JP6496648B2 - Communication control method and communication system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication control method and a communication system, and more particularly to a communication control method and a communication system in a network constructed based on a virtualization technology.

  Note that the “service” in this specification is processed using network resources such as a communication service (private line service, etc.) and an application service (service using a sensor device such as moving image distribution or an embedded device). Service. A “slice” is a virtual network that is logically generated on the network infrastructure. The service is assigned to a slice and processed using the network resources of the assigned slice.

  In the existing virtualization technology, resources are allocated in units of network nodes (more precisely, virtual machines (VMs) that realize the network nodes). Therefore, the resource of the network node cannot be divided and assigned to each of a plurality of slices, and there is a concern that QoS (Quality of Service) may be reduced due to interference between a plurality of services assigned to the plurality of slices. It was difficult to make effective use of As one method for solving this, a method in which a terminal connects to a plurality of network nodes (for example, MME (Mobility Management Entity)) and processing is performed by different network nodes for each service is conceivable.

Special table 2011-522474 gazette

  However, the above method has a problem that a plurality of network nodes manage the state and movement of one terminal, and the terminal management / control process becomes complicated.

  On the other hand, although the resource division of the network node has been taken up in various documents (see, for example, Patent Document 1), the above problem has not been solved, and the solution of the problem has been awaited.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to effectively utilize resources of a network node while avoiding complicated management / control processing of a terminal.

  A communication control method according to an aspect of the present invention is executed in a communication system including a network node that internally forms a plurality of processing units and a terminal managed by the network node. In the communication control method, when the terminal requests message processing, the network node receives a message to which service identification information for identifying a service corresponding to the processing is added, and the network node Allocating the message to one processing unit corresponding to the service of the service identification information given to the message based on correspondence information between the service and the processing unit stored in advance, and the network node includes the plurality of Of the processing units, a resource that is different from the resources of other processing units. And a step of processing the message by the one of the processing units with over scan.

  The communication system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a network node that virtually forms a plurality of processing units therein, and a terminal managed by the network node, and the network node includes: When the terminal requests processing of a message, based on correspondence information between a reception unit that receives a message to which service identification information for identifying a service corresponding to the processing is given, and a service and a processing unit that are stored in advance , A distribution unit that distributes the message to one processing unit corresponding to the service of the service identification information attached to the message, and a resource different from the resources of the other processing units among the plurality of processing units. A control unit that processes the message by the one processing unit.

  In the communication control method and the communication system described above, when a network node receives a message to which service identification information for identifying a service corresponding to the process is given when the terminal requests message processing, the network node Based on the correspondence information between the stored service and the processing unit, the message is distributed to one processing unit corresponding to the service of the service identification information given to the message, and the other processing among the plurality of processing units is performed. The message is processed by the one processing unit using a resource different from the unit resource. As described above, messages of various services requested from one terminal can be processed by one network node, and a single network node can manage and control one terminal. Further, in the single network node, each of the plurality of processing units processes messages using different resources, so that interference between services can be prevented and QoS degradation caused by the interference can be avoided. .

  As described above, since management / control processing of individual terminals by a single network node can be realized, interference between services and QoS degradation caused by the interference can be avoided, so that management / control processing of terminals can be complicated. While avoiding this, the resources of the network node can be used effectively.

  The network node includes a terminal database that holds information about terminals to be managed and is shared by a plurality of processing units, and the communication control method is a process in which the network node performs the above processing. The method may further comprise recording the result in a terminal database. In this case, the network node can manage terminals more efficiently by using a shared terminal database for a plurality of processing units.

  The communication system further includes a slice management device that manages a slice that is a virtual network generated on the network infrastructure, and the communication control method includes: a slice management device that includes a service and a slice related to the processing of the service; Requesting the network node to allocate a processing unit, and the network node allocates a new or existing processing unit in response to a request from the slice management apparatus, and uses the allocation information to And updating the correspondence information. In this case, when there is a request for assigning a “processing unit” to the “service and slice” from the slice management device, the network node assigns a new or existing processing unit to the request and uses the information on the assignment. Since the correspondence information between the service and the processing unit is updated, it is possible to appropriately cope with the processing unit allocation request as described above.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the resource of a network node can be utilized effectively, avoiding complication of the management and control processing of a terminal.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the communication system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the feature point of invention. It is a figure explaining the hardware structural example of MME20. It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the unit management table. It is a sequence diagram which shows a node production | generation process. It is a sequence diagram which shows a slice allocation process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the 1st pattern of a process unit addition process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the 2nd pattern of a processing unit addition process. It is a sequence diagram which shows message processing. It is a figure explaining another method regarding the identification of a service. It is a figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the session management table. It is a sequence diagram which shows the modification of a node production | generation process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the 3rd pattern of a processing unit addition process. It is a sequence diagram which shows the modification of a slice allocation process.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[Configuration of communication system]
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the communication system 1 includes a UE (User Equipment) 10, an MME (Mobility Management Entity) 20, a virtualization device 30, and a slice management device 40 which will be described later.

  The UE 10 is a so-called user terminal, and includes all portable terminals such as smartphones and tablet terminals. The UE 10 includes a service ID-added message generation unit 11. When the service ID-added message generation unit 11 requests processing of a message, the UE 10 generates a message with the ID of the service that processes the message and sends it to the MME 20. Send. The message generation method will be described later with reference to FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the UE 10 communicates with the MME 20 via the eNodeB that is a radio base station. Since the function of the eNodeB is not directly related to the present invention, the description thereof is omitted below.

  The MME 20 is a part that performs state management, movement management, and the like of the UE 10 located in the network, and includes components such as a terminal state database 21 described later. In the present embodiment, the MME 20 corresponds to a “network node” according to the present invention. However, the “network node” according to the present invention is not limited to the MME 20, but can be applied to any node that processes messages in the network, and includes, for example, an SGW (Serving Gateway).

  The virtualization apparatus 30 is an apparatus that generates the MME 20 based on the preset information, generates the processing unit 22 in the MME 20 based on an external request, and the like.

  The slice management device 40 is a device that manages slices that are virtual networks generated on the network infrastructure. The slice management device 40 includes a slice allocation request unit 41. The slice allocation request unit 41 transmits a slice allocation request used for processing a certain service, a request for adding a processing unit that executes processing for a certain service, and the like to the MME 20. To do.

  The MME 20 includes a terminal state database 21, a plurality of processing units 22A, 22B,... (Hereinafter collectively referred to as “processing unit 22”), a distribution unit 23, a unit management table 24, and a unit management unit 25. Consists of including.

  The terminal state database 21 is a database that originally holds information that the MME 20 should hold for each terminal (for example, the state of the bearer of the terminal), corresponds to the “terminal database” of the present invention, and corresponds to a plurality of processing units 22. It is shared. The information to be held is defined in 3GPP TS 23.401, chapter 5.7 “Information Storage”, for example.

  The processing unit 22 is a virtual machine (VM: Virtual Machine) generated in the MME 20 by the virtualization apparatus 30, and uses a resource (CPU, memory resource, etc.) allocated individually by the distribution unit 23 described later. The distributed message is processed, and the processing result is recorded in the terminal state database 21 shared with other processing units.

  The unit management table 24 is a table for managing and storing correspondence information between various services, slices assigned to individual services, and processing units assigned to the services and slices. As shown, correspondence information of services, slices, and processing units is stored.

  Based on the correspondence information stored in the unit management table 24, the distribution unit 23 distributes and forwards the message with the service ID received from the UE 10 to the processing unit 22 corresponding to the service ID.

  The unit management unit 25 manages a plurality of processing units 22. The unit management unit 25 receives, for example, a slice allocation request from the slice management device 40, inquires the unit management table 24 about a valid processing unit, or finds a processing unit 22 newly generated by the virtualization device 30 ( After confirmation, the ID (unit ID) of the new processing unit 22 is registered in the unit management table 24 in association with the service ID / slice ID.

  In this embodiment, a predetermined resource is assigned to a single MME 20, but the resource assigned to the single MME 20 is divided into processing units, and the divided resources are assigned to individual processing units 22. Assigned individually. Further, the unit management unit 25 assigns the processing unit 22 to each service individually. As a result, resources (individual processing units 22) divided for each service are allocated to slices corresponding to the service. As shown in FIG. 2, a message from the UE 10 is distributed and transferred by the distribution unit 23 to the processing unit 22 related to the corresponding service and slice, and is divided and individually allocated in the processing unit 22 in the processing unit 22. The processing result is recorded in the terminal state database 21 shared with other processing units.

  As shown in FIG. 3, physically, the MME 20 includes a CPU 101, a RAM 102 and a ROM 103 which are main storage devices, a communication module 104 which is a data transmission / reception device, a hard disk, a flash memory, and the like. The computer system includes an input unit 106 exemplified by a touch panel and a keyboard as input devices, an output unit 107 such as a display, and the like. The MME 20 operates the communication module 104, the input unit 106, and the output unit 107 under the control of the CPU 101 by reading predetermined computer software on the hardware such as the CPU 101 and the RAM 102 shown in FIG. In addition, by reading and writing data in the auxiliary storage unit 105, a series of functions in each component is realized.

[Various processes executed in the communication system]
Next, using FIG. 5 to FIG. 9, as various processes executed in the communication system, a node generation process (FIG. 5), a slice allocation process (FIG. 6), a processing unit addition process (FIG. 7, FIG. 8) and message processing (FIG. 9) will be described in order.

(Node generation processing)
First, the node generation process will be described with reference to FIG. The virtualization apparatus 30 reads out preset setting information related to generation of a network node (here, the MME 20) that is set in advance and stored in advance (step S1). Based on the read preset information, the unit management unit 25, distribution The unit 23, the plurality of processing units 22, the unit management table 24, and the terminal state database 21 are respectively generated (step S2). At this time, a predetermined resource is allocated to a single MME 20, but the resource allocated to the single MME 20 is divided into processing units, and the divided resources are individually allocated to the individual processing units 22. It is done. In addition, although the example which produces | generates the several processing unit 22 was shown in FIG. 5, you may produce | generate the one processing unit 22 initially.

  Thereafter, when the generated unit management unit 25 finds the plurality of generated processing units 22 (step S3), the plurality of processing units 22 are set as effective processing units (hereinafter abbreviated as “effective units”). Register in the management table 24 (step S4). Here, for example, in the unit management table 24, a unit ID list in which unit IDs of valid units are in a list format is registered.

  Through the above node generation processing, a new MME 20 and its components are generated, and a plurality of processing units 22 in the MME 20 are registered in the unit management table 24 as valid units.

(Slice allocation processing)
Next, the slice assignment process will be described with reference to FIG. When the slice management device 40 (here, the slice allocation request unit 41) transmits a slice allocation request to which the service ID and slice ID of the target service are added to the unit management unit 25 in the MME 20 (step S11), unit management The unit 25 receives the slice assignment request, and inquires the unit management table 24 about the valid unit in order to search for an assignable processing unit (valid unit) (step S12). In response to this inquiry, when there is a valid unit, the unit management table 24 returns a unit ID list in which the ID of the valid unit is described to the unit management unit 25 (step S13). When there is no valid unit, the unit management table 24 returns a valid unit response indicating that there is no valid unit. Processing in such a case will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The unit management unit 25 selects one valid unit from the received unit ID list, and registers the unit ID of the selected valid unit in the unit management table 24 in association with the service ID / slice ID (step S14). . In this way, the unit management unit 25 assigns valid units individually to each service.

  Further, when the unit management unit 25 receives a unit registration response (step S15) indicating that the registration has been normally performed from the unit management table 24, the unit management unit 25 performs slice management of the slice allocation response indicating that the processing for the slice allocation request has been normally performed. It returns to the apparatus 40 (step S16).

  Through the above slice assignment processing, a valid unit is newly assigned to the service ID and slice ID of the target service, and the unit ID of the valid unit is registered in the unit management table 24 in association with the service ID and slice ID. Is done.

(Processing unit addition processing)
Next, processing unit addition processing will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, as the processing unit addition process, the unit management unit 25 requests the virtualization apparatus 30 to add a processing unit via the slice management device 40, and the unit management unit 25 adds the processing unit. The second pattern that directly requests the virtualization apparatus 30 will be described in order.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the first pattern of the processing unit addition process, the slice management device 40 (here, the slice allocation request unit 41) issues a slice allocation request to which the service ID and slice ID of the target service are added. When transmitted to the unit management unit 25 in the MME 20 (step S21), the unit management unit 25 receives the slice allocation request and inquires the unit management table 24 about the effective unit in order to search for an assignable processing unit (effective unit). (Step S22). Here, since it is assumed that there is no valid unit, the unit management table 24 returns a valid unit response indicating that there is no valid unit to the unit management unit 25 in response to the above inquiry (step S23). Further, the unit management unit 25 that has received the valid unit response returns a slice allocation response to the effect of resource shortage to the slice management device 40 (step S24).

  Then, the slice management device 40 that has received the slice assignment response transmits a resource addition request to the virtualization device 30 to request addition of a resource (here, a processing unit) (step S25). Upon receiving this resource addition request, the virtualization apparatus 30 generates a new processing unit 22 (step S26), and then sends a resource addition response to the effect that the addition of the resource (here, the processing unit) is completed to the slice management apparatus 40. (Step S27).

  Further, when the unit management unit 25 finds the generated processing unit 22 (step S28), it registers the unit ID of the found processing unit 22 in the unit management table 24 as a valid unit (step S29). At this time, for example, the unit ID of the processing unit 22 is added to the unit ID list.

  The slice management device 40 that has received the resource addition response in step S27 recognizes that the addition of the resource (in this case, the processing unit) has been completed, and the slice allocation request to which the service ID and slice ID of the target service are added. Is transmitted again to the unit manager 25 (step S30). Receiving this slice allocation request, the unit management unit 25 inquires the unit management table 24 again about valid units (step S31). At this time, since there is a valid unit due to the addition of a new processing unit, the unit management table 24 returns a unit ID list in which the ID of the valid unit is described to the unit management unit 25 in response to the above inquiry (step) S32).

  Then, the unit management unit 25 selects one valid unit from the unit ID list, and registers the unit ID of the selected valid unit in the unit management table 24 in association with the service ID / slice ID (step S33). Further, the unit management unit 25 receives the unit registration response (step S34) indicating that it has been normally registered from the unit management table 24, and manages the slice allocation response indicating that the processing for the slice allocation request has been executed normally. It returns to the apparatus 40 (step S35).

  By the first pattern of the processing unit addition process described above, the unit management unit 25 requests the virtualization apparatus 30 to add a processing unit via the slice management device 40 even when there is no valid unit. A new processing unit is normally added, and the unit ID of the added processing unit (effective unit) is registered in the unit management table 24 in association with the service ID / slice ID.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, in the second pattern of the processing unit addition processing, the slice management device 40 (here, the slice allocation request unit 41) adds the service ID and slice ID of the target service to the slice. When the allocation request is transmitted to the unit management unit 25 in the MME 20 (step S41), the unit management unit 25 receives the slice allocation request and searches for a valid unit in the unit management table in order to search for an assignable processing unit (valid unit). 24 is inquired (step S42). Here, since it is assumed that there is no valid unit, the unit management table 24 returns a valid unit response indicating that there is no valid unit to the unit management unit 25 in response to the above inquiry (step S43).

  Upon receiving the valid unit response, the unit management unit 25 sends a resource addition request for requesting addition of a resource (here, a processing unit) directly to the virtualization apparatus 30 instead of via the slice management apparatus 40 as in pattern 1. Transmit (step S44).

  Upon receiving the resource addition request, the virtualization apparatus 30 generates a new processing unit 22 (step S45), and then sends a resource addition response indicating that the addition of the resource (here, the processing unit) is completed to the unit management unit 25. (Step S46).

  Upon receiving the resource addition response, the unit management unit 25 finds the added processing unit 22 (step S47), and associates the unit ID of the found processing unit 22 with the service ID / slice ID in the unit management table 24. Registration is performed (step S48). Further, the unit management unit 25 receives a unit registration response (step S49) indicating that it has been registered normally from the unit management table 24, and manages the slice allocation response indicating that the processing for the slice allocation request has been executed normally. It returns to the apparatus 40 (step S50).

  With the second pattern of the above processing unit addition processing, even in a situation where there is no valid unit, the unit management unit 25 adds the processing unit, not via the slice management device 40 as in pattern 1, but the virtualization device 30. The new processing unit is normally added and the unit ID of the added processing unit (valid unit) is registered in the unit management table 24 in association with the service ID / slice ID.

(Message processing)
Next, message processing will be described with reference to FIG. When the UE 10 that requests message processing transmits a message to which the service ID of the service corresponding to the above processing is assigned to the distribution unit 23 in the MME 20, the distribution unit 23 receives the message (step S61), and The unit management table 24 is inquired about a processing unit that can execute the service with the service ID (step S62). In response to the inquiry, when the unit management table 24 returns a processing unit response including the unit ID of the processing unit capable of executing the service to the distribution unit 23 (step S63), the distribution unit 23 that has received the processing unit response Then, the message from the UE 10 is transferred to the processing unit 22 having the unit ID (step S64). That is, the message from the UE 10 is distributed to the processing unit 22 having the unit ID. As a result, processing of the message is subsequently executed by the processing unit 22 of the unit ID (that is, the processing unit 22 using a resource different from the resources of other processing units among the plurality of processing units) (step S65). ).

  Through the message processing as described above, the message from the UE 10 (message with the service ID assigned) is distributed and transferred to the processing unit 22 that can execute the service of the service ID, and the processing unit 22 processes the message. Will be executed appropriately.

[Effect of the embodiment of the invention]
In the present embodiment described above, a predetermined resource assigned to a single MME 20 is divided into processing units, the divided resources are individually assigned to individual processing units 22, and each service is assigned to each service. On the other hand, the processing units 22 are individually assigned. As a result, resources (individual processing units 22) divided for each service are allocated to slices corresponding to the service. A message from the UE 10 is distributed and transferred by the distribution unit 23 to the processing unit 22 associated with the corresponding service and slice, and is processed by the processing unit 22 using resources individually divided and allocated to the processing unit. The processing result is recorded in the terminal state database 21 shared with other processing units. As a result, even if a situation occurs in which the processing load suddenly increases in a specific service, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of interference between services. However, when a situation occurs in which the processing load suddenly increases in a specific service, the amount of resources divided for each service may be adjusted (scaling) as an emergency response.

  In addition, as for the method in which the UE 10 transmits the message to which the service ID is assigned in step S61 in FIG. 9, for example, the UE 10 adds service identification information (for example, APN (Access Point Name)) to the SR (Service Request) message. You may give and send. As another method, EPS (Evolved Packet switched System) bearer context state information of an extended SR (Extended Service Request) message may be used as follows. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, in a configuration in which the MME 20 includes a session management table 26 that stores correspondence information between the service and bearer illustrated in FIG. 11, two services (service # 1) are provided by an SGW (Serving Gateway) 50. , # 2) can set the bearer (either bearer # 1 or # 2) to be set in the active state (active) in the EPS bearer context state information of the extended SR message, and then the extended SR message. The method of transmitting to the distribution unit 23 can be employed. In this case, the distribution unit 23 can determine the bearer to be in the execution state (active) by referring to the EPS bearer context state information, and refers to the session management table 26 to determine the service corresponding to the bearer. In particular, the message can be transferred (distributed) to the processing unit corresponding to the service.

  In the present embodiment, the MME corresponds to the “network node” according to the present invention. However, the “network node” according to the present invention is not limited to the MME, and is not limited to the message in the network. Can be widely applied to any node that processes the above, for example, an SGW (Serving Gateway).

  Further, the slice management device 40 according to the present embodiment may acquire a unit ID by a node generation response or a unit addition response, and specify the unit ID in a slice allocation request. This modification will be described below.

  The slice management device 40 can obtain the unit ID by, for example, the node generation process shown in FIG. 12 or the processing unit addition process (third pattern) shown in FIG. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, when the slice management device 40 transmits a node generation request to the virtualization device 30 (step S0), the virtualization device 30 performs an MME (network network) as in step S2 of FIG. Node) and its constituent elements (including a plurality of processing units 22) are generated, and a node generation response including the unit ID of the generated processing unit 22 is returned to the slice management device 40 (step S5). Thereby, the slice management apparatus 40 can acquire the unit ID by the node generation response. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 13, when the slice management device 40 transmits a unit addition request to the virtualization device 30 (step S71), the virtualization device 30 generates the processing unit 22 in response to the request (step S72). ) A unit addition response including the generated unit ID of the processing unit 22 is returned to the slice management device 40 (step S73). Thereby, the slice management apparatus 40 can acquire the unit ID by the unit addition response.

  Then, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the slice management device 40 specifies the unit ID acquired by the node generation response or the unit addition response as described above together with the service ID and the slice ID in the slice allocation request, and performs the slice allocation. The request is transmitted to the unit manager 25 (step S11X). Upon receiving the slice allocation request, the unit management unit 25 registers the specified unit ID in the unit management table 24 in association with the service ID / slice ID (step S14), and a unit registration response indicating that the unit has been successfully registered. When (Step S15) is received from the unit management table 24, a slice allocation response indicating that the processing for the slice allocation request has been normally executed is returned to the slice management device 40 (Step S16).

  As described above, it is possible to realize a modification in which the slice management device 40 acquires a unit ID by a node generation response or a unit addition response and designates the unit ID in a slice allocation request.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 10 ... UE (terminal), 11 ... Message generation part with service ID, 20 ... MME, 21 ... Terminal state database, 22, 22A, 22B ... Processing unit, 23 ... Distribution part, 24 ... Unit management table , 25 ... Unit management unit, 26 ... Session management table, 30 ... Virtualization device, 40 ... Slice management device, 41 ... Slice allocation request unit, 101 ... CPU, 102 ... RAM, 103 ... ROM, 104 ... Communication module, 105 ... Auxiliary storage unit, 106 ... Input unit, 107 ... Output unit.

Claims (3)

A communication control method executed in a communication system including a network node that virtually forms a plurality of processing units and a terminal managed by the network node,
When the terminal requests message processing, the network node receives a message to which service identification information for identifying a service corresponding to the processing is attached;
The network node allocating the message to one processing unit corresponding to the service of the service identification information given to the message based on correspondence information between the service and the processing unit stored in advance;
The network node processing the message by the one processing unit using a resource different from a resource of another processing unit among the plurality of processing units;
With
The communication system further includes a slice management device that manages a slice that is a virtual network generated on a network infrastructure,
The communication control method includes:
The slice management device requesting the network node to allocate a processing unit to a service and a slice related to the processing of the service;
The network node assigns a new or existing processing unit in response to a request from the slice management device, and updates correspondence information between the service and the processing unit using the information of the assignment;
Further comprising
Communication control method. The network node includes a terminal database that holds information about terminals to be managed and is shared for a plurality of processing units,
The communication control method includes:
The network node recording a processing result of the processing step in the terminal database;
Further comprising
The communication control method according to claim 1. A network node that virtually forms a plurality of processing units therein;
A terminal managed by the network node;
A communication system comprising:
The network node is
A receiving unit that receives a message to which service identification information for identifying a service corresponding to the process is attached when the terminal requests message processing;
A distribution unit that distributes the message to one processing unit corresponding to the service of the service identification information given to the message based on correspondence information between the service and the processing unit stored in advance;
A control unit that processes the message by the one processing unit using a resource different from the resource of the other processing unit among the plurality of processing units;
With
The communication system further includes a slice management device that manages a slice that is a virtual network generated on a network infrastructure,
The slice management device includes:
A slice allocation requesting unit that requests the network node to allocate a processing unit to a service and a slice related to the processing of the service;
With
The network node allocates a new or existing processing unit in response to a request from the slice management apparatus, and updates correspondence information between the service and the processing unit using the allocation information.
Communications system.

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