TW201427451A - Communication system, user equipment, mobility management entity and method thereof of transient handover for performing packet offloading - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of a transient handover for performing packet offloading is disclosed. The method is used in a cellular network. The method includes: finding at least one qualified user equipment according to a, and transmitting a handover-transient request to the qualified user equipment; finding and transmitting an access request to a wireless local area network when the UE receives the handover-transient request; transmitting a handover-transient ACK to a mobility management entity when the qualified user equipment accesses the wireless local area network; and releasing a bearer resource of the qualified user equipment when the MME receives the handover-transient ACK, retaining a bearer information of the qualified user equipment, and handing over the qualified user equipment from the cellular network to the wireless local area network.

Description

Transient handoff communication system and mobile tube for performing traffic offloading Physical entity, user equipment and method thereof

The disclosure relates to a transient handoff communication system, a mobile management entity, a user equipment and a method thereof for performing traffic offloading.

Infonetics Research, a well-known market research company, mentioned in the document that due to the explosive growth of mobile networks in data and signaling, mobile operators have deployed wireless local area networks (WLANs). ), the demand for unloading mobile data traffic has increased significantly. The mobile operator analyzes the mobile data traffic of the user equipment and finds that the primary traffic occurs in hotspots and indoors, and at certain times. Future data types will also be dominated by video and audio. Therefore, many companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens, etc., have incorporated carrier-grade wireless local area networks into the product planning blueprint of Small Cell. Wireless LAN vendors are also actively developing technologies such as Hotspot 2.0, hoping to gain a foothold in the offload market.

Currently, user devices will be used with them when they are actually used. Move. Therefore, in order to maintain a certain communication quality, the user equipment may switch between different networks, for example, switching from a cellular network to a wireless local area network. However, all bearer resources of the user equipment are deleted when they are changed between different networks, and the mobile device's mobile state is transferred to a DEREGISTERED state, meaning that all bearer resources will be released. The bearer information stored in the user equipment, the base station, and the mobility management entity will be removed.

However, when the user equipment is switched back to the cellular network by the wireless local area network, a hand-off attachment procedure needs to be restarted. Performing this handoff attachment process will require a long change of time to change the message. Therefore, how to solve the problem of network congestion and simplify the process of changing hands in multiple wireless access network environments is still an urgent problem in the industry.

The present disclosure provides a transient handoff communication system, a mobility management entity, a user equipment, and a method thereof for performing traffic offloading.

The present disclosure provides a method for performing a transient handoff of traffic offloading in a communication system, wherein the communication system is used in a cellular network, and the method includes the following steps: by using a mobility management entity ( The Mobility Management Entity (MME) finds at least one qualified user device that executes an application from the plurality of user devices according to a judgment manner, and transmits a Handover Transient Request to the qualified user device; The qualified user equipment receives the handoff transient request, and finds and transmits an access request to a wireless local area network; the qualified user equipment accesses the wireless local area network, and transmits a hand change transient confirmation (Handover Transient) ACK) to the mobility management entity; and the mobility management entity receiving the handover The state confirms that one of the qualified user equipments is released, and one of the qualified user equipments is retained, and the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network.

The present disclosure provides a method for performing a temporary handover of traffic offloading, which is used in a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of a cellular network. The method includes the following steps: Finding at least one Qualified User Equipment (UE) in the plurality of user equipments, and transmitting a Handover Transient Request to the Qualified User Equipment; and receiving the Qualified User Equipment Handover Transient ACK, releasing one of the above qualified user equipments, retaining the bearer information of one of the qualified user equipments, and replacing the qualified user equipment from the cellular network Hand to a wireless local area network.

The present disclosure provides a method for performing a temporary handover of traffic offloading for performing an application in a User Equipment (UE), wherein the user equipment is attached to a cellular network. The method includes the following steps: receiving a Handover Transient Request transmitted by a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the cellular network; searching for a wireless local area network; Transmitting an access request to the wireless local area network when searching for the wireless local area network; transmitting a handoff Transient ACK to the mobile management entity when accessing the wireless local area network And switching from the cellular network to the wireless local area network by the mobile management entity.

The present disclosure proposes a transient handoff for performing traffic offloading Communication system for a cellular network, comprising at least: at least one user equipment (User Equipment, UE) attached to the cellular network and executing an application; and a mobility management entity (Mobility Management) Entity, MME), coupled to the qualified user equipment, finds the qualified user equipment from the plurality of user equipments according to a judgment manner, and transmits a Handover Transient Request to the qualified user The device, wherein the qualified user device receives the handoff transient request, searches for and transmits an access request to a wireless local area network; and the qualified user device accesses the wireless local area network to transmit a handoff transient Achieving a Handover Transient ACK to the mobile management entity; the mobility management entity receiving the handoff transient acknowledgement, releasing one of the qualified user equipment bearer resources, and retaining one of the qualified user equipment bearer information, and The above qualified user equipment is handed over by the cellular network to the wireless local area network.

The present disclosure provides a Mobility Management Entity (MME) for use in a cellular network including at least: a control circuit; a processor disposed in the control circuit; and a memory disposed on the The control circuit is coupled to the processor; wherein the processor is configured to execute a code stored in the memory to perform a temporary handover of the traffic offload, including: using the plural according to a determining manner Find at least one qualified user equipment (User Equipment, UE) in the device, and transmit a Handover Transient Request to the qualified user equipment; and receive one of the qualified user equipments. Handover Transient ACK, release one of the above qualified user equipments, retain the bearer information of one of the qualified user equipments, and pass the above qualification The user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to a wireless local area network.

The present disclosure provides a user equipment (User Equipment, UE), executing an application and attaching to a cellular network, comprising at least: a control circuit; a processor disposed in the control circuit; and a memory Provided in the control circuit and coupled to the processor; wherein the processor is configured to execute a code stored in the memory, comprising: receiving a mobility management entity (Mobility) in the cellular network a Handover Transient Request transmitted by the Management Entity (MME); looking for a wireless local area network; and transmitting an access request to the wireless local area network when finding the wireless local area network; Transmitting a Handover Transient ACK to the mobile management entity when accessing the wireless local area network; and handing over the cellular network to the wireless local area network by using the mobile management entity .

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧Multiple wireless access network system

110‧‧‧User equipment

120‧‧‧Base station

130‧‧‧Wireless Area Network Access Point

140‧‧‧Mobile Management Entity

150‧‧‧Network

300‧‧‧Communication device

302‧‧‧ Input device

304‧‧‧Output device

306‧‧‧Control circuit

308‧‧‧Central Processing Unit

310‧‧‧ memory

312‧‧‧Executing code

314‧‧‧ transceiver

400‧‧‧Application layer

402‧‧‧ third floor

404‧‧‧ second floor

406‧‧‧ first floor

500‧‧‧ Method flow chart

S505, S510, S515, S520‧‧‧ steps

600‧‧‧ method flow chart

S605, S610, S615, S620, S625‧‧ steps

700‧‧‧Method Flowchart

Steps S705, S710, S715, S720, S725, S730, S735, S740, S745, S750, S755‧‧

800‧‧‧Information flow chart

S802, S804, S806, S808, S810‧‧‧ steps

900‧‧‧Information flow chart

S902, S904, S906, S908‧‧‧ steps

1000‧‧‧ message flow chart

S1002, S1004, S1006, S1008‧‧‧ steps

1 is a schematic diagram showing a multiple wireless access network system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

2 is a diagram showing an EMM-TRANSIENT state, an EMM-REGISTERED state, and an evolved packet system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Mobile Management Unregister Status (EMM-DEREGISTERED State) Schematic diagram of the transfer of different states.

FIG. 3 is a simplified functional block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

4 is a simplified functional block diagram showing execution of code 312 in FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a method for performing a transient handoff of traffic offloading according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 6 is a flow chart showing a method for performing a transient handoff of traffic offloading according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 7 is a flow chart showing a method for performing a transient handoff of traffic offloading according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the message that the user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the message that the user equipment is handed over from the wireless local area network to the cellular network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 10 is a flow chart showing the message that the user equipment is handed over from the wireless local area network to the cellular network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In order to make the objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure more apparent, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings in FIGS. This description provides different embodiments to illustrate the technical features of the various embodiments. The configuration of each component in the embodiments is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the present invention. The overlapping portions of the drawings in the embodiments are for the purpose of simplifying the description and are not intended to be related to the different embodiments.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project, also known as "3GPP", is a collaborative agreement to define technical specifications for third- and fourth-generation wireless communication systems worldwide. Technical Reports. The third-generation partner program defines specifications for next-generation mobile networks, systems, and devices.

The third generation of partners plans Long Term Evolution (LTE) to improve the standards of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile phones or mobile devices to meet future needs. In one aspect, a universal mobile communication system has been modified to provide support and evolution of Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, E-UTRAN) specifications.

At least some portions of the communication systems and methods disclosed herein may be related to 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (LTE), Evolution Long Term Evolution (LTE Advanced, LTE-A) and other standards (eg, The third generation of partner programs is available in versions 8, 9, 10 and/or 11). However, the scope of the disclosure should not be limited in these respects. In at least some aspects, the communication systems and methods disclosed herein can be used in other types of wireless communication systems.

The wireless communication device can be an electronic device for communicating voice and/or transmitting data to a base station, which can communicate with a network device (for example, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Internet) Road (Internet), etc.). Communication system described in the disclosure And the method, the wireless communication device can be called a mobile station, a user equipment (User Equipment, UE), an access terminal, a user using a subscriber station (Subscriber Station), a mobile terminal, a user terminal, a terminal, a user using unit Wait. For example, the wireless communication device can be a cellular handheld device, a smart handheld device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a notebook computer, a netbook, an e-reader, and a wireless modem (Wireless Modem). And other devices. In the third generation of partner program specifications, wireless communication devices are commonly referred to as user equipment (UE). However, the scope of the disclosure should not be limited to the third generation of partner program standards. The terms "user equipment (UE)" and "wireless communication device" may be used interchangeably in the disclosure, and are expressed as "wireless". Communication device "general terms.

In the third-generation partner program specification, the base station is often referred to as "Node B", evolved Node B (eNB), enhanced Node B (enhanced eNB), and family evolved Node B. (home evolved Node B, HeNB), home enhanced Node B (HeNB) or other similar terms. Since the scope of this disclosure should not be limited to the third-generation partner program standards, the terms "base station", "node B", "base station" and "home base station" are used interchangeably and are indicated as being disclosed. The general term for "base station." In addition, the term "base station" can be used to mean an access point. The access point can be an electronic device that provides access to a network for wireless communication (eg, a local area network (LAN), an Internet, etc.). A wireless communication device and/or a base station, which is also referred to by the term "communication device".

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the multiple absences according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A schematic diagram of the line access network system 100. The multiple wireless access network system 100 includes at least one user equipment (UE) 110, a base station 120, a wireless local area network access point 130, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 140, and A network (Internet) 150.

The user device 110 can be an electronic device with network connection capabilities. For example, a personal computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a smart terminal device, or the like can be connected to an electronic device of a wireless network. It is worth noting that the user equipment can be configured with one or more wireless interfaces, but based on energy saving considerations, only one wireless interface operates at the same time.

When the user device 110 is attached to a Cellular Network, the user device 110 is connected to the base station 120. The base station 120 can connect the user equipment to the network 150 by the mobility management entity 140. However, when the traffic load of the cellular network is too heavy, the mobility management entity 140 finds at least one qualified user equipment from the plurality of user equipments 110 according to a judgment manner, and transmits a handover request (Handover Transient Request). ) to qualified user equipment.

In an embodiment, the manner in which the mobility management entity 140 finds the qualified user equipment is determined according to one or more factors, wherein the factor may include: whether the radio resource of the base station to which the user equipment belongs is lower than one. a first threshold; whether the moving speed of the user equipment is lower than a second threshold; whether the messenger device is in a high power state; and one of the user equipment types of the traffic content.

Table 1 shows the order of importance of the disclosed factors.

As shown in Table 1, the mobility management entity 140 can sequentially find qualified user devices according to the importance order of Table 1. For example, the mobility management entity 140 is configured to find all the user equipments whose radio resources of the base station to which the user equipment belongs are lower than a first threshold according to the importance ranking factor 1. The mobility management entity 140 then ranks the user equipment in the group I by the user equipment in the group I to find the user equipment whose movement speed is lower than a second threshold, which is called group II. And, the mobility management entity 140 sorts the importance of 3 according to the importance, and the user equipment in the group II finds the user equipment in a high power state, which is called group III. And, the mobility management entity 140 sorts the importance according to the factor of 4, and the user equipment in the group III finds the user equipment type whose transaction content type is non-instant, which is called group IV. In this embodiment, the user equipment in group IV is the qualified user equipment.

In another embodiment, each factor may have a weight index, respectively. The mobility management entity 140 may find the user equipment with higher weight as the qualified user equipment from all the user equipments according to the weight index of each factor.

Table 2 shows the weighting index of each factor of this embodiment.

It must be noted that the above-mentioned factors, order of importance, weight index, etc. are not limited to the contents of the illustration and the description of the present invention. In addition, the mobility management entity 140 can adjust its judgment mode to make a more detailed analysis of the characteristics of all user equipments.

When the qualified user device receives the handoff transient request, it searches for a wireless local area network. When a wireless local area network is found, the qualified user device transmits an access request to the wireless local area network. After accessing the wireless local area network, the qualified user equipment transmits a Handover Transient ACK to the mobility management entity 140. If the qualified user equipment does not find the wireless local area network, then a handoff Transient NACK is sent back to the mobility management entity to re-detect whether the traffic load of the cellular network is too heavy.

When the mobility management entity 140 receives the handover transient acknowledgement transmitted by the qualified user equipment, the status of the qualified user equipment in the Non-Access Stratum (NAS) is updated to an evolution packet system movement. Manage the temporary state (EMM-TRANSIENT state) to retain bearer information for qualified user devices. The bearer information includes at least one PDN Gateway Identifier (P-GW ID), a Serving Gateway Identifier (S-GW ID), and a channel ID (Tunnel ID). And other information. Finally, the mobility management entity 140 releases the eligible use. The device carries the resources and the qualified user device is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network.

In one embodiment, the qualified user device executing an application monitors whether the wireless local area network satisfies one of the quality of service (Qos) of the application after handing over to the wireless local area network. When the wireless local area network satisfies this quality of service and application execution ends, the qualified user equipment transmits an attach request (ATTACH REQ) to the mobility management entity 140. After receiving the attach request, the mobility management entity 140 causes the qualified user equipment to enter an EMM-REGISTERED state. It is worth noting that when the wireless local area network does not satisfy the quality of service and the execution of the application ends, the qualified user equipment still transmits an attach request (ATTACH REQ) to the mobility management entity 140. The attach request includes a request type field. When the request type field indicates a handover procedure (ie, the wireless local area network cannot provide the connection quality of the user equipment), the mobility management entity 140 Passing the above qualified user equipment into an EMM-REGISTERED state of an evolved packet system, and re-establishing a cellular data path, and handing over the qualified user equipment from the wireless local area network to the cellular network .

In another embodiment, after the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, when the mobile management entity 140 does not receive the message returned by the qualified user equipment and one of the mobility management entities 140 When the timer expires, the qualified user equipment is entered into an ECM-DEREGISTERED State of the Evolved Packet System.

2 is a diagram showing an EMM-TRANSIENT state, including an ECM-TRANSIENT state, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Schematic diagram of the transition of different states of the EMM-REGISTERED State and the EMM-DEREGISTERED State of the EPC-REGISTERED state of the Evolved Packet System. Two evolutionary packet system mobility management states are defined in the third generation partner project specification: EMM-REGISTERED State and ECM-DEREGISTERED State of Evolved Packet System Mobile Management Unregistered State (EMM-DEREGISTERED State) . In the disclosure, an ECM-TRANSIENT State is further defined to release the bearer resources of the user equipment.

When the user equipment is in the mobility management system unregistered state of the evolved packet system, the mobility management entity does not have the bearer information of the user equipment, and thus the user equipment is not attached.

After the user equipment completes the attach procedure, the mobility management entity transfers the user equipment from the evolved packet system mobility management unregistration state to the evolved packet system mobility management registered state. When the user equipment is in the evolved packet system mobility management registered state, the mobility management entity can know the bearer information of the user equipment. When the cellular network is overloaded by traffic and the user equipment hands over to the wireless local area network (ie, the mobility management entity receives a Handover Transient ACK that is transmitted by the user equipment), then moves The management entity transfers the user equipment from the evolved packet system mobility management registered state to the evolved packet system mobility management temporary state.

When the user equipment is in the mobility management temporary state of the evolved packet system, the mobility management entity releases the bearer resources of the user equipment and retains the bearer information of the user equipment. In addition, there are two cases where the user device will be transferred to Evolution Packet System Mobile Management is registered. In one case, when the quality of the wireless LAN connection is not good, the user equipment requires a handoff to the cellular network for connection. Therefore, the user device transmits an attach request to the mobility management entity, wherein one of the attach request fields (Request Type) field indicates a handoff procedure. In another case, when the quality of the wireless local area network connection is stable and the connection service is successfully terminated, the user equipment may also transmit an attach request to the mobile management entity to request to transfer to the cellular network for connection. In addition, when the mobile management entity does not receive the message returned by the user equipment for a period of time, the user equipment is actively transferred from the evolved packet system mobility management temporary state to the evolved packet system mobility management cancellation registration state.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a simplified functional block diagram of a communication device 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 3, the communication device 300 can be used to embody the user equipment (UE) 110 and the mobility management entity 140 in FIG. 1, and the communication device can be used in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. The order technique (LTE-A), or other systems similar to the above, are preferred. The communication device 300 can include an input device 302, an output device 304, a control circuit 306, a central processing unit (CPU) 308, a memory 310, a code 312, and a transceiver 314. The control circuit 306 executes the code 312 in the memory 310 through the central processing unit 308, and thereby controls the operations performed in the communication device 300. The communication device 300 can receive the user input signal by using the input device 302 (such as a keyboard or a numeric keypad); the image and sound can also be output by the output device 304 (such as a screen or a speaker). The transceiver 314 is here used to receive and transmit wireless signals, send the received signals to the control circuit 306, and wirelessly output the signals generated by the control circuit 306. number. In another embodiment, the mobility management entity may further include a timer (not shown) for timing to determine whether the mobile management entity receives the message returned by the user equipment.

4 is a simplified functional block diagram showing execution of code 312 in FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the execution code 312 includes an application layer 400, a third layer 402, a second layer 404, and is coupled to the first layer 406. The third layer 402 generally performs radio resource control. The second layer 404 typically performs link control. The first layer 406 is generally responsible for physical connections.

Figure 5 is a flow chart 500 showing a method for performing a transient handoff of traffic offloading in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. This method is used in a communication system in which the communication system is used in a cellular network. In step S505, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) finds at least one qualified user equipment from the plurality of user equipments according to a judgment manner, and transmits a Handover Transient Request. To the above qualified user equipment. The above judging method can be performed according to the network traffic load condition, for example, when the traffic load of the cellular network is too heavy. In step S510, after the qualified user equipment receives the handover request, the qualified user equipment finds and transmits an access request to a wireless local area network. In step S515, after the qualified user equipment accesses the wireless local area network, a hand-over transient acknowledgment (Handover Transient ACK) is transmitted to the mobile management entity by the qualified user equipment. Finally, in step S520, after the mobile management entity receives the handoff transient confirmation, the bearer resource of one of the qualified user devices is released, and one of the qualified user devices is retained, and the qualified user device is The cellular network changes hands to the wireless local area network.

In an embodiment, the determining manner of the at least one qualified user device by the mobility management entity is determined according to one or more factors, wherein the factor includes: whether the radio resource of the base station to which the user equipment belongs is lower than one. a first threshold; whether the moving speed of the user equipment is lower than a second threshold; whether the user equipment is in a high power state; and/or whether the type of the traffic content of the user equipment is non-instant. The mobility management entity may sequentially find the qualified user equipment according to one of the factors mentioned above. In another embodiment, each factor has a weight index. The mobility management entity may also find qualified user devices from the plurality of user devices based on the weighting index.

In addition, central processor 308 can also execute program code 312 to present the acts and steps described in the above-described embodiments, or other descriptions in the description.

Figure 6 is a flow chart 600 showing a method for performing a transient handoff of traffic offloading in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure for use in a mobile management entity of a cellular network. In step S605, at least one qualified user device is found from the plurality of user devices according to a determination mode, and a handoff transient request is transmitted to the qualified user device. In step S610, receiving a handoff transient confirmation confirmed by the qualified user equipment, releasing one of the qualified user equipment bearer resources, retaining one of the qualified user equipment bearer information, and using the above qualified use The device is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network. After the qualified user equipment is handed over by the cellular network to the wireless local area network and receives an attachment request transmitted by the qualified user equipment, wherein one of the attachment requests requests a type field indication a handover procedure, in step S615, the qualified user equipment is moved to an evolutionary packet system Dynamically manage the registered status and re-establish a cellular data path to switch the above qualified user equipment from the wireless local area network to the cellular network. If the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network and receives an attachment request transmitted by the qualified user equipment, the qualified user equipment is entered in step S620. The mobility management system has been registered to the evolution of the packet system. After the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, if the message returned by the qualified user equipment is not received and one of the mobile management entities expires, in step S625 The qualified user equipment is entered into an ECM-DEREGISTERED State of an evolved packet system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart 700 of a method for performing a temporary handover of a traffic offload according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in a user equipment for executing an application, wherein the user equipment is attached to A cellular network. In step S705, one of the handoff transient requests transmitted by one of the mobile management entities in the cellular network is received. In step S710, it is sought whether there is a wireless local area network. When the wireless local area network is not found (NO in step S710), in step S715, a handoff transient acknowledgment (Handover Transient NACK) is returned to the mobility management entity. When the wireless local area network is found (Yes in step S710), in step S720, an access request is transmitted to the wireless local area network, and when accessing the wireless local area network, in step S725, the transmission is performed. A change of hands is definitely confirmed to the mobile management entity. In step S730, the cellular network is handed over to the wireless local area network. After switching to the wireless local area network, in step S735, it is monitored whether the wireless local area network satisfies one of the service qualities of the application. When the wireless local area network satisfies the service quality and the execution of the application ends, in step S740 (step "Yes" in S735), an attach request (ATTACH REQ) is transmitted to the mobility management entity. In step S745, the mobility management has been registered to an evolved packet system. When the wireless local area network does not satisfy the above service quality (NO in step S735), in step S750, an attach request (ATTACH REQ) is transmitted to the mobility management entity, wherein one of the attachment requests requests the type field. Instruct a change of hands. In step S755, the mobile management is registered to an evolved packet system, and the wireless local area network is handed over to the cellular network.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart 800 showing the user equipment changing from a cellular network to a wireless local area network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In step S802, the mobility management entity determines the user equipment suitable for offloading. After the mobility management entity determines the user equipment suitable for offloading, in step S804, a handoff transient request is transmitted to the user equipment to initiate a transient handoff procedure. After the user equipment receives the handover request, the wireless local area network is accessed in step S806. After the user equipment accesses the wireless local area network, in step S808, a handoff Transient ACK is transmitted to the mobility management entity. After the mobile management entity receives the handover transient acknowledgement, in step S810, the user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, and the bearer resource of the user equipment is released.

FIG. 9 is a message flow diagram 900 showing a user equipment handover from a wireless local area network to a cellular network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In step S902, the user equipment determines that the wireless local area network does not satisfy a service quality. In step S904, the user equipment transmits an attach request to the mobility management entity via the base station to request to attach back to the cellular network, wherein one of the attachment request field (Request Type) field indicates a change Hand program. When moving the tube After receiving the attachment request transmitted by the user equipment, the entity returns an ATTACH ACCEPT message in step S906. In step S908, the mobility management entity transfers the user equipment from the evolved packet system mobility management temporary state to the evolved packet system mobility management registered state, and re-establishes a cellular data path, and the user equipment is changed from the wireless local area network. Hand to cellular network.

FIG. 10 is a message flow diagram 1000 showing a user equipment handover from a wireless local area network to a cellular network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In step S1002, the wireless local area network satisfies the service quality of one of the applications executed by the user equipment and the application ends. In step S1004, the user equipment transmits an attach request to the mobility management entity via the base station. After the mobility management entity receives the attachment request transmitted by the user equipment, in step S1006, an ATTACH ACCEPT message is returned. In step S1008, the mobility management entity transfers the user equipment from the evolved packet system mobility management temporary state to the evolved packet system mobility management registered state.

The above embodiments are described using a variety of angles. It will be apparent that the teachings herein may be presented in a variety of ways, and that any particular structure or function disclosed in the examples is merely representative. In light of the teachings herein, anyone skilled in the art will appreciate that the content presented herein can be independently rendered in various different types or in a variety of different forms. By way of example, it may be implemented by some means or by some means in any manner as mentioned in the foregoing. The implementation of one device or the execution of one mode may be implemented in any one or more of the types discussed above with any other architecture, or functionality, or architecture and functionality.

Those who are familiar with this technique will understand that the message and signal are available in a variety of ways. Show with technology and skills. For example, all of the data, instructions, commands, messages, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced above may be volts, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic or magnetic particles, light fields or light particles, or Any combination of the above is presented.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various illustrative logic blocks, modules, processors, devices, circuits, and logic steps are described herein for use with the electronic hardware (eg, source coded or Digital implementation of other technical designs, analogy implementation, or a combination of both), various forms of programming or design codes linked to instructions (referred to as "software" or "software modules" for convenience in the text), or a combination of the two. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of the hardware and software, a variety of descriptive elements, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are generally described above in terms of functionality. Whether this feature is presented in hardware or software, it will depend on the specific application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. The person skilled in the art can implement the described functions in a variety of different ways for each particular application, but the implementation of this decision should not be interpreted as deviating from the scope disclosed herein.

In addition, various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits, and various aspects disclosed herein may be implemented in an integrated circuit (IC), an access terminal, an access point, or an integrated circuit. , access terminal, access point execution. The integrated circuit can be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or the like. Programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware element A component, an electronic component, an optical component, a mechanical component, or a combination of any of the above, is designed to perform the functions described herein; and may be performed within an integrated circuit, external to an integrated circuit, or both. Code or instruction. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but could be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may be comprised of a combination of computer devices, such as a combination of a digital signal processor (DSP) and a microcomputer, a plurality of sets of microcomputers, a set of at most groups of microcomputers, and a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

Any specific sequence or layering of the procedures disclosed herein is by way of example only. Based on design preferences, it must be understood that any specific order or hierarchy of steps in the program may be rearranged within the scope of the disclosure. The accompanying claims are intended to be illustrative of a

The use of ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," or "third," as used in the <Desc/Clms Page number>> The order of the steps, and only used as an identifier to distinguish different elements having the same name (with different ordinal numbers).

Although the disclosure has been described above by way of example, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. This is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application.

500‧‧‧ Method flow chart

S505, S510, S515, S520‧‧‧ steps

Claims (40)

A method for performing a transient handoff of traffic offloading for use in a communication system, wherein the communication system is for a cellular network, the method comprising the steps of: by a mobility management entity (Mobility Management Entity) , the MME) finds at least one qualified user device that executes an application from the plurality of user devices according to a determination manner, and transmits a Handover Transient Request to the qualified user device; the qualified user Receiving, by the device, the handover request, searching for and transmitting an access request to a wireless local area network; the qualified user equipment accessing the wireless local area network, and transmitting a handoff Transient ACK to And the mobile management entity receives the handoff transient confirmation, releases one of the qualified user equipments, and retains one of the qualified user equipments, and the qualified user equipment is The cellular network hands over to the above wireless local area network. The method for performing one of the temporary handovers of the traffic offloading as described in claim 1 further includes the following steps: after the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, Detecting whether the wireless local area network satisfies one of the above applications (Quality of Service, Qos); when determining that the wireless local area network satisfies the foregoing service quality and the application ends, transmitting an attach request (ATTACH REQ) to the foregoing Mobile management And the foregoing mobility management entity receives the attach request transmitted by the qualified user equipment, so that the qualified user equipment enters an EMM-REGISTERED state of an evolved packet system. The method for performing one of the temporary handovers of the traffic offloading as described in claim 1 further includes the following steps: after the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, Detecting whether the wireless local area network satisfies the quality of service (Qos) of the foregoing application; and when determining that the wireless local area network does not satisfy the foregoing service quality, transmitting an attach request (ATTACH REQ) to the mobile management entity; And the foregoing mobility management entity receives the foregoing attach request (ATTACH REQ) transmitted by the qualified user equipment, so that the qualified user equipment enters an EMM-REGISTERED state of an evolved packet system, and restarts Establishing a cellular data path, wherein the qualified user equipment is handed over from the wireless local area network to the cellular network; wherein the attach request includes a request type field, and the request type field Instruct a change of hands. The method for performing one of the temporary handovers of the traffic offloading as described in claim 1 further includes the following steps: after the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, When the message returned by the qualified user equipment is not received and one of the mobile management entities expires, the mobility management entity causes the qualified user equipment to enter an evolutionary packet system to perform mobile management unregistration. State (EMM-DEREGISTERED State). The method for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 1, wherein the bearer information includes at least: a PDN Gateway Identifier (P-GW ID) ; a Serving Gateway Identifier (S-GW ID); and a channel identification symbol (Tunnel ID). The method for performing one of the temporary handover of the traffic offloading as described in claim 1, wherein the determining the manner of determining the qualified user equipment is determined according to one or more factors, wherein the factors include: Whether the radio resource of the base station to which the user equipment belongs is lower than a first threshold; whether the moving speed of the user equipment is lower than a second threshold; whether the user equipment is in a high power state; Whether the type of the traffic content of one of the user devices is non-instant. The method for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 6, wherein the above-mentioned qualified user equipment is sequentially found by the mobility management entity according to one of the factors mentioned above. The method for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 6, wherein each factor has a weight index, and the mobile management entity uses the weight index from the user equipment according to the weight index. Find the above qualified user equipment. A method for performing a transient handoff of traffic offloading for a In a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the cellular network, the method includes the following steps: finding at least one qualified user equipment (User Equipment, UE) from the plurality of user equipments according to a judgment manner, and Transmitting a Handover Transient Request to the qualified user device; and receiving a Handover Transient ACK transmitted by the qualified user device, releasing the qualified user device One of the bearer resources retains the bearer information of one of the qualified user devices, and the qualified user device is handed over from the cellular network to a wireless local area network. The method for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 9, further comprising the step of: handing over the above-mentioned qualified user equipment from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, The mobility management entity receives an attach request (ATTACH REQ) transmitted by the qualified user equipment; and causes the qualified user equipment to enter an EMM-REGISTERED state of an evolved packet system, and A cellular data path is established to hand over the qualified user equipment from the wireless local area network to the cellular network. The method for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 9, further comprising the step of: handing over the above-mentioned qualified user equipment from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, The mobility management entity receives an attach request (ATTACH REQ) transmitted by the qualified user equipment; and causes the qualified user equipment to enter an evolutionary packet system mobility management An EMM-REGISTERED state, and re-establishing a cellular data path, the above qualified user equipment is handed over from the wireless local area network to the cellular network; wherein the attachment request includes a request type (Request Type) field, the above request type field indicates a hand change procedure. The method for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 9, further comprising the step of: handing over the above-mentioned qualified user equipment from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, When the message returned by the qualified user equipment is not received and one of the mobile management entities expires, the qualified user equipment is caused to enter an ECM-DEREGISTERED State of an evolved packet system. . The method for performing one of the temporary handover of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 9, wherein the bearer information includes at least: a packet data network gateway identifier (PD-Gate Gateway Identifier, P-GW ID) ; a Serving Gateway Identifier (S-GW ID); and a channel identification symbol (Tunnel ID). The method for performing a temporary handover of traffic offloading according to claim 9 of the patent application, wherein the determining manner of the qualified user equipment by the mobility management entity is determined according to one or more factors. The above factor includes: whether the radio resource of the base station to which the user equipment belongs is lower than one a first threshold; whether the moving speed of the user equipment is lower than a second threshold; whether the user equipment is in a high power state; and whether the traffic content type of the user equipment is non-instant. The method for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 9, wherein the above-mentioned qualified user equipment is sequentially found by the mobility management entity according to one of the factors mentioned above. The method for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, wherein each factor has a weight index, and the method further comprises the following steps: according to the weighting by the mobility management entity The index finds the qualified user device from the user equipment. A method for performing a temporary handover of a traffic offloading, in a user equipment (UE), wherein the user equipment is attached to a cellular network, the method The method includes the following steps: receiving a Handover Transient Request transmitted by a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the foregoing cellular network; searching for a wireless local area network; The wireless local area network transmits an access request to the wireless local area network; when accessing the wireless local area network, transmitting a hand-over transient acknowledgment (Handover Transient ACK) to the mobile management entity; Switching from the above cellular network to the above-mentioned none by the above mobile management entity Line area network. The method for performing one of the transient handovers of the traffic offloading as described in claim 17 further includes the following steps: after the handover to the wireless local area network, monitoring whether the wireless local area network satisfies the foregoing application a quality of service (Qos); when the wireless local area network satisfies the foregoing service quality and the application execution ends, transmitting an attach request (ATTACH REQ) to the mobility management entity; and entering an evolution packet The system mobility management is registered (EMM-REGISTERED State). The method for performing one of the transient handovers of the traffic offloading as described in claim 17 further includes the following steps: after the handover to the wireless local area network, monitoring whether the wireless local area network satisfies the foregoing application Quality of service (Qos); when the above wireless local area network does not satisfy the above service quality, an attach request (ATTACH REQ) is transmitted to the mobile management entity; and the mobile management is entered into an evolutionary packet system. EMM-REGISTERED State, and the above-mentioned wireless local area network hands over to the above-mentioned cellular network; wherein the attachment request includes a request type field, and the request type field indicates a change of hand program. The method for performing one of the transient handoffs for performing traffic offloading, as described in claim 17, further comprising the step of: returning a handoff transient negative acknowledgement when the wireless local area network is not found. (Handover Transient NACK) to the above mobile management entity. A communication system for performing a temporary handover of traffic offloading, for a cellular network, comprising: at least one user equipment (User Equipment, UE) attached to the cellular network, and Executing an application; and a Mobility Management Entity (MME) coupled to the qualified user equipment, and finding the qualified user equipment from the plurality of user equipment according to a judgment manner, and transmitting a replacement Handover Transient Request to the qualified user device; wherein the qualified user device receives the handoff transient request, finds and transmits an access request to a wireless area network; and when the qualified user device stores When the wireless local area network is taken, a Handover Transient ACK is sent to the mobility management entity; the mobility management entity receives the handoff transient confirmation to release one of the qualified user equipments. Retaining one of the above qualified user equipments to carry information, and the above qualified user equipment is from the above cellular network Handoff to the wireless LAN. The communication system for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading as described in claim 21, wherein the qualified user equipment is replaced by the cellular network to the wireless local area network, and the qualified The user equipment monitors whether the wireless local area network satisfies the quality of service (Qos) of the foregoing application; when the qualified user equipment determines that the wireless local area network satisfies the service quality and the application ends, Request (ATTACH REQ) To the mobility management entity; and when the mobility management entity receives the attachment request transmitted by the qualified user equipment, the qualified user equipment is entered into an evolved packet system mobility management registered state (EMM-REGISTERED State). The communication system for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 21, wherein after the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, monitoring the foregoing Whether the wireless local area network satisfies the quality of service (Qos) of the above application; when the qualified user equipment determines that the wireless local area network does not satisfy the service quality, transmitting an attach request (ATTACH REQ) to the mobile a management entity; when the mobility management entity receives the foregoing attach request (ATTACH REQ) transmitted by the qualified user equipment, the qualified user equipment is entered into an evolved packet system mobility management registered state (EMM-REGISTERED State, and re-establishing a cellular data path, the above qualified user equipment is handed over from the wireless local area network to the cellular network; wherein the attachment request includes a request type field. The above request type field indicates a hand change procedure. The communication system for performing one of the temporary handover of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 21, wherein the mobile management entity further includes: a timer; wherein the qualified user equipment is configured by the cellular network Road hand in hand After the wireless local area network, when the mobile management entity does not receive the message returned by the qualified user equipment and the timer expires, the qualified user equipment is moved to an evolutionary packet system for mobile management to cancel registration. State (EMM-DEREGISTERED State). The communication system for performing one of the temporary handover of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 21, wherein the bearer information includes at least: a packet data network gateway identifier (PDN Gateway Identifier, P-GW ID) ); a Serving Gateway Identifier (S-GW ID); and a channel identification symbol (Tunnel ID). The communication system for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 21, wherein the manner in which the mobile management entity finds the qualified user equipment is determined according to one or more factors. The foregoing factors include: whether the radio resource of the base station to which the user equipment belongs is lower than a first threshold; whether the moving speed of the user equipment is lower than a second threshold; whether the user equipment is at a high level The power state; and whether the type of the traffic content of one of the user devices is non-instant. The communication system for performing one of the transient handoffs of the traffic offloading, as described in claim 21, wherein the mobility management entity sequentially finds the qualified user equipment according to one of the factors. As described in claim 21, to perform traffic offloading A transitory communication system, wherein each factor has a weight index, and the mobility management entity finds the qualified user equipment from the user equipment according to the weight index. A Mobility Management Entity (MME) for use in a cellular network includes at least: a control circuit; a processor disposed in the control circuit; and a memory disposed in the control circuit And the processor is coupled to the processor; wherein the processor is configured to execute a code stored in the memory to perform a temporary handover of the traffic offloading, including: searching by a plurality of user devices according to a determining manner At least one qualified user equipment (User Equipment, UE), and transmitting a Handover Transient Request to the qualified user equipment; and receiving one of the handoff transients transmitted by the qualified user equipment Handover Transient ACK, releasing one of the above qualified user equipments, retaining the bearer information of one of the qualified user equipments, and handing over the qualified user equipment from the cellular network to a wireless area network road. The mobile management entity of claim 29, wherein after the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, when the mobile management entity receives the qualified user equipment When one of the attach request (ATTACH REQ) is transmitted, the qualified user equipment is entered into an EMM-REGISTERED state of the evolved packet system, and a cellular data path is re-established, and the above qualified use is performed. The device is handed over by the above wireless local area network to the above cellular Network. The mobile management entity of claim 29, wherein after the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, when the mobile management entity receives the qualified user equipment When one of the attach request (ATTACH REQ) is transmitted, the qualified user equipment is entered into an EMM-REGISTERED state of the evolved packet system, and a cellular data path is re-established, and the above qualified use is performed. The device is handed over by the wireless local area network to the cellular network; wherein the attach request includes a request type field, and the request type field indicates a handoff procedure. The mobile management entity of claim 29, further comprising: a timer; wherein, after the qualified user equipment is handed over from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, the mobile management entity If the message returned by the qualified user equipment is not received and the timer expires, the qualified user equipment is entered into an ECM-DEREGISTERED State. The mobile management entity of claim 29, wherein the bearer information at least includes: a packet data network gateway identifier (PD-Gate Identifier, P-GW ID); and a service gateway identification symbol (Serving Gateway) Identifier, S-GW ID); and a channel identifier (Tunnel ID). The mobile management entity of claim 29, wherein the determining, by the mobile management entity, the manner of determining the qualified user equipment is determined according to one or more factors, wherein the factor includes: the user equipment belongs to Whether the wireless resource of the base station is lower than a first threshold; whether the moving speed of the user equipment is lower than a second threshold; whether the user equipment is in a high power state; and one of the user equipments Whether the message content type is not immediate. The mobile management entity of claim 29, wherein the mobile management entity sequentially finds the qualified user equipment according to one of the factors. The mobile management entity of claim 29, wherein each factor has a weight index, and the mobility management entity finds the qualified user equipment from the user equipment according to the weight index. a user equipment (User Equipment, UE), executing an application and being attached to a cellular network, comprising at least: a control circuit; a processor disposed in the control circuit; and a memory disposed on the The control circuit is coupled to the processor; wherein the processor is configured to execute a code stored in the memory, comprising: receiving a mobility management entity (Mobility) in the cellular network a Handover Transient Request transmitted by the Management Entity (MME); looking for a wireless local area network; and transmitting an access request to the wireless local area network when finding the wireless local area network; Transmitting a Handover Transient ACK to the mobile management entity when accessing the wireless local area network; and handing over the cellular network to the wireless local area network by using the mobile management entity . The user equipment of claim 37, further comprising: after switching to the wireless local area network, monitoring whether the wireless local area network satisfies a quality of service (Qos) of the foregoing application; Transmitting an attach request (ATTACH REQ) to the mobility management entity when the wireless local area network satisfies the foregoing service quality and ending the application execution; and entering an EMM-REGISTERED State to an evolved packet system . The user equipment of claim 37, further comprising: after switching to the wireless local area network, monitoring whether the wireless local area network satisfies a quality of service (Qos) of the foregoing application; And when the wireless local area network does not satisfy the foregoing service quality, transmitting an attach request (ATTACH REQ) to the mobility management entity; and entering an EMM-REGISTERED state of an evolved packet system, and the foregoing wireless Regional network hand in hand The cellular network; wherein the attach request includes a request type field, and the request type field indicates a handoff procedure. The user equipment of claim 37, further comprising: returning a handoff Transient NACK to the mobility management entity when the wireless local area network is not found.