WO2017163695A1

WO2017163695A1 - Core node, subscriber information management device, communication system, communication method, and computer-readable medium

Info

Publication number: WO2017163695A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/006071
Authority: WO
Inventors: 直明鈴木
Original assignee: 日本電気株式会社
Priority date: 2016-03-23
Filing date: 2017-02-20
Publication date: 2017-09-28

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a core node capable of dynamically forming a service area when broadcast communication is to be performed. A core node (10) according to the present disclosure is provided with: a reception unit (12) which receives, from a delivery device (22) that delivers a broadcast message, a group identifier indicating a group that is a delivery destination of the broadcast message and is formed from one or more wireless terminals; and a transmission unit (11) which transmits the group identifier to a subscriber information management device (20) that manages positional information of the one or more wireless terminals and also manages the group. The reception unit (12) receives the positional information of the one or more wireless terminals belonging to the group indicated by the group identifier from the subscriber information management device (20). The transmission unit (11) transmits to the delivery device (22) a broadcast area including a position specified according to the positional information of the one or more wireless terminals belonging to the group.

Description

Core node, subscriber information management apparatus, communication system, communication method, and computer-readable medium

The present disclosure relates to a core node, a subscriber information management apparatus, a communication system, a communication method, and a program, and more particularly, to a core node, a communication system, a communication method, and a program that execute broadcast communication.

In recent years, broadcast distribution services that distribute information to a plurality of communication terminals all at once have become widespread. In 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) that defines standard specifications for mobile networks, MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast / Multicast Service) is defined as a technique for realizing a broadcast distribution service. Mainly in Non-Patent Document 1, MBMS broadcast mode is applied to group message delivery service that efficiently distributes the same information to mobile communication terminals that are members of a group in application communication such as MTC (Machine Type Communication). Processing operations to be performed are defined. In MBMS broadcast mode, MBMS broadcast area, which is a geographical area for performing broadcast delivery, is determined in advance, and information is delivered all at once to mobile communication terminals in MBMS broadcast area.

Here, when a mobile communication terminal requesting a broadcast distribution service moves from the MBMS broadcast area to the outside of the MBMS broadcast area, the issue is how the mobile communication terminal receives information in the moved area It becomes. In order to solve such a problem, the following method is shown.

Non-Patent Document 2 describes that the same information distributed to the mobile communication terminal in the MBMS broadcast area is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal moved out of the MBMS broadcast area using unicast communication. Yes.

Patent Document 1 describes that a service area corresponding to MBMSMBbroadcast area is dynamically configured. Specifically, it is described that when a multicast service is started, the mobility management apparatus dynamically includes a cell in which a mobile communication terminal is located in a service area. A cell is a communicable area formed by a base station apparatus.

International Publication No. 2011/083704

Patent Document 1 discloses a process mainly for realizing a multicast service in the MBMS multicast mode. Therefore, when a mobile communication terminal joins a multicast group, it is necessary to transmit a multicast group join request message to the mobile core network. The mobile core network can grasp the position of the mobile communication terminal by receiving the multicast group join request message. As a result, the mobility management apparatus can dynamically include the cell where the mobile communication terminal is located in the service area.

However, when the technology for dynamically configuring the service area described in Patent Document 1 is applied to broadcast communication, the following problem occurs. Broadcast communication is communication that distributes information to all mobile communication terminals in a cell all at once. Therefore, in broadcast communication, the mobile communication terminal does not transmit a message corresponding to the multicast group participation request to the mobile core network. As a result, since the mobile core network cannot grasp the position of the mobile communication terminal, the service area can be dynamically configured to include the area where the mobile communication terminal requesting the broadcast delivery service is located. There is a problem that you can not.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a core node, a subscriber information management device, a communication system, a communication method, and a program that can dynamically configure a service area when performing broadcast communication.

The core node according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a transmission unit that transmits group identification information indicating a specific group to which a message is distributed to a subscriber information management device, and the specific group indicated by the group identification information A receiving unit that receives position information of a communication terminal belonging to the subscriber information management device from the subscriber information management device, and the transmission unit sends an area for distributing the message to the distribution device based on the position information of the communication terminal. To be sent.

A subscriber information management device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes: a receiving unit that receives group identification information indicating a specific group to which a message is distributed from a core node; and the group identification information and the specific group. A management unit that associates and manages position information of a communication terminal to which it belongs, and a transmission unit that, when receiving the group identification information from the core node, transmits the position information of the communication terminal associated with the group identification information to the core node Are provided.

A communication system according to a third aspect of the present disclosure includes a distribution apparatus, a subscriber information management apparatus that manages position information and groups of communication terminals, and group identification information indicating a specific group to which a message is distributed. A transmission unit that transmits to the subscriber information management device; and a reception unit that receives position information of communication terminals belonging to the specific group indicated by the group identification information from the subscriber information management device. The unit includes a core node that transmits an area for distributing the message to a distribution device based on position information of the communication terminal.

A communication method according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure transmits group identification information indicating a specific group to which a message is distributed to a subscriber information management apparatus, and belongs to the specific group indicated by the group identification information The location information of the communication terminal is received from the subscriber information management device, and the area for delivering the message is transmitted to the delivery device based on the location information of the communication terminal.

A program according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure transmits group identification information indicating a specific group to which a message is distributed to a subscriber information management apparatus, and communicates belonging to the specific group indicated by the group identification information The computer receives the location information of the terminal from the subscriber information management device, and causes the computer to execute transmission of the message delivery area to the delivery device based on the location information of the communication terminal.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a core node, a subscriber information management device, a communication system, a communication method, and a program that can dynamically configure a service area when performing broadcast communication.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a core node according to the first exemplary embodiment; FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to a second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a communication system according to a second exemplary embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow of the broadcast communication process concerning Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of the procedure which acquires the positional infomation on UE concerning Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of the broadcast communication process concerning Embodiment 4. It is a block diagram of the subscriber information management apparatus concerning Embodiment 4. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of broadcast communication processing according to a fifth exemplary embodiment. It is a block diagram of the node apparatus concerning each embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. A configuration example of the core node 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. The core node 10 is a node device that constitutes a mobile core network defined in 3GPP, for example. The core node 10 may be a computer device that operates when a processor executes a program stored in a memory. The core node 10 may be, for example, an SCEF (Service Capability Exposure Function) entity, an MME (Mobility Management Entity), an SGSN (Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node), or the like whose operation is defined in 3GPP.

The core node 10 includes a transmission unit (Transmitter) 11, a reception unit (Receiver) 12, and a management unit (Controller). The components constituting the core node 10, such as the transmission unit 11, the reception unit 12, and the management unit 13, may be software or modules that are processed by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. Good. Or the component which comprises the core node 10 may be hardware, such as a circuit or a chip | tip.

The transmission unit 11 transmits group identification information to the subscriber information management device 20. The group identification information may be a group identifier indicating a specific group, for example. A communication terminal belongs to the group indicated by the group identifier. The group has, for example, a plurality of communication terminals that use a broadcast service. The group identifier may be information for identifying a broadcast service to be provided, or information for identifying a communication device or the like that provides the broadcast service, for example. The group identifier may be identification information assigned to identify a broadcast service in the mobile core network. The group identifier indicates a group formed by one or more communication terminals that are broadcast message delivery destinations in the broadcast service. Communication terminals include wireless terminals, wired terminals, mobile terminals, and the like.

The subscriber information management device 20 may be, for example, an HSS (Home Subscriber Server) or an HLR (Home Location Register) defined as a device for managing subscriber information in 3GPP. The subscriber information includes, for example, contract information regarding the communication terminal, position information of the communication terminal, and the like. The contract information regarding the communication terminal may be, for example, service information that can be used by the communication terminal. The position information is information indicating the position where the communication terminal currently exists. When the position is changed by moving the communication terminal, the position information managed in the subscriber information management apparatus 20 is also updated. The subscriber information management device 20 manages the correspondence relationship between the group identifier and the communication terminal, specifies the position information of the communication terminal belonging to the group indicated by the group identifier, and transmits it to the receiving unit 12. The subscriber information management device 20 may transmit position information of each of a plurality of communication terminals belonging to the group. Further, the subscriber information management device 20 maps the position information of a plurality of communication terminals belonging to the group to a geographical area, and combines the position information of the plurality of communication terminals belonging to the same geographical area into one position information. May be transmitted.

The receiving unit 12 receives a group identifier from a communication device that provides a broadcast service or a distribution device 22 that distributes a broadcast message. The receiving unit 12 receives position information of communication terminals belonging to the group indicated by the group identifier from the subscriber information management device 20. The receiving unit 12 may receive position information of each of a plurality of communication terminals belonging to the group. Moreover, the receiving part 12 may receive the positional information which put together the positional information on the some communication terminal which belongs to the same geographical area into one positional information.

The management unit 13 manages the correspondence between position information and broadcast areas. The transmission unit 11 transmits an area including a position specified in the position information of the communication terminal received by the reception unit 12 (an area for distributing a broadcast message; hereinafter referred to as a broadcast area) to the communication device or the distribution device 22. . The transmission unit 11 may transmit a plurality of broadcast areas corresponding to position information of a plurality of communication terminals. Moreover, the transmission part 11 may transmit the broadcast area corresponding to the positional information which put together the positional information on the some communication terminal which belongs to the same geographical area in one positional information. The distribution device 22 may be, for example, a BM-SC (Broadcast Multicast Service Centre) entity or an MBMS-GW (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services Gateway) whose operation is defined in 3GPP. The broadcast area is a geographical area where information is distributed by broadcast communication. For example, the broadcast area may be configured by one or more cells. A cell is an area formed by a base station, where the base station can perform wireless communication. The distribution device 22 is a device that distributes information via broadcast communication. In other words, the distribution device 22 is a device that distributes a broadcast message.

As described above, the core node 10 can generate a broadcast area by using the location information transmitted from the subscriber information management device 20 that manages the currently existing location of the communication terminals belonging to the group. That is, the core node 10 can dynamically generate or update the broadcast area by generating the broadcast area using the location information of the communication terminal updated in real time. As a result, even after the communication terminal using the broadcast service has moved, the core node 10 can generate the broadcast area including the position after the movement of the communication terminal by updating the broadcast area. The distribution device distributes information to the updated broadcast area, so that the communication terminal after movement can also receive the information distributed by broadcast.

(Embodiment 2)
Subsequently, a configuration example of the communication system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. The communication system in FIG. 2 shows a configuration including an Evolved Packet System (EPS) and an external server device. EPS is a network including LTE (Long Term Evolution) in a radio access system, and is a packet network defined in 3GPP. The EPS may include a so-called 3G (3rd Generation) wireless system in the wireless access network.

2 includes UE (User Equipment) 30, E-UTRAN (Evolved-Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network) 31, UE32, UTRAN33, MME40, MBMS-GW41, SGSN (Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node). ) 42, BM-SC 44, SCEF entity 45 (hereinafter referred to as SCEF 45), HSS 46, HLR 48, and SCS / AS (ServiceＳCapability Server / Application Server) 50. SCS / AS 50 indicates an external server device. SCS / AS50 indicates SCS or AS. Components other than the SCS / AS 50 constituting the communication system of FIG. 2 constitute an EPS. The UE may be replaced with an MS (Mobile Station).

The E-UTRAN 31 is a RAN that uses LTE as a radio access system. The UE 30 is a wireless terminal that performs wireless communication using LTE. The UTRAN 33 is a RAN that uses a 3G wireless system as a wireless access system. The UE 32 is a wireless terminal that performs wireless communication using the 3G wireless system.

The MME 40 and the SGSN 42 are node devices that perform session management and mobility management related to the UE. The MBMS-GW 41 is a gateway that distributes data to the UE 30 and the UE 32 via the E-UTRAN 31 and the UTRAN 33 using broadcast communication. The BM-SC 44 transmits the content data transmitted from the SCS / AS 50 or the like to the MBMS-GW 41.

SCEF 45 notifies or provides services provided by the 3GPP network or the capabilities of the 3GPP network to an external server device or the like with security secured. The HSS 46 is a subscriber information management device arranged in the EPS. The HLR 48 is a subscriber information management apparatus arranged in a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) system. The SCS / AS 50 is a server device that provides an application service.

E-UTRAN Uu reference point is defined between UE30 and E-UTRAN31. A Uu reference point is defined between the UE 32 and the UTRAN 33. An M3 reference point is defined between the E-UTRAN 31 and the MME 40. An Iu reference point is defined between the UTRAN 33 and the SGSN 42. An M1 reference point is defined between the E-UTRAN 31 and UTRAN 33 and the MBMS-GW 41. An Sm reference point is defined between the MME 40 and the MBMS-GW 41. An Sn reference point is defined between the SGSN 42 and the MBMS-GW 41. SGmb and SGi-mb reference points are defined between the MBMS-GW 41 and the BM-SC 44. An MB2 reference point is defined between the BM-SC 44 and the SCEF 45.

Subsequently, a configuration example of a communication system different from that in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The communication system of FIG. 3 shows a configuration including a GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) system and an external server device. The configuration different from that of FIG. 2 will be described for the communication system of FIG. The detailed description of the same configuration as that of FIG. 2 in the communication system of FIG. 3 is omitted. The GPRS system is a network including a 2G wireless system and a 3G wireless system in a wireless access system, and is a packet network defined in 3GPP.

GERAN (GSM (registered trademark) (Global System for Mobile communications)) EDGE (Enhanced Data Rate for Global Evolution) Radio Access Network 35 is a RAN that uses a 2G radio system as a radio access system. The UE 34 is a wireless terminal that performs wireless communication using the 2G wireless system. A GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) 47 is a node that relays data transmission between the UE 32 and the UE 34 and an external network. The HLR 48 is a subscriber information management device arranged in the GPRS system.

Um reference point is defined between UE34 and GERAN35. An Iu reference point is defined between the UTRAN 33 and the SGSN 42. An Iu / Gb reference point is defined between the GERAN 35 and the SGSN 42. Gn and Gp reference points are defined between the SGSN 42 and the GGSN 47. A Gr reference point is defined between the SGSN 42 and the HLR 48. Gmc and Iu reference points are defined between the UTRAN 33 and the GERAN 35 and the GGSN 47. Gmb and Gi reference points are defined between the GGSN 47 and the BM-SC 44.

Subsequently, a flow of broadcast communication processing using the mobile core network defined in 3GPP according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the SCS / AS 50 transmits an Allocate TGMI Request message to the SCEF 45 in order to request assignment of TMGI (Temporary Mobile Group Identity) to the External Group ID (1 in FIG. 4). TMGI is identification information used to identify a broadcast service or a broadcast group in the mobile core network. The broadcast group includes a plurality of UEs that receive information distributed by broadcast communication. The Allocate TMGI Request message includes an External Group ID and an SCS Identifier. The External Group ID is identification information for identifying a broadcast service provided by the SCS / AS 50. SCS Identifier is identification information for identifying the SCS / AS 50.

Next, the SCEF 45 executes an authentication process (authorization) for determining whether the SCS / AS 50 is permitted to request the allocation of TMGI to the External Group ID with the HSS 46 or the HLR 48. (2 in FIG. 4). HSS46 / HLR48 in FIG. 4 indicates that it is HSS46 or HLR48. Here, the procedure for acquiring the location information of the UE in the authentication process in 2 of FIG. 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

First, the SCEF 45 transmits a request message to the HSS 46 / HLR 48 in order to acquire the location information of the UE (1 in FIG. 5). The request message includes External Group ID.

Next, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 specifies one or more UEs belonging to the group indicated by the External Group ID (2 in FIG. 5). The HSS 46 / HLR 48 may hold an External Group ID in advance as one of the subscriber information of the UE. When receiving the External ／ Group ID, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 can specify the UE associated with the External GroupＵＥID held in advance.

Next, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 specifies the location information of the UE specified in step 2 in FIG. 5 (3 in FIG. 5). The location information of the UE may be, for example, an MBMS broadcast area including the location where the UE exists. MBMS broadcast area may be, for example, MBMS Service Area Identity or Cell ID. Alternatively, the MBMS broadcast area may be information including MBMS Service Area Identity and Cell ID. MBMS Service Area Identity is information for identifying an area (MBMS service area) where information is distributed using broadcast communication, and is information that can be mapped to one or more Cell IDs. Cell ID is information for identifying a cell formed by a base station. The Cell ID indicating the MBMS broadcast area may be a list of Cell IDs including a plurality of Cell IDs. The MBMS service area identity indicating the MBMS broadcast area may be a list of MBMS service area identities including a plurality of MBMS service area identities. The HSS 46 / HLR 48 updates the MBMS broadcast area when the location of the UE is changed due to movement of the UE.

Next, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 transmits a response message to the request message to the SCEF 45 (4 in FIG. 5). The response message includes MBMS broadcast area, which is location information of UEs belonging to the group indicated by External Group ID.

5, the SCEF 45 can acquire the MBMS broadcast area that is the position information of the UE belonging to the group indicated by the External Group ID.

Returning to FIG. 4, when the allocation of TMGI to the External Group ID is permitted in the step 2 in FIG. 4, the SCEF 45 executes TMGI allocation processing with the BM-SC 44 (3 in FIG. 4). The SCEF 45 acquires the TMGI to be assigned to the External Group ID from the BM-SC 44 in the process 3 of FIG.

Next, the SCEF 45 sends an Allocate TMGI Response message to the SCS / AS 50 (4 in FIG. 4). The Allocate TMGI Response message includes TMGI allocated in 3 of FIG. 4 and information on the validity period of TMGI. After the processing up to 4 in FIG. 4 is performed, application level communication may be performed between the UE and the SCS / AS 50, for example, notification of TMGI from the SCS / AS 50 to the UE (FIG. 4). 5).

Next, the SCS / AS 50 transmits a Group Message Request message to the SCEF 45 (6 in FIG. 4). The Group Message Request message is a message indicating that the SCS / AS 50 requests information distribution using broadcast communication. The Group Message Request message includes an External Group ID and an SCS Identifier.

Next, the SCEF 45 determines whether or not the SCS / AS 50 is permitted to request information distribution using broadcast communication to the group indicated by the ExternalＲGroup ID with the HSS46 or HLR48. Processing (authorization) is executed (7 in FIG. 4).

Next, when it is determined that the SCS / AS 50 is permitted to request information distribution using broadcast communication for the group indicated by the ExternalExGroup ID, the SCEF 45 sends an Active MBMS Bearer Request to the BM-SC 44. A message is transmitted (8 in FIG. 4). The Active MBMS Bearer Request message includes the MBMS broadcast area acquired by SCEF 45 in 2 of FIG. That is, the SCEF 45 notifies the BM-SC 44 of the area where the broadcast communication is executed. The area notified by the SCEF 45 to the BM-SC 44 includes an area where a UE belonging to the group indicated by the External Group ID is currently located in the authentication process 2 in FIG.

Next, the BM-SC 44 executes a session start process between the MBMS-GW 41 or GGSN 47, the MME 40 or SGSN 42, and the RAN (9 in FIG. 4). The RAN is E-UTRAN31, UTRAN33, or GERAN35. The session start process is a process for generating an MBMS bearer used for broadcast communication in the mobile core network.

Next, the BM-SC 44 transmits an Active MBMS Bearer Response message to the SCEF 45 when the generation process of the MBMS bearer used for broadcast communication is completed in the mobile core network (10 in FIG. 4). Next, the SCEF 45 transmits a Group Message Confirm message to the SCS / AS 50 as a response message to the Group Message Request message received in 6 of FIG. 4 (11 of FIG. 4). By executing the processing up to 11 in FIG. 4, the SCS / AS 50 can distribute information using the MBMS bearer in the mobile core network (12 in FIG. 4).

Next, the SCS / AS 50 transmits information to be distributed by broadcast communication to the BM-SC 44. Further, the BM-SC 44 distributes information (broadcast message) to the UE via RAN by broadcast communication (13 in FIG. 4). The UE executes communication with the SCS / AS 50 according to the received information (14 in FIG. 4).

As described above, the SCEF 45 can receive information on the MBMS broadcast area by executing the authentication process 2 in FIG. 4 and the process in FIG. The information on MBMS broadcast area includes the current location of UEs belonging to the group to which SCS / AS 50 distributes information. The SCEF 45 can acquire the MBMS broadcast area including the location of the UE from the HSS 46 / HLR 48 without using information transmitted from the UE. MBMS broadcast area is updated in HSS 46 / HLR 48 when there is a change in UE location. Therefore, the SCEF 45 can determine an information distribution area in broadcast communication using the dynamically updated MBMS broadcast area.

In FIG. 4, the processing of FIG. 5 is executed in the authentication processing of 2 in FIG. 4, but the processing of FIG. 5 may be executed in the authentication processing of 7 in FIG. That is, the SCEF 45 may acquire the MBMS broadcast area including the location of the UE belonging to the group indicated by the External Group ID transmitted from the SCS / AS 50 in the authentication process of 7 in FIG. The SCEF 45 sets the MBMS broadcast area in the Active MBMS Bearer Request message of 8 in Fig. 4 even when the MBMS broadcast において area in 7 of Fig. 4 is acquired, as in the case of the MBMS broadcast area in 2 of Fig. .

(Embodiment 3)
Next, the flow of broadcast communication processing according to the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the flow of signals between nodes is the same as that in FIGS. 4 and 5, and here, the flow of broadcast communication processing according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. To do. Further, detailed description of the same processing as in the second embodiment is omitted.

In the third embodiment, location / area information indicating a geographical area that can be mapped to the MBMS broadcast area is used as the location information of the UE in 2 of FIG. 4, specifically, 3 of FIG. In 4 of FIG. 5, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 transmits a response message in which the location / area information of the UE is set to the SCEF 45.

4, the SCS / AS 50 transmits to the SCEF 45 a GrouplocationMessage Request message in which location / area information indicating the distribution area is set. The location / area information transmitted from the SCS / AS 50 to the SCEF 45 may be, for example, geographical area information.

The SCEF 45 sends the Active / MBMS / Bearer / Request in 8 of FIG. 4 and the location / area information acquired from the HSS 46 / HLR 48 in 2 of FIG. 4 and the location / area acquired from the SCS / AS 50 in 6 of FIG. Map either or both of information and MBMSMBbroadcast area. In other words, the SCEF 45 uses one or both of the location / area information acquired from the HSS 46 / HLR 48 in 2 of FIG. 4 and the location / area information acquired from the SCS / AS 50 in 6 of FIG. , Create MBMS broadcast area. The SCEF 45 transmits an Active MBMS－Bearer Request message including the generated MBMS broadcast area to the BM-SC 44.

As described above, the SCEF 45 can generate the MBMS broadcast area by executing the flow of the broadcast communication process according to the third embodiment. Thus, also in the third embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the SCEF 45 can transmit the dynamically updated MBMS broadcast される area to the BM-SC 44.

Further, the SCEF 45 may receive a response message in which the UE location / area information is set in 7 of FIG. In this case, the SCEF 45 performs MBMS on either or both of the location / area information acquired from the HSS 46 / HLR 48 in 7 of FIG. 4 and the location / area information acquired from the SCS / AS 50 in 6 of FIG. Map to broadcast area.

Further, when the SCEF 45 acquires the location / area information of the UE in 2 of FIG. 4, the SCEF 45 may transmit the acquired location / area information to the SCS / AS 50. Further, the SCS / AS 50 receives a Group Message Request message in which one or both of the location / area information of the UE acquired from the SCEF 45 and the location / area において information indicating the distribution area is set in 6 of FIG. You may transmit to SCEF45. In this case, the SCEF 45 uses either one or both of the UE location / area information acquired from the SCS / AS 50 in FIG. 4 and the location / area information indicating the distribution area, and sets the MBMS data broadcast area. Can be generated.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a flow of broadcast communication processing according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. The processes from 1 to 3 in FIG. 6 are the same as the processes from 1 to 3 in FIG. Further, in FIG. 6-2, the SCEF 45 executes only an authentication process regarding whether or not to assign a TMGI to the External Group ID. That is, it is assumed that the SCEF 45 has not acquired the MBMS broadcast area or location / area information of the UE belonging to the External Group ID transmitted from the SCS / AS 50 in 2 of FIG.

When the SCGI 45 acquires the TMGI assigned to the External Group ID from the BM-SC 44 in 3 of FIG. 6, the SCEF 45 transmits a TMGI notification message including the assigned TMGI to the HSS 46 / HLR 48 (3-1 in FIG. 6). The TMGI notification message includes External Group ID and TMGI assigned to External Group ID.

The HSS 46 / HLR 48 associates and manages the External Group ID included in the TMGI notification message and the TMGI assigned to the External Group ID. External Group ID is managed as subscriber information of UE. Therefore, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 can manage the TMGI and the UEs belonging to the TMGI in association with each other by managing the External Group ID and the TMGI assigned to the External Group ID.

The processing from 4 in FIG. 6 to 6 in FIG. 6 is the same as the processing from 4 in FIG. 4 to 6 in FIG.

The SCEF 45 executes an authentication process with the HSS 46 / HLR 48 in 7 of FIG. Further, in 7 of FIG. 6, the processing of FIG. 5 is executed between the SCEF 45 and the HSS 46 / HLR 48 in order for the SCEF 45 to acquire the MBMS broadcast area or location / area information of the UE belonging to TMGI. In FIG. 5, the SCEF 45 transmits a request message in which TMGI is set to the HSS 46 / HLR 48 instead of External Group ID. Alternatively, the SCEF 45 may transmit a request message in which TMGI is set together with the External Group ID to the HSS 46 / HLR 48. Since the HSS 46 / HLR 48 manages TMGI and UEs belonging to TMGI in association with each other, the UE belonging to TMGI can be specified in 2 of FIG. In the process of 3 in FIG. 5 and the process of 4 in FIG. 5 in the fourth embodiment, the same process as the process described in the second embodiment is executed. Moreover, since the process after 9 of FIG. 6 is the same as the process after 9 of FIG. 4, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Also in FIG. 6, the description of the processing from 10 in FIG. 4 to 14 in FIG. 4 is omitted.

Subsequently, a configuration example of the subscriber information management apparatus 20 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. Specifically, the subscriber information management device 20 may be an HSS 46 or an HLR 48. The subscriber information management apparatus 20 includes a receiving unit (Receiver) 61, a managing unit (Controller) 62, and a transmitting unit (Transmitter) 63.

The constituent elements of the subscriber information management device 20 such as the receiving unit 61, the managing unit 62, and the transmitting unit 63 are software or modules whose processing is executed by the processor executing a program stored in the memory. It may be. Or the component which comprises the subscriber information management apparatus 20 may be hardware, such as a circuit or a chip | tip.

The receiving unit 61 receives from the SCEF 45 a TMGI notification message including an External Group ID indicating a group formed by one or more wireless terminals to which a broadcast message is distributed in the broadcast service, and a TMGI assigned to the External Group ID. To do.

The management unit 62 associates and manages the External Group ID transmitted from the SCEF 45 and the TMGI assigned to the External Group ID.

When the request message including TMGI is transmitted from the SCEF 45, the transmission unit 63 transmits a response message including the location information of UEs belonging to the group indicated by TMGI to the SCEF 45.

As described above, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 can manage the External Group ID and the TMGI assigned to the External Group ID in association with each other. As a result, the SCEF 45 can acquire MBMS broadcast area or location / area information including the location of the UE performing broadcast communication using TMGI, or generate MBMS broadcast area or location / area information. it can. As a result, SCEF45 can also use TMGI in addition to External Group ID as a group identifier for acquiring MBMS broadcast area or location / area information including the location where the UE performing broadcast communication exists. An appropriate identifier can be used according to information managed by the HSS 46 / HLR 48.

Further, the SCEF 45 may transmit the assigned TMGI to the HSS 46 / HLR 48 in the authentication process of 7 of FIG. 6 instead of the 3-1 of FIG. In this case, the SCEF 45 sets the External Group ID and the TMGI assigned to the External Group に ID in the request message transmitted to the HSS 46 / HLR 48 in the authentication process 7 in FIG.

When the HSS 46 / HLR 48 acquires the External Group ID and the TMGI assigned to the External Group ID, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 associates and manages the External Group ID and the TMGI assigned to the External Group ID. Further, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 identifies the UE associated with TMGI.

In this way, in the authentication process in 7 of FIG. 6, the SCEF 45 transmits TMGI to the HSS 46 / HLR 48, so that the TMGI notification to the HSS 46 / HLR 48 and the acquisition of the UE location information associated with the TMGI are substantially simultaneously performed. Can be executed. That is, since the process 3-1 in FIG. 6 can be omitted, the number of messages between the HSS 46 / HLR 48 and the SCEF 45 is reduced.

(Embodiment 5)
Subsequently, the flow of the session start process according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. Specifically, the flow of the session start process in 9 of FIG. 6 will be described. Further, in the fifth embodiment, in the authentication process of 2 in FIG. 6 and 7 in FIG. 6, the SCEF 45 receives the MBMS broadcast area and location / area information of the UE belonging to the group indicated by the External Group ID from the HSS 46 / HLR 48. If not. Therefore, the SCEF 45 does not set the MBMS broadcast area in the Active MBMS Bearer Request message transmitted in 8 of FIG. Alternatively, the SCEF 45 generates an MBMS broadcast area using the location / area information acquired from the SCS / AS 50 in 6 of FIG. 6, and sets the MBMS broadcast area in the Active MBMS Bearer Request message (8 in FIG. 6). Also good.

In addition, it is assumed that the HSS 46 / HLR 48 manages the External Group と ID and the TMGI assigned to the External Group 関連付け ID in association with the process of 3-1 in FIG. 6 or 7 in FIG.

BM-SC 44, upon receiving the Active MBMS Bearer Request message in 8 of FIG. 6, transmits a Session Start Request message to MBMS-GW 41 (1 in FIG. 8). The Session Start Request message includes the TMGI assigned by the BM-SC 44 to the External Group ID. Further, when MBMS broadcast area is set in the received Active MBMS Bearer Request message, the BM-SC 44 may set the MBMS broadcast area in Session Start Request (1 in FIG. 8). Next, the MBMS-GW 41 transmits a Session Start Response message to the BM-SC 44 as a response message to the Session Start Request message (2 in FIG. 8).

Next, the MBMS-GW 41 transmits a Session Start Request message to the MME 40 / SGSN 42 (3 in FIG. 8). The Session Start Request message includes the TMGI assigned by the BM-SC 44 to the External Group ID. MME40 / SGSN42 indicates that it is MME40 or SGSN42. In addition, when MBMS broadcast area is set in the received Session Start request message, the MBMS-GW 41 may set the MBMS broadcast area to Session Start Request (3 in FIG. 8).

Next, the MME 40 / SGSN 42 transmits a request message to the HSS 46 / HLR 48 (3-1 in FIG. 8). The request message includes TMGI assigned by BM-SC 44 to External Group ID. The MME 40 / SGSN 42 includes the TMGI included in the Session Start Request message in the request message.

Next, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 transmits a response message to the MME 40 / SGSN 42 (3-4 in FIG. 8). The response message includes the MBMS broadcast area of the UE belonging to the TMGI included in the request message (3-1 in FIG. 8).

8-3 and 3-3 in FIG. 8 are the same as 2 and 5-3 in FIG. That is, the HSS 46 / HLR 48 identifies the UE associated with TMGI, and identifies the MBMS broadcast area that is the location information of the identified UE.

Next, the MME 40 / SGSN 42 receives one or both of the response message (3-4 in FIG. 8) received from the HSS 46 / HLR 48 and the Session Start Request (3 in FIG. 8) received from the MBMS-GW 41. Then, MBMS broadcast area is acquired, and a Session Start Request message is transmitted to E-UTRAN 31 or UTRAN 33 included in MBMS broadcast area (4 in FIG. 8). The E-UTRAN 31 or UTRAN 33 included in the MBMS broadcast area may be a base station identified by the Cell ID included in the MBMS broadcast area, for example.

Next, the E-UTRAN 31 or UTRAN 33 transmits a Session Start Response message to the MME 40 / SGSN 42 (5 in FIG. 8). Further, the MME 40 / SGSN 42 transmits a Session Start Response message to the MBMS-GW 41 (6 in FIG. 8). When the E-UTRAN 31 or the UTRAN 33 transmits a Session Start Response message to the MME 40 / SGSN 42, the E-UTRAN 31 or the UTRAN 33 establishes a radio bearer necessary for delivering information by broadcast communication with the UE 30 or the UE 32 (7 in FIG. 8).

As described above, by using the session start processing flow according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure, the MME 40 / SGSN 42 acquires the MBMS broadcast area related to the UE managed in association with the TMGI in the HSS 46 / HLR48. be able to. Thus, also in the fifth embodiment, broadcast communication can be performed using the dynamically updated MBMS broadcast area.

Subsequently, configuration examples of node devices such as the core node 10 and the subscriber information management device 20 described in the above-described embodiments will be described below.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of each node device. Referring to FIG. 9, the node device includes a network interface 1201, a processor 1202, and a memory 1203. The network interface 1201 is used to communicate with the network node. The network interface 1201 may include, for example, a network interface card (NIC) compliant with IEEE 802.3 series.

The processor 1202 reads out and executes software (computer program) from the memory 1203, thereby performing processing of each node device described with reference to the sequence diagram and the flowchart in the above-described embodiment. The processor 1202 may be, for example, a microprocessor, MPU, or CPU. The processor 1202 may include a plurality of processors.

The memory 1203 is configured by a combination of a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory. Memory 1203 may include storage located remotely from processor 1202. In this case, the processor 1202 may access the memory 1203 via an I / O interface not shown.

In the example of FIG. 9, the memory 1203 is used for storing software module groups. The processor 1202 can perform the processing of the node device described in the above-described embodiment by reading these software module groups from the memory 1203 and executing them.

As described with reference to FIG. 9, each of the processors included in each node device in the above-described embodiment includes one or more programs including a group of instructions for causing a computer to execute the algorithm described with reference to the drawings. Execute.

In the above example, the program can be stored using various types of non-transitory computer-readable media and supplied to a computer. Non-transitory computer readable media include various types of tangible storage media (tangible storage medium). Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (eg flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (eg magneto-optical discs), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD-Rs, CD-R / W, semiconductor memory (for example, mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable ROM), flash ROM, RAM (Random Access Memory)) are included. The program may also be supplied to the computer by various types of temporary computer-readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The temporary computer-readable medium can supply the program to the computer via a wired communication path such as an electric wire and an optical fiber, or a wireless communication path.

In addition, this indication is not restricted to the said embodiment, It can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the meaning. In addition, the present disclosure may be implemented by appropriately combining the respective embodiments.

As described above, the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configurations and details of the present disclosure within the scope of the disclosure.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-058259 filed on Mar. 23, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

A part or all of the above-described embodiment can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but is not limited thereto.
(Appendix 1)
A transmission unit that transmits group identification information indicating a specific group to which the message is distributed to the subscriber information management device;
A receiving unit for receiving, from the subscriber information management device, location information of communication terminals belonging to the specific group indicated by the group identification information;
The transmitter is
A core node that transmits an area for distributing the message to a distribution device based on position information of the communication terminal.
(Appendix 2)
The receiving unit further receives the group identification information from a communication device that provides a broadcast service or the distribution device that distributes a broadcast message,
The core node according to supplementary note 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits, as the area, a broadcast area including a position specified according to the position information to the distribution apparatus or the communication apparatus.
(Appendix 3)
The group identification information is
EGI (External Group Identifier) or TMGI (Temporary Mobile Group Identifier),
The core node according to

appendix

1 or 2.
(Appendix 4)
The location information of the wireless terminals belonging to the group is
An MBMS broadcast area including one or both of a list of cell IDs of cells formed by a base station and a list of MBMS service area identities that can be mapped to cell IDs of one or more cells, or ,
Location / area information indicating a geographical area that can be mapped to the MBMS broadcast area.
The core node according to any one of appendices 1 to 3.
(Appendix 5)
The broadcast area is
MBMS broadcast area or
Location / area information indicating the geographical area that can be mapped to the MBMS broadcast area.
The core node according to attachment 2.
(Appendix 6)
The receiver is
In the process of assigning the TMGI associated with the EGI, the assigned TMGI is received from the distribution device;
The transmitter is
The core node according to appendix 1, wherein the EGI and the TMGI received from the distribution device are transmitted to the subscriber information management device.
(Appendix 7)
The receiver is
Any one of appendixes 1 to 6, wherein the subscriber information management device receives, from the subscriber information management device, location information of the wireless terminal belonging to the group, which is updated as the wireless terminal belonging to the group moves. Core node described in.
(Appendix 8)
A receiving unit that receives group identification information indicating a specific group to which a message is distributed from a core node;
A management unit that associates and manages the group identification information and location information of communication terminals belonging to the specific group;
A subscriber information management device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits position information of the communication terminal associated with the group identification information to the core node when the group identification information is received from the core node.
(Appendix 9)
The group identification information is EGI or TMGI.
The subscriber information management device according to appendix 8.
(Appendix 10)
A distribution device for distributing messages;
A subscriber information management device for managing the location information of a communication terminal and group identification information indicating a specific group to which the message is distributed;
By transmitting group identification information to the subscriber information management device, the location information of the communication terminal associated with the group identification information is received from the subscriber information management device, and based on the location information of the communication terminal A communication system comprising: a core node that transmits an area for distributing the message to the distribution device.
(Appendix 11)
The core node further receives the group identification information from a communication device that provides a broadcast service or the distribution device that distributes a broadcast message, and includes, as the area, a broadcast area that includes a position specified according to the position information The communication system according to appendix 10, wherein the communication device is transmitted to the distribution device or the communication device.
(Appendix 12)
The group identification information is EGI or TMGI.
The communication system according to

appendix

10 or 11.
(Appendix 13)
Sending group identification information indicating a specific group to which the message is distributed to the subscriber information management device;
Receiving location information of communication terminals belonging to the specific group indicated by the group identification information from the subscriber information management device;
A communication method for transmitting an area for distributing the message to a distribution device based on position information of the communication terminal.
(Appendix 14)
Further, the group identification information is received from a communication device that provides a broadcast service or the distribution device that distributes a broadcast message,
14. The communication method according to appendix 13, wherein a broadcast area including a position specified according to the position information is transmitted as the area to the distribution apparatus or the communication apparatus.
(Appendix 15)
The group identification information is EGI or TMGI.
The communication method according to

attachment

13 or 14.
(Appendix 16)
Sending group identification information indicating a specific group to which the message is distributed to the subscriber information management device;
Receiving location information of communication terminals belonging to the specific group indicated by the group identification information from the subscriber information management device;
A program that causes a computer to execute transmission of an area for distributing the message to a distribution device based on position information of the communication terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Core node 11 Transmission part 12 Reception part 20 Subscriber information management apparatus 22 Distribution apparatus 30 UE
31 E-UTRAN
32 UE
33 UTRAN
34 UE
35 GERAN
40 MME
41 MBMS-GW
42 SGSN
43 PGW
44 BM-SC
45 SCEF
46 HSS
47 GGSN
48 HLR
50 SCS / AS
61 Receiver 62 Management Unit 63 Transmitter

Claims

Transmitting means for transmitting group identification information indicating a specific group to which a message is distributed to a subscriber information management device;
Receiving means for receiving, from the subscriber information management device, location information of communication terminals belonging to the specific group indicated by the group identification information;
The transmission means includes
A core node that transmits an area for distributing the message to a distribution device based on position information of the communication terminal.
The receiving means further receives the group identification information from a communication device that provides a broadcast service or the distribution device that distributes a broadcast message,
The core node according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits, as the area, a broadcast area including a position specified according to the position information to the distribution apparatus or the communication apparatus.
The group identification information is
EGI (External Group Identifier) or TMGI (Temporary Mobile Group Identifier),
The core node according to claim 1 or 2.
The location information of the wireless terminals belonging to the group is
An MBMS broadcast area including one or both of a list of cell IDs of cells formed by a base station and a list of MBMS service area identities that can be mapped to cell IDs of one or more cells, or ,
Location / area information indicating a geographical area that can be mapped to the MBMS broadcast area.
The core node according to claim 1.
The broadcast area is
MBMS broadcast area or
Location / area information indicating the geographical area that can be mapped to the MBMS broadcast area.
The core node according to claim 2.
The receiving means includes
In the process of assigning the TMGI associated with the EGI, the assigned TMGI is received from the distribution device;
The transmission means includes
The core node according to claim 3, wherein the EGI and the TMGI received from the distribution device are transmitted to the subscriber information management device.
The receiving means includes
The location information of the wireless terminal belonging to the group updated with movement of the wireless terminal belonging to the group in the subscriber information management device is received from the subscriber information management device. The core node described in the section.
Receiving means for receiving, from the core node, group identification information indicating a specific group to which the message is distributed;
A management unit that associates and manages the group identification information and location information of communication terminals belonging to the specific group;
A subscriber information management apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit position information of the communication terminal associated with the group identification information to the core node when the group identification information is received from the core node.
The group identification information is EGI or TMGI.
The subscriber information management device according to claim 8.
A distribution device for distributing messages;
A subscriber information management device for managing the location information of a communication terminal and group identification information indicating a specific group to which the message is distributed;
By transmitting group identification information to the subscriber information management device, the location information of the communication terminal associated with the group identification information is received from the subscriber information management device, and based on the location information of the communication terminal A communication system comprising: a core node that transmits an area for distributing the message to the distribution device.
The core node further receives the group identification information from a communication device that provides a broadcast service or the distribution device that distributes a broadcast message, and includes, as the area, a broadcast area that includes a position specified according to the position information The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the communication device is transmitted to the distribution device or the communication device.
The group identification information is EGI or TMGI.
The communication system according to claim 10 or 11.
Sending group identification information indicating a specific group to which the message is distributed to the subscriber information management device;
Receiving location information of communication terminals belonging to the specific group indicated by the group identification information from the subscriber information management device;
A communication method for transmitting an area for distributing the message to a distribution device based on position information of the communication terminal.
Further, the group identification information is received from a communication device that provides a broadcast service or the distribution device that distributes a broadcast message,
The communication method according to claim 13, wherein a broadcast area including a position specified according to the position information is transmitted to the distribution apparatus or the communication apparatus as the area.
The group identification information is EGI or TMGI.
The communication method according to claim 13 or 14.
Sending group identification information indicating a specific group to which the message is distributed to the subscriber information management device;
Receiving location information of communication terminals belonging to the specific group indicated by the group identification information from the subscriber information management device;
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to transmit an area for distributing the message to a distribution device based on position information of the communication terminal.