Implementation method and network system of amf switching

Abstract

The application relates to an implementation method and a network system of AMF switching, belongs to the technical field of 5G (5th generation mobile communication technology) core network communication, and the implementation method comprises the following steps: when an initial AMF entity selected is unavailable, a base station selects a backup AMF entity adjacent to the initial AMF entity according to position information of the AMF entity saved locally to perform switching. In the implementation of AMF switching, when the initial AMF entity selected is unavailable, the base station selects the backup AMF entity adjacent to the initial AMF entity according to the position information of the AMF entity saved locally to perform switching. By adopting the implementation mode, the drawbacks of randomly selecting a new AMF entity in the prior art are avoided, the base station can select an expected AMF entity, the transmission of network signaling is reduced, the network reliability and the network scalability are ensured, and the user experience is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of 5G (5th generation mobile communication technology) core network communication technology, specifically relating to an implementation method and network system for handover of Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). Background Technology

[0002] During the 5G network construction process, the number of base stations required to be built has increased dramatically due to the characteristics of 5G technology, leading to increased network construction costs. In order to reduce the duplication of communication network infrastructure construction, save on overall network investment, and alleviate the cost problems faced by network construction, multi-operator co-construction and sharing has become a trend in 5G network construction.

[0003] In related technologies, to achieve network co-construction and sharing, and AMF scalability, when an AMF entity fails or is scheduled to cease service, a replacement AMF entity is allowed to join the network to take over network services, thus not affecting user experience. In this case, the base station will randomly select a new AMF entity to serve the user.

[0004] In the prior art, the uncertainty of this selection switching may lead to an increase in network signaling and network communication duration due to the newly selected AMF entity's need to obtain user information, thereby affecting the user experience.

[0005] The above content is only used to help understand the technical solution of the present invention and does not represent an admission that the above content is prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To at least partially overcome the problems existing in related technologies, this application provides an AMF handover implementation method and network system to solve the technical problems of excessive network signaling and slow handover in existing handover implementations.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] Firstly,

[0009] This application provides a method for implementing AMF handover, the method comprising:

[0010] When the selected initial AMF entity is unavailable, the base station selects a backup AMF entity adjacent to the initial AMF entity for handover based on the location information of the AMF entity stored locally.

[0011] Optionally, any AMF entity may have a configuration item for identifying location information, and the location information of the locally stored AMF entity may be obtained based on the interaction between the base station and the AMF entity.

[0012] Optionally, the method of obtaining the interaction includes:

[0013] When a base station establishes a communication link with the core network and selects access and mobility management network elements, it initiates a link establishment request to the first selected AMF entity.

[0014] The first AMF entity performs an access determination based on the chain establishment request and returns a response message when the access conditions are met.

[0015] The base station receives the response message and saves the location information of the first AMF entity in the response information.

[0016] Optionally, the process by which the first AMF entity makes an access determination based on the connection establishment request includes:

[0017] Determine whether the access information in the chain establishment request matches the preset conditions, wherein the access information includes PLMN information, TA information, and slice information.

[0018] Optionally, the method of obtaining the interaction also includes:

[0019] When the location information of the second AMF entity changes, the second AMF entity sends a configuration change message to the base station;

[0020] The base station receives the configuration change message and saves the location information of the second AMF entity in the configuration change message.

[0021] Optionally, the situations where the initial AMF entity is unavailable include:

[0022] The initial AMF entity failure or planned exit.

[0023] Secondly,

[0024] This application provides a network system including a base station and multiple AMF entities;

[0025] Multiple AMF entities interact with the base station to execute any of the above-described implementation methods.

[0026] Optionally, the multiple AMF entities belong to different network operators.

[0027] The application employs the above technical solution and has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0028] In the technical solution of this application, during the AMF handover implementation, when the initially selected AMF entity becomes unavailable, the base station selects a backup AMF entity adjacent to the initial AMF entity for handover based on the location information of the AMF entity stored locally. This implementation avoids the drawback of randomly selecting a new AMF entity in existing technologies, enabling the base station to select the expected AMF entity. This reduces the transmission of network signaling, which is beneficial for ensuring network reliability and scalability, and improves user experience.

[0029] Other advantages, objectives, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art from an examination of the hereinafter, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the technical solutions of this application or the prior art, and constitute a part of the specification. The drawings illustrating embodiments of this application, together with the embodiments of this application, are used to explain the technical solutions of this application, but do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of this application.

[0031] Figure 1 This is an interactive illustration of an AMF handover implementation method provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the method for obtaining the location information of the AMF entity local to the base station in one embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the method for obtaining the location information of the AMF entity local to the base station in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0035] As described in the background section, the number of base stations required for 5G network construction has increased dramatically due to the characteristics of 5G technology, leading to higher network construction costs. To reduce redundant construction of communication network infrastructure, save on overall network investment, and alleviate cost issues in network construction, multi-operator co-construction and sharing has become a trend in 5G network development.

[0036] In related technologies, to achieve network co-construction and sharing, and AMF scalability, when an AMF entity fails or is scheduled to cease service, a replacement AMF entity is allowed to join the network to take over network services, thus not affecting user experience. In this case, the base station will randomly select a new AMF entity to serve the user. For example, the base station may determine a range based on slice information, AMF region ID, or AMF load balancing information, and then select a new AMF within that range to serve the user.

[0037] In the prior art, the uncertainty of this selection switching may lead to an increase in network signaling and network communication duration due to the newly selected AMF entity's need to obtain user information, thereby affecting the user experience.

[0038] To address this issue, this application proposes an AMF handover implementation method to solve the technical problems of excessive network signaling and slow handover in existing handover implementations.

[0039] In one embodiment, the AMF handover implementation method provided in this application includes:

[0040] When the selected initial AMF entity is unavailable (e.g., when the initial AMF entity fails or is scheduled to be phased out), the base station selects a backup AMF entity adjacent to the initial AMF entity for handover based on the location information of the AMF entity stored locally.

[0041] like Figure 1 The diagram shown illustrates the interaction in the AMF handover implementation method of this embodiment.

[0042] In the technical solution of this application, the access and mobility management network element entity initially selected by the base station is called the initial AMF entity (also known as the initial control plane network function entity). When the initial AMF entity is unavailable, such as when an entity fails or is scheduled to be withdrawn, the access and mobility management network element entity selected by the base station again is called the backup AMF entity (also known as the backup control plane network function entity).

[0043] As described above, in the technical solution of this application, when the initially selected AMF entity becomes unavailable, the base station selects a backup AMF entity adjacent to the initial AMF entity for handover based on the location information of the AMF entity stored locally. This implementation avoids the drawback of randomly selecting a new AMF entity in existing technologies, enabling the base station to select the expected AMF entity, reducing network signaling transmission, ensuring network reliability and scalability, and improving user experience.

[0044] To facilitate understanding of the technical solution of this application, another embodiment will be used to describe the technical solution of this application below.

[0045] In this embodiment, for a network sharing scenario across DC (Data Center), the existing network configuration is improved so that each AMF entity in the core network is equipped with a configuration item for identifying location information. It is easy to understand that the configuration information in this configuration item is the location information identifier of the entity. This identifier is unique, and the location information of the AMF entity stored locally by the base station is obtained based on the interaction between the base station and the AMF entity.

[0046] Specifically, in this embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, this interactive method includes:

[0047] Base station (corresponding to) Figure 2 (Diagram of a wireless base station) When establishing a communication link with the core network and selecting access and mobility management network elements, it initiates a link establishment request to the first selected AMF entity;

[0048] The first AMF entity makes an access judgment based on the chain establishment request and returns a response message when the access conditions are met.

[0049] Compared to existing technologies, this response message additionally includes location information for the AMF entity. For example, this information is set by the operator, such as area information designated by the operator. In other words, in addition to carrying the necessary information, the response message also includes an identifier carrying the location information of the AMF entity, which is obtained from the entity's configuration items.

[0050] The base station then receives the response message and saves the location information of the first AMF entity in the response information.

[0051] Furthermore, it should be noted that, similar to existing technologies, the process by which the first AMF entity makes an access determination based on the chain establishment request includes:

[0052] Determine whether the access information in the chain establishment request matches the preset conditions. The access information includes PLMN information, TA information, slice information, etc.

[0053] When the condition is determined to match the preset conditions, the AMF entity returns a response message to the base station;

[0054] Otherwise, the AMF entity will issue an error message. Based on the configuration requirements of the specific scenario, the error message can enable the base station to change the relevant parameters of the connection establishment request and re-initiate the connection establishment request to the relevant AMF entity (such as the first AMF entity or other AMF entities).

[0055] It is easy to understand that in some scenarios, the first AMF entity here is the initial AMF entity.

[0056] In addition, such as Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the location information of the AMF entity stored locally by the base station is obtained based on the interaction between the base station and the AMF entity, and further includes:

[0057] When the location information of the second AMF entity changes, the second AMF entity sends a configuration change message to the base station;

[0058] The base station receives the configuration change message and saves the location information of the second AMF entity in the configuration change message.

[0059] It is easy to understand that the second AMF entity here can be the initial AMF entity or the backup AMF entity.

[0060] Thus, based on the above configuration of the base station and AMF entity, in this embodiment, when a planned exit or failure of the initial control plane network function entity occurs, the wireless base station can determine that the initial control plane network function entity is unavailable, and select a nearby backup control plane network function entity based on location information. This backup control plane network function entity is what the network expects, thereby reducing the transmission of network signaling, increasing network reliability, increasing network scalability, and improving user experience.

[0061] In one embodiment, this application also proposes a network system including a base station and a plurality of AMF entities;

[0062] Multiple AMF entities interact with the base station to execute the implementation method described in the above embodiments.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, multiple AMF entities belong to different network operators.

[0064] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

[0065] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0066] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for implementing AMF handover, characterized in that, include: When the selected initial AMF entity is unavailable, the base station selects a backup AMF entity adjacent to the initial AMF entity for handover based on the location information of the AMF entity stored locally. Each AMF entity has a configuration item for identifying location information, and the location information of the AMF entity stored locally is obtained based on the interaction between the base station and the AMF entity; The methods for obtaining the interaction include: When a base station establishes a communication link with the core network and selects access and mobility management network elements, it initiates a link establishment request to the first selected AMF entity. The first AMF entity performs an access determination based on the chain establishment request and returns a response message when the access conditions are met. The base station receives the response message and saves the location information of the first AMF entity in the response message.

2. The implementation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process by which the first AMF entity makes an access determination based on the connection establishment request includes: Determine whether the access information in the chain establishment request matches the preset conditions, wherein the access information includes PLMN information, TA information, and slice information.

3. The implementation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The methods for obtaining the interaction also include: When the location information of the second AMF entity changes, the second AMF entity sends a configuration change message to the base station; The base station receives the configuration change message and saves the location information of the second AMF entity in the configuration change message.

4. The implementation method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The situations where the initial AMF entity is unavailable include: The initial AMF entity failure or planned exit.

5. A network system, characterized in that, It includes a base station and multiple AMF entities; the multiple AMF entities interact with the base station to execute the implementation method of any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The network system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The various AMF entities belong to different network operators.

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