Patent Application
20100272021
The present invention relates to a solution for handling communication protocol messages in a mixed protocol standard network.
Implementing new protocol standards for wireless communication in a wireless network comprise new challenges for developers in relation to existing standards and solutions. This will require certain aspects in order to be able to implement new solutions with a cost efficient manner with respect to operators and network owners. Different types of network nodes and protocols will co-exist for long times and in order to reduce costs for operators and network owners it is of interest to find solutions for handling mixed protocol networks.
This is true for instance for Evolved Packet Services (EPS) being developed for wireless telecommunication solutions such as 3G. EPS is being specified currently by 3GPP. EPS is a new enhanced packet system (also known as SAE/LTE).
Evolved packet services are provided to mobile users in the evolved packet core (EPC). The access technologies available for an UE to get service from the network, voice service operator, specific services (e.g. IMS) or general internet access are 2G/3G or LTE in the 3GPP technologies.
When an UE roams it may change access technology depending on the best available connectivity, and when doing so it is desirable that the Hand Off between technologies is seamless, such that the UE will keep its connection and in particular its IP address. Such as the EPS is designed currently in TS 23.401 and TS 23.060, the architecture allows for the UE to get access and stay connected via a UP GW, i.e. the PDN-GW. When the UE attaches to the 3GPP LTE system it connects to a control node, the MME, which assigns the UE to a PDN-GW for User Plane access. The PDN-GW assigns an IP address to the UE. When the UE roams between LTE access and 2G/3G access it shall remain using the same PDN-GW for the entire lifetime of the connection, and using the same IP address and IP session.
Such as the system is designed today, the Session Management, i.e. bearers and handling of bearers, is different in LTE access and 2G/3G access. In 2G/3G PDP Contexts are used, while in LTE EPS bearers are used. Therefore a mapping function is needed in both the Core NW and in the UE. When the dual mode UE moves between LTE and 2G/3G there is a need to each time map back and forth between PDP Contexts and EPS bearers.
However, there is a problem in this mapping “down” to PDP Cxt in 2G/3G:
Simple and cost efficient means for providing and controlling Quality of Service (QoS) are important for wireless operators. This has been one of the main drivers behind the evolution of the QoS architecture in 3GPP REL-8 evolved packet system (EPS). EPS is designed for leverage of services from different provides and over different access types to mobile terminals. In contrast, when defining the QoS architecture for GRPS the primary goal was not to define an open architecture for service delivery, but provide tools for operators being in control of the infrastructure and end user services.
Today 3GPP has defined two quite different QoS architectures one in EPS and one in GRPS.
With the evolution of 3GPP Rel-7 to the evolved packet system in 3GPP REL-8 a new QoS architecture has been standardized. The work was driven by the need for simplification of QoS in 3GPP networks. The goal was to provide a platform for access agnostic applications in terminals and still provide tools for the operator to have control over services delivery. With the new QoS architecture there is also a new packet core architecture defined. From an operator perspective it seems important to provide means to connect legacy 3GPP networks to networks following the new architecture. Up to now there are no solutions defined. One possible way forward would be to support the old and the new architecture in the products and protocols. From a product perspective this would mean to ensure that the functionality, such as the new protocols and procedures, are supported on top of the old ones. However, it would also mean that legacy functionality is brought into the evolved packet core networks. From the operator perspective it would add complexity to the network. From an OPEX and CAPEX point of view this is not the most efficient way forward.
A more optimized solution would protect RAN and terminal investments, but not necessarily requires legacy functionality in a strict EPS architecture.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device, method, and system that may provide a solution to handle mixed protocol networks, e.g. to correlate EPS and GPRS architectures in a cost effective way without putting new requirements on RAN and terminals and to handle other communication issues in a mixed protocol network.
This is provided in a number of aspects/embodiments of the present invention which will be discussed in detail in the detailed description of this document. A first aspect of the present invention is provided, a communication node handling inter protocol issues in the mixed protocol telecommunications network, comprising:
wherein the processor unit is arranged to execute instruction sets stored in the memory unit to perform database lookup operations between two different communication protocol standards communicated on the communication interface and further arranged to operate a bearer translation function, i.e. BTF, providing the database lookup between the two different protocol standards. The BTF is arranged to communicate with a database, externally or internally located, with a protocol lookup table providing connectivity between protocol messages in the two different protocol standards.
The node may be one of a Serving GPRS Support Node, i.e. SGSN, base station, or a standalone node.
The mixed protocol network may for instance comprise a combined GPRS and EPS based network. The BTF may be arranged to handle terminal, RANAP, and Base Station System GPRS Protocol issues into Evolved Packet System specific signalling and the BTF may further be arranged to map signalling parameters between the communication protocols and the BTF may further be arranged to hide parameter differences between the communication protocols. For instance the BTF may be arranged to map parameters between Packet Data Protocol context and Evolved Packet System bearer domains.
A second aspect of the present invention is provided, an infrastructure network supporting wireless communication with user equipment, comprising at least one node according to the first aspect.
A third aspect of the present invention is provided, a method in a telecommunications network handling inter protocol issues in a mixed communication protocol network configuration using a bearer translation function, i.e. BTF handling connectivity between different communication protocols and wherein the BTF is arranged to communicate with a database with a protocol lookup table for each protocol in the mixed protocol network, comprising steps of in a node:
receiving a control message in a first protocol standard format;
sending a request to a database to find a suitable conversion message in a second protocol standard format;
receiving a response from the database with a suitable conversion message;
converting the control message in the first protocol standard format to the second protocol standard format;
transmitting the converted control message.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is provided, a processor program stored in a processor readable storage medium, comprising instruction sets for operating the steps of the method.
Also, a system is provided handling inter protocol issues in a mixed communication protocol network, comprising:
wherein the node is arranged to convert control messages in one protocol standard format to another standard format using the database.
With the solution according to the present invention, it is provided advantages of providing:
Further merits of the present invention are:
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.
In the following the invention will be described in a non-limiting way and in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the enclosed drawings, in which:
In
In
It should be noted that the transceiver portion 208 may be configured in different ways depending on radio technology and/or communication protocol used as understood by the skilled person.
The present invention is a solution for handling communication between mixed protocol telecommunication networks. The solution may be implemented in different ways and is applicable on a general basis for 2G/3G networks, e.g. GPRS networks.
The basic idea of a first method according to the present invention is to construct a new NAS (Non-Access Stratum) protocol over the air between the UE and the core network, such that the same Session management (SM) is usable for both LTE and for 2G/3G access. The NAS protocol invokes the appropriate radio and mobility management (RM and MM) according to 2G/3G or LTE access, but uses the same SM (i.e. bearers and QoS) in release (rel) 8. NAS SM messages will handle EPS bearers always, but include the appropriate RM/MM (radio and mobility management) information such as RAU (Routing Area Update (used for 2G/3G)) and TAU (Tracking Area Update (used for EUTRAN, LTE)) etc. This is illustrated in
In summary:
The 3GPP TS 24.008 specifies the procedures used at the radio interface core network protocols within the 3rd generation mobile telecommunications system and the digital cellular telecommunications system. It specifies the procedures used at the radio interface (Reference Point Um or Uu, see 3GPP TS 24.002 or 3GPP TS 23.002) for Call Control (CC), Mobility Management (MM), and Session Management (SM). These procedures are defined in terms of messages exchanged over the control channels of the radio interface.
The control channels are described in 3GPP TS 44.003 and 3GPP TS 25.301. The structured functions and procedures of this protocol and the relationship with other layers and entities are described in general terms in 3GPP TS 24.007.
The procedures currently described are for the call control of circuit-switched connections, session management for GPRS services, mobility management and radio resource management for circuit-switched and GPRS services.
3GPP TS 24.010 contains functional procedures for support of supplementary services.
3GPP TS 24.011 contains functional procedures for support of point-to-point short message services.
3GPP TS 24.012 contains functional description of short message—cell broadcast.
3GPP TS 44.060 contains procedures for radio link control and medium access control (RLC/MAC) of packet data physical channels.
3GPP TS 44.071 contains functional descriptions and procedures for support of location services.
The procedures defined in the present document apply to the interface structures defined in 3GPP TS 44.003 and 3GPP TS 25.301. They use the functions and services provided by lower layers defined in 3GPP TS 44.005 and 3GPP TS 44.006 or 3GPP TS 25.331 [23c], 3GPP TS 25.322 and 3GPP TS 25.321. 3GPP TS 24.007 gives the general description of layer 3 (A/Gb mode) and Non Access Stratum (Iu mode) including procedures, messages format and error handling.
In this embodiment the following configurations are handled as described:
Different states and situations in a bearer state machine for this first solution according to the present invention may be listed as follows:
A second embodiment of the method according to the present invention provides a solution to connect 3GPP radio networks and terminals to an evolved packet core network. The basis of the present invention is to define a function in a core network node, such as the SGSN, translating GPRS signalling and parameters into EPS signalling and parameters. This mean the SGSN may hide the specifics of GRPS from EPS and vice versa. For this a new function is defined called Bearer Translation Function (BTF). The Bearer Translation Function acts as a gateway: translating terminal, RANAP, and Base Station System GPRS Protocol (BSSGP) signalling into EPS specific signalling. The BTF is preferably placed in the SGSN, thus as close as possible to the RAN, but may also be deployed as a stand alone node somewhere between the SGSN and S-GW. The Bearer Translation Function allows the SGSN to hide differences in EPS Bearer/PDP context signalling from other nodes. This would allow deploying EPS networks without bringing legacy functionality into Serving GW and PDN GW. Serving GW and PDN GW are the edge nodes in the evolved packet core.
The principles of the function are outlined in
The PDP Context domain is compliant to GPRS, thus PDP Context type of signalling. The EPS bearer domain is compliant to EPS bearer signalling (3GPP Rel-8). The Bearer Translation Function converts parameters and signalling from one domain to the other domain. Specifics in one domain are not visible in the other domain.
All signalling between the PDP Context domain and EPS domain involves the Bearer Translation Function. While some of the QoS parameters used in the different domains have a one to one mapping, others may not have its equivalent in the other domain. The Bearer Translation Function hides all those indifferences from the outside.
Signalling wise there is a one to one mapping between the domains. This means a signalling procedure in one domain has its equivalent in the other domain. As an example a UE initiated Activate secondary PDP context request 905 in the PDP Context domain is translated to a Request Dedicated Bearer Activation Request in EPS bearer domain. The request in this case is responded to by transmitting an Activate (secondary) PDP Context Accept message 906. However, as some of the PDP Context/EPS Bearer parameters do not have its equivalent in the other domain the BTF is responsible for keeping and making parameters available on request. This means each PDP context/EPS bearer has a record with their specific parameters in the SGSN. Parameters not available in the other domain are added from the record during the bearer translation. Others having its equivalent in the other domain are translated. Translation rules may be pre-configured by Operation and Maintenance means (e.g. by external functions). A separate external (or internal) service, e.g. a server 217 (as seen in
As discussed earlier above in this document: in a suitable node in the network a Bearer Translation Function (BTF) is implemented, which:
In a suitable node in the network a database is provided in communication with the BTF, which:
The BTF may be located at different locations in the network depending on the configuration of the network, such as in the SGSN or in a separate node located close to the SGSN. The BTF may be implemented as a software function.
The database holds a translation table between different protocol standards which may be used as a lookup table for fast and accurate response to translational operations. The database may be located close to the BTF, in a separate node in the network, or even at a location in an external network.
One embodiment for an EPS/PDP mixed network of a BTF method according to the present invention may be shown in relation to
301. PDP context signalling 1005 is sent to the BTF 1002. The BTF analyses 1006 the signalling and extract PDP context specific parameters.
302. BTF sends a request 1007 to the DB to create a record 1008 with PDP context related data
303. The DB acknowledge 1009 the creation of the new record.
304. BTF translates 1010 the PDP context parameters into EPS bearer parameters. Parameters, having its equivalent in the corresponding domain, are mapped by the BTF without DB interaction. BTF creates the EPS bearer signalling 1011.
305. BTF receives an EPS bearer signalling 1012 from the EPS Bearer. The BTF analyses 1013 the signalling and extract EPS Bearer specific parameter.
306. BTF sends a request 1014 to the DB to update the record 1015 with EPS bearer relation data and request needed PDP context related data.
307. The DB acknowledges 1016 the update and sends the PDP context related data to the BTF.
308. BTF translates 1017 the EPS bearer parameters into PDP context parameters and finalize the PDP Context signalling 1018. Parameters, having its equivalent in the corresponding domain, are mapped by the BTF without DB interaction.
The proposed method addresses GPRS networks when evolving into an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network architecture. The key advantage is the smooth migration of GPRS networks into a strict EPC architecture. New EPC nodes such as Serving GW and PDN GW don't need awareness of legacy PDP Context signaling e.g. QoS, call flow procedures, etc. It is also applicable to legacy GPRS network. Legacy awareness is hidden by the Bearer translation function from the adjacent domain. The Bearer Translation Function limits awareness into one single function. If as in the given example the functionality is placed in the SGSN, the SGSN becomes the single point of control between the domains. With the proposed method operators may deploy an EPC only network and still serve legacy terminals and RAN's. The functionality may simply be achieved by a software update of the SGSN.
The methods of the present invention may be implemented as software code instruction sets stored in a computer readable storage medium and possible distributed to the nodes in the network using several different distribution methods, such as using the network for transporting code, using storage media such as CD, DVD, floppy disks, HD, Flash memory, EEPROM, and so on as understood by the skilled person. It should also be appreciated that the instruction sets need not be implemented as software code/instruction sets but can also be implemented as hardware code/instruction sets in a suitable integrated circuit (FPGA, ASIC, and so on).
Also, the UE 3 may have an implementation of the present invention in the form of software instruction sets stored in a computer/processor readable storage medium, such as a memory.
The solution according to the present invention allows for:
It should be noted that the word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed and the words “a” or “an” preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the invention may be at least in part implemented by means of both hardware and software, and that several “means” or “units” may be represented by the same item of hardware.
The above mentioned and described embodiments are only given as examples and should not be limiting to the present invention. Other solutions, uses, objectives, and functions within the scope of the invention as claimed in the below described patent claims should be apparent for the person skilled in the art.
Definitions and Abbreviations
BSC Base Station Controller
BTF Bearer Translation Function
BTS Base Transceiver Station
DB Database
EPC Evolved Packet Core
EPS Evolved Packet System
E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN
GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
GW Gateway
HLR Home Location Register
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
LTE Long term Evolution
MME Mobility Management Entity
MS Mobile Station
NAS Non-Access Stratum
PDN Packet Data Network
PDP Packet Data Protocol
QoS Quality of service
RAN Radio Access Network
RAU Radio Area Update
RNC Radio Network Controller
SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node
S-GW Serving GateWay
TAU Tracking Area Update
UE User Equipment
UTRAN UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network
VLR Visitor Location Register
Incorporated by reference into this document
3GPP TS 23.060 “General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)”
3GPP TS 23.401 “GPRS enhancements for E-UTRAN access”
3GPP TS 23.402 “Architecture Enhancements for non-3GPP accesses”
3GPP TS 24.008 “Mobile radio interface Layer 3 specification”
It should be noted that other protocol standards may be used as understood by the skilled person.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP08/67551 | 12/19/2008 | WO | 00 | 6/21/2010 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61014819 | Dec 2007 | US |
