WO2006136075A1

WO2006136075A1 - A method for implementing double-belongingness in separating the controlling from bearing network

Info

Publication number: WO2006136075A1
Application number: PCT/CN2006/000933
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhenhua Liu
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2005-06-21
Filing date: 2006-05-10
Publication date: 2006-12-28
Also published as: CN100459738C; CN1885962A

Abstract

A network technique for separating the controlling from bearing, a method for implementing double-belongingness in separating the controlling from bearing network, includes: when said MGW detects that it needs re-registration with its standby MGCF, initiates re-registration with its standby MGCF; said standby MGCF activates the signaling link associated with said MGW, said master MGCF de-activates the signaling link associated with the MGW. By the double-belongingness implementing method of present invention, it enables MGW to quickly register with its standby MGCF when master MGCF occurs failure or MC interface occurs connection failure, and take over said MGW service by the standby MGCF, thereby more perfectly implementing the double-belongingness switch of MGW in separating the controlling from bearing network.

Description

Dual-homed implementation method in control and bearer separation network

The present invention relates to network technologies for control and bearer separation, and more particularly to a dual-homed implementation method in a control and bearer separation network. Background of the invention

Entering the communications industry in the 21st century, the two most exciting new technologies are undoubtedly the Next Generation Network (NGN) and the third generation of mobile communications (3rd Generation, referred to as "3G"). . NGN is a hot topic of concern and discussion in the communication industry. Network operators, equipment manufacturers, various telecommunication standardization organizations, and many technical forums are all concerned about NGN. They have proposed their own ideas for NGN and portrayed NGN from different angles. So far, a number of telecom operators around the world have actively carried out trial and commercial deployments in NGN, and major telecom operators in China have begun to conduct related tests or networking. And 3G is another hot spot that attracts attention. Recently, 3G's global development shows that 3G services, especially those based on Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) standards, customer groups and The development speed of the industrial chain and other aspects has obviously accelerated. It can be said that the evolution of global mobile communication to WCDMA is steadily advancing.

NGN has considerable relevance to WCDMA technology. As the media gateway control function (MGCF) of the NGN core technology, it is a software-based distributed switching and control platform, and its concept is based on the new network function model layering. The WCDMA to R4 version introduces the MGCF technology in the circuit domain, adopts the network structure of the bearer and the control phase separation, realizes the physical separation of the mobile MGCF server and the media gateway (Media Gateway, referred to as "MGW"), and conforms to the evolution of the NGN network. Trend. It can be seen that in the network architectures such as NGN or WCDMA, a separate structure of the call control and the service bearer is introduced, that is, the MGCF used for completing the call control and the MGW of the user to complete the service bearer are separated. Among them, one MGCF can control multiple MGWs through a Media Gateway Control (MC) interface.

Because of the separation of service loading and call control, the MGCF at the control level is in a relatively important position. Therefore, when an MGCF or an MC interface link fails, the MGW it controls will also lose control. Normal business cannot be processed. It should be noted that the MC interface is an interface between the MGCF and the MGW, and uses a call bearer control protocol based on H.248 or MGCP. The main function is to perform media gateway control. In order to avoid the single point of failure of the MGCF network element to affect all the MGW services it controls, the MGCF needs to set up a standby device for disaster recovery. Dual-homing is a commonly used disaster recovery processing method. It means that an MGW can be controlled by control from two or more MGCFs with alternate relationships. After the dual-homing setup described above, the impact of the MGCF or MC interface link failure on the entire network operation will be greatly reduced.

As is known to those skilled in the art, the MGCF controls the MGW based on the H.248 or MGCP protocol, and can switch between call control in the circuit domain and call control in the packet domain. The existing H.248 and MGCP protocols define that the MGW can re-register with other MGCFs according to its instructions. After the registration is successful, the MGCF can control the MGW, but the existing protocol does not define other procedures. . Since dual-homing is a system function involving multiple network elements, it is not enough to simply register. Specifically, if only simple registration is performed, the signaling link associated with the MGW cannot be automatically switched to the new MGCF, which may cause the new MGCF to obtain control of the MGW on the surface, but actually still Unable to process the call of the MGW. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, the main object of the present invention is to provide a dual-homing implementation method in a control and bearer separation network, so that the dual-homing scheme is further improved.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a dual-homed implementation method in a control and bearer separation network, the control and bearer separation network comprising at least one MGW and an MGCF having a primary and backup relationship, the method comprising:

A. When the MGW detects that it needs to re-register to its standby MGCF, initiates re-registration to its standby MGCF;

B. The standby MGCF activates a signaling link associated with the MGW.

The monitoring in the above step A is: The MGW monitors the state of the MC interface between the media gateway and the active MGCF, and if the MC interface fails, it needs to re-register to its standby MGCF; or the MGW monitors whether it receives the MGCF from its primary MGCF. The MGW is required to re-register the signaling to its alternate MGCF, and if received, it needs to re-register to its alternate MGCF.

The method may further comprise the step of the primary MGCF closing the signaling link associated with the MGW prior to step B.

The method further includes the step of the standby and primary MGCF refreshing the called routing information after step B.

In the dual-homed implementation method of the present invention, by adding the standby MGCF to the signaling link activation step, the MGW can also quickly register to its standby MGCF when its primary MGCF fails or the MC interface fails. The standby MGCF takes over the service of the MGW, thereby perfecting the dual-homing technical solution in the control and bearer separation network;

In addition, the dual-homing implementation method of the present invention further increases the signaling steps between the primary MGCF to close the signaling link between the MGW and the primary and backup MGCF to perform the called routing information refreshing. Make the dual-homing scheme more practical. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic structural diagram of a system for implementing dual-homing in an NGN under normal conditions according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flowchart of a dual-homing implementation method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a network state when an MGW is registered to a standby MGCF after detecting an MC interface failure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Schematic diagram

4 is a schematic diagram of a network state after a dual-homing switch is completed, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Mode for carrying out the invention

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the present invention will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

There are a variety of control and bearer separation networks, for example, the IP Multimedia Subsystem ("IMS") in the NGN and 3G standards, etc., in the following embodiments, only NGN is taken as an example, and For the implementation of dual-homing in other control and bearer separation networks, the following can be fully referred to, and the dual-homing implementation method in NGN is not described here.

Under normal conditions, the system structure for implementing dual-homing in NGN is shown in Figure 1. Among them, Sl and S2 are two MGCFs which are mutually alternate relationships, MG1, MG2 and MG3 are three MGWs, and LE1, LE2 and LE3 are three local exchange networks (Local Exchange, referred to as "LE"). The signaling connection between SI and S2 is through the MGCF, as indicated by the double-dotted line arrow in Figure 1; MG1 and MG2 are respectively adapted through their respective MC interfaces and their respective users (User Adaptation, called "UA" The signaling interface is connected to S1, and the MG3 is connected to S2 via its own MC interface and UA signaling. The dotted line arrow in FIG. 1 indicates the UA signaling connection between the MGW and the MGCF, and is indicated by a thin solid arrow. MC letter between MGW and MGCF Between the MG1 and the LEI, the relay connection is carried by the narrowband signaling, the MG2 and the LE2 are connected by the relay carrying the narrowband signaling, and the MG3 and the LE3 are connected by the relay carrying the narrowband signaling, Figure 1 The dotted arrow indicates the narrowband signaling connection between the MGW and the LE, and the thick solid arrow indicates the relay bearer connection between the MGW and the LE.

The narrowband signaling is usually transmitted to the MGCF through the corresponding UA signaling, for example, Signaling System No. 7, "SS7", which can be adapted by the message transmission part 2 (MTP2 User Adaptation, tube) It is called "M2UA" or the message transmission part 3 User Adaptation (MTPUA User Adaptation, referred to as "M3UA") is transmitted to the MGCF. When narrowband signaling is transmitted through UA signaling, it usually needs to pass through a signaling gateway ("SG") device to transmit to the MGCF. In Figure 1, the SG device is embedded in the MG, while in other embodiments the SG can be placed separately.

In the system shown in Figure 1, if an MC interface between an MGCF or MGCF and an MGW fails, a dual-homing switchover is performed. The specific process is as shown in Figure 2, which mainly includes:

Step 110: The MGW monitors whether the condition that the MGW re-registers to its standby MGCF is satisfied, and if so, initiates a re-registration process to its standby MGCF, and then proceeds to step 120, otherwise, returns to step 110 to continue monitoring.

In this step, there are two conditions for the MGW to re-register to its standby MGCF: Condition 1: After determining that the MC interface link is faulty, the MGW automatically initiates a re-registration process to its standby MGCF.

The specific process of this case can be seen in Fig. 3, wherein the meanings of the various modules and various arrows of Fig. 3 are the same as those of Fig. 1. For example, if MG2 in Figure 3 detects an MC interface failure connected to its primary MGCF S1, MG2 will actively initiate a re-registration to its standby MGCF S2 to establish an MC interface connection with its standby MGCF S2. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that if the primary MGCF S1 itself fails, such as MGCF S1 In the event of a crash, MG2 will also detect and consider the MC interface failure connected to its primary MGCF SI, thereby triggering the registration of the MGW to its standby MGCF S2. When the primary MGCF itself completely crashes, the steps associated with the primary MGCF in the following steps, such as the steps associated with the primary MGCF in step 120 and in step 140, need not be performed.

Condition 2: The MGW receives a command from its primary MGCF to request it to register with its alternate MGCF.

In this case, if the MGW receives a request from its primary MGCF to register with its alternate MGCF, then the MGW will also initiate a registration with its alternate MGCF.

Step 120: If the primary MGCF of the MGW works normally and there is no fault, close the signaling link associated with the MGW.

For the foregoing condition 1, if the MC interface fails, the active MGCF will actively close all signaling links related to the MGW connected to itself through the MC interface after discovering the MC interface failure; If the primary MGCF itself fails, as described above, the above step 120 need not be performed.

For the above condition 2, if the primary MGCF requires the MGW to register with the standby MGCF, the primary MGCF will actively close all signaling links associated with the MGW.

The method for the primary MGCF to close the signaling link associated with the MGW in this step includes the following two aspects:

The first aspect: M2UA, M3UA, Link Access Protocol Version 5 User Adaptation (LAV5 User Adaptation, referred to as "V5UA"), Integrated Services Digital Network Q.921 User Adaptation (ISDN Q.921-UserAdaptation) related to the MGW , referred to as "IUA" for short, Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP), Base Station Application Part (BSAP), etc. need to be other than MGW or SG. For the signaling forwarded to the MGCF on the device, when the MC interface of the MGW is not controlled by the MGCF, the MGCF will actively shut down or block the A Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) connection between MGWs.

The second aspect: for inter-office signaling such as the Bearer Independent Call Control (BICC), the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and the like, When the MC interface connected to the MGW is not controlled by the MGCF, the MGCF also actively blocks or closes the signaling link carried by the MC interface. It should be noted that these inter-office signaling will be carried by the MGCF directly to the external interface, not through the MC interface connected to the MGW or SG.

Here, the meaning of the signaling link associated with the MGW is explained: as long as the transmitted signaling is related to the voice resource of the specific MGW, it is the signaling related to the MGW, such as a start address message (Initial Address Message, In the "IAM", the trunk resource of the MGW is occupied, and the signaling is related to the MGW, and the link transmitting the signaling is a signaling link related to the MGW resource. A feature of these signaling links is that the signals they transmit are only relevant to the MGW voice channel resources.

Step 130: If the standby MGCF is working normally, if a new MGW registration is found, the standby MGCF actively activates all signaling links related to the MGW.

In essence, as long as an MGW registers with an MGCF, the MGCF should take over the MGW-related signaling.

In this step, the method for the standby MGCF to activate the signaling link associated with the MGW includes the following two aspects:

The first aspect: the M2UA, M3UA, V5UA, IUA, etc. associated with the MGW are forwarded to the MGCF signaling link from other devices such as the MGW or the SG. When the MGW is in control of the MGCF, the MGCF will actively activate or establish a signaling SCTP connection of the gateway.

The second aspect: directly related to the MGW, and directly connected to the MGCF The inter-office signaling of the type such as the BICC or the SIP that does not pass the MGW or the SG, after the MC registration of the MGW is successful, the MGCF also actively opens the signaling link associated with the MGW.

In the network state shown in Figs. 1, 3, after the above steps 120 and 130, the system structure will be as shown in Fig. 4, wherein the meaning of each module and various arrows of Fig. 4 is also the same as Fig. 1. After the primary MGCF S1 of MG2 finds that the MC interface of MG2 is faulty, it will further close MG2 to its own UA signaling link, and when MG2's standby MGCF S2 finds that MG2 registers with itself, it will activate its own MG2 related message. Let the link, including the UA signaling link.

Step 140: The primary and backup MGCFs refresh the called routing information.

When the MGW under the control of the primary MGCF registers with the standby MGCF, the intra-office call between the primary and backup MGCFs of the original primary MGCF becomes the inter-office call between the primary and backup MGCFs, and the other MGWs in the original standby MGCF. The inter-office call with the newly registered MGW becomes an intra-office call. Therefore, the primary and backup MGCFs need to modify the called routing information.

Specifically, the active MGCF changes the intra-office call in the called routing information related to the MGW newly deactivated from its own control to the inter-office call, and the backup MGCF exchanges the other associated MGWs in the called routing information with the newly registered MGW. The interoffice call is changed to an intra-office call.

4, after MG2 re-registers to its standby MGCF S2, the primary MGCF SI of the MG2 changes the intra-office call related to MG2 in the called routing information to an inter-office call, for example, between MG1 and MG2. The call is changed to an inter-office call; and the standby MGCF S2 changes the inter-office call associated with MG2 in the called routing information to an intra-office call, for example, changing the call between MG2 and MG3 to an intra-office call. '

As described above, if the primary MGCF itself fails, the primary MGCF does not need to perform the above-mentioned called route refresh step.

Usually, signaling planning is required on the MGCF to achieve the signaling link and MGW. Related, for example, setting a signaling point group A for each MGW, wherein the group may have at least one signaling point. When an MGW is out of a primary MGCF control, the primary MGCF is deactivated and the entire signaling point group A For all the relevant signaling links, the standby MGCF activates the external connection of the signaling point group A associated with this MGW. For the external network, only the processing of the signaling point group processing location occurs, that is, the link occurs. Change, while nothing else has changed.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art The spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Claim

A control and bearer separation network, comprising: at least one media gateway MGW and a media gateway control function entity MGCF having a primary and backup relationship, wherein the method comprises :

When the MGW detects that it needs to re-register to the standby MGCF, initiates re-registration to the standby MGCF;

The standby MGCF activates a signaling link associated with the MGW.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring is: the MGW monitors the state of the MC interface between the media gateway and the active MGCF, and if the MC interface is faulty, the device needs to be re-registered. Said alternate MGCF.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring is: the MGW monitors whether a command from the primary MGCF to request the MGW to re-register to the standby MGCF is received, if received , you need to re-register to the alternate MGCFe

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 1, wherein if the primary MGCF is working normally, the method further includes before the standby MGCF activates a signaling link related to the MGW. :

The primary MGCF closes a signaling link associated with the MGW.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 4, wherein the primary MGCF closes the signaling link associated with the MGW, including: a message forwarded from the other device to the primary MGCF And causing the link, when the MC interface connecting the MGW is controlled by a device other than the active MGCF, the primary MGCF actively shuts down or blocks a signaling link connection involving the MGW.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the primary MGCF closes the signaling link associated with the MGW, including: The MGCF directly inter-office signaling carried by the external interface, and the active MGCF actively blocks or closes the signaling link associated with the MGW.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 6, wherein the inter-office signaling is: bearer-independent call control signaling, or session initiation protocol signaling, or seventh signaling or any combination thereof.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 1, wherein the standby MGCF activates a signaling link related to the MGW, including: a signaling chain forwarded from the other device to the standby MGCF After the MC interface connected to the MGW is successfully registered, the standby MGCF actively activates or establishes a signaling link connection related to the MGW.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 1 or 8, wherein the standby MGCF activates the signaling link related to the MGW, including: inter-office carried by the standby MGCF directly to the external interface The signaling, after the MC interface connected to the MGW is successfully registered, the standby MGCF actively activates or establishes a signaling link related to the MGW.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 5 or 8, wherein the signaling link is: a message transmission part 2 user adaptation link, or a message transmission part 3 user adaptation link, or Link Access Protocol Version 5 User Adaptation Link, or Integrated Services Digital Network Q.921 User Adaptation Link, or Radio Access Network Application Part, or Base Station Application Part, or any combination thereof.

The method for implementing a Han attribution according to claim 5 or 8, wherein the other device is an MGW or a signaling gateway.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 9, wherein the inter-office signaling is: bearer-independent call control signaling, or session initiation protocol signaling, or seventh signaling, or any combination thereof. '

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 1, wherein the method further includes after the standby MGCF activates a signaling link related to the MGW. Includes:

The standby MGCF refreshes the called routing information.

The dual-homed implementation method of claim 13, wherein the standby MGCF refreshing the called routing information includes:

The standby MGCF changes the interoffice call between the other MGWs belonging to the called routing information and the MGW to the intra-office call.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 13, wherein, in the process of the standby MGCF refreshing the called routing information, the method further includes: the primary MGCF refreshing the called routing information.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 15, wherein the primary MGCF refreshes the called routing information, including: the primary MGCF, the intra-office associated with the MGW in the called routing information The call is changed to an interoffice call.

The dual-homed implementation method according to claim 1, wherein the control and bearer separation network is a next-generation network, a wideband code division multiple access system, or an internet protocol multimedia subsystem.