System and method for identifying user equipment

Abstract

To provide a method and a system for identifying user equipment (UE).SOLUTION: In an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), a method allows a base station to generate a RAN UE ID corresponding to UE, allows the base station to receive a UE packet when the UE presents a registration request to an enrichment information provider, acquire an IP address corresponding to the UE on the basis of the packet, transmit the packet to a core network, and transmit the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID to an RIC, and allows the RIC to establish an association relation associated with the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID in a matching table, transmit the packet to the enrichment information provider through the core network, acquire the IP address corresponding to the UE on the basis of the packet, and receive the registration request with the IP address by the enrichment information provider.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for identifying a User Equipment (UE), and more particularly, to a system and method for an enrichment information provider to identify a UE in a radio access network.

Background Art

[0002] Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) provides open interfaces, software, and hardware, which makes it easier to purchase or update communication equipment, thereby reducing the overall construction cost, and also enables the radio access network to optimally manage radio resources according to application requirements. O-RAN also provides an Enrichment Information (EI) interface for obtaining external enrichment information services to improve RAN optimization.

[0003] For security reasons, the radio access network uses a temporary identifier as the radio access network UE identifier (RAN UE ID). When the connection changes, the RAN UE ID is dynamically updated, and as a result, the external enrichment information provider cannot obtain the RAN UE ID to identify a specific UE.

[0004] When the radio access network interacts with an external enrichment information provider, the radio access network cannot correspond to the association between the enrichment information UE identifier (EI UE ID) and the RAN UE ID. Therefore, it is impossible to adjust the behavior of a specific UE in the radio access network based on the state of the enrichment information.

[0005] Specifically, in the O-RAN architecture, the RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) may use RAN-related IDs (e.g., AMF UE NGAP ID, gNB-CU-UE E1AP ID, RAN UE ID, etc.) to identify UEs. In the enrichment information provider, a UE IP (Internet Protocol) address, IMSI, and phone number may be used as IDs to identify UEs. However, since there are no common rules, it is impossible to know the association between the IDs. Therefore, when the RIC receives information sent by the enrichment information provider via the EI interface, it is not known which UE the received information relates to.

[0006] Therefore, it is important to find out how to establish an association between the RAN UE ID and the IP address so that the RAN can effectively configure resources to improve network system performance and user experience by using the enrichment information provided by the enrichment information provider. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to find out how to establish a correspondence between a RAN UE ID and an IP address so that the RAN can effectively configure resources to improve network system performance and user experience. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0008] The present invention provides a system for identifying a user equipment (UE) including a base station and a Radio Access Network Intelligent Controller (RIC). The base station is configured to generate a RAN UE identifier (RAN UE ID) of the UE, and the RIC network is connected to the base station. The base station obtains the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE from the RIC. When the UE submits a registration request to the enrichment information provider, the base station receives the UE's packet, obtains the IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet, and transmits the packet to the core network. The base station transmits the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID to the RIC. The RIC establishes an association relationship in the mapping table that is associated with the UE's IP address and RAN UE ID. The core network transmits the packet to the enrichment information provider, and the enrichment information provider obtains the IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet and accepts the UE's registration request with the IP address.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the enrichment information provider transmits the enrichment information and the IP address to the RIC, the RIC queries the mapping table based on the IP address to obtain the RAN UE ID, and the base station transmits the enrichment information to the UE corresponding to the RAN UE ID.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the base station receives a network connection request of the UE, the base station transmits the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC, and the RIC responds to the base station to complete the network connection request.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base station transmits the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC via the E2 interface.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base station transmits the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID to the RIC via the E2 interface.

[0013] The present invention further provides a method for identifying a user equipment (UE). The method includes generating a RAN UE identifier (RAN UE ID) corresponding to the UE by a base station; when the UE submits a registration request to an enrichment information provider, the base station receives a packet from the UE, obtains an IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet, and transmits the packet to a core network. The base station transmits the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID to a RIC. The RIC establishes an association relationship in a mapping table that is associated with the IP address and the RAN UE ID of the UE. The core network transmits the packet to the enrichment information provider, and the enrichment information provider obtains the IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet and accepts the registration request of the UE with the IP address.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] Based on the above, the method and system for identifying a UE provided by the present invention can obtain a RAN UE ID from a RIC when the UE is connected to a base station. After the UE transmits a packet, the packet passes through the base station, and the base station obtains the IP address of the UE in the packet and establishes a mapping table between the RAN UE ID and the IP address in the RIC. When an enrichment information provider uses the IP address associated with the UE to communicate with the RIC, by checking the table, it can know which UE is used for radio resource control.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The reference numerals used in the following description are regarded as the same or similar members when the same reference numerals appear in different drawings. These exemplary embodiments are only a part of the present invention and do not disclose all potential implementations of the present invention. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are merely examples of methods, apparatuses, and systems within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 1 for identifying UE11 and UE15 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the system 1 for identifying UE11 includes a base station 12 and a Radio Access Network Intelligent Controller (RIC) 13, and the RIC 13 network is connected to the base station 12.

[0018] In terms of hardware architecture, the 5G NR communication system mainly includes a Radio Access Network (RAN) and a core network. The RAN 121 mainly consists of a base station 12, provides wireless access services and related management functions to the UE 11, and the core network (not shown) mainly provides Internet access services and related management functions to the UE 11. The base station 12 may be a next-generation Node B (gNB) 5G base station in the 5G NR communication system, and the core network may be a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0019] RIC13 is a configuration device defined by software in the O-RAN architecture, responsible for the control and optimization of RAN functions, making the RAN operable, intelligent, agile, programmable, and equipped with real-time and non-real-time management functions. RIC13 is configured to generate the RAN UE identifier (RAN UE ID) of UE11.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of Method 2 for identifying UE11 and 15 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, In system 1 For identifying UE11 and 15 used for Base station 12 Method 2 for identifying UE11 and UE15 is executed through cooperation with RIC13, RIC13 can establish the association relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP addresses of UE11 and UE15 in the mapping table, and the enrichment information provider E can identify UE11 and UE15 within the radio access network. Method 2 for identifying UE11 and UE15 includes steps S201 to S204, S221 to S230, and S241.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 simultaneously, before UE11 and UE15 complete the connection establishment with base station 12, the association relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP addresses of UE11 and UE15 has not been established in the mapping table of RIC13. First, the establishment of the connection between UE11 and base station 12 will be described.

[0022] In step S201, when UE11 obtains network services from base station 12, UE11 starts a connection establishment / re-establishment request to base station 12, that is, a network connection request. In step S202, after base station 12 receives the network connection request from UE11, base station 12 generates a RAN UE ID to be assigned to UE11 and sends the RAN UE ID assigned to UE11 to RIC13 via the E2 interface of RIC13. In one embodiment, base station 12 sends the RAN UE ID corresponding to UE11 to RIC13 via the E2 interface. In step S203, RIC13 responds to base station 12. In step S204, the network connection request is completed.

[0023] When step S204 is completed, that is, when base station 12 completes network connection establishment, the association relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of UE11 can be established in the mapping table of RIC13.

[0024] In step S221, when UE11 submits a registration request to enrichment information provider E, base station 12 receives the packet of UE11.

[0025] In step S222, base station 12 receives the packet of UE11 and obtains the IP address corresponding to UE11 based on the packet. In step S223, base station 12 sends the packet to core network 14.

[0026] In step S224, base station 12 sends the IP address corresponding to UE11 and the RAN UE ID to RIC13. In one embodiment, base station 12 sends the IP address corresponding to UE11 and the RAN UE ID to RIC13 via the E2 interface. In step S225, RIC13 establishes the association relationship associated with the IP address and RAN UE ID of UE11 in the mapping table. Table 1 is an example of a mapping table including the association relationship associated with the IP address and RAN UE ID of UE11 in RIC13.

[0027]

Table 1

[0028] In step S226, the core network 14 sends the packet to the enrichment information provider E, and the enrichment information provider E obtains the IP address corresponding to the UE11 based on the packet. In step S227, the enrichment information provider E accepts the registration request of the UE11 with the IP address corresponding to the UE11.

[0029] In step S228, when the enrichment information provider E sends the enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to the UE to the RIC13, the RIC13 queries the association relationship in the mapping table based on the IP address corresponding to the UE11 in order to obtain the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE11. Specifically, when the RIC13 executes resource control for the UE11, the RIC13 may obtain the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE11 from the mapping table based on the IP address corresponding to the UE11, and in step S229, send a control request including the RAN UE ID to the base station 12. In step S230, the base station 12 sends the enrichment information to the UE11 corresponding to the RAN UE ID and performs related settings for the UE11.

[0030] Another user equipment (UE15)When the UE 15 wants to obtain network services from the base station 12, at step S241, the UE 15 starts a network connection request to the base station 12 and completes the network connection request by performing operations similar to those in steps S202 - S204. When the UE 15 and the base station 12 complete the establishment of the network connection, in order to establish the association relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of the UE 15 in the mapping table of the RIC 13, operations similar to those in steps S221 - S225 may be performed. Next, in order to send the packets of the UE 15 to the enrichment information provider E via the core network 14, operations similar to those in steps S226 - S230 may be performed. The enrichment information provider E obtains the IP address corresponding to the UE 15 based on the packet and uses the IP address corresponding to the UE 15 to accept the registration request of the UE 15. When the enrichment information provider E sends the enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to the UE 15 to the RIC 13, the RIC 13 queries the mapping table based on the IP address corresponding to the UE 15 to obtain the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE 15.

[0031] The procedure for a UE to switch from one network to another is called a handover procedure. Usually, the UE measures the signal strength of surrounding base stations to determine whether to perform the handover procedure, and the intervals at which the UE reports are 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, 160 ms, etc.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system 3 using a location-assisted handover application 331 on a RIC 33 to perform handover determination to identify unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) 31 and 35 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the system 3 for identifying the UAVs 31 and 35 includes a base station 32 and a RIC 33. The RIC 33 is connected to the base station 12 via a network, and the RIC 33 has a location-assisted handover APP 331. This example uses ultra-wideband (Ultra Wide Band, UWBUse the location provider U. The location assistance handover APP 331 on the RIC 33 performs handover determination, UWB The interval at which the location provider U reports to the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 may be 10 ms.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method 4 for identifying the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, In system 3 For identifying the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 used for The base station 32 and Through cooperation with RIC33 and the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 Method 2 for identification is executed, The RIC 33 can establish the association relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP addresses of the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 in the mapping table, UWB The location provider U can identify the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 in the radio access network. The method 4 for identifying the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 includes steps S401 to S404, S421 to S430, and S441.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 simultaneously, before the connection establishment between the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 and the base station 32 is completed, the association relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP addresses of the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 has not been established in the mapping table of the RIC 33 yet. First, the connection establishment between the UAV 31 and the base station 32 will be described.

[0035] In step S401, when the UAV 31 wants to obtain network services from the base station 12, the UAV 31 starts a connection establishment / re-establishment request, that is, a network connection request, to the base station 12. In step S402, when the base station 32 receives the network connection request of the UAV 31, the base station 32Generate a RAN UE ID to be assigned to the UAV 31 (e.g., 21485977652), and use the E2 interface of the RIC 33 to send the RAN UE ID assigned to the UAV 31 to the RIC 33. In one embodiment, the base station 32 sends the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UAV 31 to the RIC 33 via the E2 interface. At step S403, the RIC 33 responds to the base station 32. At step S404, the network connection request is completed.

[0036] When step S404 is completed, that is, when the UAV 31 and the base station 32 complete the network connection establishment, an association relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of the UAV 31 may be established in the mapping table of the RIC 33.

[0037] At step S421, when the UAV 31 UWB submits a registration request to the location provider U, the base station 32 receives the packet of the UAV 31.

[0038] At step S422, the base station 32 receives the packet of the UAV 31 and obtains the IP address (e.g., 10.101.129.7) corresponding to the UAV 31 based on the packet. At step S423, the base station 32 sends the packet to the core network 34.

[0039] At step S424, the base station 32 sends the IP address corresponding to the UAV 31 and the RAN UE ID to the RIC 33. In one embodiment, the base station 32 sends the IP address corresponding to the UAV 31 and the RAN UE ID to the RIC 33 via the E2 interface. At step S425, the RIC 33 establishes an association relationship associated with the IP address and the RAN UE ID of the UAV 31 in the mapping table. Table 1 is an example of the mapping table of the RIC 33 and includes the association relationship associated with the IP address and the RAN UE ID of the UAV 31.

[0040] At step S426, the core network 34UWB Send a packet to location provider U, UWB Based on the packet, location provider U obtains the IP address corresponding to UAV 31. In step S427, UWB Location provider U receives a registration request for UAV 31 using the IP address corresponding to UAV 31.

[0041] In step S428, UWB When location provider U sends enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to UAV 31 to RIC 33, in order for RIC 33 to obtain the RAN UE ID corresponding to UAV 31, a query for the association relationship is performed in the mapping table based on the IP address corresponding to UAV 31. Specifically, when RIC 33 wants to perform resource control on UAV 31, RIC 33 may obtain the RAN UE ID corresponding to UAV 31 from the mapping table based on the IP address corresponding to UAV 31, and in step S429, send a control request including the RAN UE ID to base station 12. In step S 430 Base station 32 corresponds to the RAN UE ID UAV Send enrichment information to 31 and perform related settings for UAV 31.

[0042] Another Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV35) When UAV 35 wants to obtain network services from base station 32, in step S441, UAV 35 initiates a network connection request to base station 32 and completes the network connection request by performing operations similar to steps S402 - S404. When the network connection establishment between UAV 35 and base station 32 is completed, in order to establish the association relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of UAV 35 in the mapping table of RIC 33, operations similar to steps S421 - S425 may be performed. Then, in order to send the packet of UAV 35 via core network 34 UWB To location provider U, operations similar to steps S426 - S430 are performed. UWBThe location provider U obtains the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 based on the packet and uses the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 to accept the registration request of the UAV 35. UWB When the location provider U sends the enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 to the RIC 33, the RIC 33 queries the mapping table for the association relationship based on the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 in order to obtain the RAN UE corresponding to the UAV 35. ID When another

[0043] wants to obtain network services from the base station 32, at step S441, the UAV 35 starts a network connection request to the base station 32 and completes the network connection request by performing operations similar to those in steps S402 to S404. When the UAV 35 and the base station 32 complete the establishment of the network connection, in order to establish the association relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of the UAV 35 in the mapping table of the RIC 33, operations similar to those in steps S421 to S425 may be performed. Next, in order to send the packet of the UAV 35 to the location provider U via the core network 34, operations similar to those in steps S426 to S430 are performed. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV35) The location provider U obtains the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 based on the packet and uses the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 to accept the registration request of the UAV 35. UWB When the location provider U sends the enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 to the RIC 33, the RIC 33 queries the mapping table for the association relationship based on the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 in order to obtain the RAN UE corresponding to the UAV 35. UWB The location provider U obtains the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 based on the packet and uses the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 to accept the registration request of the UAV 35. UWB When the location provider U sends the enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 to the RIC 33, the RIC 33 queries the mapping table for the association relationship based on the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 in order to obtain the RAN UE corresponding to the UAV 35. ID The location provider U obtains the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 based on the packet and uses the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 to accept the registration request of the UAV 35.

Industrial Applicability

[0044] The system and method for identifying a UE in the present invention can be applied to a network system.

Description of Symbols

[0045] 1, 3: System 2, 4: Method 11, 15: User Equipment 12, 32: Base Station 13, 33: Radio Access Network Intelligent Controller 14, 34: Core Network 121: Radio Access Network 31, 35: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 331: Location Support Handover Application E: Enrichment Information Provider S201, S202, S203, S204, S221, S222, S223, S224, S225, S226, S227, S228, S229, S230, S241, S401, S402, S403, S404, S421, S422, S423, S424, S425, S426, S427, S428, S429, S430, S441: Step U: Ultra Wideband( UWB ) Location Provider

Claims

1. A system for identifying a user equipment (UE), comprising: a base station configured to generate a radio access network UE identifier (RAN UE ID) of the UE; a radio access network intelligent controller (RIC) connected to the base station; When the UE submits a registration request to an enrichment information provider, the base station receives the packet of the UE, obtains the IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet, and transmits the packet to a core network; The base station transmits the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID to the RIC; The RIC establishes an association relationship associated with the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID in a mapping table; The core network transmits the packet to the enrichment information provider, and the enrichment information provider obtains the IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet and accepts the registration request of the UE with the IP address. A system for identifying a UE.

2. When the enrichment information provider transmits enrichment information and the IP address to the RIC, the RIC queries the mapping table for the association relationship based on the IP address to obtain the RAN UE ID, and the base station transmits the enrichment information to the UE corresponding to the RAN UE ID. The system for identifying a UE according to Claim 1.

3. When the base station receives a network connection request of the UE, the base station transmits the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC, and the RIC responds to the base station to complete the network connection request. The system for identifying a UE according to Claim 1.

4. The base station transmits the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC via an E2 interface. The system for identifying a UE according to Claim 3.

5. The base station transmits the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID to the RIC via an E2 interface. The system for identifying a UE according to Claim 1.

6. ​ A method for identifying a user equipment (UE), comprising: generating, by a base station, a radio access network UE identifier (RAN UE ID) corresponding to the UE; when the UE submits a registration request to an enrichment information provider, receiving, by the base station, a packet of the UE, obtaining an IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet, and sending the packet to a core network; sending, by the base station, the IP address and the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to a radio access network intelligent controller (RIC); establishing, by the RIC, an association relationship associated with the IP address and the RAN UE ID in a mapping table; sending the packet to the enrichment information provider via the core network, wherein the enrichment information provider obtains the IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet and accepts the registration request of the UE with the IP address; including; a method for identifying a UE. **Claim 7** When the enrichment information provider sends enrichment information and the IP address to the RIC, in order to obtain the RAN UE ID, the RIC queries the mapping table based on the IP address to perform the association relationship query, and the base station sends the enrichment information to the UE corresponding to the RAN UE ID; including; the method for identifying a UE according to claim 6. **Claim 8** When the base station receives a network connection request of the UE, the base station sends the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC, and the RIC responds to the base station to complete the network connection request; including; the method for identifying a UE according to claim 6. **Claim 9** The base station sends the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC via an E2 interface; the method for identifying a UE according to claim 8. **Claim 10** The base station sends the IP address and the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC via an E2 interface; the method for identifying a UE according to claim 6.

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