Method and device for switching between base stations based on super cell, and network equipment

Abstract

The invention provides an inter-base-station switching method and device based on a super cell and network equipment, and relates to the technical field of communication. The method comprises the following steps: a gateway receives a first switching request message sent by a core network, and determines a small base station matched with a super cell identifier in the first switching request message; and after a first switching completion message sent by a target small base station in the small base stations is received, replacing a first real cell identifier, carried in the first switching completion message, of a cell where user equipment under the target small base station is located with a super cell identifier, and sending a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network. The scheme provided by the invention can ensure that the cell identifier reported to the core network is matched with the macro base station identifier of the neighbor cell corresponding to the super cell when the switching is completed, thereby avoiding the core network from misjudging that the switching is failed, and solving the problem that the switching between the base stations is failed due to the fact that the small base stations in the super cell possibly belong to different gateways.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a method, apparatus, and network equipment for inter-base station handover based on a super cell. Background Art

[0002] Inter-base station handover refers to the process by which a user device (such as a mobile phone) switches from one base station (a device that transmits and receives radio signals) to another while on the move. When a user device moves to a base station, that base station provides service to the user device.

[0003] Macro base stations are high-power base stations that provide wide-area coverage and connect to the operator's core network via dedicated lines. Small base stations (also known as micro base stations) provide coverage for homes, small businesses, and small outdoor areas within the operator's network, addressing weak coverage challenges and complementing macro base stations. They typically connect to the operator's core network through a gateway. When a user device moves from the coverage area of a macro base station into the coverage area of a small base station, and the signal strength detected by the user device from the small base station is stronger than that of the macro base station or other strategies are in place, the user device must switch to the small base station to provide better mobile network service.

[0004] To enable user equipment handover from a macro base station to a small base station, the small base station's cell must be added as a neighboring cell on the macro base station. However, in scenarios where a large number of small base stations are deployed, the number of small base stations is enormous and their locations are difficult to determine. The macro base station's neighbor list is limited, making it difficult to configure a large amount of small base station neighbor information for each macro base station. To address this, in related technologies, operators can group multiple small base stations together, sharing the same cell ID to form a super cell. During the handover process, the super cell composed of small base stations can be located based on the neighboring cell information. Since the small base stations in a super cell may belong to different gateways on the gateway side (which can be considered macro base stations), the actual cell ID carried by small base stations under gateways other than the super cell may not match the gateway ID of the super cell (i.e., the neighboring macro base station ID), potentially leading to core network rejection and handover failure. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a super cell-based inter-base station handover method, apparatus, and network device to solve the problem of inter-base station handover failure caused by small base stations in a super cell possibly belonging to different gateways on the gateway side.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a super cell-based inter-base station handover method, which is applied to a gateway. The super cell-based inter-base station handover method includes: Determining a small base station that matches the super cell identifier; wherein the super cell identifier is obtained by the gateway from a first handover request message received from the core network; After receiving the first switching completion message sent by the target small base station in the small base station, the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located, carried in the first switching completion message, is replaced with the super cell identifier, and a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier is sent to the core network; wherein, the target small base station is the base station in the small base station that receives the switching confirmation message sent by the user equipment.

[0007] In a second aspect, the present application provides a super cell-based inter-base station handover method, which is applied to a small base station within the super cell; the super cell-based inter-base station handover method includes: Receive a second handover request message sent by the gateway, where the second handover request message is used to request handover of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the small base station of the super cell; Sending a first handover request reply message to the gateway, so that the gateway sends a second handover request reply message to the core network; the second handover request reply message is used to enable the core network to send a handover command to the user equipment through the source macro base station; A first switching completion message is sent to the gateway through the target small base station, so that the gateway replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first switching completion message with the super cell identifier, and sends a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network; wherein the target small base station is the base station in the small base station that receives the switching confirmation message sent by the user equipment based on the switching command.

[0008] In a third aspect, the present application provides a base station switching device based on a super cell, including a first switching device or a second switching device; The first switching device is used to execute the steps of the inter-base station switching method based on a super cell as described in the first aspect; the second switching device is used to execute the steps of the inter-base station switching method based on a super cell as described in the second aspect.

[0009] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a network device comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and when the processor executes the computer program, it implements the steps of the inter-base station switching method based on the super cell as described in the first aspect above, or implements the steps of the inter-base station switching method based on the super cell as described in the second aspect above.

[0010] The present application provides a method, apparatus, and network device for inter-base station handover based on a super cell. After the gateway receives a first handover request message sent by the core network, it determines a small base station that matches the super cell identifier carried in the first handover request message. When a target small base station in the super cell receives a handover confirmation message sent by the user equipment, the target small base station can send a first handover completion message to the gateway. After the gateway receives the first handover completion message, it replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located, which is carried in the first handover completion message, with the super cell identifier, and sends a second handover completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network to complete the handover between base stations. In this way, by replacing the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located with the super cell identifier on the gateway side, it can ensure that the cell identifier reported to the core network when the handover is completed matches the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, thereby avoiding the core network from misjudging the base station handover as a failure and ensuring the successful handover of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the target small base station. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the network deployment structure of a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 This is a flow chart of a method for handover between base stations based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 This is a second flow chart of the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 This is a third flow chart of the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 4 is a flow chart of the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 6 Flowchart 5 of the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a structure of a base station switching device based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 8 This is a second structural diagram of a base station switching device based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c alone can mean: a alone, b alone, c alone, a and b combined, a and c combined, b and c combined, or a, b, and c combined. A, b, and c can be single or plural. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0013] The terms "connected" and "connect" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connected" or "connected" in a circuit structure can refer not only to a physical connection, but also to an electrical connection or a signal connection. For example, it can be a direct connection, i.e., a physical connection, or an indirect connection through at least one intermediate component, as long as the circuit is interconnected. It can also refer to internal connectivity between two components. Signal connection can refer not only to signal connection through circuits but also to signal connection through media, such as radio waves. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application on a case-by-case basis.

[0014] Base stations, also known as radio signal transmitters and receivers, are wireless access devices that allow user devices to access the internet. Base stations can be categorized as macro base stations and small base stations based on their coverage range and transmit power. Macro base stations have a coverage range of several kilometers to tens of kilometers, with transmit power exceeding 10 watts, and up to several hundred watts. These base stations provide wide network coverage and high transmit power, and can connect to the operator's core network via dedicated lines. Small base stations typically have a coverage radius of less than 1 kilometer, with transmit power ranging from 100 milliwatts to 10 watts. These base stations offer smaller coverage and transmit power, and are used for blind spot and hotspot coverage, as well as to provide users with relatively accurate location information. They can connect to a gateway via home broadband or the Internet Protocol (IP). The gateway acts as an aggregation node, further connecting to the operator's core network. This allows the core network to treat the gateway as a macro base station.

[0015] When a user device moves from the coverage of a macro base station into the coverage of a small base station, the signal strength of the small base station detected by the user device may be stronger than the signal strength of the macro base station, or based on certain policies, the user device may need to switch to the small base station to provide better mobile network services or positioning services. To enable the user device to switch from a macro base station to a small base station, it is necessary to add the small base station's cell as a neighboring cell on the macro base station. However, in scenarios where small base stations are deployed in large numbers, the number of small base stations is huge and their locations are difficult to determine, while the macro base station's neighbor cell list is limited, making it difficult to configure a large amount of small base station neighbor cell information for each macro base station. Therefore, the macro base station does not consider small base stations as neighboring cells, which makes it impossible for users to seamlessly switch from the macro base station to the small base station.

[0016] In view of this, in related technologies, operators can group multiple small base stations into a group, share the same cell identifier, and form a super cell. The super cell can be used as a virtual neighbor of the macro base station. The cell identifier can be, for example, the cell identity (ID).

[0017] Due to the flexible deployment of small base stations, small base stations are grouped together and share a cell ID. There are two situations: (1) The number of cells that a small base station is responsible for is less than or equal to the number of cells that can be carried by the base station ID of the neighboring macro base station. For example, in the fourth generation (4G) mobile communication network, the base station ID of a macro base station is 20 bits, while the cell ID of the actual cell corresponding to the macro base station is 28 bits. In this way, the extra 8 bits of the cell ID compared to the base station ID can be used to represent the number of cells that can be carried under the base station ID of this macro base station, which is 2. 8 One small base station can support one or more cells. When the small base station supports only one cell, the small base station ID and the cell ID can be the same.

[0018] (2) The number of cells that the small base station is responsible for is greater than the number of cells that can be carried by the base station ID of the neighboring macro base station.

[0019] For the above situation (1), in the super cell represented by the base station ID of the neighboring macro base station, the small base station can use the base station ID as a component of its base station ID and the ID of the cell it supports. For the above situation (2), in the super cell represented by the base station ID of the neighboring macro base station, some small base stations will not have the base station ID of the neighboring macro base station as a component of their base station ID and the ID of the cell it supports.

[0020] For example, Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the network deployment structure of a super cell is shown. Figure 1As shown, m small base stations can be connected to the core network through the first gateway, and n small base stations can be connected to the core network through the second gateway, where m and n are positive integers. The core network can regard the first gateway and the second gateway as macro base stations, respectively, and allocate two macro base station IDs to the gateway side, with one macro base station ID configured for the first gateway and the other macro base station ID assigned to the second gateway. In this case, the m small base stations belonging to the first gateway and the n or some of the n small base stations belonging to the second gateway can be grouped together and share the same cell ID to form a super cell. Assuming that the first gateway is a neighboring macro base station of the source macro base station, a cell ID corresponding to the first gateway can be used as the cell ID of the super cell, or a dedicated ID can be set as the cell ID of the super cell. The small base stations forming the group can be virtualized as small base stations under the first gateway, the first gateway can be defined as a super cell gateway, and the second gateway as a non-super cell gateway. For the first gateway, its corresponding macro base station ID can be used as a component of both the super cell and the real cell. For the second gateway, its corresponding macro base station ID is only used for the real cell. The macro base station ID of the first gateway matches the cell ID of the super cell, for example, the first 20 bits of the ID are the same.

[0021] When a user device moves from a source macro base station toward a small base station, when it enters the coverage area of a small base station in a super cell, the user device can be handed over from the source macro base station to the small base station to ensure better mobile network services or other needs, such as positioning.

[0022] For switching between macro base stations, if there is an interface between the macro base stations, direct switching can be performed based on the interface, such as X2 switching in 4G mobile communication technology and Xn switching in the fifth generation (5G) mobile communication technology; if there is no interface between the macro base stations, switching can be performed through the core network, such as S1 switching in 4G and NG switching in 5G.

[0023] The connection between the macro base station and the core network can be in the following two ways: Method 1: Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) connection on the S1 interface or NG interface. In this method, each macro base station establishes an SCTP link with the core network, carrying multiple logical connections of the S1 Application Protocol (S1AP) or Next Generation Application Protocol (NGAP).

[0024] Method 2: Application layer connection of S1 interface or NG interface. In this method, a logical connection is established for each user device, that is, one SCTP connection can carry multiple S1AP or NGAP logical connections.

[0025] User equipment in the same macro base station and the same core network uses the same SCTP and the same user equipment-specific S1AP or NGAP connection; user equipment in different macro base stations or different core networks needs to use different SCTP and different user equipment-specific S1AP or NGAP connections.

[0026] When a user device switches from a source macro base station to a small base station, the gateway cannot distinguish which small base station to switch to due to the use of the super cell concept and the large number of small base stations contained within the super cell. On the other hand, assuming that the corresponding target small base station, that is, the small base station to which the user device switches, can be found by some means, the following two situations may occur: (1) When the cell ID of the target small base station matches that of the super cell, that is, when the base station ID of the target small base station is the same as the first M (M is a positive integer) bits of the cell ID of the super cell, when the handover is completed, the gateway reports the global cell identity (CGI) of the target small base station to the core network. The reporting is divided into two cases: ① Report the super cell CGI. In this case, the core network cannot find the small base station where the user equipment is located when calling (Paging); ② Report the actual cell CGI of the target small cell. At this time, because it does not match the neighboring macro cell ID corresponding to the previously reported super cell, the core network may determine that the handover has failed.

[0027] (2) When the cell IDs of the target small base station do not match those of the super cell, that is, when the target small base station belongs to a non-super cell gateway (which can be regarded as a macro base station), the SCTP link used by the gateway to which the target small base station belongs and the SCTP link used by the neighboring macro base station based on which the super cell is located are two different links. In this way, when the handover is completed, when the gateway reports the CGI of the target small base station to the core network, the report is divided into two cases: ① Report the super cell CGI. In this case, the core network cannot find the small base station where the user equipment is located when calling (Paging); ② Report the real cell CGI of the target small base station. At this time, since they are two different links, the handover will fail.

[0028] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell. Under the premise of a super cell, on the one hand, when a small base station in the super cell receives a handover confirmation message sent by a user equipment, the small base station is determined as a target small base station. The gateway receives a first handover completion message sent by the target small base station, and replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment is located carried in the first handover completion message with the super cell identifier, and sends a second handover completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network. In this way, it can be ensured that the cell identifier reported to the core network when the handover is completed matches the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, avoiding the core network from mistakenly judging that the base station handover has failed. On the other hand, after sending the second handover completion message to the core network, a path switching request message carrying the first real cell identifier is sent to the core network through the target home gateway to which the target small base station in the gateway belongs, and the target home gateway's own link is used to report the real cell identifier of the user equipment to the core network, so that the core network can know the real cell and real small base station to which the user equipment is switched, thereby achieving accurate positioning of the user equipment.

[0029] The following combination Figures 2 to 6 The inter-base station handover method based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application is described in detail.

[0030] Figure 2 One of the flow diagrams of the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown. The inter-base station handover method based on a super cell can be applied to a gateway, which can be a combination of multiple gateways, for example, including Figure 1 The first gateway and the second gateway are shown. Figure 2 As shown, the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell may include the following steps 210 to 220.

[0031] Step 210: Determine a small base station that matches the super cell identifier.

[0032] The super cell identifier is obtained by the gateway from a first handover request message received from the core network.

[0033] Specifically, the source macro base station can receive a measurement report sent by the user equipment and, when determining that the handover conditions are met based on the measurement report, send a handover request message to the core network. After receiving the handover request message, the core network carries the super cell identifier in the handover request message in a first handover request message and sends it to the gateway. After receiving the first handover request message, the gateway obtains the super cell identifier from the first handover request message and determines a small base station that matches the super cell identifier.

[0034] Step 220: After receiving the first switching completion message sent by the target small base station in the small base station, the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first switching completion message is replaced with the super cell identifier, and a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier is sent to the core network.

[0035] The target small base station is the base station among the small base stations that receives the handover confirmation message sent by the user equipment.

[0036] The user equipment will successfully switch to one of the small base stations. When a small base station receives the handover confirmation message sent by the user equipment, it confirms that the user equipment has switched to the small base station. The small base station is the target small base station. At this time, the target small base station sends a first handover completion message to the gateway. The first handover completion message carries the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located. After receiving the first handover completion message, the gateway replaces the first real cell identifier carried in the first handover completion message with the super cell identifier, and carries the super cell identifier in the second handover completion message, which is sent to the core network through the super cell gateway in the gateway. In this way, it can be ensured that the cell identifier reported to the core network when the handover is completed matches the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, avoiding the core network from mistakenly judging that the base station handover has failed.

[0037] Specifically, the small base station matching the super cell identifier may belong to different gateways in the gateway, for example Figure 1 As shown, some small base stations belong to the super cell gateway (first gateway), and some small base stations belong to the non-super cell gateway (second gateway). If the target small base station belongs to the non-super cell gateway, the first real cell identifier carried in the first handover complete message does not match the gateway identifier of the super cell gateway, which can easily lead to rejection by the core network.

[0038] Based on this, in one embodiment, step 220 replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first handover completion message with the super cell identifier, and sends the second handover completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network, which may include: When the target home gateway to which the target small base station belongs is not a super cell gateway, the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first switching completion message is replaced with the super cell identifier, and the second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier is sent to the core network through the super cell gateway.

[0039] In this way, for the target small base station under the non-super cell gateway, by replacing the first real cell identifier carried in the first switching completion message with the super cell identifier, it can ensure that the cell identifier reported to the core network when the switching is completed matches the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, thereby avoiding the core network from mistakenly judging that the base station switching has failed.

[0040] In the case where the target small base station belongs to the super cell gateway, since the first real cell identifier carried by the first switching completion message matches the gateway identifier of the super cell gateway, the core network can receive it smoothly. The gateway side can directly report the first real cell identifier through the super cell gateway, or replace the first real cell identifier with the super cell identifier for reporting.

[0041] Based on this, in one embodiment, the super cell-based inter-base station switching method may also include: when the target belonging gateway to which the target small base station belongs is a super cell gateway, the first real cell identifier or the super cell identifier is carried in the third switching completion message, and the third switching completion message is sent to the core network through the super cell gateway.

[0042] It can be understood that when the third handover complete message carries the hyper cell identifier, it is the same as the second handover complete message carrying the hyper cell identifier.

[0043] In this way, regardless of whether the target small base station belongs to a super cell gateway or a non-super cell gateway, the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located, carried in the first handover completion message, can be replaced with the super cell identifier on the gateway side to ensure that the cell identifier reported to the core network when the handover is completed matches the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, thereby ensuring that the core network can correctly determine that the user equipment has successfully switched between the source macro base station and the target small base station. Alternatively, if the target small base station belongs to a super cell gateway, since the first real cell identifier matches the gateway identifier of the super cell gateway, the first real cell identifier can be directly reported to the core network through the super cell gateway.

[0044] The embodiment of the present application provides a method for handover between base stations based on super cells. After the gateway receives a first handover request message sent by the core network, it determines a small base station that matches the super cell identifier carried in the first handover request message. When a target small base station in the super cell receives a handover confirmation message sent by the user equipment, the target small base station can send a first handover completion message to the gateway. After the gateway receives the first handover completion message, it replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first handover completion message with the super cell identifier, and sends a second handover completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network to complete the handover between base stations. In this way, by replacing the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located with the super cell identifier on the gateway side, it can ensure that the cell identifier reported to the core network when the handover is completed matches the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, thereby avoiding the core network from misjudging the base station handover as a failure and ensuring the successful handover of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the target small base station.

[0045] based on Figure 2 The inter-base station handover method based on the super cell of the corresponding embodiment, Figure 3 The second flow chart of the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. The inter-base station handover method based on the super cell can be applied to a gateway, which can be a combination of multiple gateways, for example, including Figure 1 The first gateway and the second gateway are shown. Figure 3 As shown, the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell may include the following steps 310 to 350.

[0046] Step 310: Determine a small base station that matches the super cell identifier.

[0047] Specifically, step 310 may correspond to the above-mentioned step 210. The specific implementation process may refer to the above-mentioned step 210 and will not be repeated here.

[0048] Step 320: Send a second handover request message to the small base station.

[0049] After the gateway determines the small base station that matches the super cell identifier, it can send a second switching request message to each small base station through the home gateway to which the small base station belongs. The second switching request message can carry the super cell identifier to request that the user equipment be switched from the source macro base station to the small base station of the super cell.

[0050] For example, Figure 1 For example, for small base stations belonging to the first gateway, the first gateway sends a second handover request message to these small base stations. For small base stations belonging to the second gateway, the second gateway sends a second handover request message to these small base stations.

[0051] In an optional embodiment, the second handover request message may include a second real cell identifier corresponding to the small cell. Accordingly, before sending the second handover request message to each small cell, the gateway may replace the super cell identifier with the second real cell identifier corresponding to the small cell.

[0052] Specifically, the gateway may use the second real cell identifier corresponding to the small base station to replace the super cell identifier in the transparent container from the source macro base station to the small base station.

[0053] In this way, the small base station can still operate normally even when it does not know that it belongs to a super cell.

[0054] Step 330: After receiving the first handover request response message sent by the small base station, store user equipment related information of the user equipment.

[0055] After the gateway sends the second handover request message to each small base station through the home gateway to which each small base station belongs, the gateway can receive the first handover request response message sent by the small base station through the home gateway to which each small base station belongs. The first handover request response message carries information created by the small base station for the user equipment.

[0056] For example, Figure 1 For example, for small base stations belonging to the first gateway, the first gateway receives the first handover request response message sent by these small base stations. For small base stations belonging to the second gateway, the second gateway receives the first handover request response message sent by these small base stations.

[0057] After receiving the first handover request response message sent by the small base station, the gateway may create, store and associate user equipment related information of the user equipment.

[0058] For example, the user equipment related information may include: a first identifier assigned by the gateway before sending the second switching request response message, a second identifier carried in the first switching request message, a third identifier carried in the second switching request message, a fourth identifier carried in the first switching request response message, a user plane resource information list carried in the first switching request response message, user equipment security performance information, and user equipment security context information.

[0059] Among them, the first identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when it plays the role of a base station relative to the core network; the second identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the core network and the user equipment; the third identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when it plays the role of a core network relative to the small base station; the fourth identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the small base station and the user equipment.

[0060] Step 340: Send a second handover request response message to the core network, so that the core network sends a handover command to the user equipment through the source macro base station where the user equipment is currently located.

[0061] The second handover request response message may carry the first identifier and the second identifier, and the user equipment related information of the user equipment may be associated with the first identifier and the second identifier.

[0062] After receiving the handover command, the user equipment may send a handover confirmation message to one of the small base stations to confirm handover to the small base station.

[0063] Step 350: After receiving the first switching completion message sent by the target small base station in the small base station, the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first switching completion message is replaced with the super cell identifier, and a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier is sent to the core network.

[0064] Specifically, step 350 may correspond to the above-mentioned step 220. The specific implementation process may refer to the above-mentioned step 220 and will not be repeated here.

[0065] In the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell provided in the embodiments of the present application, the gateway side can store user equipment related information during the handover process to associate the relationship between the core network, the user equipment, and the target small base station, and to associate the user equipment related information, thereby ensuring smooth handover of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the target small base station. Furthermore, the necessary information can be provided for subsequent virtual handover.

[0066] based on Figure 2 or Figure 3 Corresponding to the method of the embodiment, in one embodiment, after the gateway sends the second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network, the super cell-based inter-base station switching method may further include: sending a path switching request message to the core network through the target home gateway.

[0067] The path switching request message includes the first real cell identifier. The target home gateway is the home gateway to which the target small base station belongs in the gateway. For example, in combination with Figure 1 As shown, assuming that the target small base station is a small base station under the first gateway, the target home gateway is the first gateway; assuming that the target small base station is a small base station under the second gateway, the target home gateway is the second gateway.

[0068] Specifically, after the gateway sends the second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network, it can construct a path switching request message carrying the first real cell identifier, and then send the path switching request message to the core network. In this way, the core network can determine the real cell where the user equipment is located based on the first real cell identifier carried in the path switching request message, so that the core network can distinguish which small base station the user equipment has switched to and the specific cell under the small base station.

[0069] In one embodiment, after the gateway sends a path switching request message to the core network through the target home gateway, it can also perform the following steps: receive a path switching request response message sent by the core network through the target home gateway, and the path switching request response message includes the security context information of the user equipment; send the security context information of the user equipment to the target small base station through the target home gateway, so that the target small base station stores the security context information of the user equipment.

[0070] Specifically, the gateway can receive the path switching request response message sent by the core network through the second SCTP link constructed between the target home gateway and the core network to obtain the security context information of the user equipment, and then send the security context information to the target small base station through the target home gateway. After the target small base station receives the security context information, it stores the security context information and can use it for the next switching.

[0071] In this way, accurate security context information of the user equipment can be obtained during the next handover of the user equipment, thereby ensuring smooth execution of the next handover.

[0072] Based on the same inventive concept, Figure 4 The third flow chart of the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. The inter-base station handover method based on the super cell can be applied to the small base station within the super cell. Figure 4 As shown, the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell may include: Step 410: Receive a second handover request message sent by the gateway.

[0073] The second handover request message is used to request handover of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the small base station of the super cell. The second handover request message may carry the super cell identifier or the second real cell identifier corresponding to the small base station.

[0074] Specifically, the small base stations in the super cell may belong to different gateways, and the small base stations may receive the second handover request message sent by their respective home gateways.

[0075] For example, combined with Figure 1For the small base station belonging to the first gateway, the second switching request message sent by the first gateway is received; for the small base station belonging to the second gateway, the second switching request message sent by the second gateway is received.

[0076] Step 420: Send a first handover request response message to the gateway, so that the gateway sends a second handover request response message to the core network.

[0077] The second handover request response message is used to enable the core network to send a handover command to the user equipment through the source macro base station.

[0078] Specifically, after receiving the second handover request message, the small base station sends a first handover request response message to the home gateway to which it belongs. After receiving the first handover request response message, the gateway can send a second handover request response message to the core network through the super cell gateway. After receiving the second handover request response message, the core network sends a handover command to the user equipment through the source macro base station. After receiving the handover command, the user equipment sends a handover confirmation message to the target small base station among the small base stations to confirm the handover to the target small base station.

[0079] For example, the first handover request response message carries information created by the small cell for the user equipment. After receiving the first handover request response message sent by the small cell, the gateway may create, store, and associate user equipment related information with the user equipment.

[0080] Step 430: Send a first handover completion message to the gateway through the target small base station, so that the gateway replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first handover completion message with the super cell identifier, and sends a second handover completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network.

[0081] The target small base station is a base station among the small base stations that receives a handover confirmation message sent by the user equipment based on the handover command.

[0082] Specifically, the target small base station can send a first handover completion message to the target home gateway in the gateway. The first handover completion message carries the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located. After receiving the first handover completion message, the gateway can replace the first real cell identifier carried therein with the super cell identifier, and carry the super cell identifier in a second handover completion message, which is sent to the core network via the super cell gateway in the gateway. In this way, the cell identifier reported to the core network when the handover is complete can match the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, avoiding the core network from mistakenly judging that the base station handover has failed.

[0083] The inter-base station handover method based on the super cell provided in the embodiment of the present application can receive a second handover request message sent by the gateway for requesting to handover the user equipment from the source macro base station to the small base station of the super cell, and then send a first handover request response message to the gateway, so that the gateway sends a second handover request response message to the core network. After determining the target small base station to which the user equipment is handed over, the first handover completion message is sent to the gateway through the target small base station, so that the gateway replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located with the super cell identifier, and sends the second handover completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network to complete the handover between base stations. In this way, by replacing the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located with the super cell identifier, it can be ensured that the cell identifier reported to the core network when the handover is completed matches the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, thereby avoiding the core network from misjudging the base station handover as a failure, and ensuring the successful handover of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the target small base station.

[0084] based on Figure 4 The inter-base station handover method based on a super cell of the corresponding embodiment, in one embodiment, the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell may further include the following steps 440 to 450 .

[0085] Step 440: The target small cell receives the security context information of the user equipment sent by the target home gateway.

[0086] Specifically, the core network can confirm that the user equipment handover is complete based on the second handover completion message sent by the super cell gateway. At this time, the core network can receive a path switch request message sent by the target home gateway to which the target small base station belongs in the gateway, and return a path switch request response message to the target home gateway. The path switch request response message carries the user equipment's security context information. The target home gateway can forward the security context information to the target small base station for use as security information in the next handover of the user equipment.

[0087] Step 450: The target small base station stores the security context information of the user equipment.

[0088] After receiving the security context information of the user equipment sent by the target home gateway, the target small base station may store the security context information of the user equipment. Optionally, the target small base station may update the security context of the user equipment stored in itself to the received security context information.

[0089] In this way, accurate security context information of the user equipment can be obtained during the next handover of the user equipment, thereby ensuring smooth execution of the next handover.

[0090] Based on the above embodiments of the inter-base station handover method based on super cell, combined with Figure 1 , Figure 5 The fourth flow chart of the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. It takes the example of the user equipment switching from the source macro base station to the target small base station under the second gateway. In this scenario, the super cell and the actual cell to which the user equipment switches belong to different macro base station IDs. Figure 5 As shown, the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell may include the following steps 501 to 517.

[0091] Step 501: The source macro base station sends a handover request message to the core network.

[0092] The source macro base station receives the measurement report sent by the user equipment. When it determines that the switching conditions are met based on the measurement report, it sends a switching request message to the core network. The switching request message carries the super cell gateway ID and the super cell identifier. The super cell gateway ID is also the macro base station ID of the first gateway corresponding to the super cell.

[0093] For example, the super cell identifier may be a CGI identifier, such as CGI_1.

[0094] Step 502: The core network sends a first handover request message to the first gateway.

[0095] After receiving the handover request message sent by the source macro base station, the core network can determine the first gateway corresponding to the super cell based on the super cell gateway ID carried in the handover request message, and then send a first handover request message to the first gateway, which carries the super cell identifier and the second identifier. The second identifier is used to uniquely identify the association between the core network and the user equipment.

[0096] For example, in a 4G network, the second identifier can be expressed as "MME UE S1AP ID 1". In a 5G network, the second identifier can be expressed as "AMF UE NGAP ID 1". The MME UE S1AP ID is a temporary identifier allocated by the mobility management entity (MME) to the user equipment (UE) on the S1 interface, and is mainly used to uniquely identify the logical connection between the UE and the MME in the control plane signaling interaction. The AMF UE NGAP ID is a temporary identifier allocated by the access and mobility management function (AMF) to the user equipment (UE) on the NG interface, and is mainly used to uniquely identify the logical connection between the UE and the AMF in the control plane signaling interaction.

[0097] Step 503: The first gateway determines a small base station that matches the super cell identifier.

[0098] After receiving the first handover request message, the first gateway queries the small base stations matching the super cell identifier carried in the first handover request message, and obtains the real cell identifiers corresponding to these small base stations and the macro base station ID of the home gateway to which they belong.

[0099] For example, the macro base station ID of the home gateway to which the small base station under the first gateway belongs is the macro base station ID of the first gateway, and the macro base station ID of the home gateway to which the small base station under the second gateway belongs is the macro base station ID of the second gateway.

[0100] Step 504: The gateway sends a second handover request message to the small cell.

[0101] After the gateway determines the small base stations that match the super cell identifier through the first gateway, the gateway sends a second handover request message to these small base stations through the home gateways to which these small base stations belong.

[0102] Specifically, for the small base stations among these small base stations that belong to the first gateway, a second handover request message is sent to the small base station through the first gateway. For the small base stations among these small base stations that belong to the second gateway, a second handover request message is sent to the small base station through the second gateway. For example, in this example embodiment, if the target small base station belongs to the second gateway, the gateway sends the second handover request message to the target small base station through the second gateway.

[0103] The second handover request message carries the super cell identifier and a third identifier assigned by the gateway, and the third identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when the gateway plays the role of a core network relative to the small base station.

[0104] For example, in a 4G network, the third identifier may be represented as "MME UE S1AP ID 2". In a 5G network, the third identifier may be represented as "AMF UE NGAP ID 2".

[0105] In an optional embodiment, before sending the second handover request message to the matched small base station, the first gateway may use the second real cell identifier corresponding to the small base station to replace the super cell identifier in the transparent container from the source macro base station to the target small base station.

[0106] Step 505: The small cell sends a first handover request response message to the gateway through the home gateway.

[0107] After receiving the second handover request message, the small cell sends a first handover request response message to the gateway through its respective home gateway. The first handover request response message carries information created by the small cell for the user equipment, which may include: a fourth identifier, a user plane resource information list, a transparent container from the target small cell to the source macro cell, etc.

[0108] Specifically, for the small base stations belonging to the first gateway among these small base stations, the small base stations directly send the first switching request response message to the first gateway. For the small base stations belonging to the second gateway among these small base stations, the small base stations send the first switching request response message to the gateway through the second gateway.

[0109] Among them, the fourth identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the small base station and the user equipment.

[0110] For example, in a 4G network, the fourth identifier can be expressed as "eNB UE S1AP ID 1"; in a 5G network, the fourth identifier can be expressed as "gNB UE NGAP ID 1." The eNB and gNB represent small base stations. Taking the 4G network as an example, the fourth identifier "eNB UE S1AP ID 1" and the third identifier "MME UE S1AP ID 2" together constitute an identifier pair between the small base station and the gateway, which is used to uniquely identify a user equipment session connection on the S1 interface between the small base station and the gateway.

[0111] For example, in a 4G network, the user plane resource information list is a radio access bearer information list (E-RABsAdmitted List), which stores bearer information; in a 5G network, the user plane resource information list is a protocol data unit session resource information list (PDU Session Resource Admitted List), which stores session information.

[0112] Step 506: The gateway stores the user equipment related information of the user equipment.

[0113] Before sending the second handover request response message, the gateway may allocate a first identifier on the gateway side, where the first identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when the gateway plays the role of a base station relative to the core network.

[0114] For example, in a 4G network, the first identifier can be expressed as "eNB UE S1AP ID 2"; in a 5G network, the first identifier can be expressed as "gNB UE NGAP ID 2." Taking the 4G network as an example, the first identifier "eNB UE S1AP ID 2" can form an identifier pair with the second identifier "MME UE S1AP ID 1" between the gateway and the core network, which is used to uniquely identify a user equipment session connection on the S1 interface between the gateway and the core network.

[0115] After the gateway allocates the first identifier, the user equipment-related information of the user equipment can be stored on the gateway side. The user equipment-related information may include: the first identifier allocated by the gateway before sending the second handover request response message (such as eNBUE S1AP ID 2), the second identifier carried in the first handover request message (such as MME UE S1AP ID 1), the third identifier carried in the second handover request message (such as MME UE S1AP ID 2), the fourth identifier carried in the first handover request response message (such as eNB UE S1AP ID 1), the user plane resource information list (such as E-RABs Admitted List) carried in the first handover request response message, the user equipment security performance information (UE Security Capabilities) and the security context information (Security Context) of the user equipment, etc.

[0116] Step 507: The first gateway sends a second handover request response message to the core network.

[0117] Among them, the second switching request response message can carry a first identifier (such as eNB UE S1AP ID 2) and a second identifier (such as MME UE S1AP ID 1), and the first identifier and the second identifier can uniquely associate user equipment related information on the S1 interface between the gateway and the core network.

[0118] Specifically, a first SCTP link may be established between the first gateway and the core network, and the first gateway may send a second handover request response message to the core network through the first SCTP link.

[0119] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the first SCTP link represents the SCTP link between the super cell gateway and the core network.

[0120] Step 508: The core network sends a handover command to the source macro base station.

[0121] After receiving the second handover request response message, the core network sends a handover command to the source macro base station.

[0122] Step 509: The source macro base station sends a handover command to the user equipment.

[0123] After receiving the handover command sent by the core network, the source macro base station sends the handover command to the user equipment.

[0124] Step 510: The user equipment sends a handover confirmation message to the target small base station.

[0125] The user equipment will only switch to one small base station. In this embodiment, the user equipment needs to switch to a target small base station under the second gateway. The user equipment can send a switching confirmation message to the target small base station to switch to the target small base station.

[0126] Step 511: The target small base station sends a first handover completion message to the second gateway.

[0127] The first handover completion message carries a third identifier (such as MME UE S1AP ID 2), a fourth identifier (such as eNB UE S1AP ID 1), and a first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment is located under the target small base station.

[0128] For example, the first real cell identifier may be a CGI identifier, such as CGI_2.

[0129] Step 512: The gateway replaces the first real cell identifier with the super cell identifier.

[0130] After receiving the first handover complete message through the second gateway, the gateway associates the third identifier (e.g., MME UE S1AP ID 2) and the fourth identifier (e.g., eNB UE S1AP ID 1) in the first handover complete message with the user equipment related information stored in step 506, replaces the first real cell identifier in the first handover complete message with the super cell identifier, and generates a second handover complete message carrying the super cell identifier.

[0131] The second handover complete message carries the first identifier (such as eNB UE S1AP ID 2), the second identifier (such as MME UE S1AP ID 1) and the super cell identifier.

[0132] Step 513: The first gateway sends a second handover completion message to the core network.

[0133] Specifically, the first gateway may send a second handover completion message to the core network via the first SCTP link. At this time, the core network confirms that the handover of the user equipment is successful.

[0134] Step 514: The second gateway sends a path switch request message to the core network.

[0135] After the first gateway sends the second switching completion message to the core network, the second gateway can construct a path switching request message carrying the first real cell identifier, and then send the path switching request message to the core network. At this time, the core network can determine the real cell where the user equipment is located based on the first real cell identifier carried in the path switching request message, so that the core network can distinguish which small base station the user equipment has switched to and the specific cell under the small base station.

[0136] Specifically, in the 4G network, the second gateway can allocate the fifth identifier (eNB UE S1AP ID 3), and at the same time obtain the second identifier (MME UE S1AP ID 1), user equipment security performance information (UE Security Capabilities) and user plane bearer (E-RAB) information in the radio access bearer information list (E-RABs Admitted List) from the user equipment association information stored on the gateway side, and then construct a path switching request message carrying this information and the first real cell identifier.

[0137] In the 5G network, the second gateway can allocate the fifth identifier (gNB UE NGAP ID 3), and obtain the second identifier (AMF UE NGAP ID 1), user equipment security performance information (UESecurity Capabilities) and protocol data unit session (PDU Session) information in the protocol data unit session resource information list (PDU Session Resource Admitted List) from the user equipment association information stored on the gateway side, and then construct a path switching request message carrying this information and the first real cell identifier.

[0138] The fifth identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when the gateway plays the role of a base station relative to the core network.

[0139] For example, in a 4G network, the E-RAB information between the gateway and the core network and the E-RAB information between the small cell and the gateway can be the same or different. In a 5G network, the PDU Session information between the gateway and the core network and the PDU Session information between the small cell and the gateway can be the same or different.

[0140] For example, the second gateway may send a path switch request message to the core network through the second SCTP link established between the second gateway and the core network.

[0141] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the second SCTP link may represent an SCTP link between the home gateway and the core network, and may be used to send a path switching request message.

[0142] For example, the second SCTP link may be established in advance, or dynamically established before the second gateway sends the path switch request message to the core network.

[0143] Step 515: The core network sends a path switch request response message to the second gateway.

[0144] The path switch request response message carries the security context information of the user equipment, and the security context information can be used as security information in the next handover of the user equipment.

[0145] Step 516: The second gateway sends the security context information of the user equipment to the target small base station.

[0146] After receiving the path switch request response message, the second gateway may forward the security context information of the user equipment carried in the path switch request response message to the target small base station.

[0147] For example, the second gateway may carry the security context information of the user equipment in the update instruction information and send it to the target small base station. The update instruction information may be a path switch request response message or other customized dedicated message, which is not limited in this application.

[0148] Step 517: The target small base station stores the security context information of the user equipment.

[0149] After receiving the security context information of the user equipment, the target small base station stores the security context information of the user equipment.

[0150] The inter-base station switching method based on the super cell provided in the embodiment of the present application, in a scenario where the super cell and the actual cell to which the user equipment switches belong to different macro base station IDs, on the one hand, after the user equipment confirms the switch to the target small base station belonging to the non-super cell gateway, the gateway side replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment is located under the target small base station carried in the first switching completion message sent by the target small base station with the super cell identifier, generates a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier and sends it to the core network. In this way, by replacing the identifier of the real cell where the user equipment is located with the super cell identifier on the gateway side, it can be ensured that the cell identifier reported to the core network when the switch is completed matches the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, avoiding the core network from misjudging the base station switch as a failure, thereby ensuring the successful switching of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the target small base station. On the other hand, after the gateway sends the second switching completion message to the core network, the non-super cell gateway to which the target small base station belongs can construct its own path switching request message, carry the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment is located in the path switching request message, and send the path switching request message to the core network through the second SCTP link between itself and the core network, which is equivalent to performing a virtual switching action, so that the core network can obtain information about the real cell, real base station and real link where the user equipment is located at this time, realize accurate positioning of the user equipment, and is unaware of the user equipment.

[0151] Based on the above embodiments of the inter-base station handover method based on super cell, combined with Figure 1 , Figure 6 The fifth flow chart of the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown, which takes the user equipment switching from the source macro base station to the target small base station under the first gateway as an example. In this scenario, the super cell and the actual cell to which the user equipment switches belong to the same macro base station ID. Figure 6 As shown, the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell may include the following steps 601 to 618.

[0152] Step 601: The source macro base station sends a handover request message to the core network.

[0153] Step 602: The core network sends a first handover request message to the first gateway.

[0154] Step 603: The first gateway determines a small base station that matches the super cell identifier.

[0155] Step 604: The gateway sends a second handover request message to the small cell.

[0156] For example, in this exemplary embodiment, the target small base station belongs to the first gateway, and the gateway sends the second handover request message to the target small base station through the first gateway.

[0157] Step 605: The small cell sends a first handover request response message to the gateway through the home gateway.

[0158] Step 606: The gateway stores the user equipment related information of the user equipment.

[0159] Step 607: The first gateway sends a second handover request response message to the core network.

[0160] Step 608: The core network sends a handover command to the source macro base station.

[0161] Step 609: The source macro base station sends a handover command to the user equipment.

[0162] Step 610: The user equipment sends a handover confirmation message to the target small base station.

[0163] Among them, steps 601 to 610 correspond one-to-one to the above-mentioned steps 501 to 510. The specific implementation process can refer to the above-mentioned steps 501 to 510 and will not be repeated here.

[0164] Step 611: The target small base station sends a first switching completion message to the first gateway.

[0165] The first handover completion message carries a third identifier (such as MME UE S1AP ID 2), a fourth identifier (such as eNB UE S1AP ID 1), and a first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment is located under the target small base station.

[0166] After receiving the first handover complete message, the first gateway may associate the third identifier (e.g., MME UE S1AP ID 2) and the fourth identifier (e.g., eNB UE S1AP ID 1) in the first handover complete message with the user equipment-related information stored in step 606. Thereafter, step 612 or steps 613 to 618 are executed.

[0167] Step 612: The first gateway sends a third handover completion message to the core network.

[0168] The third handover complete message carries the first identifier (such as eNB UE S1AP ID 2), the second identifier (such as MME UE S1AP ID 1) and the first real cell identifier.

[0169] For example, the first gateway may send a third handover completion message to the core network through the second SCTP link. At this point, the core network confirms that the user equipment has been successfully handed over, and can directly determine the real cell where the user equipment is currently located based on the first real cell identifier carried in the third handover completion message, so that the core network can distinguish which small base station the user equipment has been specifically handed over to and the specific cell under the small base station.

[0170] Step 613: The first gateway replaces the first real cell identifier with the super cell identifier.

[0171] After receiving the first handover complete message through the first gateway, the gateway associates the third identifier (e.g., MME UE S1AP ID 2) and the fourth identifier (e.g., eNB UE S1AP ID 1) in the first handover complete message with the user equipment related information stored in step 606, replaces the first real cell identifier in the first handover complete message with the super cell identifier, and generates a second handover complete message carrying the super cell identifier.

[0172] The second handover complete message carries the first identifier (such as eNB UE S1AP ID 2), the second identifier (such as MME UE S1AP ID 1) and the super cell identifier.

[0173] Step 614: The first gateway sends a second handover completion message to the core network.

[0174] Specifically, the first gateway may send a second handover completion message to the core network via the second SCTP link. At this time, the core network confirms that the handover of the user equipment is completed.

[0175] Step 615: The first gateway sends a path switch request message to the core network.

[0176] After the first gateway sends the second switching completion message to the core network, it can construct a path switching request message carrying the first real cell identifier, and then send the path switching request message to the core network. At this time, the core network can determine the real cell where the user equipment is located based on the first real cell identifier carried in the path switching request message, so that the core network can distinguish which small base station the user equipment has switched to and the specific cell under the small base station.

[0177] Specifically, in a 4G network, the first gateway can allocate a fifth identifier (eNB UE S1AP ID 3), and at the same time obtain the second identifier (MME UE S1AP ID 1), user equipment security performance information (UE Security Capabilities) and user plane bearer (E-RAB) information in the radio access bearer information list (E-RABs Admitted List) from the user equipment association information stored on the gateway side, and then construct a path switching request message carrying this information and the first real cell identifier.

[0178] In the 5G network, the first gateway can allocate the fifth identifier (gNB UE NGAP ID 3), and at the same time obtain the second identifier (AMF UE NGAP ID 1), user equipment security performance information (UESecurity Capabilities) and protocol data unit session (PDU Session) information in the protocol data unit session resource information list (PDU Session Resource Admitted List) from the user equipment association information stored on the gateway side, and then construct a path switching request message carrying this information and the first real cell identifier.

[0179] The fifth identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when the gateway plays the role of a base station relative to the core network.

[0180] For example, in a 4G network, the E-RAB information between the gateway and the core network and the E-RAB information between the small cell and the gateway can be the same or different. In a 5G network, the PDU Session information between the gateway and the core network and the PDU Session information between the small cell and the gateway can be the same or different.

[0181] For example, the first gateway may send a path switch request message to the core network through the second SCTP link established between the first gateway and the core network.

[0182] Step 616: The core network sends a path switch request response message to the first gateway.

[0183] The path switch request response message carries the security context information of the user equipment, and the security context information can be used as security information in the next handover of the user equipment.

[0184] Step 617: The first gateway sends the security context information of the user equipment to the target small base station.

[0185] After receiving the path switch request response message, the first gateway may forward the security context information of the user equipment carried in the path switch request response message to the target small base station.

[0186] For example, the first gateway may carry the security context information of the user equipment in an update instruction message and send it to the target small base station. The update instruction message may be a path switch request response message or other customized dedicated message, which is not limited in this application.

[0187] Step 618: The target small base station stores the security context information of the user equipment.

[0188] After receiving the security context information of the user equipment, the target small base station may store the security context information of the user equipment.

[0189] In the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application, in a scenario where the super cell and the actual cell to which the user equipment is handed over belong to the same macro base station ID, after the user equipment confirms handover to the target small base station belonging to the super cell gateway, the super cell gateway can obtain the first real cell identifier of the real cell where the user equipment is located from the first handover completion message sent by the target small base station, and directly carry the first real cell identifier in a third handover completion message and send it to the core network. In this way, the core network can determine the real cell where the user equipment is currently located, so that the core network can distinguish which small base station the user equipment has specifically handed over to and the specific cell under the small base station. Alternatively, after the user equipment confirms handover to the target small base station belonging to the super cell gateway, the super cell gateway can also replace the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment is located under the target small base station carried in the first handover completion message sent by the target small base station with the super cell identifier, generate a second handover completion message carrying the super cell identifier and send it to the core network. In this way, it can be ensured that the cell identifier reported to the core network when the handover is completed matches the neighboring macro base station identifier corresponding to the super cell, avoiding the core network's possible misjudgment that the base station handover has failed, and ensuring the successful handover of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the target small base station. Afterwards, the super cell gateway to which the target small base station belongs can construct its own path switching request message, carry the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment is located in the path switching request message, and send the path switching request message to the core network through the second SCTP link between the core network and the core network, so that the core network can obtain information about the real cell, real base station and real link where the user equipment is located at this time, thereby realizing accurate positioning of the user equipment and being unaware of the user equipment.

[0190] The embodiment of the present application further provides a base station switching device based on a super cell, which may include a first switching device or a second switching device; wherein the first switching device may be applied to a gateway and may be used to perform the above-mentioned Figure 2 or Figure 3 The steps of the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell of the corresponding embodiment; the second handover device can be applied to the small base station and can be used to perform the above Figure 4 The steps of the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell of the corresponding embodiment.

[0191] Specifically, Figure 7 One of the structural diagrams of a base station switching device based on a super cell provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown. The base station switching device based on a super cell is applied to a gateway and may include a first switching device. Figure 7 As shown, the first switching device may include: The base station determination module 710 is configured to determine a small base station that matches a super cell identifier, wherein the super cell identifier is obtained by the gateway from a first handover request message received from the core network; The first replacement module 720 is used to replace the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located, which is carried in the first switching completion message, with the super cell identifier after receiving the first switching completion message sent by the target small base station in the small base station, and send a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network; wherein, the target small base station is the base station in the small base station that receives the switching confirmation message sent by the user equipment.

[0192] In one embodiment, the first switching device may further include: a first sending module, configured to send a path switching request message to the core network through the target home gateway after sending the second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network; wherein the path switching request message includes the first real cell identifier; the target home gateway is the home gateway to which the target small base station in the gateway belongs.

[0193] In one embodiment, the first switching device may also include: a first receiving module, used to receive a path switching request response message sent by the core network through the target home gateway after sending a path switching request message to the core network through the target home gateway, and the path switching request response message includes the security context information of the user equipment; a second sending module, used to send the security context information of the user equipment to the target small base station through the target home gateway, so that the target small base station stores the security context information of the user equipment.

[0194] In one embodiment, the first switching device may also include: a third sending module, used to send a second switching request message to the small base station; a storage module, used to store user equipment related information of the user equipment after receiving the first switching request response message sent by the small base station; a fourth sending module, used to send a second switching request response message to the core network, so that the core network sends a switching command to the user equipment through the source macro base station where the user equipment is currently located.

[0195] In one embodiment, the user equipment related information includes: a first identifier assigned by the gateway before sending the second handover request response message, a second identifier carried in the first handover request message, a third identifier carried in the second handover request message, a fourth identifier carried in the first handover request response message, a user plane resource information list carried in the first handover request response message, user equipment security performance information, and security context information of the user equipment; Among them, the first identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when it plays the role of a base station relative to the core network; the second identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the core network and the user equipment; the third identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when it plays the role of a core network relative to the small base station; the fourth identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the small base station and the user equipment.

[0196] In one embodiment, the second handover request message includes a second real cell identifier corresponding to the small base station. Accordingly, the first handover apparatus may further include: a second replacement module configured to replace the super cell identifier with the second real cell identifier corresponding to the small base station before sending the second handover request message to the small base station.

[0197] In one embodiment, the first replacement module 720 is specifically used to replace the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first switching completion message with the super cell identifier when the target belonging gateway to which the target small base station belongs is not a super cell gateway, and send the second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network through the super cell gateway.

[0198] In one embodiment, the first switching device may further include: a fifth sending module, which is used to carry the first real cell identifier or the super cell identifier in the third switching completion message when the target belonging gateway to which the target small base station belongs is a super cell gateway, and send the third switching completion message to the core network through the super cell gateway.

[0199] Figure 8The second structural diagram of the base station switching device based on the super cell provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. The base station switching device based on the super cell can be applied to a small base station within the super cell. The base station switching device based on the super cell can include a second switching device. Figure 8 As shown, the second switching device may include: The second receiving module 810 is configured to receive a second handover request message sent by the gateway, where the second handover request message is used to request handover of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the small base station of the super cell; A sixth sending module 820 is configured to send a first handover request response message to the gateway, so that the gateway sends a second handover request response message to the core network; wherein the second handover request response message is used to enable the core network to send a handover command to the user equipment through the source macro base station; The seventh sending module 830 is used to send a first switching completion message to the gateway through the target small base station, so that the gateway replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first switching completion message with the super cell identifier, and sends a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network; wherein, the target small base station is a base station in the small base station that receives a switching confirmation message sent by the user equipment based on the switching command.

[0200] In one embodiment, for the target small base station in the small base station, the second switching device may further include: a third receiving module for receiving security context information of the user equipment sent by the target home gateway; and an updating module for storing the security context information of the user equipment.

[0201] The implementation principle and beneficial effects of the base station switching device based on a super cell provided in the embodiment of the present application are similar to those of the base station switching method based on a super cell provided in the above embodiment, and are not described in detail here.

[0202] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules may be selected based on actual needs to achieve the objectives of the present embodiment. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand and implement the present invention without inventive effort.

[0203] The embodiment of the present application also provides a network device, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and when the processor executes the computer program, the above-mentioned Figure 2 or Figure 3 The steps of the super cell-based inter-base station handover method of the corresponding embodiment, or the implementation as described above Figure 4 The steps of the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell of the corresponding embodiment are not repeated here.

[0204] In one embodiment, the network device may be a gateway, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the above Figure 2 or Figure 3 The steps of the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell of the corresponding embodiment are not repeated here.

[0205] In one embodiment, the network device may be a small base station, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the above Figure 4 The steps of the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell of the corresponding embodiment are not repeated here.

[0206] Based on the super cell-based base station handover method described in any of the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium. For example, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, or an optical data storage device. This storage medium stores computer instructions for executing the super cell-based base station handover method described in any of the above embodiments, which will not be further described herein.

[0207] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps to implement the above embodiments may be accomplished by hardware, or may be accomplished by a program to instruct the relevant hardware, and the program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the above-mentioned storage medium may be a read-only memory, a disk or an optical disk, etc.

[0208] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments of the present application after considering the specification and practicing the contents disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations herein that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The description and examples are to be considered merely exemplary, and the true scope and spirit of this application are indicated by the claims.

Claims

1. A method for handover between base stations based on a super cell, characterized in that: Applied to a gateway; the super cell-based inter-base station handover method includes: Determining a small base station that matches the super cell identifier; wherein the super cell identifier is obtained by the gateway from a first handover request message received from the core network; After receiving the first switching completion message sent by the target small base station in the small base station, the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located, carried in the first switching completion message, is replaced with the super cell identifier, and a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier is sent to the core network; wherein, the target small base station is the base station in the small base station that receives the switching confirmation message sent by the user equipment.

2. The method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to claim 1, wherein: After sending the second handover completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network, the super cell-based inter-base station handover method further includes: Sending a path switch request message to the core network through the target home gateway; the path switch request message includes the first real cell identifier; The target home gateway is the home gateway to which the target small base station belongs in the gateway.

3. The method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to claim 2, wherein: After sending the path switch request message to the core network through the target home gateway, the super cell-based inter-base station handover method further includes: receiving, through the target home gateway, a path switch request response message sent by the core network; the path switch request response message including security context information of the user equipment; The security context information of the user equipment is sent to the target small base station through the target home gateway, so that the target small base station stores the security context information of the user equipment.

4. The method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: Before receiving the first handover completion message sent by the target small base station among the small base stations, the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell further includes: Sending a second handover request message to the small base station; After receiving the first handover request response message sent by the small base station, storing user equipment related information of the user equipment; A second handover request response message is sent to the core network, so that the core network sends a handover command to the user equipment through the source macro base station where the user equipment is currently located.

5. The method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to claim 4, characterized in that: The user equipment related information includes: a first identifier assigned by the gateway before sending the second handover request reply message, a second identifier carried in the first handover request message, a third identifier carried in the second handover request message, a fourth identifier carried in the first handover request reply message, a user plane resource information list carried in the first handover request reply message, user equipment security performance information, and security context information of the user equipment; Among them, the first identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when it plays the role of a base station relative to the core network; the second identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the core network and the user equipment; the third identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the gateway and the user equipment when it plays the role of a core network relative to the small base station; the fourth identifier is used to uniquely identify the association relationship between the small base station and the user equipment.

6. The method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to claim 4, characterized in that: The second handover request message includes a second real cell identifier corresponding to the small base station; Before sending the second handover request message to the small base station, the inter-base station handover method based on the super cell further includes: The super cell identifier is replaced with the second real cell identifier corresponding to the small base station.

7. The method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The replacing the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located, carried in the first handover completion message, with the super cell identifier, and sending a second handover completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network, includes: In a case where the target home gateway to which the target small base station belongs is not a super cell gateway, the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located, carried in the first switching completion message, is replaced with the super cell identifier, and a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier is sent to the core network through the super cell gateway.

8. The method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to claim 7, wherein: The super cell-based inter-base station handover method further includes: When the target home gateway to which the target small base station belongs is the super cell gateway, the first real cell identifier or the super cell identifier is carried in a third handover completion message, and the third handover completion message is sent to the core network through the super cell gateway.

9. A method for handover between base stations based on a super cell, characterized in that: Applicable to a small base station within the super cell; The inter-base station handover method based on the super cell includes: Receive a second handover request message sent by the gateway, where the second handover request message is used to request handover of the user equipment from the source macro base station to the small base station of the super cell; Sending a first handover request reply message to the gateway, so that the gateway sends a second handover request reply message to the core network; the second handover request reply message is used to enable the core network to send a handover command to the user equipment through the source macro base station; A first switching completion message is sent to the gateway through the target small base station, so that the gateway replaces the first real cell identifier of the cell where the user equipment under the target small base station is located carried in the first switching completion message with the super cell identifier, and sends a second switching completion message carrying the super cell identifier to the core network; wherein the target small base station is the base station in the small base station that receives the switching confirmation message sent by the user equipment based on the switching command.

10. The method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to claim 9, characterized in that: The super cell-based inter-base station handover method further includes: The target small base station receives security context information of the user equipment sent by the target home gateway; The target small base station stores the security context information of the user equipment.

11. A base station switching device based on a super cell, characterized in that: including a first switching device or a second switching device; The first handover device is configured to perform the steps of the inter-base station handover method based on a super cell according to any one of claims 1 to 8; The second handover device is configured to execute the steps of the super cell-based inter-base station handover method according to claim 9 or 10.

12. A network device comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, wherein: When the processor executes the computer program, the processor implements the steps of the method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or implements the steps of the method for inter-base station handover based on a super cell according to claim 9 or 10.

Images