WO2014205779A1

WO2014205779A1 - Control method and device for rrc connection

Info

Publication number: WO2014205779A1
Application number: PCT/CN2013/078367
Authority: WO
Inventors: 曾清海; 张宏平; 王可; 郭轶
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2013-06-28
Filing date: 2013-06-28
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Also published as: CN104854952A; CN104854952B

Abstract

A control method and device for a release control connection of an RRC connection. The method comprises: when all the data of a user equipment (UE) is shunted to a wireless local area network (WLAN), and a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a radio access network device is maintained, the radio access network device in a cellular network receiving first information from the UE, the first information being used for the radio access network device to determine whether to release the RRC connection with the UE or not; according to the first information, determining whether to release the radio resource control (RRC) connection with the UE or not, and if so, then releasing the RRC connection with the UE; otherwise, continuously maintaining the RRC connection with the UE.

Description

Method and device for controlling RRC connection

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and a device for controlling an RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection. Background technique

With the increasing availability of mobile Internet services, the amount of data in wireless mobile communication networks has proliferated, but the network utilization of WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks) deployed by service providers is low. There are many types of WLANs, such as WiFi (Wireless Fidelity). In order to alleviate network congestion, the industry is currently considering the use of data offloading to offload some of the data in the wireless mobile network to the WLAN network. The specific mode of the traffic distribution is as follows: part of the service data of the UE (User Equipment) or all service data is transmitted by using the WLAN.

A WLAN is used for the offloading scheme of the mobile network. One of the more common schemes is the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) RAN (Radio Access Network) device to determine whether to offload the scheme. The details are as follows: The UE first accesses the RAN, and then the RAN decides whether to offload the UE to the WLAN according to the service type of the UE and the load of the current RAN. After all traffic is offloaded to the WLAN, the RAN may also need to decide to roll back the UE to the 3GPP RAN when the WLAN signal is degraded or the WLAN load becomes heavy.

However, the existing mechanism does not involve a technical solution for how the UE reverts back to the RAN or disconnects from the RAN when all UE services are offloaded to the WLAN. For example, if the UE is disconnected from the RAN, if the UE is not disconnected from the RAN in time, the UE consumes power and occupies unnecessary resources. For another example, if the UE needs to switch back to the RAN, if the UE is not connected to the RAN, the user experience will be affected. Summary of the invention

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method and a device for controlling an RRC connection, which are used to provide an RRC connection between a UE and an access network device to implement UE rollback to the RAN, and control the release of the RRC connection. Put and stay connected.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a method for controlling an RRC connection, including: when all data of a user equipment UE is offloaded to a WLAN of a wireless local area network, and maintaining a radio resource control RRC connection with a radio access network device The radio access network device in the cellular network receives first information from the UE; the first information is used by the radio access network device to determine whether to release an RRC connection with the UE;

Determining whether to release the radio resource control RRC connection with the UE according to the first information, and if yes, releasing an RRC connection with the UE; otherwise, continuing to maintain an RRC connection with the UE.

In conjunction with the implementation of the first aspect, in a first possible implementation, before the radio access network device receives the first information from the UE, the method further includes:

After the timeout for determining the timer for releasing the RRC connection maintained by the radio access network device, a message is sent to the UE asking whether the RRC connection needs to be released.

With reference to the first aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, the first information includes:

The indication information that the UE is offloaded to the WLAN service of the WLAN, the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or the indication information that there is no data transmission in the set time period between the UE and the WLAN, the indication information is used to determine release RRC connection; or, the UE and the access point AP of the WLAN have disconnected or do not continue the indication information for transmitting data at the AP, and the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection.

In conjunction with the implementation of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, before the receiving, by the radio access network device, the first information from the user equipment UE, the method further includes: sending, to the UE, the radio access network equipment maintenance The duration of the timer used to determine the release of the RRC connection;

The first information includes: any user data that is sent by the UE for a long time, and the arbitrary user data causes the timer maintained by the radio access network device to determine to release the RRC connection to restart.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for controlling an RRC connection, including: a user equipment UE establishes a radio resource control RRC connection with a radio access network device in a cellular network, and maintains the RRC connection; When all the data of the UE is offloaded by the radio access network device to the WLAN, the UE monitors the data transmission status with the WLAN;

Sending, to the radio access network device, first information, where the data transmission status is displayed as no data transmission or no data transmission, where the first information is used to determine information about releasing the radio resource control RRC connection; The data transmission status is displayed as having data transmission or data transmission requirements, and the first information is information for determining to maintain the radio resource control RRC connection.

With the implementation of the second aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, before the sending the first information to the radio access network device, the method further includes:

Receiving a message from the radio access network device whether to release the RRC connection message, after receiving the message asking whether the RRC connection needs to be released, transmitting the first information to the radio access network device.

With reference to the second aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in the second possible implementation manner, the first information includes:

The indication information that the UE is offloaded to the WLAN service of the WLAN, the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or the indication information that there is no data transmission in the set time period between the UE and the WLAN, the indication information is used to determine release RRC connection; or, the UE and the access point AP of the WLAN have disconnected or do not continue the indication information for transmitting data in the AP, and the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection.

With the implementation of the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, before the sending the first information to the radio access network device, the method further includes: receiving, by the radio access network device, The duration of the RRC connected timer;

The first information includes: any user data sent within the duration, the arbitrary user data causing the timer maintained by the radio access network device to determine to release the RRC connection to restart.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a radio access network device, including: a receiving unit, configured to: when all data of a user equipment UE is offloaded to a WLAN

WLAN, and maintaining a radio resource control RRC connection with the radio access network device, receiving first information from the UE; the first information being used by the radio access network device to determine whether to release the UE Between RRC connections; the radio access network device is in a cellular network;

a control unit, configured to determine, according to the first information received by the receiving unit, whether to release the The radio resource between the UEs controls the RRC connection. If the determination is yes, the RRC connection with the UE is released; otherwise, the RRC connection with the UE is continued.

With the implementation of the third aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, the radio access network device further includes:

a sending unit, configured to send an inquiry to the UE after a timeout for determining, by the radio access network device, a timer for releasing an RRC connection, before the receiving unit receives the first information from the UE Whether to release the RRC connection message.

With reference to the third aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, the receiving unit is specifically configured to receive:

The UE diverts the indication information that the service of the WLAN to the WLAN has ended, and the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or

The UE and the WLAN set the indication information that there is no data transmission in the time period, and the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or

The AP and the WLAN access point AP have disconnected or not continued to transmit indication information on the AP, and the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection.

In conjunction with the implementation of the third aspect, in a third possible implementation, the radio access network device further includes:

And a sending unit, configured to send, to the UE, a duration that is maintained by the radio access network device to determine a timer for releasing the RRC connection, before the receiving unit receives the first information from the UE;

The receiving unit is specifically configured to receive any user data that is sent by the UE for a long time, and the arbitrary user data causes the timer maintained by the radio access network device to determine to release the RRC connection to restart.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a user equipment, including:

a connecting unit, configured to establish a radio resource control RRC connection between the user equipment UE and the radio access network device in the cellular network, and maintain the RRC connection;

a monitoring unit, configured to monitor a data transmission status of the WLAN with the WLAN when all the data of the UE is offloaded by the radio access network device to the WLAN;

a sending unit, configured to display, if the data transmission status monitored by the monitoring unit is no data transmission Or transmitting the first information to the radio access network device, where the first information is used to determine information about releasing the radio resource control RRC connection; if the data transmission status monitored by the monitoring unit is displayed For the purpose of having data transmission or data transmission, the first information is information for determining to maintain the radio resource control RRC connection.

With the implementation of the fourth aspect, in the first possible implementation, the user equipment further includes:

The receiving unit is configured to receive, after the sending unit sends the first information to the radio access network device, a message from the radio access network device whether the RRC connection needs to be released.

With reference to the fourth aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, in the second possible implementation manner, the sending unit is specifically configured to send:

With reference to the implementation of the fourth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the user equipment further includes:

a receiving unit, configured to receive, before the sending unit sends the first information to the radio access network device, a duration that is used by the radio access network device to determine a timer for releasing an RRC connection; Specifically, the method is configured to send any user data within a duration received by the receiving unit, where the arbitrary user data causes the timer maintained by the radio access network device to determine to release the RRC connection to restart.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides an access network device, including: a receiving device and a processor, where the receiving device is configured to: when all data of the user equipment UE is offloaded to a wireless local area network

The processor, configured to determine, according to the first information received by the receiving device, whether to release the The radio resource between the UEs controls the RRC connection. If the determination is yes, the RRC connection with the UE is released; otherwise, the RRC connection with the UE is continued.

With reference to the implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in the first possible implementation manner, the access network device further includes:

a transmitting device, configured to send, after the timeout of the timer for determining the release of the RRC connection, that is maintained by the radio access network device, before the receiving device receives the first information from the user equipment, Release the message of the RRC connection.

With reference to the fifth aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, the receiving device is specifically configured to receive:

With reference to the implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the access network device further includes:

a transmitting device, configured to send, to the UE, a duration of the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining to release an RRC connection, before the receiving device receives the first information from the UE;

The receiving device is specifically configured to receive any user data that is sent by the UE for a long time, and the arbitrary user data causes the timer maintained by the radio access network device to determine to release the RRC connection to restart.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a user equipment, including: a receiving device, a transmitting device, and a processor, where

The processor is configured to establish, by the receiving device and the transmitting device, a RRC connection between the user equipment UE and the radio access network device in the cellular network, and maintain the RRC connection; all data in the UE When the wireless access network device is offloaded to the WLAN of the wireless local area network, the data transmission status of the WLAN with the wireless local area network is monitored; The transmitting device is configured to send first information to the radio access network device if the data transmission status monitored by the processor is displayed as no data transmission or no data transmission, where the first information is used by the first information. Determining to release the radio resource control RRC connection information; if the data transmission status monitored by the processor is displayed as having data transmission or data transmission requirement, the first information is used to determine to maintain the radio resource control RRC connection Information.

With the implementation of the sixth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner, the receiving device is further configured to receive, before the transmitting device sends the first information to the radio access network device, Whether the inquiry of the access network device needs to release the message of the RRC connection.

With reference to the sixth aspect, or the first possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, the transmitting device is specifically configured to send:

With the implementation of the sixth aspect, in a third possible implementation, the receiving device is configured to receive the wireless access before the sending device sends the first information to the radio access network device The duration of the timer maintained by the network device for determining the release of the RRC connection;

The transmitting device is specifically configured to send any user data within the duration, where the arbitrary user data causes the timer maintained by the radio access network device to determine to release the RRC connection to restart.

As can be seen from the above technical solution, the present invention can implement the UE to fall back to the RAN by maintaining an RRC connection between the UE and the radio access network device; and the UE can provide information about whether the RRC connection needs to be maintained, and can be needed. The RRC connection is maintained, and the RRC connection is released in time when not needed, thereby ensuring that the UE can fall back to the 3GPP RAN, and avoid unnecessary battery consumption and occupation of the RAN side resources of the UE. DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following description will be made on the embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings in the following description are merely illustrative of some embodiments of the present invention, and may be used by those skilled in the art without creative labor. Other figures are obtained from these figures.

1 is a schematic flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a schematic flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a schematic flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a schematic flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a schematic structural diagram of a radio access network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a schematic structural diagram of a radio access network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

12A is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

12B is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

13 is a schematic structural diagram of a radio access network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. detailed description

The present invention will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts are within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a method for controlling an RRC connection. The method in this embodiment can be implemented in a wireless access network device. As shown in FIG. 1, the method includes:

101: When the entire data of the user equipment UE is offloaded to the WLAN and maintains a radio resource control RRC connection with the radio access network device, the radio access network device in the cellular network receives the UE from the UE. First information; the first information is used for the foregoing wireless access The network device determines whether to release the RRC connection with the UE.

The above-mentioned radio access network device is a device in which a UE accesses a network in a cellular network, and different wireless networks may correspond to different radio access network devices, for example: in a 3G system, the radio access network device may be an RNC; The radio access network device in the system may be an eNB, and a person skilled in the art may determine which specific physical device the radio access network device corresponding to the different wireless network corresponds to, and the specific entity corresponding to the radio access network device in the embodiment of the present invention No specific limitation.

In addition, a base station (e.g., an access point) can refer to a device (e.g., a UE having a wireless communication function) that communicates with a wireless terminal over one or more sectors on an air interface in an access network. The base station can be used to convert the received air frame with an IP (Internet Protocol) packet as a router between the wireless terminal and the rest of the access network, wherein the rest of the access network can include an IP network. The base station can also coordinate attribute management of the air interface. For example, the base station may be a base station (BTS, Base Transceiver Station) in GSM or CDMA, or a base station (NodeB) in WCDMA, or an evolved base station in LTE (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB, evolutional Node B), the invention is not limited.

Optionally, the foregoing first information may be sent by the UE. The embodiment of the present invention further provides another manner for the UE to send the first information, as follows: The first information of the UE is received by the radio access network device. The method further includes: after the timeout for determining the timer for releasing the RRC connection maintained by the radio access network device, sending a message to the UE to query whether the RRC connection needs to be released.

In this embodiment, the method of sending and querying by the radio access network device may be used to enable the UE to send the first information only before the radio access network device needs to determine whether to release the RRC connection, so as to avoid unnecessary first information transmission. Reduce the amount of information sent.

The first information may be an instruction to release the RRC connection, or may be an information basis for indicating whether the RRC connection needs to be released. If the RRC connection is released, the decision whether to release the RRC connection is made by the UE, if Indicates whether the information basis of the RRC connection needs to be released, and whether the decision to release the RRC connection is made by the wireless access device. Whether the UE or the WLAN connection is required to release the RRC connection, the basis for the judgment is required. The basis for the determination may be: whether there is data transmission between the UE and the WLAN or whether there is a need for data transmission. For example, the service that the UE branches off to the WLAN of the WLAN has ended; or, there is no data transmission within the set time period between the UE and the WLAN; or, the UE is connected to the WLAN. If the ingress AP has disconnected or does not continue to transmit data on the AP, it can indicate that there is no data transmission or no data transmission between the UE and the WLAN. There may be many possibilities for information about whether there is data transmission between the UE and the WLAN, or whether there is a need for data transmission. This embodiment of the present invention cannot be exhaustive, so whether there is data transmission or whether there is data transmission between the above UE and the WLAN. The examples of the information of the requirements are not to be construed as limiting the embodiments of the invention.

The foregoing example of the first information is used by the wireless access device to determine whether to release the RRC connection. The embodiment of the present invention further provides an optional implementation manner of whether the RRC connection is released by the UE. The radio access network device is configured to send the related information to the radio access network device. The specific information may be as follows: Before the radio access network device receives the first information from the user equipment UE, the method further includes: sending, to the UE, the UE The duration of the timer for determining the release of the RRC connection maintained by the radio access network device; the first information includes: any user data that is sent by the UE for a long period of time, and the foregoing any user data enables the radio access network device The maintained timer for determining to release the RRC connection is restarted. Since the timer on the device side of the radio access network is restarted, the RRC will not be released, and the RRC connection will be maintained before the next timeout of the RRC. In addition, it can be understood that if the UE does not send any user data, the timer of the radio access network device side that determines to release the RRC connection will time out, and the RRC connection will be released, if the UE does not send any user data equivalent to the UE. Decided to release the RRC connection.

In this embodiment, the manner in which the radio access network device sends the timer is used to facilitate the time for the UE to send any user data and the duration of the timer, and ensure that any user data can reach the radio access network device. It is possible to reduce the amount of data sent.

Subsequent embodiments will provide a more detailed illustration of the alternatives of the first few messages described above and when the first message is sent.

Step 102: Determine, according to the foregoing first information, whether to release a radio resource control RRC connection with the UE, and if yes, release an RRC connection with the UE; otherwise, continue to maintain an RRC connection with the UE.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the UE is backed up to the RAN by maintaining the RRC connection between the UE and the radio access network device; and the UE provides information about whether the RRC connection needs to be maintained, and the RRC connection can be maintained when needed. The RRC connection is released in time when not needed, thereby ensuring that the UE can fall back to the 3GPP RAN, and avoid unnecessary battery consumption and RAN side resources of the UE. use.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides another RRC connection control method. The method in this embodiment can be implemented in the UE. As shown in FIG. 2, the method includes:

201: The user equipment UE establishes a radio resource control RRC connection with the radio access network equipment in the cellular network, and maintains the foregoing RRC connection.

202: When all the data of the foregoing UE is offloaded by the foregoing radio access network device to the WLAN, the UE monitors the data transmission status with the WLAN.

The foregoing data transmission status is information for knowing whether there is a data transmission between the UE and the WLAN, or whether there is a need for data transmission, for example, the service that the UE branches to the WLAN of the WLAN has ended; or, the time is set between the UE and the WLAN. There is no data transmission in the segment; or, the access point AP of the UE and the WLAN has been disconnected or does not continue to transmit data on the AP, and both may indicate that there is no data transmission or no data transmission between the UE and the WLAN. There may be many possibilities for information about whether there is data transmission between the UE and the WLAN, or whether there is a need for data transmission. This embodiment of the present invention cannot be exhaustive, so whether there is data transmission or whether there is data transmission between the above UE and the WLAN. The examples of the information of the requirements are not to be construed as limiting the embodiments of the invention.

203: If the data transmission status is displayed as a data transmission or no data transmission requirement, send the first information to the radio access network device, where the first information is used to determine information about releasing the radio resource control RRC connection; The data transmission status is displayed as having data transmission or data transmission requirements, and the first information is information for determining to maintain the radio resource control RRC connection.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the RRC connection between the UE and the radio access network device is maintained.

The UE retreats to the RAN; and the UE provides information about whether the RRC connection needs to be maintained, can maintain the RRC connection when needed, and release the RRC connection when not needed, thereby ensuring that the UE can fall back to the 3GPP RAN and avoid Unnecessary battery consumption of the UE and occupation of resources on the RAN side.

Optionally, the foregoing first information may be sent by the UE, and the method of the present invention further provides another manner for the UE to send the first information, where the method further includes: before sending the first information to the radio access network device. The method further includes: receiving a message from the radio access network device whether the RRC connection needs to be released, and sending the first information to the radio access network device after receiving the message that the RRC connection needs to be released. In this embodiment, the method of sending and querying by the radio access network device may be used to enable the UE to send the first information only before the radio access network device needs to determine whether to release the RRC connection, so as to avoid unnecessary first information transmission. Reduce the amount of information sent.

The foregoing information is used to learn information about whether there is a data transmission or a data transmission requirement between the UE and the WLAN. Optionally, the foregoing information includes: the service that the UE branches to the WLAN. The indication information is used to determine the release of the RRC connection; or, the UE and the WLAN set the indication information that there is no data transmission in the time period, the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or, the UE and the WLAN The access point AP has disconnected or does not continue to transmit indication information of the data on the AP, and the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection.

Optionally, the embodiment of the present invention further provides another manner of determining whether to release the RRC connection by the UE, as follows: Before the sending the first information to the radio access network device, the method further includes: receiving the radio access network. The length of time for determining the timer for releasing the RRC connection maintained by the device; the foregoing first information includes: any user data sent within the foregoing duration, where the arbitrary user data is used by the radio access network device to determine to release the RRC connection. The timer restarts. Since the timer on the device side of the radio access network is restarted, the RRC will not be released, and the RRC connection will remain until the next timeout of the RRC. In addition, it can be understood that if the UE does not send any user data, the timer of the radio access network device side that determines to release the RRC connection will time out, and the RRC connection will be released, if the UE does not send any user data equivalent to the UE. Decided to release the RRC connection.

The foregoing embodiments will be further described below by giving examples of five possible implementations. In the following examples, the 3GPP RAN may be an eNB or an RNC, which is not limited by the embodiment of the present invention. The WLAN device may be a WLAN AP (Access Point).

Example 1:

This embodiment mainly solves the solution of RRC connection release. The main idea is that after the end of the user's service, the UE reports the indication information to the RAN, and notifies the RAN user that the service has ended; thereby triggering the RAN to release the RRC connection between the UE and the RAN. Please refer to Figure 3, the specific process is as follows: 301: The UE initiates access in the 3GPP and accesses the 3GPP RAN.

302: The RAN decides to offload the UE to the WLAN AP by using a measurement report or the like.

303: The UE accesses the WLAN AP and performs data transmission; at this time, the RRC connection between the 3GPP RAN and the UE remains unreleased.

304: After the user's service ends, the UE reports the indication information to the RAN, and notifies the RAN user that the service has ended.

For example, if the user downloads a file and the file is downloaded, the UE >3⁄4 RRC message is sent to the RAN. The RRC message carries the indication information, which is used to indicate that the user's service has ended. In more detail, all the services of the user have been terminated.

The foregoing RRC message may be a newly introduced RRC message, or may be an existing RRC message. For example, the RAN indicates that the user monitors the user service in the measurement configuration, and the UE reports the information through the measurement report to notify the RAN that the user service has ended.

305: After receiving the indication information, the RAN sends an RRC connection release (RRC connection release) message to the UE to release the RRC connection.

Example 2:

This embodiment is mainly to solve another solution of RRC connection release. The main idea is to start the first timer to monitor the data transmission situation of the UE on the WLAN after the UE service is offloaded to the WLAN. If there is data transmission, restart the first timer. If the first timer expires (ie, there is no data transmission during the period of the first timer), it is determined that there is no data transmission between the UE and the WLAN, and the data transmission is inactive; the UE reports the indication information to the RAN, and notifies the RAN user that the data is inactive. There is no data transmission in the time; thus triggering the RAN to release the RRC connection between the UE and the RAN. Please refer to Figure 4, the specific process is as follows:

401: The UE initiates access in the 3GPP and accesses the 3GPP RAN.

402: The RAN decides to offload the UE to the WLAN AP by using a measurement report or the like. 403: The UE accesses the WLAN AP and performs data transmission; at this time, the RRC connection between the 3GPP RAN and the UE remains unreleased.

404: The UE starts the first timer, starts timing, and detects whether data transmission is performed between the UE and the WLAN AP. If data transmission is performed, the first timer is restarted. If no data transmission is detected, the detection continues. Until the first timer expires.

The duration of the first timer may be sent by the RAN to the UE, for example, the duration command of the first timer is carried in the offload command, or the duration information of the first timer is carried in the measurement configuration. The duration of the first timer timer may also be a time value configured to be less than or equal to the duration of the timer on the RAN side. How to obtain the duration of the first timer is not limited in the embodiment of the present invention.

405: After the first timer expires, the UE reports an RRC message to the RAN, where the RRC message carries indication information, and is used to indicate that the user does not send data within a specified time.

This step is specifically: During a period of time (exactly, during the duration of the first timer), there is no data transmission between the UE and the WLAN AP, and the first timer expires, indicating that the user is inactive in data transmission. status. The UE reports the RRC message to the RAN, and the RRC message carries the indication information, which is used to indicate that the user does not send data within the specified time.

The foregoing RRC message may be a newly introduced RRC message, or may be an existing RRC message. For example, the RAN indicates that the user monitors data transmission in the measurement configuration and/or carries the first timer duration, and the UE reports the information through the measurement report. Notify RAN "User has no data to send within the specified time".

406: After receiving the foregoing indication information, the RAN sends an RRC connection release (RRC connection release) message to the UE to release the RRC connection.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the UE is backed up to the RAN by maintaining the RRC connection between the UE and the radio access network device; and the UE provides information about whether the RRC connection needs to be maintained, and the RRC connection can be maintained when needed. The RRC connection is released in time when not needed, thereby ensuring that the UE can fall back to the 3GPP RAN, and avoid unnecessary battery consumption and occupation of resources on the RAN side of the UE.

Example three:

This embodiment is mainly to solve another solution of RRC connection release. The main idea is that UE and After the previous AP is disconnected, the UE reports the indication information to the RAN, and notifies the RAN that the RAN UE has disconnected or no longer transmits data on the current AP; thereby triggering the RAN to release the RRC connection between the UE and the RAN. Please refer to Figure 5, the specific process is as follows:

501: The UE initiates access in the 3GPP and accesses the 3GPP RAN.

502: The RAN decides to offload the UE to the WLAN AP by using a measurement report or the like.

503: The UE accesses the WLAN AP and performs data transmission; at this time, the RRC connection between the 3GPP RAN and the UE remains unreleased.

504: Detect whether the UE is disconnected from the currently connected AP. If yes, go to the next step, if not continue to test.

There are more than four possibilities for the UE to disconnect from the currently connected AP. For example, the UE returns to the home from the public area. At this time, the current AP can be disconnected, and then the home WLAN AP is used for data transmission to save money.

505: The UE reports an RRC message to the RAN, where the RRC message carries the indication information, and is used to indicate that the UE has disconnected in the current AP or no longer performs data transmission on the current AP.

The foregoing RRC message may be a newly introduced RRC message, or may be an existing RRC message. For example, the RAN indicates that the user reports the information when disconnected from the AP in the measurement configuration, and the UE reports the information to notify the RAN by using the measurement report. Disconnected in the current AP."

506: After receiving the indication information, the RAN sends an RRC connection release (RRC connection release) message to the UE to release the RRC connection.

Example four:

This embodiment mainly solves the problem that the RRC connection may be released early. The main idea is that the RAN does not immediately release the RRC connection after the user deactivation timer expires, but sends an inquiry message to the UE to obtain the current state of the UE to decide whether to release the RRC connection. As shown in Figure 6, the following steps are included: 601: The UE initiates access in the 3GPP and accesses the 3GPP RAN.

602: The RAN decides to offload the UE to the WLAN AP by using a measurement report or the like.

603: The UE accesses the WLAN AP and performs data transmission; at this time, between the 3GPP RAN and the UE

The RRC connection remains unreleased.

604: The user deactivation timer expires on the RAN side, and the RRC connection is not released temporarily (the current technology is to release the RRC connection after the timer expires), and an RRC message is sent to the UE to query whether the UE should release the RRC connection. Specifically, it may be asking whether the UE is still using WLAN for data transmission.

605: The UE replies with a response message to the RAN, and carries an indication message indicating whether the RRC connection needs to be released. For example: Indicates if the WLAN is still being used for data transfer.

606: If the RAN receives the indication information in the UE response message indicating that the WLAN is no longer used for data transmission, or does not receive the response message within a certain time, the RAN sends an RRC connection release (RRC connection release) message to the UE. Release the RRC connection. It can be understood that, in this step, if the RAN receives the indication information in the UE response message indicating that the WLAN is still being used for data transmission, the user is restarted to deactivate the timer. It can be understood that step 606 only performs one of the dotted lines shown in FIG. 6.

In addition, there is also a scheme in which the RAN side does not use the user deactivation timer to trigger the transmission of the RRC message in the second step, but a new timer instead, such as the second timer. The user deactivation timer used in the background art is set to be infinitely long, or the user is no longer set to deactivate the timer, or to invalidate it.

Example 5:

This embodiment is mainly to solve another problem that may exist in the early release of the RRC connection. The main idea is that the UE actively reports the activity status information (or triggers sending user data) to the RAN. After receiving the user data, the RAN restarts the user to activate the timer, thereby preventing the RAN from being released early. RRC connection. Optionally, the RAN notifies the UE of the duration of the user deactivation timer, so that the UE knows when it should be sent. The main difference between this embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that the fourth instance is a RAN query, and the embodiment is that the UE actively correlates information.

701: The UE initiates access in the 3GPP and accesses the 3GPP RAN.

702: The RAN decides to offload the UE to the WLAN AP by using a measurement report or the like.

703: The UE accesses the WLAN AP and performs data transmission; at this time, the RRC connection between the 3GPP RAN and the UE remains unreleased.

On the RAN side, the user deactivation timer is maintained. After the user deactivates the timer timeout, the RRC connection will be released. The duration of the time when the user deactivates the timer can be sent to the UE by the RAN. For example, the user divides the duration information of the user to activate the timer in the offload command. Alternatively, the UE can manually configure a timer that is less than or equal to the user deactivation timer. The duration of the time is given to the UE, and it is only necessary for the UE to know when the user deactivation timer on the RAN side will time out.

704: The UE determines whether it is necessary to release the RRC connection with the RAN. If no release is required, the process proceeds to the next step 705; if release is required, no processing may be performed. It can be understood that if no processing is performed, the user deactivation timer on the RAN side will time out and the RRC connection will be released.

705: Before the user deactivation timer expires on the RAN side, the UE sends an RRC message to report the activity status information to the RAN, or triggers sending any user data to the RAN.

In this step, the UE may periodically send an RRC message or any user data, and the period of time is less than the duration of the user deactivation timer. The foregoing RRC message may be a newly introduced RRC message, or may be an existing RRC message. For example, the RAN indicates that the UE periodically reports active status information in the measurement configuration, and the UE reports the information to notify the RAN of the active status of the UE by using the measurement report. information".

706: If the RAN receives the foregoing RRC message or user data packet before the user deactivation timer expires, restart the deactivation timer, otherwise the RAN sends an RRC connection release (RRC connection release) message to the UE to release the RRC connection. It can be understood that step 706 only performs one of the dotted lines shown in FIG.

In addition, there is also a solution in which the RAN side does not use the user to activate the timer, but uses a new timer instead, such as the second timer. The user can be deactivated to timer the timer The duration is set to infinitely long, or the user is no longer set to deactivate the timer, or the user deactivation timer is invalid.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides another radio access network device. As shown in FIG. 8, the method includes: a receiving unit 801, configured to: when the user equipment UE is all data is offloaded to the WLAN, and maintain the wireless connection Receiving, by the RRC connection between the network access devices, the first information from the UE; the first information being used by the radio access network device to determine whether to release an RRC connection with the UE; the radio access network device In a cellular network;

The control unit 802 is configured to determine, according to the first information received by the receiving unit 801, whether to release the RRC connection with the UE, and if yes, release the RRC connection with the UE; otherwise, continue to maintain RRC connection between the above UEs.

Further, the foregoing first information may be sent by the UE. The embodiment of the present invention further provides another manner for the UE to send the first information, as follows: As shown in FIG. 9, the foregoing radio access network device further includes :

The sending unit 901 is configured to send, after the timeout of the timer for determining the release of the RRC connection, that is maintained by the radio access network device before the receiving unit 801 receives the first information from the UE, whether the request is needed Release the message of the RRC connection.

In this embodiment, the method of sending and querying by the radio access network device may be used to enable the UE to send the first information only before the radio access network device needs to determine whether to release the RRC connection, so as to avoid unnecessary first information transmission. Reduce the amount of information sent. Optionally, the receiving unit 801 is specifically configured to receive: indication information that the UE is offloaded to the WLAN of the WLAN, where the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or

The AP and the WLAN access point AP have disconnected or do not continue to transmit data indication information at the AP, and the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the foregoing radio access network device further includes:

The sending unit 901 is configured to send, to the UE, the duration of the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining to release the RRC connection, before the receiving unit 801 receives the first information from the UE.

The receiving unit 801 is specifically configured to receive any user data that is sent by the UE for a long period of time, and the arbitrary user data restarts a timer for determining to release the RRC connection maintained by the radio access network device. Since the timer on the device side of the radio access network is restarted, the RRC will not be released, and the RRC connection will remain until the next timeout of the RRC. In addition, it can be understood that if the UE does not send any user data, the timer of the radio access network device side that determines to release the RRC connection will time out, and the RRC connection will be released, if the UE does not send any user data equivalent to the UE. Decided to release the RRC connection.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a user equipment, as shown in FIG. 10, including:

The connecting unit 1001 is configured to establish a radio resource control RRC connection between the user equipment UE and the radio access network device in the cellular network, and maintain the foregoing RRC connection;

The monitoring unit 1002 is configured to monitor a data transmission status of the WLAN with the wireless local area network (WLAN) when all the data of the UE is offloaded by the wireless access network device to the WLAN. The sending unit 1003 is configured to: if the monitoring unit 1002 monitors Sending the first information to the radio access network device, where the data transmission status is displayed as no data transmission or no data transmission, where the first information is used to determine information about releasing the radio resource control RRC connection; The data transmission status monitored by the 1002 is displayed as having data transmission or data transmission requirements, and the first information is used to determine information for maintaining the radio resource control RRC connection.

Further, the foregoing first information may be sent by the UE. The embodiment of the present invention further provides another manner for the UE to send the first information, as follows: As shown in FIG. 11, the user equipment further includes:

The receiving unit 1101 is configured to receive, after the sending unit 1003 sends the first information to the radio access network device, a message from the radio access network device whether the RRC connection needs to be released.

Optionally, the sending unit 1003 is specifically configured to send:

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the foregoing user equipment further includes:

The receiving unit 1101 is configured to receive, before the sending unit 1003 sends the first information to the radio access network device, a duration of the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining to release the RRC connection;

The transmitting unit 1003 is specifically configured to send any user data in the duration received by the receiving unit 1101, and the arbitrary user data restarts a timer for determining to release the RRC connection maintained by the radio access network device. Since the timer on the device side of the radio access network is restarted, then RRC is Will not be released, the RRC connection will remain until the next timeout of RRC. In addition, it can be understood that if the UE does not send any user data, the timer of the radio access network device side that determines to release the RRC connection will time out, and the RRC connection will be released, if the UE does not send any user data equivalent to the UE. Decided to release the RRC connection.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides another access network device, as shown in FIG. 12A, including: a receiving device 1201 and a processor 1203;

The receiving device 1201 is configured to receive first information from the UE when all data of the user equipment UE is offloaded to the WLAN and maintain a radio resource control RRC connection with the radio access network device; A message is used by the foregoing radio access network device to determine whether to release an RRC connection with the UE; the radio access network device is in a cellular network;

The processor 1203 is configured to determine, according to the first information received by the receiving device 1201, whether to release the RRC connection with the UE, and if yes, release the RRC connection with the UE; otherwise, continue to maintain An RRC connection with the above UE.

Further, the foregoing first information may be sent by the UE. The embodiment of the present invention further provides another manner for the UE to send the first information, as follows: As shown in FIG. 12B, the method further includes: a transmitting device 1202;

The transmitting device 1202 is configured to send, after the timeout of the timer for determining the release of the RRC connection that is maintained by the radio access network device, before the receiving device 1201 receives the first information from the user equipment UE, whether the request is needed Release the message of the RRC connection.

In this embodiment, the method of sending and querying by the radio access network device may be used to enable the UE to send the first information only before the radio access network device needs to determine whether to release the RRC connection, so as to avoid The necessary first information is sent to reduce the amount of information sent.

Optionally, the receiving device 1201 is specifically configured to receive:

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 12B, the access network device further includes a transmitting device 1202.

The transmitting device 1202 is configured to send, to the UE, the duration of the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining to release the RRC connection, before the receiving device 1201 receives the first information from the UE.

The receiving device 1201 is specifically configured to receive any user data that is sent by the UE for a long period of time, and the arbitrary user data restarts a timer for determining to release the RRC connection maintained by the radio access network device.

Since the timer on the device side of the radio access network is restarted, the RRC will not be released, and the RRC connection will remain until the next timeout of the RRC. In addition, it can be understood that if the UE does not send any user data, the timer of the radio access network device side that determines to release the RRC connection will time out, and the RRC connection will be released, if the UE does not send any user data equivalent to the UE. Decided to release the RRC connection.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides another user equipment, as shown in FIG. 13, including: a receiving device 1301, a transmitting device 1302, and a processor 1303;

The processor 1303 is configured to establish, by the receiving device 1301 and the transmitting device 1302, a radio resource control RRC connection between the user equipment UE and a radio access network device in the cellular network, and maintain the foregoing RRC connection; When the wireless access network device is offloaded to the WLAN of the wireless local area network, the data transmission status of the WLAN with the wireless local area network is monitored;

The transmitting device 1302 is configured to display a data transmission status monitored by the processor 1303. And transmitting, to the foregoing radio access network device, the first information, where the first information is used to determine information for releasing the radio resource control RRC connection; if the data transmission monitored by the processor 1303 is performed, The status is displayed as having data transmission or data transmission requirements, and the first information is information for determining to maintain the radio resource control RRC connection.

Optionally, the foregoing first information may be sent by the UE. The embodiment of the present invention further provides another manner for the UE to send the first information, as follows: The receiving device 1301 is configured to send the foregoing to the transmitting device 1302. Before transmitting the first information, the radio access network device receives a message from the radio access network device whether the RRC connection needs to be released.

Optionally, the foregoing sending device 1302 is specifically configured to send:

Optionally, the receiving device 1301 is configured to receive, before the sending device 1302 sends the first information to the radio access network device, a duration that is used by the radio access network device to determine a timer for releasing the RRC connection;

The transmitting device 1302 is specifically configured to send any user data in the foregoing duration, where the arbitrary user data causes the timer maintained by the radio access network device to determine to release the RRC connection to restart. Since the timer on the device side of the radio access network is restarted, RRC will not be released, under RRC. The RRC connection will remain until a timeout occurs. In addition, it can be understood that if the UE does not send any user data, the timer of the radio access network device side that determines to release the RRC connection will time out, and the RRC connection will be released, if the UE does not send any user data equivalent to the UE. Decided to release the RRC connection.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a user equipment. As shown in FIG. 14, for the convenience of description, only parts related to the embodiment of the present invention are shown. If the specific technical details are not disclosed, please refer to the method part of the embodiment of the present invention. The user equipment can be any terminal device including a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a POS (Point of Sales), an in-vehicle computer, and the terminal is a mobile phone as an example:

Figure 14 is a block diagram showing a portion of the structure of a mobile phone associated with a terminal provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 14, the mobile phone includes: a radio frequency (RF) circuit 1410, a memory 1420, an input unit 1430, a display unit 1440, a sensor 1450, an audio circuit 1460, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) module 1470, and a processor 1480. And power supply 1490 and other components. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the structure of the handset shown in Figure 14 does not constitute a limitation to the handset, and may include more or fewer components than those illustrated, or some components may be combined, or different components may be arranged.

The following describes the components of the mobile phone in detail with reference to FIG. 14:

The RF circuit 1410 can be used for receiving and transmitting signals during the transmission or reception of information or during a call. Specifically, after receiving the downlink information of the base station, the processor 1480 processes the data. In addition, the uplink data is designed to be sent to the base station. Generally, RF circuits include, but are not limited to, an antenna, at least one amplifier, a transceiver, a coupler, a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), a duplexer, and the like. In addition, RF circuitry 140 can also communicate with the network and other devices via wireless communication. The above wireless communication may use any communication standard or protocol, including but not limited to Global System of Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and code division multiple access ( Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), E-mail, Short Messaging Service (SMS), etc. The memory 1420 can be used to store software programs and modules, and the processor 1480 executes various functional applications and data processing of the mobile phone by running software programs and modules stored in the memory 1420. The memory 1420 may mainly include a storage program area and a storage data area, wherein the storage program area may store an operating system, an application required for at least one function (such as a sound playing function, an image playing function, etc.), and the like; the storage data area may be stored according to Data created by the use of the mobile phone (such as audio data, phone book, etc.). Moreover, memory 1420 can include high speed random access memory, and can also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one magnetic disk storage device, flash memory device, or other volatile solid state storage device.

Input unit 1430 can be used to receive input numeric or character information, as well as to generate key signal inputs related to user settings and function controls of handset 1400. Specifically, the input unit 1430 can include a touch panel 1431 and other input devices 1432. The touch panel 1431, also referred to as a touch screen, can collect touch operations on or near the user (such as the user using a finger, a stylus, or the like on the touch panel 1431 or near the touch panel 1431. Operation), and drive the corresponding connecting device according to a preset program. Optionally, the touch panel 1431 can include two parts: a touch detection device and a touch controller. Wherein, the touch detection device detects the touch orientation of the user, and detects a signal brought by the touch operation, and transmits the signal to the touch controller; the touch controller receives the touch information from the touch detection device, converts the touch information into contact coordinates, and sends the touch information The processor 1480 is provided and can receive commands from the processor 1480 and execute them. In addition, the touch panel 1431 can be implemented in various types such as resistive, capacitive, infrared, and surface acoustic waves. In addition to the touch panel 1431, the input unit 1430 may also include other input devices 1432. In particular, other input devices 1432 may include, but are not limited to, one or more of a physical keyboard, function keys (such as volume control buttons, switch buttons, etc.), trackballs, mice, joysticks, and the like.

The display unit 1440 can be used to display information input by the user or information provided to the user as well as various menus of the mobile phone. The display unit 1440 may include a display panel 1441. Alternatively, the display panel 1441 may be configured in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or the like. Further, the touch panel 1431 can cover the display panel 1441. After the touch panel 1431 detects a touch operation thereon or nearby, the touch panel 1431 transmits to the processor 1480 to determine the type of the touch event, and then the processor 1480 according to the touch event. The type provides a corresponding visual output on display panel 1441. Although in FIG. 14, the touch panel 1431 and The display panel 1441 is implemented as two separate components to implement input and input functions of the mobile phone, but in some embodiments, the touch panel 1431 can be integrated with the display panel 1441 to implement input and output functions of the mobile phone.

The handset 1400 can also include at least one type of sensor 1450, such as a light sensor, motion sensor, and other sensors. Specifically, the light sensor may include an ambient light sensor and a proximity sensor, wherein the ambient light sensor may adjust the brightness of the display panel 1441 according to the brightness of the ambient light, and the proximity sensor may close the display panel 1441 and/or when the mobile phone moves to the ear. Or backlight. As a kind of motion sensor, the accelerometer sensor can detect the acceleration of each direction (usually three axes), and the magnitude and direction of gravity can be detected at rest. It can be used to identify the gesture of the mobile phone (such as horizontal and vertical screen switching, Related games, magnetometer attitude calibration), vibration recognition related functions (such as pedometer, tapping), etc.; other sensors such as gyroscopes, barometers, hygrometers, thermometers, infrared sensors, etc., which can be configured on the mobile phone, No longer.

An audio circuit 1460, a speaker 1461, and a microphone 1462 provide an audio interface between the user and the handset. The audio circuit 1460 can transmit the converted electrical data of the received audio data to the speaker 1461 and convert it into a sound signal output by the speaker 1461. In another aspect, the microphone 1462 converts the collected sound signal into an electrical signal by the audio circuit. The 1460 is converted to audio data after reception, and then processed by the audio data output processor 1480, transmitted via the RF circuit 1410 to, for example, another handset, or the audio data is output to the memory 1420 for further processing.

WiFi is a short-range wireless transmission technology. The mobile phone can help users to send and receive e-mail, browse web pages and access streaming media through the WiFi module 1470. It provides users with wireless broadband Internet access. Although FIG. 14 shows the WiFi module 1470, it can be understood that it does not belong to the essential configuration of the mobile phone 1400, and can be omitted as needed within the scope of not changing the essence of the invention.

The processor 1480 is the control center of the handset, which connects various portions of the entire handset using various interfaces and lines, by executing or executing software programs and/or modules stored in the memory 1420, and invoking data stored in the memory 1420, The phone's various functions and processing data, so that the overall monitoring of the phone. Optionally, the processor 1480 may include one or more processing units. Preferably, the processor 1480 may integrate an application processor and a modem processor, where the application processor mainly processes an operating system, a user interface, an application, and the like. The modem processor primarily handles wireless communications. Can It is to be understood that the above described modem processor may also not be integrated into the processor 1480. The handset 1400 also includes a power source 1490 (such as a battery) for powering various components. Preferably, the power source can be logically coupled to the processor 1480 through a power management system to manage functions such as charging, discharging, and power management through the power management system.

Although not shown, the mobile phone 1400 may further include a camera, a Bluetooth module, and the like, and details are not described herein. In the embodiment of the present invention, the processor 1480 included in the terminal further has the following functions: establishing a radio resource control RRC connection with the radio access network device in the cellular network, and maintaining the foregoing RRC connection; When the data is offloaded to the WLAN by the wireless access network device, the data transmission status of the WLAN with the wireless local area network is monitored; if the data transmission status indicates that there is no data transmission or no data transmission, the wireless access to the wireless access The network device sends the first information, where the first information is used to determine information about releasing the radio resource control RRC connection; if the data transmission status is displayed as having data transmission or data transmission requirement, the first information is used to determine to maintain The radio resource controls the information of the RRC connection.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the terminal provides information about whether the RRC connection needs to be maintained, and can maintain the RRC connection when needed, and release the RRC connection when not needed, thereby avoiding false release. Thereby, the UE can be backed up to the 3GPP RAN, and the unnecessary battery consumption of the UE and the occupation of the RAN side resources are avoided.

Optionally, the foregoing first information may be sent by the UE. The embodiment of the present invention further provides another manner for the UE to send the first information, as follows: The processor 1480 sends the information to the radio access network device. The first information is further used to: receive a message from the radio access network device, whether the RRC connection needs to be released, and send the first information to the radio access network device after receiving the message that the RRC connection needs to be released. .

Optionally, the processor 1480 is configured to: send: the indication information that the UE is offloaded to the WLAN of the WLAN, where the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or, the UE and the WLAN are set within a time period. No indication of data transmission, the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or, the UE and the access point AP of the WLAN have been disconnected or do not continue to transmit at the AP The indication information of the input data, the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection.

Optionally, the processor 1480 is further configured to: before receiving the first information to the radio access network device, receive the duration of the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining to release the RRC connection; The information includes: any user data transmitted for a long time in the above time, and any of the above user data causes the timer maintained by the radio access network device to determine to release the RRC connection to restart. Since the timer on the device side of the radio access network is restarted, the RRC will not be released, and the RRC connection will remain until the next timeout of the RRC. In addition, it can be understood that if the UE does not send any user data, the timer of the radio access network device side that determines to release the RRC connection will time out, and the RRC connection will be released, if the UE does not send any user data equivalent to the UE. Decided to release the RRC connection.

It should be noted that the above user equipment and wireless access equipment are only divided according to functional logic, but are not limited to the above division, as long as the corresponding functions can be implemented; in addition, the specific names of the functional units are only for It is convenient to distinguish one from another and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

In addition, those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the steps in implementing the foregoing method embodiments may be performed by a program to instruct related hardware, and the corresponding program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. The storage medium may be a read only memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk or the like.

The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed by the embodiments of the present invention. All should be covered by the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

Rights request

1. An RRC connection control method, characterized by: including:

When all data of the user equipment UE is offloaded to the wireless local area network WLAN and the radio resource control RRC connection with the radio access network device is maintained, the radio access network device in the cellular network receives the First information; The first information is used by the radio access network device to determine whether to release the RRC connection with the UE;

Determine whether to release the radio resource control RRC connection with the UE according to the first information. If yes, release the RRC connection with the UE; otherwise, continue to maintain the RRC connection with the UE.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, before the radio access network device receives the first information from the UE, it further includes:

After the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection expires, a message asking whether the RRC connection needs to be released is sent to the UE.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first information includes: indication information that the service offloaded by the UE to the wireless local area network WLAN has ended, and the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or, Indication information that there is no data transmission within the set time period between the UE and the WLAN. This indication information is used to determine the release of the RRC connection; or, indication information that the UE and the access point AP of the WLAN have been disconnected or will not continue to transmit data at the AP. This indication information is used to determine the release of the RRC connection.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, before the radio access network device receives the first information from the user equipment UE, it further includes: sending to the UE a message maintained by the radio access network device for determining release. The length of the timer for the RRC connection;

The first information includes: any user data sent by the UE within the time period, and the arbitrary user data restarts a timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection.

5. An RRC connection control method, characterized by: including:

The user equipment UE establishes a radio resource control RRC connection with the radio access network device in the cellular network, and maintains the RRC connection;

All data on the UE is offloaded to the wireless local area network by the radio access network device During WLAN, the UE monitors the data transmission status with WLAN;

If the data transmission status shows no data transmission or no need for data transmission, the first information is sent to the radio access network device, and the first information is used to determine the information to release the radio resource control RRC connection; if If the data transmission status shows that there is data transmission or there is a need for data transmission, then the first information is information used to determine to maintain the radio resource control RRC connection.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein before sending the first information to the wireless access network device, the method further includes:

Receive a message from the radio access network device asking whether the RRC connection needs to be released, and after receiving the message asking whether the RRC connection needs to be released, send the first information to the radio access network device.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first information includes: indication information that the service offloaded by the UE to the wireless local area network WLAN has ended, and the indication information is used to determine to release the RRC connection; or, Indication information indicating that there is no data transmission within the set time period between the UE and the WLAN. This indication information is used to determine the release of the RRC connection; or, an indication that the UE and the access point AP of the WLAN have been disconnected or will not continue to transmit data at the AP. Information, this indication information is used to determine the release of the RRC connection.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, before sending the first information to the radio access network device, further comprising: receiving the timing maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection. the duration of the device;

The first information includes: any user data sent within the time period, and the arbitrary user data restarts a timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection.

9. A wireless access network device, characterized by: including:

A receiving unit configured to receive the first information from the UE when all the data of the user equipment UE is offloaded to the wireless local area network WLAN and the radio resource control RRC connection with the radio access network device is maintained; Information used by the radio access network device to determine whether to release the RRC connection with the UE; the radio access network device is in a cellular network;

The control unit is configured to determine whether to release the radio resource control RRC connection with the UE based on the first information received by the receiving unit. If the determination is yes, release the RRC connection with the UE; otherwise, continue to maintain it. RRC connection with the UE.

10. The radio access network device according to claim 9, further comprising: a sending unit, configured to: before the receiving unit receives the first information from the UE, the radio access network device After the timer maintained for determining the release of the RRC connection expires, a message inquiring whether the RRC connection needs to be released is sent to the UE.

11. The wireless access network device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that,

The receiving unit is specifically used to receive:

Indication information that the service offloaded by the UE to the wireless local area network WLAN has ended. This indication information is used to determine the release of the RRC connection; or,

Indication information indicating that there is no data transmission within the set time period between the UE and the WLAN. This indication information is used to determine the release of the RRC connection; or,

Indication information indicating that the UE has disconnected from the WLAN access point AP or will not continue to transmit data at the AP. This indication information is used to determine the release of the RRC connection.

12. The radio access network device according to claim 9, further comprising: a sending unit, configured to send the wireless access network device to the UE before the receiving unit receives the first information from the UE. The length of the timer maintained by the access network equipment to determine the release of the RRC connection;

The receiving unit is specifically configured to receive any user data sent by the UE within the time period, and the arbitrary user data restarts the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection.

13. A user equipment, characterized by: including:

A connection unit, used to establish a radio resource control RRC connection between the user equipment UE and the radio access network device in the cellular network, and maintain the RRC connection;

A monitoring unit configured to monitor the data transmission status with the wireless local area network WLAN when all data of the UE is diverted to the wireless local area network WLAN by the wireless access network device;

A sending unit, configured to send first information to the wireless access network device if the data transmission status monitored by the monitoring unit shows no data transmission or no need for data transmission, where the first information is used to determine Information about releasing the Radio Resource Control RRC connection; If the data transmission status monitored by the monitoring unit shows that there is data transmission or there is a need for data transmission, the first information is information used to determine to maintain the Radio Resource Control RRC connection. .

14. The user equipment according to claim 13, further comprising:

The receiving unit is configured to receive a message from the radio access network device asking whether the RRC connection needs to be released before the sending unit sends the first information to the radio access network device.

15. The user equipment according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that,

The sending unit is specifically used to send:

16. The user equipment according to claim 13, characterized in that: further comprising:

The receiving unit is configured to receive the duration of the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection before the sending unit sends the first information to the radio access network device; the sending unit , specifically used to send any user data within the duration received by the receiving unit, and the arbitrary user data restarts the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection.

17. An access network device, including: a receiving device and a processor, characterized in that the receiving device is used to offload all data of the user equipment UE to the wireless local area network WLAN, and maintain communication with the wireless access network When the radio resource control RRC connection between devices is established, the first information from the UE is received; the first information is used by the radio access network device to determine whether to release the RRC connection with the UE; the radio access network device The access device is in the cellular network;

The processor is configured to determine whether to release the radio resource control RRC connection with the UE based on the first information received by the receiving device. If the determination is yes, release the RRC connection with the UE; otherwise, Continue to maintain the RRC connection with the UE.

18. The access network equipment according to claim 17, further comprising:

A transmitting device configured to send a query to the UE whether it is necessary before the receiving device receives the first information from the user equipment UE and after the timeout of the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection. Message to release RRC connection.

19. The access network equipment according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that,

The receiving device is specifically used to receive:

20. The access network equipment according to claim 17, further comprising:

A transmitting device, configured to send to the UE, before the receiving device receives the first information from the UE, the length of the timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection;

The receiving device is specifically configured to receive any user data sent by the UE within the time period, and the arbitrary user data causes the timer maintained by the radio access network device to determine the release of the RRC connection to restart.

21. A user equipment, including: a receiving device, a transmitting device and a processor, characterized in that the processor is used to establish the user equipment UE and the radio access network device in the cellular network through the receiving device and the transmitting device The radio resource control RRC connection between the UE and the wireless local area network WLAN, and maintain the RRC connection; When all data of the UE is offloaded to the wireless local area network WLAN by the wireless access network device, monitor the data transmission status with the wireless local area network WLAN;

The transmitting device is configured to send first information to the wireless access network device if the data transmission status monitored by the processor shows no data transmission or no need for data transmission, where the first information is Information used to determine to release the Radio Resource Control RRC connection; If the data transmission status monitored by the processor shows that there is data transmission or there is a need for data transmission, the first information is used to determine to maintain the Radio Resource Control RRC connection. Information.

22. The user equipment according to claim 21, characterized in that,

The receiving device is further configured to receive a message from the radio access network device asking whether the RRC connection needs to be released before the transmitting device sends the first information to the radio access network device.

23. The user equipment according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that, The transmitting equipment is specifically used to transmit:

24. The user equipment according to claim 21, characterized in that,

The receiving device is configured to receive the duration of a timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection before the transmitting device sends the first information to the radio access network device;

The transmitting device is specifically configured to send any user data within the duration, and the arbitrary user data restarts a timer maintained by the radio access network device for determining the release of the RRC connection.