WO2011147244A1

WO2011147244A1 - Method and system for activating offline terminal, and machine type communication terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2011147244A1
Application number: PCT/CN2011/073334
Authority: WO
Inventors: 周成; 李志军; 游世林
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2010-05-28
Filing date: 2011-04-26
Publication date: 2011-12-01
Also published as: CN102264036A; CN102264036B

Abstract

A method and system for activating a terminal are provided by the present invention. The method includes: when the situation of triggering a Machine Type Communication (MTC) terminal (1) offline occurs, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) (3) sends the identity of the MTC terminal (1) to an MTC server (6) or an intermediate network element, before deleting or marking invalid the context information of the MTC terminal (1); the MTC server (6) or the intermediate network element receives and stores the identity of the MTC terminal (1); when the MTC server (6) needs to activate the MTC terminal (1), the MTC server (6) sends, directly or via the intermediate network element, the offline activation message carrying the identity of the MTC terminal (1) to the MME (3); the MME (3) receives the offline activation message and initiates paging the MTC terminal (1) according to the identity of the MTC terminal (1); the MTC terminal (1) stores the received paging identity under the offline situation, and monitors the broadcast channel of the cell which it is located in, thus responding to the paging and realizing offline activation.

Description

Method, system and machine type communication terminal for activating offline terminal

Technical field

The present invention relates to a technology for activating a terminal, and more particularly to a method, system and machine type communication terminal for activating an offline terminal. Background technique

In order to maintain the competitiveness of the third generation mobile communication system in the field of communication, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP, 3rd Generation Partnership Project) standard working group is working on the evolution of the Evolved Packet System (EPS). The entire EPS system is shown in Figure 1. It mainly includes the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The system's EPC is capable of supporting users' access from the GSM EDGE Radio Access Network ( GERAN) and the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN).

In EPC, it mainly contains the following network elements (as shown in Figure 1):

Home Subscriber Server (HSS): is the permanent storage location of user subscription data, located in the home network to which the user subscribes;

Mobility Management Entity (MME): is the location where the user subscription data is stored in the current network. It is responsible for the terminal-to-network NAS layer (Non-Access Stratum) signaling management and user idle mode. Tracking and paging management function and bearer management; Serving Gateway (S-GW): Serving gateway, which is the gateway of the core network to the wireless system, responsible for the user plane bearer of the terminal to the core network, and the data cache in the terminal idle mode. The function of initiating a service request by the network side, legal eavesdropping, and packet data routing and forwarding functions;

Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW, PDN Gateway): It is an evolved packet domain system (EPS) and a gateway of the external network of the system. It is responsible for the functions of IP address allocation, accounting, packet filtering, and policy application of the terminal.

The evolved radio access network part, the included network element is an evolved node (eNB, Evolved NodeB) provides wireless resources for user access and provides access layer security management and load balancing.

In addition, there are user equipments (UE, User Equipment): including a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) and a mobile terminal device (ME), and the uppermost layer of the protocol stack with the MME is a NAS non-access layer.

In recent years, due to the rapid development and wide application of mobile communication technologies, a new type of communication service has been developed, namely M2M (Machine to Machine) communication: M2M usually only represents machine-to-machine communication, and generally does not involve interaction with people. It mainly uses the wireless network of mobile network operators as a platform, and uses a variety of transmission methods to serve the wireless data transmission services of industry users from machine to machine through special industry terminals. Based on the existing network, the M2M service mainly brings together the following new communication entities:

Machine Type Communication Server (MTC Server): Mainly responsible for MTC equipment management and data storage/maintenance.

MTC Device (Machine Type Communication Device): Also known as an MTC terminal, similar to a UE, it also includes a UICC and an ME. It is usually responsible for collecting information of several collectors and accessing the core network through the RAN node, and MTC Server interacts with data.

MTC intermediate gateway: The main function is protocol conversion, shielding the internal network structure of the operator, and providing access interfaces to the MTC server. The MTC intermediate gateway in the visited place in the roaming scenario can find the home MTC intermediate gateway according to the roaming protocol and complete the roaming service.

Depending on the network and network architecture, the MTC server is connected to the mobility management unit in different ways.

In the EPS network, the mobility management unit is the MME, and the MTC server is connected to the MME by using a direct connection port (as shown in FIG. 1) or connected to the MME (as shown in FIG. 2) through the MTC intermediate gateway; in the 3G network, mobility The management unit is a GPRS service support node (SGSN, SERVICING GPRS SUPPORT NODE), and the MTC server is connected to the SGSN through a direct connection or through an MTC intermediate gateway to the SGSN.

In addition, in the EPS network, the user data server is an HSS, and the MTC server can also be connected to the MME through the HSS (as shown in FIG. 3); in the 3G network, the user data server is a home location register (HLR, Home Location Register). , MTC server through the HLR and SGSN phase Even.

In the existing packet domain network, the paging initiated by the core network is the terminal for the online/registration state, and the paging range is determined according to the current mobility management information of the terminal. The functions of the existing paging are as follows: The core network has downlink data that needs to be transmitted to the idle state terminal, and uses the paging to notify the terminal; the core network broadcasts the system information change or broadcasts the earthquake tsunami alarm through paging.

The packet domain paging procedure in the prior art, as shown in FIG. 4, includes the following steps: Step 401: When the triggering paging MTC terminal condition is generated, the mobility management unit sends a paging request message to the base station registered by the MTC terminal, This message includes the identity of the terminal, and parameters such as the paging area;

Step 402: The base station performs paging on the MTC terminal according to the indication of the mobility management unit. Step 403: After receiving the paging, the MTC terminal initiates a service request process.

If no response is received from the terminal within a certain period of time, the mobility management unit will attempt to re-paste.

Prior art paging is only applicable to terminals in the online/registered state.

Summary of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method, system and machine type communication terminal for activating a terminal to activate a terminal in an offline state.

To solve the above technical problem, the present invention also provides a method for activating a terminal, the method comprising:

When the situation that the triggering of the machine type communication MTC terminal is offline, the mobility management unit sends the identity of the MTC terminal to the MTC server or the intermediate network element before deleting the context information of the MTC terminal or marking the invalidity;

Receiving and saving the identity identifier of the MTC terminal by the MTC server or the intermediate network element;

When the MTC server needs to activate the MTC terminal, send an offline activation message carrying the identity of the MTC terminal to the mobility management unit directly or through the intermediate network element; The mobility management unit receives the offline activation message, and initiates a paging procedure to the MTC terminal according to the identity identifier of the MTC terminal;

The MTC terminal saves the identity of the received paging in an offline state, and listens to the broadcast channel of the cell in which it is located, in order to implement offline activation in response to the paging.

The identity of the received paging is an identity of the MTC terminal.

Wherein: the step of triggering the situation that the MTC terminal is offline includes: the situation that the MTC terminal detaches, the location update fails, or the attachment fails.

The step of the mobility management unit receiving the offline activation message, and initiating a paging procedure for the MTC terminal according to the identity identifier of the MTC terminal, includes: the mobility management unit receiving the offline activation message Thereafter, the paging range initiating the paging procedure is limited to the cell initiated paging procedure in all location areas governed by the mobility management unit.

The method further includes: sending, by the mobility management unit, the latest location information of the MTC terminal to the MTC server or the intermediate network element when transmitting the identity identifier of the MTC terminal; the MTC server or the intermediate network element Receiving and saving the latest location information of the MTC terminal;

When the MTC server needs to activate the MTC terminal, determine the mobility management unit directly or through the intermediate network element according to the latest location information of the MTC terminal, and send the offline to the mobility management unit. Activation message

The mobility management unit receives the offline activation message, and limits the paging range to all cell-initiated paging procedures included in the latest location information.

The identifier of the MTC terminal is a global unique temporary identity code GUTI, an international mobile subscriber identity IMSI, or a temporary identity identified by the mobility management unit to the MTC terminal, where the mobility management unit assigns the temporary identity to the MTC terminal. The identifier is a packet mobile subscriber temporary identifier P-TMSI or a system architecture evolved mobile subscriber temporary identifier S-TMSI;

The latest location information of the MTC terminal is represented by a tracking area identifier, a mobility management unit identifier, a cell identifier, or a routing area identifier.

The method further includes: when the MTC server or the intermediate network element saves the identity of the MTC terminal, saving an address or an identifier of the mobility management unit. The method further includes determining, by the MTC server or the intermediate gateway, the mobility management unit according to an address or an identifier of the mobility management unit, and transmitting an offline activation message to the mobility management unit.

The intermediate network element is an MTC intermediate gateway or a user data server.

The present invention also provides a system for activating a terminal, the system comprising: a mobility management unit, an MTC server, and an MTC terminal, wherein:

The mobility management unit includes an offline information management module and an offline paging module, where: the information management module is configured to delete context information of the MTC terminal when a situation that triggers a machine type communication MTC terminal to be offline is generated Sending the identity of the MTC terminal to the MTC server before marking the invalidation;

The offline paging module is configured to: receive an offline activation message including an identity of the MTC terminal, and initiate a paging process to the MTC terminal according to the identity identifier of the MTC terminal; the MTC server includes an offline information saving module And an offline activation module, where: the offline information saving module is configured to: receive and save an identity of the MTC terminal; the offline activation module is configured to: directly move to the mobility when the MTC terminal needs to be activated The management unit sends an offline activation message carrying the identity of the MTC terminal;

The MTC terminal includes an offline monitoring module, and the offline monitoring module is configured to: store an identity of the received paging in an offline state, and listen to a broadcast channel of the cell in the cell, to implement offline activation in response to the paging.

The identity of the received paging is an identity of the MTC terminal.

The information management module is configured to: when the context information of the MTC terminal is deleted or marked as invalid, send the identity of the MTC terminal to the MTC server: the MTC terminal is detached , Location update failed or attachment failed.

Wherein: the offline paging module is configured to initiate a paging procedure to the MTC terminal according to the identity of the MTC terminal in the following manner: after receiving the offline activation message, all the jurisdictions of the mobility management unit A paging process is initiated in the location area.

Wherein: the information management module is further configured to: when transmitting the identity of the MTC terminal, Sending the latest location information of the MTC terminal;

Correspondingly, the offline paging module is further configured to: after receiving the offline activation message, determine that the paging range is all cells included in the latest location information, and initiate a paging procedure within the determined paging range.

The identifier of the MTC terminal is a global unique temporary identity code GUTL International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or a temporary identity identified by the mobility management unit to the MTC terminal, where the mobility management unit assigns the temporary identity to the MTC terminal. Temporarily identifying the P-TMSI or the system architecture evolved mobile subscriber temporary identity S-TMSI for the packet mobile subscriber;

The information saving module is further configured to: save the address or identifier of the mobility management unit when saving the identity of the MTC terminal;

Correspondingly, the offline activation module is further configured to: determine the mobility management unit according to the saved address or identifier of the mobility management unit, and send the offline activation message to the mobility management unit.

The information management module is further configured to: when sending the identity identifier of the MTC terminal, send the latest location information of the MTC terminal;

Correspondingly, the MTC server is further configured to: determine, according to the latest location information of the MTC terminal, the mobility management unit, and send the offline activation message to the mobility management unit.

The present invention also provides a system for activating a terminal, the system comprising: a mobility management unit, the mobility management unit comprising an offline information management module and an offline paging module, wherein: the information management module is configured to: trigger When the situation of the offline communication of the MTC terminal is generated, the identity of the MTC terminal is sent to the intermediate network element before the context information of the MTC terminal is deleted or marked as invalid;

The offline paging module is configured to: receive an offline activation message including an identity of the MTC terminal, and initiate a paging procedure to the MTC terminal according to the identity of the MTC terminal; the MTC server includes an offline activation request The module, the offline activation requesting module is configured to: when the MTC terminal needs to be activated, send the carrying the MTC terminal to the intermediate network element Activation request for the identity;

The intermediate network element includes an offline information saving module and an offline activation module, where:

The offline information saving module is configured to: receive and save an identity of the MTC terminal; the offline activation module is configured to: receive an activation request of the MTC server, and send the carrying the MTC to the mobility management unit Offline activation message of the identity of the terminal;

The MTC terminal includes an offline monitoring module, and the offline monitoring module is configured to: store an identity of the received paging in an offline state, and listen to a broadcast channel of the cell in the offline state, to implement offline activation in response to the paging, where the receiving The identity of the page is the identity of the MTC terminal.

The information management module is further configured to: when the MTC terminal detaches, the location update fails, or the attachment fails, sends the location to the intermediate network element before deleting the context information of the MTC terminal or marking the invalidation The identity of the MTC terminal.

The offline paging module is further configured to: after receiving the offline activation message, determine a paging range according to the content of the offline activation message, to initiate a paging process within the determined paging range: A paging procedure is initiated by cells in all location areas governed by the mobility management unit.

Correspondingly, the offline paging module is further configured to: after receiving the offline activation message, determine a paging range according to the content of the offline activation message, to initiate a paging process within the determined paging range: paging range All cells included in the latest location information are defined.

Correspondingly, the intermediate network element is further configured to: according to the latest location information of the MTC terminal And determining, by the mobility management unit, the offline activation message to the mobility management unit. The intermediate network element is an MTC intermediate gateway or a user data server.

The present invention also provides a machine type communication MTC terminal, the MTC terminal includes an offline monitoring module, and the offline monitoring module is configured to: save an identity of the received paging in an offline state, and listen to a broadcast channel of the cell in which the cell is located, Offline activation in response to paging.

In the method and system of the present invention, when the situation that triggers the offline operation of the MTC terminal is generated, the mobility management unit sends the identity identifier of the terminal to the MTC server or the intermediate network element before deleting the context information of the MTC terminal or marking the invalidity. When the MTC server or the intermediate network element needs to activate the MTC terminal, the identity of the MTC terminal is fed back to the mobility management unit, so that the mobility management unit can perform normal paging according to the feedback identity, and the terminal is offline. The broadcast channel is listened to, so that the MTC terminal can respond to the paging, thereby implementing offline activation. BRIEF abstract

1 is a system structure diagram of a related art packet network, where an MTC server and an MME use a direct interface;

2 is a system structure diagram of a related art packet network, where an MTC server is connected to an MME through an MTC intermediate gateway;

3 is a system structure diagram of a related art packet network, where an MTC server is connected to an MME through an HSS;

Figure 4 is a packet domain paging procedure under the prior art conditions;

5 is a flow chart of the MTC server successfully re-pending and activating the offline MTC terminal after the MTC terminal is detached under the direct connection architecture of the MTC server and the mobility management unit; FIG. 6 is an MTC server and a mobility management unit. In the direct connection architecture, after the MTC terminal attempts to update the location, the MTC server successfully pages and activates the offline MTC terminal.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the MTC server successfully paging and activating the offline MTC terminal after the MTC terminal fails to attach after the MTC server and the mobility management unit are directly connected to each other;

8 is an architecture in which a MTC server is connected to a mobility management unit through an MTC intermediate gateway in a non-roaming scenario. After the MTC terminal is detached, the MTC server successfully pages and activates the offline. The flow of the MTC terminal;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the MTC server successfully paging and activating the offline MTC terminal after the MTC terminal is detached, and the MTC server is detached by the MTC server through the home MTC intermediate gateway and the visited MTC intermediate gateway in the roaming scenario. ;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the MTC server successfully paging and activating the offline MTC terminal after the MTC terminal is detached by the MTC server connected to the mobility management unit;

11 is a schematic diagram of a method for activating an offline terminal according to the present invention;

12 is a schematic diagram of a system 1 for activating an offline terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a second system for activating an offline terminal according to the present invention. Preferred embodiment of the invention

According to the existing terminal activation technology, if the terminal is in the offline/unregistered state, the MTC server and the core network element cannot trigger the mobility management unit to page the MTC terminal because there is no mobility information of the terminal. The paging process and restrictions of the 3G network are basically the same as those of the EPS network, and will not be described here.

However, with the development of the M2M industry, the new M2M communication requires the MTC server to wake up the MTC terminal that has entered the offline/unregistered state. However, the paging process in the prior art cannot meet such requirements. Even if the MTC server or the MTC user provides the preset MTC terminal area information to the d, the regional broadcast center to broadcast the wake-up offline MTC terminal, there is also a terminal that cannot find the mobile terminal, and the network operator needs to set up the cell broadcast center and the like.

The main idea of the method and system for activating an offline terminal of the present invention is: when a situation in which an MTC terminal is triggered to be offline is generated, the mobility management unit sends the identity of the terminal to the MIS before deleting the context information of the MTC terminal or marking the invalidation. When the MTC server or the intermediate network element, the MTC server or the intermediate network element needs to activate the MTC terminal, the identity of the MTC terminal is fed back to the mobility management unit, so that the mobility management unit can perform normal search according to the feedback identity. At the same time, the terminal listens to the broadcast channel in an offline state, so that the MTC terminal can respond to the paging, thereby implementing offline activation. As shown in FIG. 11, the method for activating an offline terminal according to the present invention includes the following steps: Step 1101: When a situation in which an MTC terminal is triggered to be offline is generated, the mobility management unit deletes the context information of the MTC terminal or marks the invalidation before Sending, by the MTC server or the intermediate network element, an identity of the MTC terminal;

The offline of the MTC terminal refers to that the mobility management context of the MTC terminal in the mobility management unit has been deleted or marked as invalid, and the mobility management unit cannot contact the MTC terminal, and the terminal must complete the attach process to enter the online state and interact with the MTC. The server communicates. The situation in which the triggering of the MTC terminal is offline includes, but is not limited to, MTC terminal detachment, location update failure, or attachment failure, etc., as described in the subsequent embodiments. Detached is also known as unregistered or detached.

Step 1102: The MTC server or the intermediate network element receives and saves the identity identifier of the MTC terminal.

Step 1103: When the MTC server needs to activate the MTC terminal, send an offline activation message to the mobility management unit, or the identity of the MTC terminal, directly or through the intermediate network element.

Step 1104: The mobility management unit receives the offline activation message, and initiates a paging process to the MTC terminal according to the identity identifier of the MTC terminal, where the MTC terminal saves the identity of the received paging in an offline state. And listening to the broadcast channel of the cell in which it is located, in order to achieve offline activation in response to the paging.

After receiving the offline activation message, the mobility management unit initiates a paging procedure in all location areas governed by the mobility management unit; or alternatively, the mobility management unit is transmitting the identity of the MTC terminal When the identifier is sent, the latest location information of the MTC terminal is simultaneously sent; after receiving the offline activation message, the mobility management unit determines a paging range according to the content of the offline activation message, to initiate within the determined paging range. Paging process: if the offline activation message includes the latest location information of the MTC terminal, the paging range is limited to all cells included in the latest location information, otherwise the paging range is limited to the mobility management unit. A cell in all locations within the jurisdiction.

The MTC server and the intermediate network element determine the corresponding mobility management unit in the following two ways: Mode 1: When the MTC server or the intermediate network element saves the identity of the MTC terminal, the same And saving an address or an identifier of the mobility management unit; the MTC server or the intermediate network element sends an offline activation message to the mobility management unit according to the saved address or identifier of the mobility management unit.

In the second mode, the mobility management unit sends the latest location information of the MTC terminal when the identity of the MTC terminal is sent; the MTC server or the intermediate network element determines the corresponding mobile according to the latest location information of the MTC terminal. And a sex management unit, sending an offline activation message to the determined mobility management unit.

The intermediate network element referred to in the present invention refers to an MTC intermediate gateway or a user data server, which is a network element/entity through which the mobility management unit and the MTC server communicate.

Compared with the existing MTC terminal, the MTC terminal of the present invention saves the identity of the received paging in the offline state, and listens to the broadcast channel, and has an offline activation function.

Embodiment 1

5, when the MTC terminal detachment occurs, the mobility management unit transmits signaling to the MTC server through the direct connection port, and sends the latest location information of the MTC terminal and the MTC terminal identity identifier to the MTC server for saving, after the MTC terminal is offline, The MTC server triggers the mobility management unit to page the MTC terminal and finally activate the MTC terminal. As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes the following steps: Step 501: A MTC terminal in a registration state initiates a detach process, or a network initiates an explicit attach process, or the network initiates an implicit detach process;

Depending on the network configuration, the mobility management unit deletes the context information of the terminal or marks it as invalid after a period of time or immediately.

After the MTC terminal enters the offline/unregistered state, in the present invention, the MTC terminal saves the identity (fixed identity or temporary identity) used for paging in this state, and still listens to the broadcast channel of the cell in which the cell is located. The channel may be a public broadcast channel/paging channel, or may be a dedicated broadcast channel/paging channel of the MTC communication, so that the MTC terminal can be paged by the network in an offline/unregistered state to implement an offline activation function.

Step 502: The mobility management unit sends the identifier of the MTC terminal and the latest location information of the terminal (optional) to the MTC server for saving (update) by deleting the context of the MTC terminal or marking the invalidity; Upon receipt of this message, the MTC server selectively saves the address or identity of the mobility management unit that sent the message.

In the EPS network, the identifier of the foregoing MTC terminal may be a System Architecture Evolution Mobile Subscriber Identity (S-TMSI, SAE-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity) or a Globally Unique Temporary Identity (GUTI) or an international mobile subscriber. Identification code (IMSI, International Mobile Subscriber Identity); The latest location information of the above MTC terminal may be one or a group of tracking area identifiers, or may be an MME identifier (including all tracking areas of the MME), or one or A set of cell identifiers; the identifier of the mobility management unit may be a globally unique MME identity (GUMMEI, Global Unique MME Identity) of the MME, or a GUTI (including a complete MME identity).

In the GPRS network, the foregoing MTC terminal identity identifier may be a Packet-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (P-TMSI) or an IMSI; the latest location information of the MTC terminal may be one or a group of routing area identifiers, Can be one or a group of cell identifiers;

The IMSI is stored in a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) and is identified as a user.

GUTI: Assigned to the terminal by the MME, it uniquely identifies the mobile terminal worldwide.

P-TMSI: is a temporary identity assigned by the SGSN to the mobile terminal, and uniquely identifies a mobile terminal within the scope of the SGSN management.

S-TMSI: A temporary identity of a terminal containing the MME number, which is part of the GUTI and is typically used for identity as a paging terminal.

It should be noted here that the future IMSI, GUTL P-TMSI and S-TMSI are the same as here.

The address/identification of the mobility management unit may be the network address or SGSN number of the SGSN. Step 503: When the MTC server needs to trigger the MTC terminal (for example, sending the configuration data, triggering the data on the MTC terminal, etc.), the corresponding mobility management unit is found by using the mobility management unit identifier saved in step 502, or according to step 502. The latest location information of the terminal in the offline notification message is parsed/queried to the corresponding mobility management unit, and the offline management is sent to the mobility management unit. a live message, the message including the MTC terminal identity described in step 502, and the latest location information of the terminal (optional, provided that the offline notification message in step 502 includes the cell);

The MTC terminal enters the offline/unregistered state, and the core network does not have any mobility management information for the terminal.

Step 504: After receiving the offline activation message, the mobility management unit initiates a paging process using the MTC terminal identity, and determines the paging range according to the offline activation message content in step 503: if the offline activation message includes the terminal The latest location information, the paging range is limited to all cells included in the location information; if the offline activation message does not include the latest location information of the terminal, the paging range is limited to the cells in all the location areas under the jurisdiction of the mobility management unit ;

In addition, depending on the carrier configuration, if the paging is unsuccessful, you can try to expand the paging range (for example, to the adjacent area).

The mobility management unit sends a paging request message to the base station within the determined paging range, the message including the identity identifier of the terminal and the paging area parameter (ie, the latest location information of the terminal or all location areas governed by the mobility management unit) The cell; the base station pages the MTC terminal according to the indication of the mobility management unit.

Step 505: The MTC terminal finds that the identity of the paging information on the channel is its identity identifier, and then initiates an attach procedure in response to the paging.

Embodiment 2

6 is, when a location update failure occurs in the MTC terminal, the mobility management unit transmits signaling to the MTC server through the direct connection port, and sends the latest location information and the terminal identity of the MTC terminal to the MTC server for saving, and after the MTC terminal is offline, The MTC server triggers the mobility management unit to page the MTC terminal and activate the MTC terminal. As shown in Figure 6, the following steps are included:

Step 601: The MTC terminal moves to a new location and initiates a location update process by using its identity, but the process fails.

After the update process fails, the current mobility management unit marks the context of the MTC terminal as attached. According to the network configuration, the mobility management unit deletes the context or marks it as invalid after a period of time or immediately. The MTC terminal will enter the offline/unregistered state. The MTC terminal in this state still listens to the broadcast channel of the cell in the cell. This channel can be a public broadcast channel/paging channel, or it can be a dedicated broadcast channel/paging channel for MTC communication. In this way, the MTC terminal can be paged by the network in the offline/unregistered state to implement the offline activation function.

Step 602-step 605 is the same as step 502-step 505 in the embodiment of FIG. 5, and will not be repeated here.

Embodiment 3

7 is the mobility management unit transmitting signaling to the MTC server through the direct connection port, transmitting the latest location information and identity identifier of the MTC terminal to the MTC server for saving, and after the MTC terminal is offline, The MTC server triggers the mobility management unit to page the MTC terminal and activate the MTC terminal. As shown in FIG. 7, the method includes the following steps: Step 701: An offline MTC terminal fails to initiate an attach procedure;

The offline MTC terminal initiates the attach procedure, but the mobility management unit attempts to resend the attach and accept message and does not receive the attach complete message returned by the MTC terminal, and the attempted paging MTC terminal also fails to respond, and the mobility management unit will The context of the MTC terminal is marked as detached. Depending on the network configuration, the mobility management unit will delete the context or mark it as invalid after a period of time or immediately.

Step 702-step 705 is completely consistent with step 502-step 505 in the embodiment of FIG. 5, and will not be repeated here.

The above embodiments 1 to 3 can be applied to the architecture shown in FIG. 1 to 3. When the architecture shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is used, the message between the MTC server and the mobility management unit needs to pass through the MTC intermediate. Forwarded by the gateway or user data server.

Embodiment 4

8 is a non-roaming scenario, when the MTC terminal is detached, the mobility management unit transmits signaling to the MTC intermediate gateway, and sends the latest location information of the MTC terminal and the MTC terminal identifier to the MTC intermediate gateway for saving, after the MTC terminal is offline. The process by which the MTC server triggers the mobility management unit to page the MTC terminal through the MTC server to finally activate the MTC terminal. As shown in Figure 8, the following steps are included:

Step 801: The MTC terminal in the registration state initiates a detach process, or the network initiates an explicit attach process, or the network initiates an implicit detach process;

Depending on the network configuration, the mobility management unit deletes the context of the terminal or marks it as invalid after a period of time or immediately.

Step 802: Before deleting the context or marking the MTC terminal as invalid, the mobility management unit sends the identifier of the MTC terminal and the latest location information of the terminal (optional) to the MTC intermediate gateway to save (update) by using an offline notification message. ;

The MTC intermediate gateway can optionally save the address/identity of the mobility management unit that sent the message when it receives this message.

In the EPS network, the identifier of the MTC terminal may be S-TMSI or GUTI or IMSI; the latest location information of the MTC terminal may be one or a group of tracking area identifiers, or may be an MME identifier (including the MME subordinates) All tracking areas), or one or a group of cell identifiers; the address/identity of the mobility management unit may be the network address of the MME, or GUMMEI, or GUTI (which contains the complete MME identity).

In the GPRS network, the foregoing MTC terminal identity may be P-TMSI or IMSI; The latest location information of the MTC terminal may be one or a group of routing area identifiers, or may be one or a group of cell identifiers; the address/identity of the mobility management unit may be a network address or an SGSN number of the SGSN.

Step 803: The MTC terminal enters an offline/unregistered state. When the MTC server needs to activate the MTC terminal, the MTC server sends an activation request message to the MTC intermediate gateway, where the message carries the identity of the MTC terminal that needs to be activated.

Step 804: After receiving the request of the MTC server, the MTC intermediate gateway finds the corresponding mobility management unit by using the mobility management unit address/identity saved in step 802, or parses the latest location information of the terminal in the offline notification message in step 802. / Querying to the corresponding mobility management unit, and sending an offline activation message to the mobility management unit, the message including the MTC terminal identity described in step 802, the latest location information of the terminal (optional, provided that the offline in step 802) The notification message contains this cell);

Step 805: The mobility management unit initiates a paging process for the MTC terminal by using the MTC terminal identity, and determines the paging range according to the offline activation message content in step 804: if the offline activation message includes the latest location information of the terminal, The call range is limited to all cells included in the location information; if the offline activation message does not include the latest location information of the terminal, the paging range is limited to cells in all the location areas under the jurisdiction of the mobility management unit;

Step 806: The MTC terminal finds that the identity of the paging information on the channel is its identity identifier, and then initiates an attach procedure in response to the paging.

Embodiment 5

9 is a roaming scenario, when an MTC terminal detach occurs, the mobility management unit transmits signaling to the home MTC intermediate gateway through the visited MTC intermediate gateway, and sends the latest location information and the MTC terminal identifier of the MTC terminal to the home location. The MTC intermediate gateway saves, after the MTC terminal is offline, the MTC server triggers the mobility tube through the home location and the visited MTC intermediate gateway. The process unit pages the MTC terminal and finally activates the process of the MTC terminal. As shown in Figure 9, the following steps are included:

Step 901: The MTC terminal in the registration state initiates a detach process, or the network initiates an explicit attach process, or the network initiates an implicit detach process;

Step 902: Before deleting the context or marking the MTC terminal as invalid, the mobility management unit sends the identifier of the MTC terminal and the latest location information of the terminal (optional) to the visited MTC intermediate gateway by using an offline notification message;

The visited MTC intermediate gateway can optionally temporarily store the address/identity of the mobility management unit that sent the message when it receives this message.

In the GPRS network, the foregoing MTC terminal identity identifier may be P-TMSI or IMSI; the latest location information of the foregoing MTC terminal may be one or a group of routing area identifiers, or may be one or a group of cell identifiers; The address/identification may be the network address or SGSN number of the SGSN.

Step 903: The visited MTC intermediate gateway finds the home MTC intermediate gateway by using the information in the roaming protocol or the MTC terminal identity, and identifies the identity of the MTC terminal and the latest location information of the terminal in step 902 (if in step 902) Offline notification message carries this cell) And the mobility management unit identifier/address (if the visited MTC intermediate gateway temporarily stores this information in step 902) is sent to the home MTC intermediate gateway through the offline notification message, and the home MTC intermediate gateway also saves the offline notification. Visit the address of the MTC intermediate gateway;

Step 904: The MTC terminal enters an offline/unregistered state. When the MTC server needs to activate the MTC terminal to communicate with the MTC server, the MTC server sends an activation request message to the home MTC gateway, where the message carries the identity of the MTC terminal that needs to be activated.

Step 905: The home MTC gateway retrieves the locally stored information about the terminal according to the MTC terminal identity of the activation request message in step 904, and finds the gateway according to the visited MTC intermediate gateway address stored in step 903, and Send an offline activation message;

The offline activation message contains all of the contents of the offline notification message of step 903.

Step 906: After receiving the offline activation message of the home MTC intermediate gateway, the visited MTC intermediate gateway finds the corresponding mobility management unit by using the mobility management unit address/identity in the message, or searches for the terminal in the offline activation message. The latest location information is parsed/queried to the corresponding mobility management unit, and sends an offline activation message to the latter, where the message includes the MTC terminal identity and the latest location information of the terminal (optional, provided that step 905 The offline activation message carries this cell);

Step 907: The mobility management unit initiates a paging process to the MTC terminal by using the MTC terminal identity, and determines the paging range according to the offline activation message content in step 906: if the offline activation message includes the latest location information of the terminal, The call range is limited to all cells included in the location information; if the offline activation message does not include the latest location information of the terminal, the paging range is limited to cells in all the location areas under the jurisdiction of the mobility management unit;

Step 908: The MTC terminal finds that the identity of the paging information on the channel is its identity identifier, and then initiates an attach procedure in response to the paging.

Embodiment 6

Figure 10 is the mobility management unit to the user data server when the MTC terminal detachment occurs. Transmitting signaling, sending the latest location information of the MTC terminal and the MTC terminal identifier to the user data server for saving. After the MTC terminal is offline, the MTC server triggers the mobility management unit to page the MTC terminal through the user data server, and finally activates the MTC terminal. process. As shown in Figure 10, the following steps are included:

Step 1001: The MTC terminal in the registration state initiates a detach process, or the network initiates an explicit detach process, or the network initiates an implicit detach process;

Step 1002: Before deleting the context or marking the MTC terminal as invalid, the mobility management unit sends the identifier of the MTC terminal and the latest location information of the terminal (optional) to the user data server for saving by using the offline notification message;

When the user data server receives this message, it also saves the address/identity of the mobility management unit that sent the message.

Step 1003: The MTC terminal enters an offline/unregistered state, and the MTC server needs to activate the MTC. When the terminal sends an activation request message to the user data server, the message carries the identity of the MTC terminal that needs to be activated;

Step 1004: After receiving the request of the MTC server, the user data server retrieves the related data by using the MTC terminal identity, and finds the corresponding mobility management unit by using the mobility management unit address/identity saved in step 1002, and sends the offline to the latter. Activation message

The message contains the entire contents of the offline notification message in step 1002.

Step 1005: The mobility management unit initiates a paging process for the MTC terminal by using the MTC terminal identity, and determines the paging range according to the offline activation message content in step 1004: if the offline activation message includes the latest location information of the terminal, The call range is limited to all cells included in the location information; if the offline activation message does not include the latest location information of the terminal, the paging range is limited to cells in all the location areas under the jurisdiction of the mobility management unit;

Step 1006: The MTC terminal finds that the identity of the paging information on the channel is its identity identifier, and then initiates an attach procedure in response to the paging.

In order to implement the above embodiments 1 to 3, the present invention further provides a system for activating an offline terminal. As shown in FIG. 12, the system includes: a mobility management unit, an MTC server, and an MTC terminal, where:

The mobility management unit includes an offline information management module and an offline paging module, where: the information management module is configured to: delete a context information of the MTC terminal when a situation in which a triggering machine type communication (MTC) terminal is offline is generated Or sending the identity of the MTC terminal to the MTC server before being marked as invalid;

The offline paging module is configured to: receive an offline activation message, including an identity of the MTC terminal, and initiate a paging process to the MTC terminal according to the identity of the MTC terminal;

The MTC server includes an offline information saving module and an offline activation module, where: the offline information saving module is configured to: receive and save an identity of the MTC terminal; and the offline activation module is configured to: activate the MTC when needed Directly move to the terminal The mobility management unit sends an offline activation message, where the identifier of the MTC terminal is carried; the MTC terminal includes an offline monitoring module, and the offline monitoring module is configured to: save the identity of the received paging in an offline state, and monitor The broadcast channel of the cell in which it is located is activated in response to the paging.

The offline of the MTC terminal refers to that the mobility management context of the MTC terminal in the mobility management unit has been deleted or marked as invalid, and the mobility management unit cannot contact the MTC terminal, and the terminal must complete the attach process to enter the online state and interact with the MTC. The server communicates. The circumstances in which the triggering of the MTC terminal is offline include, but are not limited to, MTC terminal detachment, location update failure, or attachment failure.

Optionally, after receiving the offline activation message, the offline paging module of the mobility management unit initiates a paging procedure in all location areas governed by the mobility management unit.

Optionally, the information management module of the mobility management unit sends the latest location information of the MTC terminal simultaneously when sending the identity identifier of the MTC terminal; the offline paging of the mobility management unit The module is further configured to: after receiving the offline activation message, determine a paging range according to the content of the offline activation message, to initiate a paging process within the determined paging range: if the offline activation message includes the MTC The latest location information of the terminal, the paging range is limited to all cells included in the latest location information, otherwise the paging range is limited to cells in all location areas under the jurisdiction of the mobility management unit.

The identity of the MTC terminal is S-TMSL GUTK P-TMSI or IMSI,

Optionally, the offline information saving module of the MTC server is further configured to: save an address or an identifier of the mobility management unit when saving an identity of the MTC terminal; and the offline of the MTC server The activation module is further configured to: send an offline activation message to the mobility management unit based on the saved address or identity of the mobility management unit.

Optionally, the information management module of the mobility management unit is further configured to: send the latest location information of the MTC terminal when sending the identity identifier of the MTC terminal; the MTC server according to the MTC terminal The latest location information determines a corresponding mobility management unit, and sends an offline activation message to the determined mobility management unit. The system shown in FIG. 12 can be applied to the architecture shown in FIG. 1 to 3. When the architecture shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is used, the message between the MTC server and the mobility management unit needs to pass through the MTC intermediate gateway or user. The intermediate network element such as the data server forwards, as shown by the dotted line in the figure.

In order to implement the above embodiments 4-6, the present invention further provides another system for activating an offline terminal. As shown in FIG. 13, the system includes: a mobility management unit, an MTC server, an intermediate network element, and an MTC terminal, where:

The mobility management unit includes an offline information management module and an offline paging module, where: the information management module is configured to: when the situation that triggers the offline operation of the MTC terminal is generated, before deleting the context information of the MTC terminal or marking the invalidation Sending the identity of the MTC terminal to the intermediate network element;

The MTC server includes an offline activation requesting module, and the offline activation requesting module is configured to: when the MTC terminal needs to be activated, send an activation request to the intermediate network element, where the identity of the MTC terminal is carried;

The offline information saving module is configured to: receive and save an identity of the MTC terminal; the offline activation module is configured to: receive an activation request of the MTC server, and send an offline activation message to the mobility management unit, The MTC terminal includes an offline monitoring module, and the offline monitoring module is configured to: save the identity of the received paging in an offline state, and listen to the broadcast channel of the cell in response to the search. Call offline activation.

The offline of the MTC terminal refers to the detachment of the MTC terminal, the failure of location update, or the failure of attachment. Optionally, the information management module of the mobility management unit is further configured to: When the identity of the MTC terminal is described, the latest location information of the MTC terminal is simultaneously sent; the offline paging module of the mobility management unit is further configured to: after receiving the offline activation message, according to the offline activation message The content determines a paging range to initiate a paging process within the determined paging range: if the offline activation message includes the latest location information of the MTC terminal, the paging range is limited to the latest location information included All cells, otherwise the paging range is limited to cells in all location areas governed by the mobility management unit.

Optionally, the information saving module of the intermediate network element is further configured to: when saving the identity identifier of the MTC terminal, simultaneously save an address or an identifier of the mobility management unit; The offline activation module is further configured to: send an offline activation message to the mobility management unit according to the saved address or identifier of the mobility management unit.

Optionally, the information management module of the mobility management unit is further configured to: when sending the identity identifier of the MTC terminal, simultaneously send the latest location information of the MTC terminal; The latest location information of the MTC terminal determines a corresponding mobility management unit, and sends an offline activation message to the determined mobility management unit.

Understandably, in Figures 12 and 13, the MTC terminal and the mobility management unit are also connected by a base station.

In addition, the present invention further provides an MTC terminal, where the MTC terminal includes an offline monitoring module, and the offline monitoring module is configured to: save an identity of the received paging in an offline state, and listen to a broadcast channel of the cell in the Offline activation in response to paging, with offline activation.

In the method and system for activating an offline terminal, when the situation that the MTC terminal is triggered to be offline is generated, the MME sends the identity of the terminal to the MTC server or the intermediate network element before deleting the context information of the MTC terminal or marking the invalidity. When the MTC server or the intermediate network element needs to activate the MTC terminal, the identity of the MTC terminal is fed back to the MME, so that the MME can perform normal paging according to the feedback identity, and the terminal listens to the broadcast channel in an offline state, so that the terminal The MTC terminal can respond to the page to achieve offline activation.

Industrial applicability In the method and system of the present invention, when the situation that triggers the offline operation of the MTC terminal is generated, the mobility management unit sends the identity identifier of the terminal to the MTC server or the intermediate network element before deleting the context information of the MTC terminal or marking the invalidity. When the MTC server or the intermediate network element needs to activate the MTC terminal, the identity of the MTC terminal is fed back to the mobility management unit, so that the mobility management unit can perform normal paging according to the feedback identity, and the terminal is offline. The lower listening broadcast channel enables the MTC terminal to respond to the paging, thereby implementing offline activation, and thus has strong industrial applicability.

Claims

Claim

1. A method of activating a terminal, the method comprising:

When the MTC server needs to activate the MTC terminal, send an offline activation message carrying the identity of the MTC terminal to the mobility management unit directly or through the intermediate network element; the mobility management unit receives the Deactivating an offline message, and initiating a paging procedure for the MTC terminal according to the identity of the MTC terminal;

The MTC terminal saves the identity of the received paging in the offline state, and listens to the broadcast channel of the cell in the offline state, and implements the offline activation in response to the paging, where the identity of the received paging is the identity of the MTC terminal. .

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of triggering a situation in which the MTC terminal is offline comprises: generating, by the MTC terminal detachment, location update failure, or attachment failure.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the mobility management unit receives the offline activation message, and the step of initiating a paging procedure for the MTC terminal according to the identity identifier of the MTC terminal comprises: After receiving the offline activation message, the mobility management unit limits the paging range of the initiation paging process to the cell initiation paging procedure in all the location areas under the mobility management unit.

The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: when the mobility management unit sends the identity of the MTC terminal, sending the latest of the MTC terminal to the MTC server or the intermediate network element. location information;

Receiving and saving the latest location information of the MTC terminal by the MTC server or the intermediate network element; When the MTC server needs to activate the MTC terminal, determine the mobility management unit directly or through the intermediate network element according to the latest location information of the MTC terminal, and send the offline to the mobility management unit. And activating the message; the mobility management unit receives the offline activation message, and limits the paging range to all cell-initiated paging processes included in the latest location information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: the identity of the MTC terminal is a global unique temporary identity code GUTL International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or a temporary identity identified by the mobility management unit to the MTC terminal, where The temporary identity identified by the sex management unit to the MTC terminal is a packet mobile subscriber temporary identifier P-TMSI or a system architecture evolved mobile subscriber temporary identifier S-TMSI; the latest location information of the MTC terminal uses a tracking area identifier, a mobility management unit Identification, cell identity or routing area identifier representation.

The method of claim 1, further comprising: when the MTC server or the intermediate network element saves the identity of the MTC terminal, saving an address or an identifier of the mobility management unit.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: determining, by the MTC server or the intermediate gateway, the mobility management unit according to an address or an identifier of the mobility management unit, and sending the mobility management unit to the mobility management unit Activate the message offline.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein: the intermediate network element is an MTC intermediate gateway or a user data server.

9. A system for activating a terminal, the system comprising: a mobility management unit, an MTC server, and an MTC terminal, wherein:

The mobility management unit includes an offline information management module and an offline paging module, where: the information management module is configured to delete context information of the MTC terminal when a situation that triggers a machine type communication MTC terminal to be offline is generated Sending the identity of the MTC terminal to the MTC server before marking the invalidation; The offline paging module is configured to: receive an offline activation message including an identity of the MTC terminal, and initiate a paging process to the MTC terminal according to the identity identifier of the MTC terminal; the MTC server includes an offline information saving module And an offline activation module, where: the offline information saving module is configured to: receive and save an identity of the MTC terminal; the offline activation module is configured to: directly move to the mobility when the MTC terminal needs to be activated The management unit sends an offline activation message carrying the identity of the MTC terminal;

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein: the information management module is configured to send the MTC to the MTC server before deleting the context information of the MTC terminal or marking the invalidation when the following situation occurs Identity of the terminal: The MTC terminal is detached, the location update fails, or the attachment fails.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein: the offline paging module is configured to initiate a paging procedure to the MTC terminal according to the identity of the MTC terminal in the following manner: after receiving the offline activation message, A paging procedure is initiated in all of the location areas governed by the mobility management unit.

The system of claim 9, wherein: the information management module is further configured to: send the latest location information of the MTC terminal when transmitting the identity of the MTC terminal; correspondingly, the offline search The call module is further configured to: after receiving the offline activation message, determine that the paging range is all cells included in the latest location information, and initiate a paging procedure within the determined paging range.

The system according to claim 9, wherein: the identity of the MTC terminal is a global unique temporary identity code GUTL International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or a temporary identity identified by the mobility management unit to the MTC terminal, where The temporary identity identified by the sexual management unit to the MTC terminal is the packet mobile subscriber temporary identity P-TMSI or the system architecture evolved mobile subscriber temporary token The S-TMSI is located; the latest location information of the MTC terminal is represented by a tracking area identifier, a mobility management unit identifier, a cell identifier, or a routing area identifier.

The system of claim 9, wherein: the information saving module is further configured to: save an address or an identifier of the mobility management unit when saving an identity of the MTC terminal; The offline activation module is further configured to: determine the mobility management unit according to the saved address or identifier of the mobility management unit, and send the offline activation message to the mobility management unit.

The method of claim 9, wherein: the information management module is further configured to: send the latest location information of the MTC terminal when transmitting the identity of the MTC terminal; correspondingly, the MTC server It is further configured to: determine the mobility management unit according to the latest location information of the MTC terminal, and send the offline activation message to the mobility management unit.

16. A system for activating a terminal, the system comprising: a mobility management unit,

The mobility management unit includes an offline information management module and an offline paging module, where: the information management module is configured to delete context information or a mark of the MTC terminal when a situation in which the machine type communication MTC terminal is triggered to be offline is generated. Before being invalid, sending the identity of the MTC terminal to the intermediate network element;

The offline paging module is configured to: receive an offline activation message including an identity of the MTC terminal, and initiate a paging procedure to the MTC terminal according to the identity of the MTC terminal; the MTC server includes an offline activation request The module, the offline activation requesting module is configured to: when the MTC terminal needs to be activated, send an activation request that carries the identity of the MTC terminal to the intermediate network element;

The offline information saving module is configured to: receive and save an identity of the MTC terminal; the offline activation module is configured to: receive an activation request of the MTC server, and report the The mobility management unit sends an offline activation message carrying the identity of the MTC terminal; the MTC terminal includes an offline monitoring module, and the offline monitoring module is configured to: save the identity of the received paging in an offline state, and monitor the location The broadcast channel of the cell is configured to perform offline activation in response to the paging, wherein the identity of the received paging is an identity of the MTC terminal.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein: the information management module is further configured to: delete the context information of the MTC terminal when the MTC terminal detach, the location update fails, or the attachment failure occurs Before being marked as invalid, the identity of the MTC terminal is sent to the intermediate network element.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein: the offline paging module is further configured to: after receiving the offline activation message, determine a paging range according to the content of the offline activation message, to determine Initiating a paging procedure within the paging range: The paging range is defined by a cell initiated paging procedure in all location areas governed by the mobility management unit.

The system of claim 16, wherein: the information management module is further configured to: send the latest location information of the MTC terminal when sending the identity identifier of the MTC terminal; correspondingly, the offline searching The calling module is further configured to: after receiving the offline activation message, determine a paging range according to the content of the offline activation message, to initiate a paging process within the determined paging range: the paging range is limited to the latest location information All cells included.

The system of claim 16, wherein: the information saving module is further configured to: save an address or an identifier of the mobility management unit when saving an identity of the MTC terminal; The offline activation module is further configured to: determine the mobility management unit according to the saved address or identifier of the mobility management unit, and send the offline activation message to the mobility management unit.

The system of claim 16, wherein: the information management module is further configured to: send the latest location information of the MTC terminal when transmitting the identity of the MTC terminal; correspondingly, the intermediate network The element is further set to: according to the latest location information of the MTC terminal And determining, by the mobility management unit, the offline activation message to the mobility management unit.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein: the intermediate network element is an MTC intermediate gateway or a user data server.

A device-type communication MTC terminal, the MTC terminal includes an offline monitoring module, and the offline monitoring module is configured to: save an identity of the received paging in an offline state, and monitor a broadcast channel of the cell in response to the search Call offline activation.