KR20190136707A - Base station apparatus and communication method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a base station apparatus of a first wireless access network operated in an environment in which the first wireless access network and a second wireless access network are mixed comprises: a communication unit performing communication with a mobile communication terminal, a mobile communication service gateway, and a mobile communication service node; and a control unit for controlling the communication unit to establish a bearer between the mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication service gateway using the first wireless access network as a transmission path. The control unit determines whether the change of the bearer is possible to the second wireless access network based on preset service information when the change of the bearer is necessary. When the change of the bearer is possible, the control unit controls the communication unit to request the mobile communication service node to change the bearer to use the second wireless access network as a transmission path.

Description

Base station apparatus and its communication method {BASE STATION APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION METHOD THEREFOR}

The present invention relates to a base station apparatus operating in a mixed environment of heterogeneous radio access networks and a communication method thereof.

Since 4G (Generation) communication system is commercialized, efforts are being made to develop and commercialize 5G communication system to meet the increasing demand for wireless data traffic, and 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) system is one of the results. . The 5G NSA system provides a service by interworking a LTE / EPC (Long Term Evolution / Evolved Packet Core) system with a 5G radio access network.

In an environment in which heterogeneous mobile communication systems co-exist and operate, such as 5G NSA systems, an optimal radio access network should be selected in consideration of user's service characteristics to support service quality and mobility.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1795787, registered November 02, 2017.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a base station apparatus and a communication method for using an optimal radio access network as a transmission path based on service information in an environment where heterogeneous radio access networks are mixed.

The problem to be solved of the present invention is not limited to those mentioned above, and another problem to be solved which is not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a base station apparatus of a first radio access network operating in a mixed environment of a first radio access network and a second radio access network includes a mobile communication terminal, a mobile communication service gateway, and a mobile communication service. A communication unit for communicating with a node, a control unit for controlling a communication unit to establish a bearer between the mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication service gateway using the first radio access network as a transmission path, The controller determines, when the change of the bearer is necessary, whether the bearer can be changed to the second radio access network for a specific service based on preset service information, and when the change of the bearer is possible, the communication unit. Control the second to the mobile communication service node; The request to change the bearer to use the line access to the network transmission path.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a communication method performed in a base station apparatus operating in a mixed environment of a first radio access network and a second radio access network includes mobile communication using the first radio access network as a transmission path. Setting up a bearer between a terminal and a mobile communication service gateway; and when changing the bearer, changing the bearer to use the second radio access network as a transmission path for a specific service based on preset service information. Determining whether this is possible, and if the change of the bearer is possible, requesting the mobile communication service node to change the bearer to use the second radio access network as a transmission path.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the base station apparatus operating in a mixed environment of heterogeneous radio access networks uses the optimal radio access network as a transmission path based on the service information, it is optimal to transmit traffic according to service characteristics. The radio access network of the is determined, thereby improving the quality of service.

1 is a diagram illustrating a mobile communication service system in an environment in which heterogeneous radio access networks are mixed.
2 is a block diagram of a base station apparatus that can be operated in an environment in which heterogeneous radio access networks are mixed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart for providing a mobile communication service including a base station apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

In describing the embodiments of the present invention, detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations will be omitted unless they are actually necessary in describing the embodiments of the present invention. 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 or operators. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a mobile communication service system in an environment in which heterogeneous radio access networks are mixed, and illustrates a 5G non-standalone (NSA) system in which a 4G mobile communication system and a 5G mobile communication system are constructed and operated together.

In the 5G NSA system as shown in FIG. 1, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access network including an eNB 120 and a 5G radio access network including a gNB 130 are mixed, and the mobile communication terminal 110 and the EPC are mixed. The control plan (control signal) between the 140 is transmitted using the eNB 120, and the user plan (user data, user data) between the mobile communication terminal 110 and the EPC 140 is eNB ( 120 or gNB 130.

In such 5G NSA systems, 5G radio access networks can achieve higher transmission rates compared to LTE radio access networks, making them suitable for high speed transmission of large volumes of traffic. On the other hand, LTE radio access networks are more suitable than 5G radio access networks for reliably supporting seamless services (eg, voice services) even when on the move.

As such, in an environment where heterogeneous radio access networks (eg, LTE radio access networks and 5G radio access networks) are mixed, the eNB 120, which is a base station apparatus of the LTE radio access network, may provide a type of service provided to the mobile communication terminal 110. Based on the service information to be included, the optimal radio access network is selected from the heterogeneous radio access networks and used as a transmission path.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a base station apparatus capable of operating in a mixed environment of a heterogeneous radio access network according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is one of the eNB 120 configuring the mobile communication service system 100 shown in FIG. 1. An example is shown.

As shown in FIG. 2, the eNB 120 includes a communication unit 121 and a control unit 122.

1 and 2, the communication unit 121 of the eNB 120 performs communication with the mobile communication service gateway, the mobile communication service node of the EPC 140, and the gNB 130. .

The control unit 122 of the eNB 120 controls the communication unit 121 to establish a bearer between the mobile communication terminal 110 and the mobile communication service gateway in the EPC 140 using the LTE radio access network as a transmission path. Set it.

When the bearer change between the mobile communication terminal 110 and the mobile communication service gateway in the EPC 140 is necessary, the controller 122 transmits the 5G radio access network as a transmission path for a specific service based on preset service information. Determine if the bearer can be changed to use.

Subsequently, when the bearer can be changed, the controller 122 controls the communication unit 121 to request the mobile communication service node in the EPC 140 to change the bearer to use the 5G radio access network as a transmission path for a specific service. do.

Here, if the service information used when providing the communication service to the mobile communication terminal 110 is not set in advance, before the controller 122 determines whether it is possible to change the bearer to use the 5G radio access network as a transmission path. For example, information indicating whether a 5G radio access network is available for each QCI (Quality of Service Class Identifier) may be set as service information. For example, the controller 122 receives service information from a mobile communication service node (eg, a mobility management entity (MME)) connected to an LTE radio access network and a 5G radio access network, or from an operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM) server. Can be received and set. For example, QCI 1, 2, and 5 may be blacklisted as service information so that bearer movement from the LTE radio access network to the 5G radio access network may be disallowed. Alternatively, QCI 8 and 9 may be set as white list as service information to allow bearer movement from the LTE radio access network to the 5G radio access network.

In addition, the control unit 122 is a condition that the use of the 5G radio access network is permitted for the mobile communication terminal 110, a condition that the mobile communication terminal 110 supports the 5G radio access network, eNB 120 is gNB ( When one or more conditions are satisfied among the conditions interworking with the 130 and a condition in which the radio quality between the mobile communication terminal 110 and the gNB 130 is higher than or equal to a predetermined level, a bearer change to use the 5G radio access network as a transmission path is performed. It can be judged as possible.

After the controller 122 requests the mobile communication service node in the EPC 140 to change the bearer, the controller 122 may maintain the bearer that has been set using the LTE radio access network as a transmission path. For example, in response to a request for changing a bearer by the controller 122, the 5G radio access network while the mobile communication service node in the EPC 140 maintains a bearer that uses the LTE radio access network as a transmission path to the mobile communication gateway. May be instructed to add a bearer as a transmission path.

3 is a flowchart for providing a mobile communication service including a base station apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the eNB 120 shown in FIG. 1 is constructed and operated together with a 4G mobile communication system and a 5G mobile communication system. An example of providing various communication services to the mobile communication terminal 110 in the 5G NSA system is illustrated.

Hereinafter, a process of providing a mobile communication service including a communication method of a base station apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

First, the MME, which is a mobile communication service node in the OAM server or the EPC 140, determines whether or not the 5G radio access network is available for each QCI in order to allow or disallow the use of the 5G radio access network for each service provided to the mobile communication terminal 110. The service information to be displayed is transmitted to the eNB 120 (S201 or S202).

Then, the control unit 122 of the eNB 120 controls the communication unit 121 to receive service information transmitted from the OAM server or the MME, and to provide various communication services to the mobile communication terminal 110 by receiving the received service information. It is set as service information for the purpose (S203).

For example, the eNB 120 may indicate whether a 5G radio access network is available using a blacklist or whitelist for each QCI. Here, an exemplary QCI table that the eNB 120 can use as service information is shown in Table 1 below.

QCI Bearer form Priority Packet delay Packet loss Type of service One GBR 2 100 ms 10 ^-2 VoIP call 2 4 150 ms 10 ^-3 Video call 3 3 50 ms Online game (real time) 4 5 300 ms 10 ^-6 Video streaming 5 Non-GBR One 100 ms IMS signaling 6 6 300 ms Video, TCP based service 7 7 100 ms 10 ^-3 Audio and video 8 8 100 ms 10 ^-6 Video, TCP based service 9 9

According to an embodiment, when the eNB 120 uses the QCI table as shown in Table 1, if QCI 1, 2, and 5 are blacklisted as service information, the VoIP call service, the video call service, and the IMS signaling are performed. The use of 5G radio access network is forbidden. Alternatively, if QCI 8 and 9 are whitelisted as service information, use of 5G radio access networks is allowed for video services and TCP-based services.

Next, the Home Location Register (HLR) of the mobile communication system transmits subscriber information of the mobile communication terminal 110 to the MME (S210), and the MME for the use of the 5G radio access network for the mobile communication terminal 110. It is determined whether to allow (S220). Thereafter, the MME transmits information on whether to allow use of the 5G radio access network for the mobile communication terminal 110 and bearer information for bearer setup to the eNB 120 (S230). Then, the control unit 122 of the eNB 120 establishes a bearer between the mobile communication terminal 110 and a serving gateway (SGW) serving as a mobile communication service gateway, using the LTE radio access network as the default transmission path. For example, when providing a plurality of services to the mobile communication terminal 110, a plurality of bearers may be set (S240).

Meanwhile, the controller 122 of the eNB 120 may check whether bearer change between the mobile communication terminal 110 and the SGW serving as the mobile communication service gateway is necessary while providing the communication service for the mobile communication terminal 110. For example, if the radio quality of the LTE radio access network is inappropriate to provide a specific service, it may be determined that the bearer change is necessary (S250).

In step S250, when it is determined that the bearer change is necessary, the controller 122 of the eNB 120 determines whether the change of the bearer is possible to use the 5G radio access network as a transmission path. Here, the control unit 122 of the eNB 120 according to the condition that the use of the 5G radio access network is allowed in step S220 for the mobile communication terminal 110, the subscriber information provided from the HLR in step S210 ( Among the conditions in which the 110 is determined to support the 5G radio access network, the conditions in which the eNB 120 and the gNB 130 interoperate, and the conditions in which the radio quality between the mobile communication terminal 110 and the gNB 130 is above a certain level, When one or more conditions are met, it may be determined that the change of the bearer is possible to use the 5G radio access network as the transmission path. For example, the controller 122 of the eNB 120 may determine that the bearer may be changed to use the 5G radio access network as a transmission path when all of the above conditions are satisfied (S260).

In addition, the control unit 122 of the eNB 120 uses the 5G radio access network as a transmission path for a specific service to be provided to the mobile communication terminal 110 based on the service information set in step S201 or step S202. By confirming that the change is possible, it is finally decided whether or not to apply 5G. That is, the eNB 120 determines whether to apply a 5G radio access network for each bearer for a bearer set between the mobile communication terminal 110 and the SGW (S270). For example, when the eNB 120 uses the QCI table shown in Table 1, if QCI 1, 2, and 5 are blacklisted as service information, the VoIP call service, video call service, and IMS signaling are used. In step S270, it may be decided not to apply the 5G radio access network. Alternatively, if QCI 8 and 9 are set as white list as service information, it may be determined that the 5G radio access network is applied in step S270 to the video service and the TCP-based service.

If it is determined in step S270 to apply the 5G radio access network, the control unit 122 of the eNB 120 controls the communication unit 121 to transmit a 5G radio access network between the mobile communication terminal 110 and the SGW to the MME. Requests to change the bearer to use it. Then, the MME instructs the SGW to change the bearer according to the request of the eNB 120, and the SGW changes the bearer to communicate with the mobile communication terminal 110 using the 5G radio access network as a transmission path according to the MME. (S280).

Meanwhile, the controller 122 of the eNB 120 may maintain a bearer that has been set using the LTE radio access network as a transmission path after requesting the MME in the EPC 140 to change the bearer. For example, in response to a request for changing a bearer by the control unit 122 of the eNB 120, the MME sets the 5G radio access network as a transmission path while maintaining an bearer having the LTE radio access network as a transmission path to the SGW. It may also instruct to add a bearer. Here, when the bearer changes the bearer so that the SGW uses the LTE radio access network as the transmission path under the control of the MME, the SGW in the mobile communication terminal 110 and the EPC 140 when the bearer is changed to use the 5G radio access network as the transmission path. This can be said to be the case when the bearer moved between. For example, when the eNB 120 uses the QCI table shown in Table 1, if the QCI 1, 2, and 5 are blacklisted as service information, the VoIP call service, the video call service, and the IMS signaling are performed. When bearer movement from the LTE radio access network to the 5G radio access network is not allowed, and when QCI 8 and 9 are whitelisted as service information, bearer movement from the LTE radio access network to the 5G radio access network is allowed. If it is.

Thus, when the bearer is changed to use the 5G radio access network as a transmission path in step S280, the mobile communication terminal 110 and the gNB 130 transmit and receive packets using the 5G radio access network (S291), and in step S280 When the bearer is not changed, the mobile communication terminal 110 and the eNB 120 transmit and receive packets using the LTE radio access network (S292).

As described so far, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the base station apparatus operating in the mixed environment of the heterogeneous radio access networks allows the optimal radio access network to be used as the transmission path based on the service information, The optimal radio access network to which the traffic is to be determined is determined, thereby improving the quality of service.

Combinations of the steps of each flowchart attached to the present invention 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 the instructions performed through the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment are described in each step of the flowchart. It will create a means to perform them. 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 Instructions stored on the recording medium may produce an article of manufacture containing instruction means for performing the functions described 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 for performing the processing equipment may also provide steps for executing the functions described in each step of the flowchart.

In addition, each step may represent a module, segment or portion of 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 steps may occur out of order. For example, the two steps shown in succession may in fact be performed substantially simultaneously or the steps may sometimes be performed in the reverse order, depending on the function in question.

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 interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a base station apparatus operating in a mixed environment of a heterogeneous radio access network allows an optimal radio access network to be used as a transmission path based on service information.

Such an embodiment of the present invention can be applied and used in a technical field related to a base station apparatus operating in an environment in which heterogeneous radio access networks are mixed, such as an environment in which an LTE radio access network and a 5G radio access network are mixed.

100: mobile communication service system
110: mobile communication terminal
120: eNB
130: gNB

Claims (8)

A base station apparatus of the first radio access network operated in an environment in which a first radio access network and a second radio access network are mixed.
A communication unit for communicating with a mobile communication terminal, a mobile communication service gateway, and a mobile communication service node;
And a controller configured to control a communication unit to set a bearer between the mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication service gateway using the first radio access network as a transmission path.
The controller determines, when the change of the bearer is necessary, whether the bearer can be changed to the second radio access network for a specific service based on preset service information, and when the change of the bearer is possible, the communication unit. Requesting to change the bearer to control the mobile communication service node to use the second radio access network as a transmission path.
Base station device. The method of claim 1,
Before determining whether the change of the bearer is possible, the controller receives information indicating whether the second radio access network is available for each QCI (QoS Class Identifier) and sets it as the service information.
Base station device. The method of claim 1,
The controller may be configured to: condition for allowing use of the second radio access network to the mobile communication terminal, condition for the mobile communication terminal to support the second radio access network, and a base station apparatus of the first radio access network. The change of the bearer when one or more conditions are satisfied among the condition of interworking with the base station apparatus of the second radio access network and the condition that the radio quality between the mobile communication terminal and the base station apparatus of the second radio access network is a predetermined level or more. To judge that this is possible
Base station device. The method of claim 1,
In response to a request for changing the bearer by the controller, a bearer having the second radio access network as the transmission path is added while the bearer having the first radio access network as the transmission path is maintained.
Base station device. The method of claim 1,
Quality of Service (QoS) Class Identifiers (QoS) Nos. 1, 2, and 5 are blacklisted as the service information, so that bearer movement from the first radio access network to the second radio access network is not allowed.
Communication method of base station apparatus. The method of claim 1,
QCI (Quality of Service) Class Identifiers (QoS) Nos. 8 and 9 are whitelisted to allow bearer movement from the first radio access network to the second radio access network.
Base station device. The method of claim 1,
The control unit controls the communication unit to receive the service information from a mobile communication service node connected to the first radio access network and the second radio access network or from an OAM (Operation, Administration, Maintenance) server.
Base station device. A communication method performed in a base station apparatus operating in an environment in which a first radio access network and a second radio access network are mixed.
Establishing a bearer between the mobile communication terminal and the mobile communication service gateway using the first radio access network as a transmission path;
When the change of the bearer is necessary, determining whether the change of the bearer is possible to use the second radio access network as a transmission path for a specific service based on preset service information;
If the change of the bearer is possible, requesting the mobile communication service node to change the bearer to use the second radio access network as a transmission path;
Communication method of base station apparatus.

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