WO2018041097A1

WO2018041097A1 - Network switching method and device

Info

Publication number: WO2018041097A1
Application number: PCT/CN2017/099486
Authority: WO
Inventors: 卢飞; 朱进国; 李振东
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2016-08-30
Filing date: 2017-08-29
Publication date: 2018-03-08
Also published as: CN108307454B; CN108307454A

Abstract

Disclosed are a network switching method and device. The method comprises: a first base station receives measurement information reported by a UE (201); when determining, according to the measurement information, that a connection needs to be released, the first base station sends an RRC connection release message to the UE, wherein the release message carries a first release cause value (202). The first release cause value is used for instructing the UE to switch from a first network to a second network, and the first base station belongs to the first network.

Description

Network switching method and device

Technical field

The present application relates to, but is not limited to, the field of next generation wireless communications, and in particular, to a network switching method and apparatus.

Background technique

Mobile communications have now evolved to the 4G phase. Compared with previous generations, the 4G network architecture is based on full IP transmission. Currently 3GPP is studying the 5G network architecture.

Figure 1 shows a network architecture for interworking between a 4G network and a 5G network. In Figure 1, the functions of each network element in the network architecture are as follows:

The terminal (UE, User Equipment) accesses the 4G network through the wireless air interface and obtains the service. The terminal exchanges information with the base station through the air interface, and passes the non-access stratum signaling (NAS, Non Access Stratum) and the mobility management entity of the core network. Interactive information.

The base station is responsible for air interface resource scheduling of the terminal accessing the network and connection management of the air interface. In a 4G network, a base station is called an eNodeB, and in a 5G network, a base station is called a Next Generation (Radio Access Network, RAN).

Mobile management entity: 4G core network control plane entity, mainly responsible for: 1) authentication, authorization and contract checking of users to ensure that users are legitimate users; 2) user mobility management, including location registration and temporary identity allocation; Maintain idle (IDLE) and CONNECT status and state transition; 4) switch in CONNECT state; 5) packet data network (PDN) connection and bearer maintenance, including creation, modification and deletion The function of session management; 6) The function of triggering paging in the IDLE state of the user. In the 5G core network, the control plane entity may include multiple functions, such as mobility management functions, session management functions, authentication functions, and the like.

Service Gateway (SGW): The core network user plane function entity, which is mainly responsible for the interaction with the PGW in the case of roaming; receiving the downlink data packet for buffering and notifying the mobile management in the IDLE state The body MME pages the user; the user plane anchor point across the base station and the user plane anchor point across the 2G/3G/4G mobility.

Anchoring GW (AGW): is the access point for the terminal to access the PDN. It is responsible for allocating user IP addresses, establishing, modifying, and deleting bearers triggered by the network. It also has Quality of Service (QoS) control charging. The function is an anchor point for the user to switch between the 3GPP system and the 3GPP system and the non-3GPP system, thereby ensuring the IP address unchanged and ensuring business continuity.

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.

The embodiment of the invention provides a network switching method and device.

In one aspect, the application provides a network switching method, including:

Receiving, by the first base station, measurement information reported by the user equipment UE;

And the first base station sends a radio resource control layer RRC connection release message to the UE when the connection is released according to the measurement information, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value, and the first release reason The value is used to indicate that the UE is handed over from the first network to the second network;

The first base station belongs to the first network.

Optionally, the RRC connection release message further carries the second base station information or the public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network; the second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network is used for the auxiliary The UE accesses the second network; the second base station information corresponds to a second base station, and the second base station belongs to the second network.

Optionally, the first base station sends a second release cause value to the first control plane entity, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation;

The first control plane entity belongs to the first network.

Optionally, the first base station sends a second release cause value to the first control plane entity, where include:

The first base station sends a UE context release request message to the first control plane entity, where the UE context release request message carries the second release cause value.

In another aspect, the present application provides an apparatus for network handover, which is applied to a first base station, and includes:

a first receiving unit, configured to receive measurement information reported by the user equipment UE;

a first sending unit, configured to send a RRC connection release message to the UE when the connection release is determined according to the measurement information, where the RRC release message carries a first release cause value;

The first release cause value is used to indicate that the UE is handed over from the first network to the second network; the first base station belongs to the first network.

Optionally, the RRC connection release message further carries second base station information or public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network;

The second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network is used to assist the UE to access the second network.

Optionally, the first sending unit is further configured to send a second release cause value to the first control plane entity, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation;

The first control plane entity belongs to the first network.

In another aspect, the present application further provides an apparatus for network handover, applied to a first base station, including: a processor and a memory; the memory is configured to store a program for network switching, and the processor is configured to The program for network switching is read to perform the following operations:

Receiving measurement information reported by the user equipment UE;

Sending, according to the measurement information, that a connection release is required, sending a radio resource control layer RRC connection release message to the UE, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

In one aspect, the application provides a method for network switching, including:

The user equipment UE reports the measurement information to the first base station;

Receiving, by the UE, a radio resource control layer RRC connection release message sent by the first base station, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

The UE accesses the second network according to the first release cause value;

The first release cause value is used to indicate that the UE is handed over from the first network to the second network, and the first base station belongs to the first network.

Optionally, the RRC connection release message further carries second base station information or public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network, where the second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network is used to assist the office. The UE accesses the second network;

The UE accesses the second network according to the first release cause value, and the UE is connected according to the first release cause value, the second base station information, or the PLMN information of the second network. Into the second network.

On the other hand, the present application further provides an apparatus for network switching, which is applied to a user equipment UE, including:

a second sending unit, configured to report measurement information to the first base station;

a second receiving unit, configured to receive a radio resource control layer RRC connection release message sent by the first base station, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

An access unit, configured to access the second network according to the first release cause value;

The access unit is configured to access the second network according to the first release cause value, and the second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network.

On the other hand, the application also provides a device for network switching, which is applied to a user setting. A UE, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory being configured to store a program for network switching, the processor being configured to read the program for network switching to perform the following operations:

Reporting measurement information to the first base station;

Receiving, by the first base station, a radio resource control layer RRC connection release message, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

Accessing the second network according to the first release cause value;

The first control plane entity receives a second release cause value sent by the first base station, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation;

The first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation according to the second release cause value, and notifies the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension;

The second release cause value includes a release reason indicating that the user equipment UE will migrate from the first network to the second network;

The first control plane entity and the first base station belong to the first network.

Optionally, the notification anchoring gateway performs bearer suspension, including:

Sending a suspend request message to the anchor gateway, the suspend request message is used to request the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension, and includes the release reason indicating that the UE will switch from the first network to the second network.

In another aspect, the present application further provides an apparatus for network switching, which is applied to a first control plane entity, including:

a third receiving unit, configured to receive a second release cause value sent by the first base station, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation, and the second release cause value includes Representing the reason for the user equipment UE to migrate from the first network to the second network;

Carrying a suspending unit, configured to perform a bearer suspending operation according to the second release cause value;

a third sending unit, configured to notify the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension according to the second release cause value;

In another aspect, the present application further provides an apparatus for network switching, applied to a first control plane entity, including: a processor and a memory; the memory is configured to store a program for network switching, the processor Set to read the program for network switching to perform the following operations:

Receiving a second release cause value sent by the first base station, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation;

Performing a bearer suspend operation according to the second release cause value, and notifying the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension;

On the other hand, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions, which are implemented when the computer executable instructions are executed.

In another aspect, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, where computer executable instructions are stored, and the computer executable instructions are implemented to implement another network switching method.

On the other hand, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, where computer executable instructions are stored, and the computer executable instructions are implemented to implement the above another network switching method.

The network switching method provided by the embodiment of the present invention enables the UE to move from one network to another in a scenario that does not support inter-network handover (such as switching between 4G and 5G networks), and the continuity of data is maintained. Network access and data continuity are not affected by network selection when switching between different networks.

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

BRIEF abstract

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of interworking between a 4G network and a 5G network;

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

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart diagram of another network switching method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

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

5 is a schematic diagram of a network handover process of a UE switching from a 4G network to a 5G network according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a schematic diagram of a network handover process of a UE switching from a 5G network to a 4G network according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a device for network switching according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of another apparatus for network switching according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of another apparatus for network switching according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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.

In order to minimize the upgrade of the existing 4G network, the interface between the 4G network and the 5G network has been simplified as much as possible, so there may be an unsupported handover between the 4G and 5G networks. But even if the handover between the 4G and 5G networks is not supported, the UE may still choose between the 4G network and the 5G network, then how to reduce the impact of this selection on data continuity and network access.

As shown in FIG. 2, the present application provides a network switching method, which is performed by a first base station, and may include the following steps:

Step 201: The first base station receives measurement information reported by the UE.

Step 202: When the first base station determines, according to the measurement information, that connection release is required, Transmitting, by the UE, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection release message, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

The RRC connection release message may further carry the second base station information (for example, the identifier of the second base station, etc., the second base station belongs to the second network) and the public land mobile network of the second network (Public Land Mobile) At least one of Network (PLMN) information (eg, a PLMN ID of the second network, etc.), the second base station information or PLMN information of the second network is used to assist the UE to access the second network.

In a practical application, the application is particularly applicable to a scenario in which a handover between the first network and the second network may be unsupported. The first network and the second network belong to different network types. For example, the first network may be The 4G network, the second network may be a 5G network, the corresponding first base station is an eNodeB, the first control plane entity is an MME, and the second base station is a 5G RAN; or the first network is a 5G network, and the second network is a 4G network. The corresponding first base station is a 5G RAN, the first control plane entity is a 5G CP, and the second base station is an eNodeB. In addition, the first network and the second network may also be other types of networks, which are not limited herein. Through the above method of the present application, the UE can move from one network to another in time without supporting different network handovers, data continuity is maintained, and network access and data continuity are not caused by different networks. The switch between them needs to be selected and affected.

In some implementations, after the RRC connection release message is sent to the UE, the first base station may further send a second release cause value to the first control plane entity, where the second release cause value is used. And indicating that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation; wherein the first control plane entity belongs to the first network. In this way, the first control plane entity can perform the bearer suspension in time and notify the anchor GW to suspend the bearer in time, so that the anchor GW performs data transmission after the UE accesses through the second network, thereby realizing data continuity. maintain.

Here, the second release cause value may be the same as the release cause included in the first release cause value, and the release cause indicates that the UE is migrated from the first network to the second network, and the difference is that the first The release cause value is sent to the UE, and the second release cause value is sent to the first control plane entity.

Optionally, the first base station may send a UE context release request message to the first control plane entity, where the UE context release request message carries the second release cause value. By carrying the second release cause value to the first control plane entity in this manner, signaling can be saved, and the compatibility of the method of the present application with the existing network interaction is enhanced.

In this embodiment, the first base station sends the RRC connection release message to the UE when the connection release is performed by using the measurement information of the neighboring first network and the second network reported by the UE (such as the base station signal strength measurement information) as a decision basis (for example, according to the The measurement information of a network and the second network may determine that the signal quality of the second base station is significantly better than the signal quality of the first base station, and then decide to perform connection release, the second base station is a base station of the second network, and the first base station is the first The base station of the network may carry the first release cause value, and at least one of the second base station information and the public land mobile network (PLMN) information, so that the UE carries the message according to the RRC connection release message. The first release cause value, at least one of the second base station information and the PLMN information is accessed to the second network, so that the UE can be moved from one network (the first network) in time without supporting different network handovers. In another network (second network), the continuity of data is maintained, and network access and data continuity are not due to different networks. The selection needs to be made while switching.

As shown in FIG. 3, the present application further provides another method for network switching, which is performed by a UE, and may include the following steps:

Step 301: The UE reports signal measurement information of the surrounding base station to the first base station.

Step 302: The UE receives an RRC connection release message sent by the first base station, where the release message carries a first release cause value.

Here, the connection release message may further carry at least one of the second base station information and a PLMN identity (PLMN ID) of the second network;

Step 303: The UE accesses the second network according to the first release cause value.

The RRC connection release message further carries the second base station information or the public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network, the second base station information or the second network The PLMN information is used to assist the UE to access the second network;

Optionally, the UE accesses the second network according to the first release cause value, where the UE includes, according to the first release cause value, the second base station information, and the second At least one of the PLMN information of the network accesses the second network. In actual application, the second base station information may be information such as the identifier of the second base station, the second base station is a base station in the second network, and the PLMN information of the second network may include information such as a PLMN ID of the second network.

In an actual application, the application is particularly applicable to a scenario in which a handover between the first network and the second network may be unsupported. The first network and the second network belong to different network types. For example, the first network may be 4G. The network, the second network may be a 5G network; or the first network is a 5G network, and the second network is a 4G network. In addition, the first network and the second network may also be other types of networks, which are not limited herein. Through the above method of the present application, the UE can move from one network to another in time without supporting different network handovers, data continuity is maintained, and network access and data continuity are not caused by different networks. The switch between them needs to be selected and affected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the present application further provides another method for network switching, which is performed by a first control plane entity, and may include the following steps:

Step 401: The first control plane entity receives a second release cause value sent by the first base station, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation.

Step 402: The first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation according to the second release cause value, and notifies the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension.

The second release cause value includes a release reason indicating that the user equipment UE will migrate from the first network to the second network; wherein the first control plane entity and the first base station belong to the first network.

In a practical application, the application is particularly applicable to a scenario in which a handover between the first network and the second network may be unsupported. The first network and the second network belong to different network types. For example, the first network may be The 4G network, the second network may be a 5G network, the corresponding first base station is an eNodeB, the first control plane entity is an MME, and the second base station is a 5G RAN; or the first network is a 5G network, and the second network is a 4G network. The corresponding first base station is a 5G RAN, the first control plane entity is a 5G CP, and the second base station is an eNodeB. In addition to the first network and the second network Other types of networks are also available, and no restrictions are imposed herein. Through the above method of the present application, the UE can move from one network to another in time without supporting different network handovers, data continuity is maintained, and network access and data continuity are not caused by different networks. The switch between them needs to be selected and affected.

In an implementation, in step 402, the anchoring gateway is notified to perform the bearer suspension, including: sending a suspend request message to the anchor gateway, where the suspend request message is used to request the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension. The reason for the release of the UE to switch from the first network to the second network is included, so that signaling can be saved and the compatibility of the method of the present application with the original network interaction is enhanced.

In the actual application, the first base station notifies the first control plane entity to release the connection, and notifies the release reason, wherein the release reason is that the user will exit from the first network and access the second network, the reason for the release and the reason for the first release. The reason for the release contained in the value is the same. Then, the first base station notifies the first control plane entity to perform the bearer suspension, and the first control plane entity notifies the anchor GW to perform the bearer suspension. Therefore, the anchor GW sends the data after the UE accesses the second network. The continuity of the data is maintained, and network access and data continuity are not affected by the choices that need to be made when switching between different networks.

In some implementations, the first control plane entity may also decide whether to notify the anchor GW to perform bearer suspension according to the release reason.

5 is a specific implementation process of a network switching method in which a connected UE needs to access a 5G network in a 4G network. As shown in FIG. 5, the process may include:

Step 501: The UE accesses in the 4G system, and saves the access point name (APN) and the PGW ID information of the established PDN connection in the home user server (HSS) during the access process;

Step 502, the UE is in the connected state; the eNodeB may request the UE to report the measurement information of the signal strength of the surrounding base station, and then decide to perform RRC connection release according to the measurement information;

Optionally, the RRC connection release is determined according to the measurement information in one or more of the following situations:

1) determining, according to the foregoing measurement information, that the signal quality of the 5G RAN in the destination network is significantly better than the signal quality of the eNodeB;

2) According to the foregoing measurement information, when it is determined that the eNodeB is overloaded, the UE may be notified to perform connection release, so as to migrate the UE to the destination network (such as the 5G network where the 5G RAN is located).

Step 503: The eNodeB sends an RRC connection release request message to the UE, where the message carries the first release reason value and the 5G RAN information of the destination network. The 5G RAN information may be obtained according to the measurement information in step 502, and the 5G RAN information may be 5G RAN. The first release cause value is used to indicate that the UE is connected to the 5G system, and the 5G RAN information is used to assist the UE to select the corresponding 5G RAN to connect; the UE returns an RRC connection release complete message to the eNodeB;

Step 504: The eNodeB sends an S1-AP UE context release request message to the mobility management entity (MME, Mobile Management Entity), where the message carries a second release cause value, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the MME performs a bearer suspension operation.

Here, the reason for the release of the first release cause value and the second release cause value is the same, and the UE is migrated (switched) from the current network to the destination network, and the actual form and content are the same, and the different points are mainly embodied on the interface. One (first release cause value) is sent to the UE and the other (second release cause value) is sent to the MME.

Step 505: The MME returns a UE context release complete message to the eNodeB.

Step 506: According to the second release cause value, the MME performs a bearer suspension operation, and sends a suspension request message to the anchor GW, requesting the anchor GW to perform bearer suspension. After this step, the anchor GW will not be able to perform the downlink data transmission. The data can only be sent after the UE accesses the 5G system and the anchor GW obtains the 5G RAN address and the tunnel ID (refer to step 517).

In step 507, the anchor GW returns a suspend response message to the MME.

Step 508: The UE selects a 5G network to perform access according to the first release reason value and the 5G RAN information, and the UE sends an attach request message to the 5G control plane entity (CP), where the message carries the handover attachment indication and the 4G network allocation. Global unique temporary identification (GUTI), APN and other information;

Step 509: The 5G CP sends a location update request message to the HSS, where the message carries the address of the 5G CP.

Step 510: The HSS returns a location update confirmation message to the 5G CP, where the message carries the user subscription The data includes the APN and anchor GW ID (ie, PGW ID) used when the 4G system accesses.

Step 511: The 5G CP sends a setup PDU session request message to the anchor GW according to the APN and the anchor GW ID in step 510, where the message carries an APN, a handover attach indication message, and an IP address and a tunnel ID of the 5G CP.

In this step, the anchor GW can learn that the UE has been accessed in the 5G system, but the downlink data needs to wait until step 517.

Step 512, the anchor GW returns a setup protocol data unit (PDU) session response message to the 5G CP, where the response message carries the IP address of the anchor GW and the tunnel ID.

Step 513: The 5G CP sends a UE initial context request message to the 5G RAN, where the message carries the IP address of the GW and the tunnel ID. The message also carries the attach accept message, and the attach accept message carries the GUTI and TAI list allocated by the 5G CP. .

Step 514: The 5G RAN sends an RRC connection configuration message for establishing a radio data bearer to the UE, where the message also needs to carry an attach accept message.

In step 515, the UE returns an RRC connection configuration complete message, and the message also carries an attach complete message, where the attach complete message is used to notify the 5G CP that the GUTI and TAI list has been validated;

Step 516: The 5G RAN returns a UE initial context response message to the 5G CP, where the message carries the IP address of the 5G RAN and the tunnel ID, and the message also carries an attach complete message.

Step 517: The 5G CP sends a modify PDU session request message to the anchor GW, where the message carries the IP address of the 5G RAN and the tunnel ID.

In step 518, the anchor GW returns a modify PDU session response message to the 5G CP.

6 is a flow of a network switching method in which a connected UE needs to access a 4G network in a 5G network, and may include:

Step 601: The UE accesses in the 5G system, and saves the APN and anchor GW ID information of the established PDN in the HSS in the access process;

Step 602, the UE is in the connected state; the 5G RAN may request the UE to report the measurement information, and then decide to perform the RRC connection release according to the measurement information;

Optionally, the RRC connection is determined according to the measurement information in one or more of the following cases: put:

1) determining, according to the foregoing measurement information, that the signal quality of the 4G eNodeB in the destination network is significantly better than the signal quality of the 5G RAN;

2) According to the foregoing measurement information, when it is determined that the 5G RAN load is too high, the UE may also be notified to perform connection release to migrate the UE to the destination network (such as the 4G network where the 4G eNodeB is located).

Step 603: The 5G RAN sends an RRC connection release request message to the UE, where the message carries the first release cause value and the 4G eNodeB information. The first release cause value is used to indicate that the UE is connected to the 4G system, and the information of the 4G eNodeB is used to assist the UE. Selecting a corresponding 4G eNodeB to connect; the UE returns an RRC connection release complete message to the 5G RAN;

Step 604: The 5G RAN sends an NG2-AP UE context release request message to the 5G CP, where the message carries a second release cause value, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the 5G CP performs the bearer suspension operation.

Step 605: The 5G CP returns a UE context release complete message to the 5G RAN.

Step 606: The 5G CP performs a bearer suspension operation according to the second release cause value, and sends a suspend request message to the anchor GW, requesting the anchor GW to perform bearer suspension. After this step, the anchor GW will not be able to send downlink data, and can only wait until the UE accesses the 4G system before sending data.

Step 607, the anchor GW returns a suspension response message to the 5G CP.

Step 608: The UE selects a 4G network to access according to the 4G eNodeB information in step 603, and the UE sends an attach request message to the MME, where the message carries a handover attachment indication, a GUTI, an APN, and the like information allocated by the 5G network.

Step 609: The MME sends a location update request message to the HSS, where the message carries the address of the MME.

In step 610, the HSS returns a location update confirmation message to the MME. The message carries the user subscription data, including the APN and the anchor GW ID (ie, the PGW ID) used when the 5G system accesses;

In step 611, the MME sends a setup session request message to the anchor GW according to the APN and the anchor GW ID in step 610, where the message carries the APN, the handover attach indication message, and the MME. IP address and tunnel ID;

After this step, the anchor GW can learn that the UE has been accessed in the 4G system, but the data is sent to wait after step 617.

Step 612, the anchor GW returns a setup session response message to the MME, where the response message carries the IP address of the anchor GW and the tunnel ID.

Step 613: The MME sends a UE initial context request message to the 4G eNodeB, where the message carries the IP address of the GW and the tunnel ID.

When the MME sends the initial context request message, the MME also sends an attach accept message, where the attach accept message carries the GUTI and the tracking area identifier (TAI) list allocated by the MME.

Step 614: The 4G eNodeB sends an RRC connection configuration message to the UE, and also sends an attach accept message.

Step 615, the UE returns an RRC connection configuration complete message, and also returns an attach complete message, where the attach complete message is used to notify the MME that the GUTI and TAI list has been validated;

Step 616, the 4G eNodeB returns a UE initial context response message to the MME, where the message carries the IP address of the 4G eNodeB and the tunnel ID, and the message also carries an attach complete message;

Step 617: The MME sends a modify bearer request message to the anchor GW, where the message carries the IP address of the 4GeNodeB and the tunnel ID.

Step 618, the anchor GW returns a modify bearer response message to the MME.

As shown in FIG. 7, the application further provides an apparatus for network handover, which is applied to a first base station, and includes:

The first receiving unit 71 is configured to receive measurement information reported by the user equipment UE;

The first sending unit 72 is configured to: when it is determined that the connection release is required according to the measurement information, send an RRC connection release message to the UE, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

The first sending unit is configured to send an RRC connection release message to the UE, where the RRC connection release message further carries the second base station information or the public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network; The second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network is used to assist the UE to access the second network.

The first sending unit 72 may be further configured to send a second release cause value to the first control plane entity, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation; The first control plane entity belongs to the first network. Here, the first sending unit 72 is configured to send a second release cause value to the first control plane entity, including: sending a UE context release request message to the first control plane entity, the UE context release request message Carrying the second release cause value. Here, the second release cause value may be the same as the release cause included in the first release cause value, the release cause indicating that the UE is migrated from the first network to the second network, the difference is that The first release cause value is sent to the UE, and the second release cause value is sent to the first control plane entity.

In practical applications, the first sending unit 71 and the first receiving unit 72 may be software, hardware, or a combination of the two. For example, the first sending unit 71 can be implemented by a transmitting device, and the first receiving unit 72 can be implemented by a receiving device. The first sending unit 71 and the first receiving unit 72 can also support the corresponding network (such as a 4G network, a 5G network). The base station side communication component is implemented.

The present application also provides another apparatus for network handover, applied to a first base station, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory is configured to store a program for network handover, the processor being configured to read the The program for network switching performs the following operations:

Receiving measurement information reported by the user equipment UE;

In an actual application, the foregoing apparatus for network switching may be set on the first base station, or may be a first base station, and the first base station may be an eNodeB or a 5G RAN.

The apparatus for network switching applied to the first base station in the application may be used to perform the process shown in FIG. All processes of the method, the implementation process is the same as the above method, and will not be described again.

As shown in FIG. 8, the application further provides an apparatus for network switching, which is applied to a UE, including:

The second sending unit 81 is configured to report measurement information to the first base station;

The second receiving unit 82 is configured to receive an RRC connection release message sent by the first base station, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

The access unit 83 is configured to access the second network according to the first release cause value;

The RRC connection release message further carries the second base station information or the public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network, where the second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network is used to assist the UE. Accessing the second network; the access unit 83 is configured to access the second according to the first release cause value, and the second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network The internet.

In practical applications, the second sending unit 81, the second receiving unit 82, and the access unit 83 may be software, hardware, or a combination of the two, respectively. For example, the second transmitting unit 81 can be implemented by a transmitting device, the second receiving unit 82 can be implemented by a receiving device, and the access unit 83 can be implemented by a terminal-side communication component supporting a corresponding network (such as a 4G network, a 5G network).

Further, there is provided another apparatus for network switching, applied to a UE, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory being configured to store a program for network switching, the processor being configured to read the The network switching program performs the following operations:

Reporting measurement information to the first base station;

Receiving an RRC connection release message sent by the first base station, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value and second base station information;

Accessing the second network according to the first release cause value;

The device applied to the UE for network switching in the present application may be used to perform all the processes of the method shown in FIG. 3, and the implementation process is the same as the above method, and details are not described herein again. In practical applications, the device for network handover applied to the UE may be a mobile terminal or other electronic device having the above communication function.

As shown in FIG. 9, the application further provides an apparatus for network switching, which is applied to a first control plane entity, and includes:

The third receiving unit 91 is configured to receive a second release cause value sent by the first base station, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation, and the second release cause value The reason for the release indicating that the user equipment UE will migrate from the first network to the second network is included, and the reason for the release is the same as the release reason included in the first release cause value.

The bearer suspending unit 92 is configured to perform a bearer suspending operation according to the second release cause value;

The third sending unit 93 is configured to notify the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension according to the second release cause value;

In practical applications, the third receiving unit 91, the bearer suspending unit 92, and the third transmitting unit 93 may be software, hardware, or a combination of the two, respectively. For example, the third transmitting unit 93 can be implemented by a transmitting device, the third receiving unit 91 can be implemented by a receiving device, and the bearer suspending unit 92 can be implemented by a network side communication component supporting a corresponding network (eg, a 4G network, a 5G network).

Correspondingly, another apparatus for network switching is provided, applied to the first control plane entity, comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory is configured to store a program for network switching, the processor is set to read The program for network switching is taken to perform the following operations:

The apparatus applied to the first control plane entity for network switching as described above in the present application can be used to execute FIG. 4 All the processes of the illustrated method are implemented in the same manner as the above methods, and will not be described again. In an actual application, the device for network switching applied to the first control plane entity may be the control plane entity itself or other device having the above functions.

In addition, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, where computer executable instructions are stored, and when the computer executable instructions are executed, the network switching method shown in FIG. 1 is implemented.

In addition, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, where computer executable instructions are stored, and when the computer executable instructions are executed, the network switching method shown in FIG. 2 is implemented.

In addition, the embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, where computer executable instructions are stored, and when the computer executable instructions are executed, the network switching method shown in FIG. 3 is implemented.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the computer readable storage medium may include, but is not limited to, a USB flash drive, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), and a mobile device. A variety of media that can store program code, such as hard disks, disks, or optical disks.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the processor performs the method steps of the foregoing embodiments according to the stored program code in the storage medium.

For example, the specific examples in this embodiment may refer to the examples described in the foregoing embodiments and the optional embodiments, and details are not described herein again.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or some of the steps, systems, and functional blocks/units of the methods disclosed above may be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and suitable combinations thereof. In a hardware implementation, the division between functional modules/units mentioned in the above description does not necessarily correspond to the division of physical units; for example, one physical component may have multiple functions, or one function or step may be composed of several physical The components work together. Some or all of the components may be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a digital signal processor or microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit. Such software may be distributed on a computer readable medium, which may include computer storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transitory media). As one of ordinary skill in the art As is well known, the term computer storage medium includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and implemented in any method or technology for storing information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Non-removable media. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disc storage, magnetic cartridge, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device, or may Any other medium used to store the desired information and that can be accessed by the computer. Moreover, it is well known to those skilled in the art that communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and can include any information delivery media.

The basic principles and main features of the present application and the advantages of the present application are shown and described above. The present application is not limited by the above-described embodiments, and the above-described embodiments and the description are only for explaining the principles of the present application, and various changes and modifications may be made to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. And improvements are within the scope of the claimed invention.

Industrial applicability

It can realize that the UE can move from one network to another in a scenario that does not support inter-network handover (such as switching between 4G and 5G networks), data continuity is maintained, network access and data continuity are not maintained. It will be affected by network selection when switching between different networks.

Claims

A network switching method includes:

The first base station receives the measurement information reported by the user equipment UE (201);

And the first base station sends a radio resource control layer RRC connection release message to the UE when the connection is released according to the measurement information, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value, and the first release reason The value is used to indicate that the UE switches from the first network to the second network (202);

The first base station belongs to the first network.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the RRC connection release message further carries second base station information or public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network;

The second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network is used to assist the UE to access the second network; the second base station information corresponds to a second base station, and the second base station belongs to the first Two networks.
The method of claim 1 further comprising:

The first base station sends a second release cause value to the first control plane entity, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation;

The first control plane entity belongs to the first network.
The method of claim 3, wherein the sending, by the first base station, the second release cause value to the first control plane entity comprises:

The first base station sends a UE context release request message to the first control plane entity, where the UE context release request message carries the second release cause value.
A device for network switching, applied to a first base station, comprising:

The first receiving unit (71) is configured to receive measurement information reported by the user equipment UE;

The first sending unit (72) is configured to: when it is determined that the connection release is required according to the measurement information, send a radio resource control layer RRC connection release message to the UE, where the RRC release message carries a first release cause value;

The first release cause value is used to indicate that the UE switches from the first network to the second network. The first base station belongs to the first network.
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the RRC connection release message further carries second base station information or public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network;

The second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network is used to assist the UE to access the second network.
The device according to claim 5,

The first sending unit (72) is further configured to send a second release cause value to the first control plane entity, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation;

The first control plane entity belongs to the first network.
An apparatus for network switching is applied to a first base station, including: a processor and a memory;

The memory is configured to store a program for network switching;

The processor is configured to read the program for network switching to perform the following operations:

Receiving measurement information reported by the user equipment UE;

Sending, according to the measurement information, that a connection release is required, sending a radio resource control layer RRC connection release message to the UE, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

The first release cause value is used to indicate that the UE is handed over from the first network to the second network; the first base station belongs to the first network.
A method for network switching includes:

The user equipment UE reports measurement information to the first base station (301);

Receiving, by the UE, the RRC connection release message sent by the first base station, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value (302);

The UE accesses the second network according to the first release cause value (303);

The first release cause value is used to indicate that the UE is handed over from the first network to the second network, and the first base station belongs to the first network.
The method of claim 9

The RRC connection release message further carries the second base station information or the public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network, where the second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network is used to assist the UE access The second network;

The UE accesses the second network according to the first release cause value, and includes:

The UE accesses the second network according to the first release cause value, and the second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network.
An apparatus for network switching is applied to a user equipment UE, including:

a second sending unit (81) configured to report measurement information to the first base station;

a second receiving unit (82), configured to receive a RRC connection release message sent by the first base station, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

The access unit (83) is configured to access the second network according to the first release cause value;

The first release cause value is used to indicate that the UE is handed over from the first network to the second network, and the first base station belongs to the first network.
The device of claim 11

The RRC connection release message further carries the second base station information or the public land mobile network PLMN information of the second network, where the second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network is used to assist the UE access The second network;

The access unit (83) is configured to access the second network according to the first release cause value, and the second base station information or the PLMN information of the second network.
An apparatus for network switching is applied to a user equipment UE, including: a processor and a memory;

The memory is configured to store a program for network switching;

The processor is configured to read the program for network switching to perform the following operations:

Reporting measurement information to the first base station;

Receiving, by the first base station, a radio resource control layer RRC connection release message, where the RRC connection release message carries a first release cause value;

Accessing the second network according to the first release cause value;

The first release cause value is used to indicate that the UE is handed over from the first network to the second network, and the first base station belongs to the first network.
A method for network switching includes:

The first control plane entity receives a second release cause value sent by the first base station, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation (401);

The first control plane entity performs a bearer suspend operation according to the second release cause value, and notifies the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension (402);

The second release cause value includes a release reason indicating that the user equipment UE will migrate from the first network to the second network;

The first control plane entity and the first base station belong to the first network.
The method of claim 14, wherein the notifying the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension comprises:

Sending a suspend request message to the anchor gateway, the suspend request message is used to request the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension, and includes the release reason indicating that the UE will switch from the first network to the second network.
A device for network switching, applied to a first control plane entity, comprising:

The third receiving unit (91) is configured to receive a second release cause value sent by the first base station, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation, and the second release The cause value includes a reason for indicating that the user equipment UE will migrate from the first network to the second network;

Carrying a suspending unit (92), configured to perform a bearer suspending operation according to the second release cause value;

The third sending unit (93) is configured to notify the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension according to the second release cause value;

The first control plane entity and the first base station belong to the first network.
An apparatus for network switching is applied to a first control plane entity, including: a processor and a memory;

The memory is configured to store a program for network switching;

The processor is configured to read the program for network switching to perform the following operations:

Receiving a second release cause value sent by the first base station, where the second release cause value is used to indicate that the first control plane entity performs a bearer suspension operation;

Performing a bearer suspend operation according to the second release cause value, and notifying the anchor gateway to perform bearer suspension;

The second release cause value includes a release reason indicating that the user equipment UE will migrate from the first network to the second network;

The first control plane entity and the first base station belong to the first network.