KR102034222B1 - Pdn-gw apparatus and method for processing call therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the disclosed embodiment, call processing may be performed on a data service in a mobile communication system including a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network in different ways. For example, in a mobile communication mixed service environment in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed, a voice and data service in a WCDMA network and a data service in an EPC network according to a limit plan for a mobile communication terminal device that is a WCDMA network / EPC network. It can provide both.

Description

PDN-GW APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING CALL THEREFOR}

The present invention provides a packet data network gateway device (PDN) for performing call processing based on a limit plan in a mobile communication system including a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network in different ways. -GW ") and its call processing method.

Currently, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) mobile communication systems based on Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) radio access technology are widely deployed around the world. High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), which can be defined as the first evolutionary step in WCDMA, provides a highly competitive wireless access technology in the mid-term future.

However, as the demands and expectations of users and operators continue to increase, and the development of competing wireless access technologies continues, new technological evolution in 3GPP mobile communication systems is required for future competitiveness. Reducing the cost per bit, increasing service availability, the use of flexible frequency bands, simple structure and open interface, and adequate power consumption of the terminal are requirements. In addition, the necessity of preventing unnecessary time delay at the network node and efficient use of network resources may also promote the technology evolution in the 3GPP mobile communication system.

In 3GPP release 8, a network architecture called Evolved Packet Core (EPC) is described as one of the mobile communication systems for meeting the above-mentioned requirements. EPC has evolved the core network of the existing 3GPP system architecture to support Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), an evolved RAN, and to improve the efficiency of packet networks. It has an efficient network structure that simplifies. The wireless communication system including the EPC and the E-UTRAN is called an EPS (Evolved Packet System).

The EPC network is largely divided into three logical entities: PDN-GW, Serving-GW, and Mobility Management Entity (MME).

Among these, the MME is responsible for call control such as location registration, paging, and authentication of a user equipment (UE) through an eNodeB.

Serving-GW acts as a gateway to the access network and manages mobility within 3GPP access (WCDMA, EPS, GSM).

PDN-GW acts as a gateway for interworking between 3GPP access technology and non-3GPP access technology (CDMA2000, WiMAX or WIFI). Allocate IP (Internet Protocol) of the terminal, perform session control interworking with external internet network and non-3GPP network, and maintain routing information with Serving-GW and external network for packet service And has tunneling and IP routing functions and generates charging data according to a charging profile.

On the other hand, when the EPC network is initially established, it is difficult to construct the EPC network at once in the entire area requiring mobile communication service. Therefore, the service area of the EPC network is narrower than that of the WCDMA network. It provides voice and data services through a WCDMA network in a CS (Circuit Switch) fallback method while providing data service only through an EPC network to a mobile / communication terminal device which is a network / EPC network. Therefore, the mobile communication terminal device should be able to perform the charging process regardless of the WCDMA network or the EPC network.

In addition, subscribers using the limit plan with limited data and voice usage should be allowed to selectively process data calls according to whether the limit is exhausted.In the WCDMA network, the plan information is inserted into the CAMEL service key. Various PCCs (Policy & Charging Control) were performed.

However, in the EPC network, as the intelligent network service is excluded from the specification, there are no parameters that can transmit the rate plan, and thus, PCC cannot be performed.

Therefore, according to the prior art, there is a problem in that it is not possible to provide a limit plan service to a mobile communication terminal device for a WCDMA network / EPC network.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0025932, published March 14, 2011. Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2011-00259749, published March 14, 2011.

The present invention has been proposed to solve such a problem of the prior art, and the call processing based on the limit plan for the data service in a mobile communication system including a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network in a different manner. Provides a packet data network gateway device.

In addition, the present invention provides a call processing method of a packet data network gateway device for providing a data service in a mobile communication system including a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network of different types.

As a first aspect of the present invention, a packet data network gateway apparatus is a packet data network gateway apparatus for integrally controlling a data call in a mobile communication system including a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network in different manners. A limit exhaustion confirming unit for confirming whether the toll limit of the mobile communication terminal connected through the first wireless access network or the second wireless access network is exhausted; An allow determination unit determining whether to allow the data call by the mobile communication terminal according to whether the toll limit is exhausted; A message transmitter which transmits a message for notifying whether the data call is permitted to a network node of a wireless access network to which the mobile communication terminal is connected between the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network; And a gateway function unit interworking with an external network to provide a packet service by the data call.

As a second aspect of the present invention, a call processing method performed in a packet data network gateway apparatus for integrally controlling a data call in a mobile communication system including a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network in a different manner, Determining whether the toll limit of the mobile communication terminal connected through the first wireless access network or the second wireless access network is exhausted; Determining whether to allow the data call by the mobile communication terminal according to whether the toll limit is exhausted; And transmitting a message notifying whether the data call is permitted to a network node of a wireless access network to which the mobile communication terminal is connected between the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network.

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In the computer-readable recording medium according to the third aspect of the present invention, a computer program including instructions for performing each step according to the call processing method is recorded.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a call processing may be performed on a data service in a mobile communication system including a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network of different types. Accordingly, in the mobile communication mixed service environment in which the WCDMA network and the EPC network are mixed, the voice and data service in the WCDMA network and the data service in the EPC network are both provided in accordance with the limit rate plan for the mobile communication terminal device of the WCDMA network / EPC network. There is an effect that can be provided.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication system for providing a limit plan service in a mixed mobile communication environment in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a detailed block diagram of a PDN-GW according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a call processing and a billing processing procedure for a mobile communication terminal device having a WCDMA network / EPC network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims.

In describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the embodiments of the present invention, which may vary according to intentions or customs of users and operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

Combinations of each block of the accompanying block diagram and each step of the flowchart may be performed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be mounted on a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing equipment such that instructions executed through the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment may not be included in each block or flowchart of the block diagram. It will create means for performing the functions described in each step. These computer program instructions may be stored on a computer usable or computer readable recording medium that can be directed to a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement functionality in a particular manner, so that the computer program instructions are computer readable or computer readable. Instructions stored on the recording medium may produce an article of manufacture containing instruction means for performing the functions described in each block of the block diagram or in each step of the flowchart. Computer program instructions may also be mounted on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, such that a series of operating steps may be performed on the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a computer-implemented process to create a computer or other programmable data. Instructions that perform processing equipment may also provide steps for performing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and in each step of the flowchart.

In addition, each block or step may represent a portion of a module, segment or code that includes one or more executable instructions for executing a specified logical function (s). It should also be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the functions noted in the blocks or steps may occur out of order. For example, the two blocks or steps shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks or steps may sometimes be performed in the reverse order, depending on the functionality involved.

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

1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication system for providing a limit plan service in a mixed mobile communication environment in which WCDMA networks and EPC networks of different types are mixed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the mobile communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the subscription information providing apparatus 100, HLR (110), SGSN (120), MME (130), GGSN (140), Serving-GW (150) , PDN-GW 160, billing processing device 170, OCS 180, Service Control Point (SCP) 190, and the like.

The subscription information providing apparatus 100 transmits the limit plan information to which the subscriber of the EPC network using the WCDMA network / EPC network combined mobile terminal device subscribes to the HLR 110 and the OCS 180.

The HLR 110 is a line-based subscriber information database that stores a service profile of mobile subscriber information. The HLR 110 includes a mobile identification terminal (MIN) and a mobile serial number (ESN). ) And stores information on the type of service to store subscriber information. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the HLR 110 transmits a subscriber profile including limit plan information to the SGSN 120 when the mobile communication terminal performs location registration in the WCDMA network, and performs location registration in the EPC network. The subscriber profile including the limit plan information is transmitted to the MME 130. In this case, the HLR 110 may store the limit pricing information in the characteristic characteristic field of the subscriber profile and transmit the limit pricing information to the SGSN 120 and the MME 130.

The SGSN 120 is responsible for mobility and packet session management of the mobile communication terminal device. The SGSN 120 establishes a PDP context with the GGSN 140 and performs a function of delivering a protocol data unit using tunneling. In addition, the SGSN 120 may perform IP routing and may interact with a location registration of the mobile communication terminal device. In addition, the voice and data service for the mobile communication terminal device to the PDN-GW (160) whether the limit is exhausted according to the limit plan to receive a reply.

The MME 130 is a node that manages subscriber information and mobility of the mobile communication terminal 0 and is responsible for session management, idle subscriber management, paging, and subscriber authentication functions. That is, the MME 130 processes the control signal when there is a join request or a radio bearer setup request from the mobile communication terminal device or another network node such as the PDN-GW 160 or the Serving-GW 150. It is responsible for various functions of a control plane, such as a control plane, and performs functions such as setting up EPS bearer or IP tunnel and mobility management.

The GGSN 140 maintains routing information between the SGSN 120 and the external network as a gateway that directly connects to the external network, and performs tunneling and IP routing functions. In addition, the billing data according to the voice service or data service in the WCDMA network is transmitted to the billing processing device 170.

The Serving-GW 150 is a session control and user plane node that processes payload traffic according to a set session, and supports Inter EPC / 3GPP handover, and supports the PDN-GW 160. Set up an EPS bearer and deliver PDU (Packet Data Unit) using tunneling. In addition, the PDN-GW 160 receives a response to the PDN-GW 160 to determine whether the limit is exhausted for the data service for the mobile communication terminal device.

The PDN-GW 160 is a session control and user plane that allocates an IP of a mobile communication terminal device and interworks with an external Internet network and a non-3GPP network, and performs routing information with the Serving-GW 150 and an external network for packet service. Maintains tunneling and IP routing functions. In addition, the PDN-GW 160 inquires of the OCS 180 whether the limit is exhausted according to the limit rate plan of the mobile communication terminal device, and the data by the mobile communication terminal device according to whether or not the limit received from the OCS 180 is exhausted. The call is determined to be allowed or disallowed and transmitted to the SGSN 120 or the Serving-GW 150. Here, the PDN-GW 160 may query the OCS 180 whether the limit is exhausted according to a result of the SGSN 120 or the MME 130 checking the rate characteristic information field of the subscriber profile received from the HLR 110. Can be.

The billing processing unit 170 receives billing data for voice and data services of the mobile communication terminal device from the GGSN 120 of the WCDMA network, and transmits data from the PND-GW 160 of the EPC network to the data service of the mobile communication device. Receives billing data for the WCDMA and EPC network and transmits the billing processing data for the OCS (180).

The OCS 180 determines whether the limit has been exhausted according to the billing processing data and the limit plan information for the mobile communication terminal devices of the WCDMA network and the EPC network according to the query by the PDN-GW 160 to the PDN-GW 160. Reply

2 is a detailed block diagram of a PDN-GW according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown therein, the PDN-GW 160 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a limit exhaustion check unit 161, an allow determination unit 163, a message transmitter 165, and a gateway function unit 167. .

The limit exhaustion confirming unit 161 inquires and returns to the OCS 180 whether the limit is exhausted by the WCDMA / EPC network combined mobile communication terminal device subscribed to the limit plan information. Here, the limit exhaustion confirming unit 161 may query the OCS 180 whether the limit is exhausted according to the limit plan information included in the rate characteristic information field of the subscriber profile received by the MME 130 of the EPC network from the HLR 110. Can be.

The permission determining unit 163 determines whether to allow or disallow the data call by the mobile communication terminal device according to whether the limit received from the OCS 180 is exhausted.

The message transmitter 165 transmits a message to the SGSN 140 or the Serving-GW 150 indicating whether to allow or disallow the data call determined by the admission determiner 163.

The gateway function unit 167 performs tunneling and IP routing functions while maintaining routing information with the Serving-GW 150 and the external network for packet service by data call.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a call processing and a billing processing procedure for a mobile communication terminal device having a WCDMA network / EPC network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the call processing and billing processing according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of transmitting the subscriber profile in which the limit plan information is included in the charge characteristic information field to the SGSN or the MME (S211 to S223), and moving in the WCDMA network. The charging data by the voice and data service for the communication terminal device and the charging data by the data service for the mobile communication terminal device in the EPC network (S231 and S233), and the charging by the charging processor The process data is transmitted to the OCS (S237), the PDN-GW queries the OCS whether the limit is exhausted by the mobile communication terminal device at the request of the Serving-GW (S341 and S343), and the PDN-GW Whether to allow or disallow the EPC network for the data call by the mobile communication terminal device according to whether or not the limit received from the OCS is returned to the query. Steps S345 and S347, PDN-GW transmits a message indicating whether to allow or disallow the determined data call to the Serving-GW of the EPC network (S349), and the PDN-GW in accordance with the SGSN request mobile communication Inquiring the OCS of the limit by the terminal device (S351 and S353), and depending on whether the PDN-GW has exhausted the limit received from the OCS in the WCDMA network for the data call by the mobile communication terminal device. Determining whether to allow or disallow (S355 and S357), and the PDN-GW transmits a message indicating whether to allow or disallow the determined data call to the SGSN of the WCDMA network (S359).

Hereinafter, in a mobile communication mixed service environment in which a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network, for example, a WCDMA network and an EPC network, are mixed, the WCDMA / EPC network combined mobile communication terminal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Let's take a look at the process of providing the limit plan service. The following describes an example of providing a data service according to a limit plan.

First, the subscription information providing apparatus 100 transmits the limit plan information to which the subscriber of the EPC network using the WCDMA / EPC network combined mobile terminal device is subscribed to the HLR 110 (S211), and similarly the limit plan information. It transmits to the OCS 180 (S213).

The HLR 110 transmits the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the MME 130 when the mobile communication terminal performs location registration in the EPC network (S221). When the location registration is performed in the WCDMA network, the SGSN ( 120, the subscriber profile including the limit plan information is transmitted (S223). In this case, the HLR 110 may store the limit rate information in the rate characteristic information field of the subscriber profile and transmit the limit rate information to the SGSN 120 and the MME 130.

On the other hand, billing data by voice and data service for the mobile communication terminal device in the WCDMA network is transmitted from the GGSN 140 to the billing processing device 170 (S231), the data service for the mobile communication terminal device in the EPC network Charge data by the PDN-GW 160 is transmitted to the charging processing device 170 (S233).

Then, the billing processing unit 170 generates billing processing data by performing billing processing based on billing data of the WCDMA network and the EPC network (S235), and transmits the billing processing data generated to the OCS 180 to limit the billing system. The service may be performed (S237).

When the mobile communication terminal generates a data call in the EPC network, the Serving-GW 150 queries the PDN-GW 160 whether the limit is exhausted according to the limit plan (S341), and the PDN-GW 160 uses the OCS ( 180, query whether the limit is exhausted according to the limit plan (S343).

Then, the OCS 180 determines whether the limit is exhausted after checking whether the data usage limit according to the limit rate plan of the mobile communication terminal device is exhausted based on the billing processing data received from the billing processing device 170 in step S237. Return to 160 (S345).

Thereafter, the PDN-GW 160 determines whether to allow or disallow the EPC network for the data call by the mobile communication terminal device according to whether the limit received from the OCS 180 is exhausted (S347). A message indicating whether to allow or disallow is generated and transmitted to the Serving-GW 150 of the EPC network (S349).

Alternatively, when the mobile communication terminal generates a data call in the WCDMA network, the SGSN 120 queries the PDN-GW 160 whether the limit is exhausted according to the limit plan (S351), and the PDN-GW 160 sends an OCS ( 180, query whether the limit is exhausted according to the limit plan (S353).

Then, the OCS 180 determines whether the limit is exhausted after checking whether the data usage limit according to the limit rate plan of the mobile communication terminal device is exhausted based on the billing processing data received from the billing processing device 170 in step S237. Return to 160 (S355).

Thereafter, the PDN-GW 160 determines whether to allow or disallow the data call by the mobile communication terminal in the WCDMA network according to whether or not the limit received from the OCS 180 is exhausted (S357). A message indicating whether to allow or disallow is generated and transmitted to the SGSN 120 of the WCDMA network (S359).

Therefore, the SGSN 120 of the WCDMA network and the Serving-GW 150 of the EPC network can know whether the limit is exhausted according to the limit plan, and can provide a service only for the data call whose limit is not exhausted. .

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention but to describe 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 by the claims below, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto shall be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the heterogeneous mobile communication mixed service environment in which the WCDMA network and the EPC network are mixed, the WCDMA network / EPC network can be moved by processing a data call while transferring subscriber plan information between the WCDMA network and the EPC network. It is a useful invention that can provide both a voice and data service in a WCDMA network and a data service in an EPC network to a communication terminal device based on a limit plan.

100: subscription information providing device 110: HLR
120: SGSN 130: MME
140: GGSN 150: Serving-GW
160: PDN-GW 170: billing processing device
180: OCS 190: SCP

Claims (10)

A packet data network gateway device for integrally controlling a data call in a mobile communication system including a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network of different types,
A server for processing billing data of the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network whether or not the charge limit of the mobile communication terminal selectively connectable through any one of the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network; Limit exhaustion check unit to check through;
An allow determination unit determining whether to allow the data call by the mobile communication terminal according to whether the toll limit is exhausted;
A network of a wireless access network in which the mobile communication terminal generates the data call is determined from among the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network, and the data call is generated among the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network. A message transmitter for transmitting a message for notifying the node whether the data call is allowed; And
A gateway function unit interworking with an external network to provide a packet service by the data call;
Packet data network gateway device. The method of claim 1,
The first radio access network is an Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), and the packet data network gate device is a PDN (Packet Data Network) gateway of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network.
Packet data network gateway device. The method of claim 2,
Limit plan information is included in a subscriber profile received by the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the EPC network from a Home Location Register (HLR),
The limit exhaustion confirming unit checks whether the rate limit is exhausted based on the limit rate information included in the subscriber profile.
Packet data network gateway device. The method of claim 1,
The limit exhaustion confirming unit checks whether the charge limit is exhausted by a device that processes the billing processing data of the first radio access network and the second radio access network.
Packet data network gateway device. A call processing method performed in a packet data network gateway apparatus for integrally controlling a data call in a mobile communication system including a first wireless access network and a second wireless access network in different ways.
A server which handles billing processing data of the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network whether or not the charge limit of the mobile communication terminal selectively accessible through any one of the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network is exhausted; Checking through;
Determining whether to allow the data call by the mobile communication terminal according to whether the toll limit is exhausted; And
The mobile communication terminal determines a wireless access network that has generated the data call among the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network, and a network of a wireless access network where the data call is generated among the first wireless access network and the second wireless access network. Transmitting a message informing the node whether to allow the data call;
Call processing method. The method of claim 5,
The first radio access network is an Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), and the packet data network gate device is a PDN (Packet Data Network) gateway of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network.
Call processing method. The method of claim 6,
Limit plan information is included in a subscriber profile received by the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the EPC network from a Home Location Register (HLR),
Check whether the rate limit is exhausted based on the limit rate information included in the subscriber profile.
Call processing method. The method of claim 5,
Whether or not the toll limit is exhausted is confirmed by receiving a query and a reply to the device processing the billing processing data of the first and second wireless access network;
Call processing method. delete A command including the step of performing each step according to the call processing method of any one of claims 5 to 8.
A computer readable recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon.

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