CN105338584A - Method for returning to LTE network and device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a method and device for returning to an LTE network, and relates to the field of communication technology. In order to solve the problem in the prior art that in the CSFB user inter-MSC handover scenario, the voice service can only be reselected by the 3G The network fell back to the LTE network, and the problem of large delay was invented. Wherein, the method includes: when the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current MSC ends, the current MSC acquires the attachment status type of the user equipment through the initial MSC; when the attachment status type is joint attachment, the current MSC sends the radio network controller RNC An Iu connection release message, the Iu connection release message carries a circuit domain fallback CSFB indication field, the value of the CSFB indication field is the first value, so that the RNC instructs the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network. The present invention is applied in the process of voice service in LTE network.

Description

A method and device for returning to an LTE network

technical field

The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies, in particular to a method and device for returning to an LTE network.

Background technique

At present, in the LTE network, when a voice call service is initiated, the CSFB (CircuitSwitchFallBack) technology is usually used to drop the LTE voice call service to the 2G (2ndGeneration) network or 3G (3rdGeneration) network, and the service is provided through the 2G/3G network. Voice service; in the 3G network, when the voice call service is over, the fast return (Fast Return) technology based on the mobile switching center (MobileSwitchingCenter, MSC) is used to pass the information of the frequency point of the LTE cell through the radio resource control (RadioResourceControl, RRC) The connection release message is sent to the user equipment, so as to shorten the time for the user equipment (UserEquipment, UE) to return to the LTE network as much as possible.

However, in the prior art, if the user equipment is switched from the initial MSC to another MSC during a call, it can only fall back from the 3G network to the LTE network through the process of cell reselection after the voice service ends. The time delay of this process larger.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a method and device for returning to the LTE network, which can reduce the time delay for user equipment to fall back from the 3G network to the LTE network in the application scenario where MSC handover occurs.

To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

A method of returning to an LTE network comprising:

After the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current mobile switching center MSC ends, the current MSC obtains the attachment state type of the user equipment through the initial MSC;

When the attachment status type is joint attachment, the current MSC sends an Iu connection release message to the radio network controller RNC, and the Iu connection release message carries a circuit domain fallback CSFB indication field, and the value of the CSFB indication field is the first One value, so that the RNC instructs the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network.

A method of returning to an LTE network comprising:

After the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current MSC ends, the RNC starts a timer for timing;

If before the timing ends, the RNC receives the Iu connection release message sent by the current MSC, then judges the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message;

When the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message is the first value, the user equipment is instructed to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network.

A device for returning to an LTE network, said device being applied to a current MSC, comprising:

The obtaining unit is used to obtain the attachment state type of the user equipment through the initial MSC after the voice service performed by the user equipment is over;

A sending unit, configured to send an Iu connection release message to the RNC when the attachment state type is joint attachment, the Iu connection release message carries a CSFB indication field, and the value of the CSFB indication field is a first value, so that The RNC instructs the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network.

A kind of device that returns LTE network, and described device is applied to RNC, comprises:

A timing unit, configured to start a timer for timing when the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current MSC ends;

Judging unit, used to judge the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message when the RNC receives the Iu connection release message sent by the current MSC before the timing ends;

A processing unit, configured to instruct the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network when the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message is the first value.

The method and device for returning to the LTE network provided by the present invention, in the scenario where the user equipment falls back from the LTE network to the 3G network and MSC handover occurs, after the voice service performed by the current MSC ends, the current MSC interacts with the initial MSC Obtain the attachment type of the user equipment, and when the user equipment is joint attached, the RNC instructs the user equipment to return to the LTE network through the method of fast fallback. Compared with the prior art, the user returns to the LTE network through cell reselection. The invention can reduce the time delay for the user equipment to fall back from the 3G network to the LTE network, and realize the rapid return of the user equipment to the LTE network.

Description of drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings that need to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description are only These are some embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can also obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative work.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for returning to an LTE network provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of another method for returning to an LTE network provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of another method for returning to the LTE network provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of another method for returning to an LTE network provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for returning to an LTE network provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of another device for returning to an LTE network provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solution in this embodiment with reference to the drawings in this embodiment. Obviously, the described embodiment is only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, but not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

The present invention is mainly applied in the 3G network. In the 3G network, the network architecture corresponding to the method of returning to the LTE network provided by the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 , specifically includes: MSC1 and its corresponding RNC1, and multiple base stations corresponding to the RNC1 (only base station 1 and base station 2 are shown in the figure), MSC2 and its corresponding RNC2, and multiple base stations corresponding to RNC2 (only base station 3 and base station 4 are shown in the figure). In addition, the network architecture also includes a home location register (HomeLocationRegister, HLR), which is mainly responsible for the database of mobile user management, stores and records the subscription data of users in the jurisdiction area, and dynamically updates the location information of users. Exchange information with the MSC through the MAPD interface. Both MSC1 and MSC2 can communicate with the HLR.

Combining with the above network architecture, the application scenario of the present invention is that the user equipment that falls back from the LTE network to the 3G network performs MSC handover during the execution of the voice service. For example: when the user equipment falls back from the LTE network to the 3G network, it may be located in the coverage area of base station 1 or base station 2. When the voice service is in the process of switching to the coverage area of base station 3 or base station 4, it indicates that the user equipment corresponds to The MSC is handed over from MSC1 to MSC2, that is, MSC handover occurs.

Combining the above application scenarios and network architecture, the embodiment of the present invention provides a method of returning to the LTE network, which is mainly applied on the MSC side, as shown in Figure 2, including:

101: After the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current mobile switching center MSC ends, the current MSC acquires the attachment state type of the user equipment through the initial MSC.

Wherein, the current MSC is the MSC after handover, and the initial MSC referred to is the corresponding MSC when the user equipment initially attaches to the 3G network from the LTE network. The attachment state type referred to can be joint attachment, indicating that the user equipment supports CSFB; it can also be a simple evolved packet system (Evolved Packet System, EPS) attachment, indicating that the user equipment is an ordinary LTE user equipment, which can only perform LTE services and does not support CSFB Wait.

Generally speaking, the user equipment camped on the LTE boot will initiate a joint EPS/IMSI attach process to the mobility management entity (MobilityManagementEntity, MME) and MSC after booting; The type of the procedure; when the type is combined-attach, it indicates that the user equipment supports CSFB.

102: When the attachment status type is joint attachment, the current MSC sends an Iu connection release message to the RNC, the Iu connection release message carries a circuit domain fallback CSFB indication field, and the value of the CSFB indication field is the first value, so that the RNC instructs the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network.

Among them, fast return (Fast Return) refers to a technology that uses CSFB technology to return to the LTE network from the LTE network to the 3G user after the end of the 3G voice service. Technology refers to the method for the terminal to return to LTE through receiving system information, measurement and judgment, random access process, location update and other processes. In the fast fallback technology, the network side equipment continuously measures the frequency point information of the LTE network during the voice service period and carries the LTE frequency point information obtained from the last measurement in the RRC connection release message. The LTE frequency point information triggers the process of autonomously returning to LTE. Compared with the cell reselection technology, it saves a lot of measurement and judgment, location update and other processes, so it can shorten the delay of the user equipment returning to the LTE network as much as possible.

The CSFB indication field referred to in this step is a newly added field in the embodiment of the present invention. When the value of this field is the first value, for example: the value is 1, then it indicates that the user equipment is a CSFB user; when When the value of this field is the second value, it indicates that the user equipment is a common user equipment and does not support CSFB.

In the specific implementation process of this step, the current MSC sends an Iu connection release message to the RNC, and the Iu connection release message carries the circuit domain fallback CSFB indication field; the RNC receives the Iu connection release message, parses the message, and obtains The value of the CSFB indication field, when the value is the first value, according to the Iu connection release message, instruct the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network.

In the method of returning to the LTE network provided by the present invention, in the scenario where the user equipment falls back from the LTE network to the 3G network and MSC handover occurs, after the voice service performed by the current MSC ends, the current MSC interacts with the initial MSC to obtain the user The attachment type of the device, and when the user equipment is jointly attached, the RNC instructs the user equipment to return to the LTE network through the method of fast fallback. Compared with the prior art, the user returns to the LTE network through the method of cell reselection, the present invention can Reduce the delay of the user equipment falling back from the 3G network to the LTE network, and realize the rapid return of the user equipment to the LTE network.

In conjunction with the method shown in Figure 2, step 101 "the current MSC obtains the attachment state type of the user equipment through the initial MSC", as shown in Figure 3, specifically includes:

201: The current MSC sends a query message to the HLR, the query message includes the International Mobile Subscriber Identification Number (IMSI) of the user equipment, and is used to request the attachment status type of the user equipment.

202: After receiving the query message, the HLR searches for the initial MSC corresponding to the user equipment according to the IMSI, and sends a request message to the initial MSC, the request message includes the IMSI, and is used to request the The attachment state type of the user equipment.

203: The initial MSC returns the attachment state type of the user equipment to the HLR.

204: The current MSC receives the attachment state type of the user equipment forwarded by the HLR.

Corresponding to the method performed on the MSC side, the embodiment of the present invention also provides a method for returning to the LTE network, the method is applied to the RNC side, as shown in Figure 4, the method includes:

301: After the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current MSC ends, the RNC starts a timer to count time.

302: If the RNC receives the Iu connection release message sent by the current mobile switching center MSC before the timing expires, judge the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message.

303: When the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message is the first value, instruct the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network.

As a supplement, the timing time of the timer in step 301 can be set to an initial value according to the network conditions, such as 2s; then after step 301 is executed, if the RNC does not receive the Iu connection release message sent by the MSC before the timing ends , the failure process is recorded, and the number of failures recorded multiple times can be used to check whether the signaling process is wrong or to adjust the timing of the timer.

After step 302 is executed, when the Iu connection release message does not include the CSFB indication, it indicates that the user equipment is a common user equipment, and there is no need to return to the LTE network, and the voice service can be released normally.

In the method for returning to the LTE network applied to the RNC side provided by the embodiment of the present invention, after the RNC receives the Iu connection release message sent by the MSC within the timing time, by parsing the message, when the CSFB indication field in the message When the value is the first value, the user equipment can be instructed to measure LTE neighboring cells to perform a fast fallback procedure. In the prior art, since the handover MSC cannot perceive the attachment type of the user equipment, when the voice service ends, the Iu connection release message sent by the current MSC to the RNC cannot indicate to the RNC whether the current user equipment supports CSFB, and thus the user equipment Compared with being unable to return to the LTE network through fast fallback and only being able to return to the LTE network through the cell reselection process, the method provided by the embodiment of the present invention can shorten the time delay for the user equipment to return to the LTE network, and realize the rapid return of the user equipment to the LTE network.

As a practical application of the above method, the embodiment of the present invention also provides a schematic flowchart of a complete method for returning to the LTE network, as shown in FIG. 5 , the method includes:

401: When the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current MSC ends, the current MSC sends a MAPUE type inquiry (MAP_UE_TYPE_INFORMATION) message to the HLR, which mainly includes the IMSI corresponding to the user equipment, and is used to request the attachment status type of the user equipment.

Wherein, while executing step 401, the RNC side starts timing.

402: After receiving the message, the HLR finds the initial MSC corresponding to the user equipment according to the IMSI corresponding to the user equipment, and sends a MAPUE type sending request (MAP_SEND_UE_TYPE_INFORMATION_REQ) message to the initial MSC to request the initial MSC to provide the attachment status of the user equipment Types of.

403: The HLR receives a MAP UE type sending request acknowledgment (MAP_SEND_UE_TYPE_INFORMATION_ACK) message returned by the initial MSC, and the message includes the attachment state type of the user equipment.

404: The HLR returns a MAP UE type inquiry response (MAP_UE_TYPE_INFORMATION_ACK) to the current MSC, and the message includes the received attachment status type of the user equipment.

405: Before the timing ends, the current MSC sends an Iu connection release message (IuReleaseCommand) including a CSFB indication field to the RNC, and the value of the CSFB indication field is the first value.

406: After receiving the Iu connection release message, the RNC releases the bearer (BearerRelease) established for the voice service this time and instructs the user equipment to perform measurement of LTE neighboring cells to perform fast fallback technology and return to the LTE network.

407: The RNC sends an Iu release complete (IuReleaseComplete) message to the current MSC.

As a specific implementation of the methods shown in the above figures, the embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for returning to the LTE network, which is applied to the current mobile switching center MSC, as shown in Figure 6, the device includes:

The obtaining unit 501 is configured to obtain the attachment state type of the user equipment through the initial MSC after the voice service performed by the user equipment is over.

A sending unit 502, configured to send an Iu connection release message to the RNC when the attachment state type is joint attachment, the Iu connection release message carries a CSFB indication field, and the value of the CSFB indication field is a first value, so that The RNC instructs the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network.

In the device for returning to the LTE network provided by the embodiment of the present invention, in the scenario where the user equipment falls back from the LTE network to the 3G network and MSC handover occurs, after the voice service performed by the current MSC ends, the current MSC interacts with the initial MSC Obtain the attachment type of the user equipment, and when the user equipment is joint attached, the RNC instructs the user equipment to return to the LTE network through the method of fast fallback. Compared with the prior art, the user returns to the LTE network through cell reselection. The invention can reduce the time delay for the user equipment to fall back from the 3G network to the LTE network, and realize the rapid return of the user equipment to the LTE network.

Further, the acquiring unit 501 is specifically used for:

Send a query message to the home location register HLR, so that after the HLR receives the query message, it searches for the initial MSC corresponding to the user equipment and sends a request for requesting the attachment state type of the user equipment to the initial MSC information;

Receive the attachment state type of the user equipment forwarded by the HLR.

The embodiment of the present invention also provides a device for returning to the LTE network, which is applied to the radio network controller RNC. The device, as shown in FIG. 7 , includes:

The timing unit 601 is configured to start a timer for timing when the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current mobile switching center MSC ends.

The judging unit 602 is configured to judge the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message when the RNC receives the Iu connection release message sent by the current mobile switching center MSC before the timing ends.

The processing unit 603 is configured to instruct the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network when the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message is the first value.

In the device for returning to the LTE network applied to the RNC side provided by the embodiment of the present invention, after the RNC receives the Iu connection release message sent by the MSC within the timing time, by parsing the message, when the message includes the CSFB indication field When the value of is the first value, the user equipment can be instructed to measure the LTE neighboring cells to perform a fast fallback procedure. In the prior art, since the handover MSC cannot perceive the attachment type of the user equipment, when the voice service ends, the Iu connection release message sent by the current MSC to the RNC cannot indicate to the RNC whether the current user equipment supports CSFB, and thus the user equipment Compared with being unable to return to the LTE network through fast fallback and only being able to return to the LTE network through the process of cell reselection, the embodiments of the present invention can shorten the time delay for the user equipment to return to the LTE network, and realize the rapid return of the user equipment to the LTE network.

Through the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the present invention can be realized by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware, and of course also by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better embodiment . Based on this understanding, the essence of the technical solution of the present invention or the part that contributes to the prior art can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a readable storage medium, such as a floppy disk of a computer , a hard disk or an optical disk, etc., including several instructions for enabling a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in various embodiments of the present invention.

The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Anyone skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention. Should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. A method of returning to the LTE network, characterized in that, comprising: After the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current mobile switching center MSC ends, the current MSC obtains the attachment state type of the user equipment through the initial MSC; When the attachment status type is joint attachment, the current MSC sends an Iu connection release message to the radio network controller RNC, and the Iu connection release message carries a circuit domain fallback CSFB indication field, and the value of the CSFB indication field is the first One value, so that the RNC instructs the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current MSC acquires the attachment status type of the user equipment through the initial MSC, specifically comprising: The current MSC sends a query message to the home location register HLR, the query message is used to request the attachment state type of the user equipment, including the international mobile subscriber identity IMSI of the user equipment; After receiving the query message, the HLR searches for the initial MSC corresponding to the user equipment according to the IMSI, and sends a request message to the initial MSC, the request message includes the IMSI, and is used to request the user equipment to the type of attachment state; The initial MSC returns the attachment state type of the user equipment to the HLR; The current MSC receives the attachment state type of the user equipment forwarded by the HLR. 3. A method of returning to the LTE network, characterized in that, comprising: After the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current MSC ends, the RNC starts a timer for timing; If before the timing ends, the RNC receives the Iu connection release message sent by the current MSC, then judges the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message; When the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message is the first value, the user equipment is instructed to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network. 4. A device for returning to an LTE network, wherein the device is applied to a current MSC, including: The obtaining unit is used to obtain the attachment state type of the user equipment through the initial MSC after the voice service performed by the user equipment is over; A sending unit, configured to send an Iu connection release message to the RNC when the attachment state type is joint attachment, the Iu connection release message carries a CSFB indication field, and the value of the CSFB indication field is a first value, so that The RNC instructs the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network. 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the acquiring unit is specifically used for: Send a query message to the home location register HLR, so that after the HLR receives the query message, it searches for the initial MSC corresponding to the user equipment and sends a request for requesting the attachment state type of the user equipment to the initial MSC information; Receive the attachment state type of the user equipment forwarded by the HLR. 6. A kind of device that returns LTE network, is characterized in that, described device is applied to RNC, comprises: The timing unit is used to start the timer for timing when the voice service performed by the user equipment through the current MSC ends; Judging unit, used to judge the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message when the RNC receives the Iu connection release message sent by the current MSC before the timing ends; A processing unit, configured to instruct the user equipment to perform a fast fallback procedure to return to the LTE network when the value of the CSFB indication field in the Iu connection release message is the first value.