A method and apparatus for determining a target operator network

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of mobile communications, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for determining a target operator network during handover. The method for determining the target operator network includes: the target base station acquiring operator network information supported by a Mobility Management Entity (MME); determining operator network information supported by both the MME and the target cell; and when only one operator network is supported by both the MME and the target cell, determining that operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell as the target operator network. Accordingly, this invention also provides an apparatus for determining the target operator network. The method and apparatus provided by this invention can improve the handover success rate.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of patent application No. 201610685269.7, filed on August 17, 2016, entitled "A method and apparatus for determining a target operator network". Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of mobile communications, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for determining the target operator network during a handover process. Background Technology

[0003] In mobile communication systems, the sharing of equipment and resources within a network by different operators is called network sharing. In Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, network sharing takes two forms: one is sharing only radio-side equipment and resources, known as the Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN); the other is sharing both radio-side and core network-side equipment and resources, known as the Gateway Core Network (GWCN). Regardless of the sharing method, the radio-side equipment and resources can be used by multiple operators. When an evolved Node B (eNB) is shared by multiple operators, the carrier resources under the eNB (in LTE, one carrier resource corresponds to one cell) can be shared by multiple operators or dedicated to a single operator. When cell resources under the eNB can be shared by multiple operators, the cell can be configured with multiple supported operator network identifiers to indicate which operators can use the cell resources. The list of supported operator network identifiers is broadcast to the User Equipment (UE) in a broadcast message, allowing the UE to select the appropriate operator network for cell access.

[0004] When a UE undergoes handover, the source eNB can select the serving operator network for the target cell based on the network availability of the target cell and the UE's own list of selectable operator networks. In related technologies, the source eNB transmits the selected target cell's serving operator network to the target eNB via the Mobility Management Entity (MME). This approach requires MME support; if the MME does not support or has not enabled the corresponding function, the target eNB cannot determine the target operator network, leading to handover failure. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the above problems, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining a target operator's network.

[0006] The method for determining a target operator network provided by the present invention includes: obtaining operator network information supported by a Mobility Management Entity (MME) from a target base station; determining operator network information supported by both the MME and the target cell; and determining the target operator network as the handover target network when there is only one operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell.

[0007] Preferably, the aforementioned operator network information includes: PLMN ID.

[0008] Preferably, the target base station obtains the operator network information supported by the MME through the S1 connection establishment response message.

[0009] Preferably, before determining the operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell, the target base station determines the target cell by receiving a handover request message sent by the MME.

[0010] Preferably, the target base station is switched according to the determined target operator network.

[0011] The present invention also provides an apparatus for determining a target operator network, comprising: an acquisition module and a determination module. The acquisition module is used to acquire operator network information supported by a Mobility Management Entity (MME); the determination module is used to determine operator network information supported by both the MME and the target cell; when there is only one operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell, the operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell is determined to be the target operator network for handover.

[0012] By employing the method or apparatus for determining the target operator network provided by this invention, even if the MME does not carry the selected operator network information to the handover target eNB, the handover target eNB can still determine the intersection of the operator networks supported by the MME and the handover target cell based on the obtained operator network information supported by the MME. When there is only one operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell, the operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell is determined to be the handover target operator network; this allows the handover to proceed normally, thereby improving the handover success rate. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 Flowchart of the basic steps for determining the target operator's network;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4 A block diagram of a device for determining a target operator's network. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be arbitrarily combined with each other.

[0018] In related technologies, when core network or radio-side equipment and resources are shared by multiple operators, PLMN IDs are generally used to identify which operators can use certain equipment and resources. When cell resources under an eNB can be shared by multiple operators, the cell can be configured with multiple supported PLMN IDs to indicate which operators can use the cell resources, with the first PLMN ID being the primary PLMN. When cell resources under an eNB are dedicated to only one operator, the cell is configured with only one PLMN ID, indicating which operator the cell resources are dedicated to. The list of PLMN IDs supported by the cell is broadcast to the UE in the broadcast information. When accessing the network, the UE can choose either the Home PLMN (HPLMN) or the Equivalent PLMN (EPLMN) as the Service PLMN (SPLMN). Once the Service PLMN is selected by the UE, it remains in effect during the UE's connected state unless a handover occurs. When a UE undergoes handover, the source eNB can select a target PLMN based on the PLMNs supported by the target cell and the UE's PLMN list (including HPLMN and EPLMN). According to the protocol, during S1 handover, the target PLMN is carried by the source eNB to the MME via a handover request message (HANDOVER REQUIRED), and the MME then carries the handover restriction list in the handover request message (HANDOVER REQUEST) to the target eNB. However, since the handover restriction list in the HANDOVER REQUEST message is an optional element, in network-sharing scenarios, if the MME does not carry the handover restriction list in the HANDOVER REQUEST message during S1 handover, the target eNB will not be able to determine the target service operator or PLMN.

[0019] The embodiments of the present invention have made improvements to the above scenario. Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating the basic steps of a method for determining a target operator's network. As shown in the figure, the method mainly includes:

[0020] S101: Switch target base station to obtain operator network information supported by the Mobility Management Entity (MME);

[0021] S102: Determine the operator network information supported by both the MME and the handover target cell;

[0022] S103: When both the MME and the target cell support only one operator network, the operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell is determined to be the target operator network.

[0023] The aforementioned operator network information can be represented by a PLMN ID; different PLMN IDs represent different operators, or different subsidiaries of the same operator. The base station can obtain the PLMN IDs supported by the MME through the S1 connection establishment response message. In this case, the operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell is the PLMN ID supported by both the MME and the target cell. During the actual handover process, the handover target cell in S102 is determined by the handover target base station based on the handover request message received from the MME. After determining the handover target operator network in S103, the handover can be performed based on this determined handover target operator network.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, it includes:

[0026] S201: The base station establishes an S1 connection with the MME and obtains the PLMN supported by the MME through the corresponding S1 connection message;

[0027] S202: The base station receives the handover request message from the MME mentioned above; and determines the target cell for handover based on the handover request message;

[0028] S203: The base station determines that the target cell for handover and the above-mentioned MME both support only one PLMN, which is PLMN1;

[0029] S204: The base station determines that the target serving PLMN is PLMN1 and continues the handover process.

[0030] Example 2:

[0031] Unlike Embodiment 1, this embodiment introduces whether the switching request message carries a switching restriction list, making the method of determining the target service PLMN more flexible. Figure 3 This is a flowchart of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, it includes...

[0032] S301: The base station establishes an S1 connection with the MME and obtains the PLMN supported by the MME through the corresponding S1 connection message;

[0033] S302: When the base station receives the handover request message from the MME, it determines the target cell for handover and determines whether the handover request message carries a handover restriction list. If it carries a handover restriction list, it jumps to S305; otherwise, it jumps to S303.

[0034] S303: The base station determines that the target cell for handover and the above-mentioned MME both support only one PLMN, which is PLMN1;

[0035] S304: The base station determines that the target serving PLMN is PLMN1 and continues the handover process;

[0036] S305: The base station determines the target serving PLMN based on the handover restriction list and continues the handover process.

[0037] In practice, if the base station determines that the target cell for handover and the PLMN supported by the aforementioned MME are not unique, that is, if there are multiple PLMNs supported by the target cell for handover and the aforementioned MME, the base station will be unable to determine the target PLMN for handover and will therefore refuse the handover and send a handover failure message back to the MME.

[0038] Similarly, if the base station determines that the PLMN supported by both the target cell and the MME is empty, that is, the target cell and the PLMN supported by the MME have no intersection, the base station will also be unable to determine the target PLMN and therefore refuse to hand over, and will reply to the MME with a handover failure message.

[0039] Figure 4 A block diagram of an apparatus for determining a target operator network. As shown, the apparatus includes an acquisition module 01 and a determination module 02. The acquisition module 01 is used to acquire operator network information supported by the Mobility Management Entity (MME); the determination module 02 is used to determine operator network information supported by both the MME and the target cell; when there is only one operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell, the operator network supported by both the MME and the target cell is determined to be the target operator network for handover.

[0040] The aforementioned operator network information can be a PLMN ID. Determining which operator networks are supported by both the MME and the target cell is equivalent to determining which PLMN ID is supported by both the MME and the target cell.

[0041] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps in the above methods can be implemented by a program instructing related hardware, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk. Optionally, all or part of the steps in the above embodiments can also be implemented using one or more integrated circuits. Accordingly, each module / unit in the above embodiments can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module. This invention is not limited to any particular combination of hardware and software.

[0042] It should be noted that the present invention may have other various embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for determining a target operator, characterized in that, include: The target base station receives a handover request message sent by the Mobility Management Entity (MME), determines the target cell for handover based on the handover request message, and determines whether the handover request message carries a handover restriction list. If it is determined that there is no handover restriction list in the handover request message, the operator information supported by both the MME and the target cell is determined based on the operator information supported by the MME. When both the MME and the target cell support only one operator, the operator supported by both the MME and the target cell is determined as the target operator for handover, and handover is performed according to the determined target operator. as well as When both the MME and the target cell support more than one operator or none, the handover target operator is determined to have failed, the handover is refused, and a handover failure message is sent to the MME.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The operator information includes: PLMN ID.

3. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The operator information supported by the MME is obtained by the handover target base station from the MME.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The target base station for handover obtains operator information supported by the MME through an S1 connection establishment response message.

5. An apparatus for determining a target operator, characterized in that, include: The determination module is used to receive a handover request message from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) at the target base station, determine the target cell for handover based on the handover request message, and determine whether the handover request message carries a handover restriction list. If the handover request message does not contain a handover restriction list, the module determines the operator information supported by both the MME and the target cell based on the operator information supported by the MME. If only one operator is supported by both the MME and the target cell, the module determines that operator supported by both the MME and the target cell is the target operator for handover, and performs the handover based on the determined target operator. If more than one operator is supported by both the MME and the target cell, or if no operator is supported, the module determines that the target operator for handover has failed, refuses to perform the handover, and sends a handover failure message to the MME.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, The operator information includes: PLMN ID.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, Also includes: The acquisition module is used to obtain operator information supported by the MME from the MME.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, The acquisition module is used to obtain operator information supported by the MME by establishing a response message through the S1 connection.

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