WO2019104525A1

WO2019104525A1 - Methods and network nodes for priority service differentiation

Info

Publication number: WO2019104525A1
Application number: PCT/CN2017/113535
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xiaoming Li; Jinyin Zhu; Zhiwei Qu
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2017-11-29
Filing date: 2017-11-29
Publication date: 2019-06-06

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method implemented in a user equipment in a cellular Internet of Things network. The method comprises transmitting to a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; and transferring to the first network node the user data with the high priority. The present disclosure also relates to corresponding methods implemented in network nodes, corresponding user equipment and network nodes, and a computer readable medium for performing said methods.

Description

METHODS AND NETWORK NODES FOR PRIORITY SERVICE DIFFERENTIATION

Technical field

This disclosure generally relates to a communication system, and in particular to methods and network nodes for priority service differentiation.

Background

This section introduces aspects that may facilitate better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.

Internet-of-Things, IoT, a term that encompasses machine-type communication, MTC, communication and large chunks of cloud services, as well as personal technology such as wearables, smart homes, and mobile phones, is a subject for which the interest and common awareness has exploded in recent years.

Since the IoT mostly depends on a radio communication, it is based on the existing cellular radio communication system, e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system. In this case, the IoT based on LTE may be referred to as CIoT (i., Cellular IoT) .

The introduction of the IoT brings the need for improving the existing Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. Thus, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) adapts an overall architecture and signaling flow of the existing LTE system to accommodate the IoT. In this adaptation, the 3GPP raises two optimization solutions, i.e, Control Plane CIoT EPS (Evolved Packet System ) optimization (simply referred to as CP-CIoT EPS optimization) and User Plane CIoT EPS optimization (simply referred to as UP-CIoT EPS optimization) . Both those two solutions reduce interactions between network nodes and thus save the power of nodes by adapting respectively signaling flows of a control plane and user plane. Since the CP-CIoT EPS optimization solution transports data over Non-Access Stratum (NAS) , the CP-CIoT EPS optimization solution is also referred to as Data over NAS solution. Similarly, the UP-CIoT EPS optimization solution is also referred to as Data over User Plane solution.

In a Evolved Packet System (EPS) including LTE system, a basic unit on which control of Quality of Service (QoS) is based is a user plane bearer, i.e, the QoS of all data over the same user plane bearer are same. In other words, all data that are transferred through the same user plane bearer possess the same QoS. In this case, a different user plane bearers will be needed if a different QoS is desired. For example, the data transferred between a IoT terminal and an application server sometimes is of normal priority (e.g. normal measurement report or heart beat with the server) and sometimes of high priority (e.g. alarm or urgency report) . Different priority for data will need different QoS.

However, for the CP-CIoT EPS optimization solution, this way of controlling QoS based on a user plane bearer is infeasible because the CP-CIoT EPS optimization solution mainly employs a control plane instead of a user plane as stated above.

There is hence a need for a solution addressing the issues as discussed above.

Summary

It is an object of the present disclosure to address of the issues outlined above.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method implemented in a user equipment in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The method comprises transmitting to a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; and transferring to the first network node the user data with the high priority.

According to one or more embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request.

According to one or more embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message.

According to one or more embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the transferring of the user data further comprises transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure a method implemented in a first network node in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The method comprises receiving from a user equipment a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; receiving from the user equipment the user data with the high priority; transferring to a second network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request and the another message is an initial user equipment message.

According to one or more embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message and the another message is uplink non-access stratum transport message.

According to one or more embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure, the transferring of the user data further comprises transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a method implemented in a second network node in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The method comprises receiving from a first network node a message indicating that the user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the third aspect of the present disclosure, further comprises if the user equipment transferring the user data is in an idle state before transferring the user data, transmitting to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority; transferring to the third network node further message including the user data with the high priority.

According to one or more embodiments of the third aspect of the present disclosure, the message is an initial user equipment message, the another message is modify bearer request and the further message is uplink data or both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the third aspect of the present disclosure, further comprises if the user equipment transferring the user data is in a connected state before transferring the user data, transferring to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the third aspect of the present disclosure, the message is uplink non-access stratum transport message and the another message is uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the third aspect of the present disclosure, the transferring of the user data further comprises transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, method implemented in a third network node in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The method comprises receiving from a second network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority.

According to one or more embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, further comprises if the message is modify bearer request, receiving from a second network node another message including the user data with the high priority; transferring to a fourth network node further message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the further message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, further comprises if the message is uplink data, transferring to a fourth network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the another message is uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, wherein the transferring of the user data further comprises transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, method implemented in a fourth network node in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The method comprises receiving from a third network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data; and transferring the user data with the high priority.

According to one or more embodiments of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the message is uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the transferring of the user data further comprises transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a user equipment in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The user equipment comprises a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment to perform operations of: transmitting to a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; and transferring to the first network node the user data with the high priority.

According to one or more embodiments of the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request.

According to one or more embodiments of the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message.

According to one or more embodiments of the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the operation of transferring of the user data further comprises the operation of transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a first network node in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The first network node comprises a processor ; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the first network node to perform operations of receiving from a user equipment a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; receiving from the user equipment the user data with the high priority; transferring to a second network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request and the another message is an initial user equipment message.

According to one or more embodiments of the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message and the another message is uplink non-access stratum transport message.

According to one or more embodiments of the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the operation of transferring of the user data further comprises operation of transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, a second network node in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The second network node comprises a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the second network node to perform operations of receiving from a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the instructions further cause the second network node to perform operation of if the user equipment transferring the user data is in an idle state before transferring the user data, transmitting to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority; transferring to the third network node further message including the user data with the high priority.

According to one or more embodiments of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the message is an initial user equipment message, the another message is modify bearer request and the further message is uplink data or both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the instructions further cause the second network node to perform operation of if the user equipment transferring the user data is in a connected state before transferring the user data, transferring to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the message is uplink non-access stratum transport message and the another message is uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the operation of the transferring of the user data further comprises operation of transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, a third network node in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The third network node comprises a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the third network node to perform operation of receiving from a second network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority.

According to one or more embodiments of the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, the instructions further cause the third network node to perform operations of if the message is modify bearer request, receiving from a second network node another message including the user data with the high priority; transferring to a fourth network node further message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the further message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, the instructions further cause the third network node to perform operations of if the message is uplink data, transferring to a fourth network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.

According to one or more embodiments of the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, the another message is uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, the operation of the transferring of the user data further comprises operation of transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, a fourth network node in a cellular Internet of Things network is provided. The fourth network node comprises a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the fourth network node to perform operation of receiving from a third network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data; and transferring the user data with the high priority.

According to one or more embodiments of the tenth aspect of the present disclosure, the message is uplink data.

According to one or more embodiments of the tenth aspect of the present disclosure, operation of the transferring of the user data further comprises operation of transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.

According to one or more embodiments of the eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided. The non-transitory computer readable medium has a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a user equipment, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

According to one or more embodiments of the twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided. The non-transitory computer readable medium has a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a first network node, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure.

According to one or more embodiments of the thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided. The non-transitory computer readable medium has a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a second network node, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method according to the third aspect of the present disclosure.

According to one or more embodiments of the fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided. The non-transitory computer readable medium has a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a third network node, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure.

According to one or more embodiments of the fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided. The non-transitory computer readable medium has a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a fourth network node, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure.

According to one or more embodiments of the sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a cellular Internet of Things network communication system is provided. The cellular Internet of Things network communication system comprises at least a user equipment, a first network node, a second network node, a third network node, and a fourth network node, wherein the user equipment comprises a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment to perform operations of transmitting to a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; and transferring to the first network node the user data with the high priority; wherein the first network node comprises a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the first network node to perform operations of receiving from a user equipment a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; receiving from the user equipment the user data with the high priority; transferring to a second network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data; wherein the second network node comprises a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the second network node to perform operations of receiving from a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data; wherein the third network node comprises a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the third network node to perform operation of receiving from a second network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; wherein the fourth network node comprises a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the fourth network node to perform operation of receiving from a third network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data; and transferring the user data with the high priority.

The above methods, network nodes, and computer readable media of present disclosure can implement different QoS control for data with different priority in the case that the CP-CIoT optimization solution is used.

Brief description of the description of the drawings

The above and other aspects, features, and benefits of various embodiments of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent, by way of example, from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals or letters are used to designate like or equivalent element. The drawings are illustrated for facilitating better understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure and not necessarily drawn to scale, in which:

Figure 1 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method implemented in a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method implemented in a first network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method implemented in a second network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method implemented in a third network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method implemented in a fourth network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 6 is block diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 7 is another block diagram of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 8 is block diagram of the first network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 9 is another block diagram of the first network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 10 is a block diagram of the second network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 11 is another block diagram of the second network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 12 is a block diagram of the third network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 13 is another block diagram of the third network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 14 is a block diagram of the fourth network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 15 is another block diagram of the fourth network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 16 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 17 is a signaling flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 18 is a signaling flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed description

Hereinafter, the principle and spirit of the present disclosure will be described with reference to illustrative embodiments. It should be understood, all these embodiments are given merely for one skilled in the art to better understand and further practice the present disclosure, but not for limiting the scope of the present disclosure For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification.

References in the specification to ″one embodiment, ″ ″ ″an embodiment, ″ ″ ″an example embodiment/5 etc. indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

It shall be understood that although the terms ″first″ ″and ″second″ ″etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a ″first″ ″element could also be referred to as a ″second″ element, and similarly, a ″second″ element could also be referred to as a ″first″ element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term ″and/or″ includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be liming of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms ″a″ , ″an″ and ″the″ are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms ″comprises″ , ″comprising″ , ″has″ , ″having″ , ″includes″ and/or ″including″ , when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and/or combinations thereof.

As used herein, the term ″communication system″ refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) , LTE, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) , High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) , and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the wireless communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G) , the second generation (2G) , 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G) , the fourth generation (4G) , 4.5G, the future fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, and/or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future.

The term ″network device″ refers to a device in a wireless communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device refers a base station (BS) , an access point (AP) , a Mobile Management Entity (MME) , Multi-cell/Multicast Coordination Entity (MCE) , a gateway, a server, a controller or any other suitable device in the wireless communication network. The BS may be, for example, a node B (NodeB or NB) , an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB) , a gNB, a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) , a radio header (RH) , a remote radio head (RRH) , a relay, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, and so forth.

Yet further examples of network device include multi-standard radio (MSR) radio equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs) , base transceiver stations (BTSs) , transmission points, transmission nodes, Multi-cell/multicast Coordination Entities (MCEs) , core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs) , O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs) , and/or MDTs. More generally, however, network device may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a terminal device access to the wireless communication network or to provide some service to a terminal device that has accessed the wireless communication network.

Wherein, the term ″terminal device″ refers to any end device that can access a wireless communication network and receive services therefrom. By way of example and not limitation, the terminal device refers to a mobile terminal, UE, or other suitable device. The UE may be, for example, a Subscriber Station (SS) , a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS) , or an Access Terminal (AT) . The terminal device may include, but not limited to, portable computers, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a wearable device, a personal digital assistant (PDA) , a vehicle, and the like. The terminal device may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, and may in this case be referred to as a D2D communication device.

In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

The methods, user equipments, and network nodes according to the present disclosure will be described below with respect to the IoT. However, it will be appreciated that the application of those methods, user equipments, and network nodes according to the present disclosure is not limited to the IoT and also may be in any suitable other communication systems.

In a IoT network, if a user equipment is attached with the network with CP-CIoT optimization, the user equipment transfers data over NAS by a control plane, as stated above. In this case, if the user equipment wishes to transfer data with a high priority, e.g., the user equipment might require to transfer urgently an alarm or urgency report, QoS of a service for transferring the data with high priority sent by the user equipment will be changed due to the upcoming data with the high priority. Since the control of QoS based on a bearer of a user plane is unavailable in CP-CIoT optimization based on a control plane, the user equipment that requires to transfer the data with high priority may perform methods according to the present disclosure as described below to achieve its purpose.

Figure 1 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method 100 implemented in a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 100 according to the present disclosure may be implemented in a user equipment in a cellular Internet of Things network. It will be appreciated that the method 100 may be implemented in any other suitable terminals, network devices, and network nodes in any other suitable communication networks.

The method 100 may comprise a user equipment transmitting to a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, as shown in block 110 of Figure 1. That is, according to the method 100, in the case that a user equipment requires to transfer a data with high priority without QoS based on a user plane bearer, i.e, the user equipment is attached with a IoT network with CP-CIoT optimization, the user equipment may first notify network nodes through which the data will be transferred of an event that a user data will be transferred with a high priority so that those network nodes may handle this event subsequently. This notification may be performed by transmitting a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority. It will be appreciated that the notification may be performed by one or more other suitable ways for indicating information. The network nodes that will be notified firstly may be the network node that is connected directly to the user equipment and may thus referred to as the first network node.

The method 100 may further comprise a user equipment transferring to the first network node the user data with the high priority, as shown in block 120 of Figure 1. In an embodiment of the method 100, the user equipment may transfer the data with the high priority after the transmission of the message indicating that the user data will be transferred with a high priority or transmitting the message and transferring the user data may be performed by the user equipment simultaneously. In another embodiment of the method 100, the data may be transferred in the message indicating that the user data will be transferred with a high priority.

In a IoT based on LTE, a user equipment might be in two states when it requires to transfer data, i.e, an idle state and an connected state. If the user equipment does not transfer data previously, it may be in an idle state. Otherwise, it may be in a connected state.

Thus, in an embodiment of the method 100, the user equipment may be in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message may be a radio resource control connection request. If the user equipment is in an idle state when it requires to transfer data with high priority, it may need first connect to the first network node by transmitting a message for requesting to connect to the first network node. In this case, the message for requesting to connect to the first network node may be the message transmitted by the user equipment indicating that the user data will be transferred with a high priority. That is, one message can achieve both purposes of issuing a request and notifying a high priority, which reduces interaction between the user equipment and a network node and save the power of the user equipment.

In an embodiment of the method 100, the first network node may be eNodeB of CIoT. In this case, the message issuing a request and notifying a high priority may be the radio resource control connection request, which is a message specified by 3GPP for issuing a connection request between a user equipment and the first network node, eNodeB.

In an embodiment of the method 100, if the user equipment may be in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message may be uplink information transfer message. That is, if the user equipment is already connected to the first network node due to transferring previously data, etc, the user equipment may not require to request a connection to the first network node and thus may transmit uplink information transfer message between a user equipment and the first network node, eNodeB, in CIoT.

For embodiments above, it will be appreciated that the first network node may be any other suitable network node other than eNodeB and the message may be any other suitable message.

In an embodiment of the method 100, the transferring of the user data may further comprise transferring the user data by indicating a priority level. Since there might be a need for differentiating high priority even if all priorities are the high priorities, for example, a priority of data about an urgent health event of a human is much higher than a priority of data about low energy, it may be necessary that different data is assigned with different priority level to indicate a urgent degree of different data and subsequent network node may also handle the data with indicated priority level. Thus, the user equipment may transfer the user data by indicating a priority level. In an embodiment of the method 100, the priority level may be indicated in a message indicating that the user equipment will be transferred with a high priority, a message requesting a connection to the first network node, a message transferring the data and those messages may be the same message, as stated above.

After the transferring the data with high priority by a user equipment, the methods performed and implemented in subsequent network nodes will be described as below.

Figure 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method 200 implemented in a first network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 200 according to the present disclosure may be implemented in a first network node in a cellular Internet of Things network. It will be appreciated that the method 200 may be implemented in any other suitable terminals, network devices, and network nodes in any other suitable communication networks.

The method 200 may comprise the first network node receiving from a user equipment a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, as shown in block 210 of Figure 2. As mentioned above with respect to a user equipment, the user equipment may transmit to the first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority when it requires to transfer the user data with the high priority. Correspondingly, the first network node may require to receive the message to understand a request from the user equipment and it will know from the message that the data from the user equipment may be handled with a high priority.

The method 200 may further comprise the first network node receiving from the user equipment the user data with the high priority, as shown in block 220 of Figure 2. As stated above, in an embodiment of the method 100, the user equipment may transfer the data with the high priority after the transmission of the message indicating that the user data will be transferred with a high priority or transmitting the message and transferring the data may be performed by the user equipment simultaneously. In another embodiment of the method 100, the data may be transferred in the message indicating that the user data will be transferred with a high priority. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the method 200, the first network node may receive the message indicating that the user data will be transferred with a high priority before receiving the data with the high priority or may receive the message and the data with the high priority simultaneously. In another embodiment of the method 200, the message and the data may be received in the same message.

The method 200 may further comprise the first network node transferring to a second network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message may include the user data. After the first network node receiving the message and the data, the first network node may handle the data with a high priority, e.g., the first network node may transfer first the data with high priority and then transfer a normal data. However, a next network node on a path on which the data is transferred also need know how to handle the received data. Thus, the first network node may require to indicate to the next node, i.e., the second network node, that the data may be handled with high priority. To save power and reduce interaction, the message sent by the first network node for indicating that the user data will be transferred with a high priority may include the user data. That is, the first network node may use one message to indicate a high priority and transfer the user data.

In an embodiment of the method 200, the user equipment may be in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message may be a radio resource control connection request and the another message may be an initial user equipment message. As stated in the above, a user equipment may use different messages for indicating a high priority and transferring data in different states, i.e., an idle state and a connected state. Accordingly, the first network node will receive different messages from the user equipment in an idle state and a connected state. In the idle state, the first network node will receive the radio resource control connection request because the user equipment may try to request a connection to the first network node, e.g. eNodeB, in CIoT. In this case, since the user equipment is in the idle state, resulting in that there may be also not connection between the first network node and the second network, the first network node also may transfer an initial user equipment message to indicate the high priority and transfer the received data. In CIoT, the second network node may be a Mobility Management Entity (MME) .

In an embodiment of the method 200, the user equipment may be in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message may be uplink information transfer message and the another message may be uplink non-access stratum transport message. That is, if the user equipment is already connected to the first network node due to transferring previously data, etc, the user equipment may not require to request a connection to the first network node and thus may transmit uplink information transfer message between a user equipment and the first network node, eNodeB, in CIoT. Accordingly, the first network node may receive the uplink information transfer message from the user equipment. In this case, the first network may use uplink non-access stratum transport message to indicate a high priority and transfer the received data.

For embodiments above, it will be appreciated that the first network node and the second network node may be any other suitable network nodes other than eNodeB and MME, and the message and the another message may be any other suitable messages.

In an embodiment of method 200, the transferring of the user data may further comprise transferring the user data by indicating a priority level, which is similar to the method 100 and will not be described in detail herein.

Figure 3 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method 300 implemented in a second network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 300 according to the present disclosure may be implemented in a second network node in a cellular Internet of Things network. It will be appreciated that the method 300 may be implemented in any other suitable terminals, network devices, and network nodes in any other suitable communication networks.

The method 300 may comprise the second network node receiving from a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data, as show in block 310 of Figure 3. The second network node will obtain an indication of high priority of the user data and the user data itself by receiving the message from the first network node. In an embodiment of the method 300, the second network node also may receive two messages for obtaining an indication of high priority of the user data and the user data itself respectively.

The second network node may receive different messages and transmitting different messages in an idle state and a connected state of a user equipment.

The second network node may use in the idle state two different ways for notifying the next network node, i.e., the third network node, of a high priority and transferring a user data.

Thus, in an embodiment of the method 300, the method 300 may further comprise if the user equipment transferring the user data is in an idle state before transferring the user data, transmitting to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority; transferring to the third network node further message including the user data with the high priority. In this embodiment, the second network node may uses two messages, i.e., another message and further message, to indicate that the user data will be transferred with the high priority and transfer the user data, respectively.

In embodiments, for CIoT, the first and second network nodes may be eNodeB and MME, respectively, as stated above and, the third network node may be Serving GateWay (SGW) .

In an embodiment of the method 300 that the user data may in an idle state, the message received by second network node from the first network node may be an initial user equipment message as described with respect to the method 200. In this embodiment, those two messages, i.e., another message and further message, used by the second network node to indicate to the next network node that the user data will be transferred with the high priority and transfer the user data may be modify bearer request and uplink data, respectively. However, those two messages also may be incorporated in one message, i.e., both the another message and the further message may be the same which are uplink data. That is, in the idle state, the second network node, e.g. MME, may first use modify bearer request to indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority and then use uplink data to transfer the user data with the high priority. Alternatively, in the idle state, the second network node, e.g. MME, also may use one message, i.e, uplink data, to indicate a high priority and transfer a user data. Preferably, using only one message will save power of the network node and reduce interaction.

In an embodiment of the method 300, the method 300 may comprise if the user equipment transferring the user data is in a connected state before transferring the user data, transferring to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data. In the connected state, the second network node may continue to notify the third network node of the high priority and transfer the user data. In an embodiment of the method 300, the second network node may use two messages to notify the third network node of the high priority and transfer the user data, respectively.

In an embodiment of the method 300 that the user data may in a connected state, the message received by the second network from the first network node as shown in block 310 may be uplink non-access stratum transport message. The another message transferred by the second network node may be uplink data.

For above embodiments, it will be appreciated that the first network node, the second network node, and the third network node may be any other suitable network nodes other than eNodeB, MME, and SGW, and the message, the another message, and the further message may be any other suitable messages.

In an embodiment of method 300, the transferring of the user data may further comprise transferring the user data by indicating a priority level, which is similar to the

methods

100 and 200, and will not be described in detail herein.

Figure 4 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method 400 implemented in a third network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 400 according to the present disclosure may be implemented in a third network node in a cellular Internet of Things network. It will be appreciated that the method 400 may be implemented in any other suitable terminals, network devices, and network nodes in any other suitable communication networks.

The method 400 may comprise the third network node receiving from a second network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority as shown in block 410 of Figure 4.

In embodiments, for CIoT, the second and third network nodes may be MME and SGW, respectively, as stated above and, the fourth network node may be PDN GateWay (PGW) .

Corresponding to the method 300 described above, in an embodiment, the method 400 may comprise if the message received first by the third network node is modify bearer request, receiving from a second network node another message including the user data with the high priority; transferring to a fourth network node further message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the further message includes the user data. That is, if the message received by the third network node from the second network node is modify bearer request, it may be determined that the user equipment is in an idle state because the second network node can use the message of modify bearer request in the case that the user equipment is in an idle state. Thus, it may be determined by the third network node that the second network node will transfer the user data by using another message and the third network node thus will wait to receive the user data by the another message. After the receipt of the user data, the third network node may transfer to a fourth network node further message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority and the further message may include the user data.

In an embodiment of the method 400 that the message received first by the third network node is modify bearer request, both the another message including user data received by the third network node from the second network node and the further message transferred by the third network node to the fourth network node are the same which are uplink data.

Similarly, corresponding to the method 300 described above, in an embodiment, the method 400 may comprise if the message received first by the third network node is uplink data, the third network node will obtain an indication of the high priority and the user data. Thus, the third network node will not wait for a subsequent message and may transfer to a fourth network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.

In an embodiment of the method 400, the above another message may be uplink data.

For embodiments above, it will be appreciated that the second network node, the third network node, and the fourth network node may be any other suitable network nodes other than MME, SGW, and PGW, and the message, the another message, and the further message may be any other suitable messages.

In an embodiment of method 400, the transferring of the user data may further comprise transferring the user data by indicating a priority level, which is similar to the

methods

100, 200, and 300, and will not be described in detail herein.

Figure 5 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method 500 implemented in a fourth network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method 500 according to the present disclosure may be implemented in a fourth network node in a cellular Internet of Things network. It will be appreciated that the method 500 may be implemented in any other suitable terminals, network devices, and network nodes in any other suitable communication networks.

The method 500 may comprise the fourth network node receiving from a third network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data, as shown in block 510 of Figure 5, and transferring the user data with the high priority, as shown in block 520 of Figure 5. Corresponding to the method 400, the fourth network node may receive an indication of the high priority and the user data, and may transfer to network the received user data.

In embodiments, for CIoT, the third and fourth network nodes may be SGW and PGW, respectively, as stated above.

In an embodiment, the message received by the fourth network node may be uplink data.

For above embodiments, it will be appreciated that the third and fourth network nodes may be any other suitable network nodes other than SGW and PGW, and the message may be any other suitable messages.

In an embodiment of method 500, the transferring of the user data may further comprise transferring the user data by indicating a priority level, which is similar to the

methods

100, 200, 300, and 400, and will not be described in detail herein.

Although methods described above with respect to Figure 1 to 5 are described with reference to CIoT, It will be appreciated that those methods may be applied to existing other communication systems and/or communication systems developed in the future, for example, the fifth generation (5G) communication system.

Figure 6 is block diagram of a user equipment 600 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 6, the user equipment 600 may comprise a processor 610 and a memory 620 communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment to perform the method 100 described with respect to Figure 1. It will be appreciated that the user equipment 600 may be implemented by any other suitable components.

The processor 610 may include one or more processing units. A processing unit may be a physical device or article of manufacture comprising one or more integrated circuits that read data and instructions from computer readable media, such as the memory 610, and selectively execute the instructions. In various embodiments, the processor 610 may be implemented in various ways. As an example, the processor 610 may be implemented as one or more processing cores. As another example, the processor 610 may comprise one or more separate microprocessors. In yet another example, the processor 610 may comprise an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that provides specific functionality. In still another example, the processor 610 may provide specific functionality by using an ASIC and/or by executing computer-executable instructions.

The memory 620 may include one or more computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium capable of storing data and/or computer-executable instructions. It should be appreciated that the storage medium is preferably a non-transitory storage medium.

Figure 7 is another block diagram of a user equipment 700 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 7, the user equipment 700 may comprise a transmitting unit 710 and a transferring unit 720. The transmitting unit 710 may be configured to transmit to a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority. The transferring unit 720 may be configured to transfer to the first network node the user data with the high priority.

In an embodiment, the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request.

In an embodiment, the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message.

In an embodiment, the transferring unit 720 may be configured to transfer the user data by indicating a priority level.

Figure 8 is block diagram of the first network node 800 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first network node 800 may comprise a processor 810 and a memory 820 communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment to perform the method 200 described with respect to Figure 2. It will be appreciated that the first network node 800 may be implemented by any other suitable components.

The processor 810 may include one or more processing units. A processing unit may be a physical device or article of manufacture comprising one or more integrated circuits that read data and instructions from computer readable media, such as the memory 810, and selectively execute the instructions. In various embodiments, the processor 810 may be implemented in various ways. As an example, the processor 810 may be implemented as one or more processing cores. As another example, the processor 810 may comprise one or more separate microprocessors. In yet another example, the processor 810 may comprise an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that provides specific functionality. In still another example, the processor 810 may provide specific functionality by using an ASIC and/or by executing computer-executable instructions.

The memory 820 may include one or more computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium capable of storing data and/or computer-executable instructions. It should be appreciated that the storage medium is preferably a non-transitory storage medium.

Figure 9 is another block diagram of the first network node 900 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 9, the first network node 900 may comprise a receiving unit 910 and a transferring unit 920. The receiving unit 910 may be configured to receive from a user equipment a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority and receiving from the user equipment the user data with the high priority. The transferring unit 920 may be configured to transfer to a second network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.

In an embodiments, the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request and the another message is an initial user equipment message.

In an embodiment, the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message and the another message is uplink non-access stratum transport message.

In an embodiment, the transferring unit 920 may be configured to transfer the user data by indicating a priority level

Figure 10 is a block diagram of the second network node 1000 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 10, second network node 1000 may comprise a processor 1010 and a memory 1020 communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment to perform the method 300 described with respect to Figure 3. It will be appreciated that the second network node 1000 may be implemented by any other suitable components.

The processor 1010 may include one or more processing units. A processing unit may be a physical device or article of manufacture comprising one or more integrated circuits that read data and instructions from computer readable media, such as the memory 1010, and selectively execute the instructions. In various embodiments, the processor 1010 may be implemented in various ways. As an example, the processor 1010 may be implemented as one or more processing cores. As another example, the processor 1010 may comprise one or more separate microprocessors. In yet another example, the processor 1010 may comprise an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that provides specific functionality. In still another example, the processor 1010 may provide specific functionality by using an ASIC and/or by executing computer-executable instructions.

The memory 1020 may include one or more computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium capable of storing data and/or computer-executable instructions. It should be appreciated that the storage medium is preferably a non-transitory storage medium.

Figure 11 is another block diagram of the second network node 1100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 11, the second network node 1100 may comprise a receiving unit 1110. The receiving unit 1110 may be configured to receive from a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data.

In an embodiment, the second network node may further comprise a transmitting unit and a transferring unit. If the user equipment transferring the user data is in an idle state before transferring the user data, the transmitting unit may be configured to transmit to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority and the transferring unit may be configured to transfer to the third network node further message including the user data with the high priority.

In an embodiment, the message is an initial user equipment message, the another message is modify bearer request and the further message is uplink data or both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.

In an embodiment, if the user equipment transferring the user data is in a connected state before transferring the user data, the transferring unit may be configured to transfer to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.

In an embodiment, the message is uplink non-access stratum transport message and the another message is uplink data.

In an embodiment, the transferring unit may be configured to transfer the user data by indicating a priority level.

Figure 12 is a block diagram of the third network node 1200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 12, third network node 1200 may comprise a processor 1210 and a memory 1220 communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment to perform the method 400 described with respect to Figure 4. It will be appreciated that the third network node 1200 may be implemented by any other suitable components.

The processor 1210 may include one or more processing units. A processing unit may be a physical device or article of manufacture comprising one or more integrated circuits that read data and instructions from computer readable media, such as the memory 1210, and selectively execute the instructions. In various embodiments, the processor 1210 may be implemented in various ways. As an example, the processor 1210 may be implemented as one or more processing cores. As another example, the processor 1210 may comprise one or more separate microprocessors. In yet another example, the processor 1210 may comprise an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that provides specific functionality. In still another example, the processor 1210 may provide specific functionality by using an ASIC and/or by executing computer-executable instructions.

The memory 1220 may include one or more computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium capable of storing data and/or computer-executable instructions. It should be appreciated that the storage medium is preferably a non-transitory storage medium.

Figure 13 is another block diagram of the third network node 1300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 13, the third network node 1300 may comprise a receiving unit 1310. The receiving unit 1310 may be configured to receive from a second network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority.

In an embodiment, the third network node 1300 may further comprise a transferring unit. If the message is modify bearer request, the receiving unit 1310 may be configured to receiving from a second network node another message including the user data with the high priority; and the transferring unit may be configured to transfer to a fourth network node further message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the further message includes the user data.

In an embodiment, both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.

In an embodiment, if the message is uplink data, the transferring unit may be configured to transfer to a fourth network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data

In an embodiment, the another message is uplink data.

Figure 14 is a block diagram of the fourth network node 1400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 14, the fourth network node 1400 may comprise a processor 1410 and a memory 1420 communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment to perform the method 500 described with respect to Figure 5. It will be appreciated that the fourth network node 1400 may be implemented by any other suitable components.

The processor 1410 may include one or more processing units. A processing unit may be a physical device or article of manufacture comprising one or more integrated circuits that read data and instructions from computer readable media, such as the memory 1410, and selectively execute the instructions. In various embodiments, the processor 1410 may be implemented in various ways. As an example, the processor 1410 may be implemented as one or more processing cores. As another example, the processor 1410 may comprise one or more separate microprocessors. In yet another example, the processor 1410 may comprise an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that provides specific functionality. In still another example, the processor 1410 may provide specific functionality by using an ASIC and/or by executing computer-executable instructions.

The memory 1420 may include one or more computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium capable of storing data and/or computer-executable instructions. It should be appreciated that the storage medium is preferably a non-transitory storage medium.

Figure 15 is another block diagram of the fourth network node 1500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 15, the fourth network node 1500 may comprise a receiving unit 1510 and a transferring unit 1520. The receiving unit 1510 may be configured to receive from a third network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data. The transferring unit 1520 may be configured to transfer the user data with the high priority.

In an embodiment, the message is uplink data.

In an embodiment, the transferring unit 1520 may be configured to transfer the user data by indicating a priority level.

Figure 16 is a block diagram of a system 1600 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 16, the system 1600 may comprise at least a user equipment 1610, a first network node 1620, a second network node 1630, a third network node 1640, and a fourth network node 1650. The user equipment 1610 may comprise a processor 1611 and a memory 1612 communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment 1610 to perform the method 100 described with respect to Figure 1. The first network node 1620 may comprise a processor 1621 and a memory 1622 communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the first network node (1620) to perform the method 200 described with respect to Figure 2. The second network node 1630 may comprise a processor 1631 and a memory 1632 communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the second network node 1630 to perform the method 300 described with respect to Figure 3. The third network node 1640 may comprise a processor 1641 and a memory (1642) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the third network node 1640 to perform the method 300 described with respect to Figure 3. The fourth network node 1650 may comprise a processor 1651 and a memory 1652 communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the fourth network node 1650 to perform the method 500 described with respect to Figure 5.

The method according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to signaling flow diagram.

Figure 17 is a signaling flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method shown in Figure 17 shows signaling flow of a user equipment in an idle state transferring a user data with high priority through network nodes: eNodeB, MME, SGW, and PGW.

The user equipment may first require to be attached with CP-CIoT Optimization, as shown in Figure 17. As described in method 100, since the user equipment is in idle state, e.g, ECM_IDLE state, as shown in Figure 17, it requires first to establish a connection with the eNodeB by using radio resource control connection request (RRCConnectionRequest) . The radio resource control connection request may carry EstablishmentCause: HighPriorityService, which is newly defined for the method of the present disclosure and shown in table 1 below, to indicate that upcoming user data will be transferred with the high priority. As described in the method 100, the radio resource control connection request may be used to indicate to the eNodeB that user data will be transferred with a high priority. As an example, the user equipment also may use the radio resource control connection request to transfer the user data with the high priority. As another example, the radio resource control connection request also may indicate a priority level to transfer the user data with the indicated priority level.

Table 1: RRC Establishment Cause

It can be seen in table 1 that the there is a new information element (IE) type shown in italics: HighPriorityService. The addition of the HighPriorityService may provide a network node with a capacity to indicate that a user data will be transferred with a high priority. It will be appreciated that any other suitable IE type may be used to achieve this function.

As shown in Figure 17, when the eNodeB receives the radio resource control connection request from the user equipment, as described in the method 200, it will transfer to the MME an initial user message, as shown in Figure 17, indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority and including the user data. The initial user message may carry RRC EstablishmentCause: HighPriorityService and CONTROL PLANE SERVICE REQUEST/ESM DATA TRANSPORT message, wherein ESM DATA TRANSPORT message may be used to indicate a priority level by using a newly defined ServicePriorityLevel, which is newly defined for the method of the present disclosure and shown in table 2 below.

Table 2: ESM DATA TRANSPORT message content

It can be seen in table 2 that the there is a new IE type shown in italics: ServicePriorityLevel. The addition of the ServicePriorityLevel may provide a network node using e.g, ESM DATA TRANSPORT message, with a capacity to indicate a priority level with which a user data will be transferred. It will be appreciated that any other suitable IE type may be used to achieve this function. Since the priority level indicated by the new IE of ServicePriorityLevel may be represent by four bits that are the length of ServicePriorityLevel, the priority level may be a value of 0 -15. The value of 0 may mean the lowest priority and the value of 15 may means the highest priority level.

As shown in Figure 17, when the MME receives initial use message from the eNodeB, as described in the method 300, it may use two ways for handling the user data with the high priority. That is, the MME may first use modify bearer request to indicate to SGW that user data will be transferred with a high priority and then use an uplink data to transfer the user data with the high priority. In this case, the modify bearer request may carry the newly defined ServicePriorityLevel to indicate a priority level. Alternatively, the MME may use only an uplink data to indicate to indicate that user data will be transferred with a high priority and transfer the user data with the high priority. In this case, a GTP-U extension header contained by the MME in the uplink data may be used to indicate a priority level by using the newly defined ServicePriorityLevel. The ServicePriorityLevel may be defined in the GTP-U extension header as shown in Table 3 below.

Table 3: definition of GTP-U extension header type

It can be seen in table 3 that the there is a new IE type shown in italics: ServicePriorityLevel. The addition of the ServicePriorityLevel may provide a network node using e.g. GTP-U extension header, with a capacity to indicate a priority level with which a user data will be transferred. It will be appreciated that any other suitable IE type may be used to achieve this function.

As shown in Figure 17, when the SGW first receives an indication of a high priority included in a modify bearer request from the MME, as described in the method 400, it will wait for the user data with the high priority indicated in the modify bearer request and then receive the user data with the high priority included in a subsequent uplink data. Alternatively, when the SGW receives first an uplink data, as described in the method 400, it can obtain both an indication that a user data will be transferred with a high priority and the user data itself with the high priority included in the uplink data. When the SGW receives the indication of the high priority and the user data, as described in the method 400, it will use only an uplink data to indicate that a user data will be transferred with a high priority and transfer the user data with the high priority. In this case, a GTP-U extension header contained by the SGW in the uplink data may be used to indicate a priority level by using the newly defined ServicePriorityLevel.

As shown in Figure 17, when the PGW receives an uplink data, as described in the method 500, it can obtain an indication that a user data will be transferred with a high priority and the user data with the high priority and then can transfer to network the indication of the high priority and the user data with the high priority. In this case, a GTP-U extension header contained by the PGW in the uplink data may be used to indicate a priority level by using the newly defined ServicePriorityLevel.

Figure 18 is a signaling flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method shown in Figure 18 shows signaling flow of a user equipment in a connected state transferring a user data with high priority through network nodes: eNodeB, MME, SGW, and PGW.

The user equipment may first require to be attached with CP-CIoT Optimization, as shown in Figure 18. As described in method 100, since the user equipment is in connected state, e.g, ECM_CONNECTED state, as shown in Figure 18, it requires to transfer only uplink information transfer message (ULInformationTransfer message) to the eNodeB to indicate that a user data will be transferred with a high priority and transfer the user data with the high priority. The uplink information transfer message may carry a newly defined HighPriorityService to indicate a high priority.

As shown in Figure 18, when the eNodeB receives the uplink information transfer message from the user equipment, as described in the method 200, it will transfer to the MME an uplink non-access stratum transport message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the uplink non-access stratum transport message may include the user data. The uplink non-access stratum transport message may carry a newly defined HighPriorityService to indicate a high priority and ESM DATA TRANSPORT message and the ESM DATA TRANSPORT message may carry a newly defined ServicePriorityLevel to indicate a priority level.

As shown in Figure 18, when the MME receives uplink non-access stratum transport message from the eNodeB, as described in the method 300, it will transfer to the SGW an uplink data indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority and transferring the user data. In this case, a GTP-U extension header contained by the MME in the uplink data may be used to indicate a priority level by using the newly defined ServicePriorityLevel.

As shown in Figure 18, when the SGW receives an indication of a high priority and the a user data with the high priority included in a uplink data from the MME, as described in the method 400, it will transfer to the PGW an uplink data indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority and transferring the user data. In this case, a GTP-U extension header contained by the SGW in the uplink data may be used to indicate a priority level by using the newly defined ServicePriorityLevel.

As shown in Figure 18, when the PGW receives an indication of a high priority and the a user data with the high priority included in a uplink data from the MME, as described in the method 500, it will transfer to the network an uplink data indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority and transferring the user data. In this case, a GTP-U extension header contained by the PGW in the uplink data may be used to indicate a priority level by using the newly defined ServicePriorityLevel.

The methods described above may implemented by a non-transitory computer readable media having computer programs stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the methods described above according to the present disclosure.

The present disclosure may also provide a memory containing the computer program as mentioned above, which includes machine-readable media and machine-readable transmission media. The machine-readable media may also be called computer-readable media, and may include machine-readable storage media? for example, magnetic disks, magnetic tape, optical disks, phase change memory, or an electronic memory terminal device like a random access memory (RAM) , read only memory (ROM) , flash memory devices, CD-ROM, DVD, Blue-ray disc and the like. The machine-readable transmission media may also be called a carrier, and may include, for example, electrical, optical, radio, acoustical or other form of propagated signals -such as carrier waves, infrared signals, and the like.

The techniques described herein may be implemented by various means so that an apparatus implementing one or more functions of a corresponding apparatus described with an embodiment includes not only prior art means, but also means for implementing the one or more functions of the corresponding apparatus described with the embodiment and it may include separate means for each separate function, or means that may be configured to perform two or more functions. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more apparatuses) , firmware (one or more apparatuses) , software (one or more modules) , or combinations thereof. For a firmware or software, implementation may be made through modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein.

Example embodiments herein have been described above with reference to block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods and apparatuses. It will be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by various means including hardware, software, firmware, and a combination thereof. For example, in one embodiment, each block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the subject matter described herein, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The above described embodiments are given for describing rather than limiting the disclosure, and it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as those skilled in the art readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. The protection scope of the disclosure is defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

A method (100) implemented in a user equipment in a cellular Internet of Things network, the method comprising:

transmitting (110) to a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; and

transferring (120) to the first network node the user data with the high priority.
The method of Claim 1, wherein the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request.
The method of claim 1, wherein the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message.
The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the transferring of the user data further comprising:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A method (200) implemented in a first network node in a cellular Internet of Things network, the method comprising:

receiving (210) from a user equipment a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority;

receiving (220) from the user equipment the user data with the high priority;

transferring (230) to a second network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.
The method of Claim 5, wherein the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request and the another message is an initial user equipment message.
The method of Claim 5, wherein the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message and the another message is uplink non-access stratum transport message.
The method of Claim 6 or 7, wherein the transferring of the user data further comprising:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A method (300) implemented in a second network node in a cellular Internet of Things network, the method comprising:

receiving (310) from a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data.
The method of Claim 9, further comprising:

if the user equipment transferring the user data is in an idle state before transferring the user data,

transmitting to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority;

transferring to the third network node further message including the user data with the high priority.
The method of Claim 10, wherein the message is an initial user equipment message, the another message is modify bearer request and the further message is uplink data or both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.
The method of Claim 9, further comprising:

if the user equipment transferring the user data is in a connected state before transferring the user data,

transferring to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.
The method of Claim 12, wherein the message is uplink non-access stratum transport message and the another message is uplink data.
The method of any one of Claim 10 to 13, wherein the transferring of the user data further comprising:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A method (400) implemented in a third network node in a cellular Internet of Things network, the method comprising:

receiving (410) from a second network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority.
The method of Claim 15, further comprising:

if the message is modify bearer request,

receiving from a second network node another message including the user data with the high priority;

transferring to a fourth network node further message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the further message includes the user data.
The method of Claim 16, wherein both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.
The method of Claim 15, further comprising:

if the message is uplink data,

transferring to a fourth network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.
The method of Claim 18, wherein the another message is uplink data.
The method of any one of Claim 17 to 19, wherein the transferring of the user data further comprising:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A method (500) implemented in a fourth network node in a cellular Internet of Things network, the method comprising:

receiving (510) from a third network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data; and

transferring (520) the user data with the high priority.
The method of Claim 21, wherein the message is uplink data.
The method of Claim 21 or 22, wherein the transferring of the user data further comprising:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A user equipment (600) in a cellular Internet of Things network, the user equipment (600) comprising:

a processor (610) ; and

a memory (620) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment to perform operations of:

transmitting to a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; and

transferring to the first network node the user data with the high priority.
The user equipment of Claim 24, wherein the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request.
The user equipment of claim 24, wherein the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message.
The user equipment of claim 25 or 26, wherein the operation of transferring of the user data further comprising the operation of:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A first network node (800) in a cellular Internet of Things network, the first network node (800) comprising:

a processor (810) ; and

a memory (820) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the first network node to perform operations of:

receiving from a user equipment a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority;

receiving from the user equipment the user data with the high priority;

transferring to a second network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.
The first network node of Claim 28, wherein the user equipment is in an idle state when transmitting the message, and the message is a radio resource control connection request and the another message is an initial user equipment message.
The first network node of Claim 28, wherein the user equipment is in a connected state when transmitting the message, and the message is uplink information transfer message and the another message is uplink non-access stratum transport message.
The first network node of Claim 29 or 30, wherein the operation of transferring of the user data further comprising operation of:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A second network node (1000) in a cellular Internet of Things network, the second network node (1000) comprising:

a processor (1010) ; and

a memory (1020) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the second network node to perform operations of:

receiving from a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data.
The second network node of Claim 32, the instructions further cause the second network node to perform operation of:

if the user equipment transferring the user data is in an idle state before transferring the user data,

transmitting to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority;

transferring to the third network node further message including the user data with the high priority.
The second network node of Claim 33, wherein the message is an initial user equipment message, the another message is modify bearer request and the further message is uplink data or both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.
The second network node of Claim 32, the instructions further cause the second network node to perform operation of:

if the user equipment transferring the user data is in a connected state before transferring the user data,

transferring to a third network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.
The second network node of Claim 35, wherein the message is uplink non-access stratum transport message and the another message is uplink data.
The second network node of any one of Claim 33 to 36, wherein the operation of the transferring of the user data further comprising operation of:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A third network node (1200) in a cellular Internet of Things network, the third network node (1200) comprising:

a processor (1210) ; and

a memory (1220) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the third network node to perform operation of:

receiving from a second network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority.
The third network node of Claim 38, the instructions further cause the third network node to perform operations of:

if the message is modify bearer request,

receiving from a second network node another message including the user data with the high priority;

transferring to a fourth network node further message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the further message includes the user data.
The third network node of Claim 39, wherein both the another message and the further message are the same which are uplink data.
The third network node of Claim 38, the instructions further cause the third network node to perform operations of:

if the message is uplink data,

transferring to a fourth network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data.
The third network node of Claim 41, wherein the another message is uplink data.
The third network node of any one of Claim 40 to 42, wherein the operation of the transferring of the user data further comprising operation of:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A fourth network node (1400) in a cellular Internet of Things network, the fourth network node (1400) comprising:

a processor (1410) ; and

a memory (1420) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the fourth network node to perform operation of:

receiving from a third network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data; and

transferring the user data with the high priority.
The fourth network node of Claim 44, wherein the message is uplink data.
The fourth network node of Claim 44 or 45, wherein operation of the transferring of the user data further comprising operation of:

transferring the user data by indicating a priority level.
A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a user equipment, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method of any of Claims 1 to 4.
A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a first network node, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method of any of Claims 5 to 8.
A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a second network node, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method of any of Claims 5 to 8.
A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a third network node, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method of any of Claims 5 to 8.
A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor of a fourth network node, causes the at least one processor to carry out the method of any of Claims 5 to 8.
A cellular Internet of Things network communication system (1600) , comprising at least a user equipment (1610) , a first network node (1620) , a second network node (1630) , a third network node (1640) , and a fourth network node (1650) ,

wherein the user equipment (1610) comprising:

a processor (1611) ; and

a memory (1612) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the user equipment (1610) to perform operations of:

transmitting to a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority; and

transferring to the first network node the user data with the high priority;

wherein the first network node (1620) comprising:

a processor (1621) ; and

a memory (1622) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the first network node (1620) to perform operations of:

receiving from a user equipment a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority;

receiving from the user equipment the user data with the high priority;

transferring to a second network node another message indicating that the user data will be transferred with the high priority, wherein the another message includes the user data;

wherein the second network node (1630) comprising:

a processor (1631) ; and

a memory (1632) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the second network node (1630) to perform operations of:

receiving from a first network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data;

wherein the third network node (1640) comprising:

a processor (1641) ; and

a memory (1642) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the third network node (1640) to perform operation of:

receiving from a second network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority;

wherein the fourth network node (1650) comprising:

a processor (1651) ; and

a memory (1652) communicatively coupled to the processor and adapted to store instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the fourth network node (1650) to perform operation of:

receiving from a third network node a message indicating that a user data will be transferred with a high priority, wherein the message includes the user data; and

transferring the user data with the high priority.