CN106060812A - Long term evolution technology base station and user equipment and preposed connection and authentication method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Long-term evolution technology base stations and user equipment and their pre-connection and authentication methods are used in wireless wide area network-wireless local area network aggregation architecture. In a carrier aggregation (CA) architecture, the Long Term Evolution technology base station is a primary unit of an evolved Node B (eNB) and a wireless LAN access point is a secondary unit of the eNB. In a dual connectivity (DC) architecture, the Long Term Evolution technology base station is a primary evolution Node B and the wireless LAN access point is a secondary evolution Node B. The method of pre-connection and pre-authentication of the Long Term Evolution technology base station includes the following steps. Receive wireless local area network information from a user equipment. Assists in a wireless LAN authentication process for user equipment. Command the user device to establish a wireless LAN connection with the wireless LAN access point.

Description

Long term evolution technology base station and user equipment and methods for front-end connection and authentication thereof

technical field

The present disclosure relates to a long-term evolution technology base station and user equipment of wireless wide area network-wireless local area network aggregation architecture and methods for pre-connection and pre-authentication.

Background technique

There are three aspects of the relationship between the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The first is no-coupling, that is, non-seamless. The second type is loose-coupling (3GPP TR 37.824), and IP Flow Mobility (IP FlowMobility, IFOM) is used in the 3GPP/WLAN Internet. However, since the integration point is located at the P-GW, it takes quite a long time and requires a huge burden to move the IP flow. The third is tight-coupling, that is, the RAN-level aggregation architecture (RAN-level Aggregation) (3GPP RP-142281), the evolved node B (eNB) can bearer handover or bearer offload data to the wireless local area network (WLAN).

With regard to the mobility of the UE, since the selection of the wireless access point must be decided by the UE, the authentication procedure of the WLAN is quite tedious. Usually the connection (association) takes tens of milliseconds, and the authentication (authentication) takes 1 to several seconds. This is a considerable challenge for seamless services (such as VoIP) of Multiple Radio Access Technology (multi-RAT) of LTE/WLAN.

Contents of the invention

The present disclosure relates to a long term evolution technology (Long Term Evolution, LTE) base station, user equipment and its front end of a wireless wide area network (WWAN)-wireless local area network (WLAN) aggregation architecture. Methods of pre-association and pre-authentication.

According to the present disclosure, a method for pre-connection and pre-authentication of a long term evolution technology base station of WWAN-WLAN aggregation architecture is proposed. In a carrier aggregation (CarrierAggregation, CA) architecture, the LTE base station is a main unit of an evolved node B (Evolved NodeB, eNB) and a wireless local area network access point (access point, AP) is the evolved node B A secondary unit. In a Dual Connectivity (DC) architecture, the LTE base station is a primary eNodeB and the WLAN access point is a secondary eNodeB. This method includes the following steps. A WLAN information is received from a user equipment (UE). A WLAN authentication procedure for assisting the UE. Commanding the user equipment to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a LTE base station of a WWAN-WLAN aggregation architecture is proposed. In a carrier aggregation architecture, the LTE base station is a primary unit of an eNodeB and a WLAN access point is a secondary unit of the eNodeB. In a dual connectivity architecture, the LTE base station is a primary eNodeB and the WLAN access point is a secondary eNodeB. The LTE base station is used for receiving a WLAN information from a UE. The LTE base station is also used to assist a WLAN authentication procedure of the UE. The LTE base station is also used to command the UE to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point.

According to another implementation example of the present disclosure, a method for pre-connection and pre-authentication of a user equipment in a wireless wide area network-wireless local area network aggregation architecture is proposed. In a carrier aggregation architecture, a LTE base station is a primary unit of an eNodeB and a WLAN access point is a secondary unit of the eNodeB. In a dual connectivity architecture, the LTE base station is a primary eNodeB and the WLAN access point is a secondary eNodeB. This method includes the following steps. The UE receives a command message from the LTE base station. Transmitting a WLAN information to the LTE base station, so that the LTE base station assists a WLAN authentication procedure of the UE. Establish a WLAN connection with one of the WLAN access points.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a user equipment of a wireless wide area network-wireless local area network aggregation architecture is proposed. In a carrier aggregation architecture, a LTE base station is a primary unit of an eNodeB and a WLAN access point is a secondary unit of the eNodeB. In a dual connectivity architecture, the LTE base station is a primary eNodeB and the WLAN access point is a secondary eNodeB. The user equipment is used to transmit a wireless local area network information to the LTE base station, so that the LTE base station assists a wireless local area network authentication procedure of the user equipment. The UE is also used to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point.

In order to have a better understanding of the above and other aspects of the present disclosure, a number of embodiments are specifically cited below, together with the accompanying drawings, and are described in detail as follows:

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates the methods of pre-association and pre-authentication in a carrier aggregation (CA) architecture.

FIG. 2 illustrates the methods of pre-connection and pre-authentication in a dual-connection (DC) architecture.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment in which the connection of the user equipment is handed over from a WLAN access point to another WLAN access point.

FIG. 4 illustrates the mobility procedures of two WLAN APs implemented in a carrier aggregation (CA) architecture.

FIG. 5 illustrates the mobility procedures of two WLAN APs and DA implementations.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the connection of the user equipment is handed over from a WLAN access point to another WLAN access point.

FIG. 7 illustrates the mobility procedures of two WLAN APs implemented in a carrier aggregation (CA) architecture.

FIG. 8 illustrates the mobility procedure of two WLAN APs running in a dual-association (DA) architecture.

【Symbol Description】

A11, A21, A31, A61: authentication, authorization and account management server (AAA server)

AW11, AW12, AW21, AW22, AW23: Scheme

B11, B21, B22, B41, B51, B52, B53, B71, B72, B81, B82, B83, B84: Evolved Node B (eNB)

L11, L21, L31, L61, L62: Long Term Evolution (LTE) base stations

S110, S110', S1101, S1102, S1103, S120, S120', S1201, S1202, S1203, S1204, S1205, S1206, S1207, S1208, S1209, S130, S130', S1301, S1302, S1065, S1304, S13 . S2302, S2303, S2304, S2305: process steps

U11, U21, U31, U61: user equipment

W11, W21, W31, W32, W61, W62: Wireless Local Area Network Access Point (WLAN AP)

detailed description

In the wireless wide area network (WWAN)-wireless local area network (WLAN) aggregation architecture (WWAN-WLANAggregation, LWA), the user equipment (user equipment, UE) login depends on the long-term evolution technology ( A Long Term Evolution, LTE) base station, and a tightly coupled wireless local area network access point (assess point, AP) is completely controlled by an evolved node B (Evolved Node B, eNB). Since the WLAN APs are tightly coupled to the eNodeB, the selection of WLAN APs in the WWAN-WLAN converged architecture can be decided by the eNodeB to avoid long authentication procedures. ).

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which illustrates a method of pre-association and pre-authentication in a carrier aggregation (CA) architecture. In the carrier aggregation architecture, the LTE base station L11 is the primary cell of the eNode B B11, and the WLAN access point W11 is the secondary cell of the eNode B B11. In this disclosure, the eNode B B11 assists the user equipment U11 and the WLAN access point W11 to perform an authentication procedure.

In step S110 , the user equipment U11 transmits WLAN information to the LTE base station L11 as the main unit of the eNode B B11 . The WLAN information includes WLAN association information and WLAN authentication information.

In step S120, the LTE base station L11, which is the main unit of the eNode B B11, assists the WLAN authentication procedure of the user equipment U11. Step S120 may choose to adopt scheme AW11 or AW12. In solution AW11, the LTE base station L11 performs a WLAN authentication procedure. In solution AW12, the LTE base station L11 assists the user equipment U11 in performing a WLAN authentication procedure.

In step S130 , the LTE base station L11 as the main unit of the eNode B B11 commands the user equipment U11 to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point W11 .

The detailed flow will be described as follows. In step S110, step S110 includes steps S1101 and S1102. In step S1101, the LTE base station L11 transmits a wireless local area network inquiry message (WLAN inquiry message) to the user equipment U11, such as a user equipment capability inquiry message (UE Capability Inquiry message) or a radio resource control connection reconfiguration Message (radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration). The WLAN inquiry message includes an indication for asking WWAN-WLAN aggregation supporting. In this step, according to the UE capability inquiry message, it can be learned whether the LTE base station L11 and the WLAN access point W11 are tightly coupled.

In step S1102, the UE U11 transmits a WLAN message to the LTE base station L11, such as a UE Capability Information message or a RRC connection reconfiguration complete message. The UE performance information message includes WLAN association information, such as UE identification (UE ID), a network interface card information (NIC information) (supported data transmission rate (supported data rate) and encryption type (encryption type, etc.), WWAN-WLAN aggregation architecture support response (response of WWAN-WLAN aggregation supporting). If the solution AW11 in step S120 is selected, the user equipment performance information message also includes WLAN authentication information, such as network access identifier information (NAI information), so that the LTE base station L11 can obtain enough information to proceed directly to the WLAN authentication procedure.

In step S120, step S120 includes scheme AW11 and scheme AW12. Scheme AW11 includes step S1201. Step S1201 is an exchange (Exchange) step. The LTE base station L11 performs a WLAN authentication procedure according to 3GPP TS 33.402. In the scheme AW11, the LTE base station L11 replaces the user equipment U11 to perform a WLAN authentication procedure with an authentication, authorization, and accounting server (AAA server) A11. After performing the WLAN authentication procedure, the LTE base station L11 obtains a master key (MK) and a pair-wise master key (PMK).

Scheme AW12 includes steps S1202 to S1205. In step S1202, the LTE base station L11 sends a UE request message to the UE U11 to instruct the UE U11 to perform a WLAN authentication procedure with the authentication, authorization and account management server A11. The UE request message is, for example, an authentication request (Authentication Request). The UE request message includes at least one of an indication of performing the WLAN authentication procedure and an AP identification (AP ID).

Next, step S1203 is a request/response (Request/Response) step. Step S1204 is a forwarding step. In steps S1203 and S1204, the LTE base station L11 plays an important role in information exchange between the user equipment U11 and the authentication, authorization and account management server A11, so as to assist the user equipment U11 and the authentication, authorization and account management server A11 according to 3GPP TS 33.402 implements WLAN authentication procedures.

In step S1205, the UE U11 sends a UE response message (UE response message) to the LTE base station L11 to inform the LTE base station L11 that steps S1203 and S1204 have been executed. The UE response message is, for example, an authentication response (Authentication Response). The UE response message includes an indication of the complete of performing the WLAN authentication procedure (indication of the complete of performing the WLAN authentication procedure), at least one of a master key (MK) and a paired master key (PMK). In an embodiment, step S1205 may be omitted. After the WLAN authentication procedure is completed, the LTE base station L11 obtains a pairing master key (PMK).

In step S1206, the LTE base station L11 transmits at least one of network interface card (NIC) information, master key (MK) and pairing master key (PMK) to Wireless LAN access point W11. The WLAN request message is, for example, an Addition Request. For example, the LTE base station L11 may send the network interface card (NIC) information and the pairing master key (PMK) to the WLAN access point W11 through an additional request.

In step S1207, when the WLAN access point W11 receives the additional request, the LTE base station L11 obtains the association ID from the WLAN access point W11 through a WLAN response message (WLAN response message). ). The WLAN response message is, for example, an Addition Acknowledge. The WLAN response message includes an association ID.

In step S130, step S130 includes steps S1301 to S1305. In step S1301, the LTE base station L11 sends a target wireless access point identification code (target AP ID), channel information (channel information), and connection identification code (association ID) to the user equipment through a command message (command message) U11, to install a pairing master key (PMK), release or establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point W11. The command message is, for example, a radio resource control (RRC) message. The command message includes a master key (MK), an AP ID to connect to, an AP ID to disconnect, channel information, and an association ID. In the case of releasing the WLAN connection of the WLAN access point W11, the LTE base station L11 sends a release request message (release request message) to the WLAN access point W11, and the release request message includes release At least one of an indication to release, a wireless access point identification code (AP ID), and a user equipment identification code (UE ID). If the scheme AW11 is selected in step S120, the LTE base station L11 transmits the master key (MK) to the user equipment U11 through a radio resource control message (RRC message), so that the user equipment U11 can derive the paired master key in step S1302 (PMK).

In step S1302, the user equipment U11 derives a pairing master key (PMK) according to the master key (MK). In step S1303, the WLAN access point W11 installs a pairing master key (PMK).

In step S1304, a 4-way handshake procedure (4-way handshake) is performed between the user equipment U11 and the WLAN access point W11 by pairing the master key (PMK). During a handover procedure, the LTE base station L11 sends a handover request message to another LTE base station. The handover request message includes a user equipment identification code (UE ID), a wireless access point identification code (AP ID), a channel information identification code (channel information ID), a network access identification information (NAI information), a At least one of network interface card information (NIC information) and bandwidth information (bandwidth information). In response to the handover request message, the LTE base station L11 receives a handover response message (handover response message) from another LTE base station. The handover response message includes a target AP ID, channel information ID, master key (MK), association ID, and bandwidth information at least one of the .

In step S1305, the user equipment U11 sends a complete message to the LTE base station L11 to inform that the pre-connection and pre-authentication methods are completed.

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which shows the methods of pre-association and pre-authentication in a Dual Connectivity (DC) architecture. In the dual connectivity architecture, the LTE base station L21 is the primary eNodeB B21, and the WLAN access point W21 is the secondary eNodeB B22. In this disclosure, the primary eNodeB B21 or the secondary eNodeB B22 assists the WLAN authentication procedure of the user equipment U21 and the WLAN access point W21.

In step S210, the user equipment U21 transmits wireless local area network information (WLAN information) to the LTE base station L21 serving as the primary eNodeB B21. The WLAN information includes WLAN association information and WLAN authentication information.

In step S220, the LTE base station L21 as the primary eNodeB B21 or the WLAN access point W21 as the secondary eNodeB B22 assists the WLAN authentication procedure of the user equipment U21. In step S220, there are three schemes AW21, AW22 and AW23 to choose from. In the scheme AW21, the LTE base station L21 performs the WLAN authentication procedure; in the scheme AW22, the LTE base station L21 assists the WLAN access point W21 to perform the WLAN authentication procedure; in the scheme AW23, the long-term evolution The technical base station L21 assists the user equipment U21 to perform the WLAN authentication procedure.

In step S230 , the LTE base station L21 as the primary eNB B21 commands the UE U21 to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point W21 .

The detailed steps will be described as follows. In step S210, step S210 includes steps S2101 and S2102. In step S2101, the LTE base station L21 transmits a WLAN inquiry message (WLAN enquiry message) to the user equipment U21. The WLAN inquiry message is, for example, a UE capability enquiry message or a radio resource control connection reconfiguration message (RRC connection reconfiguration). The WLAN inquiry message includes an indication for asking WWAN-WLAN aggregation supporting. In this step, it can be known whether the LTE base station L21 and the WLAN access point W21 are closely coupled according to the UE capability inquiry message.

In step S2102, the user equipment U21 transmits WLAN information to the LTE base station L21. The WLAN information is, for example, a UE CapabilityInformation message or a RRC connection reconfiguration complete message. The UE performance information message includes WLAN connection information, such as UE ID, NIC information (such as supported data rate and encryption type), etc. ), and a response of WWAN-WLAN aggregation supporting. If step S220 chooses to adopt scheme AW21 or scheme AW22, then the user equipment performance information message also includes wireless local area network authentication information (for example, network access identification information (NAI information)), so that the long-term evolution technology base station L21 or the wireless local area network The access point W21 obtains sufficient information to perform the WLAN authentication procedure.

In step S220, step S220 includes schemes AW21, AW22 and AW23. Scheme AW21 includes steps S2201 to S2203. Step S2201 is an exchange (Exchange) step. The LTE base station L21 performs a WLAN authentication procedure according to 3GPP TS 33.402. In this solution AW21, the LTE base station L21 replaces the user equipment U21 to perform the WLAN authentication procedure with the authentication, authorization and account management server (AAA server) A21. After performing the WLAN authentication procedure, the LTE base station L21 obtains a master key (MK) and a pair key (PMK).

In step S2202, the LTE base station L21 transmits WLAN connection information (such as network access identification information (NAIinformation)) and paired primary key to the WLAN access point W21 through an additional request (additionalRequest).

In step S2203, when receiving the additional request and the WLAN access point W21 accepts the additional request, the WLAN access point W21 transmits the wireless access point identification code (AP ID), bandwidth The information (bandwidth information) and association ID (association ID) are sent to the LTE base station L21.

Scheme AW22 includes steps S2204 to S2206. In step S2204, the LTE base station L21 transmits a WLAN addition message (such as an Addition Request) to instruct the WLAN access point W21 to communicate with the authentication, authorization and account management server The (AAA server) server A21 performs a WLAN authentication procedure, or installs a pairing master key (PMK). The WLAN additional information includes WLAN association information and WLAN authentication information. The WLAN additional information includes an indication of performing the WLAN authentication procedure (indication of performing the WLAN authentication procedure), user equipment identification code (UE ID), wireless access point identification code (AP ID), bandwidth information (bandwidth information ), network interface card information (NIC information), network access identification information (NAI information), master key (MK) and pairing master key (PMK).

In step S2205, the WLAN access point W21 performs a WLAN authentication procedure according to 3GPP TS 33.402. In this step, the WLAN access point W21 replaces the user equipment U21 to perform a WLAN authentication procedure with the authentication, authorization and account management server (AAA server) A21. After performing the WLAN authentication procedure, the WLAN access point W21 obtains a master key (MK) and a paired master key (PMK).

In step S2206, if the WLAN access point W21 accepts the additional request, the WLAN access point W21 transmits the wireless access point identification code (AP ID), bandwidth information ( bandwidth information), link identification code (association ID) and master key (MK) to the LTE base station L21. The WLAN acknowledgment message is, for example, an Addition Acknowledge. The WLAN confirmation message includes at least one of AP ID, bandwidth information, association ID, master key (MK) and pairing master key (PMK). .

Scheme AW23 includes steps S2207 to S2212. In step S2207, the LTE base station L21 transmits a user equipment request message (UE request message) (such as an authentication request (Authentication Request)) to the user equipment U21 to instruct the user equipment U21 to communicate with the authentication, authorization and account management server (AAA server ) A11 executes the WLAN authentication procedure. The user request message includes at least one of an indication of performing the WLAN authentication procedure (indication of performing the WLAN authentication procedure) and a wireless access point identification code (AP ID).

Next, step S2208 is a request/response (Request/Response) step. Step S2209 is a forwarding step. In steps S2208 and S2209, the LTE base station L21 plays an important role in information exchange between the user equipment U21 and the authentication, authorization and account management server A21, so as to assist the user equipment U21 and the authentication, authorization and account management server A21 according to 3GPP TS 33.402 implements WLAN authentication procedures.

In step S2210, the user equipment U21 transmits a user equipment response message (UE responsemessage) (such as an authentication response (Authentication Response)) to the long-term evolution technology base station L21 to inform the long-term evolution technology base station L21 that steps S1203 and step S1204 have been executed. The user equipment The response message (UE response message) includes an indication of the complete of performing the WLAN authentication procedure, at least one of a master key (MK) and a paired master key (PMK). In an embodiment, step S2210 can be omitted. After the WLAN authentication procedure is completed, the LTE base station L21 obtains a Pairing Master Key (PMK).

In step S2211, the LTE base station L21 transmits the network interface card (NIC) information, master key (MK) and pairing master key (PMK) to the WLAN access through a WLAN request message. Point W21. The WLAN request message is, for example, an Addition Request. For example, the LTE base station L11 may send the network interface card (NIC) information and the pairing master key (PMK) to the WLAN access point W11 through an additional request.

In step S2212, if the WLAN access point W21 accepts the additional request, the LTE base station L21 transmits the request from the WLAN access point W21 through a WLAN response message (WLAN response message) (such as an Addition Acknowledge). Get the association ID. The WLAN response message includes an association ID.

In step S230, step S230 includes steps S2301 to S2305. In step S2301, the LTE base station L21 transmits the target wireless access point identification code (target AP ID), channel information (channel information), and connection identification code (association ID) to the user equipment U21 through a command message (command message), To install the pairing master key (PMK), release or establish the wireless local area network connection with the wireless local area network access point W11. The command message is, for example, a radio resource control connection reconfiguration message (RRC connection reconfiguration). The command message includes the main key (MK), the wireless access point identification code (AP ID) to be connected, the wireless access point identification code (AP ID) to be disconnected, channel information (channel information) and the connection identification code (association ID) at least one of them. In the case of releasing the WLAN connection of the WLAN access point W11, the LTE base station L11 sends a release request message (release request message) to the WLAN access point W11, and the release request message includes the released At least one of an indication to release, a wireless access point identification code (AP ID), and a user equipment identification code (UE ID). If the scheme AW21 or scheme AW22 is adopted in step S220, the LTE base station L21 transmits the master key (MK) to the user equipment U21 through a radio resource control message (RRC message), so that the user equipment U21 can derive the pairing master key in step S2302 key (PMK).

In step S2302, the user equipment U21 derives a pairing master key (PMK) according to the master key (MK). In step S2303, the WLAN access point W21 installs a pairing master key (PMK).

In step S2304, a 4-way handshake procedure (4-way handshake) is performed between the user equipment U21 and the WLAN access point W21 by pairing a master key (PMK). During a handover procedure, the LTE base station L11 sends a handover request message to another LTE base station. The handover request message includes a user equipment identification code (UE ID), a wireless access point identification code (AP ID), a channel information identification code (channel information ID), a network access identification information (NAI information), a At least one of network interface card information (NIC information) and bandwidth information (bandwidth information). In response to the handover request message, the LTE base station L11 receives a handover response message (handover response message) from another LTE base station. The handover response message includes a target AP ID, channel information ID, master key (MK), association ID, and bandwidth information at least one of the .

In step S2305, the user equipment U11 sends a complete message to the LTE base station L11 to inform that the pre-connection and pre-authentication methods are completed.

According to steps S110 to S130 of FIG. 1 and steps S210 to S230 of FIG. 2 . The mobility procedure of the WLAN access point W11, W21 can be assisted by the eNode-B B11, B21 or B22, so as to avoid the need for a long authentication procedure. Please refer to FIG. 3 , which shows an embodiment in which the connection of the user equipment U31 is switched from the WLAN access point W31 to the WLAN access point W32 . In this embodiment, the WLAN access point W31 and the WLAN access point W32 are closely coupled to the same LTE base station L31.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 , the WWAN-WLAN aggregation architecture (WWAN-WLAN aggregation) may be a carrier aggregation (CA) architecture or a dual connectivity (DC) architecture. Please refer to FIG. 4 , which illustrates the mobility procedures of the WLAN access points W31 and W32 implemented in the carrier aggregation (CA) architecture. In the carrier aggregation (CA) architecture, the LTE base station L31 is the main unit of the evolved node B B41, the WLAN access point W31 is the main unit of the evolved node BB41, and the WLAN access point W32 is the evolved node B of the third unit. In this disclosure, the eNodeB B41 assists the authentication procedure of the user equipment U31 and the WLAN access point W32.

In step S110', information is transferred between the user equipment U31 and the LTE base station L31 as the main unit of the eNodeB B41.

In step S120', the LTE base station L31, which is the main unit of the eNode B B41, assists the authentication procedure between the user equipment U31 and the authentication, authorization and account management (AAA) server A31. Step S120' can choose to adopt scheme AW11 or scheme AW12. In solution AW11, the LTE base station L31 performs the WLAN authentication procedure; in solution AW12, the LTE base station L31 assists the UE U31 to perform the WLAN authentication procedure.

In step S130', the LTE base station L31 as the main unit of the eNode B B41 instructs the user equipment U31 to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point W32.

Please refer to FIG. 5 , which illustrates the mobility procedures of the WLAN access points W31 and W32 in the dual-access (DA) architecture. In the dual connectivity architecture, the LTE base station L31 is the primary eNodeB B51, the WLAN access point W31 is the secondary eNodeB B52, and the WLAN access point W32 is the third eNodeB B53. In this disclosure, the eNodeB B51, eNodeB B52 or eNodeB B53 assists the authentication procedure of the user equipment U31 and the WLAN access point W32.

In step S210', information is transferred between the UE U31 and the LTE base station L31 as the primary eNB B51.

In step S220', the LTE base station L31 as the primary eNodeB B51, or the WLAN access point W32 as the third eNodeB B53 assists the user equipment U31 with the authentication, authorization and account management (AAA) server A31's WLAN certification program. Step S220' can choose to adopt scheme AW21, scheme AW22 or scheme AW23. In the scheme AW21, the LTE base station L31 performs the WLAN authentication procedure; in the scheme AW22, the LTE base station L31 assists the WLAN access point W32 to perform the WLAN authentication procedure; in the scheme AW23, the LTE The base station L31 assists the user equipment U31 to execute the WLAN authentication procedure.

In step S230', the LTE base station L31 as the primary eNB B51 instructs the UE U31 to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point W32.

Please refer to FIG. 6 , which shows an embodiment in which the connection of the user equipment U61 is switched from the WLAN access point W61 to the WLAN access point W62 . In this embodiment, the WLAN access points W61 and W62 are tightly coupled to different LTE base stations L61 and L62 respectively.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6 , the WWAN-WLAN aggregation architecture (WWAN-WLAN aggregation) may be a carrier aggregation (CA) architecture or a dual connectivity (DC) architecture. Please refer to FIG. 7 , which shows the mobility procedures of the WLAN access points W61 and W62 implemented in the carrier aggregation (CA) architecture. In the carrier aggregation architecture, the LTE base station L61 is the main unit of the eNode B B71, the WLAN access point W61 is the secondary unit of the eNode B B71, and the LTE base station L62 is the main unit of the eNode B B72 , the WLAN access point W62 is a secondary unit of the eNode B B72. In this disclosure, the eNode BB72 assists the authentication procedure of the user equipment U61 and the WLAN access point W62.

In step S110', the information is transmitted to the user equipment U61 and the WLAN access point W61 as the secondary unit of the eNode B B71. Next, in step S1103, the LTE base station L61 transmits a handover request (Handover Request) to the LTE base station L62. The handover request includes WLAN association information (WLAN association information) and WLAN authentication information (WLAN authentication information) of the user equipment U61, the wireless access point identification code (AP ID) of the WLAN access point W61, and the channel and bandwidth information. In one embodiment, if the WLAN connection information and the WLAN authentication information have been stored in the Mobility Management Entity (MME), the LTE base station L62 can request the WLAN from the Mobility Management Entity (MME). LAN connection information and WLAN authentication information.

In step S120″, the long-term evolution technology base station L62 as the main unit of the eNodeB B72 assists the wireless local area network authentication procedure between the user equipment U61 and the authentication, authorization and account management (AAA) server A61. Step S120″ can adopt the scheme AW11 . In scheme AW11, the LTE base station L62 performs a WLAN authentication procedure. Next, in step S1208, the LTE base station L62 transmits a handover request (Handover Request ACK) to the LTE base station L61. The handover request includes the AP ID (APID) of the WLAN access point W62, channel and bandwidth information, association ID (association ID), and master key (MK). Next, in step S1209, the LTE base station L61 transmits a handover command (HandoverCommand) to the user equipment U61 to execute a 4-way handshake procedure (4-way handshake). The handover command includes AP ID, channel and bandwidth information, association ID and master key (MK) of the WLAN access point.

In step S130', the LTE base station L61 as the main unit of the eNode B B71 instructs the user equipment U61 to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point W62. Next, in step S1306, the user equipment U61 transmits a handover confirmation (Handover Confirm) to the LTE base station L62.

Please refer to FIG. 8 , which shows the mobility procedures of the WLAN access points W61 and W62 running in the Dual Access (DA) architecture. In a dual connectivity (DC) architecture, the LTE base station L61 is a primary eNodeB B81, the WLAN access point W61 is a secondary eNode B82, and the LTE base station L62 is a third eNodeB B83, The WLAN access point W62 is a fourth eNodeB B84. In this disclosure, eNode B B83 or eNode BB84 assists the authentication procedure of user equipment U61 and WLAN access point W62.

In step S210', the information is transmitted between the user equipment U61 and the WLAN access point W61 as the secondary eNB B82. Next, in step S2103, the LTE node base station L61 transmits a handover request (Handover Request) to the LTE base station L62. The handover request includes WLAN association information (WLAN association information) and WLAN authentication information (WLAN authentication information) of the user equipment U61, the wireless access point identification code (AP ID) of the WLAN access point W61, and For channel and bandwidth information, in one embodiment, if the WLAN connection information and the WLAN authentication information have been stored in the Mobility Management Entity (MME), the LTE base station L62 can send the information to the MME (MME) requests WLAN connection information and WLAN authentication information.

In step S220", the long-term evolution technology base station L62 as the third eNodeB B83, or the wireless local area network access point W62 as the fourth eNodeB B84 assists the user equipment U61 with authentication, authorization and account management (AAA) The wireless local area network authentication procedure of the server A61. Step S220" can choose to adopt the scheme AW21 or the scheme AW22. In the solution AW21, the LTE base station L62 performs the WLAN authentication procedure; in the solution AW22, the LTE base station L62 assists the WLAN access point W62 to perform the WLAN authentication procedure. Next, in step S2213, the LTE base station L62 transmits a handover request (Handover Request ACK) to the LTE base station L61. The handover request includes AP ID, channel and bandwidth information, association ID and master key (MK) of the WLAN access point W62. Next, in step S2214, the LTE base station L61 transmits a handover command (Handover Command) to the user equipment U61 to execute a 4-way handshake procedure (4-wayhandshake). The handover command includes the AP ID (APID) of the WLAN access point W62, channel and bandwidth information, association ID (association ID) and master key (MK).

In step S230', the LTE base station L62 as the third eNB B83 instructs the user equipment U61 to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point W62. Next, in step S2306, the user equipment U61 sends a handover confirmation (Handover Confirm) to the LTE base station L62.

To sum up, although the present disclosure has been disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs may make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure should be determined by the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims (44)

1. A method for pre-connection and pre-authentication of a long-term evolution technology LTE base station of a wireless wide area network-wireless local area network aggregation architecture, wherein in the carrier aggregation (Carrier Aggregation, CA) architecture, the long-term evolution technology base station is an evolution The main unit of the Node B (Evolved Node B, eNB) and the wireless local area network access point (access point, AP) is the secondary unit of the evolved Node B. In the dual connectivity (Dual Connectivity, DC) architecture, the long-term evolution The technical base station is a primary eNodeB and the WLAN access point is a secondary eNodeB, and the method comprises: receiving wireless local area network information from a user equipment (user equipment, UE); assisting the WLAN authentication procedure of the UE; and ordering the user equipment to establish a wireless local area network connection with the wireless local area network access point. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of receiving the WLAN information from the UE, the WLAN information is received through a UE Capability Information message. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of receiving the WLAN information from the UE, the delivery of the WLAN information is in response to a WLAN enquiry message. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein in the step of receiving the WLAN information from the UE, the WLAN query message includes an indication of WWAN-WLAN Converged Architecture supportability, and The WLAN inquiry message is a UE capability inquiry message or a radio resource control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of receiving the WLAN information from the UE, the WLAN information is a UE Capability Information message or a RRC Connection Complete message. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the step of receiving the wireless local area network information from the user equipment, the wireless local area network information includes a user equipment identification code (identification, ID), a network interface card (network interface card) , NIC) information, network access identifier (NAI) information, WWAN-WLAN aggregation architecture support response, supported data rate (supported data rate) and encryption type (encryption type) at least one of them. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, the LTE base station uses the WLAN information to communicate with authentication, authorization and account management (authentication) , authorization, and accounting, AAA) server performs the wireless local area network authentication procedure. 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, the LTE base station sends a UE request message (request message) to instruct the UE to go for authentication . The authorization and account management server performs the wireless local area network authentication procedure, and the user equipment request message includes one of an instruction to execute the wireless local area network authentication procedure and a wireless access point identification code. 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, in response to the UE request message, the LTE base station receives a UE response message (response message) , and the UE response message includes at least one of an instruction to complete the WLAN authentication procedure, a master key (MK), and a pair-wise master key (PMK). 10. The method of claim 9, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, the LTE base station obtains the master key and the paired master key after the WLAN authentication procedure at least one of the keys. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, the LTE base station transmits a WLAN request message to the WLAN access point to install The paired master key, and the WLAN request message includes network interface card information, the master key and at least one of the paired master key. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, the LTE base station receives a WLAN response message from the WLAN access point, and the The WLAN response message includes a link ID. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, the LTE base station instructs the WLAN access point to communicate with an authentication, authorization and account management server Executing the WLAN authentication procedure, or installing the pairing master key via a WLAN addition message, The wireless local area network additional information includes instructions to execute the wireless local area network authentication procedure, user equipment identification code, wireless access point identification code, bandwidth information, network interface card information, network access identification information, primary key and the pairing primary at least one of the keys. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, the LTE base station receives a WLAN acknowledgment message (acknowledge) in response to the WLAN additional message message). 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein in the step of assisting the WLAN authentication procedure of the UE, the WLAN confirmation message includes the WAP ID, the bandwidth information, a connection ID , at least one of the primary key and the paired primary key. 16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the step of ordering the UE to establish the WLAN connection with the WLAN access point, the LTE base station sends a command message to The user equipment is used to install and pair the main key, release or establish the WLAN connection with the WLAN access point, and the command message includes the main key, the identification code of the wireless access point to be connected, At least one of the identification code of the wireless access point to be disconnected, the channel information and the connection identification code. 17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein in the step of ordering the user equipment to establish the WLAN connection with the WLAN access point, releasing the WLAN connection of the WLAN access point In the case of network connection, the LTE base station transmits a release request message to the wireless local area network access point, and the release request message includes at least an indication of release, the wireless access point identification code, and the user equipment identification code one of them. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein in the step of commanding the UE to establish the WLAN connection with the WLAN access point, the command message is a RRC connection reconfiguration message. 19. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, in a handover procedure, the LTE base station transmits a handover request message to another The LTE base station, and the handover request message includes at least one of user equipment identification code, wireless access point identification code, channel information identification code, network access identification information, network interface card information, and bandwidth information. 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein in the step of assisting the UE in the WLAN authentication procedure, in the handover procedure, in response to the handover request message, the LTE base station receives a request from another The LTE base station receives the handover response message, and the handover response message includes at least one of target wireless access point ID, channel information ID, primary key, link ID, and bandwidth information. 21. A long-term evolution technology base station of a wireless wide area network-wireless local area network aggregation architecture, wherein in the carrier aggregation architecture, the long-term evolution technology base station is a main unit of an evolved node B and the wireless local area network access point is the evolved node B In a dual connectivity architecture, the LTE base station is a primary eNodeB and the WLAN access point is a secondary eNodeB; The LTE base station is used for receiving wireless local area network information from the user equipment; The LTE base station is also used to assist the WLAN authentication procedure of the UE; and The LTE base station is also used for instructing the user equipment to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point. 22. The LTE base station as claimed in claim 21, wherein the WLAN information is received through a UE Capability Information message. 23. The LTE base station as claimed in claim 21, wherein the WLAN information includes network interface card information and network access identification information. 24. The LTE base station as claimed in claim 21, wherein the LTE base station and the authentication, authorization and account management server execute the wireless local area network authentication procedure, obtain the primary key and paired primary key, and transmit the paired primary key The key is sent to the WLAN access point, and the connection ID is obtained from the WLAN access point. 25. The long-term evolution technology base station as claimed in claim 21, wherein the long-term evolution technology base station is used to instruct the user equipment to go to the authentication, authorization and account management server to execute the wireless local area network authentication procedure, between the user equipment and the authentication , transfer the authentication message between the authorization and account management server, obtain the paired primary key, send the paired primary key to the WLAN access point, and obtain the connection identification code from the WLAN access point . 26. The LTE base station as claimed in claim 21, wherein the LTE base station is used to perform the WLAN authentication procedure with the authentication, authorization and account management server, and transmit the pairing master key to the WLAN interface entry point. 27. The LTE base station according to claim 21, wherein the LTE base station is used to instruct the WLAN access point to perform the WLAN authentication procedure with the authentication, authorization and account management server, and obtain a pairing main key. 28. The long-term evolution technology base station according to claim 21, wherein the long-term evolution technology base station is used to instruct the user equipment to go to the authentication, authorization and account management server to execute the wireless local area network authentication procedure, between the user equipment and the authentication , transfer the authentication message between the authorization and account management server, and obtain the paired primary key. 29. The LTE base station as claimed in claim 21, wherein the LTE base station is used to transmit target wireless access point identification code, channel information and connection identification code to the user equipment, and transmit the master key to the user equipment equipment. 30. A method for pre-connection and pre-authentication of user equipment in a wireless wide area network-wireless local area network aggregation architecture, wherein in the carrier aggregation architecture, the long term evolution technology base station is the main unit of the evolved node B and the wireless local area network access The entry point is a secondary unit of the eNodeB. In a dual connectivity architecture, the LTE base station is a primary eNodeB and the WLAN access point is a secondary eNodeB. The method includes: the UE receives a command message from the LTE base station; transmitting WLAN information to the LTE base station, so that the LTE base station assists the UE in a WLAN authentication procedure; and Establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point. 31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein in the step of transmitting the WLAN information to the LTE base station, the WLAN information is delivered via a UE capability information message. 32. The method of claim 30, wherein in the step of delivering the WLAN information to the LTE base station, the delivery of the WLAN information is in response to a WLAN inquiry message, and the WLAN inquiry The message includes an indication to inquire about the supportability of the WWAN-WLAN converged architecture. 33. The method according to claim 32, wherein in the step of transmitting the WLAN information to the LTE base station, the WLAN inquiry message is a user equipment capability inquiry message or a radio resource control connection reconfiguration message . 34. The method of claim 30, wherein in the step of transmitting the WLAN information to the LTE base station, the WLAN information is a UE Capability Information message or a RRC Connection Complete message. 35. The method according to claim 30, wherein in the step of transmitting the wireless local area network information to the long term evolution technology base station, the wireless local area network information includes user equipment identification code, network interface card information, network access identification information , at least one of a supportive response of WWAN-WLAN aggregation framework, a supported data transmission rate, and an encryption type. 36. The method of claim 30, wherein in the step of establishing the WLAN connection with the WLAN access point, the LTE base station transmits the command message to the UE to install pairing The main key, release or establish a wireless local area network connection with the wireless local area network access point, and the command message includes the main key, the identification code of the wireless access point to be connected, and the wireless access point to be disconnected At least one of identification code, channel information and connection identification code. 37. The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein in the step of establishing the WLAN connection with the WLAN access point, releasing the WLAN connection with the WLAN access point In the case of , the long term evolution technology base station transmits a release request message to the wireless local area network access point, and the release request message includes at least one of an indication of release, the wireless access point identification code, and the user equipment identification code . 38. The method of claim 36, wherein in the step of the UE receiving the command message from the LTE base station, the command message is a RRC connection reconfiguration message. 39. A user equipment of a wireless wide area network-wireless local area network aggregation architecture, wherein in the carrier aggregation architecture, the long term evolution technology base station is the main unit of the evolved node B and the wireless local area network access point is the secondary unit of the evolved node B In a dual connectivity architecture, the LTE base station is a primary eNodeB and the WLAN access point is a secondary eNodeB; The UE is configured to transmit WLAN information to the LTE base station, so that the LTE base station assists the UE in a WLAN authentication procedure; and The user equipment is also used to establish a WLAN connection with the WLAN access point. 40. The UE as claimed in claim 39, wherein the WLAN information is transmitted via UE Capability Information message. 41. The UE as claimed in claim 39, wherein the WLAN information comprises network interface card information. 42. The UE as claimed in claim 39, wherein the WLAN information comprises network access identification information. 43. The UE as claimed in claim 39, wherein the UE is configured to receive target wireless access point ID, channel information and connection ID from the LTE base station. 44. The UE as claimed in claim 43, wherein the UE is configured to receive the master key from the LTE base station.