WO2021189563A1

WO2021189563A1 - Method for associating user plane and control plane information in lte network

Info

Publication number: WO2021189563A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/084580
Authority: WO
Inventors: 周建清; 魏雷; 张志华; 朱斌; 马传项; 王海飞
Original assignee: 江苏省通信服务有限公司; 中邮建技术有限公司
Priority date: 2020-03-24
Filing date: 2020-04-14
Publication date: 2021-09-30
Also published as: CN111371628A; CN111371628B

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for associating user plane and control plane information in an LTE network. The method solves the problem in which user data is deeply mined and networks are deeply analyzed, thus achieving assistance in processing VIP complaints, supporting front-end operation and maintenance, and greatly improving user satisfaction. In the present invention, different user data of a user plane may be distinguished, and deep mining of the user data can be well prepared for. In the present invention, association efficiency is high, the association algorithm is simple, input of an associated device can be reduced, and resources can be saved.

Description

Method for associating user plane and control plane information under LTE network

Technical field

The present invention relates to the technical field of data association in the field of mobile communication, and in particular to a method for associating user plane and control plane data in an LTE network.

Background technique

The current LTE network involves many network elements and many interfaces. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the dotted line in Figure 1 is the control plane interface, which transmits control signaling. The solid line is the user plane interface, which transmits user data.

The main functions of MME (mobile management entity) include: support for NAS signaling and its security, tracking area (Tracking Area) list management, selection of P-GW and S-GW, selection of MME during cross-MME handover, and transfer to 2G SGSN selection, user authentication, roaming control and bearer management during the handover of /3G access system, mobility management between core network nodes of different 3GPP access networks, and UE reachability in ECM-IDLE state Management etc.

S-GW (Serving Gateway) is a gateway that terminates at the E-UTRAN interface. The main functions of this device include: local anchor point during handover between eNodeBs, mobility anchor point during handover between 3GPP different access systems, and execution of legal detection Listening function, routing and forwarding of data packets, packet marking on the uplink and downlink transmission layer, packet buffering in the ECM-IDLE state, paging triggering, charging, etc.

P-GW (Public Data Network Gateway) is a gateway that faces PDN and terminates at the SGi interface. The main functions of this device include: user-based packet filtering function, legal interception function, UE IP address allocation function, and uplink and downlink transmission layer Packet marking, charging, gating, QoS control, bearer control, etc.

ENB (LTE base station) is responsible for radio resource management and other functions, including radio bearer control, admission control, connection mobility management, uplink and downlink dynamic resource allocation and scheduling.

S11 interface: The interface between MME and SGW, which carries some control plane signaling transfer.

S1-U interface: The interface between ENB and SGW, which carries user data, such as emails, videos, pictures and other information sent/received by users.

S1-MME interface: The interface between ENB and MME, which carries control plane signaling transfer.

After the UE resides on the LTE network, it will be assigned an IPv4 address, but the assigned IP address is not necessarily the only one. The UE IP is allocated by the PGW, that is, the UE IP address can be multiplexed between the PGWs, and the UE IP is reassigned if it crosses the PGW, and the PGW and SGW are currently co-located. An operator may have dozens or even hundreds of PGW/SGW in the same province, that is, there may be different UEs allocating the same IP at the same time. It is not accurate to uniquely identify a UE by UE IP. UE IP + SGW IP together It is accurate to identify a UE.

According to needs, operators will collect data on various interfaces and make correlations to conduct in-depth mining and analysis of user data.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to address the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art and propose a method for associating user plane and control plane information in an LTE network. The user's data flow finally realizes the evaluation of each user's online perception.

The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: a method for user plane and control plane information association under LTE network, which solves the problem of in-depth mining of user data and in-depth analysis of the network, realizing assistance in handling VIP complaints, and supporting the front-end Operation and maintenance has greatly improved user satisfaction.

Method flow:

Step 1: Collect S11 port control plane and S1U port user plane data.

Step 2: Extract S11 port parameters into the database, including: time, IMSI, MSISDN, S1U, SGW, GTP-U, TEID, S1U, ENB, GTP-U, TEID, S11, MME, GTP-C, TEID, S11, SGW, GTP-C, TEID, UE, IP, eNB IP, SGW IP, MME IP, TAI, ECGI, EBI, QCI, mME-UE-S1AP-ID, eNB-UE-S1AP-ID.

Step 3: Extract S1U port parameters and store them in the database, including: time, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID, S1U ENB GTP-U TEID, UE IP, eNB IP, and SGW IP.

Step 4: Associate the S1U port parameters (UE IP, ENB IP, SGW IP, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID) with the S11 port parameters (IMSI) according to the above step 2 and step 3 storage parameters stand up. Use parameter group 1 (parameter group 1 refers to time, UE IP, ENB IP, SGW IP, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID) for association. If the association fails, proceed to step 5.

Step 5: Use parameter group 2 (parameter group 2 refers to time, UE IP, ENB IP, and SGW IP) to associate according to the storage parameters of step 2 and step 3 above. If the association fails, proceed to step 6.

Step 6: Use parameter group 3 (parameter group 3 refers to time, UE IP and SGW IP) to associate according to the above-mentioned step 2 and step 3 inbound parameters, and discard if the association fails.

Step 7: Save the association result and store it in the database.

The association is to separate the data of different users of the S1U port through the UE IP+SGW IP, and separate the data flow of the A user and the B user, and further realize the evaluation and analysis of each user's online perception.

Beneficial effects:

1. The present invention can realize the distinction of different user data on the user plane, and can well prepare for the in-depth mining of user data.

2. The present invention has high correlation efficiency, simple correlation algorithm, can save investment in associated equipment, and can save resources.

3. The present invention well realizes assistance in handling VIP complaints, supports front-end operation and maintenance, and improves user satisfaction.

Description of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the EPC network topology.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the association between S11 and S1U in an attach/TAU scenario.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the association between the S11 port and the S1U port warehousing parameters of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flow chart of the method of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the specification.

As shown in Figure 3, the present invention can collect part of the same data when collecting data from the S11 port and the S1U port, including: time, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID, S1U ENB GTP-U TEID, UE IP, ENB IP and SGW IP, etc. S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID can uniquely identify a user equipment in the same SGW. If the UE IP changes, the network will regenerate new S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID to ensure that a user equipment can be uniquely identified. The above 7 parameters of the S11 port and the S1U port are all consistent (the time may have a second-level error), and the association between all the data of the S11 port and the S1U port can be established, especially the association between the IMSI and the UE IP. At the same time, since the UE's IP address is multiplexed, it is inaccurate to disassociate it only through the UE's IP.

As shown in Figure 4, the present invention mainly implements association and stores the results through the following steps, including:

Step 1: Collect S11 port control plane and S1U port user plane data.

Step 7: Save the association result and store it in the database.

Once the UE is powered on under the LTE network and enters the network, it will be assigned an IPv4 and an IPv6 address, or only an IPv4 address. IPv4 is used for surfing the Internet, and IPv6 is used for VoLTE calls. This association method only uses IPv4, and UE IP and SGW IP may change in two scenarios: attachment and TAU. In the end, a method is found to realize the association between the UE's IP and the IMSI, so that the data flow of each user can be accurately distinguished.

The control plane information analysis of the present invention includes:

The S1-U interface captures user plane data, and the S1-MME and S11 interfaces capture control plane data. The information association between the user plane and the control plane mainly refers to the data association between the S1-U port and the S11 port.

The UE behaviors that affect the association mainly include attachment, TAU, etc. If the user is always on and in a static state, it is easy to associate.

The attachment process of the UE in the LTE network is shown in Figure 2 below. The asterisk signaling in the figure is the key to the association, and the user plane and control plane can be associated with these key signalings.

The Great Session Request contains key information:

Tunnel Endpoint Identifier: 0x00000000(0)

RAT Type: EUTRAN(6)

TEID/GRE Key: 0x91b4f860(2444556384)

APN(Access Point Name): cmiotcom.gx.mnc004.mcc460.gprs

IMSI: 460044449603049

EPS Bearer ID (EBI): 5

Label(QCI): 9

F-TEID IPv4: 117.142.73.192

Tracking Area Identity(TAI)

E-UTRAN Cell Global Identifier (ECGI)

PDN Address Allocation (PAA): IPv4 0.0.0.0

Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate (AMBR):

MSISDN: 8618602100004

S11 MME GTP-C TEID: 0x28b0000b

MME IP:

SGW/PWG IP:

Greate Session Response contains key information:

Tunnel Endpoint Identifier: 0x91b4f860(2444556384)

TEID/GRE Key:0x04aa8d21(78286113)

F-TEID IPv4: 117.142.255.98

PDN Address Allocation (PAA): IPv4 10.0.1.240

EPS Bearer ID (EBI): 5

TEID/GRE Key:0x04a88d21(78155041)

F-TEID IPv4: 117.142.255.98

Label(QCI): 9

Charging id: 3187285209

SGW/PGW IP:

MME IP:

Initial Context Setup Request Attach Accept contains key information:

mME-UE-S1AP-ID: 0xd8f13d3(227480531)

eNB-UE-S1AP-ID: 0x5cee9(380649)

e-RAB-ID: 0x5(5)

qCI: 0x6(6)

gTP-TEID: 0xD7F0F0E6

The Initial Context Setup Response contains key information:

mME-UE-S1AP-ID: 0xd8f13d3(227480531)

eNB-UE-S1AP-ID: 0x5cee9(380649)

e-RAB-ID: 0x5(5)

gTP-TEID: 0x000072ED

The Modify Bearer Request (S11) contains key information:

Tunnel Endpoint Identifier: 0x04aa8d21(78286113)

Tracking Area Identity(TAI)

E-UTRAN Cell Global Identifier (ECGI)

MME IP:

SGW/PGW IP:

The Modify Bearer Response (S11) contains key information:

Tunnel Endpoint Identifier: 0x91b4f860(2444556384)

MSISDN: 861440244962566

SGW/PGW IP:

MME IP:

The S11 interface control plane between the MME and SGW is composed of S11 MME GTP-C TEID and S11 SGW GTP-C TEID. A pair of TEIDs uniquely identifies a UE. The S1U interface user plane between ENB and SGW is composed of S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S11 SGW GTP-U TEID. S1U ENB GTP-U TEID A pair of TEID uniquely identifies a UE. From the above flowchart, it can be seen that the S11 MME GTP-C TEID, S11 SGW GTP-C TEID of a certain UE are in one-to-one correspondence with S1U SGW GTP-U TEID, S1U ENB GTP-U TEID.

TAU is similar to the attach process, which is simpler than attach, and can be associated in the same way. After the UE IP changes, use the same method to associate again.

When the UE attaches, the main storage information of the S11 port includes:

1) Time;

2) IMSI;

3) MSISDN;

4) S11 MME GTP-C TEID;

5) S11 SGW GTP-C TEID;

6) S1U SGW GTP-U TEID;

7) S1U ENB GTP-U TEID;

8) UE IP;

9) eNB IP;

10) SGW IP;

11) MME IP;

12) TAI;

13) ECGI;

14) EBI;

15) QCI;

16) mME-UE-S1AP-ID;

17) eNB-UE-S1AP-ID;

User-face information analysis includes:

The S1U port is the interface between ENB and SGW, and there is less information that can be stored in the library. User data is encapsulated layer by layer and transmitted between ENB and SGW. The encapsulation sequence is: Ethernet→VLAN→IP (ENB and SGW)→UDP→GTP-U→IP (UE and content server)→TCP.

The main warehousing information of S1U port includes:

1) Time;

2) S1U SGW GTP-U TEID;

3) S1U ENB GTP-U TEID;

4) UE IP;

5) eNB IP;

6) SGW IP;

Association methods include:

GTP (GPRS Tunnel Protocol), GPRS tunnel transmission protocol. GTP is a set of IP-based high-level protocols, located on top of TCP/IP and UDP/IP protocols. GTP-U is used to transmit user plane data of S1 port and X2 port, which can be based on IPv4/UDP or IPv6/UDP. The data between the tunnel endpoints is routed through the IP address and UDP port number.

TEID (Tunnel endpoint ID), the tunnel endpoint identifier, is generated by the receiving end and used by the sending end. It is exchanged through s1/x2 port signaling, and the length is randomly generated 4 bytes. A network element on a GTP tunnel identifies a unique user through a TEID, IP address, and UDP port number. The TEID is allocated by the local end, but it is used by the opposite end. Taking the S1U behavior in the Initial Setup as an example, the SGW allocates the local SGW S1U TEID, and transmits it to the eNB through the MME (carried by Create Session Response and Initial Context Setup Request), and the eNB encapsulates the SGW S1U TEID into the GTP when sending uplink data. After receiving the U packet header, the SGW can use the SGW S1U TEID to determine which bearer uplink data is. The same goes for S1U downstream.

Therefore, the SGW S1U TEID allocated by the SGW is used for sending uplink data to the eNB, and the eNB S1U TEID allocated by the eNB is used for sending downlink data to the SGW. The S1U TEID allocated by the SGW and the eNB are communicated to each other through the MME, and the IP address used for the S1U is also communicated. After the SGW and eNB obtain the S1U IP and TEID of the opposite end (collectively referred to as S1U bearer tunnel information), they have the conditions to send downlink or uplink data to the opposite end. The same is true for S5 bearer.

On the air interface on the eNodeB side, each DRB has two directions: uplink and downlink, and a TEID is unidirectional, so a pair of TEIDs is required to uniquely correspond to a DRB (QCI8/9). That is to say, a user can be uniquely identified at a certain time through an IP address and a pair of TEID. When switching occurs, a new pair of TEIDs will be generated, which can maintain the accuracy of the association.

Through the above method, the data of the user plane and the control plane can be associated. The data of the S1-U interface can be related to IMSI, ECGI, etc. through a pair of TEID on the user plane and a pair of TEID on the control plane.

The S11 interface control plane between MME and SGW is uniquely identified by S11 MME GTP-C TEID and S11 SGW GTP-C TEID, and the S1U interface user plane between ENB and SGW is S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP -U TEID uniquely identifies a UE. If the connection between the above 4 TEIDs can be found, the information of the control plane and the user plane can be associated. In addition, the Great Session Request message contains IMSI information, which can associate the user plane data stream with a specific IMSI.

According to the S11 port and S1U warehousing parameters, the association can be realized. As shown in Figure 3, the data stream of each user can be accurately distinguished at a certain moment, and it can be accurately associated with a certain base station, but it cannot be accurately associated with a specific cell.

Since the UE is in a mobile state, handover will occur. Parameters such as ENB IP, SGW IP, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID, and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID may change. Using a different set of parameter associations in turn, the difficulty of association decreases in turn. Associate according to the difficulty of association from high to low, and the sequence of association numbers: parameter group 1 (time, UE IP, ENB IP, SGW IP, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID) → parameter group 2 (time, UE IP, ENB IP and SGW IP)→Parameter group 3 (Parameter group 3 refers to time, UE IP and SGW IP). At the same time, because the time of each network element device may not be accurately synchronized, the time adopts a sliding window mechanism, and the window size is recommended to be set to 120s, the smaller the better.

Through verification, the invention has a correlation accuracy rate of 97%, and can accurately correlate user face data to a certain user.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments provided by the present invention are only illustrative and do not have the effect of limiting the scope of specific implementation of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention should include those changes or alternatives that are obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

A method for associating user plane and control plane information in an LTE network, characterized in that the method includes the following steps:

Step 1: Collect S11 port control plane and S1U port user plane data;

Step 2: Extract S11 port parameters into the database, including: time, IMSI, MSISDN, S1U, SGW, GTP-U, TEID, S1U, ENB, GTP-U, TEID, S11, MME, GTP-C, TEID, S11, SGW, GTP-C, TEID, UE, IP, eNB IP, SGW IP, MME IP, TAI, ECGI, EBI, QCI, mME-UE-S1AP-ID, eNB-UE-S1AP-ID;

Step 3: Extract S1U port parameters and store them in the database, including: time, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID, S1U ENB GTP-U TEID, UE IP, eNB IP and SGW IP;

Step 4: Associate the S1U port parameters (UE IP, ENB IP, SGW IP, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID) with the S11 port parameters (IMSI) according to the above step 2 and step 3 storage parameters Get up, use parameter group 1 (time, UE IP, ENB IP, SGW IP, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID) for association. If the association fails, proceed to step 5;

Step 5: Use parameter group 2 (time, UE IP, ENB IP, and SGW IP) to associate according to the storage parameters of step 2 and step 3 above, and proceed to step 6 if the association fails;

Step 6: Use parameter group 3 (time, UE IP, and SGW IP) to associate according to the storage parameters of step 2 and step 3 above, and discard if the association fails;

Step 7: Save the association result and store it in the database.
The method for associating user plane and control plane information in an LTE network according to claim 1, wherein said step 7 comprises: once the UE is powered on and accesses the network in the LTE network, it will be assigned an IPv4 and an IPv6 Address, or just assign an IPv4 address, IPv4 is used when surfing the Internet, and IPv6 is used when VoLTE calls. The association only uses IPv4. UE IP and SGW IP may change in two scenarios: attach and TAU, and finally find one This method realizes the association between the UE's IP and the IMSI, that is, to accurately distinguish the data flow of each user.
The method for associating user plane and control plane information in an LTE network according to claim 1, wherein the method collects part of the same data when collecting S11 port and S1U port data, including: time, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID, S1U ENB GTP-U TEID, UE IP, ENB IP and SGW IP, S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID in the same SGW uniquely identify a user equipment, if UE IP Change, the network will regenerate new S1U SGW GTP-U TEID and S1U ENB GTP-U TEID to ensure that a user equipment is uniquely identified.
The method for associating user plane and control plane information in an LTE network according to claim 1, wherein the control plane information analysis includes: S1-U interface captures user plane data, S1-MME and The S11 interface captures the control plane data, and the information association between the user plane and the control plane refers to the data association between the S1-U port and the S11 port.