WO2017071367A1

WO2017071367A1 - Packet data gateway dual-stack address selection method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2017071367A1
Application number: PCT/CN2016/094238
Authority: WO
Inventors: 徐雯; 于进刚
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2015-10-28
Filing date: 2016-08-09
Publication date: 2017-05-04
Also published as: CN106658477A

Abstract

Disclosed are a PGW dual-stack address selection method and apparatus. The method comprises the following steps: an MME determining an address type with the currently highest priority from PGW dual-stack address types; and the MME sending a session creation request containing the PGW dual-stack address types and the address type with the currently highest priority to an SGW, so that the SGW uses the PGW dual-stack address types and the address type with the currently highest priority to select a suitable PGW address.

Description

Method and device for selecting double stack address of packet data gateway

Technical field

This document relates to, but is not limited to, the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a PGW (Packet Data Network Gateway) dual stack address selection method and apparatus.

Background technique

With the rapid development of mobile communication technology, IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4) has become more and more obvious in terms of address capacity and security. The advantages of IPv6 protocol have attracted more and more attention. First, IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6, Network Association Edition 6) provides unimagined address capacity. Second, IPv6 enhances some features that support communication network applications, including scalable network architecture, enhanced end-to-end security and data. Integrity, etc. With the continuous development of mobile communication networks, the fourth generation communication network is already a hierarchical network with complete IP as the core. Based on the advantages of IPv6, it is an inevitable trend to study how to apply IPv6 technology in mobile communication networks.

In the related art, the core network equipment of the EPC (Evolved Packet Core) network is mainly based on the IPv4 interface. The operator is gradually deploying the IPv6 interface. The dual-stack mode of coexistence of IPv4 and IPv6 exists at the same time. During the evolution of an IPv4 network to an IPv6 network, the operator may use different priorities for the IPv6 address or the IPv4 address of the core network device.

The selection of the PGW address in the 3GPP protocol is performed by the MME (Mobility Management Entity). The MME obtains the address of the PGW through the DNS (Domain Name System) or local resolution, and the MME sends the message to the MME. SGW (Serving Gateway), the network element involved, as shown in Figure 1.

The base station eNB (evolved Node B) 101, the mobility management network element MME 102, the serving gateway SGW 103, and the PDN gateways PGW 104, 105;

The MME parses the PGW dual stack address. If only one address is carried, the related process is as shown in Figure 2.

Step 201: A user initiates an attach or PDN connection request by using an eNB.

Step 202: The MME searches for the PGW address through the DNS resolution or the local resolution (there is a dual-stack address), and the MME sends a create session request to the SGW, and carries only one type of address of the PGW IPv4 or IPv6 according to the configuration or the weight priority;

Step 203: The SGW sends a create session request to the carried PGW address.

Step 204, the PGW sends a create session response message to the SGW;

Step 205: The SGW sends a create session response message to the MME.

In step 206, the MME sends an attach or PDN connection response message to the eNB.

The MME parses the PGW dual-stack address. If the MME carries the PGW of the two address types at the same time, the related process is as shown in Figure 3 below.

Step 301: A user initiates an attach or PDN connection request by using an eNB.

Step 302: The MME searches for a PGW address through a DNS resolution or local resolution (there is a dual stack address), and the MME sends a create session request to the SGW, carrying the PGW IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.

Step 303: The SGW cannot obtain the priority of the PGW address type, and randomly sends a create session request to the PGW (IPv4) or the PGW (IPv6).

Step 304, the PGW sends a create session response message to the SGW;

Step 305: The SGW sends a create session response message to the MME.

In step 306, the MME sends an attach or PDN connection response message to the eNB.

If the MME is unable to know which address type is supported between the SGW and the PGW, the related art may cause the service to fail if the SGW does not support the address type of the SGW. If the MME chooses to have two types of addresses for the SGW, the SGW can only randomly select one type of PGW, which cannot meet the needs of the operator to gradually evolve from IPv4 to IPv6.

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.

This paper provides a method and device for selecting a PGW dual stack address, which can be solved in related technologies. There is a problem that the PGW cannot be dynamically selected according to the address type priority and the address type supported by the SGW and the PGW interface.

This article provides a method for PGW dual stack address selection, including the following steps:

The mobility management entity MME determines the address type with the highest current priority from the PGW dual stack address type;

Sending, by the MME, a create session request including the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type to the serving gateway SGW, so that the SGW selects the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type. Applicable PGW address.

Optionally, in the foregoing method, the PGW dual stack address type includes a PGW IPv4 address type and a PGW IPv6 address type.

Optionally, in the foregoing method, the determining, by the MME, the address type with the highest current priority from the PGW dual stack address type includes:

Determining, by the MME, the PGW address of the address type with the highest priority according to the initial priority and weight of the PGW IPv4 address type and the PGW IPv6 address type respectively; or

The MME determines the PGW address of the address type with the highest priority according to the configuration information of the user.

This paper also discloses a method for packet data gateway PGW dual stack address selection, including the following steps:

The serving gateway SGW receives the creation session request that is sent by the mobility management entity MME and includes the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type.

The SGW selects an applicable PGW address from the PGW dual stack address according to the PGW address type supported by itself and the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type included in the received creation session request.

The SGW sends a create session request to the PGW of the selected PGW address, and forwards the create session response returned by the PGW to the MME.

Optionally, in the foregoing method, the PGW address type supported by the SGW includes any one or two of the following:

PGW IPv4 address type, PGW IPv6 address type.

Optionally, in the foregoing method, the SGW is configured from the PGW dual stack address according to the PGW address type supported by the SGW and the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type included in the received creation session request. Choosing the applicable PGW address includes:

When the PGW address type supported by the SGW includes the address type with the highest current priority, the PGW address corresponding to the address type with the highest priority is selected;

When the PGW address type supported by the SGW does not include the address type with the highest current priority, the PGW address supported by the SGW is selected.

Also disclosed herein is a device for selecting a packet data gateway PGW dual stack address, comprising:

Determining a module, configured to determine an address type with the highest current priority from the PGW dual stack address type;

a sending module, configured to send, to the serving gateway SGW, a create session request that includes the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type, so that the SGW utilizes the PGW dual stack address type and the current priority is the highest The address type selects the applicable PGW address.

Optionally, in the foregoing apparatus, the PGW dual stack address type includes a PGW IPv4 address type and a PGW IPv6 address type.

Optionally, in the foregoing apparatus, the determining module includes:

a determining unit, configured to determine a PGW address of an address type with the highest priority according to an initial priority and a weight of the PGW IPv4 address type and the PGW IPv6 address type; or the MME determines the current highest priority according to the configuration information of the user The PGW address of the address type.

a receiving module, configured to receive a create session request that is sent by the mobility management entity MME and includes an address type of a PGW dual stack address type and a current highest priority address type;

The selecting module is configured to select an applicable PGW address from the PGW dual stack address according to the PGW address type supported by itself and the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type included in the received creation session request;

a sending module, configured to send a create session request to the PGW of the selected PGW address, and The create session response returned by the PGW is forwarded to the MME.

The method and device for selecting a PGW dual-stack address provided herein can solve the problem that the MME cannot know which address type is supported between the SGW and the PGW in the scenario that the PGW supports both the IPv4 and the IPv6 address, so that the SGW can be based on the current address type. The priority and the interface address type supported by the SGW and the PGW select a more suitable PGW address, which makes the IPv4 to IPv6 network deployment of the operator smoother.

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

BRIEF abstract

1 is a PDN GW selection network diagram provided in the related art;

2 is a flowchart of an MME selecting an IPv4 type PGW address provided in the related art;

3 is a flowchart of an MME selecting an IPv6 type PGW address provided in the related art;

4 is a flowchart of a PGW dual stack address selection method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of an apparatus for selecting a PGW dual stack address according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

6 is a flowchart of another method for selecting a PGW dual stack address according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of another apparatus for selecting a PGW dual stack address according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the highest current priority of the PGW IPv4 address type supported by the SGW in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the highest current priority of the PGW IPv6 address type supported by the SGW in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the highest current priority of the PGW IPv6 address type of the IPv4 supported by the SGW according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the highest current priority of the PGW IPv4 address type that the SGW supports only IPv6 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

The embodiments herein 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.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for selecting a PGW dual stack address according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the method includes the following steps:

Step S401: The MME determines a high priority address type from the PGW dual stack address type.

The high priority address type may also be referred to as the current highest priority address type.

Step S402: The MME sends a create session request including the PGW dual stack address type and the high priority address type (that is, the address type with the highest current priority) to the SGW, so that the SGW utilizes the PGW dual stack address type and the location. The current highest priority address type selects the applicable PGW address.

Optionally, the PGW dual stack address type includes a PGW IPv4 address type and a PGW IPv6 address type.

In an optional embodiment, the determining, by the MME, the address type with the highest current priority from the PGW dual-stack address type includes: the priority of the MME according to the PGW IPv4 address type and the PGW IPv6 address type respectively (also referred to as The initial priority of the address type and the weight, the PGW address corresponding to the address type with the highest current priority is determined from the PGW IPv4 address type and the PGW IPv6 address type; or the MME selects the PGW IPv4 address type according to the configuration information of the user. The PGW address corresponding to the address type with the highest current priority is determined in the PGW IPv6 address type.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a device for selecting a PGW dual stack address according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes: a determining module 501 and a sending module 502. The determining module 501 is configured to determine an address type with the highest current priority from the PGW dual stack address type, and the sending module 502 is configured to send, to the SGW, the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address. A type creation session request causes the SGW to select an applicable PGW address using the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type. In an actual application, the apparatus for selecting a PGW dual stack address provided by this embodiment may be an MME.

In an optional embodiment, the determining module 501 may include: a determining unit, configured to set a priority according to a PGW IPv4 address type and a PGW IPv6 address type (which may also be referred to as an initial priority of the address type) and a weight, from The PGW address of the address type with the highest priority is determined by the PGW IPv4 address type and the PGW IPv6 address type, or the PGW of the current highest priority address type is determined from the PGW IPv4 address type and the PGW IPv6 address type according to the configuration information of the user. address.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method for selecting a PGW dual stack address according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes the following steps S601 to S603:

Step S601: The SGW receives a create session request that is sent by the MME and includes an PGW dual stack address type and an address type with the highest current priority.

Step S602: The SGW selects an applicable PGW address from the PGW dual stack address according to the PGW address type supported by itself and the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type included in the received creation session request.

Step S603: The SGW sends a create session request to the PGW of the selected PGW address, and forwards the create session response returned by the PGW to the MME.

Optionally, the PGW address type supported by the SGW includes any one or two of the following:

PGW IPv4 address type, PGW IPv6 address type.

In an optional embodiment, the SGW is from the PGW dual stack address according to the PGW address type it supports and the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type included in the received create session request. Selecting the applicable PGW address includes: when the PGW address type supported by the SGW includes the address type with the highest current priority, selecting a PGW address corresponding to the address type with the highest priority; and the PGW address supported by the SGW When the type of the address with the highest current priority is not included in the type, the PGW address supported by the SGW is selected.

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of another device for selecting a PGW dual-stack address according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the method includes: a receiving module 701, configured to receive, by a MME, a PGW dual-stack address type and a current priority. Create a session request with the highest address type; select module 702, set Setting the applicable PGW address from the PGW dual stack address according to the PGW address type supported by itself and the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type included in the received creation session request; the sending module 703 And set to send a create session request to the PGW of the selected PGW address, and forward the create session response returned by the PGW to the MME. In an actual application, the apparatus for selecting a PGW dual stack address provided by this embodiment may be an SGW.

This paper is based on the PGW selection method defined by the 3GPP protocol. It is implemented by modifying the PGW address parameter in the session message created by GTPV2. Unless otherwise specified, the PGW address list parsed by the APN in this document contains both IPv4 and IPv6. Type of address. Embodiments of the invention include the following steps:

In the first step, the MME performs APN resolution through the DNS or local configuration to obtain the PGW address, and calculates the PGW address list by using factors such as priority and weight according to the protocol.

The MME calculates the initial priority of the PGW address list and the PGW address type by using a subnet priority, a weight, and the like according to the protocol.

In the second step, the MME calculates the current priority of the corresponding IPv4 and IPv6 address types in the GW address list according to the initial priority, weight, and the like of the PGW address type.

Optionally, the MME can obtain the current priority of the IPv4 and IPv6 address types corresponding to the APN according to the configuration.

In the third step, the MME sends a create session request to the SGW, and the PGW address parameter carries the PGW IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and adds a new identifier to the PGW address parameter indicating the current priority of the IPv4 and IPv6 address types.

In the fourth step, after the SGW receives the create session request message, if the SGW supports the dual stack, the SGW sends a create session request to the PGW address corresponding to the current highest priority PGW address type. If the SGW supports only one PGW address type, the SGW The create session request is sent by selecting the PGW address corresponding to the PGW address type supported by itself.

As shown in FIG. 8, the SGW supports a dual stack, and one embodiment with the highest current priority of the PGW IPv4 address type. The following steps 801 to 806 are included:

Step 801: A user initiates an attach or PDN connection request by using an eNB.

Step 802: The MME searches for a PGW address through local resolution or DNS resolution. The MME calculates the current priority of the corresponding IPv4 address type in the GW address list according to the initial priority and the weight of the PGW address type. The MME sends a create session request to the SGW, and the PGW address parameter is included in the stack. PGW IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and a new identifier in the PGW address parameter indicates that the current priority of the IPv4 address type is the highest.

Optionally, the MME obtains the current priority of the address type corresponding to the APN according to the user configuration information, and the current priority of the IPv4 address type is the highest;

Step 803: The SGW supports the dual stack address, selects the IPv4 PGW address type with the highest current priority, and sends a create session request to the PGW1 (IPv4).

Step 804, PGW1 (IPv4) sends a create session response message to the SGW;

Step 805: The SGW sends a create session response message to the MME.

In step 806, the MME sends an attach or PDN connection response message to the eNB.

As shown in FIG. 9, the SGW supports a dual stack, and one embodiment with the highest current priority of the PGW IPv6 address type. The following steps 901 to 906 are included:

Step 901: A user initiates an attach or PDN connection request by using an eNB.

In the step 902, the MME searches for the PGW address through the local resolution or the DNS resolution. The MME calculates the current priority of the corresponding IPv6 address type in the GW address list according to the initial priority and the weight of the PGW address type. A request to create a session is sent to the SGW. The PGW address parameter carries the PGW IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and the new identifier in the PGW address parameter indicates that the current priority of the IPv6 address type is the highest.

Optionally, the MME obtains the current priority of the address type corresponding to the APN according to the user configuration information, and the current priority of the IPv6 address type is the highest;

Step 903: The SGW supports the dual stack address, selects the IPv6PGW address with the highest current priority, and sends a create session request to the PGW2 (IPv6).

Step 904, PGW2 (IPv6) sends a create session response message to the SGW;

Step 905: The SGW sends a create session response message to the MME.

In step 906, the MME sends an attach or PDN connection response message to the eNB.

As shown in Figure 10, the SGW and PGW interfaces only support IPv4, and the PGW IPv6 address type is One embodiment with the highest priority. The following steps 1001 to 1006 are included:

Step 1001: A user initiates an attach or PDN connection request by using an eNB.

Step 1002: The MME searches for a PGW address through local resolution or DNS resolution (there is a dual-stack address), and the MME calculates the corresponding IPv6 address type in the GW address list according to the priority (here, the initial priority of the address type) and the weight. The current priority is the highest. The MME sends a create session request to the SGW. The PGW address parameter carries the PGW IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and the new identifier in the PGW address parameter indicates that the current priority of the IPv6 address type is the highest.

Step 1003: The SGW and the PGW interface only support the IPv4 address type, and the SGW selects an IPv4 PGW address with the same interface address type, and sends a create session request to the PGW1 (IPv4).

Step 1004, PGW1 (IPv4) sends a create session response message to the SGW;

In step 1005, the SGW sends a create session response message to the MME.

In step 1006, the MME sends an attach or PDN connection response message to the eNB.

As shown in FIG. 11, the SGW and the PGW interface support only one embodiment of IPv6, and the current priority of the PGW IPv4 address type is the highest. The following steps 1101 to 1106 are included:

Step 1101: A user initiates an attach or PDN connection request by using an eNB.

Step 1102: The MME searches for a PGW address through local resolution or DNS resolution (there is a dual-stack address), and the MME calculates the corresponding IPv4 address type in the GW address list according to the priority (here, the initial priority of the address type), the weight, and the like. The MME sends a create session request to the SGW. The PGW address parameter carries the PGW IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and the new identifier in the PGW address parameter indicates that the current priority of the IPv4 address type is the highest.

Step 1103: The SGW and the PGW interface only support the IPv6 address type, and the SGW selects an IPv6 PGW address that is the same as the interface address type, and sends a create session request to the PGW 2 (IPv6).

Step 1104, PGW2 (IPv6) sends a create session response message to the SGW;

Step 1105: The SGW sends a create session response message to the MME.

In step 1106, the MME sends an attach or PDN connection response message to the eNB.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or a portion of the above steps may be performed by a program to instruct related hardware, such as a processor, which may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as a read only memory, disk or optical disk. Wait. Alternatively, all or part of the steps of the above embodiments may also be implemented using one or more integrated circuits. Correspondingly, the modules/units in the above embodiments may be implemented in the form of hardware, for example, by implementing integrated functions to implement their respective functions, or may be implemented in the form of software function modules, for example, executing program instructions stored in the memory by the processor. To achieve its corresponding function. This application is not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software.

Industrial applicability

The embodiment of the present invention improves the PGW address parameter in the session message created by the GTPV2 on the basis of the PGW selection method defined by the 3GPP protocol. The MME creates a session message and carries the PGW dual-stack address and indicates the high-priority address type. The SGW can dynamically select the PGW according to the current priority of the address type and the address type supported by the SGW and the PGW interface.

Claims

A method for packet data gateway PGW dual stack address selection, comprising the following steps:

The mobility management entity MME determines the address type with the highest current priority from the PGW dual stack address type;

Sending, by the MME, a create session request including the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type to the serving gateway SGW, so that the SGW selects the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type. Applicable PGW address.
The method of claim 1, wherein the PGW dual stack address type comprises a PGW IPv4 address type and a PGW IPv6 address type.
The method of claim 2, wherein the determining, by the MME, the highest priority address type from the PGW dual stack address type comprises:

Determining, by the MME, the PGW address of the address type with the highest priority according to the initial priority and weight of the PGW IPv4 address type and the PGW IPv6 address type respectively; or

The MME determines the PGW address of the address type with the highest priority according to the configuration information of the user.
A method for packet data gateway PGW dual stack address selection, comprising the following steps:

The serving gateway SGW receives the creation session request that is sent by the mobility management entity MME and includes the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type.

The SGW selects an applicable PGW address from the PGW dual stack address according to the PGW address type supported by itself and the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type included in the received creation session request.

The SGW sends a create session request to the PGW of the selected PGW address, and forwards the create session response returned by the PGW to the MME.
The method according to claim 4, wherein the PGW address type supported by the SGW comprises any one or two of the following:

PGW IPv4 address type, PGW IPv6 address type.
The method of claim 5 wherein said SGW is based on its supported PGW The address type and the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type included in the received create session request, and selecting an applicable PGW address from the PGW dual stack address includes:

When the PGW address type supported by the SGW includes the address type with the highest current priority, the PGW address corresponding to the address type with the highest priority is selected;

When the PGW address type supported by the SGW does not include the address type with the highest current priority, the PGW address supported by the SGW is selected.
A device for selecting a packet data gateway PGW dual stack address, comprising:

Determining a module, configured to determine an address type with the highest current priority from the PGW dual stack address type;

a sending module, configured to send, to the serving gateway SGW, a create session request that includes the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type, so that the SGW utilizes the PGW dual stack address type and the current priority is the highest The address type selects the applicable PGW address.
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the PGW dual stack address type comprises a PGW IPv4 address type and a PGW IPv6 address type.
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said determining module comprises:

a determining unit, configured to determine a PGW address of an address type with the highest priority according to an initial priority and a weight of the PGW IPv4 address type and the PGW IPv6 address type; or the MME determines the current highest priority according to the configuration information of the user The PGW address of the address type.
A device for selecting a packet data gateway PGW dual stack address, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive a create session request that is sent by the mobility management entity MME and includes an address type of a PGW dual stack address type and a current highest priority address type;

The selecting module is configured to select an applicable PGW address from the PGW dual stack address according to the PGW address type supported by itself and the PGW dual stack address type and the current highest priority address type included in the received creation session request;

The sending module is configured to send a create session request to the PGW of the selected PGW address, and forward the create session response returned by the PGW to the MME.