KR102368830B1 - Network interworking mehtod and device for performing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a network interworking method and a device for performing the same. According to one embodiment, a method for interworking between networks, which is performed by a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving a Tracking Area Update request of a terminal; checking whether a first Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) interlocked with the terminal is in a failure state; requesting, when the first AMF is in a failure state, subscriber information and session information of the terminal to a second AMF with a service area overlapping a service area of the first AMF; and updating the tracking area of the terminal on the basis of the subscriber information and session information. According to the present invention, the present invention is capable of providing a technique that provides a service continuously performed when a terminal moves from a 5G coverage area to an LET coverage area.

Description

NETWORK INTERWORKING MEHTOD AND DEVICE FOR PERFORMING THE SAME

The present disclosure relates to a network interworking method and an apparatus for performing the same.

The mobile communication system has been developed to provide a voice service while ensuring user activity. However, the mobile communication system has expanded its scope to not only voice but also data service. Currently, the explosive increase in traffic causes a shortage of resources and users demand higher-speed services, so a more advanced mobile communication system is required. there is.

The requirements of the next-generation mobile communication system are largely to support explosive data traffic acceptance, a dramatic increase in the transmission rate per user, a significantly increased number of connected devices, very low end-to-end latency, and high energy efficiency. should be able For this purpose, Dual Connectivity, Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), In-band Full Duplex, Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA), Super Wideband Various technologies such as wideband support and device networking are being studied.

5G Non-Standalone (NSA) refers to a system that performs connection control including mobility management, etc. through an Evolved Packet core (EPC) of LTE, and transmits and receives data through a 5G network. 5G SA (Standalone) refers to a system that independently performs connection control and data transmission/reception through a 5G network.

Embodiments may provide a technology for providing a continuous service when a terminal moves from a 5G service area to an LTE service area in a wireless communication system.

Embodiments may provide a continuous service even when an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) of a 5G network is in a failure state.

However, the technical tasks are not limited to the above-described technical tasks, and other technical tasks may exist.

A method for interworking between networks performed by a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment includes the steps of: receiving a tracking area update request of a terminal; Checking whether an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) is in a failure state, and if the first AMF is in a failure state, the first AMF and a service area overlapping the second AMF of the terminal requesting subscriber information and session information; and updating a tracking area of the terminal based on the subscriber information and the session information.

The receiving may include receiving a 5G-Global Unique Temporary Identifier (5G-GUTI) allocated to the terminal by the first AMF.

The confirming may include identifying the first AMF based on the 5G-GUTI.

The subscriber information may be subscriber information stored in an unstructured data storage function (UDSF) by the first AMF.

The session information may be session information received by the second AMF from a Session Management Function (SMF).

The updating may include transmitting bearer information to be transmitted to the base station to the terminal, and receiving bearer information of the base station from the terminal.

Mobility Management Entity (MME) according to an embodiment includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal, and a processor for controlling the transceiver, wherein the processor receives a tracking area update request of the terminal, and the It is checked whether the first Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) interlocked with the terminal is in a failure state, and when the first AMF is in the failure state, the second AMF in which the first AMF and a service area overlap Requests subscriber information and session information of the terminal, and updates the tracking area of the terminal based on the subscriber information and session information.

The processor may receive a 5G-Global Unique Temporary Identifier (5G-GUTI) allocated to the terminal by the first AMF.

The processor may identify the first AMF based on the 5G-GUTI.

The subscriber information may be subscriber information stored in an unstructured data storage function (UDSF) by the first AMF.

The session information may be session information received by the second AMF from a Session Management Function (SMF).

The processor may transmit bearer information to be transmitted to the base station to the terminal, and receive bearer information of the base station from the terminal.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a situation in which a terminal moves in a service area in a wireless communication system.
2 is a diagram for explaining redirection performed in a situation in which a terminal moves in a service area in a wireless communication system.
3 is a diagram for explaining a problem that occurs when an AMF is in a failure state in a wireless communication system.
4 is a diagram for explaining redirection according to an embodiment.
5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an MME.
6 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an AMF.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, since various changes may be made to the embodiments, the scope of the patent application is not limited or limited by these embodiments. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents and substitutes for the embodiments are included in the scope of the rights.

The terms used in the examples are used for the purpose of description only, and should not be construed as limiting. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate that a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or a combination thereof described in the specification exists, but one or more other features It should be understood that this does not preclude the existence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiment belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in the present application. does not

In addition, in the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and the overlapping description thereof will be omitted. In describing the embodiment, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the embodiment, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in describing the components of the embodiment, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the elements from other elements, and the essence, order, or order of the elements are not limited by the terms. When it is described that a component is "connected", "coupled" or "connected" to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but another component is between each component. It will be understood that may also be "connected", "coupled" or "connected".

Components included in one embodiment and components having a common function will be described using the same names in other embodiments. Unless otherwise stated, descriptions described in one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments as well, and detailed descriptions within the overlapping range will be omitted.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a situation in which a terminal moves in a service area in a wireless communication system.

The 5G mobile network (hereinafter, 5G network) based on the 3GPP standard applied NSA (Non-standalone) network operation first to shorten the commercialization period, and is gradually expanding to SA (Standalone) network operation. The SA network, like the existing 3G/4G network, refers to a method in which the 5G network operates independently from the previous-generation network.

A plurality of base stations 120 and 130 in a wireless communication network may provide respective coverages. A plurality of base stations 120 and 130 may be disposed so that some of the coverages overlap each other. In order for a user equipment (UE) 110 to transmit and receive data through a wireless communication system, an uplink channel and a downlink channel are established between the user terminal 110 and a base station of the wireless communication system.

The base station 120 that can provide the most efficient wireless communication environment to the user terminal 110 may establish a communication channel with the user terminal 110 . As the location of the user terminal 110 changes, a base station that can provide the most efficient wireless communication environment to the user terminal 110 may change. For example, when the base station 130 can provide a better wireless communication environment than the base station 120 to the user terminal 110 , the base station 130 performs handover to establish a channel with the user terminal 110 . (handover) or redirection (redirection) may be performed.

When the user terminal 110 moves from the 5G SA network service area to the LTE network service area, redirection may be performed. For example, when the user terminal 110 moves from the coverage of the base station 120 servicing the 5G SA to the coverage of the base station 130 servicing the LTE, the base station 130 serving the LTE is the user terminal 110 . ) and redirection to establish a channel.

2 is a diagram for explaining redirection performed in a situation in which a terminal moves in a service area in a wireless communication system.

1 AMF (Access and Mobility Function; 210), MME (Mobility Management Entity; 230), SMF/SPGW-C (Session Management Function/Session PDN Gateway-Control plane; 250) and HSS/UDM ( Home Subscriber Sever/Unified Data Management; 270) is a configuration of a 5G system (5GS) that performs interworking between a 5G SA network and an LTE network.

When the terminal 110 moves from the 5G SA network service area to the LTE service area, a tracking area update (TAU) procedure may be performed. For example, when the terminal enters the 5G SA network shadow area or the LTE strong electric field area, the terminal may perform TAU based on the LTE Tracking Area Code (TAC).

The terminal 110 may transmit a TAU request to the MME 230 to perform TAU. The terminal 110 may transmit a 5G Global Unique Temporary Identifier (5G-GUTI) together to the MME 230 . In this case, the 5G-GUTI may be assigned by the first AMF 210 interworking with the terminal 110 .

The MME 230 may request subscriber information and session information for the terminal 110 from the first AMF 210 . The MME 230 may check the AMF information based on the MME Group ID and the MME Code of the 5G-GUTI and request subscriber information and session information from the first AMF 210 .

The first AMF 210 may request the session information of the terminal 110 from the SMF/SPGW-C 250 . The first AMF 210 may transmit the terminal 110 user information and session information to the MME 230 .

The MME 230 may create a session with the SMF/SPGW-C 250 and request data bearer information (SGW GTP-U) to be delivered to the LTE base station. The SMF/SPGW-C 250 may transmit data bearer information (SGW GTP-U) to be delivered to the LTE base station to the MME 230 in response to the request.

The location of the terminal 110 is registered in the LTE network to which the terminal 110 has moved, and the location registration of the terminal 110 in the existing 5G SA network may be released. The MME 230 may request the location update of the terminal 110 to the HSS/UDM 270 . The HSS/UDM 270 may transmit a location registration release notification of the terminal 110 for the existing 5G SA network to the first AMF 210 .

The MME 230 may transmit bearer information (SGW GTP-U) to the LTE base station and may receive bearer information (eNB GTP-U) of the LTE base station. The MME 230 may transmit bearer information (eNB GTP-U) of the LTE base station to the SMF/SPGW-C 250 .

The MME 230 may manage subscriber information and session information after the redirection to the LTE network of the terminal 110 is completed.

3 is a diagram for explaining a problem that occurs when an AMF is in a failure state in a wireless communication system.

The MME 230 may receive the TAU request from the terminal 110 .

When the MME 230 confirms that the first AMF 210 interworking with the terminal 110 is in a failure state, the MME 230 may fail processing without requesting information from the first AMF 210 . That is, when the first AMF 210 is in a failure state, the MME 230 may reject the TAU request from the terminal 110 because it cannot receive subscriber information and session information from the first AMF 210 .

The terminal 110 may attempt to reconnect to the LTE network when the TAU is processed as a failure. In this case, the disconnection of the voice or data service being used by the user through the terminal 110 may occur.

Hereinafter, a method for providing a continuous service even when an Access and Mobility Function (AMF) of a 5G network is in a failure state will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 .

4 is a diagram for explaining redirection according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is for explaining redirection performed when the AMF is in a failure state, and the second AMF 410 and UDSF (Unstructured Data Storage Function) additionally shown in FIG. 4 are 5G, like the configurations shown in FIG. These are the configurations of the 5G system (5GS) that performs mutual interworking between the SA network and the LTE network.

The mobility management device 230 may perform redirection to provide a continuous service to the terminal 110 even when the first AMF 210 is in a failure state. The mobility management device 230 may be the MME 230 .

When a failure occurs in the first AMF 210 interworking with the terminal 110 , the MME 230 may request information from the second AMF 410 in the same pool as the first AMF 210 . Hereinafter, the redirection operation when the first AMF 210 is in a failure state will be described in detail.

When the terminal 110 moves from the 5G SA network service area to the LTE service area, a tracking area update (TAU) procedure may be performed. For example, when the terminal enters the 5G SA network shadow area or the LTE strong electric field area, the terminal may perform TAU based on the LTE Tracking Area Code (TAC).

The terminal 110 may transmit a TAU request to the MME 230 to perform TAU. The terminal 110 may transmit a 5G Global Unique Temporary Identifier (5G-GUTI) together to the MME 230 . In this case, the 5G-GUTI may be assigned by the first AMF 210 interworking with the terminal 110 .

The MME 230 may check the AMF information based on the MME group ID and the MME code of the 5G-GUTI to confirm the first AMF 210 interworking with the terminal 110 .

The MME 230 may determine whether the first AMF 210 is in a failure state. For example, the MME 230 may check whether information can be received from the first AMF 210 .

When a failure occurs in the first AMF 210, the MME 230 may request subscriber information and session information for the terminal 110 to the second AMF 410 serving the area overlapped with the first AMF 210. there is.

The second AMF 410 may inquire subscriber information of the terminal 110 from the UDSF 430 . The second AMF 410 may inquire subscriber information from the UDSF 430 even if the second AMF 410 is not the subscriber it was serving. The subscriber information of the terminal 110 stored in the UDSF 430 may be stored (or shared) by the first AMF 210 .

The second AMF 410 may request the session information of the terminal 110 from the SMF/SPGW-C 250 . The second AMF 210 may transmit the terminal 110 user information inquired by the UDSF 430 and the session information received from the SMF/SPGW-C 250 to the MME 230 .

The MME 230 may create a session with the SMF/SPGW-C 250 and request data bearer information (SGW GTP-U) to be delivered to the LTE base station. The SMF/SPGW-C 250 may transmit data bearer information (SGW GTP-U) to be delivered to the LTE base station to the MME 230 in response to the request.

The location of the terminal 110 is registered in the LTE network to which the terminal 110 has moved, and the location registration of the terminal 110 in the existing 5G SA network may be released. The MME 230 may request the location update of the terminal 110 to the HSS/UDM 270 . The HSS/UDM 270 may transmit a location registration release notification of the terminal 110 for the existing 5G SA network to the first AMF 210 .

The MME 230 may transmit bearer information (SGW GTP-U) to the LTE base station and may receive bearer information (eNB GTP-U) of the LTE base station. The MME 230 may transmit bearer information (eNB GTP-U) of the LTE base station to the SMF/SPGW-C 250 .

The MME 230 may manage subscriber information and session information after the redirection to the LTE network of the terminal 110 is completed.

5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of an MME.

The MME 500 includes a transceiver 510 , a processor 530 , and a memory 550 . For example, the MME 500 may be the MME 230 described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 .

The transceiver 510 may be connected to the processor 530 and the memory 550 to transmit/receive data. The transceiver 510 may be implemented as circuitry in the MME 500 . For example, the transceiver 510 may include an internal bus and an external bus. As another example, the transceiver 510 may be an element connecting the MME 500 and an external device. The transceiver 510 may be an interface. The transceiver 510 may receive data from an external device and transmit the data to the processor 530 and the memory 550 .

The processor 530 processes data received by the transceiver 510 and data stored in the memory 550 . A “processor” may be a data processing device implemented in hardware having circuitry having a physical structure for performing desired operations. For example, desired operations may include code or instructions included in a program. For example, a data processing device implemented as hardware includes a microprocessor, a central processing unit, a processor core, a multi-core processor, and a multiprocessor. , an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

Processor 530 executes computer readable code (eg, software) stored in memory (eg, memory 550 ) and instructions issued by processor 220 .

The memory 550 stores data received by the transceiver 510 and data processed by the processor 530 . For example, the memory 550 may store a program (or an application, software). The stored program may be a set of syntaxes coded to perform handover and executable by the processor 530 .

Memory 550 may include one or more of volatile memory, non-volatile memory and random access memory (RAM), flash memory, hard disk drives, and optical disk drives.

The memory 550 stores an instruction set (eg, software) for operating the MME 500 . The instruction set for operating the MME 500 is executed by the processor 530 .

The operations of the MME 230 described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 may be understood to be performed by the transceiver 510 , the processor 530 , and the memory 550 .

6 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an AMF.

The AMF 600 includes a transceiver 610 , a processor 630 , and a memory 650 . For example, the AMF 600 may be the first AMF 210 and the second AMF 410 described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 .

The transceiver 610 may be connected to the processor 630 and the memory 650 to transmit/receive data. The transceiver 610 may be implemented as circuitry in the AMF 600 . For example, the transceiver 610 may include an internal bus and an external bus. As another example, the transceiver 610 may be an element connecting the AMF 600 and an external device. The transceiver 610 may be an interface. The transceiver 610 may receive data from an external device and transmit the data to the processor 630 and the memory 650 .

The processor 630 processes data received by the transceiver 610 and data stored in the memory 650 . A “processor” may be a data processing device implemented in hardware having circuitry having a physical structure for performing desired operations. For example, desired operations may include code or instructions included in a program. For example, a data processing device implemented as hardware includes a microprocessor, a central processing unit, a processor core, a multi-core processor, and a multiprocessor. , an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

Processor 630 executes computer readable code (eg, software) stored in memory (eg, memory 650 ) and instructions issued by processor 220 .

The memory 650 stores data received by the transceiver 610 and data processed by the processor 630 . For example, the memory 650 may store a program (or an application, software). The stored program may be a set of syntaxes coded to perform handover and executable by the processor 630 .

Memory 650 may include one or more of volatile memory, non-volatile memory and random access memory (RAM), flash memory, hard disk drives, and optical disk drives.

The memory 650 stores an instruction set (eg, software) for operating the AMF 600 . The instruction set for operating the AMF 600 is executed by the processor 630 .

The operations of the first AMF 210 and the second AMF 410 described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 may be understood to be performed by the transceiver 610 , the processor 630 , and the memory 650 .

The description of this specification may be supported by standard documents disclosed in IEEE 802, 3GPP or 3GPP2, which are wireless access systems. That is, steps or parts omitted from description in order to clearly reveal the technical spirit of the present invention among the embodiments of the present invention may be supported by standard documents. In addition, all terms disclosed in this specification may also be described by standard documents.

The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be specially designed and configured for the embodiment, or may be known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, and magnetic such as floppy disks. - includes magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language codes such as those generated by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

Software may comprise a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more thereof, which configures a processing device to operate as desired or is independently or collectively processed You can command the device. The software and/or data may be any kind of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage medium or apparatus, to be interpreted by or to provide instructions or data to the processing device. , or may be permanently or temporarily embody in a transmitted signal wave. The software may be distributed over networked computer systems and stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be stored in one or more computer-readable recording media.

As described above, although the embodiments have been described with reference to the limited drawings, those skilled in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, the described techniques are performed in an order different from the described method, and/or the described components of the system, structure, apparatus, circuit, etc. are combined or combined in a different form than the described method, or other components Or substituted or substituted by equivalents may achieve an appropriate result.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (13)

A method for interworking between networks performed by a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
Receiving a tracking area update (Tracking Area Update) request of the terminal;
checking whether a first Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) interlocked with the terminal is in a failure state;
when the first AMF is in a failure state, requesting subscriber information and session information of the terminal to a second AMF in which the first AMF and a service area overlap; and
Updating the tracking area of the terminal based on the subscriber information and the session information
including,
The subscriber information is
The first AMF is subscriber information stored in UDSF (Unstructured Data Storage Function),
The session information is
The second AMF is the session information received from the SMF (Session Management Function), the interworking method between networks.
According to claim 1,
The receiving step is
Receiving a 5G-Global Unique Temporary Identifier (5G-GUTI) allocated to the terminal by the first AMF
Including, a method of interworking between networks.
3. The method of claim 2,
The checking step is
identifying the first AMF based on the 5G-GUTI;
Including, a method of interworking between networks.
delete delete According to claim 1,
The updating step is
transmitting bearer information to be transmitted to the base station to the terminal; and
Receiving bearer information of the base station from the terminal
Including, a method of interworking between networks.

A computer program stored in a computer-readable recording medium in combination with hardware to execute the method of any one of claims 1 to 3 and 6.
a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals; and
a processor for controlling the transceiver;
The processor is
Receives a tracking area update request of the terminal, checks whether a first Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) interlocked with the terminal is in a failure state, and when the first AMF is in a failure state, the requesting subscriber information and session information of the terminal to a second AMF in which the first AMF and the service area overlap, and updating the tracking area of the terminal based on the subscriber information and the session information;
The subscriber information is
The first AMF is subscriber information stored in UDSF (Unstructured Data Storage Function),
The session information is
The second AMF is the session information received from the SMF (Session Management Function), the mobility management device.
9. The method of claim 8,
The processor is
For receiving the 5G-Global Unique Temporary Identifier (5G-GUTI) allocated to the terminal by the first AMF, the mobility management device.
10. The method of claim 9,
The processor is
To identify the first AMF based on the 5G-GUTI, mobility management device.
delete delete 9. The method of claim 8,
The processor is
Transmitting bearer information to be transmitted to the base station to the terminal, and receiving the bearer information of the base station from the terminal.

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