SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING USER EQUIPMENT - Patent application

Abstract

A method and system for identifying a user equipment (UE) is provided. [Solution] In an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN), the method involves a base station generating a RAN UE ID corresponding to a UE, and when the UE submits a registration request to an enrichment information provider, the base station receiving a packet from the UE, obtaining an IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet, sending the packet to a core network, and sending the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID to a RIC, the RIC establishing a correspondence relationship in a matching table relating the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID, sending the packet to the enrichment information provider via the core network, obtaining an IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet, and accepting the registration request at the IP address by the enrichment information provider.

Description

[Technical field]

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

[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 overall construction costs, and enables the radio access network to optimally manage radio resources according to application requirements. O-RAN also provides an Enrichment Information (EI) interface to obtain 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), which is dynamically updated when the connection changes, so that 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 support the association between the enrichment information UE identifier (EI UE ID) and the RAN UE ID, so it is not possible to adjust the behavior of a particular UE in the radio access network based on the state of the enrichment information.

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

[0006] Therefore, it is important to find out how to establish an association between a RAN UE ID and an IP address so that the RAN can use the enrichment information provided by the enrichment information provider to effectively configure resources to improve network system performance and user experience. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention aims to find out how to establish the correspondence between RAN UE ID and 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), which includes 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) for the UE, and a RIC network connects 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 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 sends the packet to a core network. The base station sends the IP address and the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC. The RIC establishes a mapping relationship in a mapping table that associates the IP address and the RAN UE ID of the UE. The core network sends the packet to the enrichment information provider, and the enrichment information provider obtains an IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet, and accepts the registration request of the UE with the IP address.

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

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

[0013] The present invention further provides a method for identifying a user equipment (UE), the method including: 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 according to the packet, and sends the packet to a core network. The base station sends the IP address corresponding to the UE and the RAN UE ID to a RIC. The RIC establishes a mapping relationship in a mapping table that associates the IP address of the UE with the RAN UE ID. The core network sends the packet to an enrichment information provider, and the enrichment information provider obtains an IP address corresponding to the UE according to the packet, and accepts the registration request of the UE at the IP address. Effect 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 connects to a base station. After the UE sends 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 the enrichment information provider uses the IP address associated with the UE to communicate with the RIC, it can know which UE to use for radio resource control by looking up the table. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for identifying a UE according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a flow diagram of a method for identifying a UE according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3]1 is a schematic diagram of a system that uses a position-assisted handover application on a RIC to make handover decisions to identify an unmanned aerial vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for identifying an unmanned aerial vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The component symbols used in the following description are considered to be the same or similar components when the same component symbols 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, devices, and systems within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0017] 1 is a schematic diagram of a system 1 for identifying a UE 11 and a UE 15 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the system 1 for identifying a UE 11 includes a base station 12 and a radio access network intelligent controller (RIC) 13, and the RIC 13 network connects 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, which provides radio 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 software-defined component in the O-RAN architecture that is responsible for controlling and optimizing RAN functions, making the RAN operational, intelligent, agile, programmable, and equipped with real-time and non-real-time management capabilities. RIC13 is configured to generate a RAN UE Identifier (RAN UE ID) for UE11.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method 2 for identifying UEs 11 and 15 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, In System 1 To distinguish between UE11 and 15 Used for base station 12 and RIC13 cooperate to execute method 2 for identifying UE11 and UE15; The RIC 13 can establish a correspondence relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP addresses of the UE 11 and the UE 15 in the mapping table, and the enrichment information provider E can identify the UE 11 and the UE 15 in the radio access network. The method 2 for identifying the UE 11 and the UE 15 includes steps S201-S204, S221-S230, and S241.

[0021] 1 and 2, before UE 11 and UE 15 complete the connection establishment with base station 12, the correspondence relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP addresses of UE 11 and UE 15 has not yet been established in the mapping table of RIC 13. First, the establishment of the connection between UE 11 and base station 12 will be described.

[0022] In step S201, when UE 11 obtains a network service from base station 12, UE 11 initiates a connection establishment / re-establishment request, i.e., a network connection request, to base station 12. In step S202, after base station 12 receives the network connection request of UE 11, base station 12 generates a RAN UE ID to assign to UE 11, and sends the RAN UE ID assigned to UE 11 to RIC 13 via the E2 interface of RIC 13. In one embodiment, base station 12 sends the RAN UE ID corresponding to UE 11 to RIC 13 via the E2 interface. In step S203, RIC 13 responds to base station 12. In step S204, the network connection request is completed.

[0023] Once step S204 is completed, that is, once the base station 12 has completed the network connection establishment, the correspondence relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of the UE 11 in the mapping table of the RIC 13 can be established.

[0024] When the UE 11 submits a registration request to the enrichment information provider E in step S221, the base station 12 receives the packet of the UE 11.

[0025] In step S222, the base station 12 receives the packet from the UE 11, and obtains an IP address corresponding to the UE 11 based on the packet. In step S223, the base station 12 transmits the packet to the core network .

[0026] In step S224, the base station 12 sends the IP address and the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE 11 to the RIC 13. In one embodiment, the base station 12 sends the IP address and the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE 11 to the RIC 13 via the E2 interface. In step S225, the RIC 13 establishes a mapping relationship in a mapping table that associates the IP address and the RAN UE ID of the UE 11. Table 1 is an example of a mapping table in the RIC 13 that includes a mapping relationship in the RIC 13 that associates the IP address and the RAN UE ID of the UE 11.

[0027] [Table 1]

[0028] In step S226, the core network 14 sends the packet to the enrichment information provider E, which obtains an IP address corresponding to the UE 11 based on the packet. In step S227, the enrichment information provider E accepts the registration request of the UE 11 with the IP address corresponding to the UE 11.

[0029] In step S228, when the enrichment information provider E sends the enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to the UE to the RIC 13, the RIC 13 queries the correspondence relationship in the mapping table based on the IP address corresponding to the UE 11 to obtain the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE 11. Specifically, when the RIC 13 performs resource control for the UE 11, the RIC 13 may obtain the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE 11 from the mapping table based on the IP address corresponding to the UE 11, and in step S229, sends 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 UE 11 corresponding to the RAN UE ID, and makes related configuration for the UE 11.

[0030] Another user device (UE15)When UE 15 wants to obtain a network service from base station 12, in step S241, UE 15 initiates a network connection request to base station 12, and completes the network connection request by performing operations similar to steps S202-S204. After UE 15 and base station 12 complete network connection establishment, operations similar to steps S221-S225 may be performed to establish a correspondence relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of UE 15 in the mapping table of RIC 13. Then, operations similar to steps S226-S230 may be performed to send a packet of UE 15 to enrichment information provider E via core network 14. Enrichment information provider E obtains an IP address corresponding to UE 15 based on the packet, and uses the IP address corresponding to UE 15 to accept the registration request of 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 relationship in 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 in which a UE switches from one network to another is called a handover procedure. Typically, a UE measures the signal strength of surrounding base stations to determine whether to perform a handover procedure, and the UE reports at intervals of 20ms, 40ms, 80ms, 160ms, etc.

[0032] 3 is a schematic diagram of a system 3 using a position-assisted handover application 331 on a RIC 33 to make handover decisions to distinguish between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) 31 and a UAV 35, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the system 3 for distinguishing between a UAV 31 and a UAV 35 includes a base station 32 and a RIC 33. The RIC 33 connects to a base station 12 via a network, and the RIC 33 has a position-assisted handover APP 331. This example uses an Ultra Wide Band (UWB) to provide location information for the UAV 31 and the UAV 35. UWB) Using location provider U. The location assistance handover APP 331 on the RIC 33 performs handover decision, UWB The interval at which location provider U reports to UAV31 and UAV35 may be 10 ms.

[0033] 4 is a flow diagram of a method 4 for identifying UAV 31 and UAV 35 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In System 3 To distinguish between UAV31 and UAV35 Used for Base station 32 and In collaboration with RIC33 , UAV31 and UAV35 Method 2 for identifying the The RIC33 is able to establish a correspondence relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP addresses of the UAV31 and the UAV35 in the mapping table; UWB The location provider U can identify the UAV 31 and the UAV 35 in the wireless 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] 3 and 4, before the connection establishment between the UAV31, UAV35 and the base station 32 is completed, the correspondence relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP addresses of the UAV31 and UAV35 has not yet been established in the mapping table of the RIC 33. First, the connection establishment between the UAV31 and the base station 32 will be described.

[0035] In step S401, when the UAV 31 wants to obtain a network service from the base station 12, the UAV 31 initiates a connection establishment / re-establishment request, i.e., 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 32The RIC 33 generates a RAN UE ID to assign to the UAV 31 (e.g., 21485977652) and uses the E2 interface of the RIC 33 to transmit the RAN UE ID assigned to the UAV 31 to the RIC 33. In one embodiment, the base station 32 transmits the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UAV 31 to the RIC 33 via the E2 interface. In step S403, the RIC 33 responds to the base station 32. In step S404, the network connection request is completed.

[0036] When step S404 is completed, i.e., when the UAV31 and the base station 32 complete the network connection establishment, a correspondence relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of the UAV31 may be established in the mapping table of the RIC33.

[0037] In step S421, UAV31 UWB When submitting a registration request to the location provider U, the base station 32 receives packets from the UAV 31 .

[0038] In step S422, the base station 32 receives the packet from the UAV 31, and obtains an IP address (for example, 10.101.129.7) corresponding to the UAV 31 based on the packet. In step S423, the base station 32 transmits the packet to the core network .

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

[0040] In step S426, the core network 34 UWB Send a packet to location provider U; UWB The location provider U obtains an IP address corresponding to the UAV 31 based on the packet. In step S427, UWB The location provider U accepts a registration request for the UAV31 at an IP address corresponding to the UAV31.

[0041] In step S428, UWB When the location provider U transmits the enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to the UAV31 to the RIC33, the RIC33 queries the mapping relationship in the mapping table based on the IP address corresponding to the UAV31 to obtain the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UAV31. Specifically, when the RIC33 wants to perform resource control on the UAV31, the RIC33 may obtain the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UAV31 from the mapping table based on the IP address corresponding to the UAV31, and transmits a control request including the RAN UE ID to the base station 12 in step S429. 430 In the RAN UE ID, the base station 32 UAV 31 and perform related configuration for UAV31.

[0042] Another Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV35) When the UAV 35 wants to obtain a network service from the base station 32, in step S441, the UAV 35 initiates a network connection request to the base station 32, and completes the network connection request by performing operations similar to steps S402 to S404. When the UAV 35 and the base station 32 complete the network connection establishment, operations similar to steps S421 to S425 may be performed to establish a correspondence relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of the UAV 35 in the mapping table of the RIC 33. Then, the packets of the UAV 35 are forwarded to the base station 32 via the core network 34. UWB For transmission to location provider U, operations similar to steps S426-S430 are performed. UWBThe location provider U obtains an 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 transmits the enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 to the RIC 33, the RIC 33 receives the RAN UE corresponding to the UAV 35. ID To obtain the IP address, a mapping table is queried based on the IP address corresponding to the UAV35.

[0043] Another Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV35) When the UAV 35 wants to obtain a network service from the base station 32, in step S441, the UAV 35 initiates a network connection request to the base station 32, and completes the network connection request by performing operations similar to steps S402 to S404. When the UAV 35 and the base station 32 complete the network connection establishment, operations similar to steps S421 to S425 may be performed to establish a correspondence relationship between the RAN UE ID and the IP address of the UAV 35 in the mapping table of the RIC 33. Then, the packets of the UAV 35 are forwarded to the base station 32 via the core network 34. UWB For transmission to location provider U, operations similar to steps S426-S430 are performed. UWB The location provider U obtains an 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 transmits the enrichment information and the IP address corresponding to the UAV 35 to the RIC 33, the RIC 33 receives the RAN UE corresponding to the UAV 35. ID To obtain the IP address, a mapping table is queried based on the IP address corresponding to the UAV35. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] The system and method for identifying a UE in the present invention can be applied to a network system. [Explanation 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: Wireless Access Network 31, 35: Unmanned aerial vehicle 331: Location assisted 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. 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) for the UE; a radio access network intelligent controller (RIC) connected to the base station; Including, 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 sends the packet to a core network; The base station sends the IP address and the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC; The RIC establishes a mapping relationship in a mapping table that associates the IP address corresponding to the UE with the RAN UE ID; The core network sends 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 at the IP address. A system for identifying a UE.

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

3. When the base station receives a network access 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 access request. A system for identifying a UE according to claim 1.

4. The base station sends the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC via an E2 interface; A system for identifying a UE according to claim 3.

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

6. 1. 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 a packet of the UE by the base station, obtaining an IP address corresponding to the UE according to 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 a mapping relationship between the IP address and the RAN UE ID in a mapping table by the RIC; sending the packet to the enrichment information provider via the core network, the enrichment information provider obtaining the IP address corresponding to the UE based on the packet, and accepting the registration request of the UE at the IP address; Including, A method for identifying a UE.

7. When the enrichment information provider sends the enrichment information and the IP address to the RIC, the RIC queries the mapping relationship in the mapping table based on the IP address to obtain the RAN UE ID, and the base station sends the enrichment information to the UE corresponding to the RAN UE ID. Including, A method for identifying a UE according to claim 6.

8. sending, by the base station, the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC when the base station receives a network access request of the UE, the RIC responding to the base station to complete the network access request; Including, A method for identifying a UE according to claim 6.

9. The base station sends the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC via an E2 interface; A method for identifying a UE according to claim 8.

10. The base station sends the IP address and the RAN UE ID corresponding to the UE to the RIC via an E2 interface; A method for identifying a UE according to claim 6.

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