CN100361472C

CN100361472C - A Method of Releasing Idle Resources in WiMAX System

Info

Publication number: CN100361472C
Application number: CNB2005101011273A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 袁立平
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-11-03
Filing date: 2005-11-03
Publication date: 2008-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-03
Also published as: CN1852196A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system, which comprises: a mobile station sends service request messages to a service base station, a service access network gateway and relevant network element devices; the network element devices return service response messages to the service access network gateway, the service base station and the mobile station; after the service base station receives the service response messages, a first timer can be started up, and idle resources in the WiMAX system can be released after the overtime of the first timer; the service access network gateway can release the idle resources in the WiMAX system according to triggering conditions. By setting the triggering conditions (comprising triggering at definite time and message triggering), the present invention can overcome the states, such as resource exhaustion and confusion between the network element devices, caused by no clear definition for how to release the idle resources in the existing WiMAX system.

Description

A kind of in the WiMAX system method of releasing idling-resource

Technical field

The present invention relates to micro-wave access to global intercommunication (Worldwide Interoperability for MicrowaveAccess, be called for short WiMAX) field, more particularly, relate to a kind of in the WiMAX system method of releasing idling-resource.

Background technology

Micro-wave access to global intercommunication is based on the wireless MAN access technology of IEEE802.16 standard.Along with the extensive use of the flourish and wireless network of internet service, the WiMAX system has obtained a large amount of application and concern with its good wireless access characteristic.

Fig. 1 is the network architecture schematic diagram that WiMAX is applied to mobile communication.This WiMAX system comprises access service network (Access Service Network is called for short ASN), connectivity serving network (Connectivty Service Network is called for short CSN) and mobile radio station (Mobile Station is called for short MS) at least.Wherein MS is a mobile subscriber equipment, and the user uses this devices accessing WiMAX system, so it also can be called as the WiMAX terminal; ASN is used to the WiMAX terminal that the network function set of wireless access service is provided, comprise base station (Base Station is called for short BS) and access service network gateway (AccessService Network GateWay, ASN-GW); CSN is used to the WiMAX terminal that Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol is called for short IP) Connection Service is provided, and comprises home agent (Home Agent is called for short HA).

As shown in Figure 1, the BS that MS inserts through the R1 interface is serving BS (Serving BS is called for short SBS); For this MS, with this SBS through the ASN-GW that the R6 interface is connected, be access service network gateway (Serving ASN-GW, be called for short SGW) for its service, for example ASN-GW1 just is to use the SGW of the MS that BS1 or BS2 insert among Fig. 1; The ASN-GW that Interface R3 between the HA from ASN to CSN is provided is anchor access service network gateway (Anchor ASN-GW is called for short AGW).AGW and SGW can be located in the identical or different equipment.

At down direction, data, are sent among the AGW in the ASN through Interface R3 from the HA of CSN, are sent to SGW through Interface R4 again, and are sent on the MS through R6 interface, SBS and SBS between itself and the SBS and the R1 interface between the MS by this SGW.The up direction data then are delivered to the CSN along opposite path from MS and reach end subscriber.

Each Business Stream for MS, in the process of above-mentioned data passes, the data path (Data Path) that corresponding uplink and downlink are all arranged in the interface of ASN inside, these paths require according to the service quality of each Business Stream (Quality of Service is called for short QoS) when each Business Stream is set up and the mode of data path employing and setting up.Work as service ending, when just Business Stream is ended, generally just discharge corresponding data path, this moment, MS can enter idle pulley.

When MS in moving process, the area of coverage that may move to another BS from the area of coverage of a BS (moves to BS1 as the BS2 from Fig. 1, perhaps move to BS4 from BS2), no matter whether serving BS broadcasts and target BS belong to same SGW, the process that all will switch (Handoff).

And in network work group second stage (NWG Stage2) regulation, still not explanation when contextual information (MS/Session Info Context) enters idle tense (being useless state), free context resource how.Herein, contextual information comprise MS sign, MS MAC Address, be anchored gateway address, session context and security information etc., preserve these contextual informations and need take resource, as memory source or hard disk resource or the like, we are called the resource of preserving contextual information and using and are context resource.But memory source or hard disk resource are limited in a system, must reclaim idle resource uses for other MS, for example, can not allow the moved into contextual information of MS (not switching back in a period of time) of other gateways still be kept in the resource, then become the idle contextual information of this MS on the former gateway about the contextual information of this MS, can discharge the idle context resource of these idle contextual information correspondences this moment, and said herein idle context resource refers to preserve the internal memory or the hard disk resource of this free time contextual information.

As shown in Figure 2, the flow process of transmitting for the handoff functionality of network work group second stage (NWG Stage2) regulation.When MS in moving process, may need the area of coverage that moving to another BS from one for the area of coverage of its serving base station (SBS), then at this moment, SBS need send a handoff request message to the gateway (SGW) that is its service, and this SBS is sent to the SGW of target side with this handoff request message, and this target side GW reaches its target BS of administering 1 and target BS 2 with this handoff request message.2 pairs of these handoff request of target BS 1 and target BS respond, and switching response message are sent back to the SGW of target side.And the SGW of target side returns back to SGW and SBS with this response message.Then which target BS MS will switch to according to the switching response message of this answer with definite, and a switching acknowledge message is sent to the target BS that SGW, target side GW will switch to until this MS.

As shown in Figure 3, be that network work group second stage (NWG Stage2) regulation MS enters the flow chart of idle pulley.When sending, MS go register requirement (DREG_REG) message to its SBS, SBS is by carrying out the data path dispose procedure between itself and SGW, AGW and paging controller or the location register authenticator (PC/LR/Authenticator), discharge the access path of MS and obtain MS and enter the essential information of idle pulley, then send again and go log-in command (DREG_CMD) message to the register requirement of going of MS with response MS.Stipulate in IEEE 802.16 standards: the process that (1) enters idle pulley at MS, when the SBS transmission went log-in command (DREG-CMD) to make MS enter idle pulley, if MS does not respond, then SBS no longer continued flow process, and MS still should remain on state of activation; (2) after MS enters idle pulley, SBS keeps the link information of MS before resource keeps timer expiry, so that activate MS from idle pulley fast.

In two above-mentioned flow processs, after MS switches to new equipment (when Fig. 2 middle finger switches to target GW, Fig. 3 middle finger MS roams among other the GW), and the context resource among the SGW does not have clear and definite delivery mode, if this moment, the context resource among the SGW did not discharge, and perhaps words that discharge immediately, the capital produces unpredictable problem, for example, if the context resource among the SGW does not discharge always, then might cause the situation of resource exhaustion to take place; If perhaps the context resource among SGW this moment discharges immediately, then when the user switched back in the short time, contextual information is arranged on SBS, and on SGW, do not have contextual information, so the inconsistent phenomenon between these two network element devices can occur, thereby disordered state can occur.

Summary of the invention

The technical problem to be solved in the present invention is, at the above-mentioned defective of prior art, provide a kind of in the WiMAX system method of releasing idling-resource, can reduce the waste of storage resources.

The technical solution adopted for the present invention to solve the technical problems is: provide a kind of in the WiMAX system method of releasing idling-resource, comprising: (a) mobile radio station sends business request information to serving BS; (b) described serving BS sends to the service access network gateway with this business request information, and this service access network gateway can be sent to this business request information the network element device relevant with this business; (c) described network element device returns service response message to this service access network gateway; (d) institute's service access network gateway sends this service response message to serving BS; (e) serving BS sends this service response message to mobile radio station; Further comprise: after described serving BS receives this service response message, start first timer, and after this first timer is overtime, discharge the idling-resource in the described serving BS, described first timer is located at service access network gateway described in this serving BS according to trigger condition, discharges the idling-resource in the described service access network gateway.

Of the present invention a kind of in the WiMAX system in the method for releasing idling-resource, described trigger condition is regularly a trigger condition, be provided with second timer in the described service access network gateway, the step of the idling-resource in the described release service access network gateway further comprises: when described IAD sends service response message to serving BS, start this second timer, after this second timer is overtime, discharge the idling-resource in the described service access network gateway.

Of the present invention a kind of in the WiMAX system in the method for releasing idling-resource, the timing length of described second timer is more than or equal to the timing length of first timer.

Of the present invention a kind of in the WiMAX system in the method for releasing idling-resource, described trigger condition is the message trigger condition, the step of the idling-resource in the described release service access network gateway further comprises: described service access network gateway receives the triggering message that the described idling-resource of indication from travelling carriage or the net equipment relevant with this business does not re-use, and discharges the idling-resource in the described service access network gateway.

Of the present invention a kind of in the WiMAX system in the method for releasing idling-resource, described idling-resource is the resource of the storage contextual information relevant with mobile radio station, and this resource is memory source or hard disk resource.

Of the present invention a kind of in the WiMAX system in the method for releasing idling-resource, described business request information is a handoff request message, described service response message is a switching response message, and the described network element device relevant with this business comprises: destination service access network gateway, anchor service access network gateway and at least one target BS.

Of the present invention a kind of in the WiMAX system in the method for releasing idling-resource, (e) further comprises afterwards in step: serving BS sends a switch acknowledgment message to the service access network gateway, and the service access network gateway sends to destination service access network gateway and target BS with this switch acknowledgment message.

Of the present invention a kind of in the WiMAX system in the method for releasing idling-resource, described triggering message is to confirm response message from the switching of target BS.

Of the present invention a kind of in the WiMAX system in the method for releasing idling-resource, described business request information discharges request message or mobile station information report message for removing login request message, data path, described service response message is that mobile station information response message, data path discharge response message or remove registration reply message, and the described network element device relevant with this business comprises: anchor service access network gateway, paging controller or location register authenticator.

A kind ofly in the WiMAX system, in the method for releasing idling-resource, it is characterized in that described triggering message is behind the timer expiry of described serving BS of the present invention, an overtime notification message of time that sends to the service access network gateway.

Implement of the present invention in the WiMAX system method of releasing idling context resource, has following beneficial effect: by the trigger condition (comprise and regularly triggering and message trigger) of determining to discharge idle context resource in serving BS and the service access network gateway, can overcome in the existing WiMAX system owing to there is not how releasing idling context resource of distinct definition, and taking place such as the situation that causes confusion between resource exhaustion and the network element device of causing.

Description of drawings

The invention will be further described below in conjunction with drawings and Examples, in the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is the network architecture diagram that WiMAX is applied to mobile communication;

Fig. 2 is the flow process that the handoff functionality of network work group second stage regulation transmits;

Fig. 3 is the flow chart that the MS of network work group second stage regulation enters idle pulley;

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are the flow charts that handoff functionality transmits among the present invention;

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are the flow charts that MS enters the method for idle pulley among the present invention.

Embodiment

The method of the present invention's releasing idling context resource in the WiMAX system is by regularly release or message trigger realize controlling the releasing idling context resource.Wherein, by regularly triggering the releasing idling context resource to be meant: in some cases, idle context resource need cooperate other network element devices to keep a period of time, after certain incident takes place other network element devices, could discharge, at this moment can adopt the timer corresponding with incident is set, when timer expiry and idle context resource when not being used discharges this context resource.And come the releasing idling context resource to be meant by message trigger: after certain incident takes place, receive the message of the correspondence of other network element devices transmissions, show that this idle contextual information can not be utilized again, discharge this context resource.

The method of these two kinds control free context resources is described respectively with different embodiment below.

In conjunction with Fig. 4 and shown in Figure 5, be the flow chart that handoff functionality of the present invention transmits.When MS in moving process, may need the area of coverage that moves to another BS (calling target BS in the following text) from one for the area of coverage of the serving BS of its service (SBS), then at this moment, SBS need send a handoff request message (HO Request) to the service access network gateway (SGW) that is its service, carry such as moving station mark the information of the tabulation of candidate target base station etc. in this handoff request message; And this SBS is sent to intended gateway (target GW) with this handoff request message, and this target GW reaches its target BS of administering 1 and target BS 2 with this handoff request message.2 pairs of these handoff request message of target BS 1 and target BS respond, and switching response message (HO Response) sent back to target GW, carry in this switching response message such as the information that whether allows to indicate, if, also can carry the switching sign of distribution, the information such as time of incision target BS for allowing.And target GW returns back to SGW and SBS with this switching response message.Then which target BS MS will switch to according to the switching response message of this answer with definite, and a switching acknowledge message (HO Confirm) is sent to the target BS that SGW, target GW will switch to until this MS.After SBS sent switch acknowledgment message, the system resource that starts wherein kept timer (System Resource_Retein_Time calls first timer in the following text); In the overtime back of this first timer (the timing length of this first timer can be the minimum period that MS switches back), expression MS can not switch and gets back on this SBS, then the contextual information on SBS this moment has become idle contextual information, then can discharge SBS and go up corresponding idle context resource.The contextual information that also may still keep at this moment, corresponding MS on the SGW.

In the present invention, can adopt and regularly trigger or the mode of message trigger discharges idle context resource on the SGW.Referring to Fig. 4, in the timing trigger method, a system resource need also be set on SGW keep timer (System Resource_Retain_Time calls second timer in the following text), the timing length of this second timer is greater than or equals the timing length of the first timer of SBS.When receiving switch acknowledgment message on the SGW, start this second timer, when second timer overtime but do not receive from MS handover cancelling (indicated in the switch acknowledgment message that this handover cancelling is upwards sent by MS), then system's reentry (referring to that MS gets back to reset condition or handover cancelling from idle pulley) waits for the arrival of news, representing then that this SGW goes up has become idle contextual information to contextual information that should MS, and can discharge idle context resource corresponding among the SGW this moment.

Referring to Fig. 5, in the method for message trigger, when target BS is received switch acknowledgment message from MS, it can return one and switch affirmation response message (HO Confirm Response), when described SGW receives that response message is confirmed in switching, showing then that MS has reentried in target BS finishes, and represents then that this SGW goes up contextual information that should MS has been become idle contextual information, then discharges SGW and goes up corresponding idle context resource.

As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, be the flow chart that MS enters the method for idle pulley among the present invention.Mobile radio station (MS) is when desiring to enter idle pulley, at first send to its serving BS (SBS) and go login request message (DREG_REG), the trigger data path discharges handling process: send data path and discharge request message (Data Path Rel Req) to being the service access network gateway (SGW) of its service.Data path discharges request and comprises such as moving station mark (MSID), idle pulley reservation information (Idle Mode RetainInformation), mobile station information and Base Station Identification (BSID).Include the message that the request of being used to refer to enters the data path release of idle pulley in the idle pulley reservation information.Gateway SGW sends it to anchor service access network gateway (AGW) after receiving this data path release request message; AGW sends a mobile station information report message (MS info Report) and gives paging controller/location register authenticator (PC/LR Authenticator, call the PC/LR authenticator in the following text), wherein mobile station information comprises traffic stream identifier (SFID), connection identifier (CID) etc.The PC/LR authenticator distributes PG ID (Paging Group ID paging group sign) according to the BSID in the mobile station information report message, upgrade location register with current mobile station location information, and send a mobile station information response message (MS Info Response) to AGW.After AGW receives this mobile station information response message,, then send data path and discharge response message to service Access Service Network Gateway (SGW) if enter idle pulley.SGW sends this data path and discharges response message to SBS.Receive this data path and discharge response message, SBS can send one and go log-in command (DREG-CMD) to give MS.

In the present invention, can adopt and regularly trigger or the mode of message trigger discharges idle context resource on the SGW.Referring to Fig. 6, in adopting regularly trigger method, in SBS, need to be provided with a system resource and keep timer (calling first timer in the following text), after SBS receives that data path discharges response, can open this first timer, after first timer is overtime, represent that then the contextual information about this MS has become idle contextual information among the SBS, can discharge with SBS in corresponding idle context resource.And a system resource also is set on SWS keeps timer (calling second timer in the following text), the timing length of this second timer is greater than or equals the timing length of the first timer of SBS, when SGW after MS sends data path and discharges response message, can start this second timer.Overtime at second timer, and do not receive message or the incident that reactivates idle contextual information, then discharge the idle context resource among the SGW.

Referring to Fig. 7, in the method for message trigger, in SBS, be provided with first timer equally, but in SGW, do not establish second timer.After SBS receives that data path discharges response message, can start first timer wherein, after first timer is overtime, represent that then the contextual information about this MS has become idle contextual information among the SBS, discharge with SBS in corresponding context resource.And send an overtime notification message (Time out Notify) to SGW, after SGW receives this overtime notification message, know that the contextual information about this MS among this SGW has become idle contextual information, and can not be used, so discharge idle context resource corresponding among the SGW.

Above-mentioned according to Fig. 4 to the embodiment of Fig. 7, show and in the WiMAX system, switch and MS when carrying out idle condition, control discharges the process of idle context resource among SBS and the SGW.The invention is not restricted to above-mentioned two kinds of processes, when MS carries out other service request, also can adopt the mode of regularly triggering and message trigger to control the idle context resource that discharges among SBS and the SGW.

The present invention is by determining to discharge the trigger condition of idle context resource among SBS and the SGW, can overcome in the existing WiMAX system owing to there is not how releasing idling context resource of distinct definition, and cause such as: the situation that causes confusion between resource exhaustion and the network element device takes place.

Claims

1. A method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system, comprising:

(a) The mobile station sends a service request message to the serving base station;

(b) The serving base station sends the service request message to the service access network gateway, and the service access network gateway sends the service request message to a network element device related to the service;

(c) The network element device returns a service response message to the service access network gateway;

(d) The served access network gateway transmits the service response message to the serving base station;

(e) The serving base station transmits the service response message to the mobile station;

It is characterized in that it further includes:

After receiving the service response message, the serving base station starts a first timer, and after the first timer expires, releases idle resources in the serving base station, and the first timer is set in the serving base station ;

The serving access network gateway releases idle resources in the serving access network gateway according to a trigger condition.

2. A method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system according to claim 1, wherein the trigger condition is a timing trigger condition, and the service access network gateway is provided with a second timer, so The step of releasing idle resources in the service access network gateway further includes:

When the serving access network gateway transmits the service response message to the serving base station, the second timer is started, and after the second timer expires, idle resources in the serving access network gateway are released.

3. A method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system according to claim 2, characterized in that the timing length of the second timer is greater than or equal to the timing length of the first timer.

4. A method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system according to claim 1, wherein the trigger condition is a message trigger condition, and the step of releasing idle resources in the serving access network gateway further comprises :

The serving access network gateway receives a trigger message indicating that the idle resources are no longer used from the mobile station or a network element device related to the service, and releases the idle resources in the serving access network gateway.

5. The method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the idle resources are resources storing context information related to the mobile station, and the resources are memory resources or Hard disk resources.

6. The method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system according to claim 4, wherein the service request message is a handover request message, the service response message is a handover response message, and the service-related The network element equipment includes: a target service access network gateway, an anchor service access network gateway and at least one target base station.

7. The method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system according to claim 6, further comprising: after step (e), the serving base station sends a handover confirmation message to the serving access network gateway, and the serving access network The gateway sends the handover confirmation message to the target service access network gateway and the target base station.

8. The method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system according to claim 7, wherein the trigger message is a handover confirmation response message from the target base station.

9. The method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system according to claim 4, wherein the service request message is a de-registration request message, a data path release request message or a mobile station information report message, and the service response The message is a mobile station information response message, a data path release response message or a deregistration response message, and the network element equipment related to this service includes: an anchor service access network gateway, a paging controller or a location register authenticator.

10. The method for releasing idle resources in a WiMAX system according to claim 9, wherein the trigger message is a time-out message sent to the serving access network gateway after the timer of the serving base station expires notification message.