WO2023087328A1

WO2023087328A1 - Handover method and apparatus, device, and storage medium

Info

Publication number: WO2023087328A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/132187
Authority: WO
Inventors: 崔欢喜; 李海涛; 陈景然; 肖振宇
Original assignee: Oppo广东移动通信有限公司
Priority date: 2021-11-22
Filing date: 2021-11-22
Publication date: 2023-05-25

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of communications, and discloses a handover method and apparatus, a device, and a storage medium. The method is applied to a terminal device of a converged network, and the converged network comprises a network element that integrates an access network function and a core network function. The method comprises: in a handover process, transmitting converged signaling between a terminal device and a network element device, the converged signaling carrying at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process. By means of the technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application, the transmission overhead of handover signaling can be reduced, the risk of a signaling storm in the handover process is reduced, and the handover delay is reduced.

Description

Switching method, device, equipment and storage medium

technical field

The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to a handover method, device, device, and storage medium.

Background technique

In 5G new air interface (New Radio, NR), it supports non-terrestrial network (Non-Terrestrial Network, NTN) technology.

NTN technology generally uses satellite communication to provide communication services to terminal equipment on the ground. If a mobile device using the NTN technology needs to perform cell handover, it is generally implemented through a handover process.

Contents of the invention

Embodiments of the present application provide a handover method, device, equipment, and storage medium. Described technical scheme is as follows:

According to one aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a handover method is provided, the method is applied to a terminal device in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, the method include:

During the handover process, the fusion signaling is transmitted with the network element device, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

According to an aspect of the embodiment of the present application, a handover method is provided, and the method is applied to a target-side distribution unit (Distribute Unit, DU) in a converged network, which includes a converged access network function and a core A network element of a network function, the method comprising:

During the handover process, the fusion signaling is transmitted with the terminal device, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a handover method is provided, and the method is applied to a source-side DU in a converged network, where the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, so The methods described include:

According to an aspect of the embodiment of the present application, a handover method is provided, and the method is applied to the target side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management (Center Unit Control Plane Access and Mobility Management Function, CU) of the converged network -CP-AMF), the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the method includes:

During the handover process, transmit fusion signaling with the source side CU-CP-AMF;

or,

According to an aspect of the embodiment of the present application, a handover method is provided, the method is applied to the source side CU-CP-AMF of the converged network, and the CU-CP-AMF is a converged access network function and a core network function . A network element for access and mobility management, the method comprising:

During the handover process, transmit fusion signaling with the CU-CP-AMF on the target side;

or,

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a switching device is provided, the device is located in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements that converge functions of an access network and a core network, and the device includes: command transmission module;

The integrated signaling transmission module is configured to transmit integrated signaling with network element equipment during the handover process, and the integrated signaling carries at least two signalings related to the handover process.

The integrated signaling transmission module is configured to transmit integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, and the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

The fusion signaling transmission module is configured to transmit fusion signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, and the fusion signaling carries at least two signalings related to the handover process.

The integrated signaling transmission module is used to transmit integrated signaling with the source side CU-CP-AMF during the handover process;

or,

The integrated signaling transmission module is configured to transmit the integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

The fusion signaling transmission module is used to transmit fusion signaling with the target side CU-CP-AMF during the handover process;

or,

According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a terminal device is provided, the terminal device is in a converged network, the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and the terminal device includes a transceiver device;

The transceiver is configured to transmit fusion signaling with the network element device during the handover process, where the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a target side DU is provided, the target side DU is in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements that integrate access network functions and core network functions, and the target side DU DU includes a transceiver;

The transceiver is configured to transmit fusion signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a source-side DU is provided. The source-side DU is located in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements that integrate access network functions and core network functions. The source-side DU DU includes a transceiver;

According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a target side CU-CP-AMF is provided, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management , the target side CU-CP-AMF includes a transceiver;

The transceiver is used to transmit fusion signaling with the source side CU-CP-AMF during the handover process;

or,

The transceiver is configured to transmit the fusion signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a source-side CU-CP-AMF is provided, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management The source side CU-CP-AMF includes a transceiver;

The transceiver is used to transmit fusion signaling with the CU-CP-AMF on the target side during the handover process;

or,

According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, where a computer program is stored in the storage medium, and the computer program is used for execution by a processor, so as to implement the foregoing switching method.

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a chip is provided, and the chip includes a programmable logic circuit and/or program instructions, which are used to implement the above switching method when the chip is running.

According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a computer program product or computer program is provided, the computer program product or computer program includes computer instructions, the computer instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and a processor reads from the The computer-readable storage medium reads and executes the computer instructions, so as to realize the above switching method.

The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can bring the following beneficial effects:

A converged network is provided. The converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and integrates the access network and the core network, so that during the handover process, the terminal equipment and the network elements in the converged network The meta-device can transmit a kind of converged signaling, which carries at least two signalings related to the handover process, such as: the converged signaling carries AS signaling and NAS signaling, avoiding the need for access and mobility management signaling In the case that signaling and session management signaling require a separate NAS signaling process, the overhead of handover signaling transmission is reduced, the risk of signaling storms during the handover process is reduced, and the handover delay is reduced.

Description of drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings that need to be used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a fusion network provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an access stratum (Access Stratum, AS) and a non-access stratum (Non-Access Stratum, NAS) provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a handover method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a registration process provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of the service request process provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a service request process provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a handover method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a handover method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a handover method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a handover method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a handover method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a handover method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a handover method provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 15 is a block diagram of a switching device provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 16 is a block diagram of a switching device provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 17 is a block diagram of a switching device provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 18 is a block diagram of a switching device provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 19 is a block diagram of a switching device provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 20 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present application clearer, the implementation manners of the present application will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The network architecture and business scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are for more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute limitations on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. The evolution of the technology and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

Before introducing the technical solution of this application, some technical knowledge involved in this application will be introduced.

At present, relevant standard organizations are studying NTN technology, which generally uses satellite communication to provide communication services to ground users. Compared with the cellular communication network on the ground, satellite communication has many unique advantages. First of all, satellite communication is not restricted by the user's region. For example, general land communication cannot cover areas such as oceans, mountains, deserts, etc. that cannot be equipped with communication equipment or are not covered by communication due to sparse population. For satellite communication, due to a Satellites can cover a large area of the ground, and satellites can orbit the earth, so theoretically every corner of the earth can be covered by satellite communications. Secondly, satellite communication has great social value. Satellite communication can be covered at a lower cost in remote mountainous areas, poor and backward countries or regions, so that people in these regions can enjoy advanced voice communication and mobile Internet technology, which is conducive to narrowing the digital gap with developed regions and promoting development of these areas. Thirdly, the distance of satellite communication is long, and the cost of communication does not increase significantly with the increase of communication distance; finally, the stability of satellite communication is high, and it is not limited by natural disasters.

Communication satellites are divided into Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, and high elliptical orbit satellites according to their orbital heights. (High Elliptical Orbit, HEO) satellites and so on. At present, the main researches are LEO and GEO.

1.LEO

The altitude range of low-orbit satellites is 500km to 1500km, and the corresponding orbital period is about 1.5 hours to 2 hours. The signal propagation delay of single-hop communication between users is generally less than 20ms. The maximum satellite visible time is 20 minutes. The signal propagation distance is short, the link loss is small, and the requirements for the transmission power of the user terminal equipment are not high.

2. GEO

Satellites in geosynchronous orbit have an orbital altitude of 35786km and a period of 24 hours around the earth. The signal propagation delay of single-hop communication between users is generally 250ms.

In order to ensure satellite coverage and improve the system capacity of the entire satellite communication system, satellites use multiple beams to cover the ground. A satellite can form dozens or even hundreds of beams to cover the ground; a satellite beam can cover tens to hundreds of kilometers in diameter. ground area.

In related technologies, the core network is separated from the access network, and the signaling processes of the AS and NAS involved in the handover are relatively independent, and the transmission of the NAS signaling depends on the establishment of the AS layer. Although it is beneficial to the evolution of the network, when it comes to the flow of mobility and session management, it will complicate the flow, increase the risk of signaling storm, signaling processing overhead and processing delay.

In the embodiment of the present application, in view of the above problems, a converged network is provided. The converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and integrates the access network and the core network to perform handover During the process, the terminal device and the network element equipment in the converged network can transmit a kind of converged signaling, which carries at least two signalings related to the handover process, such as: the converged signaling carries AS signaling and NAS signaling , which avoids the need for a separate NAS signaling process for access and mobility management signaling and session management signaling, reduces the overhead of handover signaling transmission, reduces the risk of signaling storms during the handover process, and reduces switching delay.

In the following, the technical solution of the present application will be described through several embodiments.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which shows a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication system 100 may include: a user equipment (User Equipment, UE), a converged network, and a data network (Data Network, DN).

Among them, the UE and the converged network are the main components of the architecture. Logically, they can be divided into two parts: the user plane and the control plane. The control plane is responsible for the management of the mobile network, and the user plane is responsible for the transmission of service data.

UE: It is the entrance for mobile users to interact with the network. It can provide basic computing capabilities and storage capabilities, display service windows to users, and accept user operation inputs. The UE will adopt the next-generation air interface technology to establish a signal connection and a data connection with the RAN, thereby transmitting control signals and service data to the mobile network.

Converged network: It is a network including traditional access network functions and core network functions. In the converged network, it may include traditional access network elements, traditional core network elements, and network elements that integrate access network functions and core network functions. Exemplarily, the function of the access network includes: providing an access service for the UE. Exemplarily, core network functions include: session management, mobility management, policy management, security authentication and so on.

DN: It is a data network that provides business services for users. Generally, the client is located in the UE, and the server is located in the data network. The data network can be a private network, such as a local area network, or an external network that is not controlled by the operator, such as the Internet, or a proprietary network jointly deployed by the operator, such as for the configuration of the IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem, IMS) service.

Next, the communication system 100 will be further described with reference to FIG. 2 . Figure 2 is the detailed architecture determined on the basis of Figure 1, where the fusion network includes:

1) Traditional access network elements

DU: A distributed unit close to the Radio Unit (RU), which is mainly responsible for user signal processing.

2) Traditional core network elements

Authentication Server Function (Authentication Server Function, AUSF): Perform security authentication of UE.

Session Management Function (SMF): UE session management.

Network Exposure Function (NEF): Open network functions to third parties in the form of interfaces.

NF Repository Function (NRF): Provide storage and selection functions for network function entity information for other network elements.

Unified Data Management (UDM): User subscription context management.

Policy Control Function (Policy Control Function, PCF): user policy management.

Application Function (Application Function, AF): user application management.

Radio Intelligent Controller (RIC): Provide near real-time intelligent control for the access network.

3) Network elements that integrate access network functions and core network functions

· CU-CP-AMF: used for access and mobility management. Among them, the CU-CP-AMF can be regarded as the integration of the CU-CP in the traditional access network and the AMF in the core network.

Centralized unit-user plane-user plane function (Center Unit User Plane User Plane Function, CU-UP-UPF): used for data processing and forwarding. Among them, the CU-UP-UPF can be regarded as the integration of the CU-UP in the traditional access network and the UPF in the core network.

As shown in Figure 2, DU and CU-UP-UPF constitute a Service Based User Plane (Service Based User Plane, SBUP), and NEF, NRF, PCF, UDM, AF, AUSF, CU-CP-AMF, RIC and SMF constitute Service Based Control Plane (SBCP).

The NAS and AS models of the fusion network are shown in Figure 3. Among them, the AS of the converged network includes: DU, CU-UP-UPF and part of CU-CP-AMF; the NAS of the converged network includes: part of CU-CP-AMF and other network elements.

The AS is mainly responsible for wireless channel processing, wireless bearer management, and encryption operations.

NAS is mainly responsible for functions and processes that have nothing to do with access and are independent of wireless access, mainly including session management of session establishment, modification, release, and quality of service (Quality of Service, QoS) negotiation; including user data management, registration, De-registered user management; including authentication between users and the network and security management of encryption initialization; billing, etc.

It can be understood that in the converged network, the transmission of NAS signaling is no longer transparently transmitted on the N2 and NR interfaces through the dedicated N1 interface, but can be directly integrated with the AS signaling to complete the transmission.

It should be noted that the names of network elements (such as CU-CP-AMF, CU-UP-UPF, etc.) included in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are only examples, and do not limit the functions of the network elements themselves. In 5GS and other future networks, the above-mentioned network elements may also have other names, which are not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. For example, in a 6G network, some or all of the above-mentioned network elements may use the terms in 5G, or may use other names, etc., which will be described in a unified manner here, and will not be described in detail below. In addition, it should be understood that the name of the message (or signaling) transmitted between the above network elements is only an example, and does not constitute any limitation on the function of the message itself.

Please refer to FIG. 4 , which shows a flowchart of a handover method provided by an embodiment of the present application, and the method is executed by a terminal device. The method may include the steps of:

Step 402: During the handover process, the terminal device and the network element device transmit a fusion signaling, and the fusion signaling carries at least two signalings related to the handover process.

In this embodiment, the terminal device is connected to the converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions. Exemplarily, the network elements that integrate access network functions and core network functions include: CU-UP-UPF and CU-CP-AMF. Among them, CU-CP-AMF is used for access and mobility management, and CU-UP-UP is used for data processing and forwarding.

In the related technology, when the terminal device and the network element device perform the handover process, generally only one signaling related to the handover process is carried in the signaling transmitted, for example: the terminal device and the network element device on the access network side transmit an AS signal command; the terminal device and the network element device on the core network side transmit a NAS signaling.

In this embodiment, due to the existence of the converged network, the AS and NAS are originally merged together, and the signaling processes of AS and NAS no longer need to be relatively independent, and a converged network can be transmitted between the terminal device and the network element device. Signaling, the merged signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process, for example: the merged signaling carries AS signaling and NAS signaling related to the handover process. Exemplarily, when a terminal device accesses the network, the converged signaling directly carries the original NAS signaling to the DU, and then the DU relays the signaling of the user plane and the signaling of the control plane to the user plane and control plane of the converged network. noodle.

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes uplink converged signaling. The terminal device sends the uplink fusion signaling to the network element device, and the network element device receives the uplink fusion signaling accordingly.

In one embodiment, the uplink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

·First uplink converged signaling

The first uplink converged signaling carries the switching confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the message A (MSGA) whose destination is the random access procedure of the DU on the target side.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the first uplink fusion signaling that combines the handover confirmation and notification signaling with the message A of the random access process, and after receiving the first uplink fusion signaling, the DU on the target side receives the random access message A of the entry procedure, and relay the handover confirmation and notification signaling to the target side CU-CP-AMF.

·Second uplink converged signaling

The second uplink converged signaling carries handover confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and message 3 (MSG3) whose destination is the random access procedure of the DU on the target side.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the second uplink fusion signaling that combines the handover confirmation and notification signaling with the message 3 of the random access process, and after receiving the second uplink fusion signaling, the DU on the target side receives the random access message 3 of the entry procedure, and relay the handover confirmation and notification signaling to the target side CU-CP-AMF.

·The third uplink converged signaling

The third uplink fusion signaling carries handover confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and a radio resource control reconfiguration complete (RRCReconfigurationComplete) message whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the third uplink fusion signaling that combines the handover confirmation and notification signaling and RRCReconfiguraionComplete, and after receiving the third uplink fusion signaling, the target side DU relays it to the target side CU-CP-AMF .

In the first uplink fusion signaling, the second uplink fusion signaling and the third uplink fusion signaling, the handover confirmation and notification signaling can be recorded as Handover Confirm and Notify signaling, and the handover confirmation and notification signaling is used to inform Signaling that the terminal device has synchronized to the target cell.

In related technologies, the terminal device sends a handover confirmation (Handover Confirm) signaling to the target RAN, and the handover confirmation signaling is used to inform the target RAN that the terminal device has synchronized to the target cell, and then the target RAN sends it to the target AMF Handover Notify (Handover Notify) signaling, the Handover Notify signaling is used to inform the target side that the AMF terminal equipment has been synchronized to the target cell. In this embodiment, the message that the terminal device notifies the target network element device does not need to be forwarded by RAN->AMF, which saves related procedures, and only needs to be sent by the terminal device to the CU-CP-AMF for handover confirmation and notification signaling. The handover acknowledgment and notification signaling can be regarded as one signaling fused with the mobility management signaling of the access network and the core network, and the handover acknowledgment and notification signaling itself is the integrated signaling of the NAS and the AS.

In addition, the handover confirmation and notification signaling can be integrated with AS type message A, message 3 or RRCReconfiguraaionComplete message. It can be understood that, besides messages in the random access process, message A and message 3 may also be the first message and the third message in other processes, and the first message and the third message are terminal The message sent by the device to the network side is not limited in this application.

·Fourth uplink converged signaling

The fourth uplink fusion signaling carries a registration request (Registration Request) whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and a radio resource control setup request (RRCSetupRequest) whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the fourth uplink fusion signaling which combines the registration request and the RRCSetupRequest, and after receiving the fourth uplink fusion signaling, the target side DU relays it to the target side CU-CP-AMF.

·Fifth uplink converged signaling

The fifth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response (Registration Response) whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and the radio resource control establishment completion (RRCSetupComplete) message whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the fifth uplink fusion signaling that combines the registration response and RRCSetupComplete, and the target side DU relays the fifth uplink fusion signaling to the target side CU-CP-AMF after receiving the fifth uplink fusion signaling.

In the fourth uplink converged signaling and the fifth uplink converged signaling described above, the registration process of the terminal device in the handover process is combined with the RRC configuration process, so that the NAS signaling of the registration process is merged with the AS signaling of the RRC configuration process .

Exemplarily, with reference to FIG. 5, the radio resource control setup request (RRCSetupRequest) message and registration request of the terminal device are carried by the first message and directly reported to the converged network to start the registration of the terminal device, registration acceptance (Registration Accept) and wireless The resource control establishment (RRCSetup) message is sent to the terminal device by the second message, and the registration response and the radio resource control establishment completion (RRCSetupComplete) message are reported to the converged network by the third message. This process is the following CU-CP-AMF The execution phase of the handover provides the registration process. Compared with the process before integration, the registration and RRC configuration no longer need to be performed step by step, and the registration process is completed together with the RRC configuration process. Therefore, the delay when the terminal device accesses the network and completes the registration is shorter, and the operation process is simpler .

It can be understood that, in addition to combining the registration process of the terminal equipment with the RRC configuration process in the handover process as shown in FIG. 5 , the service request process can also be combined with the RRC configuration process.

Exemplarily, with reference to FIG. 6 , it shows the service request NAS process initiated by the terminal device. The NAS signaling is no longer established through the uplink and downlink transparent transmission channels, but is transmitted through a new interface. The radio resource control setup request (RRCSetupRequest) message and UE service setup (UEServiceSetup) of the terminal device are carried by the first message and directly reported to the converged network, and the service acceptance (ServiceAccept) and radio resource control setup (RRCSetup) messages are carried by the second message Issued to the terminal device, UE Initial Context Setup Response (UEInitialContextSetupResponse) and Radio Resource Control Setup Complete (RRCSetupComplete) messages are reported to the converged network by the third message.

Exemplarily, with reference to FIG. 7 , it shows a service request NAS process initiated by the network. NAS signaling is no longer established through an uplink and downlink transparent transmission channel, but is transmitted through a new interface. The network sends directly to the user through the second message carrying the paging (Paging) message directly to the terminal device, and the terminal device sends the radio resource control establishment request (RRCSetupRequest) message and UE service setup (UEServiceSetup) message to the converged network through the third message , the converged network responds to the above request through the fourth message, the fourth message carries the service acceptance (ServiceAccept) and radio resource control establishment (RRCSetup) messages, and then the terminal device reports the configuration completion response to the network device: UE initial context establishment response (UEInitial ContextSetupResponse) and Radio Resource Control Setup Complete (RRCSetupComplete) messages.

·Sixth uplink converged signaling

The sixth uplink converged signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the message 3 of the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the sixth uplink fusion signaling that combines the registration request and the message 3 of the random access process, and the DU on the target side receives the message of the random access process after receiving the sixth uplink fusion signaling 3, and relay the registration request to the target side CU-CP-AMF.

It can be understood that, besides the message in the random access process, the message 3 may also be the third message in other processes, and the third message is a message sent by the terminal device to the network side, which is not discussed in this application. Be limited.

·The seventh uplink converged signaling

The seventh uplink converged signaling carries a registration response whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, a radio resource control reconfiguration complete (RRCReconfigurationComplete) message whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and a DU message whose destination is the target DU. Message 5 of the random access procedure.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the seventh uplink fusion signaling that combines the registration response, RRCReconfiguraionComplete, and message 5 of the random access process, and the DU on the target side receives the random access process after receiving the seventh uplink fusion signaling message 5, and relay the Registration Request and RRCReconfiguraionComplete to the target side CU-CP-AMF. It can be understood that, besides the message in the random access process, the message 5 may also be the fifth message in other processes, and the fifth message is a message sent by the terminal device to the network side, and this application does not discuss this Be limited.

· Eighth uplink converged signaling

The eighth uplink converged signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the message A of the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the eighth uplink fusion signaling that combines the registration request and the message A of the random access process, and the DU on the target side receives the message of the random access process after receiving the eighth uplink fusion signaling A, and relay the registration request to the target side CU-CP-AMF.

It can be understood that, in addition to the message in the random access process, the message A can also be the first message in other processes, and the first message is a message sent by the terminal device to the network side, and this application does not care about this. Be limited.

In the sixth uplink converged signaling, the seventh uplink converged signaling, and the eighth uplink converged signaling, the registration process of the terminal device in the handover process is combined with the uplink synchronization process of the user through the random access method, so that The NAS signaling of the registration process is integrated with the AS signaling of the random access process.

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes downlink converged signaling. The network element device sends downlink fusion signaling to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the downlink fusion signaling accordingly.

In an embodiment, the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

·The first downlink converged signaling

The first downlink converged signaling carries a handover command (Handover Command) whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, and a message B (MSGB) of a random access procedure whose sender is the source-side DU.

Exemplarily, the source-side DU receives the handover command sent by the source-side CU-CP-AMF, and fuses the handover command and the message B of the random access procedure into the first downlink fusion signaling and sends it to the terminal device.

·Second downlink converged signaling

The second downlink converged signaling carries a handover command whose sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF, and a message 4 (MSG4) of a random access procedure whose sending end is the source side DU.

Exemplarily, the source-side DU receives the handover command sent by the source-side CU-CP-AMF, and fuses the handover command and message 4 of the random access procedure into a second downlink fusion signaling and sends it to the terminal device.

In the first downlink converged signaling and the second downlink converged signaling above, the handover command is a signaling for notifying cell handover.

In the related technology, the AMF at the source side sends a handover command to the RAN at the source side, and then the RAN at the source side sends the handover command to the terminal device. In this embodiment, the message notified by the source-side network element device to the terminal device does not need to be forwarded by the AMF->RAN, which saves related procedures. It only needs to send a switch command to the terminal device by the CU-CP-AMF, and the switch command can be It is considered to be one signaling integrated with the mobility management signaling of the access network and the core network, and the handover command itself is the integrated signaling of the NAS and the AS.

In addition, the handover command can be fused with AS type message B or message 4. It can be understood that, in addition to the messages in the random access process, message B and message 4 can also be the second message and the fourth message in other processes. The second message and the fourth message are network The message sent sideways to the terminal device is not limited in this application.

·The third downlink converged signaling

The third downlink converged signaling carries the registration acceptance that the sender is the target CU-CP-AMF, and the radio resource control setup (RRCSetup) message that the sender is the target CU-CP-AMF.

Exemplarily, the CU-CP-AMF on the target side sends the third downlink fusion signaling that integrates registration acceptance and RRCSetup to the terminal device via the relay of the DU on the target side.

In the above-mentioned third downlink fusion signaling, the registration process of the terminal equipment in the handover process is combined with the RRC configuration process, so that the NAS signaling of the registration process is merged with the AS signaling of the RRC configuration process. For details, reference may be made to FIG. 5 , which will not be repeated here.

·The fourth downlink converged signaling

The fourth downlink converged signaling carries a handover command whose sending end is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, and a radio resource control reconfiguration (RRCReconfiguraion) message whose sending end is the source-side CU-CP-AMF.

Exemplarily, the CU-CP-AMF at the source side sends the fourth downlink fusion signaling that combines the handover command and the RRCReconfiguraion to the terminal device via the relay of the DU at the source side.

In the above-mentioned fourth downlink converged signaling, the handover command can be regarded as a single signaling fused with the mobility management signaling of the access network and the core network, and the handover command itself is the converged signaling of the NAS and the AS. Furthermore, the handover command can be fused with the AS signaling of the RRC reconfiguration procedure.

·Fifth downlink converged signaling

The fifth downlink converged signaling carries the message 4 that the sender is the registration acceptance of the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the sender is the random access procedure of the DU on the target side.

Exemplarily, the target side DU receives the registration acceptance sent by the target side CU-CP-AMF, and fuses the registration acceptance and the message 4 of the random access process into a fifth downlink fusion signaling and sends it to the terminal device.

It can be understood that, in addition to the message in the random access process, the message 4 can also be the fourth message in other processes, and the fourth message is a message sent by the network side to the terminal device, and this application does not care about it. Be limited.

· The sixth downlink converged signaling.

The sixth downlink fusion carries the handover command whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, the RRCReconfiguraion message whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, and the user context release command (UEContextReleaseCommand ).

Exemplarily, the CU-CP-AMF at the source side sends sixth downlink fusion signaling that combines the handover command, RRCReconfiguration and UEContextReleaseCommand to the terminal device via the relay of the source side DU.

In the above-mentioned sixth downlink converged signaling, the handover command can be regarded as a single signaling fused with the mobility management signaling of the access network and the core network, and the handover command itself is the converged signaling of the NAS and the AS. In addition, the handover command can be integrated with the AS signaling of the RRC reconfiguration process and the NAS signaling of the UE context release process.

·The seventh downlink converged signaling

The seventh downlink converged signaling carries the message B of the registration acceptance of the CU-CP-AMF on the target side as the sender, and the random access process of the DU on the target side as the sender.

Exemplarily, the target side DU receives the registration acceptance sent by the target side CU-CP-AMF, and combines the registration acceptance and the message B of the random access process into a seventh downlink fusion signaling and sends it to the terminal device.

It can be understood that, in addition to the message in the random access process, the message B can also be the second message in other processes. The second message is a message sent by the network side to the terminal device, and this application does not care about it. Be limited.

In the fifth downlink converged signaling and the seventh downlink converged signaling above, the registration process of the terminal equipment in the handover process is combined with the uplink synchronization process of the user through the random access method, and the NAS signaling of the registration process is combined with AS signaling fusion for random access procedure.

In one embodiment, the following steps are also included: the terminal device receives the handover command directly issued by the source side CU-CP-AMF through the source side DU; wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a function of integrating the access network function and the core network function , A network element used for access and mobility management.

That is, the handover command may not be fused with other signaling, instead of being implemented as the first downlink fused signaling or the second downlink fused signaling or the fourth downlink fused signaling or the sixth downlink fused command as described above, directly The CU-CP-AMF on the source side forwards the signaling to the terminal device through the source-side DU on the user plane, which simplifies the processing flow of the signaling.

In one embodiment, the CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites, GEO satellites, or LEO satellites; the CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following On different types of satellites: MEO satellites, GEO satellites, or LEO satellites; DUs in the converged network are deployed on LEO satellites; RUs in the converged network are deployed on LEO satellites; among them, CU-CP-AMF is the converged access network CU-UP-UPF is a network element for data processing and forwarding that integrates access network functions and core network functions.

That is, the network element devices in the converged network are deployed on satellites in different orbits. The architecture of the converged network is shown in Figure 2. The deployment scheme of each network element device can be set according to the application scenario of the service. There is no restriction on this.

In one embodiment, the DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located in the AS; the CU-CP-AMF in the converged network are located in the AS and NAS; wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is the function of the converged access network and the core network Functional network element for access and mobility management, CU-UP-UPF is a network element for data processing and forwarding that integrates access network functions and core network functions. Please refer to FIG. 3 for details of the model structure of the AS and NAS of the above-mentioned converged network, which will not be repeated here.

To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment provides a converged network. The converged network includes network elements that integrate the functions of the access network and the core network, and integrates the access network and the core network. During the handover process, the terminal device and the network element equipment in the converged network can transmit a kind of converged signaling, which carries at least two signalings related to the handover process, such as: the converged signaling carries AS signaling and NAS signaling This avoids the need for a separate NAS signaling process for access and mobility management signaling and session management signaling, reduces the overhead of handover signaling transmission, and reduces the risk of signaling storms during the handover process. Reduced switching delay. In addition, with the method provided in this embodiment, the technical solution of the converged network can be combined with NTN technology to deploy network elements on satellites in different orbits.

In addition, in the method provided in this embodiment, since the converged network includes network elements that integrate the functions of the access network and the core network, the network element device notifies the terminal device of access and mobility management related signaling without going through the AMF- >RAN forwarding, terminal equipment notifies network element equipment access and mobility management related signaling does not need to be forwarded by RAN->AMF, saving related procedures.

Please refer to FIG. 8 , which shows a flow chart of a handover method provided by an embodiment of the present application, and the method is executed by the DU on the target side. The method may include the steps of:

Step 802: During the handover process, the DU on the target side and the terminal equipment transmit fusion signaling, and the fusion signaling carries at least two signalings related to the handover process.

In this embodiment, the DU is in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions. Exemplarily, the network elements that integrate access network functions and core network functions include: CU-UP-UPF and CU-CP-AMF. Among them, CU-CP-AMF is used for access and mobility management, and CU-UP-UP is used for data processing and forwarding.

In related technologies, when the target-side DU and the terminal device perform a handover process, generally only one signaling related to the handover process is carried in the transmitted signaling, for example, the terminal device and the target-side DU transmit one AS signaling.

However, in this embodiment, due to the existence of a converged network, AS and NAS are originally merged together, the signaling processes of AS and NAS no longer need to be relatively independent, and a converged network can be transmitted between the target side DU and the terminal device Signaling, the merged signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process, for example: the merged signaling carries AS signaling and NAS signaling related to the handover process. Exemplarily, when a terminal device accesses the network, the converged signaling directly carries the original NAS signaling to the DU, and then the DU relays the signaling of the user plane and the signaling of the control plane to the user plane and control plane of the converged network. noodle.

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes uplink converged signaling. The terminal device sends the uplink fusion signaling to the target side DU, and the target side DU receives the uplink fusion signaling accordingly.

·First uplink converged signaling

·Second uplink converged signaling

In the first uplink fusion signaling and the second uplink fusion signaling above, the handover confirmation and notification signaling can be recorded as Handover Confirm and Notify signaling, and the handover confirmation and notification signaling is used to inform the terminal equipment that it has synchronized to the target cell signaling.

In related technologies, the terminal device sends a handover confirmation (Handover Confirm) signaling to the target RAN, and the handover confirmation signaling is used to inform the target RAN that the terminal device has synchronized to the target cell, and then the target RAN sends it to the target AMF Handover Notify (Handover Notify) signaling, which is used to inform the target side that the AMF terminal device has synchronized to the target cell. In this embodiment, the message that the terminal device notifies the target network element device does not need to be forwarded by RAN->AMF, which saves related procedures, and only needs to be sent by the terminal device to the CU-CP-AMF for handover confirmation and notification signaling. The handover acknowledgment and notification signaling can be regarded as one signaling fused with the mobility management signaling of the access network and the core network, and the handover acknowledgment and notification signaling itself is the integrated signaling of the NAS and the AS.

In addition, the handover confirmation and notification signaling can be integrated with AS-type message A or message 3. It can be understood that, besides messages in the random access process, message A and message 3 may also be the first message and the third message in other processes, and the first message and the third message are terminal The message sent by the device to the network side is not limited in this application.

·Sixth uplink converged signaling

·The seventh uplink converged signaling

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the seventh uplink fusion signaling that combines the registration response, RRCReconfiguraionComplete, and message 5 of the random access process, and the DU on the target side receives the random access process after receiving the seventh uplink fusion signaling message 5, and relay the Registration Request and RRCReconfiguraionComplete to the target side CU-CP-AMF.

It can be understood that, besides the message in the random access process, the message 5 may also be the fifth message in other processes, and the fifth message is a message sent by the terminal device to the network side, and this application does not discuss this Be limited.

· Eighth uplink converged signaling

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes downlink converged signaling. The DU on the target side sends downlink fusion signaling to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the downlink fusion signaling accordingly.

·Fifth downlink converged signaling

·The seventh downlink converged signaling

In the above-mentioned fifth downlink fusion signaling and seventh downlink fusion signaling, the registration process of the terminal equipment in the handover process is combined with the uplink synchronization process of the user through the random access method, and the NAS signaling of the registration process is combined with AS signaling fusion for random access procedure.

In one embodiment, the following step is further included: the DU at the target side receives the data directly forwarded by the DU at the source side.

That is to say, the DU in the embodiment of this application is located on the user plane. Therefore, only need to know the address of the DU, you can directly realize the forwarding of data between DUs, without the need to perform the following process: the DU at the source side transmits the data back to the source side The CU-UP-UPF is then forwarded to the DU on the target side.

Please refer to FIG. 9 , which shows a flow chart of a handover method provided by an embodiment of the present application, and the method is executed by the DU at the source side. The method may include the steps of:

Step 902: During the handover process, the DU at the source side and the terminal device transmit fusion signaling, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

In related technologies, when the source-side DU and the terminal device perform a handover process, generally only one signaling related to the handover process is carried in the transmitted signaling, for example, the terminal device and the source-side DU transmit one AS signaling.

In this embodiment, due to the existence of the converged network, the AS and NAS are originally merged together, the signaling processes of AS and NAS no longer need to be relatively independent, and a converged network can be transmitted between the source side DU and the terminal device. Signaling, the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process, for example, the integrated signaling carries AS signaling and NAS signaling related to the handover process. Exemplarily, when a terminal device accesses the network, the converged signaling directly carries the original NAS signaling to the DU, and then the DU relays the signaling of the user plane and the signaling of the control plane to the user plane and control plane of the converged network. noodle.

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes uplink converged signaling. The terminal device sends the uplink fusion signaling to the source-side DU, and the source-side DU receives the uplink fusion signaling accordingly.

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes downlink converged signaling. The DU at the source side sends downlink fusion signaling to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the downlink fusion signaling accordingly.

·The first downlink converged signaling

·Second downlink converged signaling

In one embodiment, the following step is further included: the DU at the source side directly forwards data to the DU at the target side.

To sum up, the method provided in this embodiment provides a converged network. The converged network includes network elements that integrate the functions of the access network and the core network, and integrates the access network and the core network. During the handover process, the terminal device and the network element equipment in the converged network can transmit a kind of converged signaling, which carries at least two signalings related to the handover process, such as: the converged signaling carries AS signaling and NAS signaling This avoids the need for a separate NAS signaling process for access and mobility management signaling and session management signaling, reduces the overhead of handover signaling transmission, and reduces the risk of signaling storms during the handover process. Reduced switching delay.

In addition, with the method provided in this embodiment, the technical solution of the converged network can be combined with NTN technology to deploy network elements on satellites in different orbits.

Please refer to FIG. 10 , which shows a flow chart of a handover method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method is executed by the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the CU-CP-AMF integrates the access network function and the core network function. , A network element used for access and mobility management. The method may include the steps of:

Step 1002: During the handover process, the CU-CP-AMF on the target side and the terminal equipment transmit fusion signaling, and the fusion signaling carries at least two signalings related to the handover process.

In this embodiment, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions, and is located in the integrated network. Exemplarily, the network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions in the converged network further includes: CU-UP-UPF. Among them, CU-CP-AMF is used for access and mobility management, and CU-UP-UP is used for data processing and forwarding.

In the related art, when the terminal device and the AMF perform a handover process, generally only one signaling related to the handover process is carried in the signaling transmitted, for example, the terminal device and the AMF transmit one NAS signaling.

However, in this embodiment, due to the existence of the converged network, the AS and the NAS are originally merged together, the signaling processes of the AS and the NAS no longer need to be relatively independent, and the terminal device and the target side CU-CP-AMF can A kind of fused signaling is transmitted, and the fused signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process, for example, the fused signaling carries AS signaling and NAS signaling related to the handover process. Exemplarily, when a terminal device accesses the network, the converged signaling directly carries the original NAS signaling to the DU, and then the DU relays the signaling of the user plane and the signaling of the control plane to the user plane and control plane of the converged network. noodle.

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes uplink converged signaling. The terminal device sends the uplink fusion signaling to the target side CU-CP-AMF, and the target side CU-CP-AMF receives the uplink fusion signaling accordingly.

·The third uplink converged signaling

In the above third uplink fusion signaling, the handover confirmation and notification signaling can be recorded as Handover Confirm and Notify signaling, and the handover confirmation and notification signaling is used to notify the terminal device that it has synchronized to the target cell.

In addition, handover confirmation and notification signaling can be integrated with the RRCReconfiguraaionComplete message.

·Fourth uplink converged signaling

The fourth uplink fusion signaling carries a registration request (RegistrationRequest) whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and a radio resource control setup request (RRCSetupRequest) whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the fourth uplink fusion signaling that combines the registration request and the RRCSetupRequest, and after receiving the fourth uplink fusion signaling, the target side DU relays it to the target side CU-CP-AMF.

·Fifth uplink converged signaling

The fifth uplink converged signaling carries a registration response (RegistrationResponse) whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and a radio resource control setup complete (RRCSetupComplete) message whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF.

It can be understood that, in addition to combining the registration process of the terminal device in the handover process with the RRC configuration process as shown in Figure 5, the service request process can also be combined with the RRC configuration process. The service request process includes: as shown in Figure 6 The NAS process of the service request initiated by the terminal device shown in the figure; the NAS process of the service request initiated by the network as shown in FIG. 7 will not be repeated here.

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes downlink converged signaling. The CU-CP-AMF on the target side sends downlink fusion signaling to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the downlink fusion signaling accordingly.

·The third downlink converged signaling

Exemplarily, the CU-CP-AMF on the target side sends the third downlink fusion signaling that integrates the registration acceptance and RRCSetup to the terminal device through the forwarding of the target side DU.

Step 1004: During the handover process, the CU-CP-AMF at the target side and the CU-CP-AMF at the source side transmit fusion signaling, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process. That is to say, converged signaling can also be transmitted between network element devices in the converged network, and the converged signaling carries at least two signalings related to the handover process, so as to integrate different processes in the handover process and further save handover time. The signaling overhead involved in the process reduces the delay required for handover.

In one embodiment, the converged signaling includes a handover request sent to the source side CU-CP-AMF. The handover request carries an NR1 message migration and a user context creation request. The NR1 message migration is used to transfer the control plane from the source side CU-CP-AMF to The AMF migrates to the CU-CP-AMF on the target side. Wherein, NR1 is an interface between the terminal equipment and the CU-CP-AMF.

In related technologies, the handover process includes a handover preparation phase and a handover execution phase. The handover preparation phase includes a control plane interaction process in which the AMF on the source side requires the AMF on the target side to create a UE context. The handover execution phase includes transferring the control plane of the terminal device from the source side AMF migrates to the control plane interaction process of the AMF on the target side. In this embodiment, the handover request carries the NR1 message migration and user context creation request, so that the original handover execution stage and the control plane interaction process of the handover preparation stage in the handover process are integrated and executed.

It can be understood that the implementation order of step 1002 and step 1004 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. In one embodiment, the following step is further included: the CU-CP-AMF at the target side directly updates the state of the uplink and downlink locally. In related technologies, it is necessary to perform forwarding of uplink and downlink state transition through the N2 interface between the RAN and the AMF, so as to update the uplink and downlink state. In the embodiment of this application, the converged network includes network elements that integrate the functions of the converged access network and the core network, so that the access network and the core network are merged, the N2 interface is canceled, and the CU-CP-AMF on the target side can The state of the uplink and downlink is directly updated locally to reduce the overhead of signaling transmission.

Please refer to FIG. 11 , which shows a flow chart of a handover method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method is executed by the CU-CP-AMF at the source side, and the CU-CP-AMF integrates access network functions and core network functions. , A network element used for access and mobility management. The method may include the steps of:

Step 1102: During the handover process, the CU-CP-AMF at the source side and the terminal equipment transmit fusion signaling, and the fusion signaling carries at least two signalings related to the handover process.

However, in this embodiment, due to the existence of the converged network, the AS and the NAS are originally merged together, the signaling processes of the AS and the NAS no longer need to be relatively independent, and the terminal device and the source-side CU-CP-AMF can A kind of fused signaling is transmitted, and the fused signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process, for example, the fused signaling carries AS signaling and NAS signaling related to the handover process. Exemplarily, when a terminal device accesses the network, the converged signaling directly carries the original NAS signaling to the DU, and then the DU relays the signaling of the user plane and the signaling of the control plane to the user plane and control plane of the converged network. noodle.

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes uplink converged signaling. The terminal device sends the uplink fusion signaling to the source side CU-CP-AMF, and the source side CU-CP-AMF receives the uplink fusion signaling accordingly.

In a possible implementation manner, the converged signaling includes downlink converged signaling. The CU-CP-AMF at the source side sends downlink fusion signaling to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the downlink fusion signaling accordingly.

·The fourth downlink converged signaling

In the above-mentioned fourth downlink converged signaling, the handover command can be regarded as a single signaling fused with the mobility management signaling of the access network and the core network, and the handover command itself is the converged signaling of the NAS and the AS. In addition, the handover command can be fused with the AS signaling of the RRC reconfiguration process.

·Sixth downlink converged signaling

Step 1104: During the handover process, the CU-CP-AMF at the source side and the CU-CP-AMF at the target side transmit fusion signaling, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

That is to say, converged signaling can also be transmitted between network element devices in the converged network, and the converged signaling carries at least two signalings related to the handover process, so as to integrate different processes in the handover process and further save handover time. The signaling overhead involved in the process reduces the delay required for handover.

In one embodiment, the fusion signaling includes a handover request sent by the CU-CP-AMF on the target side. The handover request carries an NR1 message migration and a user context creation request, and the NR1 message migration is used to switch the control plane from the source side CU-CP-AMF Migrate to the target side CU-CP-AMF.

It can be understood that the implementation order of step 1102 and step 1104 is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In one embodiment, the following steps are further included: the CU-CP-AMF at the source side sends a handover command directly to the terminal device through the DU at the source side.

That is to say, the handover command may not be fused with other signaling, and instead of being implemented as the fourth downlink fused signaling or the sixth downlink fused command as described above, the source side CU-CP-AMF directly passes the source side DU of the user plane. Forwarding to the terminal equipment simplifies the processing flow of the signaling.

In one embodiment, the following steps are further included: without going through the N2 message notification process, the source side CU-CP-AMF directly sends an SM context release request (Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request) to the SMF.

In related technologies, before the source side AMF sends an SM context release request to the SMF, an N2 message notification process needs to be performed: the target side AMF calls the N2 message notification (Namf_Communication_N2InfoNotify) to notify the source side AMF of the N2 handover notification received from the target side RAN, and the source side AMF The AMF on the side feeds back an N2 message notification acknowledgment (Namf_Communication_N2InfoNotify ACK). In the embodiment of this application, the converged network includes network elements that integrate the functions of the converged access network and the core network, so that the access network and the core network are merged, and the N2 interface is canceled, so that there is no need to perform the N2 message notification process In the case of , the CU-CP-AMF at the source side directly sends the SM context release request to the SMF, which saves signaling overhead.

In one embodiment, the following steps are further included: when the measurement report reported by the terminal device satisfies the trigger condition, the CU-CP-AMF at the source side directly selects the CU-CP-AMF.

In related technologies, the source-side RAN receives the measurement report reported by the terminal device, and when the measurement report reported by the terminal device satisfies the trigger condition, the source-side RAN sends a handover request (Handover Required) to the source-side AMF, and then the source-side AMF Make CU-CP-AMF selection. In the embodiment of the present application, when the S-CU-CP-AMF decides to trigger the handover, the S-CU-CP-AMF directly starts the handover preparation phase, and there is no need to transmit the handover request, which simplifies the handover process and information. command overhead.

In one embodiment, the following step is further included: the CU-CP-AMF at the source side directly updates the state of the uplink and downlink locally.

In related technologies, it is necessary to perform forwarding of uplink and downlink state transition through the N2 interface between the RAN and the AMF, so as to update the uplink and downlink state. In the embodiment of this application, the converged network includes network elements that integrate the functions of the converged access network and the core network, so that the access network and the core network are merged, and the N2 interface is canceled, and the source side CU-CP-AMF can The state of the uplink and downlink is directly updated locally to reduce the overhead of signaling transmission.

In the following, the above technical solutions are exemplarily described with reference to the schematic diagrams of the two handover processes.

(1) Cross-DU handover between CU-CP-AMF with AS and NAS partially integrated

The handover process generally consists of two phases: the handover preparation phase and the handover execution phase. The inter-DU handover between CU-CP-AMF where AS and NAS are partially integrated refers to the inter-DU handover between CU-CP-AMF where AS and NAS are integrated when the handover preparation phase and the handover execution phase are performed separately.

1) Switching preparation stage

The handover preparation phase will be described with reference to FIG. 12 . In Figure 12, the source side DU is marked as S-DU, the target side DU is marked as T-DU, the source side CU-CP-AMF is marked as S-CU-CP-AMF, and the target side CU-CP-AMF is marked as S-CU-CP-AMF, and the target side CU-CP- AMF is recorded as T-CU-CP-AMF.

Step 1: The terminal device periodically uploads the measurement report.

Exemplarily, the information related to the measurement report includes: the measurement value of the A1/A2/A3/A4/A5/A6 event of the terminal device, the location information of the terminal device, the trajectory information of the terminal device, the connection timing information of the terminal device, etc., When one or more measurements meet the handover trigger condition at the same time, the handover process is started.

Exemplarily, in the triggering based on the measured signal strength, it is required that the measured signal strength of the serving node and the measured signal strength of the target node satisfy a certain relationship. For example, in the A3 event, the measured signal strength of the serving station is lower than that of the target station. In multi-criteria handover, for example, the location information and signal strength of the terminal device are used to simultaneously trigger the handover, the distance from the terminal device to the target node is smaller than the distance to the serving node, and any event in A1-A6 is satisfied. Since the terminal device is far away from the control node, in order to make the uploaded measurement signal report effective, it is necessary to extend the sampling period of the L1 layer and the L3 layer of the control node.

Step 2: The S-CU-CP-AMF triggers the handover according to the measurement report reported by the terminal equipment, and selects the T-CU-CP-AMF.

When the S-CU-CP-AMF decides to trigger the handover, the S-CU-CP-AMF directly starts the handover preparation phase, and no longer needs to transmit the handover requirement (Handover Required), which simplifies the handover process and signaling overhead . The S-CU-CP-AMF judges whether it is under the same CU-CP-AMF, if it is not under the same CU-CP-AMF, the CU-CP-AMF switching process is triggered, and the S-CU-CP-AMF is no longer The terminal equipment provides the service, and the S-CU-CP-AMF selects the T-CU-CP-AMF.

Step 3: S-CU-CP-AMF sends a UE context creation request to T-CU-CP-AMF.

Because the T-CU-CP-AMF does not have the context of the terminal device, the S-CU-CP-AMF also needs to notify the T-CU-CP-AMF of the context of the terminal device. The UE context creation request can be recorded as Ncucpamf_communication_CreateUECContext Request.

In this step, in the 5G NR solution, the UE context creation request carries two parts: N2 Information (N2 Information) and UE Context Information (UE Context Information). In the new architecture shown in this application, the N2 interface is cancelled, therefore, the SM N2 information list (SM N2 Information List) in the N2 information is canceled, and the SM N2 information list remains in the S-CU-CP-AMF. The message is transmitted to the SMF network element through the internal interface.

Step 4: The T-CU-CP-AMF sends an SM context update request to the SMF.

The T-CU-CP-AMF notifies the SMF to update the SM context through the SM context update request. The SM context update request can be recorded as Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request.

Step 5: The SMF performs CU-UP-UPF selection.

Step 6: The SMF interacts with the UPF to distribute tunnel information.

Step 7: The SMF sends an SM context update response to the T-CU-CP-AMF.

If the switching of the PDU session is accepted, the SMF sends an SM context update response to the T-CU-CP-AMF, and the SM information is carried in the SM context update response. The SM context update response can be denoted as Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Response.

Step 8: T-CU-CP-AMF performs PDU switching response supervision.

Exemplarily, the T-CU-CP-AMF monitors the SM context update response from the SMF. The minimum value of the maximum delay indicator for a PDU session that is a handover candidate, gives the maximum time that the CU-CP-AMF can wait for the SM context update response before continuing the DU inter-station handover procedure. expires at max time, or . When all SM Context Update Responses have been received, the CU-CP-AMF continues the handover procedure.

Step 9: The T-CU-CP-AMF sends a handover command to the T-DU.

The handover command (Handover Command) is used to notify the T-DU to reserve resources.

Step ten, the T-DU sends a handover notification to the T-CU-CP-AMF.

Step eleven, the SMF executes session modification.

The session modification process includes the interaction between SMF and T-CU-UP-UPF, S-CU-UP-UPF and CU-UP-UPF (PSA).

Step 12: T-CU-CP-AMF sends UE context creation response to S-CU-CP-AMF.

The UE context creation response can be recorded as Ncucpamf_Communication_CreateUEContext Response.

2) Switch execution process

The handover execution flow will be described with reference to FIG. 13 . In Figure 13, the source side DU is marked as S-DU, the target side DU is marked as T-DU, the source side CU-CP-AMF is marked as S-CU-CP-AMF, and the target side CU-CP-AMF is marked as S-CU-CP-AMF, and the target side CU-CP- AMF is recorded as T-CU-CP-AMF.

Step 1: S-CU-CP-AMF sends a switching command to the terminal equipment.

In the network architecture provided by the embodiment of this application, since the access network and the core network are integrated, the S-CU-CP-AMF does not need to execute S-AMF->T-RAN, and the handover command is directly issued by the S-CU-CP -AMF forwards the target to source transparent container (Target to Source transparent container) to the terminal device through the S-DU of the user plane, which simplifies the signaling process.

Exemplarily, the SM forwarding information list includes the T-CU-UP-UPF SM direct forwarding information list, because in the architecture provided by the embodiment of this application, the DU is located on the user plane, therefore, only need to know the DU address, it can be directly realized The forwarding of data between DUs does not need to return the data to the S-CU-UP-UPF and then forward it to the T-DU.

Exemplarily, the S-CU-CP-AMF uses the list of PDU sessions that cannot be established and the indicated failure reasons to decide whether to continue the DU cross-site handover process. In this process, due to the cancellation of the N2 interface, the N2 handover is no longer performed , using a common DU switching scheme, which simplifies the complexity of switching decisions. Secondly, the state of the uplink and downlink can be directly updated in the S-CU-CP-AMF and the T-CU-CP-AMF, without performing the forwarding of the state transition of the uplink and downlink, which reduces the overhead of signaling transmission.

Step 2. The two DU stations directly forward the user data.

In the network architecture provided by the embodiment of this application, data can be directly forwarded between two serviced DUs.

Exemplarily, the uplink data packet is from T-DU to T-CU-UP-UPF and CU-UP-UPF (PSA). Downlink data packets pass from CU-UP-UPF (PSA) to S-CU-UP-UPF to S-DU. The S-DU should start forwarding the QoS flow from the S-DU to the T-DU.

Step 3: The terminal device sends a handover notification and confirmation signaling to the T-CU-CP-AMF.

If the terminal device has successfully synchronized to the target cell, the terminal device sends a Handover Confirm and Notify (Handover Confirm and Notify) signaling to the T-CU-CP-AMF to inform the target network of the successful handover. Exemplarily, the handover notification and confirmation signaling includes CU-CP-AMF identification (CU-CP-AMF UE NGAP ID), DU identification (DU UE NGAP ID), CU-UP-UPF identification (CU-UP- UPF UE NGAP ID), user location information (User Location Information), etc. Compared with the traditional 5G NR handover process, the message notified by the terminal device to the target station does not need to be forwarded by RAN->AMF, but the integration of AS and NAS. The handover notification and confirmation signaling are the original access network and The signaling of the mobility management of the core network is merged into one signaling.

Exemplarily, in order to implement CU-CP-AMF inter-station and intra-station handover by using the handover notification and acknowledgment signaling, an identification bit needs to be added to the signaling to indicate whether it is an intra-station handover or an inter-station handover. In addition, the handover notification and confirmation signaling can be fused with MSGA or MSG3 message or RRCReconfiguraaionComplete message and reported to the network together. Similarly, the handover command can be fused with MSGB or MSG4 message and carried to the terminal device. Here, the signaling Order overhead and process.

Exemplarily, after step 3, the following steps are further included: T-CU-CP-AMF calls information notification (Ncucpamf_Communication_InfoNotify) to notify S-CU-CP-AMF of the handover notification and confirmation signaling received from the terminal device. S-CU-CP-AMF starts a timer to supervise the release of S-DU and S-CU-UP-UPF resources. The S-CU-CP-AMF invokes the information notification acknowledgment (Ncucpamf_Communication_InfoNotify ACK) to confirm to the T-CU-CP-AMF.

Step 4: The S-CU-CP-AMF sends an SM context release request to the SMF.

Exemplarily, if the T-CU-CP-AMF does not accept the PDU session, for example, the Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) corresponding to the PDU session is not available in the T-CU-CP-AMF , S-CU-CP-AMF triggers the release of the PDU session process through the SM context release request (Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request).

Step 5: The T-CU-CP-AMF sends an SM context update request to the SMF.

Exemplarily, the SM context update request includes a handover completion message, and the S-CU-CP-AMF sends a handover completion message to the SMF corresponding to each PDU session to indicate that the DU handover is successful.

Exemplarily, in the handover preparation phase, when the SM context update response arrives delayed, that is, the timer expires, or the PDU or session involved in the SMF is not accepted by the T-CU-CP-AMF and CU-UP-UPF, the S-CU - CP-AMF needs to send SM context update request (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request) to SMF, carrying user permanent identifier (Subscription Permanent Identifier, SUPI), PDU session identifier (PDU Session ID), operation type (Operation Type), allowing the SMF to release the allocated CP-UP-UPF address and tunnel ID. PDU sessions handled by the SMF are considered suspended and handover attempts for PDU sessions are terminated.

Exemplarily, the CU-CP-AMF determines the local data network (Local Area Data Network, LADN) related to the PDU session, and then the CU-CP-AMF provides an indication that the UE appears in the LADN service area (UE presence in LADN service area), If the CU-CP-AMF does not provide the UE presence in LADN service area indication, the SMF determines the LADN corresponding to the Data Network Name (DNN), and then the SMF considers that the terminal device is not within the service area of the LADN.

Step 6. If a new T-CU-UP-UPF is inserted, or the existing intermediate S-CU-UP-UPF is redistributed, the SMF sends an N4 Session Modification Request (N4 Session Modification Request) to the T-CU-UP- UPF indicates the downlink transmission tunnel information of T-CU-CP-AMF, T-CU-UP-UPF and T-DU. T-CU-UP-UPF sends N4 session modification response (N4 Session Modification Response) to SMF.

Step 7. If CU-UP-UPF is not reallocated, SMF sends N4 Session Modification Request (N4 Session Modification Request) to S-CU-UP-UPF, instructing T-CU-CP-AMF, T-CU-UP-UPF And the downlink transmission tunnel information of the T-DU. Then S-CU-UP-UFP sends N4 Session Modification Response (N4 Session Modification Response) to SMF.

Step 8: SMF sends N4 Session Modification Request (N4 Session Modification Request) to CU-UP-UPF (PSA), and CU-UP-UPF (PSA) sends N4 Session Modification Response (N4 Session Modification Response) to SMF.

Step 9: The SMF sends an SM context update response to the T-CU-CP-AMF.

When the SMF confirms that the handover is complete, the SMF sends an SM context update response (Nsmf_PDUSession_updateSMContext Response).

Step ten, the terminal device performs a registration process.

Exemplarily, the terminal device initiates the mobile registration update process according to the process shown in FIG. 5 , and the T-CU-CP-AMF knows that it is a registration process during the handover process, so the T-CU-CP-AMF only executes part of the registration process.

Step 11. After the timer in step 5 expires, the S-CU-CP-AMF sends a UE Context Release Command (UE Context Release Command) to the S-DU and S-CU-UP-UPF. S-DU and S-CU-UP-UPF release UE-related resources, and return UE Context Release Complete (UE Context Release Complete) message to S-CU-CP-AMF.

To sum up, in the technical solution provided by this embodiment, when the handover preparation phase and the handover execution phase are executed separately in the handover process, the source side CU-CP-AMF directly triggers the handover process according to the measurement results, and executes the CU-CP- AMF selects, and no longer performs the transmission required by the handover; in the handover execution phase, the handover command is directly sent to the terminal device, and no longer passes through transparent forwarding; the state transition of the uplink and downlink of the terminal device is directly updated locally, and no longer through N2 Interface forwarding; S-DU and T-DU directly complete data forwarding; merging handover confirmation and handover notification into handover notification and confirmation signaling, directly sent to the target side DU by the terminal device, and then directly obtained by the target side CU-CP-AMF; The N2 information notification process is canceled, and the source side CU-CP-AMF directly sends an SM context release request to the SMF; the release process of indirect data forwarding resources is cancelled. Through the above process, the number of handshakes in the handover process is simplified, the signaling interaction process with the network is simplified, and the signaling processing delay is reduced.

(2) Cross-DU handover between CU-CP-AMF with fully integrated AS and NAS

The handover process generally consists of two phases: the handover preparation phase and the handover execution phase. The inter-DU handover between AS and NAS fully integrated CU-CP-AMF refers to the inter-DU handover between AS and NAS integrated CU-CP-AMF in the case of integrated execution of handover preparation phase and handover execution phase.

The handover process will be described with reference to FIG. 14 . In Fig. 14, the source side DU is marked as S-DU, the target side DU is marked as T-DU, the source side CU-CP-AMF is marked as S-CU-CP-AMF, and the target side CU-CP-AMF is marked as S-CU-CP-AMF, and the target side CU-CP- AMF is recorded as T-CU-CP-AMF. In the preparation stage of handover, the air interface configuration in the execution stage can be completed synchronously with the registration process of the NAS layer.

Step 1: The terminal device periodically uploads the measurement report.

When the S-CU-CP-AMF decides to trigger the handover, the S-CU-CP-AMF directly starts the handover preparation phase, and no longer needs to transmit the handover requirement (Handover Required), which simplifies the handover process and signaling overhead . The S-CU-CP-AMF judges whether it is under the same CU-CP-AMF, if it is not under the same CU-CP-AMF, it will trigger the handover process between CU-CP-AMF, and the S-CU-CP-AMF will no longer be The terminal equipment provides the service, and the S-CU-CP-AMF selects the T-CU-CP-AMF.

Step 3: S-CU-CP-AMF sends a handover request to T-CU-CP-AMF, the handover request includes UE context creation request and NR1 message migration, T-CU-CP-AMF sends S-CU-CP-AMF Send Create UE Context Response.

Because T-CU-CP-AMF does not have the context of the terminal device, the UE context creation request (Ncucpamf_communication_CreateUEContext Request) in this signaling needs to carry the necessary information required for terminal device switching, and S-CU-CP-AMF also needs The T-CU-CP-AMF is notified of the PDU session. In addition, the signaling also includes NR1 message transfer (NR1MessageTransfer), NR1 is the control plane interface between the terminal device and the converged network, and migrates the control plane of the terminal device from S-CU-CP-AMF to T-CU- CP-AMF, then T-CU-CP-AMF responds to this command, sends UE context creation response (Ncucpamf_Communication_CreateUEContext Response), creates UE context.

In this step, the control plane handover in the original handover execution stage and the handover preparation stage is fused together for execution.

Step 4: T-CU-CP-AMF sends a handover request to T-DU.

Exemplarily, the T-CU-CP-AMF performs access control on the terminal equipment according to the signaling sent by the S-CU-CP, sends a handover request (Handover Request) to the T-DU, and allows the terminal equipment to start random access to in the target network, and notify the S-CU-CP-AMF to allow the terminal device to access the target network.

Step 5: The T-DU sends a handover request confirmation to the T-CU-CP-AMF.

T-DU responds to the handover and random access of terminal equipment through Handover Request Ack, and reports to the target control node T-CU-CP-AMF.

Step 6: The S-CU-CP-AMF sends a switching command to the terminal equipment.

The S-CU-CP-AMF sends a handover command to the user according to the access control signaling sent by the T-CU-CP-AMF, informs the user of the relevant information of the target station, and starts the handover process. Moreover, the handover command can be transmitted after being fused with a radio resource control reconfiguration (RRCReconfiguraion) message.

Step 7. The uplink status is transferred to the new network (Uplink Status Transfer).

Step 8, the downlink status is transferred to the new network (Downlink Status Transfer).

Step 9: Complete the uplink synchronization of the terminal equipment through the random access method.

During the uplink synchronization process, the MSG3 message carries the registration request (Registration Request) message, and forwards it directly to the T-CU-CP-AMF through the T-DU, and then the T-CU-CP-AMF passes the registration acceptance (Registration Accept) message through MSG4 makes a peer-to-peer response to the terminal device, and finally, reports the radio resource control reconfiguration complete (RRCReconfigurationComplete) and registration response (Registration Response) together with the MSG5 message to the target station to complete the handover process of the terminal device. In another possible implementation, the registration request message can also be carried in the MSGA message, and directly forwarded to the T-CU-CP-AMF through the T-DU, and then the T-CU-CP-AMF sends the registration acceptance message to the The end device responds peer-to-peer.

During the random access process, the AS messages of MSGA, MSGB, MSG3, MSG4, MSG5, and RRC reconfiguration are integrated with the NAS messages of the registration process, realizing the establishment of AS and NAS between the terminal device and the network. The deep fusion of connections simplifies the two-stage handover process of handover preparation and handover execution into one stage, reducing the number of handshakes in the handover process and reducing signaling overhead.

Step ten, S-CU-CP-AMF notifies S-DU to release UE context through UE Context Release Command (UE Context Release Command), and notifies SMF corresponding to each PDU. The S-DU releases the UE context and reports to the S-CU-CP-AMF through the UE Context Release Complete command.

In this process, the UE context release contained in S-CU-CP-AMF is an internal process, which is different from the 5G NR architecture, and this process does not require signaling transmission. And in this process, the UE context release command (NAS signaling) can be integrated with the handover command in step 6, and directly carried to the S-DU.

To sum up, in the technical solution provided by this embodiment, if the handover preparation phase and the handover execution phase are combined and executed, the source side CU-CP-AMF sends a handover request to the target side CU-CP-AMF, and the command includes NR1 message migration and user context creation commands realize the fusion of the handover preparation phase and the handover execution phase; when the source side CU-CP-AMF sends a handover command to the terminal device, it can be fused with the user context release command and carried to the source side The overhead of signaling is reduced at the DU; in the random access process, the registration process and the response of the handover process are realized through MSG3-MSG5. Through the above process, the number of handshakes in the handover process is simplified, the signaling interaction process with the network is simplified, and the signaling processing delay is reduced.

It can be understood that the above method embodiments may be implemented individually or in combination, which is not limited in the present application.

The following are device embodiments of the present application, which can be used to implement the method embodiments of the present application. For details not disclosed in the device embodiments of the present application, please refer to the method embodiments of the present application.

Please refer to FIG. 15 , which shows a block diagram of a switching device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The apparatus has the function of implementing the above example method on the terminal device side, and the function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software on the hardware. The device may be the terminal device described above, or may be installed in the terminal device. The device is in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions. As shown in FIG. 15 , the apparatus 1500 may include: a converged signaling transmission module 1502;

The integrated signaling transmission module 1502 is configured to transmit integrated signaling with network element equipment during the handover process, where the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

In an optional embodiment, the fusion signaling includes uplink fusion signaling, and the uplink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first uplink fusion signaling, where the first uplink fusion signaling carries the switching confirmation and notification signaling that the destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the message A of the random access process that the destination is the DU on the target side;

The second uplink fusion signaling, the second uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random Message 3 of the access process;

The third uplink fusion signaling, where the third uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling that the destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and the destination is the target CU-CP-AMF RRCReconfiguraionComplete message;

A fourth uplink fusion signaling, where the fourth uplink fusion signaling carries a registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and an RRCSetupRequest message whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side;

Fifth uplink fusion signaling, where the fifth uplink fusion signaling carries a registration response whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and an RRCSetupComplete message whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side;

The sixth uplink fusion signaling, where the sixth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side message 3;

The seventh uplink fusion signaling, where the seventh uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, the RRCReconfiguraionComplete message whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, The message 5 of the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side;

The eighth uplink fusion signaling, where the eighth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side message A;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.

In an optional embodiment, the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first downlink fusion signaling, where the first downlink fusion signaling carries a handover command whose sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF, and a message B of a random access process whose sending end is the source side DU;

The second downlink fusion signaling, where the second downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sender is the CU-CP-AMF on the source side, and the random access procedure whose sender is the DU on the source side message 4;

The third downlink fusion signaling, where the third downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance that the sender is the target side CU-CP-AMF, and the sender is the RRCSetup message of the target side CU-CP-AMF;

A fourth downlink fusion signaling, where the fourth downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, and the sender is an RRCReconfiguraion message whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF;

The fifth downlink fusion signaling, where the fifth downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF at the sending end and the random access procedure at the target side DU at the sending end message 4;

The sixth downlink fusion signaling, the sixth downlink fusion carries the handover command whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, the sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF the RRCReconfiguraion message, The sending end is the user context release command of the source side CU-CP-AMF;

The seventh downlink fusion signaling, where the seventh downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF at the sending end and the random access process at the target side DU at the sending end message B;

In an optional embodiment, the device further includes: a switching command receiving module;

The switching command receiving module is used to receive the switching command directly issued by the source side CU-CP-AMF through the source side DU;

In an optional embodiment, the CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites, GEO satellites, or LEO satellites;

The CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

RUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.

In an optional embodiment, the DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located in the AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and NAS;

Please refer to FIG. 16 , which shows a block diagram of a switching device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The device has the function of realizing the above-mentioned method example on the DU side of the target side, and the function can be realized by hardware, and can also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The device may be the target-side DU described above, or may be set in the target-side DU. The device is in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions. As shown in FIG. 16, the apparatus 1600 may include: a converged signaling transmission module 1602;

The integrated signaling transmission module 1602 is configured to transmit integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

The first uplink fusion signaling, where the first uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling that the destination is the target side CU-CP-AMF, and the message A that the destination is the random access process of the device;

The second uplink fusion signaling, where the second uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access whose destination is the device process message 3;

The sixth uplink converged signaling, where the sixth uplink converged signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the target side CU-CP-AMF, and the message 3 whose destination is the random access procedure of the device ;

The seventh uplink fusion signaling, where the seventh uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, the RRCReconfiguraionComplete message whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, The message 5 of the random access procedure whose destination is the device;

The fifth downlink converged signaling, where the fifth downlink converged signaling carries the message 4 that the sender is the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF and the sender is the random access procedure of the device ;

In an optional embodiment, the device further includes: a data receiving module;

The data receiving module is configured to receive the data directly forwarded by the distribution unit DU at the source side.

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

RUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and NAS;

Please refer to FIG. 17 , which shows a block diagram of a switching device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The device has the function of realizing the method example on the DU side of the source side above, and the function may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The device may be the source-side DU described above, or it may be set in the source-side DU. The device is in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions. As shown in FIG. 17, the apparatus 1700 may include: a converged signaling transmission module 1702;

The integrated signaling transmission module 1702 is configured to transmit integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

The first downlink fusion signaling, the first downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command that the sending end is the source side central unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF, and the sending end is the device Message B of the random access procedure;

The second downlink fusion signaling, where the second downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, and the message 4 of the random access procedure whose sender is the device ;

In an optional embodiment, the device further includes: a data sending module;

The data sending module is used to directly forward data to the DU on the target side.

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

RUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and NAS;

Please refer to FIG. 18 , which shows a block diagram of a switching device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The device has the function of realizing the above-mentioned method example on the CU-CP-AMF side of the target side, and the function may be realized by hardware, and may also be realized by executing corresponding software by hardware. The device can be the target side CU-CP-AMF introduced above, or it can be set in the target side CU-CP-AMF, the device is in a converged network, and the device is a converged access network function and a core network function , An apparatus for access and mobility management. As shown in FIG. 18, the apparatus 1800 may include: a converged signaling transmission module 1802;

The integrated signaling transmission module 1802 is configured to transmit integrated signaling with the source side CU-CP-AMF during the handover process;

or,

The integrated signaling transmission module 1802 is configured to transmit the integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

In an optional embodiment, the fusion signaling includes a handover request sent to the source side CU-CP-AMF, the handover request carries an NR1 message migration and a user context creation request, and the NR1 message migration is used to transfer the The control plane is migrated from the source-side CU-CP-AMF to the target-side CU-CP-AMF.

third uplink converged signaling, where the third uplink converged signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the device, and the RRCReconfiguraionComplete message whose destination is the device;

A fourth uplink converged signaling, where the fourth uplink converged signaling carries a registration request whose destination is the device and an RRCSetupRequest message whose destination is the device;

A fifth uplink converged signaling, where the fifth uplink converged signaling carries a registration response whose destination is the device and an RRCSetupComplete message whose destination is the device.

In an optional embodiment, the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes:

The third downlink converged signaling, where the third downlink converged signaling carries the registration acceptance of the device as the sender and the RRCSetup message of the device as the sender.

In an optional embodiment, the device further includes: a link state update module;

The link state update module is used to directly update the state of the uplink and downlink locally.

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

RUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for data processing and forwarding.

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and NAS;

Please refer to FIG. 19 , which shows a block diagram of a switching device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The device has the function of implementing the method example on the CU-CP-AMF side of the source side above, and the function may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software on the hardware. This device can be the source-side CU-CP-AMF introduced above, or it can be set in the source-side CU-CP-AMF. The device is in a converged network, and the device is a converged access network function and a core network function. , An apparatus for access and mobility management. As shown in FIG. 19, the apparatus 1900 may include: a converged signaling transmission module 1902;

The integrated signaling transmission module 1902 is configured to transmit integrated signaling with the CU-CP-AMF on the target side during the handover process;

or,

The integrated signaling transmission module 1902 is configured to transmit the integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.

In an optional embodiment, the fusion signaling includes a handover request sent by the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, the handover request carries an NR1 message transfer and a user context creation request, and the NR1 message transfer is used to control A plane is migrated from the source-side CU-CP-AMF to the target-side CU-CP-AMF.

A fourth downlink fusion signaling, where the fourth downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sender is the device, and the RRCReconfiguraion message whose sender is the device;

The sixth downlink fusion signaling, where the sixth downlink fusion carries the handover command whose sender is the device, the RRCReconfiguraion message whose sender is the device, and the user context release command whose sender is the device.

In an optional embodiment, the device further includes: a request sending module;

The request sending module is used to directly send Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request to SMF without going through the N2 message notification process.

In an optional embodiment, the device further includes: a switching command sending module;

The switching command sending module is configured to directly send the switching command to the terminal device through the source side DU.

In an optional embodiment, the device further includes: a selection module;

The selection module is configured to directly perform CU-CP-AMF selection when the measurement report reported by the terminal device satisfies the trigger condition.

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

RUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and NAS;

It should be noted that when the device provided by the above embodiment realizes its functions, it only uses the division of the above-mentioned functional modules as an example for illustration. In practical applications, the above-mentioned function allocation can be completed by different functional modules according to actual needs. That is, the content structure of the device is divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

Regarding the apparatus in the foregoing embodiments, the specific manner in which each module executes operations has been described in detail in the embodiments related to the method, and will not be described in detail here.

Please refer to FIG. 20 , which shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device (terminal device or source-side DU or target-side DU or source-side CU-CP-AMF or target-side CU-CP-AMF) provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication device may include: a processor 2001 , a transceiver 2002 and a memory 2003 .

The processor 2001 includes one or more processing cores, and the processor 2001 executes various functional applications by running software programs and modules.

The transceiver 2002 can be used for receiving and sending information, and the transceiver 2002 can be a communication chip.

The memory 2003 may be used to store a computer program, and the processor 2001 is used to execute the computer program, so as to implement various steps performed by the communication device in the foregoing method embodiments.

In addition, the memory 2003 can be realized by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or their combination, and the volatile or non-volatile storage device includes but not limited to: random-access memory (Random-Access Memory, RAM) And read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, EEPROM), flash memory or other solid-state storage technologies, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), high-density digital video disc (Digital Video Disc, DVD) or other optical storage, tape cartridges, tapes, disks storage or other magnetic storage devices.

The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored in the storage medium, and the computer program is used to be executed by a processor, so as to implement the above switching method.

Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium may include: a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), a random-access memory (Random-Access Memory, RAM), a solid-state hard drive (Solid State Drives, SSD) or an optical disc. Wherein, the random access memory may include resistive random access memory (Resistance Random Access Memory, ReRAM) and dynamic random access memory (Dynamic Random Access Memory, DRAM).

The embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, the chip includes a programmable logic circuit and/or program instructions, and is used to implement the above switching method when the chip is running.

The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product or computer program, the computer program product or computer program includes computer instructions, the computer instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the processor reads from the computer-readable storage medium The medium reads and executes the computer instructions, so as to realize the above switching method.

It should be understood that the "indication" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a direct indication, may also be an indirect indication, and may also mean that there is an association relationship. For example, A indicates B, which can mean that A directly indicates B, for example, B can be obtained through A; it can also indicate that A indirectly indicates B, for example, A indicates C, and B can be obtained through C; it can also indicate that there is an association between A and B relation.

In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the term "corresponding" may indicate that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between the two, or that there is an association between the two, or that it indicates and is indicated, configuration and is configuration etc.

The "plurality" mentioned herein means two or more. "And/or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there may be three types of relationships, for example, A and/or B may indicate: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists independently. The character "/" generally indicates that the contextual objects are an "or" relationship.

In addition, the numbering of the steps described herein only exemplarily shows a possible sequence of execution among the steps. In some other embodiments, the above-mentioned steps may not be executed according to the order of the numbers, such as two different numbers The steps are executed at the same time, or two steps with different numbers are executed in the reverse order as shown in the illustration, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Those skilled in the art should be aware that, in the foregoing one or more examples, the functions described in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

The above are only exemplary embodiments of the application, and are not intended to limit the application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the application shall be included in the protection of the application. within range.

Claims

A handover method, characterized in that the method is applied to a terminal device in a converged network, the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and the method includes:

During the handover process, the fusion signaling is transmitted with the network element device, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the integrated signaling includes uplink integrated signaling, and the uplink integrated signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first uplink fusion signaling, the first uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling of the target side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF with the destination as the target Message A of the random access procedure of the side distribution unit DU;

The second uplink fusion signaling, the second uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random Message 3 of the access process;

The third uplink fusion signaling, where the third uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling that the destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and the destination is the target CU-CP-AMF RRCReconfiguraionComplete message for radio resource control reconfiguration complete;

A fourth uplink fusion signaling, where the fourth uplink fusion signaling carries a registration request whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF and a radio resource control establishment request whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF RRCSetupRequest message;

The fifth uplink fusion signaling, where the fifth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response that the destination end is the target side CU-CP-AMF, and the destination end is the completion of the radio resource control establishment of the target side CU-CP-AMF RRCSetupComplete message;

The sixth uplink fusion signaling, where the sixth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side message 3;

The seventh uplink fusion signaling, where the seventh uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF and the radio resource control whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF The reconfiguration completes the RRCReconfiguraionComplete message, and the message 5 of the random access process whose destination is the DU on the target side;

The eighth uplink fusion signaling, where the eighth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side message A;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first downlink fusion signaling, where the first downlink fusion signaling carries a handover command whose sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF, and a message B of a random access process whose sending end is the source side DU;

The second downlink fusion signaling, where the second downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sender is the CU-CP-AMF on the source side, and the random access procedure whose sender is the DU on the source side message 4;

The third downlink fusion signaling, the third downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF by the sending end, and the establishment of RRCSetup by the sending end for the radio resource control of the target side CU-CP-AMF information;

The fourth downlink fusion signaling, where the fourth downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF, and the sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF radio resource control Reconfigure the RRCReconfiguraion message;

The fifth downlink fusion signaling, where the fifth downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF at the sending end and the random access procedure at the target side DU at the sending end message 4;

The sixth downlink fusion signaling, the sixth downlink fusion carries the handover command whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, the sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF the RRCReconfiguraion message, The sending end is the user context release command of the source side CU-CP-AMF;

The seventh downlink fusion signaling, where the seventh downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF at the sending end and the random access process at the target side DU at the sending end message B;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the method further comprises:

Receive the switching command directly issued by the source side CU-CP-AMF through the source side DU;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that,

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that,

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
A handover method, characterized in that the method is applied to a target-side distribution unit DU in a converged network, the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and the method includes:

During the handover process, the fusion signaling is transmitted with the terminal device, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
The method according to claim 7, wherein the integrated signaling includes uplink integrated signaling, and the uplink integrated signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first uplink fusion signaling, the first uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling of the target side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF, and the destination is the Message A describing the random access process of the DU on the target side;

The second uplink fusion signaling, the second uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random Message 3 of the access process;

The sixth uplink fusion signaling, where the sixth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side message 3;

The seventh uplink fusion signaling, where the seventh uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF and the radio resource control whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF The reconfiguration completes the RRCReconfiguraionComplete message, and the message 5 of the random access process whose destination is the DU on the target side;

The eighth uplink fusion signaling, where the eighth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side message A;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The method according to claim 7, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

The fifth downlink fusion signaling, where the fifth downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF at the sending end and the random access procedure at the target side DU at the sending end message 4;

The seventh downlink fusion signaling, where the seventh downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF at the sending end and the random access process at the target side DU at the sending end message B;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the method further comprises:

Receive the data directly forwarded by the DU on the source side.
The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that,

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
The method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that,

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
A handover method, characterized in that, the method is applied to a source-side distribution unit DU in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and the method includes:

During the handover process, the fusion signaling is transmitted with the terminal device, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
The method according to claim 13, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first downlink fusion signaling, the first downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command that the sender is the source side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF, and the sender is the source Message B of the random access procedure of the side DU;

The second downlink fusion signaling, where the second downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sender is the CU-CP-AMF on the source side, and the random access procedure whose sender is the DU on the source side message 4;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the method further comprises:

The data is directly forwarded to the target side DU.
The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that,

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein,

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
A handover method, characterized in that the method is applied to the target side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF of the converged network, and the CU-CP-AMF is a converged access network Functions and core network functions, network elements for access and mobility management, the method comprising:

During the handover process, transmit fusion signaling with the source side CU-CP-AMF;

or,

During the handover process, the fusion signaling is transmitted with the terminal device, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
The method of claim 18, wherein,

The fusion signaling includes a handover request sent to the source side CU-CP-AMF, the handover request carries an NR1 message migration and a user context creation request, and the NR1 message migration is used to transfer the control plane from the source side CU-CP-AMF to The CP-AMF migrates to the target side CU-CP-AMF.
The method according to claim 18, wherein the integrated signaling includes uplink integrated signaling, and the uplink integrated signaling includes at least one of the following:

The third uplink fusion signaling, where the third uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling that the destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and the destination is the target CU-CP-AMF RRCReconfiguraionComplete message for radio resource control reconfiguration complete;

A fourth uplink fusion signaling, where the fourth uplink fusion signaling carries a registration request whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF and a radio resource control establishment request whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF RRCSetupRequest message;

The fifth uplink fusion signaling, where the fifth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response that the destination end is the target side CU-CP-AMF, and the destination end is the completion of the radio resource control establishment of the target side CU-CP-AMF RRCSetupComplete message.
The method according to claim 18, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes:

The third downlink fusion signaling, the third downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF by the sending end, and the establishment of RRCSetup by the sending end for the radio resource control of the target side CU-CP-AMF information.
The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, further comprising:

Update the status of the uplink and downlink directly locally.
A method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein,

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

The distribution unit DU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for data processing and forwarding.
The method according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein,

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for data processing and forwarding.
A handover method, characterized in that the method is applied to a source-side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF of a converged network, and the CU-CP-AMF is a converged access network Functions and core network functions, network elements for access and mobility management, the method comprising:

During the handover process, transmit fusion signaling with the CU-CP-AMF on the target side;

or,

During the handover process, the fusion signaling is transmitted with the terminal device, and the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
The method of claim 25, wherein,

The fusion signaling includes a handover request sent by the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, the handover request carries an NR1 message migration and a user context creation request, and the NR1 message migration is used to transfer the control plane from the source side CU-CP - AMF migrates to said target side CU-CP-AMF.
The method according to claim 25, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

The fourth downlink fusion signaling, where the fourth downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF, and the sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF radio resource control Reconfigure the RRCReconfiguraion message;

The sixth downlink fusion signaling, the sixth downlink fusion carries the handover command whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, the sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF the RRCReconfiguraion message, The sending end is the user context release command of the source side CU-CP-AMF.
The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, further comprising:

Send the SM context release request Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request directly to the session management SMF without going through the N2 message notification process.
The method according to any one of claims 25 to 28, further comprising:

The switching command is directly issued to the terminal equipment through the distribution unit DU at the source side.
The method according to any one of claims 25 to 29, further comprising:

When the measurement report reported by the terminal device satisfies the trigger condition, the CU-CP-AMF selection is directly performed.
The method according to any one of claims 25 to 30, further comprising:

Update the status of the uplink and downlink directly locally.
A method according to any one of claims 25 to 31, wherein,

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for data processing and forwarding.
A method according to any one of claims 25 to 32, wherein,

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for data processing and forwarding.
A switching device, characterized in that the device is in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and the device includes: a converged signaling transmission module;

The fusion signaling transmission module is used to transmit fusion signaling with the network element equipment during the handover process, and the fusion signaling carries at least two signalings related to the handover process.
The device according to claim 34, wherein the integrated signaling includes uplink integrated signaling, and the uplink integrated signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first uplink fusion signaling, the first uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling of the target side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF with the destination as the target Message A of the random access procedure of the side distribution unit DU;

The second uplink fusion signaling, the second uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random Message 3 of the access process;

The third uplink fusion signaling, where the third uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling that the destination is the target CU-CP-AMF, and the destination is the target CU-CP-AMF RRCReconfiguraionComplete message for radio resource control reconfiguration complete;

A fourth uplink fusion signaling, where the fourth uplink fusion signaling carries a registration request whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF and a radio resource control establishment request whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF RRCSetupRequest message;

The fifth uplink fusion signaling, where the fifth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response that the destination end is the target side CU-CP-AMF, and the destination end is the completion of the radio resource control establishment of the target side CU-CP-AMF RRCSetupComplete message;

The sixth uplink fusion signaling, where the sixth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side message 3;

The seventh uplink fusion signaling, where the seventh uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF and the radio resource control whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF The reconfiguration completes the RRCReconfiguraionComplete message, and the message 5 of the random access process whose destination is the DU on the target side;

The eighth uplink fusion signaling, where the eighth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side message A;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The device according to claim 34, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first downlink fusion signaling, where the first downlink fusion signaling carries a handover command whose sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF, and a message B of a random access process whose sending end is the source side DU;

The second downlink fusion signaling, where the second downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sender is the CU-CP-AMF on the source side, and the random access procedure whose sender is the DU on the source side message 4;

The third downlink fusion signaling, the third downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF by the sending end, and the establishment of RRCSetup by the sending end for the radio resource control of the target side CU-CP-AMF information;

The fourth downlink fusion signaling, where the fourth downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF, and the sending end is the source side CU-CP-AMF radio resource control Reconfigure the RRCReconfiguraion message;

The fifth downlink fusion signaling, where the fifth downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF at the sending end and the random access procedure at the target side DU at the sending end message 4;

The sixth downlink fusion signaling, the sixth downlink fusion carries the handover command whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, the sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF the RRCReconfiguraion message, The sending end is the user context release command of the source side CU-CP-AMF;

The seventh downlink fusion signaling, where the seventh downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF at the sending end and the random access process at the target side DU at the sending end message B;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The device according to any one of claims 34 to 36, wherein the device further comprises: a switching command receiving module;

The switching command receiving module is used to receive the switching command directly issued by the source side CU-CP-AMF through the source side DU;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 34 to 37, wherein

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 34 to 38 wherein,

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
A switching device, characterized in that the device is in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and the device includes: a converged signaling transmission module;

The integrated signaling transmission module is configured to transmit integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, and the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
The device according to claim 40, wherein the integrated signaling includes uplink integrated signaling, and the uplink integrated signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first uplink fusion signaling, the first uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling of the target side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF, and the destination is the Message A of the random access procedure of the device;

The second uplink fusion signaling, where the second uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access whose destination is the device process message 3;

The sixth uplink converged signaling, where the sixth uplink converged signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the target side CU-CP-AMF, and the message 3 whose destination is the random access procedure of the device ;

The seventh uplink fusion signaling, where the seventh uplink fusion signaling carries the registration response whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF and the radio resource control whose destination is the target CU-CP-AMF The reconfiguration is completed RRCReconfiguraionComplete message, message 5 of the random access procedure whose destination is the device;

The eighth uplink fusion signaling, where the eighth uplink fusion signaling carries the registration request whose destination is the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, and the random access procedure whose destination is the DU on the target side message A;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The device according to claim 40, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

The fifth downlink converged signaling, where the fifth downlink converged signaling carries the message 4 that the sender is the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF and the sender is the random access procedure of the device ;

The seventh downlink fusion signaling, where the seventh downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the target side CU-CP-AMF at the sending end and the random access process at the target side DU at the sending end message B;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The device according to any one of claims 40 to 42, wherein the device further comprises: a data receiving module;

The data receiving module is configured to receive the data directly forwarded by the distribution unit DU at the source side.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 40 to 43, wherein

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 40 to 44, wherein

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
A switching device, characterized in that the device is in a converged network, and the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and the device includes: a converged signaling transmission module;

The integrated signaling transmission module is configured to transmit integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
The device according to claim 46, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

The first downlink fusion signaling, the first downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command that the sending end is the source side central unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF, and the sending end is the device Message B of the random access procedure;

The second downlink fusion signaling, where the second downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command whose sender is the source-side CU-CP-AMF, and the message 4 of the random access procedure whose sender is the device ;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management.
The device according to claim 46 or 47, further comprising: a data sending module;

The data sending module is used to directly forward data to the DU on the target side.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 46 to 48 wherein,

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 46 to 49 wherein,

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-CP-AMF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for access and mobility management, and the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions A network element used for data processing and forwarding.
A switching device, characterized in that the device is in a converged network, the device is a device that integrates access network functions and core network functions, and is used for access and mobility management, and the device includes: converged signaling transmission module;

The integrated signaling transmission module is used to transmit integrated signaling with the source side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF during the handover process;

or,

The integrated signaling transmission module is configured to transmit the integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
The apparatus of claim 51 wherein,

The fusion signaling includes a handover request sent to the source side CU-CP-AMF, the handover request carries an NR1 message migration and a user context creation request, and the NR1 message migration is used to transfer the control plane from the source side CU-CP-AMF to The CP-AMF migrates to the target side CU-CP-AMF.
The device according to claim 51, wherein the integrated signaling includes uplink integrated signaling, and the uplink integrated signaling includes at least one of the following:

The third uplink fusion signaling, where the third uplink fusion signaling carries the handover confirmation and notification signaling that the destination is the device, and the destination is a radio resource control reconfiguration complete RRCReconfiguraionComplete message of the device;

A fourth uplink converged signaling, where the fourth uplink converged signaling carries a registration request whose destination is the device, and a radio resource control establishment request RRCSetupRequest message whose destination is the device;

A fifth uplink converged signaling, where the fifth uplink converged signaling carries a registration response whose destination is the device, and a radio resource control establishment completion RRCSetupComplete message whose destination is the device.
The device according to claim 51, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes:

The third downlink fusion signaling, where the third downlink fusion signaling carries the registration acceptance of the device at the sending end and the RRCSetup message at the radio resource control establishment of the device at the sending end.
The device according to any one of claims 51 to 54, further comprising: a link state update module;

The link state update module is used to directly update the state of the uplink and downlink locally.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 51 to 55, wherein

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

The distribution unit DU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for data processing and forwarding.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 51 to 56 wherein,

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for data processing and forwarding.
A switching device, characterized in that the device is in a converged network, the device is a device that integrates access network functions and core network functions, and is used for access and mobility management, and the device includes: converged signaling transmission module;

The converged signaling transmission module is used to transmit converged signaling with the target side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF during the handover process;

or,

The integrated signaling transmission module is configured to transmit the integrated signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the integrated signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
Apparatus according to claim 58, characterized in that,

The fusion signaling includes a handover request sent by the CU-CP-AMF on the target side, the handover request carries an NR1 message migration and a user context creation request, and the NR1 message migration is used to transfer the control plane from the source side CU-CP - AMF migrates to said target side CU-CP-AMF.
The device according to claim 58, wherein the fusion signaling includes downlink fusion signaling, and the downlink fusion signaling includes at least one of the following:

A fourth downlink fusion signaling, where the fourth downlink fusion signaling carries the handover command that the sender is the device, and the radio resource control reconfiguration RRCReconfiguraion message that the sender is the device;

The sixth downlink fusion signaling, where the sixth downlink fusion carries the handover command whose sender is the device, the RRCReconfiguraion message whose sender is the device, and the user context release command whose sender is the device.
The device according to any one of claims 58 to 60, further comprising: a request sending module;

The request sending module is used to directly send the SM context release request Nsmf_PDUSession_ReleaseSMContext Request to the session management SMF without going through the N2 message notification process.
The device according to any one of claims 58 to 61, further comprising: a switching command sending module;

The switching command sending module is used to directly send the switching command to the terminal equipment through the distribution unit DU at the source side.
The device according to any one of claims 58 to 62, characterized in that the device further comprises: a selection module;

The selection module is configured to directly perform CU-CP-AMF selection when the measurement report reported by the terminal device satisfies the trigger condition.
The device according to any one of claims 58 to 63, further comprising: a link state update module;

The link state update module is used to directly update the state of the uplink and downlink locally.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 58 to 64 wherein,

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: MEO satellites in medium earth orbit, GEO satellites in geosynchronous orbit, or LEO satellites in low earth orbit;

The centralized unit-user plane-user plane function CU-UP-UPF in the converged network is deployed on any of the following satellites: the MEO satellite, the GEO satellite, or the LEO satellite;

DUs in the converged network are deployed on the LEO satellite;

The radio frequency unit RU in the converged network is deployed on the LEO satellite;

Wherein, the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for data processing and forwarding.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 58 to 65 wherein,

The DU and CU-UP-UPF in the converged network are located at the access layer AS;

The CU-CP-AMF in the converged network is located in the AS and the non-access stratum NAS;

Wherein, the CU-UP-UPF is a network element that integrates access network functions and core network functions and is used for data processing and forwarding.
A terminal device, characterized in that the terminal device is in a converged network, the converged network includes network elements that integrate access network functions and core network functions, and the terminal device includes a transceiver;

The transceiver is configured to transmit fusion signaling with the network element device during the handover process, where the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
A target-side distribution unit DU, characterized in that the target-side DU is in a converged network, the converged network includes network elements with converged access network functions and core network functions, and the target-side DU includes a transceiver;

The transceiver is configured to transmit fusion signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
A source-side distribution unit DU, characterized in that the source-side DU is in a converged network, the converged network includes network elements that integrate access network functions and core network functions, and the source-side DU includes a transceiver;

The transceiver is configured to transmit fusion signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
A target side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF, characterized in that the CU-CP-AMF integrates access network functions and core network functions for access and mobility A network element for permanent management, the target side CU-CP-AMF includes a transceiver;

The transceiver is used to transmit fusion signaling with the source side CU-CP-AMF during the handover process;

or,

The transceiver is configured to transmit the fusion signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
A source-side centralized unit-control plane-access and mobility management CU-CP-AMF, characterized in that the CU-CP-AMF integrates access network functions and core network functions for access and mobility The source side CU-CP-AMF of the network element for permanent management includes a transceiver;

The transceiver is used to transmit fusion signaling with the CU-CP-AMF on the target side during the handover process;

or,

The transceiver is configured to transmit the fusion signaling with the terminal device during the handover process, where the fusion signaling carries at least two pieces of signaling related to the handover process.
A computer-readable storage medium, wherein a computer program is stored in the storage medium, and the computer program is used to be executed by a processor to implement the switching method according to any one of claims 1 to 33.
A chip, characterized in that the chip includes programmable logic circuits and/or program instructions, which are used to implement the switching method according to any one of claims 1 to 33 when the chip is running.
A computer program product or computer program, characterized in that the computer program product or computer program includes computer instructions, the computer instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the processor reads the computer-readable storage medium from the computer-readable storage medium And execute the computer instructions to realize the switching method according to any one of claims 1 to 33.