TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to radio communication techniques, and more particularly, to methods for supporting access and paging of a low complexity UE.

BACKGROUND ART

Modern mobile communications have a growing tendency to provide users with multimedia services with high transmission rate.FIG. 1provides system architecture of System Architecture Evolution (SAE), in which,

User equipment (UE)101is a terminal device used for receiving data. Evolved-Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)102is a wireless access network, including a macro base station (eNodeB/NodeB) providing an interface to the UE for accessing the wireless network. Mobility Management Entity (MME)103is responsible for managing mobile context, session context and security information of the UE. Serving Gateway (SGW)104is mainly responsible for providing user plane functions. The MME103and the SGW104may be deployed in a same physical entity. Packet Data Gateway (PGW)105is responsible for functions such as charging and legal monitoring and may be in the same physical entity with the SGW104. Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF)106provides Quality of Service (QoS) polices and charging rules. Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)108is a network node device in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) for providing routes for data during transmission. Home Subscriber Server (HSS)109is a home subscriber sub-system of the UE, responsible for protecting user information of the user equipment such as current location, location of a serving-node, user security information, and packet data context of the user equipment.

The interface between the eNB and the MME is an S1 interface. The interface between eNBs is an X2 interface.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

In order to support low complexity UE, base station requires update. Legacy base stations which have been deployed but not upgraded do not support low complexity UE. When a low complexity UE accesses a base station not supporting low complexity UE, the base station not supporting low complexity UE cannot serve the UE properly. Therefore, existing techniques do not solve problems including how to avoid bad user experience of low complexity UE and unnecessary network procedure and resource waste.

In order to support enhancement of paging of low complexity UE in the LTE system, the eNB needs to know information of the low complexity UE, and eNB also needs to transmit the information of the low complexity UE to the MME.

Solution to Problem

A method for supporting paging of a low complexity UE, including:

determining, by a target base station during handover of a UE, whether a source base station during the handover supports low complexity UE, and transmitting paging capability information of the UE to a Mobility Management Entity MME in response to determining that the source base station does not support low complexity UE, wherein the paging capability information of the UE is used by the MME for paging the UE.

Preferably, the determining by the target base station whether the source base station during the handover supports low complexity UE includes:

obtaining, by the target base station, information indicating whether an neighbor base station of the target base station supports low complexity UE via operating and maintaining Q&M configurations; or

obtaining, by the target base station, information indicating whether an neighbor base station of the target base station supports low complexity UE via an X2 setup procedure; or

obtaining, by the target base station, information indicating whether an neighbor base station of the target base station supports low complexity UE via an S1 interface; or

obtaining, by the target base station, whether the source base station supports low complexity UE via the UE.

Preferably, the obtaining by target base station the information indicating whether the neighbor base station of the target base station supports low complexity UE via the X2 setup procedure includes:

transmitting, by the neighbor base station of the target base station, an X2 setup request message to the target bases station and indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE in the X2 setup request message; transmitting, by the target base station, an X2 setup response message to the neighbor base station and indicating whether the target base station supports low complexity UE in the X2 setup response message.

Preferably, the X2 setup request message or the X2 setup response message includes indication information indicating support of low complexity UE, used for indicating that the neighbor base station or the target base station supports low complexity UE; the X2 setup request message or the X2 setup response message does not includes the indication information indicating support of low complexity UE, used for indicating that the neighbor base station or the target base station does not support low complexity UE.

Preferably, the obtaining by the target base station the information indicating whether the source base station supports low complexity UE via the UE includes:

broadcasting, by the source base station, information indicating whether the source base station supports low complexity UE; and

receiving, by the target base station from the UE, the information indicating whether the source base station supports low complexity UE determined by the UE according to the broadcast of the source base station.

Preferably, before the target base station receives from the UE the information indicating whether the source base station supports low complexity UE, the method further includes: requesting, by the target base station, the UE to report the information indicating whether the source base station supports low complexity UE.

Preferably, the obtaining by target base station the paging capability information of the UE includes:

transmitting, by the target base station, a UE capability enquiry message to the UE for requesting the paging capability information of the UE; and

receiving, by the target base station, UE capability information transmitted by the UE, wherein the UE capability information includes the paging capability information of the UE.

Preferably, the transmitting by the target base station the paging capability information of the UE to the MME includes:

transmitting, by the target base station, the paging capability information of the UE to the MME via a UE capability information indication or a path switch request or a path switch request acknowledgement or a handover notify or a self-defined S1 message.

A method for supporting paging of a low complexity User Equipment UE, including:

during handover of a UE from a source base station to a target base station, if the target base station does not receive, from the source base station, paging capability information of the UE or information indicating that the paging capability information of the UE is transmitted to a Mobility Management Entity MME, transmitting, by the target base station, the obtained paging capability information of the UE to the MME, wherein the paging capability information of the UE is used by the MME for paging the UE.

Preferably, the paging capability information of the UE or the information indicating that the paging capability information of the UE is transmitted to the MME is transmitted to the target base station via a handover request message of an X2 interface, or is transmitted to the target base station via a handover required message and a handover request message of an S1 interface.

Preferably, the obtaining by the target base station the paging capability information of the UE includes:

transmitting, by the target base station, a UE capability enquiry message to the UE for requesting the paging capability information of the UE; and

receiving, by the target base station, UE capability information returned by the UE, wherein the UE capability information includes the paging capability information of the UE.

Preferably, the transmitting by the target base station the paging capability information of the UE to the MME includes:

transmitting, by the target base station, the paging capability information of the UE to the MME via a UE capability information indication or a path switch request or a handover request acknowledgement or a handover notify of a self-defined S1 message.

A method for paging low complexity User Equipment UE, including:

receiving, by a base station, UE paging capability required indication transmitted by a Mobility Management Entity MME, wherein the UE paging capability required indication is used for indicating the base station to report paging capability information of the UE to the MME; and

after receiving the UE paging capability required indication, transmitting, by the base station, the obtained paging capability information of the UE to the MME, wherein the paging capability information of the UE is used by the MME for paging the UE.

Preferably, the UE paging capability required indication is transmitted to the base station via an initial context setup request message or a path switch request acknowledgement message during an X2 handover or a handover request message during an S1 handover.

Preferably, the base station obtains the paging capability information of the UE by:

transmitting, by the base station, a UE capability enquiry message to the UE for requesting the paging capability information of the UE; and

receiving, by the base station, UE capability information returned by the UE, wherein the UE capability information includes the paging capability information of the UE.

Preferably, the base station is a target base station during a handover procedure, the base station obtains the paging capability information of the UE by: receiving, by the target base station, the paging capability information of the UE from a source base station of the handover.

Preferably, the transmitting by the base station the paging capability information of the UE to the MME includes:

transmitting, by the base station, the paging capability information of the UE to the MME via a UE capability information indication or a handover request acknowledgement or a handover notify or an initial context setup response or a self-defined S1 message.

Preferably, the base station is a base station that the UE accesses when changing from an idle state or an active state, or is a target base station during the handover procedure.

A method for supporting paging of low complexity User Equipment UE, including:

if a base station does not detect paging capability information of a UE in a predefined message transmitted by a Mobility Management Entity MME or a source base station during handover, transmitting, by the base station, obtained paging capability information of the UE to the MME, wherein the paging capability information of the UE is used by the MME to page the UE.

Preferably, the predefined message is an initial context setup request message transmitted by the MME, or an X2 handover request message transmitted by the source base station during handover of the UE; or an S1 handover request message transmitted by the MME.

Preferably, the base station obtains the paging capability information of the UE by:

transmitting, by the base station, a UE capability enquiry request to the UE for requesting the paging capability information of the UE; and

receiving, by the base station, UE capability information returned by the UE, wherein the UE capability information includes the paging capability information of the UE.

Preferably, the transmitting by the base station the paging capability information of the UE to the MME includes:

transmitting, by the base station, the paging capability information of the UE to the MME via a UE capability information indication or a handover request acknowledgement or a handover notify or an initial context setup response or a self-defined S1 message.

Preferably, the base station is a base station that the UE accesses when changing from an idle state to an active state, or a target base station during a handover procedure.

A method for supporting access of low complexity User Equipment UE, including:

obtaining, by a serving base station of a UE, information indicating whether an neighbor base station of the serving base station supports low complexity UE; and

if the UE is a low complexity UE, handing over, by the serving base station, the UE to an neighbor base station which supports low complexity UE during handover of the UE.

Preferably, the obtaining by the serving base station the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE includes:

obtaining, by the serving base station, the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE via operating and maintaining Q&M configurations; or

obtaining, by the serving base station, the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE via an X2 setup procedure; or

obtaining, by the serving base station, the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE via an S1 interface; or

obtaining, by the serving base station, the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE via the UE.

Preferably, the obtaining by the serving base station the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE via the X2 setup procedure includes:

transmitting, by the neighbor base station of the serving base station, an X2 setup request message to the serving base station and indicating in the X2 setup request message whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE, transmitting, by the serving base station, an X2 setup response message to the neighbor base station and indicating in the X2 setup response message whether the serving base station supports low complexity UE.

Preferably, the X2 setup request message or X2 setup response message includes indication information indicating support of low complexity, used for indicating that the neighbor base station or the serving base station supports low complexity UE; the X2 setup request message or the X2 setup response message does not includes the indication information indicating support of low complexity UE, used for indicating that the neighbor base station or the serving base station does not support low complexity UE.

Preferably, the obtaining by the serving base station the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE via the UE includes:

broadcasting, by the neighbor base station of the serving base station, information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE; and

receiving, by the serving base station from the UE, the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE determined by the UE according to the broadcast of the neighbor base station.

preferably, before the serving base station receives from the UE the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE, the method further includes: requesting, by the serving base station, the UE to report the information indicating whether the neighbor base station supports low complexity UE.

A method for supporting access of low complexity User Equipment UE, including:

during handover of a low complexity UE, receiving, by a target base station directly or via a Mobility Management Entity MME, information indicating that the handover UE is a low complexity UE from a source base station; if the target base station does not support low complexity UE, transmitting, by the target base station directly or via the MME, a handover failure message to the source base station, and indicating that a failure reason is the target base station does not support low complexity UE.

Preferably, after the target base station transmits the handover failure message to the source base station directly or via the MME, the method further includes: saving, by the source base station, information indicating that the target base station does not support low complexity UE, and not initiating handover of low complexity UE to the target base station again.

An apparatus for supporting paging of low complexity User Equipment UE, including: a determining unit and a paging capability transmitting unit;

the determining unit is adapted to determine, after the UE hands over to a target base station, whether a source base station of the handover supports low complexity UE, and notify the paging capability transmitting unit if determining that the source base station does not support low complexity UE; and

the paging capability transmitting unit is adapted to transmit obtained paging capability information of the UE to a Mobility Management Entity MME after being notified by the determining unit, wherein the paging capability information of the UE is used by the MME for paging the UE.

An apparatus for supporting paging of low complexity User Equipment UE, including: a detecting unit and a paging capability transmitting unit;

the detecting unit is adapted to notify the paging capability transmitting unit if not receiving paging capability information of the UE or information indicating that the paging capability information of the UE is transmitted to a Mobility Management Entity MME from the source base station during a handover of the UE from the source base station to the target base station; and

the paging capability transmitting unit is adapted to transmit obtained paging capability information of the UE to the MME after being notified by the detecting unit, wherein the paging capability information of the UE is used by the MME for paging the UE.

An apparatus for supporting paging of low complexity User Equipment UE, including: a receiving unit and a paging capability transmitting unit;

the receiving unit is adapted to receive a UE paging capability required indication transmitted by a Mobility Management Entity MME, wherein the UE paging capability required indication is used for indicate a base station to report paging capability information of the UE to the MME; and

the paging capability transmitting unit is adapted to transmit obtained paging capability information of the UE to the MME after the receiving unit receives the UE paging capability required indication, wherein the paging capability information of the UE is used by the MME for paging the UE.

An apparatus for supporting paging of low complexity User Equipment UE, including: a receiving and detecting unit and a paging capability transmitting unit;

the receiving and detecting unit is adapted to receive a predefined message transmitted by a Mobility Management Entity MME or a source base station, and notify the paging capability transmitting unit if not finding paging capability information of the UE in the predefined message; and

the paging capability transmitting unit is adapted to transmit obtained paging capability information of the UE to the MME after being notified by the receiving and detecting unit, wherein the paging capability information of the UE is used by the MME for paging the UE.

An apparatus for supporting access of a low complexity User Equipment UE, including: an obtaining unit and a handover unit;

the obtaining unit is adapted to obtain information indicating whether an neighbor base station supports low complexity UE; and

the handover unit is adapted to hand over the UE to an neighbor base station supporting low complexity UE when performing handover of the low complexity UE.

An apparatus for supporting access of a low complexity User Equipment UE, including: a receiving unit and a responding unit;

the receiving unit is adapted to receive from a source base station of the UE directly or via a Mobility Management Entity MME information indicating that the handover UE is a low complexity UE; and

the responding unit is adapted to transmit directly or via the MME a handover failure message to the source base station if a target base station of handover does not support low complexity UE, and indicate that a failure reason is that the target base station does not support low complexity UE.

It can be seen from the above technical solution that, through the methods for supporting access and paging of low complexity UE provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is avoided that the low complexity UE in the active mode accesses the base station not supporting low complexity UE and signaling procedures are reduced. It is possible to support paging enhancement of the low complexity UE under all scenarios, reduce modification to existing specifications and reduce signaling procedures.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for supporting access and paging of a low complexity UE. According to the access method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is avoided that a low complexity UE in active mode accesses a base station not supporting low complexity UE, and signaling procedures are reduced. According to the paging method provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, paging enhancement of the low complexity UE in all scenarios can be supported, modification to existing specifications is reduced and signaling procedures are reduced.

