WO2016048219A1 - Établissement d'un tunnel de plan de commande dédié - Google Patents

Établissement d'un tunnel de plan de commande dédié Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016048219A1
WO2016048219A1 PCT/SE2015/050973 SE2015050973W WO2016048219A1 WO 2016048219 A1 WO2016048219 A1 WO 2016048219A1 SE 2015050973 W SE2015050973 W SE 2015050973W WO 2016048219 A1 WO2016048219 A1 WO 2016048219A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
network node
control plane
node
terminal device
network
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PCT/SE2015/050973
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English (en)
Inventor
Icaro L. J. Da Silva
Mattias TAN BERGSTRÖM
Angelo Centonza
Oumer Teyeb
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Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
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Application filed by Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) filed Critical Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
Publication of WO2016048219A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016048219A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/16—Performing reselection for specific purposes
    • H04W36/22—Performing reselection for specific purposes for handling the traffic
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W76/00—Connection management
    • H04W76/10—Connection setup
    • H04W76/12—Setup of transport tunnels
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/0005—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
    • H04W36/0011—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off for data sessions of end-to-end connection
    • H04W36/0022—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off for data sessions of end-to-end connection for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
    • H04W36/00222—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off for data sessions of end-to-end connection for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies between different packet switched [PS] network technologies, e.g. transferring data sessions between LTE and WLAN or LTE and 5G
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/0005—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
    • H04W36/0011—Control or signalling for completing the hand-off for data sessions of end-to-end connection

Definitions

  • This relates to establishing a dedicated control plane tunnel between a network node and a terminal device, in particular in circumstances where the terminal device has relinquished a data plane connection with the network node.
  • Wi-Fi wireless local-area network
  • IEEE IEEE Standard for Information technology— Telecommunications and information exchange between systems.
  • Local and metropolitan area networks Specific requirements. Part 1 1 : Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications”).
  • MAC Wireless LAN Medium Access Control
  • PHY Physical Layer
  • Wi-Fi Wireless Fidelity
  • LTE Long-Term Evolution
  • UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
  • WCDMA Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access
  • HSPA High Speed Packet Access
  • GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
  • Wi-Fi points to a Wi-Fi deployment that on some level is integrated with a cellular network operator's existing network and where the 3GPP radio access networks and the Wi-Fi wireless access may even be connected to the same core network and provide the same services.
  • 3GPP radio access networks and the Wi-Fi wireless access may even be connected to the same core network and provide the same services.
  • Wi-Fi/WLAN deployments are totally separate from mobile cellular communication networks, and can be seen as non-integrated from the terminal device's perspective.
  • OSs for UEs such as Android and iOS®
  • OSs operating systems
  • UEs such as Android and iOS®
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • PS Packet-Switched
  • Wi-Fi Wireless Fidelity
  • the 3GPP radio access network provides assistance parameters to the terminal devices (UEs) via broadcast and dedicated RRC (radio resource control) signalling that are used in the mechanism to decide whether the terminal device is to access and/or steer traffic to WLAN.
  • the RAN assistance information or parameters may include, for example, threshold values (such as E- UTRAN signal strength and quality thresholds, WLAN channel utilization thresholds, WLAN backhaul data rate thresholds, WLAN signal strength and quality thresholds) and/or offloading preference indicator (OPI).
  • E-UTRAN can also provide a list of WLAN identifiers to the UE via broadcast signalling. WLANs identified by the E- UTRAN may include an associated priority.
  • the UEs uses these RAN assistance parameters in the evaluation of traffic steering rules, which will be defined in TS 36.304, and ANDSF (Access Network Discovery and Selection Function) policies, which will be defined in TS 24.312, in order to make traffic steering decisions between E-UTRAN and WLAN.
  • the rules/policies can indicate that the UE is to make measurements of one or more signal parameters in the 3GPP network (E-UTRAN) and/or WLAN and compare the measurements to the threshold values. Based on the evaluation of the rule, the UE will steer traffic to the appropriate one of E-UTRAN and WLAN.
  • An example of a traffic steering rule is shown below (where RCPI is the Received Channel Power Indicator and RSRP is the reference signal received power):
  • the OPI is only used in ANDSF policies.
  • WLAN identifiers are only used in traffic steering rules [TS 36.304]. If the UE is provisioned with ANDSF policies it shall forward the received RAN assistance parameters to upper layers, otherwise it shall use them in the traffic steering rules [section 23.6.2, TS 36.304 v12.5.0].
  • the traffic steering rules are applied only to the WLANs of which identifiers are provided by the E-UTRAN.
  • a UE in RRC_CONNECTED shall apply the parameters obtained via dedicated signalling if such have been received from the serving cell; otherwise, the UE shall apply the parameters obtained via broadcast signalling.
  • a UE in RRCJDLE shall keep and apply the parameters obtained via dedicated signalling, until cell reselection or a timer has expired from when the UE entered RRCJDLE, upon which the UE shall apply the parameters obtained via broadcast signalling.
  • radio access network (RAN) sharing each PLMN (public land mobile network) sharing the RAN can provide independent sets of RAN assistance parameters.
  • a fully network controlled WLAN/3GPP interworking solution follows principles similar to CONNECTED mode operations in 3GPP, where the three main steps are employed for traffic steering.
  • the signalling between the UE and an eNB (the name used for a radio base station in E-UTRAN) is illustrated in Figure 1 , and the signalling is explained below.
  • Measurement control configuration the RAN sends information to the UE that includes details like the target WLAN(s) to be measured (e.g. specific identities such as service set identifiers (SSIDs)/basic SSIDs (BSSIDs)/homogenous extended SSIDs (HESSIDs) or more general information like operating frequencies), events/thresholds for triggering measurement reports (e.g. when WLAN signal becomes better/worse than a certain threshold, WLAN signal becomes better/worse than a certain threshold and 3GPP signal becomes worse/better than another threshold, etc.).
  • specific identities such as service set identifiers (SSIDs)/basic SSIDs (BSSIDs)/homogenous extended SSIDs (HESSIDs) or more general information like operating frequencies
  • events/thresholds for triggering measurement reports e.g. when WLAN signal becomes better/worse than a certain threshold, WLAN signal becomes better/worse than a certain threshold and 3GPP signal becomes
  • Measurement reporting When the conditions for triggering thresholds, as configured by signal 1 above, are fulfilled, the UE sends a measurement report to the 3GPP RAN.
  • Traffic steering Based on the measurement report received in signal 2, the RAN evaluates the received measurements and other relevant information obtained in eNB/RNC (radio network controller) and as a result of this sends a traffic steering command to the UE, which can specify the traffic to be steered.
  • This can be an explicit indication of each bearer to be moved (i.e. by specifying data radio bearer (DRB)/radio bearer (RB)-IDs) or more general like the Quality of Service (QoS) Class Identifier (QCI), which can apply to many bearers at once.
  • DRB data radio bearer
  • RB radio bearer
  • QoS Quality of Service
  • QCI Quality of Service Class Identifier
  • UE ACK/Response With this signal, the UE indicates to the RAN whether or not the action dictated by the traffic steering command was successfully performed or not.
  • UEs that are in IDLE mode can request the set-up of an RRC connection so that the UE can send measurement reports when the conditions of the measurement control configuration are satisfied.
  • the solutions above in which the UE takes the steering decision on the basis of assistance parameters provided by the RAN might be employed for handling IDLE UEs, while the fully-network controlled solution is used only for CONNECTED UEs.
  • an inactivity timer (that can range from a few seconds to several hours) monitors how long the UE does not transmit any traffic through E-UTRAN. If the UE remains inactive in both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) for a period longer than the timer value, the network will trigger RRC connection release and the UE goes into IDLE mode.
  • Measurement Control including measurement configuration and measurement reporting
  • Mobility Management including inter/intra E-UTRA mobility, mobility from E- UTRA and handover from E-UTRA;
  • eNodeB eNodeB
  • eNB-1 It might be beneficial for a given source eNodeB (eNB-1 ) to be able to execute these functionalities for UEs temporarily steering their traffic to WLAN (for example during some overloading period) but still under the coverage area of eNB-1 .
  • the problem is illustrated in Figure 2.
  • a UE (UE-1 ) is connected to eNB-1 and is steering traffic to eNB-1 .
  • There is an RRC connection between UE-1 and eNB-1 UE-1 is in RRC_CONNECTED mode). Due to overload at eNB-1 , eNB-1 steers UEs in RRC_CONNECTED mode to WLAN (and in particular access point, AP-1 ) by setting appropriate thresholds via dedicated signalling.
  • UE-1 is connected to AP-1 , and after the timer expires, UE-1 is put into RRCJDLE mode and the RRC connection is released.
  • eNB-1 cannot steer specific UEs (e.g. UE-1 ) back to E-UTRAN since no dedicated signalling to those UEs is possible. Since the thresholds used by UE-1 were received when UE-1 was in RRC_CONNECTED, UE-1 will use them as long as a pre-defined timer runs, after which UE-1 will read the thresholds broadcast by eNB-1 .
  • WO2013/091236 discloses a method for traffic offloading, in which an access point can establish a tunnel with another access point having a lo-located local gateway, in order to use the traffic offloading capabilities of the other access point.
  • WO2007/143721 discloses a method of tunnelling packets between remote and serving access points for delivery to an access terminal.
  • the techniques and mechanisms described herein enable the setup of a dedicated connection (e.g. that can be used to carry E-UTRAN RRC signalling) associated with a first node over an inter-node interface to a second node (e.g. between a WLAN AP and an eNodeB).
  • a dedicated connection e.g. that can be used to carry E-UTRAN RRC signalling
  • a second node e.g. between a WLAN AP and an eNodeB.
  • RATs radio access technologies
  • a method for use in a system comprising a first network node, a second network node, and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device has a connection to the second network node over a radio interface and the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, the method comprising:
  • a method in a first network node of a network using a first radio access technology comprising, in response to a determination that a terminal device has established a connection to a second network node over a radio interface using a second radio access technology different from the first radio access technology, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface:
  • a method in a first network node of a network using a first radio access technology comprising,
  • a method in a first network node of a network wherein the first network node has a radio interface, the method comprising:
  • a method in a second network node of a network wherein a first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, and wherein a terminal device has a connection to the second network node over a radio interface, the method comprising:
  • a method in a second network node of a network comprising: establishing a connection to a terminal device over a radio interface, receiving information from the terminal device identifying a first network node with which the terminal device has had a connection, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface;
  • a method in a system comprising a first network node, and a second network node, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, the method comprising:
  • a system comprising a first network node, a second network node, and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device has a connection to the second network node over a radio interface and the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, the system being adapted for:
  • a first network node for a network using a first radio access technology being adapted for:
  • a first network node for a network using a first radio access technology being adapted for:
  • a second network node for a network wherein a first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, and wherein a terminal device has a connection to the second network node over a radio interface, being adapted for:
  • a second network node for a network being adapted for:
  • a system comprising a first network node, and a second network node, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, the system being adapted for: determining that a terminal device has replaced a traffic connection over a first radio interface with the first network node by a traffic connection over a second radio interface with the second network node; and
  • a method of operating a network node in a first network operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT comprising:
  • a network node for use in a first network operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT, the network node being adapted to:
  • control plane information with the terminal device via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection.
  • a method of operating a terminal device that is connected to a network node in a second network that is operating according to a second radio access technology, RAT, the method comprising: establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane tunnel to a network node in a first network that is operating according to a first RAT, the dedicated control plane tunnel being established through the network node in the second network;
  • control plane information with the network node in the first network via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection.
  • a terminal device for use in a first network operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT, and a second network operating according to a second RAT different from the first RAT, the terminal device being adapted to:
  • a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code being configured such that, on execution by a suitable computer or processor, the computer or processor is caused to perform any of the method embodiments described above.
  • Figure 1 is a signalling diagram illustrating a fully network-controlled interworking mechanism
  • Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating problems with UEs going to IDLE mode when connected to a WLAN
  • Figure 3 is a non-limiting example block diagram of an LTE cellular communications network
  • Figure 4 is a block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment
  • Figure 5 is a block diagram of a radio access network node according to an embodiment
  • Figure 6 is a block diagram of a core network node according to an embodiment
  • Figure 7 is a block diagram of a WLAN access point according to an embodiment
  • Figure 8 is a signalling diagram illustrating a method
  • Figure 9 is a signalling diagram illustrating a method
  • Figure 10 is a signalling diagram illustrating a method
  • Figure 1 1 is a signalling diagram illustrating a method
  • Figure 12 is a signalling diagram illustrating a method
  • Figure 13 is a signalling diagram illustrating a method
  • Figure 14 is a signalling diagram illustrating a method
  • Figure 15 illustrates RRC diversity through LTE and an inter-node interface and WLAN
  • Figure 16 is a signalling diagram illustrating a method
  • Figure 17 is a protocol stack diagram.
  • the technology can additionally be considered to be embodied entirely within any form of computer-readable memory, such as solid-state memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk containing an appropriate set of computer instructions that would cause a processor and also in some cases a receiver component and/or transmitter component to carry out the techniques described herein.
  • computer-readable memory such as solid-state memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk containing an appropriate set of computer instructions that would cause a processor and also in some cases a receiver component and/or transmitter component to carry out the techniques described herein.
  • Hardware implementation may include or encompass, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, a reduced instruction set processor, hardware (e.g., digital or analog) circuitry including but not limited to application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC) and/or field programmable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), and (where appropriate) state machines capable of performing such functions.
  • DSP digital signal processor
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • FPGA field programmable gate array
  • a computer is generally understood to comprise one or more processors, one or more processing units, one or more processing modules or one or more controllers, and the terms computer, processor, processing unit, processing module and controller may be employed interchangeably.
  • the functions may be provided by a single dedicated computer, processor, processing unit, processing module or controller, by a single shared computer, processor, processing unit, processing module or controller, or by a plurality of individual computers, processors, processing units, processing modules or controllers, some of which may be shared or distributed.
  • the terms "processor”, “processing unit”, “processing module” or “controller” also refer to other hardware capable of performing such functions and/or executing software, such as the example hardware recited above.
  • terminal device or user equipment (UE)
  • terminal device and “UE” are non-limiting terms comprising any mobile, non-mobile or wireless device or node equipped with a radio interface allowing for at least one of: transmitting signals in uplink (UL) and receiving and/or measuring signals in downlink (DL).
  • a UE herein may comprise a UE (in its general sense) capable of operating or at least performing measurements in one or more frequencies, carrier frequencies, component carriers or frequency bands. It may be a "UE” operating in single- or multi-radio access technology (RAT) or multi- standard mode.
  • RAT multi-radio access technology
  • the term “mobile device” is used interchangeably in the following description, and it will be appreciated that such a device does not necessarily have to be mobile in the sense that it is carried by a user. Instead, the term “mobile device”, as with “terminal device” encompasses any device that is capable of communicating with communication networks that operate according to one or more mobile communication standards, such as GSM, UMTS, LTE, WiFi, etc.
  • a cell is associated with a radio access network (RAN) node, where a RAN node comprises in a general sense any node transmitting radio signals in the downlink (DL) to a terminal device and/or receiving radio signals in the uplink (UL) from a terminal device.
  • RAN nodes or terms used for describing RAN nodes, are base station, eNodeB, eNB, NodeB, macro/micro/pico/femto radio base station, home eNodeB (also known as femto base station), relay, repeater, sensor, transmitting-only radio nodes or receiving-only radio nodes.
  • a RAN node may operate or at least perform measurements in one or more frequencies, carrier frequencies or frequency bands and may be capable of carrier aggregation. It may also be a single-radio access technology (RAT), multi-RAT, or multi-standard node, e.g., using the same or different base band circuitry for different RATs.
  • RAT radio access technology
  • network node refers to a RAN node, such as a base station, an eNodeB, a network node in the RAN responsible for resource management, such as a radio network controller (RNC), a core network node, such as a mobility management entity (MME) or SGW, or a WLAN Access Point (AP) or WLAN access controller (AC).
  • RNC radio network controller
  • MME mobility management entity
  • SGW Serving Mobility Management Entity
  • AP WLAN Access Point
  • AC WLAN access controller
  • the signalling described is either via direct links or logical links (e.g. via higher layer protocols and/or via one or more network nodes).
  • signalling from a coordinating node may pass another network node, e.g., a radio node.
  • FIG. 3 shows an example diagram of an evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (EUTRAN) architecture as part of an LTE-based communications system 2.
  • Nodes in the core network 4 include one or more Mobility Management Entities (MMEs) 6, a key control node for the LTE access network, and one or more Serving Gateways (SGWs) 8 which route and forward user data packets while acting as a mobility anchor. They communicate with base stations 10 in the RAN referred to in LTE as eNBs or eNodeBs, over an interface, for example an S1 interface.
  • the eNBs 10 can include the same or different categories of eNBs, e.g. macro eNBs, and/or micro/pico/femto eNBs.
  • the eNBs 10 communicate with each other over an interface, for example an X2 interface.
  • the S1 interface and X2 interface are defined in the LTE standard.
  • a UE 12 can receive downlink data from and send uplink data to one of the base stations 10 with that base station 10 being referred to as the serving base station of the UE 12.
  • An access point (AP) 14 that is part of a WLAN is also shown in Figure 3, although it will be appreciated that the WLAN and AP 14 are not part of the EUTRAN architecture.
  • a communication path is established between the WLAN AP 14 and at least one of the nodes 10 in the LTE network 2 so that a dedicated connection can be established between the nodes.
  • One such communication path/interface is shown as interface 16 in Figure 3, and it will be appreciated that this connection would typically be established via the WLAN AP's 14 broadband connection, rather than there being a direct (e.g. air interface) signalling connection between the AP 14 and eNB 10.
  • Similar interfaces 16 may be established between one node 10 and multiple WLAN APs 14. It will also be appreciated that where the AP 14 is within the coverage area of several eNBs 10, the AP 14 may have separate interfaces 16 to each of those eNBs 10.
  • Inter-node interfaces 16 between a pair of nodes 10, 14 may be a peer to peer interface, i.e. an interface that connects the two nodes directly. Alternatively, inter-node interfaces could connect the two nodes while passing through other network nodes.
  • Figure 4 shows a terminal device 12 or user equipment (UE) that can be adapted for use in one or more of the non-limiting example embodiments described.
  • the terminal device 12 comprises a processing unit 30 that controls the operation of the terminal device 12.
  • the processing unit 30 is connected to a receiver or a transceiver 32 (which comprises a receiver and a transmitter) with associated antenna(s) 34 which are used to receive signals from or both transmit signals to and receive signals from two different types of radio access network (i.e.
  • the terminal device 12 also comprises a memory unit 36 that is connected to the processing unit 30 and that stores computer program code and other information and data required for the operation of the terminal device 12.
  • modules for performing specified actions in certain embodiments may be implemented by means of a computer program running on the processing unit 30.
  • FIG. 5 shows a RAN node 10 (for example a base station, NodeB or an eNodeB) that can be adapted for use in example embodiments described.
  • the RAN node 10 comprises a processing unit 40 that controls the operation of the base station 10.
  • the processing unit 40 is connected to a transmitter or a transceiver 42 (which comprises a receiver and a transmitter) with associated antenna(s) 44 which are used to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, terminal devices 12 in the network 2.
  • the RAN node 10 also comprises a memory unit 46 that is connected to the processing unit 40 and that stores computer program code and other information and data required for the operation of the RAN node 10.
  • the RAN node 10 also includes components and/or circuitry 48 for allowing the RAN node 10 to exchange information with other RAN nodes 10 (for example via an X2 interface) and components and/or circuitry 49 for allowing the RAN node 10 to exchange information with nodes in the core network 4 (for example via the S1 interface).
  • the RAN node interface 48 can also be used to form an interface/connection 16 between the RAN node 10 and one or more WLAN APs 14 in the coverage area of the RAN node 10 and allow a dedicated connection to be established with the WLAN APs 14. It will be appreciated that RAN nodes for use in other types of network (e.g.
  • UTRAN or WCDMA RAN will include similar components to those shown in Figure 3 and appropriate interface circuitry 48, 49 for enabling communications with the other network nodes in those types of networks (e.g. other base stations, mobility management nodes and/or nodes in the core network).
  • network nodes e.g. other base stations, mobility management nodes and/or nodes in the core network.
  • modules for performing specified actions in certain embodiments may be implemented by means of a computer program running on the processing unit 40.
  • FIG. 6 shows a core network node 6, 8 that can be used in the example embodiments described.
  • the node 6, 8 comprises a processing unit 50 that controls the operation of the node 6, 8.
  • the processing unit 50 is connected to components and/or circuitry 52 for allowing the node 6, 8 to exchange information with RAN nodes 10 with which it is associated (which is typically via the S1 interface).
  • the node 6, 8 also comprises a memory unit 56 that is connected to the processing unit 50 and that stores computer program code and other information and data required for the operation of the node 6, 8.
  • modules for performing specified actions in certain embodiments may be implemented by means of a computer program running on the processing unit 50.
  • FIG. 7 shows a WLAN AP 14 that can be used in the example embodiments described.
  • the AP 14 comprises a processing unit 60 that controls the operation of the AP 14.
  • the processing unit 60 is connected to a transmitter or a transceiver 62 (which comprises a receiver and a transmitter) with associated antenna(s) 64 which are used to transmit signals to, and receive signals from, terminal devices 12.
  • the AP 14 also comprises a memory unit 66 that is connected to the processing unit 60 and that stores computer program code and other information and data required for the operation of the AP 14.
  • the AP 14 also includes components and/or circuitry 68 for connecting the AP 14 to a telephone line or other broadband connection.
  • the processing unit 60 can be configured to establish the interface 16 between the AP 14 and one or more RAN nodes 10 and receive and send information from the RAN node 10.
  • modules for performing specified actions in certain embodiments may be implemented by means of a computer program running on the processing unit 60. It will be appreciated that only the components of the terminal device 12, RAN node 10, core network node 6, 8 and AP 14 required to explain the embodiments presented herein are illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. Various exemplary aspects and embodiments of the techniques described herein are set out below. These techniques are a set of mechanisms between two radio access nodes and a mobile terminal capable of being connected to both of the radio access nodes. In some embodiments, these mechanisms enable the setup of a dedicated connection that can be used to carry signaling associated with a first node over an inter-node interface through the second node to the mobile terminal.
  • a method for use in a system comprising a first network node, a second network node, and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device has a connection to the second network node over a radio interface and the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, the method comprising: establishing a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may be established in response to detecting that the terminal device has a connection to the second network node over the radio interface.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may be established in response to the first network node detecting that the terminal device has a connection to the second network node over the radio interface, or in response to the second network node detecting that the terminal device has a connection to the second wireless access point over the radio interface.
  • Establishing the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise the first network node sending a request to the second network node over the inter-node interface.
  • Establishing the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise the second network node sending a request to the first network node over the inter-node interface in response to establishing a connection with the terminal device.
  • a specific identifier may be used to map the tunnel to said terminal device.
  • the identifier mapping the tunnel to the UE may indicate a UE class or group that identifies some or all of the UE characteristics.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container through the inter- node interface and a second container through the radio interface.
  • the first network node and the second network node may use different radio access technologies. Specifically, the first network node and the second network node may use different 3GPP radio access technologies.
  • One of the first network node and the second network node may use a 3GPP radio access technology while the other of the first network node and the second network node uses a non-3GPP radio access technology.
  • the first network node may be a UTRAN radio access node, and the control plane tunnel may be an RRC tunnel.
  • the second network node may then be a WLAN access point.
  • the first network node may be a WLAN access point.
  • the second network node may be a UTRAN radio access node.
  • a method for use in a first network node of a network comprises, in response to a determination that a terminal device has established a connection to a second network node over a radio interface using a different radio access technology, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface: establishing a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • the first network node may make said determination that the terminal device has established the connection to the second network node.
  • Establishing the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise sending a tunnel request to the second network node over the inter-node interface.
  • the method may comprise maintaining a control plane connection to the terminal device over a radio interface of the first network node, after establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel.
  • the method may comprise releasing a control plane connection to the terminal device over a radio interface of the first network node, after establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel.
  • the method may comprise exchanging with the second network node a specific identifier for mapping the tunnel to said terminal device.
  • the identifier mapping the tunnel to the UE may indicate a UE class or group that identifies some or all of the UE characteristics.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container through the inter- node interface and a second container through the radio interface.
  • a method for use in a first network node of a network comprises, in response to a determination that a terminal device has established a connection to a second network node over a radio interface using a different radio access technology, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface: sending a request to the second network node to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • the method may further comprise: in the event of receiving a message from the second network node rejecting said request to establish the dedicated control plane tunnel, maintaining a control plane connection to the terminal device over a radio interface of the first network node.
  • a method for use in a first network node of a network comprises: receiving from a second network node a request to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container through the inter- node interface and a second container through the radio interface.
  • a method for use in a second network node of a network comprising: receiving from the first network node a request to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface; and establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel.
  • the method may comprise establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel only in response to determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has had a connection.
  • the method may comprise establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel only in response to determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection.
  • the method may comprise determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection from information known to the second network node.
  • the method may comprise determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection by sending a message to the terminal device requesting information regarding the network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection.
  • the method may comprise determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection by sending a message to the terminal device containing information regarding the network node from which it received the request to establish the dedicated control plane tunnel, and requesting confirmation that said network node is the network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection.
  • the method may comprise exchanging with the first network node a specific identifier for mapping the tunnel to said terminal device.
  • the identifier mapping the tunnel to the UE indicates a UE class or group that identifies some or all of the UE characteristics.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container through the inter- node interface and a second container through the radio interface.
  • a method for use in a second network node of a network comprises: establishing a connection to a terminal device over a radio interface, receiving information from the terminal device identifying a first network node with which the terminal device has had a connection, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface; and sending to the first network node a request to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container over the inter-node interface and a second container over the second radio interface.
  • Determining that the terminal device has replaced the traffic connection over the first radio interface with the first network node by the traffic connection over the second radio interface with the second network node may comprise determining that the terminal device has performed traffic steering from the first network node to the second network node.
  • the first network node may be a 3GPP radio access node while the second network node is a WLAN access point.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may be an RRC tunnel.
  • a system comprises a first network node, a second network node, and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device has a connection to the second network node over a radio interface and the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, the system being adapted for: establishing a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • the system may be configured for establishing the dedicated control plane tunnel in response to detecting that the terminal device has a connection to the second network node over the radio interface.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may be established in response to the first network node detecting that the terminal device has a connection to the second network node over the radio interface, or in response to the second network node detecting that the terminal device has a connection to the second wireless access point over the radio interface.
  • the system may be configured for establishing the dedicated control plane tunnel by the first network node sending a request to the second network node over the inter- node interface.
  • the system may be configured for establishing the dedicated control plane tunnel by the second network node sending a request to the first network node over the inter- node interface in response to establishing a connection with the terminal device.
  • a specific identifier may be used to map the tunnel to said terminal device.
  • the identifier mapping the tunnel to the UE may indicate a UE class or group that identifies some or all of the UE characteristics.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container through the inter- node interface and a second container through the radio interface.
  • the first network node and the second network node may use different radio access technologies. Specifically, the first network node and the second network node may use different 3GPP radio access technologies. One of the first network node and the second network node may use a 3GPP radio access technology while the other of the first network node and the second network node uses a non-3GPP radio access technology.
  • the first network node may be a UTRAN radio access node, and the control plane tunnel may be an RRC tunnel.
  • the second network node may then be a WLAN access point.
  • the first network node may be a WLAN access point.
  • the second network node may be a UTRAN radio access node.
  • a system comprising: a first network node, a second network node, and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device has a connection to the second network node over a radio interface and the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, the system further comprising an establishment module, for establishing a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • a first network node for a network is adapted for: in response to a determination that a terminal device has established a connection to a second network node over a radio interface using a different radio access technology, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface: establishing a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • the first network node may be adapted to make said determination that the terminal device has established the connection to the second network node.
  • the first network node may be adapted to establish the dedicated control plane tunnel by sending a tunnel request to the second network node over the inter-node interface.
  • the first network node may be adapted to maintain a control plane connection to the terminal device over a radio interface of the first network node, after establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel.
  • the first network node may be adapted to release a control plane connection to the terminal device over a radio interface of the first network node, after establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel.
  • the first network node may be adapted to exchange with the second network node a specific identifier for mapping the tunnel to said terminal device.
  • the identifier mapping the tunnel to the UE may indicate a UE class or group that identifies some or all of the UE characteristics.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container through the inter- node interface and a second container through the radio interface.
  • a first network node of a network comprising: an establishment module for, in response to a determination that a terminal device has established a connection to a second network node over a radio interface using a different radio access technology, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, establishing a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • a first network node for a network is adapted for: in response to a determination that a terminal device has established a connection to a second network node over a radio interface using a different radio access technology, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface: sending a request to the second network node to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • the first network node may be further adapted for: in the event of receiving a message from the second network node rejecting said request to establish the dedicated control plane tunnel, maintaining a control plane connection to the terminal device over a radio interface of the first network node.
  • a first network node of a network comprises a sending module for, in response to a determination that a terminal device has established a connection to a second network node over a radio interface using a different radio access technology, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface: sending a request to the second network node to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • a method for use in a first network node of a network is configured for: receiving from a second network node a request to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container through the inter- node interface and a second container through the radio interface.
  • a first network node of a network wherein the first network node has a radio interface, comprises a receiving module, for receiving from a second network node a request to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • a second network node for a network wherein a first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, and wherein a terminal device has a connection to the second network node over a radio interface, is adapted for: receiving from the first network node a request to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface; and establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel.
  • the second network node may be configured for establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel only in response to determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has had a connection.
  • the second network node may be configured for establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel only in response to determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection.
  • the second network node may be configured for determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection from information known to the second network node.
  • the second network node may be configured for determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection by sending a message to the terminal device requesting information regarding the network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection.
  • the second network node may be configured for determining that said first network node is a network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection by sending a message to the terminal device containing information regarding the network node from which it received the request to establish the dedicated control plane tunnel, and requesting confirmation that said network node is the network node with which the terminal device has most recently had a connection.
  • the second network node may be configured for exchanging with the first network node a specific identifier for mapping the tunnel to said terminal device.
  • the identifier mapping the tunnel to the UE indicates a UE class or group that identifies some or all of the UE characteristics.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container through the inter- node interface and a second container through the radio interface.
  • a second network node of a network wherein a first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, and wherein a terminal device has a connection to the second network node over a radio interface, comprises: a receiving module, for receiving from the first network node a request to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface; and an establishing module for establishing said dedicated control plane tunnel.
  • a second network node for a network is adapted for: establishing a connection to a terminal device over a radio interface, receiving information from the terminal device identifying a first network node with which the terminal device has had a connection, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface; and sending to the first network node a request to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • a second network node of a network comprises: an establishing module, for establishing a connection to a terminal device over a radio interface; a receiving module, for receiving information from the terminal device identifying a first network node with which the terminal device has had a connection, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface; and a sending module, for sending to the first network node a request to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the radio interface.
  • a system comprises a first network node, and a second network node, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface, the system being adapted for: determining that a terminal device has replaced a traffic connection over a first radio interface with the first network node by a traffic connection over a second radio interface with the second network node; and attempting to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the second radio interface.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may comprise a first container over the inter-node interface and a second container over the second radio interface.
  • the system may be adapted for determining that the terminal device has replaced the traffic connection over the first radio interface with the first network node by the traffic connection over the second radio interface with the second network node by determining that the terminal device has performed traffic steering from the first network node to the second network node.
  • the first network node may be a 3GPP radio access node while the second network node is a WLAN access point.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may be an RRC tunnel.
  • a system comprises: a first network node; a second network node, wherein the first network node has a connection to the second network node over an inter-node interface; a determining node, for determining that a terminal device has replaced a traffic connection over a first radio interface with the first network node by a traffic connection over a second radio interface with the second network node; and an attempting node, for attempting to establish a dedicated control plane tunnel, for sending dedicated messages, between the first network node and the terminal device over the inter-node interface and the second radio interface.
  • a method of operating a network node in a first network operating according to a first radio access technology comprises: establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane tunnel to a terminal device that is connected to a network node in a second network that is operating according to a second RAT, the dedicated control plane tunnel being established through the network node in the second network; establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane connection directly with the terminal device while the dedicated control plane tunnel is established and/or maintained; and communicating control plane information with the terminal device via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection.
  • the control plane information may be communicated with the terminal device through both the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection.
  • Control plane information received from the terminal device at the network node in the first network may be communicated via one of the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection, and control plane information sent to the terminal device from the network node in the first network is communicated via the other one of the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection.
  • the method may further comprise determining whether to communicate control plane information with the terminal device via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection according to load conditions in the first network and/or second network.
  • the load conditions relate to the load distribution in the uplink and downlink in the first network and/or second network.
  • the step of establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane connection directly with the network node in the first network may comprise establishing and/or maintaining the dedicated control plane connection through an air or radio interface between the terminal device and the network node in the first network.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may be a dedicated radio resource control, RRC, tunnel, while the dedicated control plane connection is an RRC connection.
  • the first RAT may be a 3GPP-specified RAT while the second RAT is WLAN, for example Wi-Fi.
  • the 3GPP-specified RAT may be Long Term Evolution, LTE, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access, WCDMA, High Speed Packet Access, HSPA, or Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM.
  • a network node for use in a first network operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT is adapted to: establish and/or maintain a dedicated control plane tunnel to a terminal device that is connected to a network node in a second network that is operating according to a second RAT, the dedicated control plane tunnel being established through the network node in the second network; establish and/or maintain a dedicated control plane connection directly with the terminal device while the dedicated control plane tunnel is established and/or maintained; and communicate control plane information with the terminal device via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection.
  • RAT radio access technology
  • the control plane information may be communicated with the terminal device through both the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection.
  • the network node may be further adapted to communicate control plane information received from the terminal device at the network node in the first network via one of the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection, and to communicate control plane information sent to the terminal device from the network node in the first network via the other one of the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection.
  • the network node may be further adapted to determine whether to communicate control plane information with the terminal device via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection according to load conditions in the first network and/or second network.
  • the load conditions relate to the load distribution in the uplink and downlink in the first network and/or second network.
  • the network node may be further adapted to establish and/or maintain a dedicated control plane connection directly with the network node in the first network by establishing and/or maintaining the dedicated control plane connection through an air or radio interface between the terminal device and the network node in the first network.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may be a dedicated radio resource control, RRC, tunnel, while the dedicated control plane connection is an RRC connection.
  • the first RAT may be a 3GPP-specified RAT while the second RAT is WLAN, for example Wi-Fi.
  • the 3GPP-specified RAT may be Long Term Evolution, LTE, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access, WCDMA, High Speed Packet Access, HSPA, or Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM.
  • a network node in a first network operating according to a first radio access technology comprises: a tunnel module, for establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane tunnel to a terminal device that is connected to a network node in a second network that is operating according to a second RAT, the dedicated control plane tunnel being established through the network node in the second network; a connection module, for establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane connection directly with the terminal device while the dedicated control plane tunnel is established and/or maintained; and a communication module, for communicating control plane information with the terminal device via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection.
  • a method of operating a terminal device that is connected to a network node in a second network that is operating according to a second radio access technology, RAT may comprise: establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane tunnel to a network node in a first network that is operating according to a first RAT, the dedicated control plane tunnel being established through the network node in the second network; establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane connection directly with the network node in the first network while the dedicated control plane tunnel is established and/or maintained; and communicating control plane information with the network node in the first network via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection.
  • Control plane information may be communicated with the network node in the first network through both the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection.
  • Control plane information sent from the terminal device to the network node in the first network may be communicated via one of the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection, and control plane information received at the terminal device from the network node in the first network is communicated via the other one of the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection.
  • the step of establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane connection directly with the network node in the first network may comprise establishing and/or maintaining the dedicated control plane connection through an air or radio interface between the terminal device and the network node in the first network.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may be a dedicated radio resource control, RRC, tunnel, while the dedicated control plane connection is an RRC connection.
  • the first RAT may be a 3GPP-specified RAT while the second RAT is WLAN, for example Wi-Fi.
  • the 3GPP-specified RAT may be Long Term Evolution, LTE, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access, WCDMA, High Speed Packet Access, HSPA, or Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM.
  • a terminal device for use in a first network operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT, and a second network operating according to a second RAT is adapted to: establish and/or maintain a dedicated control plane tunnel to a network node in a first network that is operating according to a first RAT, the dedicated control plane tunnel being established through the network node in the second network; establish and/or maintain a dedicated control plane connection directly with the network node in the first network while the dedicated control plane tunnel is established and/or maintained; and communicate control plane information with the network node in the first network via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection.
  • the terminal device may be further adapted to communicate control plane information with the network node in the first network through both the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection.
  • the terminal device may be further adapted to communicate control plane information sent from the terminal device to the network node in the first network via one of the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection, and to communicate control plane information received at the terminal device from the network node in the first network via the other one of the dedicated control plane tunnel and the dedicated control plane connection.
  • the terminal device may be further adapted such that the step of establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane connection directly with the network node in the first network comprises establishing and/or maintaining the dedicated control plane connection through an air or radio interface between the terminal device and the network node in the first network.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel may be a dedicated radio resource control, RRC, tunnel, while the dedicated control plane connection is an RRC connection.
  • the first RAT may be a 3GPP-specified RAT while the second RAT is WLAN, for example Wi-Fi.
  • the 3GPP-specified RAT may be Long Term Evolution, LTE, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access, WCDMA, High Speed Packet Access, HSPA, or Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM.
  • a terminal device that is connected to a network node in a second network that is operating according to a second radio access technology, RAT, comprises: a tunnel module, for establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane tunnel to a network node in a first network that is operating according to a first RAT, the dedicated control plane tunnel being established through the network node in the second network; a connection module, for establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane connection directly with the network node in the first network while the dedicated control plane tunnel is established and/or maintained; and a communicating module, for communicating control plane information with the network node in the first network via the dedicated control plane tunnel and/or the dedicated control plane connection.
  • a tunnel module for establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane tunnel to a network node in a first network that is operating according to a first RAT, the dedicated control plane tunnel being established through the network node in the second network
  • a connection module for establishing and/or maintaining a dedicated control plane connection directly with the network node in the first network
  • a computer program product comprises a computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code being configured such that, on execution by a suitable computer or processor, the computer or processor is caused to perform any of the method embodiments described above.
  • the two radio access nodes are an eNodeB and a WLAN AP respectively, and the mechanisms enable the setup of a dedicated connection that can be used to carry E-UTRAN Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling associated with the eNodeB, even when the mobile terminal has a connection to the WLAN AP.
  • RRC Radio Resource Control
  • the UE and the first node (eNodeB) may still be able to exchange dedicated control signaling through the inter-node interface.
  • the mechanisms could enable a dual-RRC connection for diversity purposes.
  • a UE that has performed traffic steering away from the eNodeB to WLAN can still exchange dedicated messages with the eNodeB.
  • Typical dedicated control signaling can then be executed via a non-3GPP air interface and an inter-node interface.
  • the embodiments described herein relate to a method running at two radio access nodes (e.g. a 3GPP eNodeB-1 and a WLAN AP-1 ) and a mobile terminal where the two nodes have an inter-node interface between them (e.g. a suitable inter-node interface is referred to herein as an Xw interface).
  • the first node e.g. eNB-1
  • the mobile terminal e.g. UE-1
  • their radio interfaces e.g. an RRC Connection for control plane signaling
  • either the first or second nodes eNodeB-1 or AP-1 ) that a radio interface connection has been established between the UE-1 and the second node (e.g. AP-1 )
  • either the first or the second node triggers the setup of a dedicated tunnel through the inter-node interface between the mobile terminal (UE-1 ) and the first radio access node (e.g. the eNodeB-1 ) so that the first radio access node is able to exchange dedicated messages with the UE-1 via the radio interface of the second node.
  • Figure 8 illustrates an example in which the first node (eNB-1 ) initially has a dedicated connection with the mobile terminal (UE-1 ) via their radio interfaces (e.g. for RRC control plane signaling).
  • a radio interface connection is established between the UE-1 and the second node (e.g. AP-1 ).
  • the first node eNodeB-1
  • the detection may be based on measurement reports, or on signaling from AP-1 .
  • a tunnel setup request is sent from eNodeB-1 to AP-1 .
  • This consists of the first node (eNB-1 ) sending a DEDICATED TUNNEL REQUEST message (e.g. via Xw) to the second node (AP-1 ).
  • This message contains a UE identity that makes the UE-1 identifiable at the second node.
  • the identity can be permanent, or temporary and can be obtained via different methods.
  • the UE-1 identity can either be an E-UTRAN identity (e.g.
  • WLAN identity WLAN MAC address
  • Figure 9 illustrates an alternative example in which the first node (eNB-1 ) initially has a dedicated connection with the mobile terminal (UE-1 ) via their radio interfaces (e.g. for RRC control plane signaling).
  • a radio interface connection is established between the UE-1 and the second node (e.g. AP-1 ).
  • the first node eNodeB-1
  • the detection may be based on measurement reports, or on signaling from AP-1 .
  • a tunnel setup request is sent from eNodeB-1 to AP-1 .
  • This consists of the first node (eNB-1 ) sending a DEDICATED TUNNEL REQUEST message (e.g. via Xw) to the second node (AP-1 ).
  • This message contains a UE identity that makes the UE-1 identifiable at the second node.
  • the identity can be permanent, or temporary and can be obtained via different methods.
  • the UE-1 identity can either be an E-UTRAN identity (e.g. C-RNTI, IMSI, TSMI, etc.) made available at the WLAN, it can be a WLAN identity (WLAN MAC address) made available at the E-UTRAN or a common identity made available to both nodes.
  • the second node AP-1 checks (signaling step 94 in Figure 9) if the UE is associated and authenticated, and confirms that the UE is associated and authenticated. In signaling step 95 in Figure 9, AP-1 confirms that it has the latest eNodeB identity for UE-1 .
  • the AP-1 verifies if the eNodeB requesting the tunnel is the eNodeB associated to the 3GPP cell identity (e.g. E-CGI) associated to UE-1 (assumed to be known by the AP).
  • the AP-1 is aware of the latest cell the UE has been associated with (e.g. via some measurement report) so it can check the matching immediately.
  • AP-1 sends a dedicated tunnel confirmation to eNodeB-1 .
  • eNodeB-1 performs an RRC Establishment procedure with UE-1 through the WLAN. As shown in step 99, eNodeB-1 keeps a special UE context for the tunnel, with the UE identity in LTE (for example E-UTRAN identity C-RNTI) and/or the AP-1 MAC.
  • LTE for example E-UTRAN identity C-RNTI
  • AP-1 MAC for example E-UTRAN identity C-RNTI
  • Figure 10 is a further alternative example, in which the first node (eNB-1 ) initially has a dedicated connection with the mobile terminal (UE-1 ) via their radio interfaces (e.g. for RRC control plane signaling).
  • eNB-1 the first node
  • UE-1 the mobile terminal
  • a radio interface connection is established between the UE-1 and the second node (e.g. AP-1 ).
  • the first node eNodeB-1
  • the detection may be based on measurement reports, or on signaling from AP-1 .
  • a tunnel setup request is sent from eNodeB-1 to AP-1 .
  • This consists of the first node (eNB-1 ) sending a DEDICATED TUNNEL REQUEST message (e.g. via Xw) to the second node (AP-1 ).
  • This message contains a UE identity that makes the UE-1 identifiable at the second node.
  • the identity can be permanent, or temporary and can be obtained via different methods.
  • the UE-1 identity can either be an E-UTRAN identity (e.g. C-RNTI, IMSI, TSMI, etc.) made available at the WLAN, it can be a WLAN identity (WLAN MAC address) made available at the E-UTRAN or a common identity made available to both nodes.
  • the second node AP-1 checks (signaling step 104 in Figure 10) if the UE is associated and authenticated, and confirms that the UE is associated and authenticated.
  • the AP-1 sends a message to the UE-1 (for example by sending a MAC management frame with a flag) requesting the identity of its associated cell, that is, the one that it has most recently been associated with.
  • the UE Upon the reception of the WLAN frame with the specific flag, in signaling step 106 in Figure 10, the UE sends the cell identity of the latest cell that it has been associated with. As shown in signaling step 107 in Figure 10, this may be sent by sending a MAC management frame with a flag, and containing the identity of its latest selected eNodeB.
  • the AP-1 can detect the matching.
  • AP-1 sends a dedicated tunnel confirmation to eNodeB-1 .
  • eNodeB-1 performs an RRC Establishment procedure with UE- 1 through the WLAN.
  • eNodeB-1 keeps a special UE context for the tunnel, with the UE identity in LTE (for example E-UTRAN identity C-RNTI) and/or the AP-1 MAC.
  • Figure 1 1 is a further alternative example, in which the first node (eNB-1 ) initially has a dedicated connection with the mobile terminal (UE-1 ) via their radio interfaces (e.g. for RRC control plane signaling).
  • eNB-1 the first node
  • UE-1 the mobile terminal
  • a radio interface connection is established between the UE-1 and the second node (e.g. AP-1 ).
  • the first node (eNodeB-1 ) detects that UE-1 is connected to AP-1 for traffic steering. For example, the detection may be based on measurement reports, or on signaling from AP-1 .
  • a tunnel setup request is sent from eNodeB-1 to AP-1 . This consists of the first node (eNB-1 ) sending a DEDICATED TUNNEL REQUEST message (e.g. via Xw) to the second node (AP-1 ).
  • This message contains a UE identity that makes the UE-1 identifiable at the second node.
  • the identity can be permanent, or temporary and can be obtained via different methods.
  • the UE-1 identity can either be an E-UTRAN identity (e.g. C-RNTI, IMSI, TSMI, etc.) made available at the WLAN, it can be a WLAN identity (WLAN MAC address) made available at the E-UTRAN or a common identity made available to both nodes.
  • E-UTRAN identity e.g. C-RNTI, IMSI, TSMI, etc.
  • WLAN identity WLAN MAC address
  • the second node AP-1 ) checks (signaling step 1 14 in Figure 1 1 ) if the UE is associated and authenticated, and confirms that the UE is associated and authenticated.
  • the AP-1 sends a message to the UE-1 (for example by sending a MAC management frame with a flag) indicating that a tunnel request has been made, and containing a cell identity received from the eNodeB.
  • the UE checks whether this cell identity matches the cell identity of the latest cell that it has been associated with.
  • Figure 1 1 shows the case where the eNodeB identities match, and, in signaling step 1 17, the UE sends a MAC management frame with a flag, and confirming that the eNodeB identified by the AP-1 matches the identity of its latest selected eNodeB.
  • AP-1 sends a dedicated tunnel confirmation to eNodeB-1 .
  • eNodeB-1 performs an RRC Establishment procedure with UE-1 through the WLAN.
  • eNodeB-1 keeps a special UE context for the tunnel, with the UE identity in LTE (for example E-UTRAN identity C-RNTI) and/or the AP-1 MAC.
  • Figure 12 is a further alternative example, in which the first node (eNB-1 ) initially has a dedicated connection with the mobile terminal (UE-1 ) via their radio interfaces (e.g. for RRC control plane signaling). Then, in signaling step 121 in Figure 12, a radio interface connection is established between the UE-1 and the second node (e.g. AP-1 ).
  • the first node (eNodeB-1 ) detects that UE-1 is connected to AP-1 for traffic steering. For example, the detection may be based on measurement reports, or on signaling from AP-1 .
  • a tunnel setup request is sent from eNodeB-1 to AP-1 .
  • This consists of the first node (eNB-1 ) sending a DEDICATED TUNNEL REQUEST message (e.g. via Xw) to the second node (AP-1 ).
  • This message contains a UE identity that makes the UE-1 identifiable at the second node.
  • the identity can be permanent, or temporary and can be obtained via different methods.
  • the UE-1 identity can either be an E-UTRAN identity (e.g. C-RNTI, IMSI, TSMI, etc.) made available at the WLAN, it can be a WLAN identity (WLAN MAC address) made available at the E-UTRAN or a common identity made available to both nodes.
  • the second node AP-1 checks (signaling step 124 in Figure 12) if the UE is associated and authenticated, and confirms that the UE is associated and authenticated.
  • the AP-1 sends a message to the UE-1 (for example by sending a MAC management frame with a flag) indicating that a tunnel request has been made, and containing a cell identity received from the eNodeB.
  • the UE checks whether this cell identity matches the cell identity of the latest cell that it has been associated with.
  • Figure 12 shows the case where the eNodeB identities do not match.
  • the UE in signaling step 127, the UE sends a MAC management frame with a flag, indicating the non-matching.
  • the message sent by the UE may also indicate the identity of its most recently selected eNodeB.
  • AP-1 receives the message indicating non-matching (signaling step 128 in Figure 12)
  • step 129a in Figure 12 the eNodeB-1 then releases the UE context for this tunnel.
  • the eNodeB-1 is a 3GPP eNodeB
  • the dedicated connection is an RRC Connection.
  • the eNodeB-1 may allocate a special and/or new C-RNTI associated to the new tunneled dedicated connection.
  • the same C-RNTI as used for the UE during the initial connection is kept (i.e. reused).
  • the AP-1 may also inform the UE that the dedicated tunnel has been established. In this case, the UE is able to initiate, for example, an RRC Connection Establishment procedure.
  • the same C-RNTI can be used, in the case of a previously released RRC connection with the same eNodeB or another newly allocated C-RNTI informed to the UE during any of the previous steps.
  • the RRC connection will be released after some time after the UE starts to transmit over WLAN. Therefore it may in some scenarios be beneficial to establish the RRC tunnel before terminating the RRC connection which is going over the 3GPP radio interface. This would ensure that, at any point in time, the terminal has an active RRC connection to the eNB. This could be achieved by the eNB maintaining the RRC connection to the terminal up until the RRC tunnel has been successfully been established (i.e. the "RRC tunnel confirmation" message has been received), even though a timer (like the inactivity timer described in the background section) has expired. In case the RRC tunnel setup procedure is unsuccessful (i.e. the "RRC tunnel reject" message has been received), the eNB may however anyway terminate the RRC connection even though the RRC tunnel has not been setup.
  • Figure 13 shows an embodiment in which the first node (eNB-1 ) initially has a dedicated RRC connection for control plane signaling with the mobile terminal (UE-1 ) via an LTE radio interface. Then, in signaling step 131 in Figure 13, a radio interface connection is established between the UE-1 and the second node (e.g. AP-1 ). As shown in signaling step 132, the UE maintains its RRC connection with eNB-1 even if its timer expires, until it receives an explicit RRC connection release message from eNB-1 .
  • the first node (eNodeB-1 ) is notified that UE-1 is connected to AP-1 for traffic steering.
  • the eNodeB-1 holds the UE context.
  • step 134 in Figure 13 the initial steps for tunnel setup are performed, as described previously.
  • AP-1 sends a dedicated tunnel confirmation to eNodeB-1 .
  • eNodeB-1 performs an RRC Establishment procedure with UE-1 through the WLAN.
  • eNodeB-1 releases the UE context for the connection over the LTE interface and, in signaling step 138, sends an RRC connection release message to the UE.
  • the UE goes to RRCJDLE, and starts to use the RRC connection over the WLAN interface.
  • Figure 14 shows an alternative embodiment in which the first node (eNB-1 ) initially has a dedicated RRC connection for control plane signaling with the mobile terminal (UE-1 ) via an LTE radio interface. Then, in signaling step 141 in Figure 14, a radio interface connection is established between the UE-1 and the second node (e.g. AP-1 ). As shown in signaling step 142, the UE maintains its RRC connection with eNB-1 even if its timer expires, until it receives an explicit RRC connection release message from eNB-1 . In signaling step 143, the first node (eNodeB-1 ) is notified that UE-1 is connected to AP-1 for traffic steering. The eNodeB-1 holds the UE context.
  • the first node (eNodeB-1 ) is notified that UE-1 is connected to AP-1 for traffic steering. The eNodeB-1 holds the UE context.
  • eNodeB-1 performs an RRC Establishment procedure with UE-1 through the WLAN.
  • eNodeB-1 keeps the UE context for the connection over the LTE interface as well as the UE context for the connection over the dedicated tunnel and over WLAN.
  • eNodeB-1 keeps both RRC connections, one through the LTE interface and one using the tunnel via WLAN and the inter-node interface. This creates RRC diversity, which may be beneficial in certain scenarios.
  • FIG. 15 This use of the dedicated control plane tunnel is shown in Figure 15.
  • This figure illustrates RRC diversity through LTE and an inter-node interface and WLAN.
  • eNB 10 maintains the direct RRC connection to the UE 12 (i.e. through the radio interface between the eNB 10 and UE 12) and also establishes and maintains an RRC connection through the dedicated RRC tunnel through the WLAN AP 14 to the UE 12.
  • the eNB 10/UE 12 can then communicate control plane (RRC) information through either or both of the RRC connections.
  • RRC control plane
  • RRC messages can be sent to/from the UE 12 via both the 3GPP (direct) RRC and the tunnelled RRC (i.e. the tunnel established via WLAN 14 for the UE 12), or in either the 3GPP RRC or the tunnelled RRC.
  • the 3GPP RRC connection can be used for RRC messages from the eNB to the UE, and the tunnelled RRC connection for RRC messages from the UE to the eNB, or vice versa.
  • This distribution of RRC messages can be related to the load distribution in the downlink and uplink in LTE and WLAN.
  • Figure 16 shows an alternative embodiment in which the first node (eNB-1 ) initially has a dedicated RRC connection for control plane signaling with the mobile terminal (UE-1 ) via an LTE radio interface.
  • a radio interface connection is established between the UE-1 and the second node (e.g. AP-1 ).
  • the UE maintains its RRC connection with eNB-1 even if its timer expires, until it receives an explicit RRC connection release message from eNB-1 .
  • the first node (eNodeB-1 ) is notified that UE-1 is connected to AP-1 for traffic steering.
  • the eNodeB-1 holds the UE context.
  • step 164 in Figure 16 the initial steps for tunnel setup are performed, as described previously.
  • the process is unsuccessful, and, in signaling step 165 in Figure 16, AP-1 sends a tunnel rejection message to eNodeB-1 .
  • eNodeB-1 keeps the UE context for the connection over the LTE interface, and does not trigger the inactivity timer. This ensures that the UE stays in RRC connected mode with eNodeB-1 as shown at 169, even though it has an active data plane connection to AP- 1 .
  • a specific identifier is used to map the tunnel to the specific UE.
  • This identifier may be set after identification of the UE has occurred in the first node or in the second node or in both nodes. Such identification may have occurred by means of a specific UE identifier reported by the UE and used by either of the nodes to identify the UE.
  • a new RRC Tunnel identifier can be exchanged between the two nodes, which have the role of mapping the tunnel to the UE.
  • the UE may move to an idle state in any of the nodes, while being active in the other. For example, the UE may move to Idle in the connection with node 1 (e.g.
  • the identifier mapping the tunnel to the UE may be used to point at a UE class or to a generic group that identifies part or all of the UE characteristics such as capabilities, services in use, configuration, and enabled bearers, etc. With such mapping it would be possible to avoid storing full UE contexts once the UE moves to idle mode.
  • UEs that moved to idle in either of the nodes may be classified in groups depending on their UE contexts.
  • RRC messages from node 1 may be triggered for all UEs in the same group, namely a common RRC treatment can be enabled for all UEs in the same group, despite the tunnel may be setup for each of the UEs.
  • the tunnel request is sent by the first network node, that is, the node with which the terminal had the original connection.
  • the RRC Tunnel Request may be triggered by the second network node, which in the illustrated embodiments is the WLAN AP-1 , once the UE connects to it. In this case it is assumed that the UE will report information that would let AP-1 identify the eNB where the UE was or is connected. The second network node AP-1 can therefore trigger an RRC Tunnel Setup message towards eNB-1 and proceed with the methods described above.
  • the tunnel uses two containers, one through the inter-node interface and one through the radio interface.
  • the second node is a WLAN access point
  • the second container is through WLAN.
  • the application protocol running in the inter- node interface is adapted to the inter-node interface.
  • the inter-node interface may be an Xw interface
  • Xw application protocol XwAP
  • Each inter-node interface may be a peer to peer interface, i.e. an interface that connects the two nodes directly, or may connect the two nodes while passing through other network nodes.
  • a new flag may be defined in the management MAC frames in WLAN to indicate the signaling messages as the payload in both Uplink and Downlink directions so the UE (and/or the AP) are able to identify that the payload has to be transferred to the control layer.
  • the AP may be informed that a given MAC frame should be encapsulated into Xw containers with the proper identities and flags indicating these are RRC messages.
  • any access technologies can be used.
  • the first radio access node may be an eNB and the second may be a WLAN AP
  • the first radio access node it is equally possible for the first radio access node to be a WLAN AP while the second is an eNB.
  • the dedicated control plane tunnel can be used to carry any required control messages.
  • Figure 17 shows a protocol stack in the case of a first network node being an eNodeB with an E-UTRAN air interface and the second network node being a WLAN access point.
  • the inter-node interface is described as an Xw interface, but any suitable inter-node interface may be used.
  • the eNB may exchange RRC messages with the UE through the RRC tunnel.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé destiné à être utilisé dans un système comprenant un premier nœud de réseau, un second nœud de réseau et un dispositif de terminal, dans un cas dans lequel le dispositif de terminal a une connexion au second nœud de réseau sur une interface radio et le premier nœud de réseau a une connexion au second nœud de réseau sur une interface inter-nœuds. Un tunnel de plan de commande dédié est établi, pour envoyer des messages dédiés, entre le premier nœud de réseau et le dispositif de terminal sur l'interface inter-nœuds et l'interface radio.
PCT/SE2015/050973 2014-09-26 2015-09-17 Établissement d'un tunnel de plan de commande dédié WO2016048219A1 (fr)

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CN112218286A (zh) * 2019-07-09 2021-01-12 大唐移动通信设备有限公司 终端能力标识映射方法、终端能力查询方法及装置

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WO2007143721A2 (fr) * 2006-06-07 2007-12-13 Qualcomm Incorporated Procédés et appareil pour utiliser des valeurs de contrôle pour contrôler le traitement des communications
US20100054207A1 (en) * 2008-09-04 2010-03-04 Vivek Gupta L2 Tunneling-based Low Latency Single Radio Handoffs
WO2013091236A1 (fr) * 2011-12-23 2013-06-27 Nokia Corporation Procédé et appareil de déchargement de trafic
WO2013191461A1 (fr) * 2012-06-19 2013-12-27 엘지전자 주식회사 Procédé de mise à jour d'emplacement pour terminal supportant plusieurs technologies d'accès radio

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WO2007143721A2 (fr) * 2006-06-07 2007-12-13 Qualcomm Incorporated Procédés et appareil pour utiliser des valeurs de contrôle pour contrôler le traitement des communications
US20100054207A1 (en) * 2008-09-04 2010-03-04 Vivek Gupta L2 Tunneling-based Low Latency Single Radio Handoffs
WO2013091236A1 (fr) * 2011-12-23 2013-06-27 Nokia Corporation Procédé et appareil de déchargement de trafic
WO2013191461A1 (fr) * 2012-06-19 2013-12-27 엘지전자 주식회사 Procédé de mise à jour d'emplacement pour terminal supportant plusieurs technologies d'accès radio

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112218286A (zh) * 2019-07-09 2021-01-12 大唐移动通信设备有限公司 终端能力标识映射方法、终端能力查询方法及装置
CN112218286B (zh) * 2019-07-09 2021-07-23 大唐移动通信设备有限公司 终端能力标识映射方法、终端能力查询方法及装置

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