WO2008106877A1

WO2008106877A1 - A method and apparatus for link manipulation in the heterogenious network handover

Info

Publication number: WO2008106877A1
Application number: PCT/CN2008/070336
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jing Liu; Yan Peng; Bin Xia
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-03-02
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2008-09-12
Also published as: CN101257701A

Abstract

A method and apparatus for link manipulation in the heterogeneous network handover are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: receiving a request message of Media Independent Handover link manipulation, wherein appointed link identifiers are included in the message; finishing the corresponding appointed link manipulation based on the appointed link identifiers, when there are more than one link between Media Independent Handover Function entities. The apparatus includes: a link identifier reception unit, for receiving the request message of the Media Independent Handover link manipulation wherein appointed link identifiers are included in the message; a link manipulation unit, for connecting with the link identifier reception unit and implementing the appointed link manipulation. The invention can solve the problem in the present protocol that specific handover link can not be appointed during media independent handover when a Media Independent Handover PoS connects more than one PoA. The subject matter of the invention can increase the efficiency of Media Independent Handover, so that the whole handover flow can normally proceed.

Description

Method and device for link operation in heterogeneous network switching

The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200710079690.4, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Heterogeneous Network Switching Medium Chain Operation", filed on March 2, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference. Combined in this application.

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for link operation in heterogeneous network switching.

Background technique

There are currently many networks of different architectures, such as the WLAN defined by the 802.11 protocol, the wireless metropolitan area network defined by the 802.16 protocol, and the third generation cellular mobile communication defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP, Third Generation Partnership Project). Network, for applications, it is difficult to easily switch and roam in heterogeneous networks under the condition of ensuring business continuity, and the 802.21 protocol is proposed for this purpose. The 802.21 protocol is defined by the IEEE, Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and is optimized for providing link layer information and other related network information to the upper layer in a heterogeneous network. The standard for switching. It is used to meet the requirements of hardware and software switching between different media, and the corresponding mechanism to achieve switching. The goal is to enable the client device to automatically select the best quality network connection type and access point when roaming between networks. And it can seamlessly switch without user intervention, and enhance the experience of mobile users through the enhancement of switching functions between heterogeneous networks.

In general, terminals and networks, such as base stations and point of attachment (PoA), may support different wireless standards, and sometimes voice and data transmissions can be performed simultaneously on multiple interfaces. Today's mobile communication networks have evolved into micro-cellular (IEEE 802.i) and macro-cellular (3GPP, 3GPP2, IEEE 802.16), which may overlap each other, and handovers may occur between different types of networks. Switching is typically triggered by measurement at the end of the link layer, including signal quality, transmission error, and type of service.

The media-independent handover solution in the 802.21 protocol introduces a framework that ensures continuity of service switching between different media types. To achieve seamlessness and continuity of such handovers, a set of handovers between network elements is required. Feature set. Configuring these switching function sets in the mobility management protocol stack of the network element forms a new protocol layer called media independent switching (MIH, Media Independent). Handover) Protocol layer. The MIH layer protocol stack defines media independent event service (MIES, Media Independent Event Service), media independent command service (MICS, Media Independent Command Service) and media independent information (MIIS, Media Independent). Information Service.), wherein the MIES is used to provide event classification, event filtering, and events regarding dynamic changes in link characteristics, link status, and link quality. The MICS is used to provide upper layer management and control of link behavior related to handover and mobility. The MIIS is used to provide detailed information of features and services of the service network and surrounding networks for efficient system access and handover.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a location and a key service of a MIHF entity located in a network in the prior art, as shown in the figure, includes: an upper layer (11), including an Internet Protocol (IP, Internet Protocol), and a mobile IP. (Mobile IP), Hierarchical IP (HIP Hierarchical IP), Transport Information (TA, Transport Application), etc. MIH layer entity, including media independent switching function MIHF entity 12. Lower Layers 13 , including 802.3, 802.11, 802.16 and 3GPP, Third Generation Partnership Projects. The MIH user layer is a mobility management and application protocol belonging to the network layer, including mobility management protocols and handover policies such as MIPv4/v6, Session Initiated Protocol (SIP), UL (Uplink, Uplink), Transmission and application, etc. The MIH layer is a media-independent switching protocol layer for key services (ie, command services, event services, and information services). Below the MIH layer are link layers of various access networks, such as 802.3, 802.11, 802.16, and 3GPP. Road layer.

The main function of the MIH layer is a media-independent switching function provided by an event service, a command service, and an information service. This independence is achieved by providing a unified interface to the upper layer through a lower layer protocol in the mobility management protocol stack. The processing of the upper layer protocol is made independent of the specific features and characteristics of the terminal and the wireless network.

In addition, IEEE 802.21 also defines media-independent handover protocols, including: MIH capability discovery: The MIHF entity of the terminal or network discovers which entity supports the MIH function, and the degree of support; MIH remote registration: MIHF entities of different network elements They can register with each other to accept media-independent handover messages, which are information exchanged between different MIHF entities, including remote events; MIH message interaction: MIHF entities at both ends can interact using the MIH protocol through appropriate transmission methods. The protocol format, message format and message interaction process are specified in the protocol. Currently, in the existing MIH communication model, three network entities are defined, including: a mobile node (MN, Mobile Node) 21, a service point (MIH Pos, MIH Point of Service) 22 and For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the mobile node 21 refers to a communication having an MIH function and changing a link attachment point. The service point 22 with the media-independent switching function refers to an MIH network entity that can directly exchange MIH messages with the MN having the MIH function, and may include the current PoA of the serving network, and may also include an attachment point of the candidate network (Candidate) PoS), may also include a network entity of a non-attached point in the network entity; a non-service point 23 having a media independent handover function, which refers to an MIH network entity that can directly interact with other MIH network entities, but the network entity cannot directly Interact MIH messages with MNs with MIH capabilities.

The PoS node can provide the MIH service determined during the MIH capability discovery process. The location of the MIH PoS is not fixed and can be changed according to the deployment scenario of the operator and the special MIH structure. An MIH PoS can be located at or near the attachment point of the access network, or it can be located inside the access network or the core network. When the MIH PoS is located on the network entity PoA, the MN can transmit the MIH information through the link layer (ie, L2). When the MIH PoS is located on the non-PoA network, the MN can pass through the network layer and the upper layer (ie, L3). Transfer the MIH information with it.

In the draft draft of the existing 802.21 protocol technology, the defined MIH protocol is only applicable to the following two situations: one is that the MIH PoS is directly located on the network entity PoA; the other is that the MIH PoS is located on the non-PoA entity inside the network, and The MIH PoS is only connected to one PoA. In both cases, after receiving the sent MIH message, the MIH PoS can uniquely determine which link needs to be operated and perform correct processing. In the scenario where the MIH PoS is located on a non-PoA entity in the network and the MIH PoS is connected to multiple PoAs, the message definition of the existing protocol is not sufficient to distinguish the specified link. This may increase the overhead of network resources or cause incorrect processing.

Summary of the invention

The embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for performing link operation in a heterogeneous network handover, so as to solve the problem that in the current protocol, when the service point MIH PoS of the media independent handover is connected to multiple attachment points PoA, the multimedia independent switching process cannot be specified. Switching the problem of a specific link.

To solve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a link operation in a heterogeneous network handover. Method, the method comprising the steps of:

Receiving a media independent handover link operation request message, where the message includes a specified link identifier; when there are multiple links between the media independent handover function MIHF entities, completing the corresponding designated link according to the specified link identifier Operation.

Correspondingly, the embodiment of the present invention further provides an apparatus for link operation in a heterogeneous network switching, where the apparatus includes:

a link identifier receiving unit, configured to receive a media independent handover link operation request message carrying a specified link identifier;

The link operation unit is connected to the link identifier receiving unit for operating the designated link.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the media is not concerned when the MIH PoS is connected to multiple PoAs, by specifying a specific link identifier, error handling and possible processing due to the absence of a specific link may be avoided in the media independent handover process. The handover fails, thereby improving the efficiency of media-independent handover, so that the entire handover process can be performed normally.

DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic diagram of a medium-independent handover MIH location and a key service in the prior art; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication model of a media independent handover MIH in the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for performing link operation in a heterogeneous network handover according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for performing three links in a heterogeneous network handover according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a specific signaling flowchart of the operation method of the link in the heterogeneous network switching in FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is another specific signaling flowchart of the operation method of the link in the heterogeneous network switching in FIG. A flowchart of a method for performing a chain operation in a heterogeneous network handover in the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a specific signaling flowchart of a method for link operation in a heterogeneous network handover of FIG. 7; FIG. 7 is a specific signaling flowchart of a method for link operation in a heterogeneous network handover; FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for chain operation in a heterogeneous network handover according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. A specific signaling flow chart of a method for performing chain switching in a heterogeneous network; FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of an operation device for a link in a heterogeneous network switching according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the meanings of the terms, words and claims used in the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the literal and ordinary meanings, but also include the meanings and concepts corresponding to the techniques of the embodiments of the present invention. . Therefore, the configurations given in the present specification and the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the technical features of the embodiments of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention is used in a media independent handover process when the MIH PoS is connected to multiple PoAs. The embodiment of the present invention ensures that the handover is performed normally by carrying a specific link identifier in the message exchanged between the terminal and the service network, the service network, and each candidate network in the media-independent handover process, and avoids the specific handover. The error handling caused by the link improves the efficiency of media independent switching.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the case where the MIH PoS is connected to multiple PoAs mainly includes two cases: one is that the MIH PoS is connected to multiple PoAs of the same link type; the other is that the MIH PoS is connected to multiple different chains. Road type PoA. But in either case, you need to specify a specific link during the media-independent switching process.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a flow chart of a method for switching a medium chain between heterogeneous networks according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes:

Step 301: Receive a media independent handover link operation request message, where the message includes a designated link identifier.

Step 302: When the media-independent switching function has multiple links between the MIHF entities, the operation corresponding to the specified link is completed according to the specified link identifier.

Step 303: The operation result is fed back through the corresponding response message.

The media independent handover link operation request message may be: a media independent handover link configuration request message, a media independent handover acquisition link state request message, or a media independent handover resource query request message.

It should be noted that the link identifier mentioned in the following embodiments of the present invention may be represented by a MAC access mode (MAC, Mdium Access Control) address, or may be combined by a PoA MAC address. The form of the link type is represented.

In order to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art, the following describes the operation process in detail. Said.

When the link operation request message is a media-independent switch link configuration request message, refer to FIG. 4, which is a flowchart of a method for performing heterogeneous network switching in the chain according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The method includes:

Step 401: Receive a media independent handover link configuration request message, where the message includes a specified link identifier.

Step 402: When the media independent switching function has multiple links between the MIHF entities, configure the specified link according to the specified link identifier.

Step 403: The configuration result is fed back through the corresponding response message.

In this embodiment, the Media Independent Handover Function (MIHF) entity of the user terminal and the current service point of the service network may receive the media independent handover link configuration request message, and according to the request message, The specified link is configured. The following describes the specific configuration process.

Referring to FIG. 5, it is a specific signaling flowchart of a method for operating a link in a heterogeneous network handover according to FIG. In this embodiment, a multi-mode user terminal includes two different types of links, such as MAC1 and MAC2. The user terminal establishes a connection through the MAC1 interface and the PoAl of the service network. The current service point (S-PoS, Serving PoS) of the service network sends a media-independent handover link configuration request message to the MIHF entity of the user terminal, such as: MIH_Configure-Link request, the request message carries a specific chain for specifying The identifier of the road, as shown in Figure 5, the MAC 2 link identifier ( identifier ). After receiving the message, the MIHF entity of the user terminal clarifies the link to be configured, and then sends a link configuration threshold request primitive to the link of the MAC2, such as: Link_Configure- Thresholds request, to start the Specifies the configuration of a specific link. The primitive is information that is exchanged between different upper and lower layers of the same entity.

After the link configuration process is completed, the configured link is configured by the link configuration threshold response primitive, such as: Link_Configure-Thresholds response, and the configuration result is sent to the MIHF entity of the user terminal, where the user The MIHF entity of the terminal configures a response message, such as MIH_Configure-Link response, through the corresponding media independent handover link, and returns the result of the configuration to the current service point of the service network.

Referring to FIG. 6, another specific signaling flow is used for the link operation method in the heterogeneous network switching in FIG. Cheng Tu.

In this embodiment, the Serving PoS of the service network is connected to multiple PoAs, such as PoAl and PoA2. The user terminal establishes a connection through the MAC1 interface and the PoAl of the service network. The MIHF entity of the user terminal sends a media independent handover link configuration request message to the Serving PoS of the service network, such as: MIH_Configure-Link request, the message carries an identifier for specifying a specific link, as shown in FIG. The link identifier ( identifier ) of PoA2. After receiving the message, the current service point of the service network, Serving PoS, clarifies the link to be configured, and then sends a link configuration threshold request primitive to the link, such as: Link_Configure- Thresholds request, and starts to specify Link configuration.

After the link configuration process is completed, the configured link is reported to the Serving PoS of the service network by using a response primitive, such as a Link-Configure-Thresholds response, and the Serving PoS of the service network passes the corresponding The media-independent switch configures the link response message, such as: MIH_Configure-Link response, and returns the result to the user terminal.

In the process of performing the link configuration in this embodiment, after the MIHF entity receives the ΜΙΗ message, the MIHF entity knows which link needs to be configured according to the specific link identifier, and avoids the wrong link. Configure, or avoid configuring all links, reducing resource overhead and improving the efficiency of media independent switching.

Referring to FIG. 7, a flowchart of a method for performing heterogeneous network switching in a chain according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where the method includes :

Step 701: Receive a media independent handover to obtain a link state request message, where the message includes a specified link identifier.

Step 702: When there are multiple links between the MIHF entities, the status information of the specified link is obtained according to the specified link identifier.

Step 703: Acquire the result through the corresponding response message feedback.

In this embodiment, the MIHF entity of the user terminal and the current service point of the service network may receive a media independent handover acquisition link state request message including the specified link identifier, and acquire the specified link according to the request message. The status information, the following describes its specific acquisition process.

Please refer to FIG. 8, which is a specific signaling method for the method for switching the chain in the heterogeneous network in FIG. Flow chart. As shown in FIG. 8, the user terminal establishes a connection through the MAC1 interface and the PoAl of the service network. The Serving PoS of the service network sends a media-independent handover acquisition link state request message to the MIHF entity of the user terminal, such as: MIH_Get_Status request, the message carries an identifier for specifying a specific link, as shown in FIG. MAC 2 link identifier (identifier). After receiving the message, the user terminal clarifies the link (such as MAC 2) that needs to obtain the status information, and then sends a media specific acquisition link state information request primitive to the link, such as: Link_Get_Status request, start Get status information of the specified link.

After the specified link collects the required state information through the process of scanning, synchronization, and the like, the link state response primitive is obtained through the media, for example, Link-Get-Status response, and the collected link state information is reported. For the MIHF entity of the user terminal, the MIHF entity of the user terminal obtains a link state response message by a corresponding media independent handover, such as: MIH_Get_Status response, and returns the information to the Serving PoS of the service network.

Referring to FIG. 9, another specific signaling flowchart of the method for link operation in the heterogeneous network switching in FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 9. The user terminal establishes a connection through the MAC1 interface and the PoAl of the service network. . The MIHF entity of the user terminal sends a media independent handover to the Serving PoS of the service network to obtain a link state request message, such as: MIH_Get_Status request, the message carries an identifier for specifying a specific link. After receiving the message, the Serving PoS of the service network clarifies the link that needs to obtain the status information, and then sends a media-specific acquisition link state information request primitive to the link, such as: Link_Get_Status request, starts to obtain the specified Status information of the link.

The specified link obtains the link state information response primitive by the media, such as: Link_Get_Status response, and reports the collected link state information to the Serving PoS of the service network, and the Serving PoS of the service network The link state response message is obtained by corresponding media independent switching, such as: MIH_Get_Status response, and the information is returned to the user terminal.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the link state information is obtained, because the specific link is specified, after the MIHF entity receives the ΜΙΗ message, it knows which link state information needs to be collected, thereby avoiding erroneous link collection, or Avoid collecting status information of all links, and reduce the overhead of air interface signaling.

When the link operation request is a media-independent handover resource query request message, refer to FIG. 10, which is a flowchart of a method for link operation in a heterogeneous network handover according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where the method includes: Step 1001: After receiving the media independent handover candidate network query request, the current service point of the service network sends a media independent handover resource query request message to the service point of each candidate network, where the message includes the specified link identifier and the resource for requesting the query. information;

Step 1002: The service point of each candidate network completes the query of the specified link resource according to the specified link identifier.

The specified link identifier may be all link identifiers that the UE can listen to, or may be a link identifier that belongs only to the candidate network.

Step 1003: Feedback the link resource query result by using a corresponding response message.

In this embodiment, the MIHF entity of the user terminal sends a media independent handover candidate network query request message, such as MIH_MN_HO_Candidate_Query request, to the Serving PoS of the service network to start triggering the handover. After receiving the candidate network query request message, the Serving PoS sends the specified link identifier and the resource information of the request query to each candidate by using a media-independent handover resource query request message, such as MIH-N2N-HO_Query-Resource request. Network PoS. After receiving the query resource request message, the PoS of each candidate network performs resource query of the specified link according to the specified link identifier. The designated link identifier may be any link identifier that the UE can listen to, or may be a link identifier that belongs to only the candidate network. After the PoS of each candidate network queries the specified link resource information, it returns the query result to the Serving PoS of the service network through the media independent handover resource query response message, such as MIH-N2N-HO_Query-Resource response. After receiving the resource query response message, the Serving PoS returns a result to the user terminal through the media independent handover candidate network query response message, such as MIH_MN_HO_Candidate_Query response, so that the user terminal selects the target network. . The specific signaling flow chart of this embodiment is shown in Figure 11.

In the resource query process of the handover, the Serving PoS of the serving network queries the PoS of the candidate network for the available resource information. Since the specific link is known, the PoS of each candidate network receives the MIH message and knows that it belongs to Which local link is used to query resources, which avoids the MIH PoS collecting link resource information of all PoAs connected to it, thereby reducing the delay of handover, enhancing resource utilization, and improving media. Irrelevant efficiency of switching.

12 is a schematic structural diagram of a link operation apparatus in a heterogeneous network handover according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; the apparatus includes: a link identifier receiving unit 121, and a link operation Unit 122, further, the apparatus further includes an operation result feedback unit 123. The link identifier receiving unit 121 is configured to receive a media independent handover link operation request message carrying a specified link identifier, and the link operation unit 122 is connected to the link identifier receiving unit 121, and is configured to be used when When there are multiple links, the corresponding designated link is operated according to the specified link identifier; the operation result feedback unit 123 is connected to the link operation unit 122 for feedback of the result of the link operation.

The link operation unit 122 includes at least one of the following: a link configuration subunit 122-1, a link state information acquisition subunit 122-2, and a link resource query subunit 122-3, wherein the link The configuration sub-unit 122-1 is connected to the link identifier receiving unit 121 for configuring the specified link. The link state information obtaining sub-unit 122-2 is connected to the link identifier receiving unit 121. The link resource query sub-unit 122-3 is connected to the link identifier receiving unit 121 for completing the query of the specified link resource.

The device may be located in the MIHF entity of the user terminal, or in the current service point of the service network, or in the service point of each candidate network. For the functions and functions of the various units in the device, refer to the specific implementation process of each step in the above method, which is not mentioned here.

The embodiment of the present invention carries the identifier of the specific link in the message exchanged between the user terminal and the service network, and the message exchanged between the service network and the candidate network, so as to facilitate the medium-independent handover when the MIH PoS connects multiple PoAs. In this case, error handling and possible handover failures caused by not specifying a specific link can be avoided, thereby improving the efficiency of media-independent handover, so that the entire handover process can be performed normally.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it should be noted that those skilled in the art can also make several improvements and retouchings without departing from the principles of the present invention. It is considered as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

Rights request

A method for link operation in a heterogeneous network switching, comprising:

The method for performing link operation in a heterogeneous network handover according to claim 1, wherein the media independent handover link operation request message is: a media independent handover link configuration request message, and a media independent handover acquisition link. A status request message or a media independent handover resource query request message.

The method for performing link operation in a heterogeneous network handover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the representation manner of the link identifier includes any one of the following:

Expressed by the media access control layer address of the attachment point;

The media access control layer address through the attachment point is represented by the link type.

The method for performing the link operation in the heterogeneous network switching according to claim 2, wherein the process of completing the operation corresponding to the specified link according to the specified link identifier includes:

If the MIHF entity of the user terminal or the current service point of the service network receives the media independent handover link operation request message as the media independent handover link configuration request message, complete the location according to the specified link identifier in the configuration request message. The configuration of the specified link.

The method for performing link operation in the heterogeneous network switching according to claim 2, wherein the process of completing the operation corresponding to the specified link according to the specified link identifier includes:

If the media-independent handover link operation request message is received by the MIHF entity of the user terminal or the current service point of the service network for the media-independent handover, the link state request message is obtained according to the specified link identifier in the status request message. The status information of the specified link.

The method for performing link operation in the heterogeneous network switching according to claim 2, wherein the process of completing the operation corresponding to the designated link according to the specified link identifier includes:

If the service point of each candidate network receives the media independent handover link operation request message as the media independent handover resource query request message, the query of the specified link resource is completed according to the specified link identifier in the resource query request message. .

The method for performing link operation in the heterogeneous network switching according to claim 6, wherein the performing the specified link resource query according to the specified link identifier in the resource query request message The specific process includes:

After receiving the media independent handover candidate network query request sent by the MIHF entity of the UE, the current service point of the service network sends a media independent handover resource query request message to the service point of each candidate network, where the message includes the specified link identifier and the request. Resource information of the query;

The service point of each candidate network completes the query of the specified link resource according to the specified link identifier.

The method for link operation in heterogeneous network switching according to claim 7, wherein the specified link identifier is all link identifiers that the UE can listen to or a chain belonging only to the candidate network. Road identifier.

9. A device for link operation in a heterogeneous network switching, comprising:

The link operation unit is connected to the link identifier receiving unit, and is configured to operate on the corresponding designated link according to the specified link identifier when there are multiple links.

10. The apparatus for link operation in heterogeneous network switching according to claim 9, wherein the link operation unit comprises at least one of the following:

a link configuration subunit, connected to the link identifier receiving unit, configured to configure the specified link; the link state information acquiring unit is connected to the link identifier receiving unit, and configured to acquire the state of the specified link Information

The link resource query subunit is connected to the link identifier receiving unit for completing the query of the specified link resource.

The device of the link operation in the heterogeneous network switching according to claim 10, wherein the device further comprises:

The operation feedback unit is connected to the link operation unit for feedback of the result of the link operation.

12. The apparatus for heterogeneous network switching in a chain operation according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the apparatus is integrated in an MIHF entity of a user terminal, in a current service point of a service network, or in each candidate network. In the service point.