WO2009092259A1 - Method for establishing connection and paging under flex networking, signaling process entity and network system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A signaling process entity includes: a message receiving unit of access network side for receiving a message from a network controller of the access network, the message from the network controller of the access network includes a signaling connection request message for requesting establishing connection for a user; a determining unit for determining a core network node which can process related service of the user after receiving the signaling connection request message; a message sending unit of access network side for sending the message from the network controller of the access network to the determined core network node, the message from the network controller of the access network includes the signaling connection request message; a message forwarding unit of core network side for receiving a message from the core network node and forwarding it to the network controller of the access network, the message from the core network node includes a signaling connection establishing confirmation message.

Description

 The method for establishing a connection under the FLEX network, the paging method, the signaling processing entity and the network system. The application is submitted to the Chinese Patent Office on December 28, 2007, the application number is 200710305680.8, and the invention name is "establishing a connection under the FLEX network. The priority of the Chinese Patent Application, the Paging Method, the Signaling Processing Entity, and the Networking System, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical field

 The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method, a paging method, a signaling processing entity, and a network system for establishing a connection under a FLEX network.

Background technique

 Prior to the R5 version of the Third Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP), a Radio Access Network (RAN) node could only be connected to a core network (CN) node. A radio network controller (RNC)/base station controller (BSC) on the access network side can only be controlled by a single core network node, which can be: mobile service switching MSC (Mobile Servers) MSC Server (MSC Server) / MSCe, where MSCe is a device corresponding to MSC Server in the field of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). The 3GPP protocol introduces the concept of Flex in the R5 version. The so-called Flex refers to the intra-domain connection routing function that supports one RAN/BSC to multiple core network nodes. The RAN/BSC assigns a core network node address to the user, and then All core network services of the user are processed on the core network node.

 In the field of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), it is called Iu-Flex technology, where Iu refers to the Iu interface, that is, the interface between RAN and CN, in the global mobile communication system (GSM, Global System for Mobile) In the field of CDMA and CDMA, the Iu interface in the UMTS field is the A interface, so it can be called A-Flex technology in the GSM and CDMA fields.

In the R5 version of the 3GPP protocol, the Flex-enabled networking structure consists of multiple core network nodes and multiple RNC/BSCs. The wireless coverage of these RNC/BSCs constitutes a pool area, and each RNC/ in the pool area The BSC is controlled by all or part of the core network nodes in the pool area; an example is given to illustrate the networking structure with Flex function, as shown in Figure 1, RNC/BSC104 and MSC101, MSC102, The MSCs 103 are connected to each other and can be controlled by the three MSCs; the RNC/BSC 105 and the MSCs 102 and MSC 103 are respectively connected to each other and can be controlled by the two MSCs; the RNC/BSC 106 and the MSC 102 and the MSC 103 are respectively connected to each other, and the two can be accepted. Control of the MSC.

 According to the principle of load balancing, the RNC/BSC selects the core network nodes in the pool area (which can be MSC/MSC Server/MSCe) for service processing, so that when a user roams in the pool area, all core network services are processed. All are processed on the selected core network node in the pool area, that is, for a single user, it belongs to only one core network node in the pool area, that is, all core networks of the user are processed on one core network node. business. All users in the pool area will be equally divided into the core network nodes to which they belong. This equalization of the core network nodes to which the users in the pool area should be assigned is usually determined by the load balancing algorithm adopted by the RNC/BSC when the user first registers in the pool area.

 In the UMTS/GSM field, when the user initially registers in the pool area, the RNC/BSC uses a load balancing algorithm to send a Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) uplink connection request message to a core network node. The core network node assigns the user a Temp Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) carrying a Network Resource Indicator (NRI). The SCCP uplink connection request message re-initiated in the pool area carries the TMSI, obtains the core network node address according to the mapping relationship between the TMSI and the core network node address, and sends the SCCP uplink connection to the core network node. Request message.

 In the CDMA field, the BSC uses a load balancing algorithm to send an SCCP uplink connection request message to a core network node, and records a mapping relationship between an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) and a core network node. The BSC sends an SCCP connection request response message, and the SCCP uplink connection request message re-initiated in the pool area carries the IMSI, and obtains the core network node address according to the mapping relationship between the recorded IMSI and the core network node address, and The SCCP uplink connection request message is sent to the core network node.

In the research and practice of the prior art, the inventors found that the prior art has the following problems: In order to enable the system to support the Flex function, the software must be upgraded to the system-related equipment, such as the access network side such as RNC/BSC. The equipment needs to upgrade the software to support Iu-Flex/A-Flex technology, and the existing running network is very large, with a large number of RNC/BSC, - the upgrade requires a lot of manpower and resources, and supports Iu -Flex/A-Flex RNC/BSC and other access network side devices need to be configured with data related to this technology. The maintenance and management of configuration data is very complicated. Miscellaneous, also requires a lot of manpower and material resources.

Summary of the invention

 The technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method for establishing a connection under the FLEX network, a paging method, a signaling processing entity, and a network system, which can be implemented under the condition that the existing network system architecture changes little. Flex function.

 In view of this, the embodiments of the present invention provide:

 A signaling processing entity, comprising:

 The access network side message receiving unit is configured to receive a message from the access network controller, where the message from the access network network controller includes: a signaling connection request message for requesting to establish a connection for the user;

 a determining unit, configured to determine, after receiving the signaling connection request message, a core network node that can process the user-related service;

 An access network side message sending unit, configured to send the message from the access network controller to the determined core network node, where the message from the access network controller includes: the signaling connection request message ;

 a core network side message forwarding unit, configured to receive a message from the core network node and forward the message to the access network controller, where the message from the core network node includes: signaling connection establishment confirmation Processing entities, including:

 a paging message receiving unit, configured to receive a paging detachment relationship storage unit that carries a user identifier sent by the core network node, and is configured to save a mapping relationship between the user identifier and the identifier of the core network node;

 a paging message sending unit, configured to send the paging message to an access network controller; a paging response message receiving unit, configured to receive a paging that is sent by the access network controller and that carries the user identifier Response message

a core network node identifier obtaining unit, configured to acquire, according to the mapping relationship between the saved user identifier and the identifier of the core network node, the core network node identifier mapped by the user identifier; The paging response message sending unit is configured to send the paging response message to the core network node according to the acquired core network node identifier.

 A method for establishing a connection under a FLEX network, the method includes:

 Receiving, by the signaling processing entity, a signaling connection request message sent by the access network controller for requesting to establish a connection for the user, determining a core network node capable of processing the related service of the user; and transmitting, to the core network node, the Signaling connection request message;

 The signaling processing entity receives the signaling connection establishment acknowledgement message sent by the core network node, and forwards the message to the access network controller.

 A paging method in a FLEX network, the method includes:

 The signaling processing entity receives the paging message that carries the user identifier sent by the core network node, saves the mapping relationship between the user identifier and the identifier of the core network node, and sends the paging message to the access network controller;

 The signaling processing entity receives a paging response message that is sent by the network controller of the access network and carries the user identifier, and the mapping relationship between the user identifier and the identifier of the core network node is obtained, and the mapping of the user identifier is obtained. An identifier of the core network node, where the paging response is sent to the core network node, and the network system includes: a radio network controller/base station controller RNC/BSC, a signaling processing entity, and a core network node, where

 The signaling processing entity is configured to receive a signaling connection request message sent by the RNC/BSC for requesting to establish a connection for the user, determine a core network node that can process the related service of the user, and send the location to the core network node. The signaling connection request message is received; the signaling connection establishment acknowledgement message sent by the core network node is received, and forwarded to the RNC/BSC.

 A network system, comprising: a radio network controller/base station controller RNC/BSC, a signaling processing entity and a core network node, wherein

The signaling processing entity is configured to receive a paging message that carries a user identifier sent by the core network node, save a mapping relationship between the user identifier and the core network node identifier, and send the homing to the RNC/BSC Receiving a message; receiving a paging response that is sent by the RNC/BSC and carrying the user identifier The message, the mapping relationship between the user identifier and the identifier of the core network node, obtains the core network node identifier mapped by the user identifier, and sends the paging response message to the core network node.

 One of the above technical solutions has the following beneficial effects:

 The embodiment of the present invention adopts a signaling processing entity that is independent of the RNC/BSC. After receiving the signaling connection request message, the signaling processing entity acquires the core network node identifier, and sends the signaling connection request message to the core network node. Receiving the signaling connection establishment confirmation message sent by the core network node and forwarding it to the access network side, which can implement the Flex function without changing the RNC/BSC software without changing the existing network system architecture. And data configuration to implement the Flex function, avoiding the heavy work of software upgrade and data configuration for RNC/BSC.

DRAWINGS

 1 is a network structure diagram of a Flex function provided by the prior art;

 FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a networking with a Flex function according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

 FIG. 2B is a structural diagram of a networking with a Flex function according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

 3 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a connection in a FLEX network according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a connection under a FLEX network according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; A flowchart of a method for paging under the FLEX network provided in the third embodiment; FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of a signaling processing entity according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

 7 is a structural diagram of a signaling processing entity according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

 8 is a structural diagram of a signaling processing entity according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

 FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of a network system according to Embodiments 7 and 8 of the present invention.

detailed description

Referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 3, the first embodiment of the present invention provides a method for implementing a Flex function, which is applicable to the CDMA field, where one or more signaling processing entities are added to the network system, and the signaling processing entity Implementing the Flex function, where the signaling processing entity can be located in a Signaling Gateway (SGW), a Signaling Transfer Point (STP), an IP-based STP (STP based on IP, IPSTP), and the like. On the signaling processing device, it can also be used as a separate physical entity. Each RNC/BSC to two pairs of configured signaling processing entities The signaling connection is configured to enhance the reliability of the signaling transmission, and the SCCP layer and the upper layer signaling messages that are exchanged between the core network node and the RNC/BSC are subjected to a signaling processing entity. In the case of IP networking, the RNC/BSC can be directly connected to the signaling processing entity, or can be connected to the signaling processing entity through the Media Gateway (MGW), see Figure 2-B; and when BSC/ When RNC adopts Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networking, it usually needs to connect to the signaling processing entity through the MGW, or directly connect to the signaling without using the MGW. The processing entity can achieve the purpose of the present invention. If the BSC/RNC is connected to the signaling processing entity through the MGW, the MGW only plays the role of forwarding the interaction signaling between the BSC/RNC and the signaling processing entity. The method for implementing the Flex function is specifically described by using the RNC/BSC directly connected to the signaling processing entity. The method includes:

 Step 301: The terminal sends an initial layer 3 message to the RNC/BSC, where the initial layer 3 message carries the user identifier IMSI.

 Step 302: The RNC/BSC sends a SCCP uplink connection request message (SCCP connection request) to the signaling processing entity, where the SCCP uplink connection request message carries the user identifier IMSI.

 Step 303: The signaling processing entity parses the SCCP uplink connection request message, and obtains a core network node identifier that can process the related service of the user.

For the CDMA field, when receiving the SCCP uplink connection request message from the RNC/BSC, the signaling processing entity first queries whether there is a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier in the pool area. If not, the load balancing algorithm is used. A core network node identifier capable of processing the related service of the user is obtained, and a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the obtained core network node identifier is saved. The mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier may be a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the obtained core network node address. If there is a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier in the pool area, and the core network node is available, obtain the The address of the core network node corresponding to the IMSI; if there is a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier in the pool area but the core network node is unavailable, a load balancing algorithm is used to retrieve a new one for processing the user-related service. The core network node address updates the mapping relationship between the originally stored IMSI and the core network node address to the mapping relationship between the IMSI and the new core network node address. The manner of determining whether the core network node is available may be: the signaling processing entity determines whether the communication between the core network node mapped by the IMSI is interrupted, and if so, the core network node is unavailable, such as Otherwise, it indicates that the core network node is available; or, it is determined whether the core network node mapped by the IMSI is in a management prohibited state that temporarily does not process the service, and if so, indicates that the core network node is unavailable, otherwise it indicates that the core network node is available.

 The load balancing algorithm is used in this step, and the specific implementation manner of obtaining the MSC address in the pool area is as follows: According to the capabilities (user capacity and dynamic load) of each core network node in the pool area and the services recorded to each core network node by itself The message distribution ratio is calculated according to the load balancing algorithm, which core network node the user should belong to.

 In this step, when the query is found to have no mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node address in the pool area, the core network node address for processing the service data of the user may be obtained in the following manner, specifically: [ ( IMSI div 10 ) module 1000] Calculate, obtain a value, according to the mapping relationship between the preset value set and the core network node, obtain the core network node address for processing the user's business data, for example, can be preset [ 0-333] corresponds to the first core network node address, [334-666] corresponds to the second core network node address, and [667-999] corresponds to the third core network node address.

 Step 304: The signaling processing entity sends an SCCP uplink connection request message to the core network node. Step 305: The core network node sends an SCCP downlink connection-oriented message to the signaling processing entity, where the message is an SCCP signaling connection confirmation message (SCCP Connect Confirm), where the message carries the core network node addressing information.

 The core network node addressing information is located in the source local reference in the SCCP signaling connection establishment confirmation message.

 Step 306: The signaling processing entity forwards the SCCP downlink connection-oriented message to the RNC/BSC according to the message layer part of the SCCP downlink connection-oriented message, the layer 3 identifier MTP3 LABEL.

 Step 307: The RNC/BSC sends a layer 3 message to the terminal.

 Step 308: The terminal sends a layer 3 message to the RNC/BSC.

 Step 309: The RNC/BSC sends an SCCP uplink connection-oriented message to the signaling processing entity. Step 310: Parse the SCCP uplink connection-oriented message, and obtain the core network node address mapped by the core network node addressing information according to the core network node addressing information in the SCCP uplink connection-oriented message.

The addressing information of the core network node is located at the destination end of the SCCP uplink connection-oriented message. In the ( Destination Local Reference ).

 It can be seen from the above description that the core network node addressing information is represented by several bits, assuming that the core network node addressing information is 0100, if the network reservation 0100 is mapped to the fourth core network node, then signaling processing The entity directly finds the fourth core network node address according to 0100; if the network reservation 0100 is mapped to the third core network node, at this time, the signaling processing entity needs to pre-store the mapping relationship between the core network node addressing information and the core network node ( For example, the mapping relationship between the 0100 and the third core network node is based on the mapping relationship between the addressing information of the core network node and the core network node, and the core network node address mapped by the addressing information of the core network node is obtained.

 Step 311: The signaling processing entity sends an SCCP uplink connection-oriented message to the core network node. Step 312: The core network node sends an SCCP downlink connection-oriented message to the signaling processing entity. Step 313: The signaling processing entity forwards the SCCP downlink connection-oriented message to the RNC/BSC according to the MTP3 LABEL in the SCCP downlink connection-oriented message.

 Step 314: The RNC/BSC sends a layer 3 message to the terminal.

 After the step 310, the signaling processing entity may further determine whether the mapped core network node is available. The specific judgment manner is the same as that in step 303. When the mapped core network node is unavailable, the SCCP uplink connection-oriented message is directly discarded. Steps 311 - 314 are performed.

 In the CDMA field, in order to enable the signaling processing entity of the paired configuration to send the service message of the same user to the same core network node, the signaling processing entity in the first embodiment needs to set the IMSI and the core network node address. The mapping relationship is synchronized to the signaling processing entity paired with itself, and the synchronization manner can be implemented by a signaling connection between the paired signaling processing entities or other private communication links. The paired configuration signaling processing entity can be in two working modes: One is: Load sharing mode, that is, the paired configuration signaling processing entities all process services, that is, the RNC/BSC uplink services can be configured in pairs. The signaling processing entity shares the processing, for example, the first call of the user is processed by one signaling processing entity, and the other call is processed by another signaling processing entity; the other is: the primary standby mode, that is, the paired configuration Only one of the signaling processing entities works normally as the primary signaling processing entity. When the primary signaling processing entity fails, the service is processed by the alternate signaling processing entity.

Referring to FIG. 2A and FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the present invention provides a method for implementing a Flex function, which is applicable to the UMTS/GSM field, where one or more signaling processing entities are added to the network system. Implementing the Flex function on the signaling processing entity, the method specifically includes:

 Step 401: The terminal sends an initial layer 3 message to the RNC/BSC.

 Step 402: The RNC/BSC sends an SCCP uplink connection request message to the signaling processing entity.

 Step 403: The signaling processing entity parses the SCCP uplink connection request message, finds that there is no TMSI or TMSI in the SCCP uplink connection request message, or the NRI in the TMSI is a null-NRI, and obtains a core capable of processing the related service of the user according to the load balancing algorithm. The network node identifier distributes the SCCP uplink connection request message to the core network node.

 For the GSM/UMTS field, the existing protocol defines the use of NRI to identify the core network node address, and the NRI is part of the TMSI and can be derived in the configurable BIT location interval in the TMSI. In this step, there is no TMSI or TMSI in the SCCP uplink connection request message, and no NRI or NRI is invalid. The above NRI invalid means that the field is incorrect when parsing, or the NRI is not the NRI in the pool area but other pool areas. In the case of NRI, it is necessary to distribute the traffic to a core network node according to the load balancing algorithm.

 The case where the NRI is a null-NRI is that the core network node to which the user originally belongs is in an overload state. Since the network management device always monitors the core network node, when a core network node is found to be overloaded and needs to be unloaded, the core network is unloaded. The node and the signaling processing entity send an indication message that needs to be offloaded to the core network node, and after receiving the indication message, the core network node sends a message carrying the TMSI to the user originally belonging to the core network node at an appropriate time, such as a location update. The NSI of the TMSI is a null-NRI, and the STM connection request message sent by the user carries the TMSI. When the NRI derived from the SCCP message by the signaling processing entity is null-NRI, the SCCP connection request message needs to be distributed according to the load balancing algorithm to a core network node that is not unloaded and not managed.

 Step 404: The core network node allocates the TMSI to the user, and sends a SCCP downlink connection-oriented message to the signaling processing entity, where the message carries the TMSI.

 The several bits in the source local reference in the SCCP downlink-oriented connection message represent the addressing information of the core network node.

The foregoing step 403 is to assume that there is no TMSI or TMSI in the SCCP uplink connection request message or the NRI in the TMSI is null-NRI. When the SCCP uplink connection request message carries a valid TMSI, the mapping according to the preset NRI and the core network node address is performed. Relationship, get the mapped core The network node then determines whether the mapped core network node is available. When the mapped core network node is available, the SCCP uplink connection request message is sent to the core network node. In this case, the core network node does not need to be in the normal situation in step 404. The user allocates the TMSI and directly performs the SCCP downlink connection-oriented message to the signaling processing entity. When the mapped core network node is unavailable, the core network node identifier capable of processing the related service of the user is obtained according to the load balancing algorithm, and the SCCP uplink connection request message is distributed to the core network node; wherein, the mapped core network node is determined. The manner of availability is the same as in the first embodiment.

 Step 405: The signaling processing entity forwards the SCCP downlink connection-oriented message to the RNC/BSC according to the MTP3 LABEL in the SCCP downlink connection-oriented message.

 Step 406: The RNC/BSC sends a layer 3 message to the terminal.

 Step 407: The terminal sends a layer 3 message to the RNC/BSC.

 Step 408: The RNC/BSC sends an SCCP uplink connection-oriented message to the signaling processing entity. Step 409: Parse the SCCP uplink connection-oriented message, and obtain the core network node address mapped by the core network node addressing information according to the core network node addressing information in the SCCP uplink connection-oriented message.

 The core network addressing information is located in the destination reference of the SCCP uplink connection-oriented message.

 It can be seen from the above description that the core network node addressing information is represented by several bits, assuming that the core network node addressing information is 0100, if the network reservation 0100 is mapped to the fourth core network node, then signaling processing The entity directly finds the address of the fourth core network node according to 0100; if the network reservation 0100 is mapped to the third core network node, at this time, the signaling processing entity needs to pre-store the mapping relationship between the core network node addressing information and the core network node. (For example, the mapping relationship between 0100 and the third core network node), according to the mapping relationship between the addressing information of the core network node and the core network node, the core network node address mapped by the addressing information of the core network node is obtained.

Step 410: The signaling processing entity sends an SCCP uplink connection-oriented message to the core network node. Step 411: The core network node sends an SCCP downlink connection-oriented message to the signaling processing entity. Step 412: The signaling processing entity forwards the SCCP downlink connection-oriented message to the RNC/BSC according to the MTP3 LABEL in the SCCP downlink connection-oriented message. Step 413: The RNC/BSC sends a layer 3 message to the user.

 After the step 409, the signaling processing entity may further determine whether the mapped core network node is available. The specific judgment manner is the same as that in the first embodiment. When the mapped core network node is unavailable, the SCCP uplink connection-oriented message is directly discarded. Steps 410 - 413 are no longer performed.

 Referring to FIG. 5, a third embodiment of the present invention provides a method for paging under FLEX networking, which can be applied to the UMTS/GSM/CDMA field. Especially for the GSM/UMTS field, the core network node generally uses the first two pagings. The third time after the failure, the TMSI uses the IMSI paging, and the signaling processing entity processes the paging initiated by the core network node, and the method specifically includes:

 Step 501: The core network node sends a paging (PAGING) message to the signaling processing entity.

 Step 502: The signaling processing entity parses the IMSI in the paging message, and stores a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier that sends the paging message, and the mapping between the IMSI and the core network node identifier that sends the paging message. The relationship may be: a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node address that sent the paging message.

 Step 503: The signaling processing entity sends the paging message to the RNC/BSC according to the MTP3 LABEL in the paging message.

 Step 504: The RNC/BSC sends the paging message to the terminal.

 Step 505: The terminal sends a paging response message to the RNC/BSC, where the response message carries the IMSI. Step 506: The RNC/BSC sends a paging response message to the signaling processing entity.

 Step 507: The signaling processing entity acquires the core network node identifier mapped by the IMSI according to the mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier, and sends the paging response message to the core network node.

 In the foregoing embodiment 3, if in the UMTS field, the terminal (UE) may also use the TMSI to respond to the IMSI-enabled page if there is TMSI, and the signaling processing entity may distribute the message according to the NRI in the TMSI.

In the UMTS/GSM field, the mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node address needs to be synchronized to the paired signaling processing entity, which can be implemented in the following two ways: The first is the signaling processing entity, the IMSI and the core network node. The mapping relationship of the address is synchronized to the signaling processing entity paired with itself; the other is that the core network node broadcasts the mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node address to the paired signaling processing entity, so that the paired signaling processing entity can know Mapping of IMSI and core network node addresses Department.

 For the CDMA field, all current user processes are implemented on the basis of IMSI. The implementation of synchronizing the mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node address to the paired signaling processing entity can be implemented as described above.

 In the above embodiment of the present invention, in the case of IP networking, the RNC/BSC may be directly connected to the signaling processing entity, or may be connected to the signaling processing entity through the MGW, as shown in Figure 2-B; and when the BSC/RNC is adopted In the case of Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networking, it is generally necessary to connect to the signaling processing entity through the MGW, or directly to the signaling processing entity without using the MGW. The object of the present invention can be achieved.

 The paired signaling processing entity mentioned in the foregoing embodiment may work in a load sharing mode, or only one normal processing service, and the other as a backup, and only works when a signaling processing entity of the original normal processing service fails. It is also possible to allocate multiple signaling processing entities between the RNC/BSC and the core network node without affecting the implementation of the present invention.

 The signaling processing entity provided by the embodiment of the present invention needs to support multiple signaling point coding functions, that is, the signaling processing entity has multiple signaling point codes, and provides the same signaling point code to the access network side, and pairs with other nodes or pairs. The signaling processing entity provides different signaling codes to ensure that a signaling connection is established with the related device.

 The signaling connection between the signaling processing entity and the related device is as follows:

 1. Signaling transmission based on IP bearer between paired signaling processing entities (Signaling

Transform, SIGTRAN) connections, can also use SS7 signaling connections based on TDM/ATM.

 2. The SITLRAN connection based on the IP bearer can be used between the signaling processing entity and the core network node. The SIGTRAN protocol can use the signaling connection to control the Signaling Connection Control Part User Adaptation Layer (SUA) or the seventh letter. Let the system message part of the third layer user adaptation layer (M3UA); also can use the SS7 signaling connection based on TDM/ATM.

3. For the architecture of the core network bearer and control separation, the Media Gateway Controller (MGC) is equivalent to the core network node in the foregoing embodiment, and the signaling on the access network side is supported by the medium. The embedded signaling gateway of the Media Gateway (MGW) is relayed to the signaling processing entity, and the IP-bearing-based SIGTRAN connection between the signaling processing entity and the MGW can be used, and between the MGW and the RNC/BSC. The bearer mode is related. When the MGW is used between the MGW and the RNC/BSC, the SIGTRAN protocol used between the signaling processing entity and the MGW uses M3UA. When the MGW and the RNC/BSC use the TDM bearer, the signaling processing entity and the MGW are used. The SIGTRAN protocol used between the two uses the M3UA or the No. 7 signaling system messaging part of the Layer 2 User Adaptation Layer (M2UA).

 4. Between the signaling processing entity and the RNC/BSC: In the prior art, after the IP bearer mode is adopted between the access network and the core network, the RNC/BSC and the core network node generally do not pass through the intermediate signaling device. In the embodiment of the present invention, a signaling processing entity is added between the RNC/BSC and the core network node, and the signaling from the RNC/BSC is directly sent to the signaling processing entity. The 3GPP specification tends to use an IP bearer-based SIGTRAN connection with an adaptation protocol for M3UA, and the 3GPP2 specification tends to use an IP bearer-based SIGTRAN connection with an adaptation protocol for SUA. Of course, when the ATM/TDM bearer mode is still used between the access network and the core network, the RNC/BSC and the core network node can also insert a signaling processing entity to complete the Flex function, wherein the RNC/BSC can bypass the MGW directly. To the signaling processing entity, but the cost of carrying the connection is relatively large.

The signaling processing entity provided by the embodiment of the present invention may exist as an independent physical entity, or may be integrated as a logical entity in other communication devices. For example, the signaling function of the signaling processing entity can be performed by the signaling gateway embedded in the MGW, that is, the signaling function embedded in one or more MGWs is selected to implement the Flex function. Alternatively, the signaling processing entity may be embedded in the MGC device. It is also possible to evolve the signaling function embedded in the MGW and the signaling processing entity to implement the Flex function. For example, the MGW embedded signaling gateway forwards the related signaling information of the load balancing function (for example, the SCCP uplink connection request message) to The signaling processing entity implements a load balancing function by the signaling processing entity to send an SCCP uplink connection request message to the core network node, and the signaling processing entity receives the SCCP connection establishment confirmation message sent by the core network node, and forwards the message to the MGW embedded signaling gateway. The message carries the addressing information of the core network node. The MGW embedded signaling gateway aggregates the uplink SCCP connection-oriented message of the RNC/BSC, and derives the addressing information of the core network node from the destination local reference in the SCCP uplink-oriented connection message, and then according to the core network node. The mapping relationship between the addressing information and the core network node address, and sends the SCCP uplink connection-oriented message to the phase The core network node should be.

 It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or part of the steps of implementing the above embodiments may be performed by a program to instruct related hardware, and the program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, for example, a read only memory. , disk or CD, etc.

 Referring to FIG. 6, a fourth embodiment of the present invention provides a signaling processing entity, which can be used in a CDMA domain, and the device includes:

 The access network side message receiving unit 601 is configured to receive a message from the access network controller, where the message from the access network controller includes: a signaling connection request message for requesting to establish a connection for the user; The incoming network controller can be an RNC/BSC.

 The determining unit 602 is configured to determine, after receiving the signaling connection request message, a core network node that can process the user-related service;

 The access network side message sending unit 603 is configured to send a message from the access network controller to the determined core network node, where the message from the access network controller includes: a signaling connection request message; a core network side message The forwarding unit 604 is configured to receive a message from the core network node and forward the message to the access network controller, where the message from the core network node includes: a signaling connection establishment confirmation message.

 The signaling connection request message carries an IMSI.

 The determining unit includes: a first determining unit 6021, configured to determine whether a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier exists;

 The second determining unit 6022 is configured to determine, when the determination result of the first determining unit 6021 is YES, whether the core network node identifier mapped by the IMSI is available;

 The first determining unit 6023 is configured to: when the determining result of the first determining unit 6021 is NO, or when the determining result of the second determining unit 6022 is negative, use a load balancing algorithm to select a device that can process the related service of the user. Core network node.

 The second determining unit 6024 is configured to: when the determining result of the second determining unit 6023 is YES, determine that the core network node mapped by the IMSI is a core network node that processes the user-related service.

 The signaling processing entity further includes:

The recording unit 605 is configured to record the obtained load balancing algorithm in the IMSI and determining unit 602. The mapping relationship of the identifiers of the core network nodes.

 The signaling connection establishment confirmation message carries the addressing information of the core network node, and the message received by the access network side message receiving unit 601 from the access network controller further includes: carrying the uplink information of the addressing information of the core network node. Connection message

 The second obtaining unit 607 is configured to obtain a core network node address according to the core network node addressing information. At this time, the message sent by the access network side message sending unit 603 from the access network controller further includes: an uplink connection-oriented message sent to the core network node according to the obtained core network node address.

 The signaling processing entity further includes:

 The mapping relationship sending unit 606 is configured to send the mapping relationship between the IMSI recorded by the recording unit and the core network node identifier to the paired signaling processing entity, where the paired signaling processing entity is: An entity load sharing or an entity that transmits the user-related service as a primary backup.

 Referring to FIG. 7, a fifth embodiment of the present invention provides a signaling processing entity, which can be used in the GSM/UMTS field, and includes:

 The access network side message receiving unit 701 is configured to receive a message from the access network controller, where the message from the access network controller includes: a signaling connection request cancellation determining unit 702 for requesting to establish a connection for the user, And configured to determine, after receiving the signaling connection request message, a core network node that can process the related service of the user;

 The access network side message sending unit 703 is configured to send a message from the access network controller to the core network node, where the message from the access network controller includes: a signaling connection request message; and a core network side message forwarding The unit 704 is configured to receive a message from the core network node and forward the message to the access network controller, where the message from the core network node includes: a signaling connection establishment confirmation message.

 The determining unit 702 includes:

 The third determining unit 7021 is configured to determine whether the signaling connection request message carries the TMSI.

 The fourth determining unit 7022 is configured to determine when the determination result of the third determining unit 7021 is YES.

Whether TMSI is valid;

The fifth determining unit 7023 is configured to determine when the determination result of the third determining unit 7021 is YES. The network resource in the TMSI indicates whether the NRI is a null-NRI;

 The sixth determining unit 7024 is configured to determine, when the fourth determining unit 7022 determines that the TMSI is valid, or when the determining result of the fifth determining unit 7023 is that the NRI is not null-NRI, determine the core network node mapped by the TMSI. it's usable or not;

 The third determining unit 7025 is configured to: when the determination result of the third determining unit 7021 is NO, or when the determining result of the fourth determining unit 7022 is NO, or when the determining result of the fifth determining unit 7023 is YES, Alternatively, when the result of the determination by the sixth determining unit 708 is that the core network node mapped by the TMSI is unavailable, a load balancing algorithm is used to select a core network node that can process the related service of the user. The fourth determining unit 7026 is configured to determine, when the determining result of the sixth determining unit 7024 is that the core network node mapped by the TMSI is available, determining that the core network node mapped by the IMSI is a core network node that processes the user-related service.

 The signaling connection establishment confirmation message carries addressing information of the core network node;

 The message received by the access network side message receiving unit from the access network side further includes: an uplink connection-oriented message carrying the addressing information of the core network node;

 The second obtaining unit 705 is configured to obtain a core network node address according to the core network node addressing information. At this time, the message sent by the access network side message sending unit 703 from the access network side further includes: an uplink connection-oriented message sent to the core network node according to the obtained core network node address.

 Referring to FIG. 8, a sixth embodiment of the present invention provides a signaling processing entity, which can be used in a CDMA/GSM/UMTS field, where a core network node uses IMSI paging, and the device includes: a paging message receiving unit 801, configured to: Receiving a paging message that carries the user identifier sent by the core network node;

 a mapping relationship storage unit 802, configured to save a mapping relationship between the user identifier and the core network node identifier;

The paging message sending unit 803 is configured to send the paging message to the access network controller, and the paging response message receiving unit 804 is configured to receive the paging that is sent by the access network controller and that carries the user identifier. Response message The core network node identifier obtaining unit 805 is configured to obtain, according to the mapping relationship between the saved user identifier and the core network node identifier, the core network node identifier mapped by the user identifier;

 The paging response message sending unit 806 is configured to send the paging response to the core network node. The signaling processing entity further includes:

 The mapping relationship sending unit 807 is configured to send the mapping relationship between the IMSI saved by the mapping relationship storage unit 802 and the core network node identifier to the paired signaling processing entity, where the paired signaling processing entity is: The signaling process entity load sharing or an entity that transmits the user-related service as a primary backup.

 Referring to FIG. 9, a seventh embodiment of the present invention provides a network system, including: a radio network controller/base station controller RNC/BSC, a signaling processing entity, and a core network node, where

 a signaling processing entity, configured to receive a signaling connection request message sent by the RNC/BSC for requesting to establish a connection for the user, obtain a core network node identifier, and send the signaling connection request message to the core network node; The signaling connection establishment confirmation message sent by the network node carrying the addressing information of the core network node is forwarded to the RNC/BSC; receiving the uplink connection-oriented message sent by the RNC/BSC and carrying the addressing information of the core network node, according to the core network The node addresses the information, obtains the address of the core network node, and sends the uplink connection-oriented message to the core network node.

 FIG. 9 provides a network system, including: a radio network controller/base station controller RNC/BSC, a signaling processing entity, and a core network node, where

 The signaling processing entity is configured to receive a paging message that carries a user identifier sent by the core network node, save a mapping relationship between the user identifier and the core network node identifier, and send the homing to the RNC/BSC And receiving a paging response message that is sent by the RNC/BSC and carrying the user identifier, and mapping the user identifier to the core network node identifier, and acquiring the core mapped by the user identifier. The network node identifier sends the paging response message to the core network node.

 It can be seen from the above analysis that the embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

The embodiment of the present invention adopts a signaling processing entity that is independent of the RNC/BSC, and the signaling processing entity obtains the core network node identifier after receiving the signaling connection request message, and sends the signaling connection request to the core network node. Message; receiving a signaling connection establishment confirmation message sent by the core network node and forwarding To the access network side, the Flex function can be implemented under the condition that the existing network system architecture changes little, without the RNC/BSC software upgrade and data configuration to implement the Flex function, avoiding the RNC/BSC Heavy work for software upgrades and data configuration.

 2. The load balancing function is implemented on the centralized signaling processing entity in the network. Compared with the load balancing function on the RNC/BSC on the access network side, the load distribution of the network is more balanced.

 3. Since the paired signaling processing entity can transmit the service signaling information between the user and the core network node, the reliability of the service signaling information transmission can be more effectively ensured.

 The foregoing provides a method for implementing the Flex function, a signaling processing entity, and a network system, which are provided by the present invention. For those skilled in the art, according to the idea of the embodiment of the present invention, in the specific implementation manner and application scope There are variations, and the description is not to be construed as limiting the invention.

Claims

Rights request

 A signaling processing entity, comprising:

 The access network side message receiving unit is configured to receive a message from the access network controller, where the message from the access network controller includes: a signaling connection request cancellation determining unit for requesting to establish a connection for the user, And configured to determine, after receiving the signaling connection request message, a core network node that can process the related service of the user;

 An access network side message sending unit, configured to send the message from the access network controller to the determined core network node, where the message from the access network controller includes: the signaling connection request message ;

 a core network side message forwarding unit, configured to receive a message from the core network node and forward the message to the access network controller, where the message from the core network node includes: a signaling connection establishment confirmation

2. The signaling processing entity of claim 1 wherein:

 The signaling connection request message carries an international mobile station identity IMSI,

 The determining unit includes:

 a first determining unit, configured to determine whether a mapping relationship between the IMSI and a core network node identifier exists;

 The first determining unit is configured to: when the determination result of the first determining unit is negative, use a load balancing algorithm to select a core network node that can process the related service of the user.

 3. The signaling processing entity of claim 2, wherein

 The determining unit further includes:

 a second determining unit, configured to determine, when the determination result of the first determining unit is YES, whether the core network node mapped by the IMSI is available;

 a second determining unit, configured to determine, when the determination result of the second determining unit is yes

The core network node mapped by the IMSI is a core network node that processes the user-related service;

The first determining unit is further configured to: when the determining result of the second determining unit is negative, adopting A load balancing algorithm selects a new core network node capable of processing the user related services.

 The signaling processing entity according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the signaling processing entity further comprises:

 The recording unit is configured to record a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the identifier of the core network node determined by the load balancing algorithm in the determining unit.

 5. The signaling processing entity of claim 1 wherein:

 The determining unit includes:

 a third determining unit, configured to determine whether the temporary connection identifier TMSI is carried in the signaling connection request message;

 And a third determining unit, configured to: when the determination result of the third determining unit is negative, use a load balancing algorithm to select a new core network node capable of processing the user related service.

 6. The signaling processing entity of claim 5, wherein

 The determining unit further includes:

 a fourth determining unit, configured to determine whether the TMSI is valid when the determining result of the third determining unit is YES;

 The third determining unit is further configured to: when the fourth determining unit determines that the TMSI is invalid, use a load balancing algorithm to select a new core network node that can process the user related service.

 7. The signaling processing entity of claim 5, wherein:

 The determining unit further includes:

 a fifth determining unit, configured to determine, when the determination result of the third determining unit is YES

The network resource in the TMSI indicates whether the NRI is null-NRI;

 The third determining unit is further configured to: when the determination result of the fifth determining unit is yes, adopt a load balancing algorithm to select a new core network node that can process the user-related service.

 8. The signaling processing entity of claim 7 wherein:

 The determining unit further includes:

a sixth determining unit, configured to determine the TMSI when the determination result of the fourth determining unit is valid for TMSI, or when the determining result of the fifth determining unit is that the NRI is not null-NRI Whether the mapped core network node is available;

 a fourth determining unit, configured to: when the determination result of the sixth determining unit is yes, determine that the core network node mapped by the IMSI is a core network node that processes the user-related service;

 The third determining unit is further configured to: when the determination result of the sixth determining unit is negative, use a load balancing algorithm to select a new core network node that can process the user-related service.

 9. The signaling processing entity of claim 1 wherein:

 The signaling connection establishment confirmation message carries addressing information of the core network node;

 The message received by the access network side message receiving unit from the access network controller further includes: an uplink connection-oriented message carrying the addressing information of the core network node;

 The signaling processing entity further includes: a second obtaining unit, configured to acquire a core network node address according to the core network node addressing information;

 The message sent by the access network side message sending unit from the access network controller further includes: the uplink connection-oriented connection sent to the core network node according to the obtained core network node address

The signaling processing entity according to claim 4, further comprising: a mapping relationship sending unit, configured to send a mapping relationship between the IMSI recorded by the recording unit and the core network node identifier to the paired letter For the processing entity, the paired signaling processing entity is: an entity that shares load with the signaling processing entity or transmits the user-related service as a primary backup.

 A signaling processing entity, comprising:

 a paging message receiving unit, configured to receive a paging detachment relationship storage unit that carries a user identifier sent by the core network node, and is configured to save a mapping relationship between the user identifier and the identifier of the core network node;

 a paging message sending unit, configured to send the paging message to an access network controller; a paging response message receiving unit, configured to receive a paging that is sent by the access network controller and that carries the user identifier Response message

a core network node identifier obtaining unit, configured to connect to the core network node according to the saved user identifier a mapping relationship of the identifiers, the core network node identifiers that are mapped by the user identifiers, and a paging response message sending unit, configured to send, according to the acquired core network node identifiers, the core network node Paging response message.

 The signaling processing entity according to claim 11, further comprising: a mapping relationship sending unit, configured to send a mapping relationship between the IMSI saved by the mapping relationship storage unit and the core network node identifier to the pairing The signaling processing entity, the paired signaling processing entity is: an entity that shares load sharing with the signaling processing entity or transmits the user-related service as a primary backup.

 A method for establishing a connection in a FLEX network, the method comprising: the signaling processing entity receiving the signaling connection request message sent by the network controller of the access network for requesting to establish a connection for the user, determining a core network node capable of processing the user related service; sending the signaling connection request message to the core network node;

 The signaling processing entity receives the signaling connection establishment acknowledgement message sent by the core network node, and forwards the message to the access network controller.

 14. The method of claim 13 wherein:

 When the signaling connection request message carries a user identifier, and the signaling processing entity stores the mapping relationship between the user identifier and the core network node identifier, the determining is capable of processing the core network node of the user related service. Includes:

 Determining a core network node to which the user identifier is mapped as a core network node capable of processing the user related service.

 15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

 Before determining the core network node capable of processing the user related service, the method further includes: determining whether the core network node mapped by the user identifier is available;

 The determining, by the core network node capable of processing the user related service, includes:

When the core network node mapped by the user identifier is available, determining that the core network node mapped by the user identifier is a core network node capable of processing the user-related service; when the core network node mapped by the user identifier is unavailable When used, the load balancing algorithm is adopted, and the selection can process the user related The new core network node for the business.

 16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

 The determining whether the core network node mapped by the user identifier is available is:

 Determining whether the core network node mapped by the user identifier is in a management prohibition state for temporarily not processing the service, and the core network node mapped by the user identifier is in the management prohibition state, indicating that the core network node is unavailable, otherwise The core network node is available.

 17. The method of claim 15 wherein:

 The determining whether the core network node mapped by the user identifier is available is:

 Determining whether the communication connection with the core network node is interrupted, and disconnecting the communication connection with the core network node indicates that the core network node is unavailable, otherwise the core network node is available.

 18. The method of claim 13 wherein:

 When the signaling connection request message carries the IMSI, and the signaling processing entity does not have the mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier, the determining the core network node capable of processing the user-related service includes:

 A load balancing algorithm is used to select a new core network node capable of processing the user related services.

19. A method according to claim 15 or 18, characterized in that

 When the user identifier is IMSI, the method further includes:

 The mapping relationship between the saved IMSI and the core network node identifier is updated to the mapping relationship between the IMSI and the identity of the new core network node.

 20. The method of claim 13 wherein:

 When the signaling connection request message does not carry the TMSI, or the carried TMSI is an invalid TMSI, or the network resource in the carried TMSI indicates that the NRI is a null-NRI, the determining can process the user. The core network nodes of related services include:

 A load balancing algorithm is used to select a core network node capable of processing the related services of the user.

 21. The method of claim 13 wherein:

 The signaling connection establishment confirmation message includes: core network addressing information;

Receiving, by the signaling processing entity, a signaling connection establishment acknowledgement message sent by the core network node, and forwarding After being sent to the access network controller, the method further includes:

 Receiving an uplink connection-oriented message that is sent by the access network controller and carrying the core network addressing information, acquiring an address of the core network node according to the addressing information of the core network node, and sending the uplink connection-oriented message to the The core network node.

 22. A method according to claim 15 or 18, characterized in that

 When the user identifier is IMSI, the method further includes:

 The signaling processing entity sends a mapping relationship between the identifier of the core network node and the IMSI determined by the load balancing algorithm to the paired signaling processing entity, where the paired signaling processing entity is: An entity that handles physical load sharing or transmits the user-related service as a primary backup.

 A paging method in a FLEX network, the method comprising:

 The signaling processing entity receives the paging message that carries the user identifier sent by the core network node, saves the mapping relationship between the user identifier and the identifier of the core network node, and sends the paging message to the access network controller;

 The signaling processing entity receives the paging response message that is sent by the network controller of the access network and carries the user identifier, and obtains the mapping that is mapped by the user identifier according to the mapping relationship between the user identifier and the identifier of the core network node. An identifier of the core network node, sending the paging response to the core network node

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

 When the user identifier is IMSI, the method further includes:

 The signaling processing entity sends a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier to the paired signaling processing entity, where the paired signaling processing entity is: load sharing with the signaling processing entity or acting as a primary backup transmission An entity that describes the user's related business.

 25. The method of claim 23, wherein:

 When the user identifier is IMSI, the method further includes:

The core network node sends a mapping relationship between the IMSI and the core network node identifier to the paired signaling processing entity by means of a broadcast, where the paired signaling processing entity is: load sharing with the signaling processing entity or The primary and backup entities that transmit the user-related services.

A network system, comprising: a radio network controller/base station controller RNC/BSC, a signaling processing entity, and a core network node, where

 The signaling processing entity is configured to receive a signaling connection request message sent by the RNC/BSC for requesting to establish a connection for the user, determine a core network node that can process the related service of the user, and send the location to the core network node. The signaling connection request message is received; the signaling connection establishment acknowledgement message sent by the core network node is received, and forwarded to the RNC/BSC.

 27. The network system of claim 26, wherein:

 The signaling connection establishment confirmation message carries addressing information of the access network node;

 The signaling processing entity is further configured to receive an uplink connection-oriented message that is sent by the RNC/BSC and that carries the addressing information of the core network node, and obtain an address of the core network node according to the addressing information of the core network node. Sending the uplink connection-oriented message to the core network node.

 A network system, comprising: a radio network controller/base station controller RNC/BSC, a signaling processing entity, and a core network node, where

 The signaling processing entity is configured to receive a paging message that carries a user identifier sent by the core network node, save a mapping relationship between the user identifier and the core network node identifier, and send the homing to the RNC/BSC And receiving a paging response message that is sent by the RNC/BSC and carrying the user identifier, and mapping the user identifier to the core network node identifier, and acquiring the core mapped by the user identifier. The network node identifier sends the paging response message to the core network node.