WO2012097708A1

WO2012097708A1 - Method and device for performing preparation process for lipa connection handover

Info

Publication number: WO2012097708A1
Application number: PCT/CN2012/070337
Authority: WO
Inventors: 田野; 张娟
Original assignee: 大唐移动通信设备有限公司
Priority date: 2011-01-17
Filing date: 2012-01-13
Publication date: 2012-07-26
Also published as: CN102076038A; CN102076038B

Abstract

The invention discloses a method and a device for performing the preparation process for a local IP access (LIPA) connection handover, the method comprising: a source home Node B determines that a user equipment (UE) needs to perform a LIPA connection handover; the source home Node B determines the type of the target Node B cell for the LIPA connection handover; the source home Node B performs the preparation process for LIPA connection handover of the UE according to the type of the target Node B cell of the LIPA connection handover. The invention is used to perform the preparation process for LIPA connection handover that supports a LIPA connection handover, thus satisfying the 3GPP Rel-11 (3rd Generation Partnership Project) requirement that systems should support connection handover for LIPA-enabled user equipment. UE mobility within a local network gateway is also realized.

Description

The present invention claims to be submitted to the Chinese Patent Office on January 17, 2011, the application number is 201110009868.4, and the invention name is "a method and device for executing the LIPA connection switching preparation process". Priority of Chinese Patent Application, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a local IP access (LIP) connection handover preparation process and apparatus.

Background technique

LIPA is a technology that allows a User Equipment (UE) to access a local network associated with the Home Base Station through a home base station, including a home network, a corporate network, and the like. The user equipment accesses the local network through a local gateway (LGW). In the 3GPP Rel-10 phase, the local gateway and the home base station (H(e)B) are implemented on the same physical entity. After the 3GPP Rel-10 phase, the local gateway can be implemented on a different physical entity from the home base station. Currently, each home base station supports a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) cell, which provides communication services for users belonging to the closed subscriber group.

Because the access of the home base station and the local network is limited (for example, the home network only allows the access of the home network), the network needs to perform access control on the user equipment that accesses the home base station and the local network, including:

The home base station access control determines whether the user equipment has the right to access the network through a certain home base station (CSG cell);

Local network access control, that is, determining whether the user equipment has the right to request access to a specific local network through a certain home base station (CSG cell). Local network access control is performed on the basis of successful home base station access control.

The core network management control entity performs access control of the home base station and access control of the local network based on the subscription information of the user equipment.

The 3GPP Rel-10 version does not support the mobility of the LIPA connection. When the user equipment moves out of the coverage of the home base station cell where the LIPA connection is activated, the connection needs to be activated before initiating the handover for the user equipment. For the implementation of the LIPA connection, the current solution of the 3GPP Rel-10 standard is: The home base station notifies the local gateway user equipment to initiate the LIPA connection handover through the internal interface before performing the LIPA connection handover, and then the local gateway initiates the connection deactivation process. , release the established LIPA connection. After the LIPA connection is deactivated, the home base station initiates a handover procedure for the user equipment.

In addition, there is a scheme that does not enter the standard in the 3GPP Rel-10 phase: the home base station notifies the core network management control entity before the LIPA connection handover, and the core network management control entity initiates the LIPA connection deactivation, and then goes to the home base station. The response message is returned, and the home base station then initiates the LIPA connection handover procedure. In the LTE (Long Term Evolution) system, the scheme is as shown in FIG. 1 , where the Mobility Management Entity (MME) is a core network management control entity in the LTE system, and the evolved universal terrestrial radio access is performed. The Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) refers to the wireless access node at this time, that is, the home base station. Specifically include:

Step 1. When the LIPA connection handover is about to occur, if the user equipment has a LIPA connection, the home base station sends an E-UTRAN Local Connection Handover Indication (E-UTRAN Local Connection Handover Indication) to the MME, indicating that the LIPA connection is about to occur at this time. The target identifier (Target ID) carried in the message indicates the identifier of the target base station for the LIPA connection handover;

Step 2: If the LIPA connection is not the last IP connection of the user equipment, the MME initiates the MME requested PDN disconnection process to release the LIPA connection; otherwise, the detach procedure is initiated;

After the step 3 and the step 2 are performed, the MME returns an E-UTRAN Local Connection Handover ACK message to the home base station, indicating that the LIPA connection is released, that is, the LIPA connection deactivation process is completed, and Perform a LIPA connection switch. The home base station will then initiate a LIPA connection switch based on the existing process.

The following describes the LIPA connection switch preparation process.

3GPP TS 36.413 defines the handover preparation procedure for the LTE system.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the source evolved base station (eNodeB) needs to initiate a LIPA connection handover procedure for the user equipment, it initiates a handover preparation process by sending a Handover Required message to the MME that provides the service for the user equipment, thereby The network requests the target side cell to reserve resources for the user equipment. After the handover preparation process is successfully completed, the MME responds to the source eNodeB using a Handover Command message.

The Handover Required message includes the target base station identifier selected by the source eNodeB, that is, the target ID. In addition, for the case where the target base station is a home base station, the message will also include the CSG ID information of the selected target base station.

As shown in FIG. 3, if the handover preparation operation cannot be successfully performed for some reason (for example, the bearer cannot be established or the access control restriction), the MME will return a handover preparation failure (Handover Preparation Failure) message to the source eNodeB, where the handover preparation is carried. The cause of the failure of the process.

In addition, in the SA2 #81 conference, when discussing the requirements for LIPA connection switching, there is also a need for system compatibility.

In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 10 (Rel-10) phase, the LIPA connection in the home base station cell does not support the mobility of the user equipment, that is, the network needs to initiate a handover for the user equipment. First activate the LIPA connection that the user device has established. However, in 3GPP Release 11 In the (Rel-11) phase, it is proposed that the network should support the mobility of the LIPA connection, that is, the network can switch the established LIPA connection for the mobile user equipment as long as certain access control conditions are met. In addition, 3GPP Rel-11 also requires a newly introduced home base station system to maintain compatibility with the original network. However, technical solutions capable of satisfying the above needs have not been proposed in the prior art.

In summary, according to the 3GPP requirements, in the 3GPP Rel ll phase, the LIPA communication function of the home base station cell needs to support the mobility of the user equipment in the local gateway (Intra-LGW), that is, when the user equipment is connected to the same LGW. When moving between the home base stations, the system should be able to perform LIPA connection switching for it, thereby ensuring the continuity of the LIPA data connection of the user equipment. However, in the 3GPP Rel-10 phase standard, once the user equipment located in the home base station cell moves, the LIPA connection established by the user equipment will connect to the deactivation process through a packet data network (PDN) separately introduced before the handover process. freed. Thus, the prior art and standards do not support the mobility of user equipment within the local gateway.

Summary of the invention

The embodiment of the invention provides a method and a device for performing a LIPA connection handover preparation process, which are used to implement a LIPA connection handover preparation process for supporting LIPA connection handover, thereby satisfying the 3GPP Rel-11 phase system and supporting the user equipment to establish an LIPA connection. The need to switch to achieve mobility of the user equipment within the local gateway.

An implementation method of the LIPA connection switching preparation process provided by the embodiment of the present invention includes:

The source home base station determines that the user equipment needs to perform LIPA connection switching;

The source home base station determines the type of the target base station cell for the LIPA connection handover;

The source home base station performs a LIPA connection handover preparation process of the user equipment according to the type of the target base station cell that the LIPA connection switches.

The core network management control entity determines a type of the target base station cell according to the request handover message sent by the source home base station;

The core network management control entity performs a handover preparation process according to the type of the target base station cell.

An apparatus for executing a LIPA connection switching preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

a handover determining unit, configured to determine that the user equipment needs to perform a LIPA connection switch;

a type determining unit, configured to determine a type of a target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover;

The handover preparation process execution unit is configured to perform a LIPA connection handover preparation process of the user equipment according to the type of the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover.

And a type determining unit, configured to determine a type of the target base station cell according to the request handover message sent by the source home base station, and a handover preparation process execution unit, configured to perform a handover preparation process for the user equipment according to the type of the target base station cell. In the embodiment of the present invention, the source home base station performs the LIPA connection handover preparation process of the user equipment that needs to be switched according to the type of the target base station cell that is switched by the LIPA connection, thereby implementing the LIPA connection handover preparation process supporting the LIPA connection handover, which is good. The 3GPP Rel l l phase system should satisfy the requirement that the user equipment has established LIPA connection switching, and realize the mobility of the user equipment in the local gateway.

DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic diagram of a LIPA connection deactivation process triggered by a home base station in a 3GPP Rel-10 handover process in the background art;

2 is a schematic flowchart of a successful handover preparation process in the background art;

3 is a schematic flowchart of a failure of a handover preparation process in the background art;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for performing a LIPA connection handover preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a source H(e) B required to switch a user equipment LIPA connection to a new base station according to an embodiment of the present invention; In the case, a schematic diagram of the processing flow before the LIPA connection switching preparation process is initiated;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a core network management control entity determining whether a user equipment establishes a LIPA connection according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a core network management control entity (Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) support node (Serving GPRS Support) after receiving a request handover message sent by a source H(e)B according to an embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram of the processing flow of Node, SGSN), or MME);

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a process of Embodiment 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of a process according to Embodiment 4 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for performing a LIPA connection handover preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for performing a LIPA connection handover preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

In order to support the user equipment Intra-LGW mobility, the embodiment of the present invention provides a LIPA connection handover preparation processing scheme for supporting LIPA connection handover, where the user equipment moves when the LIPA connection is established in the home base station cell range. When the LIPA connection handover is required, the source home base station initiates a LIPA connection handover preparation process to the core network management control entity (for example, the SGSN or the MME, etc.) according to the target base station cell type to which the user equipment is to be switched.

After receiving the request handover message sent by the home base station, the core network management control entity determines, according to the received or locally stored information, whether the selected target cell can continue to maintain the established LIPA connection for the user equipment. If the LIPA connection cannot be maintained, the core network management control entity first performs the LIPA connection deactivation process, and then returns a handover preparation failure message to the source home base station, and instructs it to re-initiate the handover preparation process by the cause value. If LIPA If it can be maintained, the core network management control entity continues to perform the handover preparation process.

A detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On the base station side, referring to FIG. 4, a method for performing a LIPA connection switching preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

S101. The source home base station determines that the user equipment needs to perform a LIPA connection switch.

5102. The source home base station determines a type of a target base station cell that is connected by the LIPA connection.

5103. The source home base station performs a LIPA connection handover preparation process of the user equipment according to the type of the target base station cell that is switched by the LIPA connection.

Preferably, when the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover is a macro base station cell, the source home base station performs a LIPA connection handover preparation process corresponding to the user equipment according to the type of the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover, including:

The source home base station triggers the LGW to initiate a LIPA connection deactivation process by sending a notification message to the local gateway LGW.

When the source home base station determines that the LIPA connection deactivation process is completed, the source home base station initiates a handover preparation process by transmitting a request handover message to the core network management control entity.

Preferably, when the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover is a CSG cell, the source home base station performs a LIPA connection handover preparation process corresponding to the user equipment according to the type of the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover, including:

The source home base station initiates a handover preparation process by sending a request handover message to the core network management control entity.

Preferably, the request handover message includes information for indicating to the core network management control entity whether the user equipment that needs to perform handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection.

Preferably, during the handover preparation process, when the source home base station receives the Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context deactivation operation command sent by the core network management control entity for the LIPA connection, or the evolved packet system (Evolved) When the Packet System, EPS) bears the deactivation operation command, the source home base station deactivates the LIPA connection and returns a response message to the core network management control entity.

Preferably, when the source home base station receives the handover preparation failure message sent by the core network management control entity, and the reason value carried therein is to deactivate the established LIPA connection, the source home base station completes the deactivation operation of the LIPA connection. Thereafter, the handover preparation process is initiated again by resending the request handover message to the core network management control entity.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the case that the source H(e) B needs to switch the user equipment LIPA connection to the new base station, the main processing flow before the LIPA connection handover preparation process is initiated, including the following steps:

5201. Source H0) B determines that the user equipment moves, and the user equipment needs to be switched to a new base station (target base station).

5202. The source H(e) B determines whether the target base station cell selected by the source H(e) B is a macro base station cell, and if yes, Then step S203 is performed; otherwise, step S206 is performed.

5203. The source H(e) B determines whether the user equipment is established with the LIPA connection. If yes, step S204 is performed; otherwise, step S206 is performed.

5204. The source H(e)B notifies the LGW to activate the established LIPA connection.

S205, source Η (» Β determines the completion of the LIPA connection deactivation process.

S206. The source H(e) B initiates a handover preparation process.

That is to say, step S202 needs to determine what type of target base station cell the target base station is, and performs subsequent processing based on the following, which specifically includes the following two situations:

Case A. If the target base station cell selected by the source H(e) B is a macro base station cell (eg, a NodeB cell, an eNodeB cell, etc.), then the source H(e) B passes the internal interface between the H(e)NB and the LGW. (When H(e)NB and LGW are in the same entity), or through the external interface between H(e)B and LGW, send a notification message to LGW to trigger LGW to initiate LIPA connection deactivation process, release established The LIPA connection, then, after confirming that the LIPA connection is deactivated, initiates a handover preparation process.

Case B. If the selected target base station cell is a CSG cell (where the base station is H(e) B ), the source H(e) B sends a request handover message to the core network management control entity, thereby initiating a handover preparation process.

For case A, after confirming that the LIPA connection is deactivated, the source H(e) B sends a request handover message to the core network management control entity, thereby initiating a handover preparation process. The method for confirming that the LIPA connection is deactivated may be that the source H(e) B receives the packet data protocol context deactivation operation instruction or the evolved packet system bearer deactivation operation instruction sent by the core network management control entity for the LIPA connection. It can also be a LIPA connection deactivation response message received by the LGW, etc.

For case B, optionally, the source H(e) B may add an information element (for example, a local connection indication) in the request handover message, and is used to indicate to the core network management control entity whether the user equipment that needs to perform handover between the base stations is Established a LIPA connection.

For case B, during the handover preparation process, when the source H(e) B receives the PDP context deactivation operation instruction or the EPS bearer deactivation operation instruction for the LIPA connection sent by the core network management control entity, the source H(e) B deactivates the LIPA connection and returns a corresponding response message to the core network management control entity.

The PDP context deactivation operation instruction for the LIPA connection may be: Deactivate PDP Context Request message;

The EPS deactivates the operation command, which can be: Deactivate Bearer Request message.

For case B, further, when the source H(e) B receives the handover preparation failure message sent by the core network management control entity, and the reason value carried therein is "deactivate the established (LIPA) PDN connection", the source H (e) after the LIPA connection deactivation operation is completed, the NB resends the request handover message to the core network management control entity, thereby again Initiate the handover preparation process.

On the core network management control entity side, a method for performing a LIPA connection handover preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

Step 1: The core network management control entity determines a type of the target base station small area according to the request handover message sent by the source home base station;

Step 2: The core network management control entity performs a handover preparation process according to the type of the target base station cell.

Preferably, when the target base station cell is a macro base station cell, the core network management control entity performs a handover preparation process according to the type of the target base station cell, including:

The core network management control entity continues to perform the handover preparation process in accordance with the provisions of the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol.

Preferably, when the target base station cell is a CSG cell, the core network management control entity performs a handover preparation process according to the type of the target base station cell, including:

The core network management control entity determines whether the user equipment that needs to perform the cell handover between the base stations establishes the LIPA connection. When the user equipment does not establish the LIPA connection, the core network management control entity continues to perform the handover preparation of the user equipment according to the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol. Process

When the user equipment establishes a LIPA connection, the core network management control entity determines whether the target CSG cell can maintain the established LIPA connection;

When the target CSG cell can maintain the established LIPA connection, the core network management control entity continues to perform the LIPA connection handover preparation process of the user equipment according to the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol.

Preferably, when the target CSG cell is unable to maintain the established LIPA connection, the core network management control entity determines whether the established LIPA connection is the only packet data network PDN connection of the user equipment, and if so, the core network management control The entity detaches the user equipment; otherwise, the core network management control entity deactivates the established LIPA connection and returns a handover preparation failure message and a cause value to the source home base station.

Preferably, the core network management control entity determines whether the user equipment that needs to perform cell handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection, including:

The core network management control entity determines whether the user equipment carried in the request handover message sent by the source home base station is used to indicate whether the user equipment that needs to perform handover between the base stations establishes the LIPA connection information, and if yes, determines that the base station needs to be performed according to the information. Whether the user equipment of the inter-cell handover is established with the LIPA connection; otherwise, the user equipment context information of the local maintenance is queried, and whether the user equipment that needs to perform cell handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection according to the user equipment context information.

In an implementation, the core network management control entity in the embodiment of the present invention is an SGSN or an MME.

That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, after receiving the request handover message sent by the source H(e)B, the core network management control entity first determines the target according to the Target ID and the CSG ID information in the message. The type of base station cell. If the target base station cell is a macro base station cell, then the core network management control entity follows 3GPP TS 23.401 The process specified in the protocol is processed, that is, the handover preparation process is continued. If the target base station cell is a CSG cell, after the core network management control entity performs the home base station access control, it should first determine whether the user equipment has established a LIPA connection.

Referring to FIG. 6, after receiving the request switching message sent by the source H(e) B, the core network management control entity determines whether the user equipment establishes a LIPA connection process, including the following steps:

5301. The core network management control entity determines that it is required to perform an operation of determining whether the user equipment establishes a LIPA connection.

5302. The core network management control entity determines whether the local switch indication is included in the request handover message sent by the H(e) B. If yes, step S303 is performed; otherwise, step S306 is performed.

S303. The core network management control entity determines whether the "local connection indication" indicates that the user equipment has established the LIPA connection. If yes, step S304 is performed; otherwise, step S305 is performed.

5304. The core network management control entity determines that the user equipment establishes a LIPA connection.

5305. The core network management control entity determines that the user equipment does not establish a LIPA connection.

5306. The core network management control entity may determine whether the user equipment indicates that the LIPA connection is established by using the locally maintained user equipment context information. If yes, step S304 is performed; otherwise, step S305 is performed.

If the target base station cell is a CSG cell, if the user equipment does not establish a LIPA connection, the core network management control entity processes according to the procedure specified in the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol, that is, continues to perform the LIPA connection switching preparation process. Otherwise, the core network management control entity initiates local network access control for the LIPA connection of the user equipment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the core network management control entity starts the main processing process starting from the request handover message sent by the source H(e)B, and includes the following steps:

S401. The core network management control entity receives the request handover message sent by the source H(e)B.

S402. The core network management control entity determines whether the target cell is a CSG cell. If yes, step S403 is performed; otherwise, step S410 is performed.

S403. The core network management control entity determines whether the target CSG cell allows the user equipment to access the target CSG cell. If yes, step S404 is performed; otherwise, step S410 is performed.

5404. The core network management control entity determines whether the user equipment establishes a LIPA connection, and if yes, performs step S405; otherwise, performs step S410.

5405. The core network management and control entity resides in the user subscription information, or other conditions (eg, network operator configuration, network topology, etc.), and determines whether the established LIPA connection can be maintained for the user equipment in the target CSG cell. If yes, go to step S410; otherwise, go to step S406.

5406. The core network management control entity determines whether the LIPA connection to be deactivated is a PDN connection established by the user equipment. If yes, step S408 is performed; otherwise, step S407 is performed.

5407. The core network management control entity initiates a LIPA connection deactivation process (the PDP context initiated by the SGSN) The SGSN-initiated PDP Context Deactivation procedure or the MME requested PDN disconnection procedure is used to deactivate the established LIPA connection.

S408. The core network management control entity initiates a detach procedure (either SGSN-initiated Detach procedure or MME-initiated Detach procedure) to deactivate the user equipment and terminate Switching process.

5409. After the LIPA connection is deactivated, the core network management control entity sends a handover preparation failure message to the source H(e)B, wherein the reason value indicates that the failure is caused by: deactivating the established (LIPA) PDN connection.

5410. Continue to perform the handover preparation process specified in the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol.

A description of several specific embodiments is given below.

Embodiment 1:

Scenario: In the source H(e) B, the user equipment that has established the LIPA connection needs to connect from the source CSG cell LIPA to switch to a cell within the coverage of the target macro base station.

Referring to Figure 8, the specific process includes the following steps:

S501, H(e;> B determines that the target cell is a macro base station cell.

S502. H(e) B sends a notification message to the LGW to trigger the LGW to deactivate the established LIPA connection.

5503. Perform a PDP context deactivation process initiated by a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) or a bearer deactivation process initiated by the PGW.

5504: H(e) B receives the response message sent by the LGW.

S505, H(e) B, after receiving the response message sent by the LGW, or determining that the LIPA connection is successfully deactivated by other methods, sending a request handover message to the core network management control entity to initiate a handover preparation process.

Embodiment 2:

Scenario: In the source H(e) B, the user equipment that has established the LIPA connection needs to connect from the source CSG cell LIPA to the CSG cell supported by the target H(e) B, and the system allows the user equipment to pass the target H (e). B) keeps the established LIPA connection.

Referring to Figure 9, the specific process includes the following steps:

S601: H(e) B sends a request handover message to the core network management control entity to initiate a handover preparation process.

5602. The core network management control entity determines that the target cell is a CSG cell, and the target cell can maintain the established LIPA connection for the user equipment.

5603. Continue to perform the handover preparation process specified in the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol.

Embodiment 3:

Scenario: In the source H(e) B, the user equipment that has established the LIPA connection needs to switch from the source CSG cell to one CSG cell supported by the target H(e) B, but the system does not allow the user equipment to pass the target H(e). B maintains the established LIPA connection. Moreover, this LIPA connection is not the only PDN connection established by the user equipment. Referring to FIG. 10, the specific process includes the following steps:

S701: H(e) B sends a request handover message to the core network management control entity to initiate a handover preparation process. S702. The core network management control entity determines that the target cell is a CSG cell, but the target cell cannot maintain the established LIPA connection for the user equipment.

S703. The core network management control entity determines that the established LIPA connection is not a unique PDN connection of the user equipment.

5704. After determining that the user equipment is inaccessible to the local network, the core network management control entity deactivates the established LIPA connection, that is, performs a PDP context deactivation process initiated by the SGSN or a PDN connection requested by the MME to activate the process.

5705. The core network management control entity sends a handover preparation failure message to H(e)B, where the failure cause value is “deactivate the established LIPA connection”.

5706. After receiving the handover preparation failure message with the cause value, H(e)B sends a request handover message to the core network management control entity to initiate the handover preparation process again.

Embodiment 4:

Scenario: In source H(e) B, the user equipment that has established the LIPA connection needs to connect from the source CSG cell LIPA to one CSG cell supported by the target H(e) B, but the system does not allow the user equipment to pass the target H ( e) B maintains the established LIPA connection, and this connection is the only PDN connection established by the user equipment.

Referring to Figure 11, the specific process includes the following steps:

S801, H(e)B sends a request handover message to the core network management control entity to initiate a handover preparation process. S802. The core network management control entity determines that the target cell is a CSG cell, but the target cell cannot maintain the established LIPA connection for the user equipment.

S803. The core network management control entity determines that the established LIPA connection is a unique PDN connection of the user equipment. S804. Perform a detachment process initiated by the SGSN or a detachment process initiated by the MME. That is, in the handover preparation phase, the core network management control entity deactivates the user equipment after determining that the user equipment cannot access the local network.

The implementation of the LIPA connection switching preparation process is also provided in the embodiment of the present invention. The implementation of the LIPA connection switching preparation process is similar to the implementation method of the LIPA connection switching preparation process in the embodiment of the present invention. See the implementation of the method, and the repetition will not be repeated.

Referring to FIG. 12, an apparatus for performing a LIPA connection switching preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a handover determining unit 101, configured to determine that a user equipment needs to perform a LIPA connection handover;

a type determining unit 102, configured to determine a type of a target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover;

The handover preparation process execution unit 103 is configured to perform a LIPA connection handover preparation process of the user equipment according to the type of the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover.

Preferably, when the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover determined by the type determining unit 102 is a macro base station cell, the handover preparation process execution unit 103 includes: The trigger deactivation unit is configured to trigger the LGW to initiate a LIPA connection deactivation process by sending a notification message to the local gateway LGW;

The initiating unit is configured to initiate a handover preparation process by sending a request handover message to the core network management control entity when it is determined that the LIPA connection deactivation process is completed.

Preferably, when the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover determined by the type determining unit 102 is a CSG cell, the handover preparation process execution unit 103 initiates a handover preparation process by transmitting a request handover message to the core network management control entity.

Preferably, the handover preparation process execution unit 103, in the request handover message sent, includes information for indicating to the core network management control entity whether the user equipment that needs to perform cell handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection.

Preferably, the device further comprises:

Deactivation processing unit, configured to receive, when receiving the core network management control entity, during handover preparation

The LIPA-connected packet data protocol PDP context deactivates the operation command, or the evolved packet system EPS bearer deactivates the operation command, deactivates the LIPA connection, and returns a response message to the core network management control entity. Further, the deactivation processing unit, when receiving the handover preparation failure message sent by the core network management control entity, and the reason value carried therein indicates that the established LIPA connection is deactivated, after performing the deactivation operation of the LIPA connection The handover preparation process is initiated again by resending the request handover message to the core network management control entity.

Preferably, the device is a base station.

Referring to FIG. 13, an apparatus for performing a LIPA connection handover preparation process according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a type determining unit 201, configured to determine a type of a target base station cell according to a request handover message sent by a source home base station;

The handover preparation process execution unit 202 is configured to perform a handover preparation process according to the type of the target base station cell. Preferably, when the target base station cell determined by the type determining unit 201 is a macro base station cell,

The handover preparation process execution unit 202 continues to perform the handover preparation process in accordance with the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol. Preferably, when the target base station cell determined by the type determining unit 201 is a CSG cell,

The handover preparation process execution unit 202 includes:

The first determining unit 301 is configured to determine whether a user equipment that needs to perform cell handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection;

The continuation execution unit 302 is configured to continue to perform the handover preparation process of the user equipment according to the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol when the user equipment does not establish a LIPA connection;

The second determining unit 303 is configured to: when the user equipment establishes the LIPA connection, determine whether the target CSG cell can maintain the established LIPA connection; when the target CSG cell can maintain the established LIPA connection, trigger the continuation execution unit 302 according to the 3GPP. The TS 23.401 protocol stipulates that the handover preparation process of the user equipment is continued.

Preferably, the handover preparation process execution unit 202 further includes: The third determining unit 304 is configured to: when the target CSG cell is unable to maintain the established LIPA connection, determine whether the established LIPA connection is a PDN connection unique to the user equipment, and if yes, detach the user equipment. Otherwise, the established LIPA connection is deactivated and the handover preparation failure message and the cause value are returned to the source home base station.

Preferably, the first determining unit 301 determines whether the user equipment carried in the request handover message sent by the source home base station is used to indicate whether the user equipment that needs to perform handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection, and if so, according to the The information is judged whether the user equipment that needs to perform cell handover between the base stations is connected to the LIPA connection. Otherwise, the user equipment context information maintained by the local device is queried, and the user equipment that needs to perform cell handover between the base stations is determined to have an LIPA connection according to the user equipment context information.

Preferably, the apparatus shown in FIG. 13 may be a core network management control entity SGSN or MME.

In summary, the embodiment of the present invention proposes a LIPA connection switching preparation processing scheme that supports LIPA connection switching, which can satisfactorily satisfy the Rel-11 stage, and the system should support the requirement that the user equipment has established LIPA connection switching. In addition, the technical solution proposed by the embodiment of the present invention is integrated with the LIPA connection switching preparation process defined in the existing specification, thereby maintaining good compatibility with existing network devices.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present invention can be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or a combination of software and hardware. Moreover, the present invention is in the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage and optical storage, etc.) in which computer usable program code is embodied.

The present invention has been described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (system), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each process and/or block of the flowchart illustrations and/or FIG. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine for the execution of instructions for execution by a processor of a computer or other programmable data processing device. Means for implementing the functions specified in one or more of the flow or in a block or blocks of the flow chart.

The computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture comprising the instruction device. The apparatus implements the functions specified in one or more blocks of a flow or a flow and/or block diagram of the flowchart.

These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device such that a series of operational steps are performed on a computer or other programmable device to produce computer-implemented processing for execution on a computer or other programmable device. The instructions are provided for implementing one or more processes and/or block diagrams in the flowchart The steps of the function specified in the box or in multiple boxes.

It is apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and modifications of the invention

Claims

Rights request

A local IP access method for performing a LIPA connection handover preparation process, the method includes: the source home base station determines that the user equipment needs to perform a LIPA connection handover;

The method according to claim 1, wherein the source home base station performs a LIPA connection switching preparation process, including:

When the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover is a macro base station cell, the source home base station triggers the LGW to initiate a LIPA connection deactivation process by sending a notification message to the local gateway LGW.

When the source home base station determines that the LIPA connection deactivation process is completed, the handover preparation process is initiated by sending a request handover message to the core network management control entity according to the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol.

The method according to claim 1, wherein the source home base station performs a LIPA connection handover preparation process, including:

When the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover is a CSG cell, the source home base station initiates a handover preparation process by sending a request handover message to the core network management control entity.

The method according to claim 3, wherein the request handover message includes information for indicating to the core network management control entity whether the user equipment that needs to perform handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection.

The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the method further comprises:

During the handover preparation process, when the source home base station receives the packet data protocol PDP context deactivation operation instruction for the LIPA connection sent by the core network management control entity, or the evolved packet system EPS bearer deactivates the operation instruction, deactivates The LIPA connects and returns a response message to the core network management control entity.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

When the source home base station receives the handover preparation failure message sent by the core network management control entity, and the reason value carried therein is to deactivate the established LIPA connection, after completing the deactivation operation of the LIPA connection, passing to the core The network management control entity resends the request handover message and initiates the handover preparation process again.

A local IP access method for performing a LIPA connection handover preparation process, the method includes: the core network management control entity determines a type of a target base station cell according to a request handover message sent by the source home base station;

The method according to claim 7, wherein the core network management control entity performs a handover preparation process, including:

When the target base station cell is a macro base station cell, the core network management control entity continues to perform the handover preparation process according to the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol.

The method according to claim 7, wherein the core network management control entity performs a preparation process, including:

When the target base station cell is a CSG cell, the core network management control entity determines whether the user equipment that needs to perform cell switching between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection;

When the user equipment does not establish a LIPA connection, the core network management control entity continues to perform a handover preparation process for the user equipment according to the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol;

When the target CSG cell can maintain the established LIPA connection, the core network management control entity continues to perform the handover preparation process for the user equipment according to the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol.

The method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

When the target CSG cell is unable to maintain the established LIPA connection, the core network management control entity determines whether the established LIPA connection is a unique packet data network PDN connection of the user equipment, and if so, the core network management control entity goes Attaching the user equipment;

Otherwise, the core network management control entity deactivates the established LIPA connection and returns a handover preparation failure message and a cause value to the source home base station.

The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the core network management control entity determines whether the user equipment has established a LIPA connection, including:

The core network management control entity determines whether the request handover message sent by the source home base station carries information indicating whether the user equipment that needs to perform cell handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection, and if yes, determines that the information needs to be performed according to the information. Whether the user equipment of the cell handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection;

Otherwise, the core network management control entity queries the locally maintained user equipment context information, and determines whether the user equipment that needs to perform cell handover between the base stations establishes a LIPA connection according to the user equipment context information.

An apparatus for performing a local IP access LIPA connection switching preparation process, the apparatus comprising: a handover determining unit, configured to determine that a user equipment needs to perform a LIPA connection handover;

The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the handover preparation process execution unit comprises: a trigger deactivation unit, configured to: when the type determining unit determines, the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover is a macro base station cell When the notification message is sent to the local gateway LGW, the LGW is triggered to initiate the LIPA connection deactivation process;

An initiating unit, configured to manage the core network by determining when the LIPA connection deactivation process is completed The body sends a request handover message to initiate a handover preparation process.

The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the handover preparation process execution unit is further configured to: when the type determining unit determines that the target base station cell of the LIPA connection handover is a CSG cell, by managing to the core network The control entity sends a request handover message to initiate a handover preparation process.

The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the request handover message sent by the handover preparation process execution unit includes: indicating, by the core network management control entity, whether a user equipment that needs to perform inter-base station cell handover is established. There is information about the LIPA connection.

The device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the device further comprises:

a deactivation processing unit, configured to receive, during a handover preparation process, a packet data protocol PDP context deactivation operation instruction for a LIPA connection sent by a core network management control entity, or an evolved packet system EPS bearer deactivation operation instruction, Deactivate the LIPA connection and return a response message to the core network management control entity.

The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the deactivation processing unit is further configured to: when receiving a handover preparation failure message sent by a core network management control entity, and the cause value carried therein is indicated as deactivation When the established LIPA connection is completed, after the deactivation operation of the LIPA connection is performed, the handover preparation process is initiated again by resending the request handover message to the core network management control entity.

An apparatus for performing a local IP access LIPA connection handover preparation process, the apparatus comprising: a type determining unit, configured to determine a type of a target base station cell according to a request handover message sent by a source home base station; And a process execution unit, configured to perform a handover preparation process for the user equipment according to the type of the target base station cell.

The device according to claim 18, wherein the handover preparation process execution unit is specifically configured to:

When the type determining unit determines that the target base station cell is a macro base station cell, the handover preparation process continues to be performed in accordance with the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol.

The device according to claim 18, wherein the handover preparation process execution unit comprises: a first determining unit, configured to determine, when the type determining unit determines that the target base station cell is a CSG cell, Whether the user equipment switched between the cells establishes a LIPA connection;

And the execution unit is configured to continue to perform a handover preparation process for the user equipment according to the 3GPP TS 23.401 protocol when the user equipment does not establish a LIPA connection;

a second determining unit, configured to: when the user equipment establishes the LIPA connection, determine whether the target CSG cell can maintain the established LIPA connection; when the target CSG cell can maintain the established LIPA connection, trigger the continuation execution unit to follow the 3GPP The TS 23.401 protocol stipulates that the handover preparation process is continued for the user equipment, and the LIPA connection is switched.

The device according to claim 20, wherein the handover preparation process execution unit further includes Includes:

a third determining unit, configured to: when the target CSG cell is unable to maintain the established LIPA connection, determine whether the established LIPA connection is a PDN connection unique to the user equipment, and if yes, detach the user equipment; Otherwise, the established LIPA connection is deactivated and the handover preparation failure message and the cause value are returned to the source home base station.

The device according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the first determining unit is further configured to: determine whether the request handover message sent by the source home base station carries the indication that the inter-base station cell handover needs to be performed. Whether the user equipment establishes the information of the LIPA connection, and if so, whether the user equipment that needs to perform the inter-base station cell handover is established with the LIPA connection according to the information; otherwise, the local device user context information is queried, and the user equipment context information is determined. Whether a user equipment that needs to perform cell handover between base stations establishes a LIPA connection.