Base Station Access Processing for Multi-Core Network Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

The evolution of 4G to 5G mobile communication systems requires simultaneous access to both 4G and 5G core networks, posing challenges in access processing methods for mobile communication terminals and base stations, particularly due to differences in network compatibility and potential access failures.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves an access processing method where base stations receive access requests from mobile communication terminals carrying target NAS messages, determine the appropriate core network, and transmit these messages to the target core network, while also notifying the terminal of network information to select the correct NAS message, thereby enabling access to different core networks through various base stations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a mobile communication terminal needs to access both 4G EPC and 5G new core network simultaneously, then the terminal's network connectivity and service capability are improved, but the access processing complexity and potential access failures increase due to network compatibility differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal's ability to access multiple core networksVSAvoidaccess processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station acts as an intermediary between the mobile terminal and the core network. It receives access requests from the terminal, determines the appropriate target core network (EPC or 5G new core network), and forwards the NAS message to the correct network. This intermediary role simplifies the terminal's perspective while managing the complexity of multi-network access at the base station level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The base station performs preliminary determination of the target core network before forwarding the NAS message. By pre-determining which core network to access based on the terminal's capabilities and network conditions, the system avoids access failures and reduces the complexity of real-time decision-making during the actual access process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the base station determines the target core network based on terminal capabilities, then access reliability is improved, but the processing time and access speed may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess success rateVSAvoidaccess processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs the determination of the target core network as a preliminary action before forwarding the NAS message. This pre-determination ensures that the terminal can access the correct core network reliably, avoiding access failures. The preliminary action is performed efficiently using the terminal's capability information already available at the base station, minimizing additional processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If different base stations connect to different core networks, then network flexibility and service diversity are improved, but the complexity of managing and coordinating access across multiple networks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork configuration flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station serves as an intermediary that independently determines the target core network based on the terminal's capabilities and the base station's own network connections. This intermediary function allows different base stations to connect to different core networks (e.g., some base stations connect to EPC while others connect to 5G new core network) without requiring complex centralized coordination, as each base station autonomously makes the determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Each base station has local characteristics in terms of which core networks it is connected to and its specific network configuration. The base station uses this local quality information to determine the appropriate target core network for each terminal, enabling network flexibility and service diversity without requiring global coordination complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3554139B1Access processing method, base station and mobile communication terminal
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 CHINA MOBILE COMM GRP CO LTD
  • EP3554139B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3554139B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3554139B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an access processing method, a base station and a mobile communication terminal. The access processing method includes: receiving an access request carrying a target NAS message from a mobile communication terminal capable of being connected to a first network and a second network, the target NAS message including a first NAS message corresponding to the first network and/or a second NAS message corresponding to the second network; determining a target core network, the target core network being a core network to which the base station is capable of accessing among a first core network corresponding to the first network and a second core network corresponding to the second network; and transmitting the target NAS message to the target core network.