WO2011124179A2

WO2011124179A2 - Method, apparatus and system for machine type communication

Info

Publication number: WO2011124179A2
Application number: PCT/CN2011/074039
Authority: WO
Inventors: 国炜
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2011-05-13
Filing date: 2011-05-13
Publication date: 2011-10-13
Also published as: WO2011124179A3; CN102204295A; CN102204295B

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus and a system for machine type communication and belongs to the communication field. The method includes the following steps: receiving the uplink data from a user equipment (UE); acquiring the destination address corresponding to the user equipment from the subscription data which is saved in the home subscriber server, wherein the destination address includes a new destination address corresponding to the user equipment; and setting the value of the destination address in the data packet header of the uplink data as the new destination address corresponding to the user equipment. The present invention maintains the low cost of the UE and does not add signaling loads of the network.

Description

Method, device and system for machine type communication

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method, device and system for machine type communication. Background technique

MTC (Machine Type Communication) application refers to network communication between one or more network elements without human intervention, ie M2M (Machine To Machine) applications, such as traffic control. With applications such as management, factory monitoring, remote meter reading. In an MTC application, multiple UEs (User Equipments) with the same MTC application form a whole, referred to as a group, network operator or industry user, which can manage or control the group as a whole. As shown in FIG. 1 , the existing architecture of an MTC application mainly includes a mobility management network element 12, an MTC application server 14, an access network element 16, and an HSS 18 (Home Subscriber Server). Functional entity. The mobility management network element 12 is responsible for NAS (Network Attached Storage) signaling and NAS signaling encryption, roaming, tracking, etc., assigning user temporary identity, security functions, and the like. The MTC application server is used to store UE or group related data or information. The HSS mainly stores UE or group related subscription data. The subscription data of the UE refers to the subscription data of each UE as an individual, and the subscription data of the group refers to data or subscription data common to each UE in the group. In the uplink service of the M2M, the destination address is usually the address of the MTC application server. If the address of the MTC application server changes for some reason, the destination address of the uplink data packet needs to be changed accordingly so that the network routes the data. Go to the correct MTC application server.

In order to route data to the correct MTC server in the case where the address of the MTC application server is changed, the prior art provides the following two technical solutions:

First, since the cost of the UE, that is, the MTC terminal is usually low, the application of the terminal is required to be relatively simple. In many cases, the destination address of the uplink data is solidified in the terminal, when the address of the MTC application server changes. You can only discard the original terminal and add a terminal with a new destination address.

Second, the destination address of the uplink data is stored in a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card. When the address of the MTC application server changes, the network can notify the UE by signaling, so that the UE synchronizes and updates the SIM card. data.

In the process of implementing the present invention, the inventors have found that the prior art has at least the following problems: In the prior art, the cost is too high due to the need to discard the original terminal.

In the prior art, the number of UEs that use the MTC application is large. The use of network signaling to perform destination address modification and synchronization will bring a large amount of signaling overhead to the network, which may cause network congestion. Summary of the invention

In order to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art to increase the cost of the UE and increase the network signaling load, the present invention provides a method, apparatus and system for machine type communication. The technical solutions are as follows:

A method of machine type communication, the method comprising:

Receiving uplink data from the user equipment;

Obtaining, in the subscription data stored on the home subscriber server, a destination address corresponding to the user equipment, where the destination address includes a new destination address corresponding to the user equipment;

The destination address value in the packet header of the uplink data is set to a new destination address corresponding to the user equipment.

A device for machine type communication, the device comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive uplink data from the user equipment;

An acquiring module, configured to obtain a destination address corresponding to the user equipment in the subscription data stored on the home subscriber server, where the destination address includes a new destination address corresponding to the user equipment;

And a destination address replacement module, configured to set a destination address value in a data packet header of the uplink data received by the receiving module to a new destination address that is obtained by the acquiring module and corresponding to the user equipment.

A machine type communication system, comprising: a mobility management entity, an access network element, a packet data network gateway, and a home location server, where the subscription data stored on the home location server includes a destination address, and the access network element The device of the aforementioned machine type communication is provided.

A machine type communication system, comprising: a mobility management entity, an access network element, a packet data network gateway, and a home location server, where the subscription data stored on the home location server includes a destination address, where the packet data network gateway is A device for communicating with the aforementioned machine type is provided.

In the method, device and system for the machine type communication of the present invention, the destination address of the UE using the MTC application is stored as the subscription data on the HSS, and when the uplink data transmission is performed, the subscription data stored in the HSS is acquired. The destination address corresponding to the UE is then replaced with the destination address in the data packet header of the uplink data according to the obtained destination address. Since the destination address obtained by the UE registration includes the current latest destination address, in the case that the destination address of the uplink service is changed, the destination address in the data packet header of the uplink data of the UE is entered by the network entity. The line replacement can be used to route the uplink data to the corresponding MTC application server according to the current destination address, thereby avoiding the high cost problem caused by replacing the UE, and avoiding the network address notification to notify the UE of the destination address change. The problem of network signaling load. DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication network of an MTC application;

2 is a flow chart of a method for communicating machine type according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

3 is a flow chart of a method for communicating by machine type according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

4 is a flow chart of a method for communicating by machine type according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a device type communication device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. detailed description

The embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example 1

As shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment provides a method for machine type communication in an embodiment of an LTE network, which includes the following steps:

201: Receive uplink data from the UE.

202: Obtain a destination address corresponding to the UE in the subscription data stored on the HSS, where the destination address includes a new destination address corresponding to the UE, that is, a current address of the MTC application server corresponding to the UE.

Specifically, the destination address can be obtained in the following manner:

When the UE initiates registration with the network side, the HSS will store the destination address in the subscription data, including the new destination address corresponding to the UE, that is, the current address of the MTC application server, and then inform the MME, and then the PDN-GW (Packet) The data network-GateWay, the packet data network gateway, or the access network element, for example, the base station eNodeB obtains the destination address from the bearer setup request message of the MME.

The destination address information may include an original destination address A and a new destination address B, or may only include a new destination address.

B.

203: Set a destination address value in a data packet header of the uplink data to a new destination address corresponding to the UE. Specifically, the following two alternatives are available:

In the first method, the destination address corresponding to the user equipment includes the original destination address A and the new destination address B, and the original destination address A in the data packet header of the uplink data is all replaced with the new destination address B, if the uplink data is used. If the destination address value in the packet header is null, it is set to the new destination address B. The foregoing original destination address refers to the initial address of the MTC application server to which the UE belongs, and is stored in the subscription data on the HSS. When the address of the MTC application server changes, the MTC application server notifies the HSS of the new destination address, and the HSS saves the new destination address in the subscription data.

Manner 2: The destination address corresponding to the user equipment only includes the new destination address B. In the foregoing establishment of the bearer process, the bearer may be identified, and then the data packet header of all the uplink data on the bearer with the identifier is included. The destination address value is set to the new destination address.

The network entity replacing the destination address may be an access network element or a packet data gateway.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the destination address of the UE that uses the MTC application is stored as the subscription data on the HSS, and when the uplink data transmission is performed, the destination address corresponding to the UE in the subscription data stored in the HSS is obtained, and then according to The obtained destination address replaces the destination address in the data packet header of the uplink data. The destination address obtained by the UE when registering includes the current destination address, so that when the destination address of the uplink service changes, the destination address in the data packet header of the uplink data of the UE is replaced by the network entity, which may be The latest destination address routes the uplink data to the corresponding MTC application server, thereby avoiding the high cost problem caused by replacing the UE, and avoiding the network signaling load caused by the network signaling manner notifying the UE of the destination address change. problem. Example 2

The embodiment of the present invention provides a method for device type communication. This embodiment uses an LTE (Long Term Evolution) system as an example for detailed description, but is not limited to an LTE network, and is applicable to various wireless communication networks. Referring to Figure 3, the method includes:

301: The UE initiates registration to the network side.

In this embodiment, the UE supports only one type of service, and initiates registration to the network side through the Attach process. Specifically, the UE initiates an attach request Attach Request message to the network, which may carry an APN (Access Point Name) for the subsequent network to select a PDN-GW for the UE.

302: The HSS sends the subscription data of the user to the MME, where the subscription data includes a destination address corresponding to the UE, and the destination address includes a new destination address corresponding to the UE. Specifically, the destination address may include the original destination address A and the new destination address B, or may only include the new destination address B.

303: The MME selects the S-GW (Serving-GateWay, service) for the UE according to the subscription data of the user and the policy of the user. The service gateway) and the PDN-GW, and establish bearers on the CN (Core Network) side. In the process of establishing a bearer, the MME sends the destination address to the PDN-GW.

304: After the bearer of the CN side is established, the MME initiates bearer establishment on the RAN (Resident Access Network) side. During the establishment of the entire bearer, the bearer may be identified for subsequent address replacement.

305: The PDN-GW receives uplink data from the UE.

306: The PDN-GW sets the destination address value in the data packet header of the uplink data to a new destination address corresponding to the UE.

Specifically, the following two alternatives are available:

The first destination address includes the original destination address A and the new destination address B. After receiving the uplink data of the UE, detecting the destination address value in the data packet header of the uplink data, if the detected destination address value and location are If the original destination address A is the same or empty, it is replaced with the new destination address B.

Manner 2: The destination address includes only the new destination address B. When the bearers are established in the foregoing steps 303 and 304, the bearer may be identified, and then the destination address in the data packet header of all the uplink data on the bearer with the identifier is set. The value is set to the new destination address B. The identifier of the bearer may be completed by the MME, the S-GW, or the PDN-GW.

307: The PDN-GW receives the downlink data, and replaces the source address of the downlink data corresponding to the uplink data including the new destination address with the original destination address, so as to prevent the UE from perceiving that the destination address of a certain data stream is changed.

It should be noted that the UE can also support multiple services, and initiate the uplink data transmission by initiating a PDN connection request PDN request procedure. In the PDN request process, the MME decides to which PDN to send the destination address corresponding to the UE according to the subscription data of the user and the APN type provided by the UE.

In this embodiment, the MME sends the destination address to the PDN-GW, and the PDN-GW replaces the destination address and the source address. In another case, the MME may also send the destination address to the eNodeB. The base station eNodeB completes the replacement of the destination address and the source address.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the destination address of the UE that uses the MTC application is stored as the subscription data on the HSS, and when the uplink data transmission is performed, the destination address corresponding to the UE in the subscription data stored in the HSS is obtained, and then according to The obtained destination address replaces the destination address in the data packet header of the uplink data. The destination address obtained by the UE when registering includes the current destination address, so that when the destination address of the uplink service changes, the destination address in the data packet header of the uplink data of the UE is replaced by the network entity, which may be The latest destination address routes the uplink data to the corresponding MTC application server, thereby avoiding the high cost problem caused by replacing the UE, and avoiding the network signaling load caused by the network signaling manner notifying the UE of the destination address change. problem. Example 3

The embodiment of the present invention provides a method for machine type communication. Different from Embodiment 2, in Embodiment 3, after the UE has registered to the network, the address of the MTC application server changes, that is, the subscription data on the HSS occurs. change. The method further includes the following steps: the packet data network gateway or the access network element receives the updated destination address corresponding to the user equipment sent by the mobility management entity by using the bearer modification process, where the updated corresponding to the user equipment The destination address is sent by the home subscriber server to the mobility management entity after the bearer is established. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the process of this step is as follows:

401: The HSS notifies the MME to sign the data change and informs the latest destination address;

402: The MME notifies the PDN-GW of the latest destination address by using the bearer modification process, and the PDN-GW sets the destination address value in the packet header of the corresponding uplink data to the latest destination address. Example 4

As shown in FIG. 5, an embodiment of the present invention provides a device for device type communication, including:

The receiving module 502 is configured to receive uplink data from the UE.

The obtaining module 501 is configured to obtain a destination address corresponding to the UE in the subscription data stored on the HSS, where the destination address includes a new destination address corresponding to the UE.

The destination address replacement module 503 is configured to set a destination address value in the data packet header of the uplink data received by the receiving module 501 to a new destination address corresponding to the user equipment acquired by the obtaining module 502.

Specifically, the destination address obtained by the obtaining module 501 includes only a new destination address, and the destination address replacing module 503 is configured to use the data of the uplink data received by the receiving module 502 from the bearer with the identifier. The destination address value in the header is set to the new destination address.

Specifically, the destination address obtained by the obtaining module 501 includes an original destination address and a new destination address, and the destination address replacement module 503 includes:

a detecting unit, configured to detect a destination address value in a data packet header of the uplink data received by the receiving module 502;

And a replacement unit, configured to replace the destination address value with the original destination address when the detection unit is the same as the original destination address, or replace it with the new destination address.

Further, the device of the machine type communication further includes:

a source address replacement module, configured to replace a source address of the downlink data corresponding to the uplink data including the new destination address The original destination address.

Further, the device of the machine type communication further includes:

The update module is configured to receive the updated destination address corresponding to the user equipment that is sent by the mobility management entity by using the bearer modification process, where the updated destination address corresponding to the user equipment is sent by the home subscriber server after the bearer is established. Mobile management entity, then

The destination address replacement module replaces the destination address in the data packet header of the corresponding uplink data according to the updated destination address of the update module.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the destination address of the UE that uses the MTC application is stored as the subscription data on the HSS, and when the uplink data transmission is performed, the destination address corresponding to the UE in the subscription data stored in the HSS is obtained, and then according to The obtained destination address replaces the destination address in the data packet header of the uplink data. The destination address obtained by the UE when registering includes the current destination address, so that when the destination address of the uplink service changes, the destination address in the data packet header of the uplink data of the UE is replaced by the network entity, which may be The latest destination address routes the uplink data to the corresponding MTC application server, thereby avoiding the high cost problem caused by replacing the UE, and avoiding the network signaling load caused by the network signaling manner notifying the UE of the destination address change. problem. Example 5

As shown in FIG. 2 embodiment the present invention provides a machine type communication system, comprising: subscription data the MME, access network element (e.g., _e NodeB), PDN-GW and HSS, the HSS comprises a storage A destination address, where the device type communication device is provided on the access network element. Example 6

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a system for machine type communication. Unlike Embodiment 5, in Embodiment 6, the device of the aforementioned machine type communication is provided on the PDN-GW. All or part of the technical solutions provided by the above embodiments may be implemented by software programming, and the software program is stored in a readable storage medium such as a hard disk, an optical disk or a floppy disk in a computer. The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., which are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, should be included in the protection of the present invention. Within the scope.

Claims

Claim

A method of machine type communication, the method comprising:

Receiving uplink data from the user equipment;

The method of claim 1, wherein the acquiring the destination address corresponding to the user equipment in the subscription data stored on the home subscriber server comprises:

Receiving, by the mobile management entity, a destination address corresponding to the user equipment in the subscription data stored on the home subscriber server sent by the bearer establishment process, where the destination address corresponding to the user equipment is the home subscriber server, and the mobility management is performed before the bearer is established. The entity sent.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the destination address corresponding to the user equipment only includes a new destination address, and the destination address value in the data packet header of the uplink data is set to be The new destination address corresponding to the user equipment includes:

Setting a destination address value in a data packet header of the uplink data on the bearer provided with the identifier as the new destination address, where the bearer with the identifier is configured by the packet data network gateway, the service gateway, or the mobility management during the bearer establishment process. Entity identified.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the destination address corresponding to the user equipment comprises an original destination address and a new destination address, and the destination address value in the data packet header of the uplink data is The new destination address that is set to correspond to the user equipment includes:

Detecting a destination address value in a data packet header of the uplink data;

If the detected destination address value is null or the same as the original destination address, it is replaced with the new destination address.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: replacing a source address of the downlink data corresponding to the uplink data including the new destination address with the original destination address.

The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: receiving an updated destination address corresponding to the user equipment sent by the mobility management entity by using a bearer modification process, the updated The destination address corresponding to the user equipment is sent by the home subscriber server to the mobility management entity after the bearer is established.

7. A device type communication device, the device comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive uplink data from the user equipment;

An obtaining module, configured to obtain a destination address corresponding to the user equipment in the subscription data stored on the home subscriber server, where the destination address includes a new destination address corresponding to the user equipment;

The device according to claim 7, wherein the destination address obtained by the acquiring module includes only a new destination address, and the destination address replacement module is configured to use an uplink on the bearer with the identifier. The destination address value in the data packet header of the data is set to the new destination address, and the bearer with the identifier is identified by the packet data network gateway, the service gateway or the mobility management entity in the bearer establishment process.

The device of claim 7, wherein the destination address obtained by the acquiring module includes an original destination address and a new destination address, and the destination address replacement module includes:

a detecting unit, configured to detect a destination address value in a data packet header of the uplink data received by the receiving module;

The replacement unit is configured to replace the destination address value detected by the detecting unit with the original destination address, and replace it with the new destination address.

The device of claim 7, wherein the device further comprises:

The source address replacement module is configured to replace the source address of the downlink data corresponding to the uplink data including the new destination address with the original destination address.

The device of claim 7, further comprising:

An update module, configured to receive an updated destination address corresponding to the user equipment that is sent by the mobility management entity by using a bearer modification process, where the updated destination address corresponding to the user equipment is sent by the home subscriber server after the bearer is established. To the mobile management entity.

The device according to any one of claims 7-11, wherein the device is a packet data network gateway or an access network element.

13. A machine type communication system, comprising: a mobility management entity, an access network element, a packet data network gateway, and a home location server, wherein the subscription data stored on the home location server includes a destination address, The apparatus according to claim 6 is provided on the access network element.

A machine type communication system, comprising: a mobility management entity, an access network element, a packet data network gateway, and a home location server, wherein the subscription data stored on the home location server includes a destination address, The apparatus according to claim 6 is provided on the packet data network gateway.