KR101891694B1 - Method for processing data call between wcdma and epc networks - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heterogeneous mobile communication system, an SGSN of a WCDMA network and a method of processing the data call, and an MME of an EPC network and a method of processing the data call. The MME of the disclosed EPC network, If it is determined that the data call is a handoff call, acquires a subscriber profile including the toll characteristic information from the SGSN of the WCDMA network, and transmits the data to the PDN GW of the EPC network based on the subscriber profile It is advantageous that various PCCs can be performed using the plan information in the EPC network in order to process the data call while transferring the subscriber's plan information between the WCDMA network and the EPC network by transmitting the call message.

Description

[0001] METHOD FOR PROCESSING DATA CALL BETWEEN WCDMA AND EPC NETWORKS [

The present invention relates to a data call processing method between a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) network and an EPC (Evolved Packet Core) network, and more particularly, (SGSN) of a WCDMA network and its data call processing method, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of an EPC network, and a method of processing the data call.

A 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) mobile communication system based on WCDMA radio access technology is widely deployed all over the world. HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), which can be defined as the first evolutionary phase of WCDMA, provides 3GPP mobile communication system with highly competitive wireless access technology in the mid-term future.

However, as the requirements and expectations of users and operators continue to increase and competition for developing wireless access technologies continues, there is a need to evolve new technologies in 3GPP mobile communication systems in order to gain competitiveness in the future. Reduced cost per bit, increased service availability, the use of flexible frequency bands, simple structure and open interfaces, and proper power consumption of terminals are becoming a requirement. In addition, prevention of unnecessary latency at the network node and efficient use of network resources can also promote the technology evolution in 3GPP.

In 3GPP Release 8, a network architecture called EPC is described as one of mobile communication systems for meeting the above-mentioned requirements. EPC is a set of network nodes for 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) system. The EPC evolves the core network of the existing 3GPP system architecture to support Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), which is an evolved RAN, And has an efficient network structure that simplifies the network node. A wireless communication system including an EPC and an E-UTRAN is called an evolved packet system (EPS).

The EPC network is divided into three logical entities such as PDN GW (Packet Data Network Gateway), S-GW (Serving-GW) and MME.

First, in the user plane, the PDN GW is a global mobility anchor for mobility between 3GPP access technology and non-3GPP access technology (CDMA2000, WiMAX or WIFI) and a gateway to the external network, ) And maintains S-GW and external network and routing information for session control and packet service as a user plane in cooperation with external Internet network and non-3GPP network, and performs tunneling and IP Routing function.

Next, as another user plane entity, the S-GW is a mobile anchor for mobility between 3GPP accesses (E-UTRAN, UTRAN, GERAN). The S-GW interworks with eNodeB and S1-U interface as a session control and user plane node that handles payload traffic according to a set session and supports Inter LTE / 3GPP handoff .

Next, the MME is a control plane entity responsible for mobility management of UEs moving between different EUTRAN eNodeBs and also for session management.

On the other hand, in the mobile communication network, PCC (Policy & Charging Control, charging and policy control) is basically performed based on the plan. In the case of the WCDMA network, various PCCs were performed at the SGSN (Service General Packet Radio Service Support Node) by inserting billing information into the CAMEL service key.

However, in the EPC network, as the intelligent network service is excluded from the specification, there is no parameter that can transmit the charge plan information between the WCDMA network and the LTE network, and thus there is a problem that the PCC can not be performed.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0025932, published on March 14, 2011.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the related art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an SGSN and an SGSN which can perform a variety of PCCs by transmitting charge information to an EPC network while processing data calls in a WCDMA network between a WCDMA network and an EPC A call processing method, an MME, and a method of processing the data call.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing a data call performed in a GGSN in a WCDMA network, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether a data call is requested from a terminal device, the data call being a handoff call from an EPC network; Requesting a subscriber profile from the MME of the EPC network if it is determined to be a handoff call; receiving the subscriber profile including rate characteristic information from the MME; and transmitting, to the GGSN of the WCDMA network, And transmitting the data call message.

delete

delete

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing a data call carried out in an MME in an EPC network, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether a data call is requested from a terminal device and whether the data call is a handoff call from a WCDMA network; Requesting a subscriber profile from the SGSN of the WCDMA network if it is determined to be a handoff call; receiving the subscriber profile including the toll characteristic information from the SGSN; and transmitting, to the PDN GW of the EPC network, And transmitting the data call message.

delete

delete

delete

delete

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a data call is handled between a WCDMA network and an EPC network while transferring subscriber's plan information in a mixed mobile communication service environment using a WCDMA network and an EPC network, PCC can be performed.

1 is a network configuration diagram of a hybrid mobile communication system in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a bit configuration diagram of charge characteristic information for loading charge plan information according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
3A and 3B are flowcharts illustrating a process of processing data calls while transferring charge information in a WCDMA network according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4A and 4B are flowcharts illustrating a process of processing a data call while receiving charge information in an EPC network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention and the manner of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. Is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. The following terms are defined in consideration of the functions in the embodiments of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention of the user, the intention or the custom of the operator. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a network configuration diagram of a hybrid mobile communication system in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 210 to 280 denote WCDMA networks, and reference numerals 310 to 380 denote EPC networks.

The WCDMA network includes a NodeB 210, an RNC (Radio Network Controller) 220, an SGSN 230, an HLR 240, a GGSN 250, a Charging Gateway 260, an MSC / VLR (Mobile Switching Center / A Visitor Location Register) 270, an SMSC (Short Message Service Center) 280, and the like.

Here, the Node B 210 and the RNC 220 correspond to a radio access network area, and the SGSN 230 and the GGSN 250 correspond to a packet-switched core network. The MSC / VLR 270 stores visitor location information and performs switching control for voice communication. The SMSC 280 provides a short message service, which is related to data call processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. But it is shown as a reference.

In the wireless access network area, a function of providing a high-speed packet data service by efficiently using limited radio resources and satisfying various QoS (Quality of Service) requirements in a multimedia system is performed.

The SGSN 230 and the GGSN 250 belonging to the packet-switched core network region exchange IP-based protocols for matching with a PDN (Packet Data Network) 410 such as the Internet to receive the packet- .

For this, the SGSN 230 is connected to various RNCs 220 to manage the mobility of the subscriber station 10 and packet session management. The SGSN 230 establishes a PDP context with the GGSN 250 and uses tunneling And transmits a protocol data unit. Also, the SGSN 230 can perform IP routing and can perform an interaction such as location registration of the terminal device 110. [

Meanwhile, the SGSN 230 transmits a data record transfer request including the radio resource usage duration information and the volume information of the subscriber station to the CG 260 in the PDP context unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, if a data call is requested from the terminal device 110, the SGSN 230 determines whether the data call is a handoff call from the EPC network to the data call. If it is determined that the data call is a handoff call, 330 and requests the subscriber profile to the HLR 240 of the WCDMA network if it is determined that the data call is not a handoff call. Here, the MME 330 manages charge information by dividing the charge characteristic (CC) of the subscriber profile into an information area for WCDMA and an information area for EPC, and when the subscriber profile is requested from the SGSN 230, And transmits the subscriber profile to the SGSN 230. The SGSN 230 transmits the subscriber profile to the SGSN 230, Or the HLR 240 generates a subscriber profile including the charge information in the WCDMA information area in the charge characteristic information and transmits the subscriber profile to the SGSN 230. [ Then, the SGSN 230 transmits a data call message to the GGSN 250 based on the subscriber profile transmitted from the HLR 240 or the MME 330.

The GGSN 250 is a gateway that directly connects to the PDN 410, maintains routing information with the SGSN 230 and the external network, and performs tunneling and IP routing functions. Meanwhile, the GGSN 250 establishes an accounting data delivery message or an accounting request message including the radio resource use time information and the usage amount information of the terminal device 110 and transmits the accounting request message to the CG 260.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the GGSN 250 allocates an IP to the terminal device 110 according to a data call message transmitted from the SGSN 230.

The CG 260 collects and processes the usage time information and the usage amount information included in the accounting data delivery message received from the SGSN 230 or the GGSN 250, and transmits the collected information to the accounting server (not shown).

The HLR 240 is a line-based subscriber information database that stores a service profile related to information of a mobile communication subscriber. The HLR 240 is a subscriber information database that stores a MIN, a Mobile Identification Number (ESN) Number) and service type to store subscriber information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the HLR 240 generates a subscriber profile including subscriber information in the WCDAM information area in the toll characteristic information according to a request of the SGSN 230, and transmits the subscriber profile to the SGSN 230.

The EPC network includes eNodeB 310, S-GW 320, MME 330, HSS 340, PDN GW 350, Policy & Charging Rule Function (PCRF) 360, 370, an OCS (Online Charging Server) 380, and the like.

The eNodeB 310 is a device for supporting next generation technologies and services such as LTE, and includes radio frequency (RF) transmission of transmission signals, signal strength and quality measurement, baseband signal processing, and channel card resource management .

The S-GW 320 is a session control and user plane node that processes payload traffic according to a set session. The S-GW 320 interworks with the eNodeB 310 through the S1-U interface, Over, and sets PDN GW 350 and an evolved packet system bearer (EPS bearer), and delivers PDU (Packet Data Unit) using tunneling.

The PDN GW 350 allocates the IP of the terminal apparatus 110 and maintains session control and interworking with the external Internet network and the non-3GPP network and the S-GW 320 and the external network and routing information for packet service as a user plane And has tunneling and IP routing functions. It also delivers the PDU to the S-GW 320 and the external network.

The PDN GW 350 assigns an IP address to the terminal device 110 according to the data call message transmitted from the SGSN 230 or transmits the data call message to the terminal device 110 according to the data call message transmitted from the MME 330 110).

The MME 330 is a node for managing subscriber information and mobility of the terminal device 110, and is responsible for session management, idle subscriber management, paging, and subscriber authentication functions. That is, the MME 330 processes a control signal when there is a binding request from the terminal device 110 or another network node, for example, the PDN GW 350 or the S-GW 320, or a radio bearer setup request And performs functions such as configuration of an EPS bearer or an IP tunnel and mobility management.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a data call is requested from the terminal device 110, the MME 330 determines whether the data call is a handoff call from the WCDMA network to the data call. If it is determined that the data call is a handoff call, 230, and requests the HSS 340 of the EPC network for a subscriber profile if it is determined that the data call is not a handoff call. Then, the MME 330 receives the subscriber profile from the SGSN 230, ignores the information on the rate characteristic information of the subscriber profile transmitted thereto, changes it to a preset default value including the plan information, and transmits the same to the PDN GW 350 And transmits a data call message. Or the MME 330 receives the subscriber profile including the plan information from the HSS 340 in the EPC information area in the toll characteristic information and transmits the data call message to the PDN GW 350 based on the transmitted subscriber profile .

The HSS 340 is a network node including a data base including subscriber information for a wireless communication system, and stores profile information, authentication and location related data of the service subscriber.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the HSS 340 transmits the subscriber profile including the charge information to the EPC information area in the charge characteristic information to the MME 330 at the request of the MME 330.

The PCRF 360 provides a dynamic QoS and a charging rule according to a service data flow to perform a communication policy and a charging process in the communication network.

The OCS 380 receives a billing information of a subscriber requiring real-time billing information and provides a credit management function such as a limit service. Then, the EPC GW (Evolved Packet Core GateWay) generates billing information of a packet flow based on the billing information provided by the OCS 380.

The OFCS 370 collects the billing information generated by the EPC GW and processes the billing data requested by the BS (billing system) and transmits the billing data. In addition, OFCS 370 accepts various billing protocols such as Radius, Diameter, GTPP, and provides unified BS interface.

FIG. 2 is a bit configuration diagram of charge characteristic information for loading charge plan information according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

As shown in the figure, the charge characteristic information has a size of 2 bytes, and can include accounting related information defined by the provider, for example, whether it is prepaid / prepaid, and a billing server IP address. According to the embodiment of the present invention, one octet and two octets can be used for the WCDMA information area and the EPC information area. For example, one octet may be used as an information area for WCDMA, two octets may be used as an EPC information area, or vice versa.

3A and 3B are flowcharts illustrating a process of processing a data call while transferring charge information in a WCDMA network according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A illustrates a case where the call is a handoff call from the EPC network, This is not hand-off call.

As described above, a method of processing a data call by an SGSN in a WCDMA network includes steps S511 and S521 of determining whether a data call is a handoff call from an EPC network to a data call when a data call is requested from the terminal device, A step (S523) of requesting a subscriber profile to the MME of the EPC network (S523); a step (S525) of requesting a subscriber profile to the HLR of the WCDMA network if it is determined that the data call is not a handoff call; (S531 and S533 or S541 and S543) receiving the subscriber profile including the charge information in the WCDMA information area in the information, and transmitting the data call message to the GGSN based on the subscriber profile transmitted (S551) do. Thus, the GGSN assigns an IP address to the terminal device according to the data call message (S561). Here, the MME manages charge information by dividing the charge characteristic information of the subscriber profile into the WCDMA information area and the EPC information area, and when the subscriber profile is requested from the SGSN, the MME acquires the subscriber profile erasing the charge information of the EPC information area SGSN. The HLR generates a subscriber profile including rate plan information in the WCDMA information area in the rate characteristic information according to the request of the SGSN, and transmits the subscriber profile to the SGSN.

4A and 4B are flowcharts illustrating a process of processing a data call while receiving charge information in an EPC network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A illustrates a handoff call from a WCDMA network, FIG. This is not hand-off call.

As described above, a method of processing a data call by an MME of an EPC network includes steps (S611 and S621) of determining whether a data call is a handoff call from a WCDMA network to a data call when a data call is requested from the terminal device, A step S623 of requesting a subscriber profile to the SGSN of the WCDMA network when the data call is not a handoff call, a step (S625) of requesting a subscriber profile to the HSS of the EPC network if the data call is judged not to be a handoff call, (S631, S651, and S653) of transmitting the data call message to the PDN GW after changing the charge characteristic information to a preset default value, and a step of receiving a subscriber profile including the plan information in the EPC information area from the HSS And transmitting a data call message to the PDN GW (S641, S671 and S681). Thus, the PDN GW assigns IP to the terminal according to the data call message (S691).

Hereinafter, a process of processing a data call in a heterogeneous mobile communication system in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in a time-wise manner. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B, a data call process by the GGSN of the WCDMA network will be described. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4A and 4B, The call processing procedure will be described below.

1, 2, 3A, and 3B, the terminal device 110 requests a data call to the SGSN 230 of the WCDMA network (S511).

The SGSN 230 which has requested the data call determines whether the data call is a handoff call from the EPC network (S521).

If it is determined that the data call is a handoff call, the SGSN 230 requests the MME 330 of the EPC network for the subscriber profile (S523). If it is determined that the data call is not the handoff call, the SGSN 230 informs the HLR 240 of the WCDMA network of the subscriber profile (S525).

Here, the MME 330 manages charge plan information by dividing the charge characteristic information of the subscriber profile into the WCDMA information area and the EPC information area, and when the subscriber profile is requested from the SGSN 230 to the MME 330, 330 obtains the subscriber profile from which the fare information of the EPC-use information area in the toll characteristic information is deleted (S531), and transmits it to the SGSN 230 (S533).

In addition, the HLR 240 also manages billing information by dividing the charge characteristic information of the subscriber profile into the WCDMA information area and the EPC use information area, and when the subscriber profile is requested from the SGSN 230 to the HLR 240, 240 generates the subscriber profile including the charge information in the WCDMA information area in the charge characteristic information (S541) and transmits the subscriber profile to the SGSN 230 (S543).

Then, the SGSN 230 transmits a data call message to the GGSN 250 based on the subscriber profile transmitted from the HLR 240 or the MME 330 (S551).

Then, the GGSN 250 receiving the data call message allocates an IP to the terminal device 110 (S561).

1, 2, 4A, and 4B, the terminal device 110 requests a data call to the MME 330 of the EPC network (S611).

The MME 330 that has requested the data call determines whether the data call is a handoff call from the WCDMA network (S621).

If it is determined that the data call is a handoff call, the MME 330 requests the subscriber profile to the SGSN 230 of the WCDMA network at step S623. If it is determined that the data call is not a handoff call, And requests a profile (S625).

Here, after the MME 330 requests the subscriber profile from the SGSN 230 and receives a corresponding subscriber profile (S631), the MME 330 ignores the rate characteristic information included in the received subscriber profile and changes it to a preset default value S651), and transmits a data call message to the PDN GW 350 based on the changed subscriber profile (S653). In this manner, the PDN GW 350 that has received the data call message allocates the IP to the terminal device 110 (S661).

On the other hand, when the MME 330 requests the subscriber profile from the HSS 340, the HSS 340 generates the subscriber profile including the billing information in the EPC information area in the billing characteristic information (S641) To the MME 330 (S671).

Then, the MME 330 transmits a data call message to the PDN GW 350 based on the received subscriber profile (S681), and the PDN GW 350 having received the data call message transmits the data call message to the terminal device 110 (S691).

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a data call is handled between a WCDMA network and an EPC network while transferring subscriber's plan information in a mixed mobile communication service environment using a WCDMA network and an EPC network, PCC can be performed. The present invention is a useful invention that can be applied to various fields such as a heterogeneous mobile communication hybrid service environment in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed, and can transmit billing information.

210: NodeB 220: RNC 230: SGSN
240: HLR 250: GGSN 260: CG
270: MSC / VLR 280: SMSC 310: eNodeB
320: S-GW 330: MME 340: HSS
350: PDN GW 360: PCRF 370: OFCS
380: OCS

Claims (16)

delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete A method of processing a data call carried out in an SGSN (Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node) in a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) network,
Determining whether the data call is a handoff call from an EPC (Evolved Packet Core) network if a data call is requested from the terminal device;
Requesting a subscriber profile to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the EPC network if the data call is determined to be the handoff call;
Receiving the subscriber profile including the fee characteristic information from the MME;
Transmitting a data call message based on the subscriber profile to a gateway general packet radio service support node (GGSN) of the WCDMA network
Data call processing method. 10. The method of claim 9,
The receiving of the subscriber profile comprises: receiving, from the MME, the subscriber profile in which the information of the EPC information area of the toll characteristic information is deleted;
Data call processing method. 10. The method of claim 9,
If the data call is not the handoff call, the subscriber profile is transmitted from the HLR (Home Location Register) to the WCDMA information area of the rate characteristic information,
A method of processing a data call. delete A method of processing a data call performed in an MME (Mobility Management Entity) in an EPC (Evolved Packet Core) network,
Determining whether the data call is a handoff call from a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) network if a data call is requested from the terminal device;
Requesting a subscriber profile to a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) of the WCDMA network if the data call is determined to be the handoff call;
Receiving the subscriber profile including the charge characteristic information from the SGSN;
And transmitting a data call message to the PDN GW (Packet Data Network Gateway) of the EPC network based on the subscriber profile
Data call processing method. 14. The method of claim 13,
The step of receiving the subscriber profile includes receiving the subscriber profile including the toll characteristic information from the SGSN and changing the toll characteristic information to a preset default value
Data call processing method. 14. The method of claim 13,
If the data call is not the handoff call, the subscriber profile is transmitted from the home subscriber server to the EPC information area of the rate characteristic information,
Data call processing method. delete

Images