KR101889079B1 - Pdn-gw apparatus and mobile communication system including the same, and method for processing call therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packet data network gateway apparatus, a mobile communication system including the packet data network gateway apparatus and a call processing method thereof, and a packet data network gateway apparatus including the packet data network gateway apparatus. The packet data network gateway apparatus includes a WCDMA network / A permission decision unit for determining whether or not the data call is permitted or not by the communication terminal apparatus according to whether the limit received from the OCS is exhausted or not; GW of the WCDMA network or the Serving-GW of the EPC network, and a tunneling and routing module for maintaining the routing information between the Serving-GW and the external network for the packet service by the data call, And a gateway function unit for performing an IP routing function. The WCDMA network and the EPC The In mixed mobile communication mixed service environment in which a communication terminal apparatus of the WCDMA network / EPC networks combine under the limit plan, there is an advantage capable of providing both voice and data services and data services in the EPC network in a WCDMA network.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a packet data network gateway apparatus, a mobile communication system including the packet data network gateway apparatus, and a method for processing the same. BACKGROUND ART < RTI ID = 0.0 >

The present invention relates to a packet data network gateway (hereinafter, referred to as "PDN-GW") of an evolved packet core network (EPC), a mobile communication system including the same and a call processing method thereof, Can perform call processing on voice and data services in a WCDMA network and data services in an EPC network by a communication terminal apparatus for a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) network / EPC network based on a limit plan. A PDN-GW of an EPC network, a mobile communication system including the PDN-GW and a call processing method thereof.

Background of the Invention [0002] A 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) mobile communication system based on WCDMA radio access technology is widely deployed all over the world. HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), which can be defined as the first evolutionary phase of WCDMA, provides a highly competitive wireless access technology in the mid-term future.

However, as the requirements and expectations of users and operators continue to increase and competition for wireless access technologies continues to be developed, new technologies in 3GPP mobile communication systems are required for future competitiveness. Reduced cost per bit, increased service availability, the use of flexible frequency bands, the simple structure and open interface, and the appropriate power consumption of the terminal. In addition, the necessity of preventing unnecessary latency at the network node and efficient use of network resources can also promote the technology evolution in the 3GPP mobile communication system.

In the 3GPP release 8, a network architecture called EPC is described as one of the mobile communication systems to meet the above-mentioned requirements. The EPC supports the evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), which is an evolved RAN, by evolving the core network of the existing 3GPP system architecture, and in order to increase the efficiency of the packet network, The network structure is simplified. A wireless communication system including such EPC and E-UTRAN is called an evolved packet system (EPS).

The EPC network is divided into three logical entities such as PDN-GW, Serving-GW, and MME (Mobility Management Entity).

Among them, the MME takes charge of call control such as location registration, paging and authentication of a UE (User Element) through the eNodeB

Serving-GW acts as a gateway to the access network and manages mobility within 3GPP access (WCDMA, EPS, GSM).

The PDN-GW acts as a gateway for interworking between 3GPP access technology and non-3GPP access technology (CDMA2000, WiMAX or WIFI, etc.). Allocates IP (Internet Protocol) of the UE, performs session control for interworking with the external Internet network and non-3GPP network, maintains routing information with the Serving-GW and the external network for packet service Has tunneling and IP routing functions, and performs a function of generating charging data according to a charging profile.

On the other hand, since it is practically difficult to construct an EPC network all at once in the entire area requiring the mobile communication service when the EPC network is initially constructed, the service area of the EPC network is narrower than the WCDMA network. At this time, Provides a voice / data service through a WCDMA network in a CS (Circuit Switch) fallback mode while providing only a data service through an EPC network to a communication terminal device of a network / EPC network. Therefore, the communication terminal apparatus must be able to perform the charging processing regardless of which of the WCDMA network and the EPC network uses the data service.

In addition, the subscriber who uses the limited amount of data and voice shall be allowed to selectively process the data call depending on whether the limit is exhausted. In the WCDMA network, the plan information is inserted into the CAMEL service key And various PCC (Policy & Charging Control, Billing and Policy Control).

However, in the EPC network, as the intelligent network service is excluded from the specification, there is no parameter that can transmit the charge, and accordingly, the PCC can not be performed.

Therefore, according to the related art, there has been a problem in that it is not possible to provide a limit fare service to a communication terminal device serving also as a WCDMA network / EPC network.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0025932, published on March 14, 2011. Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-00259749, published on March 14, 2011.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the problems of the related art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a voice and data service in a WCDMA network and a data service in an EPC network by a communication terminal apparatus serving as a WCDMA network / And provides the PDN-GW of the EPC network to perform call processing.

In addition, the present invention provides a call processing method by which a PDN-GW of an EPC network can provide a voice and data service to a communication terminal device serving as a WCDMA network / EPC network based on a limit plan.

The present invention also provides a mobile communication system for providing a voice and data service in a WCDMA network and a data service in an EPC network based on a limit plan to a communication terminal device serving as a WCDMA network / EPC network.

As a first aspect of the present invention, the PDN-GW includes a limit exhaustion confirmation unit for inquiring of an OCS (Online Charging Server) whether a limit for use by a communication terminal apparatus serving as a WCDMA network / EPC network subscribed to a limit plan has been exhausted, A permission determination unit for determining whether or not the data call is allowed or not by the communication terminal apparatus according to whether the limit is returned from the OCS; The SGSN of the WCDMA network or the Serving-GW of the EPC network, and the tunneling and IP routing functions while maintaining the routing information between the Serving-GW and the external network for the packet service by the data call. And a gateway function unit.

Here, the limit exhaustion confirmation unit may inquire the OCS whether the limit has been exhausted according to the limit plan information included in the subscriber profile transmitted from the HLR (Home Location Register) by the MME of the EPC network.

The limit exhaustion confirmation unit may check the limit plan information included in the charge characteristic information field of the subscriber profile.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a call processing method comprising the steps of: querying an OCS to determine whether a limit has been exhausted by a communication terminal device serving as a WCDMA network / EPC network subscribed to a limit plan; Determining whether the data call is allowed or unallowed by the communication terminal apparatus according to whether the data terminal is exhausted or not; and transmitting, to the SGSN of the WCDMA network or the Serving-GW of the EPC network, As shown in FIG.

Here, the inquiring step may inquire the OCS whether the limit has been exhausted according to the limit plan information included in the subscriber profile transmitted from the HLR by the MME of the EPC network.

The inquiring step may check the limit plan information included in the charge characteristic information field of the subscriber profile.

As a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication system comprising: a subscription information providing device for transmitting a limit plan information for a limit plan to which a communication terminal device serving as a WCDMA network / EPC network is subscribed to an HLR and an OCS; When the location registration is performed in the WCDMA network or the EPC network, transmitting the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the SGSN or the MME of the corresponding network, and transmitting the subscriber profile to the SGSN or MME of the WCDMA network or the EPC network, The OCS for determining whether or not the limit has been exhausted according to the billing data and the limit plan information; and an inquiry unit for inquiring to the OCS whether the limit is exhausted by the communication terminal apparatus, The SGSN of the WCDMA network or the Ser of the EPC network by determining whether to permit or disallow the data call by the terminal apparatus, and a PDN-GW to transmit to the ving-GW.

Herein, the HLR transmits the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the SGSN when the communication terminal apparatus performs location registration in the WCDMA network, and the communication terminal apparatus performs location registration in the EPC network The MME may transmit the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the MME.

The HLR may include the limit plan information in a rate characteristic information field of the subscriber profile.

The PDN-GW may inquire the OCS whether the SGSN or the MME has exhausted the limit according to a result of checking the rate characteristic information field of the subscriber profile received from the HLR.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a mixed communication service environment in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed, a voice and data service in a WCDMA network and an EPC network in a WCDMA network / It is possible to provide all of the data services of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication system providing a limit plan service in a mixed mobile communication environment in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a detailed block diagram of a PDN-GW according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating call processing and charging processing for a communication terminal apparatus serving as a WCDMA network / EPC network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention, and the manner of achieving them, will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. The following terms are defined in consideration of the functions in the embodiments of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention of the user, the intention or the custom of the operator. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

Each block of the accompanying block diagrams and combinations of steps of the flowchart may be performed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded into a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus so that the instructions, which may be executed by a processor of a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, And means for performing the functions described in each step are created. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer usable or computer readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to implement the functionality in a particular manner so that the computer usable or computer readable memory It is also possible for the instructions stored in the block diagram to produce a manufacturing item containing instruction means for performing the functions described in each block or flowchart of the block diagram. Computer program instructions may also be stored on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment so that a series of operating steps may be performed on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a computer- It is also possible that the instructions that perform the processing equipment provide the steps for executing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and at each step of the flowchart.

Also, each block or each step may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that includes one or more executable instructions for executing the specified logical function (s). It should also be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the functions mentioned in the blocks or steps may occur out of order. For example, two blocks or steps shown in succession may in fact be performed substantially concurrently, or the blocks or steps may sometimes be performed in reverse order according to the corresponding function.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile communication system providing a limit plan service in a mixed mobile communication environment in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a subscription information providing apparatus 100, an HLR 110, an SGSN 120, an MME 130, a GGSN 140, a Serving-GW 150, A PDN-GW 160, a billing processor 170, an OCS 180, a Service Control Point (SCP) 190, and the like.

The subscription information providing apparatus 100 transmits the limit plan information on the limit plan to which the EPC network subscriber using the communication terminal apparatus for the WCDMA network / EPC network is subscribed to the HLR 110 and the OCS 180.

The HLR 110 is a line-based subscriber information database storing a service profile related to information of a mobile communication subscriber. The HLR 110 includes a MIN, a Mobile Identification Number (ESN), an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) And a service type, and stores subscriber information. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the communication terminal apparatus performs location registration in the WCDMA network, the HLR 110 transmits the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the SGSN 120. When the location registration is performed in the EPC network, And transmits the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the subscriber 130. Here, the HLR 110 may transmit the limit plan information to the SGSN 120 and the MME 130 in the characteristic characteristic field of the subscriber profile.

The SGSN 120 is responsible for the mobility of the communication terminal apparatus and the packet session management. The SGSN 120 establishes a PDP context with the GGSN 140 and transmits the protocol data units using tunneling. Also, the SGSN 120 can perform IP routing and can perform an interaction such as location registration of a communication terminal apparatus. In addition, the PDN-GW 160 inquires of the PDN-GW 160 whether the limit for the voice and data service targeted for the communication terminal device is exhausted according to the limit plan.

The MME 130 manages the mobility of the subscriber information and the communication terminal apparatus 0, and is responsible for session management, idle subscriber management, paging, and subscriber authentication functions. That is, the MME 130 processes a control signal when there is a combination request from the communication terminal apparatus or another network node, for example, the PDN-GW 160 or the Serving-GW 150, It performs various functions of the same control plane and performs functions such as setting of an evolved packet system bearer (ESP) or an IP tunnel and mobility management.

The GGSN 140 maintains routing information with the SGSN 120 and the external network as a gateway directly connected to the external network, and performs tunneling and IP routing functions. In addition, it transmits billing data according to the voice service or the data service in the WCDMA network to the billing processor 170.

Serving-GW 150 supports Inter EPC / 3GPP handover as a session control and user plane node for processing payload traffic according to a set session, and supports Serving-GW 150 and PDN- EPS bearer is set up and PDU (Packet Data Unit) is delivered using tunneling. In addition, the PDN-GW 160 inquires of the PDN-GW 160 whether the limit for the data service targeting the communication terminal device is exhausted according to the limit plan.

The PDN-GW 160 allocates the IP of the communication terminal apparatus and performs session control and interworking with the external Internet network and the non-3GPP network, and maintains routing information with the Serving-GW 150 and the external network for packet service as a user plane. And has tunneling and IP routing functions. In addition, the PDN-GW 160 inquires of the OCS 180 whether the limit of the communication terminal device is over the limit, and the PDN-GW 160 requests the OCS 180 to accept the data call by the communication terminal device Or non-permission to the SGSN 120 or the Serving-GW 150. The PDN-GW 160 inquires of the OCS 180 whether the SGSN 120 or the MME 130 has exhausted the limit according to a result of checking the rate characteristic information field of the subscriber profile transmitted from the HLR 110 .

The billing processor 170 receives billing data for the voice and data services of the communication terminal apparatus from the GGSN 120 of the WCDMA network and receives billing data for the data service of the communication terminal apparatus from the PND-GW 160 of the EPC network And transmits the billing data to the OCS 180 for the WCDMA network and the EPC network.

OCS 180 determines whether the limit has been exhausted according to the billing data and the limit plan information for the communication terminal apparatuses of the WCDMA network and the EPC network according to the query by the PDN-GW 160, do.

2 is a detailed block diagram of a PDN-GW according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The PDN-GW 160 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a limit exhaustion confirmation unit 161, an admission determination unit 163, a message transmission unit 165, and a gateway function unit 167 .

The limit depletion checking unit 161 inquires of the OCS 180 whether or not the limit of the communication terminal device serving as the WCDMA network / EPC network that is subscribed to the limit plan is exhausted. Here, the limit exhaustion verifying unit 161 inquires the OCS 180 about whether the MME 130 of the EPC network has exhausted the limit according to the limit plan information included in the charge characteristic information field of the subscriber profile transmitted from the HLR 110 .

The permission decision unit 163 decides whether the data call is allowed or not by the communication terminal apparatus according to whether the limit returned from the OCS 180 is exhausted.

The message transmission unit 165 transmits to the SGSN 140 or the Serving-GW 150 a message indicating whether the data call determined by the permission decision unit 163 is permitted or not permitted.

The gateway function unit 167 performs tunneling and IP routing functions while maintaining routing information with the Serving-GW 150 and the external network for packet service by data call.

3 is a flowchart illustrating call processing and charging processing for a communication terminal apparatus serving as a WCDMA network / EPC network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the call processing and the billing process according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the steps (S211 to S223) in which the subscriber profile in which the limit charge information is recorded in the charge characteristic information field is transmitted to the SGSN or the MME, (S231 and S233) in which charging data by the voice and data service for the terminal device and charging data by the data service for the communication terminal device in the EPC network are transmitted to the charging device, (S341 and S343) in which the PDN-GW queries the OCS to determine whether the PDN-GW has exhausted the limit by the communication terminal apparatus in response to the Serving-GW request, (S345 and S347) of determining whether to allow or not allow the data call by the communication terminal apparatus in the EPC network according to whether or not the reply terminal is exhausted, (S349) of transmitting a message indicating whether the PDN-GW determines whether the data call is allowed or not allowed (S349) to the Serving-GW of the EPC network, and determining whether the PDN- (S351 and S353) of querying the OCS, and determining whether the data call is allowed or not allowed in the WCDMA network by the communication terminal apparatus according to whether the PDN-GW has exhausted the reply from the OCS to the inquiry (S355 and S357), and transmitting (S359) a message indicating whether the PDN-GW determines whether the data call is allowed or not allowed to the SGSN of the WCDMA network.

Hereinafter, a process of providing a limit plan service for a communication terminal device serving as both a WCDMA network and an EPC network according to an embodiment of the present invention in a mixed communication service environment in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed will be described. Below is an example of providing data service according to the limit plan.

First, the subscription information providing apparatus 100 transmits the limit plan information to which the EPC network subscriber using the WCDMA network / EPC network terminal subscribes to the HLR 110 (S211) (S213).

When the HLR 110 performs location registration in the EPC network, the HLR 110 transmits the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the MME 130 (S221). When the HLR 110 performs location registration in the WCDMA network, The subscriber profile including the limit plan information is transmitted (S223). Here, the HLR 110 may transmit the limit plan information to the SGSN 120 and the MME 130 in the charge characteristic information field of the subscriber profile.

On the other hand, in the WCDMA network, the billing data by voice and data service for the communication terminal apparatus is transmitted from the GGSN 140 to the billing processing apparatus 170 (S231), and the billing data service for the communication terminal apparatus in the EPC network Data is transmitted from the PDN-GW 160 to the billing processor 170 (S233).

Then, the billing processor 170 generates billing data based on billing data of the WCDMA network and the EPC network (S235), transmits the generated billing data to the OCS 180, So that the service can be performed (S237).

When the communication terminal apparatus generates a data call in the EPC network, the Serving-GW 150 inquires of the PDN-GW 160 whether the limit has been exhausted according to the limit plan (S341). The PDN- ) Is inquired as to whether the limit has been exhausted according to the limit plan (S343).

Then, in step S237, the OCS 180 determines whether the data usage limit corresponding to the limit plan of the communication terminal apparatus has been exhausted based on the billing processing data transmitted from the billing processing apparatus 170, and then transmits to the PDN-GW 160 (S345).

Thereafter, the PDN-GW 160 determines whether or not the data call is accepted or not allowed in the EPC network by the communication terminal apparatus according to whether the limit is returned from the OCS 180 (S347) Or non-permission status to the Serving-GW 150 in the EPC network (S349).

Alternatively, when the communication terminal apparatus generates a data call in the WCDMA network, the SGSN 120 inquires of the PDN-GW 160 whether the limit has been exhausted in accordance with the limit plan (S351), and the PDN- ) Is inquired as to whether the limit has been exhausted according to the limit plan (S353).

Then, in step S237, the OCS 180 determines whether the data usage limit corresponding to the limit plan of the communication terminal apparatus has been exhausted based on the billing processing data transmitted from the billing processing apparatus 170, and then transmits to the PDN-GW 160 (S355).

Thereafter, the PDN-GW 160 determines whether the data call is accepted or not allowed in the WCDMA network by the communication terminal apparatus according to whether the limit is returned from the OCS 180 (S357) Or non-permission, and transmits the generated message to the SGSN 120 of the WCDMA network (S359).

Therefore, the SGSN 120 of the WCDMA network and the Serving-GW 150 of the EPC network can know whether or not the limit according to the limit plan has been exhausted, and can provide the service only for the data call whose limit has not been exhausted .

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a data call is handled while transferring subscriber's plan information between a WCDMA network and an EPC network in a heterogeneous mobile communication mixed service environment in which a WCDMA network and an EPC network are mixed, It is a useful invention that can provide voice and data service in the WCDMA network and data service in the EPC network based on the limit plan to the terminal device.

100: Subscription information providing device 110: HLR
120: SGSN 130: MME
140: GGSN 150: Serving-GW
160: PDN-GW 170: Charging device
180: OCS 190: SCP

Claims (10)

A limit exhaustion confirmation unit for inquiring of the OCS which deals with the accounting data of the WCDMA network and the EPC network by inquiring whether the limit of the communication terminal apparatuses serving as the WCDMA network /
A permission decision unit for deciding whether to permit or disable the data call by the communication terminal apparatus according to whether the limit is returned from the OCS;
A message transmission unit for transmitting a message indicating whether the data call is permitted or not allowed by the permission decision unit to a location where the SGSN of the WCDMA network and the Serving-GW of the EPC network have inquired about limit exhaustion according to the limit plan; ,
And a gateway function unit performing tunneling and IP routing functions while maintaining routing information with the Serving-GW and the external network for packet service by the data call
Packet data network gateway device. The method according to claim 1,
The limit depletion checking unit may inquire the OCS whether or not the MME of the EPC network has exhausted the limit according to the limit plan information included in the subscriber profile transmitted from the HLR
Packet data network gateway device. 3. The method of claim 2,
The limit exhaustion confirmation unit checks the limit plan information included in the charge characteristic information field of the subscriber profile
Packet data network gateway device. A step of querying the OCS dealing with the accounting data of the WCDMA network and the EPC network to determine whether the limit of the communication terminal device serving as the WCDMA network /
Determining whether the data terminal is allowed or not allowed by the communication terminal apparatus according to the limit exhaustion response returned from the OCS;
And transmitting a message indicating whether the data call is allowed or not allowed to a location where the SGSN of the WCDMA network and the Serving-GW of the EPC network have inquired of whether the limit is expired according to the limit plan,
Call processing method. delete delete A subscription information providing device for transmitting the limit plan information on the limit plan for which the WCDMA network / EPC network communication terminal device is subscribed to the HLR and the OCS;
When the communication terminal apparatus performs location registration in the WCDMA network or the EPC network, transmits the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the SGSN or the MME of the corresponding network,
The OCS for determining whether a limit has been exhausted according to the accounting data and the limit plan information for the communication terminal apparatus of the WCDMA network and the EPC network,
Wherein the communication terminal apparatus inquires of the OCS whether the limit has been exhausted by the communication terminal apparatus, and determines whether the data terminal is allowed or not allowed by the communication terminal apparatus according to the exhaustion limit received from the OCS, And a PDN-GW for transmitting a limit of the Serving-GW of the EPC network according to the limit plan to the inquired place
Mobile communication system. 8. The method of claim 7,
The HLR transmits the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the SGSN when the communication terminal apparatus performs location registration in the WCDMA network. When the communication terminal apparatus performs location registration in the EPC network, And transmits the subscriber profile including the limit plan information to the MME
Mobile communication system. delete delete

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