CN103813370B - The method set up and safeguarded for the automatic neighbor lists of WLAN - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a method for establishing and maintaining the WLAN automatic neighbor list in the coexistence environment of the cellular network and the WLAN network. The method comprises the following steps: b. sending a first message to the user equipment, which instructs the user equipment to measure the signal strength of the WLAN network; c. receiving a second message from the user equipment, which includes a service set identifier of the WLAN network; d. according to the The received SSID of the WLAN network requests the configuration information corresponding to the SSID of the WLAN network from the OAM; e receives the configuration information corresponding to the SSID of the WLAN network from the OAM; f. establishes the first WLAN network automatic neighbor The list includes the SSID of the WLAN network and configuration information corresponding to the SSID of the WLAN network. The present invention realizes the establishment and maintenance of the automatic neighbor list between the cellular network and the WLAN without too much manual configuration, and the present invention also facilitates the overall network load balancing and interference management of the cellular network through exchanging WLAN information between base stations .

Description

Method for establishing and maintaining WLAN automatic neighbor list

technical field

The invention relates to mobile communication technology, in particular to a method for establishing and maintaining a WLAN automatic neighbor list in a coexistence environment of a cellular network and a WLAN network, so as to assist in realizing network self-optimization and self-configuration.

Background technique

In order to meet the ever-increasing network communication traffic, mobile operators rely more and more on WLAN technology. Due to the widespread distribution of WLAN technology and the availability of good spectrum, deploying multiple WLAN access points in a cellular network can effectively offload network traffic and provide various services.

However, the deployment of a cellular network with multiple WLAN access points increases the burden of control and management on the operator. The management of the WLAN network in the cellular network often requires manual intervention by operators, so it cannot effectively achieve network self-optimization. Self-configuration.

In the prior art, 3GPP realizes the combination of WLAN and 3GPP in the core network (3GPP TS 23.402v11.2.0). However, this approach only focuses on how to implement integrated management of the WLAN network and the cellular network at the core network side. For example, it focuses on the interaction via S2a, S2b, and S2c interfaces, but does not provide a solution for integrating WLAN and cellular networks to achieve network self-optimization and self-configuration at the air interface level.

On the other hand, 3GPP defines an automatic neighbor relation function (automatic neighbor relation function), whose goal is to establish neighbors for Intra-LTE cells and 3GPP Inter-RAT cells (including UTRAN, GERAN and CDMA2000). In addition, 3GPP also defines an X2 interface, which is used for exchanging configuration information between the serving cell and neighboring cells. However, neither the automatic neighbor establishment function nor the X2 interface involves the cellular network and the WLAN network, that is, the automatic neighbor establishment function cannot detect the adjacent WLAN network for the cellular network, and the X2 interface cannot be used for the adjacent WLAN network. Cells exchange their own WLAN network information.

Contents of the invention

It can be seen that the existing solutions mentioned in the background technology focus on how to implement the integrated management of the WLAN network and the cellular network on the core network side, but do not provide the information on the cellular network configured with the WLAN network at the air interface level. How to effectively realize the network self-optimization and self-configuration scheme under the situation. In addition, the automatic neighbor establishment function and the X2 interface in the existing 3GPP standards do not involve the situation of a cellular network configured with a WLAN network.

In order to solve the problems in the background technology, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for establishing and maintaining an automatic neighbor list of a WLAN network in a first base station in an environment where a cellular network and a WLAN network coexist, wherein, in the Including at least one WLAN network in the cellular network, the method includes the following steps: b. sending a first message to the user equipment, the first message instructing the user equipment to measure the signal strength of the WLAN network; c. from the user equipment receiving a second message, the second message including the service set identifier of the WLAN network; d. requesting configuration information corresponding to the service set identifier of the WLAN network from OAM according to the received service set identifier of the WLAN network; e receiving from the OAM the configuration information corresponding to the SSID of the WLAN network; and f. establishing a first WLAN network automatic neighbor list, the first WLAN network automatic neighbor list including the services of the WLAN network A set identifier and the configuration information corresponding to the service set identifier of the WLAN network.

Preferably, g. sending a third message to the second base station, the third message including the established automatic neighbor list of the first WLAN network; h. receiving a fourth message from the second base station, the fourth message including A second WLAN network automatic neighbor list established by the second base station; and i. merging the first WLAN network automatic neighbor list and the second WLAN network automatic neighbor list into a third WLAN network automatic neighbor list.

Preferably, the method further includes step j: when the first WLAN network automatic neighbor list is updated, updating the third WLAN network automatic neighbor list according to the updated first WLAN network automatic neighbor list, and Sending a fifth message to the second base station, where the fifth message includes the updated automatic neighbor list of the first WLAN network.

Preferably, the method further comprises steps k and 1: step k. receiving a sixth message from the second base station, the sixth message including the second WLAN network automatic neighbor list updated by the second base station; and Step 1. Update the third WLAN network automatic neighbor list according to the updated second WLAN network automatic neighbor list.

Preferably, the method includes step a: a. When the user equipment accesses the cellular network, send configuration information to the user equipment through an RRC connection, the configuration information includes a signal strength for measuring the WLAN network predetermined threshold.

Preferably, the first message further includes configuration information, and the configuration information includes a predetermined threshold for measuring the signal strength of the WLAN network.

Preferably, when there is an X2 interface between the first base station and the second base station, the third message and the fifth message are sent through the X2 interface, and the fourth message and the The sixth message is received through the X2 interface.

Preferably, when there is no X2 interface between the first base station and the second base station, the first base station sends the third message and the fifth message to the second base station through the S1 interface via MME two base stations, and the first base station receives the fourth message and the sixth message from the second base station via the MME through the S1 interface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for establishing and maintaining an automatic neighbor list of a WLAN network in a user equipment in a coexistence environment of a cellular network and a WLAN network is proposed, wherein the cellular network includes at least one WLAN network, the method includes the following steps: B. receiving a first message from a base station, the first message instructing the user equipment to measure the signal strength of the WLAN network; C. measuring the signal strength of the WLAN network according to the first message signal strength; and D. when the signal strength of the WLAN network is greater than a predetermined threshold for measuring the signal strength of the WLAN network, sending a second message to the base station, the second message including The service set identifier of the WLAN network.

Preferably, before step B, the method further includes step A: A. When the user equipment accesses the cellular network, receive configuration information from the base station through an RRC connection, the configuration information includes A predetermined threshold of signal strength of the WLAN network.

Preferably, the first message further includes configuration information, and the configuration information includes a predetermined threshold for measuring the signal strength of the WLAN network.

Through the preferred technical solution provided by the present invention, the automatic neighbor establishment function and neighbor information interaction function defined in 3GPP can be extended to the coexistence network of cellular network and WLAN. Each base station in the cellular network can obtain the situation of the WLAN network in the cell under its jurisdiction in a timely manner, and establish a WLAN network list for the cell under its jurisdiction, thus realizing the WLAN network in the cell under its jurisdiction without manual configuration. management, which is beneficial to cell load balancing and interference control.

In addition, each base station can also exchange its own WLAN network list, so that each base station will eventually have a list of adjacent WLAN networks of adjacent cells, which makes it easier for subsequent network load balancing and interference management of the overall cellular network. It does not require too much manual configuration, improves management efficiency, and finally realizes self-optimization and self-configuration of the coexistence network of the cellular network and the WLAN.

Various aspects of the present invention will be clarified through the description of specific embodiments below.

Description of drawings

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by reading the detailed description of non-limiting embodiments made with reference to the following drawings:

Figure 1 shows a network topology diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a system method for establishing an automatic neighbor list according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a system method for base stations to interact and integrate automatic neighbor lists; and

Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a system method for maintaining and updating an automatic neighbor list.

In the figures, the same or similar reference numerals designate the same or corresponding parts or features throughout the different views.

detailed description

Fig. 1 shows a network topology diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , two cells governed by base station A and base station B are shown. Wherein, the cells under the jurisdiction of the base station A and the base station B are adjacent cells. In the cell under the jurisdiction of base station A, two WLAN networks are configured, that is, WLAN1 and WLAN2. In the cell under the jurisdiction of the base station B, a WLAN network, that is, WLAN3, is configured. It should be pointed out that the network topology diagram here is only exemplary and not restrictive. For example, although the cell of base station A in FIG. 1 contains two WLAN networks, the cell of base station A can Configure any number of WLAN networks.

Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of a system method for establishing an automatic neighbor list according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 describes the interaction process between the base station and the user equipment by taking the base station A and the user equipment A as examples. The interaction process between base station A and user equipment B, and the interaction process between base station B and user equipment C are similar to the interaction process between base station A and user equipment A, which will not be described in detail here.

As shown in FIG. 2, in step S201, when user equipment A enters a cell under the jurisdiction of base station A, base station A will send configuration information to user equipment A through an RRC connection, and the configuration information includes parameters for measuring the signal strength of the WLAN network. predetermined threshold.

When the base station A needs to request the user equipment in the cell to measure the signal strength of the WLAN network, the base station A will implement step S202. In step S202, base station A will send a first message to user equipment A, and the first message instructs user equipment A to measure the signal strength of the WLAN network.

Alternatively, the first message may further include configuration information including a predetermined threshold for measuring the signal strength of the WLAN network. In this case, step S201 may not be implemented, and base station A may notify user equipment A of a predetermined threshold for measuring the signal strength of the WLAN network while instructing user equipment A to measure the signal strength of the WLAN network.

Next in step S203, user equipment A measures the signal strength of the WLAN network according to the first message. In this step, user equipment A may measure the signal strength of its surrounding WLAN network.

Then, in step S204, when the signal strength of the WLAN network is greater than a predetermined threshold for measuring the signal strength of the WLAN network, the user equipment A sends a second message to the base station A, and the second message includes the signal of the WLAN network greater than the predetermined threshold Service set ID. Specifically, referring to FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, user equipment A measures that the signal strength of WLAN1 is greater than a predetermined threshold. User equipment A will acquire a service set identifier (Service Set Identifier, SSID) SSID1 of WLAN1, and send it to base station A.

In step S205, base station A will request configuration information corresponding to the WLAN network SSID from the operator's OAM (Operation Administration and Maintenance) plane according to the received WLAN network SSID. In this embodiment, base station A will request configuration information corresponding to SSID1 from OAM.

In step S206, base station A receives configuration information corresponding to the SSID of the WLAN network from the operator's OAM plane. In this embodiment, base station A acquires configuration information 1 corresponding to SSID1 from OAM.

In step S207, base station A establishes a first automatic neighbor list of the WLAN network according to the SSID of the WLAN network and configuration information corresponding to the SSID of the WLAN network.

As mentioned above, the above steps can also be applied to the interaction process between user equipment B and base station A. That is, the user equipment B also sends to the base station A the SSID2 of the WLAN2 whose measured signal strength is greater than the predetermined threshold. And base station A will also obtain configuration information 2 corresponding to SSID2 from the OAM plane. Therefore, in step S207, in this embodiment, base station A will finally establish a first WLAN network automatic neighbor list representing the WLAN network in the cell under its jurisdiction, as shown in the following table:

Table 1

That is, here, the first WLAN network automatic neighbor list of base station A includes SSIDs of WLAN networks in the cell under its jurisdiction, and configuration information corresponding to each SSID. Thus, the base station A can specify how many WLAN networks exist in the cell under its jurisdiction, thereby facilitating subsequent load balancing in the cell, thereby effectively assisting in realizing network self-optimization and self-configuration.

At the same time, the base station B in charge of another cell may also establish the automatic neighbor list of the second WLAN network in the cell under its charge in a similar manner. As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the number of WLANs in the cell under the jurisdiction of base station B is 1, and the automatic neighbor list of the second WLAN network established by it is as follows:

base station B SSID3 configuration information 3

Table 2

Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of a system method for base stations to interact and integrate automatic neighbor lists. FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 . As shown in FIG. 3 , base station A and base station B will exchange the WLAN network automatic neighbor lists obtained respectively.

In step S301, base station A sends a third message to base station B, where the third message includes the automatic neighbor list of the first WLAN network established by base station A, that is, Table 1.

In step S302, base station B will send a fourth message to base station A in response to the third message, and the fourth message includes the second WLAN network automatic neighbor list established by base station B, that is, Table 2.

Here, when there is an X2 interface between the base station A and the base station B, the third message and the fourth message exchanged in step S301 and step S301 may be implemented through the X2 interface. Table 3 shows the format of the third message, the X2 setup request message. Table 4 shows the format of the fourth message, that is, the X2 Setup Response message. Here, the present invention extends the use of the X2 interface defined in the standard to exchange WLAN information in individual cells.

Table 3 X2 establishment request message

Table 3 X2 establishment response message

Alternatively, when there is no X2 interface between base station A and base station B, the third message and the fourth message exchanged in step S301 and step S302 may be transmitted by means of a Mobility Management Entity (MME). That is, the base station A sends the third message to the MME through the S1 interface, and the MME sends the third message to the base station B. Likewise, base station B sends the fourth message to MME, and MME sends the fourth message to base station A.

In step S303, base station A merges the first WLAN network automatic neighbor list and the received second WLAN network automatic neighbor list into a third WLAN network automatic neighbor list, as shown in the following table:

Table 4

Similarly, base station B also merges the second WLAN network automatic neighbor list and the received first WLAN network automatic neighbor list into a fourth WLAN network automatic neighbor list, which is also shown in Table 4. Therefore, in the end, each base station in the cellular network system will automatically have a WLAN network list of neighboring cells, thereby facilitating effective control of resources without excessive manual intervention.

Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a system method for maintaining and updating an automatic neighbor list. FIG. 3 will be described still with reference to FIG. 2 .

As shown in Figure 4, in step S401, when the first WLAN network automatic neighbor list is updated, base station A will update the third WLAN network automatic neighbor list according to the updated first WLAN network automatic neighbor list, and send the B sends a fifth message including the updated automatic neighbor list of the first WLAN network. Here, the update of the so-called automatic neighbor list of the first WLAN network may include any changes to the WLAN network list, for example, a new WLAN network is configured in the cell under the jurisdiction of the base station A or a WLAN network is missing, or a certain WLAN network The configuration information of the network has changed.

Therefore, base station A may send the current latest WLAN network automatic neighbor list to base station B, so that base station B updates the fourth WLAN network automatic neighbor list at base station B with the latest first WLAN network automatic neighbor list.

Similarly, in step S402, when the automatic neighbor list of the second WLAN network established by the base station B is updated, the base station B also sends the updated automatic neighbor list of the second WLAN network to the base station A.

Here, similar to the third message and the fourth message exchanged in step S301 and step S301, when there is an X2 interface between base station A and base station B, the fifth message and sixth message exchanged in step S401 and step S402 can pass X2 interface implementation. However, when there is no X2 interface between base station A and base station B, the fifth message and sixth message exchanged in step S401 and step S402 may be transmitted by means of a mobility management entity.

In step S403, base station A updates the third WLAN network automatic neighbor list according to the updated second WLAN network automatic neighbor list.

Through steps S401 to S403, it is ensured that each base station has the latest WLAN network list, thereby further facilitating network self-optimization and self-configuration.

It should be pointed out here that steps S401 to S403 are only optional steps, and the corresponding steps are performed only when the WLAN network list in the cell managed by the base station is updated. Moreover, there is no specific order for steps S401, S402 and step 403. Here, only the following method needs to be followed, that is, if the WLAN network list under the jurisdiction of any base station is updated, it not only needs to update the third WLAN network list itself, but also needs to inform other base stations of its updated WLAN network list.

In addition, it should be pointed out that although only the interaction process between base station A and base station B is described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , this interaction process can be extended to base station A and any base station adjacent to base station A, In this way, a unified WLAN network list is implemented in the entire cellular network, so as to facilitate subsequent operations such as load balancing and interference management.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments are only exemplary, rather than limiting the present invention. Any technical solution that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention, which includes the use of different technical features in different embodiments, devices and methods that can be combined to achieve beneficial effects. Furthermore, any reference sign in a claim should not be construed as limiting the claim concerned; the word "comprising" does not exclude other claims or means or steps not listed in the description.

Claims (11)

1. it is a kind of in Cellular Networks with being built in the first base station in wlan network coexisted environment for the automatic neighbor list of wlan network Method that is vertical and safeguarding, wherein, include at least one wlan network in the Cellular Networks, methods described comprises the following steps：

B. first message is sent to user equipment, the first message indicates that the signal of the user equipment measurement wlan network is strong Degree；

C. the second message is received from the user equipment, second message includes the service set of wlan network；

D. institute is corresponded to the request of Operation, Administration and Maintenance OAM planes according to the service set of received wlan network State the configuration information of the service set of wlan network；

E. the configuration information of the service set corresponding to the wlan network is received from the OAM planes；And

F. the automatic neighbor list of the first wlan network is set up, the automatic neighbor list of the first wlan network includes the WLAN nets The service set of network and the configuration information corresponding with the service set of the wlan network.

2. according to the method described in claim 1, it is characterised in that methods described also includes step g, h and i:

G. the 3rd message is sent to the second base station, the 3rd message includes the automatic neighbours' row of the first set up wlan network Table；

H. the 4th message is received from second base station, the 4th message includes the 2nd WLAN that second base station is set up The automatic neighbor list of network；And

I. the automatic neighbor list of the first wlan network and the automatic neighbor list of the second wlan network are merged into the 3rd The automatic neighbor list of wlan network.

3. method according to claim 2, it is characterised in that methods described also includes step j:

J., will be automatic according to the first wlan network being updated over when the automatic neighbor list of the first wlan network updates Neighbor list sends the 5th message, institute to update the automatic neighbor list of the 3rd wlan network to second base station Stating the 5th message includes the updated automatic neighbor list of the first wlan network.

4. method according to claim 3, it is characterised in that methods described also includes step k and l：

K. the 6th message is received from second base station, the 6th message includes the 2nd WLAN updated through second base station The automatic neighbor list of network；And

L. the automatic neighbor list of the 3rd wlan network is updated according to the updated automatic neighbor list of the second wlan network.

5. method according to claim 4, it is characterised in that before the step b, methods described includes step a：

A. when user equipment accesses the Cellular Networks, connected by RRC to the user equipment send configuration information, it is described to match somebody with somebody Confidence breath includes being used to measure the predetermined threshold of the signal intensity of the wlan network.

6. method according to claim 4, it is characterised in that the first message also includes configuration information, the configuration Information includes being used to measure the predetermined threshold of the signal intensity of the wlan network.

7. method according to claim 4, it is characterised in that exist when between the first base station and second base station During X2 interface, the 3rd message and the 5th message are sent by the X2 interface, and the 4th message and 6th message is received by the X2 interface.

8. method according to claim 4, it is characterised in that do not deposited when between the first base station and second base station In X2 interface, the first base station is sent the 3rd message and the 5th message to institute via MME by S1 interfaces State the second base station, and the first base station receives described the via the MME by the S1 interfaces from second base station Four message and the 6th message.

9. it is a kind of in Cellular Networks with being built in the user equipment in wlan network coexisted environment for the automatic neighbor list of wlan network Method that is vertical and safeguarding, wherein, include at least one wlan network in the Cellular Networks, methods described comprises the following steps：

B. first message is received from base station, the first message indicates that the user equipment measures the signal intensity of wlan network；

C. according to the first message, the signal intensity of the wlan network is measured；And

D. when the signal intensity of the wlan network is more than the predetermined threshold for the signal intensity for being used for measuring the wlan network, The second message is sent to the base station, second message includes the services set mark of the wlan network more than the predetermined threshold Know, the service set of the wlan network is used to obtain the service set for corresponding to the wlan network by the base station Configuration information and it is included the automatic neighbor list of the first wlan network set up by the base station.

10. method according to claim 9, it is characterised in that before step B, methods described also includes step A:

A. when the user equipment accesses the Cellular Networks, configuration information is received from the base station by RRC connections, it is described to match somebody with somebody Confidence breath includes being used to measure the predetermined threshold of the signal intensity of the wlan network.

11. method according to claim 9, it is characterised in that the first message also includes configuration information, the configuration Information includes being used to measure the predetermined threshold of the signal intensity of the wlan network.