communication method comprising: a step of transmitting a service request when the second protocol function detects that the first protocol function is within range before the service request timer expires. . The first protocol function and the second protocol function are used to perform communication via the first connection between the radio base station and the second connection between the radio base station and the exchange. A mobile station,
The first protocol function is configured to perform processing corresponding to the first protocol terminated with the radio base station,
The second protocol function is a higher-order protocol of the first protocol, and is configured to perform processing corresponding to the second protocol that terminates between the mobile station and the exchange.
The first protocol function is configured to transmit a reconnection request to the second protocol function when detecting that the first connection is in an idle state.
The second protocol function is configured to start a service request timer when the reconnection request is received;
The second protocol function is configured to transmit a service request when it is detected that the first protocol function is within range before the service request timer expires. Bureau.

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