WO2016145969A1

WO2016145969A1 - Handover method and apparatus for mobile network

Info

Publication number: WO2016145969A1
Application number: PCT/CN2016/074277
Authority: WO
Inventors: 谢振华
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2015-03-19
Filing date: 2016-02-22
Publication date: 2016-09-22
Also published as: CN106034335A

Abstract

Disclosed are a handover method and apparatus for a mobile network without participation of a gateway system. In the method, base station systems execute the following processing: after having received a handover request, a target base station system setting IP address information for a terminal device to be handed over, and sending the IP address information to a sender of the handover request; and after having received the IP address information, a source base station system sending the IP address information to the terminal device to be handed over. A network control system executes the following processing: the network control system receiving a handover response message sent by the target base station system, and sending a handover command to the terminal device to be handed over, the handover command carrying the IP address information, and the IP address information being carried in the handover response message or set by the network control system.

Description

Method and device for switching mobile network

Technical field

This application relates to, but is not limited to, the field of mobile communications.

Background technique

In the mobile network switching method of the related art, in a case where the terminal device has established a data path through the source base station system and the gateway system of the mobile network, the source base station system receives the measurement report (Measurement Report) sent by the terminal device to the source base station system. The source base station system decides to switch the terminal device to access through the target base station system, and then sends a Handover Required message to the network control system. The network control system includes, for example, an MME (Mobility Management Entity), an SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node), and the like, and the network control system may include multiple MMEs or multiple SGSNs, or multiple MMEs and SGSN. After receiving the handover inquiry message, the network control system sends a handover request (Handover Request) to the target base station system, and the network control system receives the handover response (Handover Request Acknowledge) from the target base station system to the network control system, and then sends the handover request to the source base station. The system sends a Handover Command. After receiving the handover command forwarded by the source base station system, the terminal device accesses the target base station system, sends a Handover Complete message to the target base station system, and the target base station system sends a handover complete message to the network control system. The network control system sends an update path message (such as sending a Modify Bearer Request) to the gateway system, so that the gateway system is connected to the target base station. At this point, the terminal device can continue to transmit and receive data through the target base station system and the gateway system. See Figure 102, Step 102 - Step 118 for details.

Summary of the invention

The following is an overview of the topics detailed in this document. This Summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

It can be seen from the process of FIG. 1 that in the handover process of the related art, the terminal uses the IP address assigned by the original gateway system, and after the handover is completed and the path is updated, the network relationship needs to be passed through when the data is subsequently sent and received. In addition, even when the user moves over a long distance, the original gateway system still needs to use the original gateway system to send and receive data, which makes the network less efficient and increases the communication resource consumption.

This document provides a method and apparatus for switching mobile networks without the involvement of a gateway system.

A handover method of a mobile network, wherein the base station system performs the following processing:

After receiving the handover request, the target base station system sets IP address information for the terminal device to be switched, and sends the IP address information to the sender of the handover request;

After receiving the IP address information, the source base station system sends the IP address information to the to-be-switched terminal device.

Optionally, the sending the IP address information to the sender of the handover request includes: directly sending the IP address information to a source base station system, or sending the IP address information through a network control system. To the source base station system.

Optionally, the sending the IP address information to the source base station system directly includes: sending a handover response message to the source base station system, where the handover response message carries the IP address information.

Optionally, the sending the IP address information to the source base station system by using the network control system includes: sending a handover response message to the network control system, where the handover response message carries the IP address information, where The network control system sends a handover command carrying the IP address information to the source base station system.

Optionally, the source base station system sends the IP address information to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the source base station system sends a handover command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the handover command carries Describe the IP address information.

Optionally, the IP address information includes one of the following: an IP address; an IP address prefix; and an identifier indicating that the terminal device reacquires the IP address.

A switching device for a mobile network, located in a base station system, comprising a cut-in module and a cut-out module, wherein:

The hand-in module is configured to: after receiving the handover request, set IP address information for the terminal device to be switched, and send the IP address information to the sender of the handover request;

The cutting out module is configured to: after receiving the IP address information, send the IP address information to the terminal device to be switched.

A method for switching a mobile network, wherein the network control system performs the following processing:

The network control system receives the handover response message sent by the target base station system, and sends a handover command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the handover command carries the IP address information, where the IP address information is carried in the handover response message or is Set by the network control system.

Optionally, the network control system sends a handover command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the network control system sends a handover command to the source base station system, where the source base station system sends the handover command to be to be switched. Terminal Equipment.

A switching device for a mobile network, located in a network control system, comprising a first receiving module and a switching command sending module, wherein:

The first receiving module is configured to: receive a handover response message of the target base station system;

The switching command sending module is configured to: send a switching command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the switching command carries IP address information, where the IP address information is carried in the switching response or is controlled by the network System settings.

A method for switching a mobile network, wherein the terminal device performs the following processing:

The to-be-switched terminal device receives the handover command sent by the source base station system, where the handover command carries the IP address information, and the IP address information includes one of the following contents: an IP address; an IP address prefix; and indicates that the terminal device reacquires the IP address. And identifying, the to-be-switched terminal device updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device according to the IP address information, and accesses the target base station system.

Optionally, the to-be-switched terminal device updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device according to the IP address information, including:

The terminal device to be switched updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device by using the IP address in the IP address information; or

The terminal device to be switched uses the IP address prefix in the IP address information to synthesize a new IP address with the information of the terminal device, and uses the new IP address to update the IP address configuration of the terminal device; or

The to-be-switched terminal device acquires a new IP address from the network according to the identifier indicating that the terminal device re-acquires the IP address in the IP address information, and updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device by using the new IP address.

A switching device for a mobile network, located in a terminal device, comprising a second receiving module and a switching module, wherein:

The second receiving module is configured to: receive a handover command sent by the source base station system, where the handover command carries IP address information, where the IP address information includes one of the following: an IP address; an IP address prefix; The device re-acquires the identifier of the IP address.

The switching module is configured to: update an IP address configuration of the terminal device according to the IP address information, and access the target base station system.

A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of any of the above.

In the method of the embodiment of the present invention, the gateway system can no longer participate in the handover, and the subsequent transmission and reception of data does not need to go through the gateway system, or when the long-distance mobile, the gateway system can be selected to send and receive data. The method of the embodiment of the invention improves network transmission efficiency and reduces resource consumption.

Other aspects will be apparent upon reading and understanding the drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF abstract

FIG. 1 is a related art mobile network switching method;

2 is a flowchart of a handover method of a base station system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus in a base station system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart of a method for switching a network control system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus in a network control system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention; FIG.

6 is a flowchart of a method for switching a terminal device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

7 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus in a terminal device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

8 is a mobile network switching method of Application Example 1;

9 is a mobile network switching method of application example 2;

FIG. 10 is a mobile network switching method of Application Example 3.

Embodiments of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the case of no conflict, the features in the embodiments and the embodiments in the present application may be arbitrarily combined with each other.

The steps illustrated in the flowchart of the figures may be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer executable instructions. Also, although logical sequences are shown in the flowcharts, in some cases the steps shown or described may be performed in a different order than the ones described herein.

Embodiment 1

This embodiment describes a handover method implemented by a base station system, as shown in FIG. 2, including the following steps:

Step 11: After receiving the handover request, the target base station system sets IP address information for the terminal device to be switched, and sends the IP address information to the sender of the handover request.

The handover request is usually sent by the source base station system, and the target base station system can directly send the IP address information to the source base station system or to the source base station system through the network control system.

The target base station system sends a handover response message to the source base station system, where the handover response message carries the IP address information; or the target base station system sends a handover response message to the network control system, where the handover response message carries The IP address information is sent by the network control system to the source base station system to carry a handover command carrying the IP address information. The actual steps used depend on the handover process. In general, the target base station system is responsible for allocating or setting IP address information and notifying The source base station system is sent by the source base station system to the to-be-switched terminal for the handover terminal to implement handover, and the handover process no longer requires the participation of the gateway system, thereby improving network efficiency and reducing system resource consumption.

The IP address information includes one of the following: an IP address; an IP address prefix; and an identifier indicating that the terminal device reacquires the IP address.

Step 12: After receiving the IP address information, the source base station system sends the IP address information to the to-be-switched terminal device.

The source base station system sends a handover command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the IP address information is carried in the handover command.

The apparatus for implementing the above method is located in a base station system, as shown in FIG. 3, including a hand-in module 13 and a cutout module 14, wherein:

The hand-in module 13 is configured to: after receiving the handover request, set IP address information for the terminal device to be switched, and send the IP address information to the sender of the handover request;

The cutting out module 14 is configured to: after receiving the IP address information, send the IP address information to the terminal device to be switched.

In an embodiment, the hand-in module 13 is configured to: directly send the IP address information to the source base station system, where the hand-in module 13 is configured to: send a handover response message to the source base station system, where The handover response message carries the IP address information.

In an embodiment, the hand-in module 13 is configured to send the IP address information to the source base station system through the network control system. The hand-in module 13 is configured to: send a handover response message to the network control system, where the handover response message carries the IP address information, and the network control system sends the Switching command for IP address information.

In an embodiment, the cutting out module 13 sends the IP address information to the to-be-switched terminal device, including: the cutting out module 13 sends a switching command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the switching The command carries the IP address information.

With the method and the device in this embodiment, the target base station system is responsible for allocating an IP address to the terminal device to be switched, without the participation of the gateway system, and the subsequent transmission and reception of data does not need to go through the gateway system, or when the long-distance mobile, the gateway system can be selected to send and receive data. . Improve network transmission efficiency and reduce LF.

Embodiment 2

This embodiment describes a handover method implemented by the network control system, as shown in FIG. 4, including the following steps:

Step 21: The network control system receives a handover response message sent by the target base station system.

Step 22: The network control system sends a handover command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the handover command carries IP address information, where the IP address information is carried in the handover response message or is set by the network control system. .

In the above step 22, the network control system sends a handover command to the to-be-switched terminal device, including: the network control system sends a handover command to the source base station system, and the source base station system sends the handover command to The terminal device to be switched.

The device for implementing the above method is located in the network control system, as shown in FIG. 5, and includes a first receiving module 23 and a switching command sending module 24, where:

The first receiving module 23 is configured to: receive a handover response message of the target base station system;

The handover command sending module 24 is configured to: send a handover command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the handover command carries IP address information, where the IP address information is carried in the handover response or is performed by the network Control system settings.

The handover command sending module 24 is configured to: send a handover command to the source base station system, and send, by the source base station system, the handover command to the terminal device to be switched.

Through the method and device of the embodiment, the network control system is responsible for allocating an IP address for the terminal device to be switched, without the participation of the gateway system, and the subsequent transmission and reception of data does not need to go through the gateway system, or when the long-distance mobile, the gateway system can be selected to send and receive data. . Improve network transmission efficiency and reduce resource consumption.

Embodiment 3

This embodiment describes a handover method implemented by the terminal device. As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes the following steps:

Step 31: The switching terminal device receives a handover command sent by the source base station system, where the handover command carries IP address information.

Step 32: The terminal device to be switched updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device according to the IP address information, and accesses the target base station system.

Optionally, if the IP address information is an IP address, the to-be-switched terminal device directly updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device by using the IP address in the IP address information.

Optionally, if the IP address information is an IP address prefix, the to-be-switched terminal device synthesizes a new IP address with the information of the local terminal device by using the IP address prefix in the IP address information, and uses the new IP address to update. IP address configuration of the terminal device. The information of the terminal device may be, for example, an IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and/or an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity).

Optionally, if the IP address information is an identifier indicating that the terminal device reacquires the IP address, the to-be-switched terminal device acquires a new IP address from the network according to the identifier in the IP address information indicating that the terminal device re-acquires the IP address. And updating the IP address configuration of the terminal device by using the new IP address.

The device for implementing the above method is located in the terminal device, as shown in FIG. 7, and includes a second receiving module 33 and a switching module 34, wherein:

The second receiving module 33 is configured to: receive a handover command sent by the source base station system, where the handover command carries IP address information;

The switching module 34 is configured to: update the IP address configuration of the terminal device according to the IP address information, and access the target base station system.

Optionally, if the IP address information is an IP address, the switching module 34 is configured to: directly update the IP address configuration of the terminal device by using the IP address in the IP address information.

Optionally, if the IP address information is an IP address prefix, the switching module 34 is configured to: synthesize a new IP address with the information of the local terminal device by using an IP address prefix in the IP address information, and use the new one. The IP address updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device.

Optionally, if the IP address information is an identifier indicating that the terminal device reacquires the IP address, the switching module 34 is configured to: acquire, according to the identifier in the IP address information that the terminal device reacquires the IP address, obtain new information from the network. The IP address, using the new IP address to update the IP address configuration of the terminal device.

With the method and the device in this embodiment, the terminal device to be switched updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device according to the assigned IP address information, and the data can be directly sent and received through the target base station system without going through the gateway system. Improve network transmission efficiency and reduce resource consumption.

The method of the above embodiment is exemplified by several application examples below.

Application example one

As shown in FIG. 8, a mobile network switching method includes the following steps:

Steps S202 to S206 are the same as steps S102 to S106 of FIG. 1;

Step 208: The target base station system may further include a local gateway system, and the target base station system responds to the network control system with a handover response, such as sending a Handover Request Acknowledge, carrying the IP address information, where the IP address information is the target base station system (or local Gateway system) directly assigned IP address, or the IP address obtained by the target base station system (or the local gateway system) through the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) system, or the target base station system (or the local gateway therein) System) directly assigned IP address prefix, or just an identifier to indicate that the terminal reacquires the IP address;

Step 210: The network control system sends a handover command to the source base station system, for example, sends a Handover Command, and carries the received IP address information.

Step 212: The source base station system sends a handover response to the terminal device, for example, sends a Handover Command, and carries the received IP address information.

The terminal device receives the handover command, and updates the IP address configuration of the device according to the IP address information. For example, the IP address of the device is directly updated by using the obtained IP address, or the IP address prefix is used to synthesize the IP address with the information of the device. Use the IP address to update the IP address configuration of the device; or update the identifier according to the IP address therein, and obtain a new IP address from the network, for example, through the DHCP process, after accessing the target base station system, the target base station system can directly send and receive the number. According to this, there is no need to pass through the source target base station system and the gateway system.

Application example two

As shown in FIG. 9, another mobile network switching method includes the following steps:

Step 302: The terminal device sends a measurement report to the source base station system, for example, sending a Measurement Report message.

Step 304: The source base station system decides to switch the terminal device to access through the target base station system, and then sends a handover request to the target base station system, for example, sends a Handover Request message.

Step 306, the target base station system may further include a local gateway system, and the target base station system responds to the source base station system with a handover response, such as sending a Handover Request Acknowledge, carrying the IP address information, where the IP address information is the target base station system (or local Gateway system) directly assigned IP address, or the IP address obtained by the target base station system (or the local gateway system therein) through the DHCP system, or the IP address prefix directly assigned by the target base station system (or the local gateway system therein), or only Is an identifier to indicate that the terminal regains an IP address;

Step 308: The source base station system sends a handover response to the terminal device, for example, sends a Handover Command, and carries the received IP address information.

The terminal device receives the handover command, and updates the IP address configuration of the device according to the IP address information. For example, the IP address of the device is directly updated by using the obtained IP address, or the IP address prefix is used to synthesize the IP address with the information of the device. Use the IP address to update the IP address configuration of the device; or update the identifier according to the IP address therein, and obtain a new IP address from the network, for example, through the DHCP process, after accessing the target base station system, the target base station system can directly send and receive data. No need to go through the source target base station system and gateway system.

Application example three

As shown in FIG. 10, it is another mobile network switching method, including the following steps:

Steps S402 to S408 are the same as steps S102 to S108 of FIG. 1;

Step 410: The network control system responds to the source base station system with a handover response, such as sending a Handover. Command, carrying IP address information, wherein the IP address information is an IP address directly assigned by the network control system, or an IP address obtained by the network control system through the DHCP system, or an IP address prefix directly assigned by the network control system, or just an identifier. Instructing the terminal to reacquire the IP address;

Step 412: The source base station system sends a handover response to the terminal device, for example, sends a Handover Command, and carries the received IP address information.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or a portion of the steps of the above-described embodiments can be implemented using a computer program flow, which can be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as on a corresponding hardware platform (eg, The system, device, device, device, etc. are executed, and when executed, include one or a combination of the steps of the method embodiments.

Alternatively, all or part of the steps of the above embodiments may also be implemented by using an integrated circuit. These steps may be separately fabricated into individual integrated circuit modules, or multiple modules or steps may be fabricated into a single integrated circuit module. achieve.

The devices/function modules/functional units in the above embodiments may be implemented by a general-purpose computing device, which may be centralized on a single computing device or distributed over a network of multiple computing devices.

When the device/function module/functional unit in the above embodiment is implemented in the form of a software function module and sold or used as a stand-alone product, it can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. The above mentioned computer readable storage medium may be a read only memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk or the like.

Industrial applicability

Through the embodiment of the present invention, the gateway system can no longer participate in the handover, and the subsequent data transmission and reception does not need to be performed. When the gateway system is used, or when moving over a long distance, the gateway system can be selected to send and receive data. The embodiment of the invention improves network transmission efficiency and reduces resource consumption.

Claims

A method for handover of a mobile network, comprising: the base station system performing the following processing:

After receiving the handover request, the target base station system sets IP address information for the terminal device to be switched, and sends the IP address information to the sender of the handover request;

After receiving the IP address information, the source base station system sends the IP address information to the to-be-switched terminal device.
The method of claim 1 wherein

The sending the IP address information to the sender of the handover request includes:

Sending the IP address information directly to the source base station system, or sending the IP address information to the source base station system through the network control system.
The method of claim 2, wherein

The sending the IP address information directly to the source base station system includes: sending a handover response message to the source base station system, where the handover response message carries the IP address information.
The method of claim 2, wherein

The sending the IP address information to the source base station system by using the network control system includes: sending a handover response message to the network control system, where the handover response message carries the IP address information, and the network control system sends the The source base station system sends a handover command carrying the IP address information.
The method of claim 1 wherein

The source base station system sends the IP address information to the to-be-switched terminal device, including:

The source base station system sends a handover command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the handover command carries the IP address information.
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein

The IP address information includes one of the following contents:

IP address; IP address prefix; indicates that the terminal device re-acquires the IP address.
A method for switching a mobile network, comprising: the network control system performs the following processing:

The network control system receives the handover response message sent by the target base station system, and sends the handover response message to the terminal device to be switched. And sending a handover command, where the handover command carries IP address information, where the IP address information is carried in the handover response message or is set by the network control system.
The method of claim 7 wherein

Sending, by the network control system, a handover command to the terminal device to be switched, including:

The network control system sends a handover command to the source base station system, and the source base station system sends the handover command to the terminal device to be switched.
The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein

The IP address information includes one of the following contents:

IP address; IP address prefix; indicates that the terminal device re-acquires the IP address.
A method for switching a mobile network, comprising: the terminal device performing the following processing:

The to-be-switched terminal device receives the handover command sent by the source base station system, where the handover command carries the IP address information, and the IP address information includes one of the following contents: an IP address; an IP address prefix; and indicates that the terminal device reacquires the IP address. And identifying, the to-be-switched terminal device updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device according to the IP address information, and accesses the target base station system.
The method of claim 10, wherein

The terminal device to be switched updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device according to the IP address information, including:

The terminal device to be switched updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device by using the IP address in the IP address information; or

The terminal device to be switched uses the IP address prefix in the IP address information to synthesize a new IP address with the information of the terminal device, and uses the new IP address to update the IP address configuration of the terminal device; or

The to-be-switched terminal device acquires a new IP address from the network according to the identifier indicating that the terminal device re-acquires the IP address in the IP address information, and updates the IP address configuration of the terminal device by using the new IP address.
A switching device for a mobile network, located in a base station system, comprising a cut-in module and a cut-out module, wherein:

The hand-in module is configured to: after receiving the handover request, set IP address information for the terminal device to be switched, and send the IP address information to the sender of the handover request;

The cutting out module is configured to: after receiving the IP address information, send the IP address information to the terminal device to be switched.
A switching device for a mobile network, located in a network control system, comprising a first receiving module and a switching command sending module, wherein:

The first receiving module is configured to: receive a handover response message of the target base station system;

The switching command sending module is configured to: send a switching command to the to-be-switched terminal device, where the switching command carries IP address information, where the IP address information is carried in the switching response or is controlled by the network System settings.
A switching device for a mobile network, located in a terminal device, comprising a second receiving module and a switching module, wherein:

The second receiving module is configured to: receive a handover command sent by the source base station system, where the handover command carries IP address information, where the IP address information includes one of the following: an IP address; an IP address prefix; The device re-acquires the identifier of the IP address.

The switching module is configured to: update an IP address configuration of the terminal device according to the IP address information, and access the target base station system.
A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of any of claims 1-11.