Communication network system and connection method

Abstract

The invention provides a communication network system and a connection method, the system comprises a 5G base station and a 5G core network, and the 5G base station and the 5G core network are in communication connection; the 5G base station is in communication connection with the user terminal, the user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station, and the RRC recovery message comprises an RRC recovery identifier; the 5G base station extracts an RRC recovery identifier from the RRC recovery message and obtains context information of the user terminal based on the RRC recovery identifier, and the 5G base station determines whether the user terminal which needs to recover connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state or whether an eDRX period is configured; then signaling interaction is carried out between the 5G base station and the 5G core network; and then the 5G base station keeps the RRC of the user terminal in the deactivated state when determining that the user terminal needing to recover the connection needs to maintain the RRC in the deactivated state. In this way, the effect of compatibility of connection recovery and small data transmission of the lightweight user terminal is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to communication technology, and in particular to a communication network system and a connection method. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous deployment and widespread application of 5G systems, in order to better meet the specific requirements of mid-range IoT devices such as industrial wireless sensors, video surveillance equipment and wearable devices for reduced device complexity, reduced cost, reduced size, lower energy consumption, etc., a lightweight user terminal (Reduced Capability, RedCap for short) that further reduces complexity and cost is defined.

[0003] For a user terminal (User Equipment, referred to as UE) whose connection management (CM) is in a connected state (CM-Connected) but whose radio resource control (RRC) is in a deactivated state (RRC-Inactive), or a user terminal that supports optimization of the user plane cellular Internet of Things 5G System (CIoT 5GS), whose connection management is in an idle state and has a suspension indication, when the upper layer or access layer (Access Stratum, referred to as AS) in the 5G Core Network (5G Core Network, referred to as 5GC) requests to restore the state of the radio resource connection of the above-mentioned user terminal from a deactivated state to a connected state, the 5G system will always switch the RRC state of the user terminal from a deactivated state to a connected state, without considering the UE small data transmission function (SDT) in the deactivated state, resulting in the problem that the connection recovery and small data transmission processes of lightweight user terminals cannot coexist. Summary of the invention

[0004] Some embodiments of the present application provide a communication network system, including a 5G base station and a 5G core network;

[0005] Communication connection between 5G base station and 5G core network; Communication connection between 5G base station and user terminal;

[0006] The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station, wherein the RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier; the 5G base station extracts the RRC recovery identifier from the RRC recovery message, and obtains context information of the user terminal based on the RRC recovery identifier;

[0007] The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle; then the 5G base station performs signaling interaction with the 5G core network; then, when the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the 5G base station maintains the RRC of the user terminal in a deactivated state.

[0008] In some embodiments, the 5G base station and the 5G core network then perform signaling interaction, specifically including: if the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates a path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network;

[0009] The 5G base station then receives the N2 interface notification request sent by the access and mobility management function entity in the 5G core network; the 5G base station sends the N2 notification to the AMF in the 5G core network; wherein the N2 notification is used to indicate that the RRC of the user terminal is in a connected state;

[0010] Accordingly, when the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection does not need to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the 5G base station restores the RRC of the user terminal to the connected state.

[0011] In some embodiments, signaling interaction is then performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, specifically including: if the connection recovery process is a response of the 5G core network to RAN paging triggered by the N2 interface process, the 5G base station and the 5G core network will treat the N2 interface process as a conflict.

[0012] In some embodiments, after the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network, the 5G base station sends an MT communication processing request of the N2 interface to the AMF in the 5G core network; the AMF in the 5G core network sends an MT communication processing response of the N2 interface to the 5G base station.

[0013] In some embodiments, after signaling interaction between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, when the 5G base station determines that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle and the eDRX cycle is greater than a preset threshold, the 5G base station sends an N2 message to the AMF, and the N2 message includes the eDRX cycle.

[0014] Some embodiments of the present application provide a connection method, which is applied to a 5G base station. The method includes:

[0015] The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station, where the RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier;

[0016] The 5G base station extracts the RRC recovery identifier from the RRC recovery message, and obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the RRC recovery identifier;

[0017] The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle;

[0018] Signaling interaction is performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network; when it is determined that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal is maintained in a deactivated state.

[0019] In some embodiments, the signaling interaction between the 5G base station and the 5G core network specifically includes:

[0020] If the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network;

[0021] The 5G base station receives the N2 interface notification request sent by the access and mobility management function entity in the 5G core network;

[0022] The 5G base station sends an N2 notification to the AMF in the 5G core network; wherein the N2 notification is used to indicate that the RRC of the user terminal is in a connected state;

[0023] Accordingly, the connection method further includes:

[0024] When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection does not need to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal is restored to the connected state.

[0025] In some embodiments, the signaling interaction between the 5G base station and the 5G core network specifically includes:

[0026] If the connection recovery process is a response of the 5G core network to RAN paging triggered by the N2 interface process, the 5G base station and the 5G core network will treat the N2 interface process as a conflict.

[0027] In some embodiments, after the accessed 5G base station initiates a path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network, the method further includes:

[0028] The 5G base station sends an MT communication processing request for the N2 interface to the AMF in the 5G core network; the AMF in the 5G core network sends an MT communication processing response for the N2 interface to the 5G base station.

[0029] In some embodiments, after the signaling interaction between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, the method also includes: when the 5G base station determines that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle, and the eDRX cycle is greater than a preset threshold, the 5G base station sends an N2 message to the AMF, and the N2 message includes the eDRX cycle.

[0030] The communication network system and connection method provided by the present application initiate an RRC recovery message when the RRC of the user terminal is in a deactivated state, the 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier, the 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle, and the 5G base station interacts with the 5G core network through signaling. After that, when it is determined that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal UE is maintained in a deactivated state. In this way, the connection recovery of lightweight user terminals and the compatibility of small data transmission are achieved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0032] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication network system provided for some embodiments of the present application;

[0033] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a connection method provided in some embodiments of the present application;

[0034] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of connection methods provided in other embodiments of the present application;

[0035] Figure 4 Schematic diagrams of connection devices provided in some further embodiments of the present application.

[0036] The above drawings have shown clear embodiments of the present application, which will be described in more detail later. These drawings and text descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way, but to illustrate the concept of the present application to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present application. Instead, they are merely examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0038] It should be noted that the user information (including but not limited to user device information, user personal information, etc.) and data (including but not limited to data used for analysis, stored data, displayed data, etc.) involved in this application are all information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties, and the collection, use and processing of relevant data must comply with the relevant laws, regulations and standards of the relevant countries and regions, and provide corresponding operation entrances for users to choose to authorize or refuse.

[0039] With the continuous deployment and widespread application of 5G systems, in order to better meet the specific requirements of mid-end IoT devices such as industrial wireless sensors, video surveillance equipment and wearable devices for reduced device complexity, cost, size and energy consumption, 3GPP has defined a lightweight (RedCap) user terminal type in Rel-17 to further reduce terminal complexity and cost.

[0040] 5G (NR) wireless networks have higher requirements for capacity, latency and efficiency, but small data (such as text messages) are often sent and received in daily applications. In order to solve the frequent wireless connection recovery during this data transmission process, which leads to unnecessary power consumption and signaling overhead for UE, 3GPP has proposed a dedicated solution for small data transmission (SDT) of user terminals whose radio resource control is in a deactivated state, that is, it defines the SDT function, specifically: allowing user terminals to perform data or signaling transmission while keeping RRC in a deactivated state without switching to RRC in a connected state (RRC-connected). Therefore, the SDT function is also one of the important low-power features of lightweight user terminals.

[0041] However, for user terminals UE whose connection management is in a connected state but whose RRC is in a deactivated state, or user terminals that support cellular IoT 5G system optimization on the user plane, whose connection management is in a connected state and have a suspension indication. When the upper layer or access layer (AS, Access Stratum) in the 5G core network requests to restore the state of the wireless resource connection of the above-mentioned user terminal from a deactivated state to a connected state, the above-mentioned user terminal initiates a request to establish an RRC connection recovery process between the user terminal and the 5G core network. The 5G core network will switch the RRC state of the user terminal from a deactivated state to a connected state, and the small data transmission function (SDT) is not implemented, resulting in the problem that the connection recovery and small data transmission processes of lightweight user terminals cannot coexist.

[0042] For the mobile terminal downlink (Mobile Terminated, abbreviated as: MT) communication processing based on the core network (Core Network, abbreviated as: CN), it specifically includes: allowing the core network to apply high-latency communication functions, that is, when the user terminal uses the energy-saving function when the connection management is in a connected state or an RRC deactivated state, or the user terminal UE is using a satellite access with non-continuous coverage and the user terminal UE is unreachable, by extending the downlink data cache in the user plane function entity (User Plane Function, abbreviated as: UPF), the user plane function entity (Session Management Function, abbreviated as: SMF) or the network capability opening function entity (Network Exposure Function, abbreviated as: NEF) to support high-latency communication.

[0043] In addition, there is an incompatibility problem between MT communication processing and small data transmission, especially when a lightweight user terminal starts an extended discontinuous reception cycle (eDRX) mechanism.

[0044] In view of this, it is necessary to propose a dedicated solution for the connection recovery process for lightweight user terminals in a deactivated state in the case of small data transmission.

[0045] The technical concept of the present application is to determine whether to perform lightweight user terminal state switching by adding service type judgment, and report the eDRX cycle for lightweight user terminals that start the eDRX mechanism, so that the network side can perform MT communication processing normally.

[0046] It should be noted here that the solutions involved in the various embodiments described below can be explained in combination with each other.

[0047] Embodiment 1

[0048] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication network system provided in some embodiments of the present application, such as Figure 1 As shown, some embodiments of the present application provide a communication network system, including a 5G base station and a 5G core network. The 5G base station and the 5G core network are connected in communication. The 5G base station and the user terminal are connected in communication.

[0049] The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station. The RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier. The 5G base station extracts the RRC recovery identifier from the RRC recovery message and obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the RRC recovery identifier. The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state. Signaling interaction between the 5G base station and the 5G core network. When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the 5G base station keeps the RRC of the user terminal UE in a deactivated state.

[0050] More specifically, when the RRC of the user terminal is in a deactivated state, an RRC recovery message is initiated. The user terminal provides an RRC recovery identifier to the 5G base station, and the 5G base station responds to the RRC recovery message, extracts the RRC recovery identifier from the RRC recovery message, and the 5G base station performs user terminal context acquisition (UE context Retrival) based on the recovery identifier. When the local 5G base station to which the user terminal attempting to restore its connection is connected is unavailable, the 5G base station performs the user terminal context acquisition process.

[0051] The 5G base station communicates with the user terminal that needs to restore the connection based on the context information of the user terminal, and determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to put the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection configures an eDRX cycle. That is, it determines whether the user terminal that restores the connection needs to enter small data transmission. If it is not necessary to enter small data transmission, the 5G base station determines that the RRC of the user terminal should be switched from the deactivated state to the connected state. If it is necessary to enter small data transmission, the 5G base station determines that the RRC of the user terminal remains in an inactivated state.

[0052] Then, the 5G base station and the 5G core network interact with each other in signaling. More specifically, the N2 interface path switching can be performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, and the N2 interface notification can also be sent between the 5G base station and the 5G core network. When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the 5G base station keeps the RRC of the user terminal UE in a deactivated state.

[0053] When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle and the eDRX cycle is greater than a preset threshold, the 5G base station sends an N2 message to the AMF, and the N2 message includes the eDRX cycle, so that the 5G core network can perform MT communication processing.

[0054] In the above technical solution, when the RRC of the user terminal is in a deactivated state, an RRC recovery message is initiated, the 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier, the 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, and the 5G base station interacts with the 5G core network through signaling. After that, when it is determined that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal UE is kept in a deactivated state. In this way, the connection recovery of the lightweight user terminal and the compatibility of small data transmission are achieved. The 5G base station determines that the user terminal configures the eDRX cycle and reports the eDRX cycle so that the 5G core network can perform MT communication processing, so that MT communication processing can continue when the eDRX mechanism is started.

[0055] Embodiment 2

[0056] Some embodiments of the present application provide a communication network system, including a 5G base station and a 5G core network, wherein the 5G base station and the 5G core network are connected in communication, and the 5G base station and a user terminal are connected in communication.

[0057] The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station. The RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier. The 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier. The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to put the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle.

[0058] If the connection recovery process is a response of the 5G core network to the RAN paging triggered by the N2 interface process, the 5G base station treats the N2 interface process as a conflict. In addition, the 5G core network also treats the N2 interface process as a conflict, and then the process ends.

[0059] If the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network, that is, the Xn-based 5G base station inter-base station switching process, including Xn data forwarding.

[0060] After the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network, the 5G base station receives the N2 interface notification request sent by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) in the 5G core network. Among them, the N2 interface notification request is used to obtain the RRC state change notification. The 5G base station sends an N2 notification to the AMF in the 5G core network. Among them, it indicates that the RRC of the user terminal is in a connected state.

[0061] When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection does not need to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal UE is restored to the connected state.

[0062] In the above technical solution, if the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface. If the connection recovery process is a response of the RAN paging triggered by the N2 interface process of the 5G core network, the 5G base station and the 5G core network will treat the N2 interface process as a conflict, thereby adapting to the N2 interface path switching in different situations.

[0063] Embodiment 3

[0064] Some embodiments of the present application provide a communication network system, including a 5G base station and a 5G core network, wherein the 5G base station and the 5G core network are connected in communication, and the 5G base station and a user terminal are connected in communication.

[0065] The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station. The RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier. The 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier. The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to put the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle.

[0066] If the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network.

[0067] Among them, if the MT communication processing process based on CN is performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network before the user terminal restores the connection, the 5G base station sends an MT communication processing request of the N2 interface to the AMF, indicating that the user terminal can currently access downlink data and / or signaling. The AMF in the 5G core network sends an MT communication processing response of the N2 interface to the 5G base station.

[0068] After the 5G base station sends an MT communication processing request for the N2 interface to the AMF, the AMF requests data caching. The AMF in the 5G core network sends a PDU session update SM context (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext) request to the SMF in the 5G core network. Instructs the downlink data of each PDU session with an activated user plane to be sent. If the data cache is processed in the UPF, the SMF in the 5G core network goes through the N4 session modification process and updates the UPF using applicable rules to trigger data sending. The SMF in the 5G core network sends a PDU session update SM context response to the AMF in the 5G core network. The AMF in the 5G core network then sends an MT communication processing response for the N2 interface to the 5G base station.

[0069] In some embodiments, after the AMF in the 5G core network sends the MT communication processing response of the N2 interface to the 5G base station, the 5G base station maintains the RRC of the user terminal in a deactivated state when it determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state.

[0070] In some embodiments, after the AMF in the 5G core network sends the MT communication processing response of the N2 interface to the 5G base station, the 5G base station determines that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle, and the eDRX cycle is greater than a preset threshold, the 5G base station sends an N2 message to the AMF, and the N2 message includes the eDRX cycle.

[0071] More specifically, if the user terminal UE is configured with an eDRX cycle, the eDRX cycle is the period during which the RRC remains in a deactivated state, and the eDRX cycle is greater than 10.24s, the 5G base station can send an N2 message to the AMF to provide the eDRX cycle value when the RRC is in a deactivated state so that the 5G core network can perform MT communication processing.

[0072] In some embodiments, when the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, after keeping the RRC of the user terminal in the deactivated state, the 5G base station initiates a core network-based MT communication processing process when receiving a message sent by the user terminal.

[0073] In some embodiments, when the 5G base station determines that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle and the eDRX cycle is greater than a preset threshold, after the 5G base station sends an N2 message to the AMF, the 5G base station initiates a core network-based MT communication processing process when receiving the message sent by the user terminal.

[0074] Among them, when the 5G base station receives a message sent by the user terminal, that is, the 5G base station receives a DL NAS message, and the user UE is in a deactivated state, the deactivated state is configured with an eDRX cycle, and is considered unreachable, the 5G base station indicates to the AMF that the NAS information has not been sent, and then initiates MT communication processing based on the core network.

[0075] In the above technical solution, when the RRC of the user terminal is in a deactivated state, an RRC recovery message is initiated, and the 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier. The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state. After determining that MT communication processing has been performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, the 5G base station initiates an MT communication processing request to the 5G core network, and then determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state. In this way, MT communication processing is compatible with small data transmission. After determining that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle, the 5G base station sends an eDRX cycle to the 5G core network so that the 5G core network can perform MT communication processing, and MT communication processing can continue when the eDRX mechanism is started.

[0076] Embodiment 4

[0077] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a connection method provided in some embodiments of the present application, such as Figure 2 As shown, some embodiments of the present application provide a connection method, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0078] S101. The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station.

[0079] The RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier.

[0080] More specifically, when the RRC of the user terminal is in a deactivated state, an RRC recovery message is initiated. The user terminal provides an RRC recovery identifier to the 5G base station, and the 5G base station accesses the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier.

[0081] S102. The 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier.

[0082] Among them, the 5G base station responds to the RRC recovery message, extracts the RRC recovery identifier from the RRC recovery message, and the 5G base station performs user terminal context acquisition (UE context Retrival) based on the recovery identifier.

[0083] Among them, when the local 5G base station accessed by the user terminal attempting to restore its connection is unavailable, the 5G base station performs a user terminal context acquisition process.

[0084] S103. The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle.

[0085] The 5G base station communicates with the user terminal that needs to restore the connection based on the context information of the user terminal, and determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to deactivate the RRC. In other words, it determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to enter small data transmission.

[0086] If it is not necessary to enter small data transmission, the 5G base station determines that the RRC of the user terminal should be switched from a deactivated state to a connected state. If it is necessary to enter small data transmission, the 5G base station determines that the RRC of the user terminal remains in an inactivated state.

[0087] S104, signaling interaction between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, jump to S104 or S105.

[0088] Among them, N2 interface path switching can be performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, and N2 interface notifications can also be sent between the 5G base station and the 5G core network.

[0089] S105. When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the 5G base station maintains the RRC of the user terminal in a deactivated state.

[0090] S106. When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle and the eDRX cycle is greater than a preset threshold, the 5G base station sends an N2 message to the AMF, where the N2 message includes the eDRX cycle.

[0091] This allows the 5G core network to perform MT communication processing.

[0092] In the above technical solution, when the RRC of the user terminal is in a deactivated state, an RRC recovery message is initiated, the 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier, the 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, and the 5G base station and the 5G core network interact with each other through signaling. After that, when it is determined that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal UE is kept in a deactivated state. In this way, MT communication processing is compatible with small data transmission. After determining that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle, the 5G base station sends the eDRX cycle to the 5G core network so that the 5G core network can perform MT communication processing, and MT communication processing can continue when the eDRX mechanism is started.

[0093] Embodiment 5

[0094] Figure 3 Schematic diagrams of connection methods provided in other embodiments of the present application, such as Figure 3 As shown, some embodiments of the present application provide a connection method, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0095] S201. The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station.

[0096] The RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier.

[0097] S202. The 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier.

[0098] S203. The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to put the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle.

[0099] S204a. If the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network, and then jumps to S105.

[0100] That is, the Xn-based 5G base station switching process includes Xn data forwarding.

[0101] S204b, if the connection recovery process is a response of the 5G core network to the RAN paging triggered by the N2 interface process, the 5G base station treats the N2 interface process as a conflict. In addition, the 5G core network also treats the N2 interface process as a conflict, and then the process ends.

[0102] S205. The 5G base station receives the N2 interface notification request sent by the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) in the 5G core network.

[0103] The N2 interface notification request is used to obtain the RRC state change notification.

[0104] S206. The 5G base station sends an N2 interface notification to the AMF in the 5G core network.

[0105] The N2 interface notification indicates that the RRC of the user terminal is in a connected state.

[0106] S207. When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection does not need to maintain the RRC in the deactivated state, the 5G base station restores the RRC of the user terminal to the connected state.

[0107] In the above technical solution, if the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface. If the connection recovery process is a response of the RAN paging triggered by the N2 interface process of the 5G core network, the 5G base station and the 5G core network will treat the N2 interface process as a conflict, thereby adapting to the N2 interface path switching in different situations.

[0108] Embodiment 6

[0109] Figure 4 Schematic diagrams of connection methods provided in other embodiments of the present application, such as Figure 4 As shown, some embodiments of the present application provide a connection method, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0110] S301. The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station.

[0111] The RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier.

[0112] More specifically, when the RRC of the user terminal is in a deactivated state, an RRC recovery message is initiated. The user terminal provides a recovery identifier to the 5G base station, and the 5G base station accesses the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier.

[0113] S302. The 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier.

[0114] Among them, the 5G base station responds to the RRC recovery message, extracts the recovery identifier from the RRC recovery message, and the 5G base station performs user terminal context acquisition (UE context Retrival) based on the recovery identifier.

[0115] Among them, when the user terminal context information associated with the user terminal attempting to restore its connection is not available locally at the 5G base station to which the user terminal is connected, the 5G base station performs a user terminal context acquisition process and executes a terminal context acquisition (UE context Retrival) operation.

[0116] S303. The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to deactivate the RRC or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle.

[0117] The 5G base station communicates with the user terminal that needs to restore the connection based on the context information of the user terminal, and determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to deactivate the RRC. In other words, it determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to enter small data transmission.

[0118] If small data transmission is not required, the 5G base station determines that the RRC of the user terminal should be switched from a deactivated state to a connected state. If small data transmission is required, the 5G base station determines that the RRC of the user terminal remains in a connected state.

[0119] S304. If the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network.

[0120] S305. The 5G base station sends an MT communication processing request for the N2 interface to the AMF in the 5G core network.

[0121] Among them, if the CN-based MT communication processing process is performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network before the user terminal restores the connection, the 5G base station sends an MT communication processing request of the N2 interface to the AMF, indicating that the user terminal can currently access downlink data and / or signaling.

[0122] S306. The AMF in the 5G core network sends a PDU session update SM context request to the SMF in the 5G core network.

[0123] Among them, when the 5G base station and the 5G core network perform the CN-based MT communication processing, the AMF requests data caching. The AMF sends a PDU session update SM context (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext) request to the SMF, indicating the downlink data of each PDU session with an activated user plane to be sent.

[0124] S307. If the data cache is processed in the UPF, the SMF in the 5G core network modifies the process through the N4 session and updates the UPF using applicable rules to trigger data delivery.

[0125] S308. The SMF in the 5G core network sends a PDU session update SM context response to the AMF in the 5G core network.

[0126] S309. The AMF in the 5G core network sends the MT communication processing response of the N2 interface to the 5G base station and jumps to S310 or S311.

[0127] S310. When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal is kept in the deactivated state and jumps to S312.

[0128] S311. When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle and the eDRX cycle is greater than a preset threshold, the 5G base station sends an N2 message to the AMF, the N2 message includes the eDRX cycle, and jumps to S312.

[0129] Among them, if the user terminal UE is configured with an eDRX cycle, the eDRX cycle is the period in which the RRC remains in a deactivated state, and the eDRX cycle is greater than 10.24s, the 5G base station can send an N2 message to the AMF to provide the eDRX cycle value in which the RRC is in a deactivated state so that the 5G core network can perform MT communication processing.

[0130] S312. When the 5G base station receives a message sent by the user terminal, it initiates the MT communication processing process based on the core network.

[0131] Among them, when the 5G base station receives a message sent by the user terminal, that is, the 5G base station receives a DL NAS message, and the user UE is in a deactivated state, the deactivated state is configured with an eDRX cycle, and is considered unreachable, the 5G base station indicates to the AMF that the NAS information has not been sent, and then initiates MT communication processing based on the core network.

[0132] In the above technical solution, when the RRC of the user terminal is in a deactivated state, an RRC recovery message is initiated, and the 5G base station obtains the context information of the user terminal based on the recovery identifier. The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state. After determining that MT communication processing has been performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, the 5G base station initiates an MT communication processing request to the 5G core network, and then when it is determined that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal UE is maintained in a deactivated state. In this way, the compatibility of MT communication processing and small data transmission is achieved. After determining that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle, the 5G base station sends the eDRX cycle to the 5G core network so that the 5G core network can perform MT communication processing, so that MT communication processing can continue when the eDRX mechanism is started.

[0133] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which computer instructions are stored. When a processor executes the computer instructions, each step of the method in the above embodiment is implemented.

[0134] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, including computer instructions, which implement the various steps of the method in the above embodiment when executed by a processor.

[0135] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments of the present application after considering the specification and practicing the invention disclosed herein. The present application is intended to cover any modification, use or adaptation of the present application, which follows the general principles of the present application and includes common knowledge or customary techniques in the art that are not disclosed in the present application. The specification and examples are intended to be exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the present application are indicated by the following claims.

[0136] It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the precise structures that have been described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication network system, characterized in that: Including 5G base stations and 5G core network; The 5G base station is connected to the 5G core network through communication; the 5G base station is connected to the user terminal through communication; The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station, wherein the RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier; the 5G base station extracts the RRC recovery identifier from the RRC recovery message, and obtains context information of the user terminal based on the RRC recovery identifier; The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle; then the 5G base station performs signaling interaction with the 5G core network; then the 5G base station maintains the RRC of the user terminal in a deactivated state when determining that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state.

2. The communication network system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Then, the 5G base station and the 5G core network perform signaling interaction, which specifically includes: If the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates a path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network; Then, the 5G base station receives an N2 interface notification request sent by an access and mobility management function entity in the 5G core network; the 5G base station sends an N2 notification to the AMF in the 5G core network; wherein the N2 notification is used to indicate that the RRC of the user terminal is in a connected state; Accordingly, when the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection does not need to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, it restores the RRC of the user terminal to a connected state.

3. The communication network system according to claim 2, characterized in that: Then, the 5G base station and the 5G core network perform signaling interaction, which specifically includes: If the connection recovery process is a response of the 5G core network to RAN paging triggered by the N2 interface process, the 5G base station and the 5G core network will treat the N2 interface process as a conflict.

4. The communication network system according to claim 2, characterized in that: After the accessed 5G base station initiates the path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network, the 5G base station sends an MT communication processing request of the N2 interface to the AMF in the 5G core network; the AMF in the 5G core network sends an MT communication processing response of the N2 interface to the 5G base station.

5. The communication network system according to claim 4, characterized in that: After signaling interaction is performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, when the 5G base station determines that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle and the eDRX cycle is greater than a preset threshold, the 5G base station sends an N2 message to the AMF, where the N2 message includes the eDRX cycle.

6. A connection method, characterized in that: The method is applied to a 5G base station, and the method comprises: The user terminal sends an RRC recovery message to the 5G base station, wherein the RRC recovery message includes an RRC recovery identifier; The 5G base station extracts the RRC recovery identifier from the RRC recovery message, and obtains context information of the user terminal based on the RRC recovery identifier; The 5G base station determines whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state or whether the user terminal that needs to restore the connection is configured with an eDRX cycle; The 5G base station performs signaling interaction with the 5G core network; when it is determined that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection needs to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal is maintained in a deactivated state.

7. The connection method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The signaling interaction between the 5G base station and the 5G core network specifically includes: If the accessed 5G base station can obtain the context information of the user terminal, the accessed 5G base station initiates a path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network; The 5G base station receives an N2 interface notification request sent by an access and mobility management function entity in the 5G core network; The 5G base station sends an N2 notification to the AMF in the 5G core network; wherein the N2 notification is used to indicate that the RRC of the user terminal is in a connected state; Accordingly, the method further comprises: When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal that needs to restore the connection does not need to maintain the RRC in a deactivated state, the RRC of the user terminal is restored to a connected state.

8. The connection method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The signaling interaction between the 5G base station and the 5G core network specifically includes: If the connection recovery process is a response of the 5G core network to RAN paging triggered by the N2 interface process, the 5G base station and the 5G core network will treat the N2 interface process as a conflict.

9. The connection method according to claim 7, characterized in that: After the accessed 5G base station initiates a path switching process of the N2 interface to the 5G core network, the method further includes: The 5G base station sends an MT communication processing request for the N2 interface to the AMF in the 5G core network; the AMF in the 5G core network sends an MT communication processing response for the N2 interface to the 5G base station; When the 5G base station determines that the user terminal is configured with an eDRX cycle and the eDRX cycle is greater than a preset threshold, the 5G base station sends an N2 message to the AMF, and the N2 message includes the eDRX cycle.

10. The connection method according to claim 9, characterized in that: After signaling interaction is performed between the 5G base station and the 5G core network, the method further includes: When the 5G base station receives a message sent by the user terminal, it initiates a core network-based MT communication processing process to the 5G core network.

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