CN106488473B

CN106488473B - Communication control method and device

Info

Publication number: CN106488473B
Application number: CN201510533121.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 谢峰
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2015-08-26
Filing date: 2015-08-26
Publication date: 2021-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2035-08-26
Also published as: CN106488473A; WO2017032197A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a communication control method, which comprises the following steps: the method comprises the steps that a first access device determines that communication connection between a second access device and User Equipment (UE) needs to be recovered; sending first control information to the UE; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period. The invention also discloses a communication control device.

Description

Communication control method and device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a communication control method and apparatus.

Background

A Low Power Node (LPN) may be called a small base station, and there are usually two deployment scenarios of hot spot deployment and enhanced coverage; in a hot spot deployment scenario, in order to achieve a high data rate and spectral efficiency, a large number of small base stations need to be densely deployed in an area, but due to a small coverage area of a small cell (small cell) under a small base station, the probability of handover failure occurring when a medium-high speed mobile User Equipment (UE) passes through a small base station is increased, and the service continuity of the UE is affected. In order to improve the UE mobility after introducing a small cell, it is proposed in the industry that a base station, such as a macro base station, ensures basic coverage, the UE always maintains Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the base station, and the small cell is only used as a transmission node to provide a higher data rate.

Under the system architecture, a UE maintains connection with at least two base stations and uses radio resources under the two base stations, so as to implement cross-node radio resource aggregation, where the architecture is generally called a dual-connection architecture, as shown in fig. 1, of the two base stations to which the UE is connected, one of the two base stations having certain management and control capabilities is generally called a Master base station (MeNB, Master eNB), and the other base station is called a Secondary base station (SeNB, Secondary eNB); to support higher throughput or better mobility, the dual connectivity architecture may be extended to a multi-connectivity architecture in which a UE may communicate with multiple wireless access points or base stations of more than one wireless access system or network.

Under a dual-connection or multi-connection architecture, the longer the sleep time of the UE in a certain base station is, the more power can be saved, however, if the UE sleeps in a certain base station for a long time, when new service data or signaling arrives in the sleep time, if the UE cannot be awakened in time, the service experience of the user may be affected.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of this, embodiments of the present invention are expected to provide a communication control method and apparatus, which can prolong the endurance time of the UE without affecting the user service experience.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention is realized as follows:

the embodiment of the invention provides a communication control method, which comprises the following steps:

the first access equipment determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and User Equipment (UE) needs to be recovered;

sending first control information to the UE; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and a second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle, where the second cycle is smaller than the first cycle.

In the foregoing solution, the determining, by the first access device, that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored includes:

and the first access equipment receives the control request information sent by the second access equipment, and determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered according to the control request information.

In the foregoing solution, the receiving, by the first access device, the control request information sent by the second access device includes:

the first access equipment receives control request information sent by the second access equipment through a direct interface between the first access equipment and the second access equipment;

or, receiving the control request information sent by the second access device through an interface between the second access device and the intermediate device.

In the foregoing solution, after the first access device determines that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored, the method further includes:

sending control request confirmation information to the second access equipment; wherein the control request acknowledgement information includes timing parameter information; the timing parameter information is used for representing a minimum time interval for receiving the control request information sent by the second access equipment again.

In the foregoing solution, the control request acknowledgement information includes a time for responding to the control request.

In the foregoing solution, the control request information includes: a first period adjustment parameter and/or a second period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the second access equipment; the second period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the third access equipment;

the first control information comprises third control information, and the third control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and third access equipment from a third cycle to a fourth cycle; the fourth period is less than the third period.

and the first access equipment receives downlink service data or signaling, and determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered according to the downlink service data or signaling.

sending second control information to the second access equipment; the second control information is used to instruct the second access device to adjust the sleep cycle between itself and the UE from the first cycle to the second cycle.

In the above scheme, the first control information is carried by a media access control MAC control element CE and indicated by a preset logical channel identifier.

In the foregoing solution, the first control information includes: a second access device identifier, or an index corresponding to the second access device, or a communication connection identifier corresponding to the second access device.

In the foregoing solution, the first control information includes dedicated access resource configuration information, so that the UE establishes a communication connection with the second access device through the dedicated access resource.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication control apparatus, where the apparatus is located in a first access device, and the apparatus includes: the device comprises a determining module and a first sending module; wherein,

the determining module is configured to determine that communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored;

the first sending module is used for sending first control information to the UE; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period.

In the foregoing solution, the determining module is specifically configured to receive control request information sent by the second access device, and determine, according to the control request information, that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored.

In the foregoing solution, the determining module is specifically configured to receive, through a direct interface with the second device, control request information sent by the second access device;

In the above solution, the apparatus further includes a second sending module, configured to send control request acknowledgement information or control request rejection information to the second access device; the control request confirmation information and the control request rejection information comprise timing parameter information; the timing parameter information is used for representing a minimum time interval for receiving the control request information sent by the second access equipment again.

In the foregoing solution, the determining module is specifically configured to receive downlink service data or signaling, and determine that communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored according to the downlink service data or signaling.

In the above solution, the apparatus further includes a third sending module, configured to send second control information to the second access device; the second control information is used to instruct the second access device to adjust the sleep cycle between itself and the UE from the first cycle to the second cycle.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a communication control method, which comprises the following steps:

the UE receives first control information; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period;

and adjusting the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from the first cycle to the second cycle.

In the foregoing solution, after the adjusting the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access device from the first cycle to the second cycle, the method further includes:

and sending success or failure information for adjusting the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from the first cycle to the second cycle.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication control apparatus, where the apparatus is located in a UE, and the apparatus includes: a communication module and an adjustment module; wherein,

the communication module is used for receiving first control information; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period;

the adjusting module is configured to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and the second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle.

In the foregoing solution, the apparatus further includes a feedback module, configured to send success or failure information for performing an operation of adjusting a sleep cycle between the UE and the second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle.

In the foregoing solution, the first control information includes third control information, where the third control information is used to instruct the UE to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and a third access device from a third cycle to a fourth cycle; the fourth period is less than the third period.

In the above scheme, the first control information is carried by the MAC CE and indicated by a preset logical channel identifier.

the second access equipment determines that communication connection with the UE needs to be recovered;

sending control request information to the first access equipment; the control request information is used for instructing first access equipment to send first control information to UE (user equipment), so that the UE adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle, and/or the UE is accessed to the second access equipment; the second period is less than the first period.

In the foregoing solution, the determining, by the second access device, that the communication connection with the UE needs to be restored includes:

and the second access equipment receives the downlink service data or the signaling, and determines that the communication connection with the UE needs to be recovered according to the downlink service data or the signaling.

In the foregoing solution, the control request information includes: a first period adjustment parameter and/or a second period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the second access equipment; the second period adjustment parameter is used for characterizing adjustment conditions of the sleep period between the UE and the third access device.

In the foregoing solution, the control request information includes: dedicated access resource configuration information to enable the UE to establish a communication connection with the second access device through the dedicated access resource.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a communication control device, which is positioned on the second access equipment and comprises: a processing module and a request module; wherein,

the processing module is used for determining that communication connection with the UE needs to be recovered;

the request module is used for sending control request information to the first access equipment; the control request information is used for instructing first access equipment to send first control information to UE (user equipment), so that the UE adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle, and/or the UE is accessed to the second access equipment; the second period is less than the first period.

In the foregoing solution, the processing module is specifically configured to receive downlink service data or signaling, and determine that communication connection with the UE needs to be restored according to the downlink service data or signaling.

According to the communication control method and device provided by the embodiment of the invention, the first access equipment determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered; sending first control information to the UE; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period; therefore, even if the sleep period between the UE and the second access device is set to be longer, when the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored, the sleep period between the UE and the second access device is shortened, the communication with the second access device is timely restored, and the endurance time of the UE is prolonged on the premise that the user service experience is not influenced.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a dual connectivity architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a five-communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a first schematic structural diagram of a communication control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a third schematic view of a composition structure of a communication control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the embodiment of the invention, the first access equipment determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered; sending first control information to the UE; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period.

Example one

Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the method is applied to a dual-connection architecture or a multi-connection architecture; as shown in fig. 2, the communication control method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes:

step 201: the first access equipment determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered;

the method specifically comprises the following steps: the first access equipment receives control request information sent by the second access equipment, and determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered according to the control request information; or receiving downlink service data or signaling, and determining that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored according to the downlink service data or signaling;

wherein, the receiving, by the first access device, the control request information sent by the second access device includes:

the first access equipment receives control request information sent by the second access equipment through a direct interface between the first access equipment and the second access equipment; or, receiving the control request information sent by the second access device through an interface between the second access device and the intermediate device;

the direct interface may be an X2 interface, and the first access device may receive control request information sent by the second access device through X2 interface control plane messages or user plane GTP-U information on an X2 interface;

the interface with the intermediate device can be an X2 interface or an S1 interface or a self-defined interface;

the control request information may be indication information indicating data or signaling arrival, or wake-up request information for waking up the UE, or DRX control request information for changing Discontinuous Reception (DRX), or paging request information; the control request information includes a reason indication for characterizing a reason for transmission of the information, such as: data arrival, signaling arrival, etc.;

the control request information includes a first period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used to characterize an adjustment condition of a sleep period between the UE and a second access device, such as: the specific value after the sleep period adjustment between the UE and the second access equipment;

when the reason indicates data arrival, the control request information may further include cache status information and/or data bearer information with data arrival; wherein, the data carrying information with data arrival comprises: bearer identity and/or quality of service classification indicator (QCI, QoS Class Identifier); the first access device can judge the urgency of the second access device to recover the communication connection with the UE according to the data bearing information with the data arrival.

The control request information is used to represent that the second access device has a requirement for data communication with the UE, that is, the second access device receives downlink service data or signaling, and when the downlink service data or signaling needs to be shunted to a third access device, the third access device also needs to recover communication connection with the UE, and correspondingly, the control request information further includes a second period adjustment parameter; the second period adjustment parameter is used to characterize an adjustment condition of a sleep period between the UE and a third access device, for example: the adjusted specific value of the sleep period between the UE and the third access device.

Further, the determining, by the first access device, that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored according to the downlink service data or the signaling includes:

and the first access equipment determines that data bearer distribution needs to be carried out to the second access equipment according to the downlink service data or the signaling, namely the downlink service data or the signaling needs to be distributed to the second access equipment and communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered.

Further, in a case that the first access device receives control request information sent by the second access device, and determines that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored according to the control request information, after this step, the method further includes:

sending control request confirmation information or control request rejection information to the second access equipment; wherein the control request acknowledgement information includes a time for responding to the control request, such as: immediately responding to the control request;

the control request confirmation information and the control request rejection information may further include timing parameter information; the timing parameter information is used for representing the minimum time interval for the first access equipment to receive the control request information sent by the second access equipment again, namely, the second access equipment can not send the control request information to the first access equipment within the time interval;

the control request rejection information may further include a rejection reason, for example: the connection of the first access device with the UE is being released/deleted/deactivated or the first access device detects a radio link failure of the UE, etc.

Further, after the step, in a case that the first access device receives downlink service data or signaling and determines that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be recovered according to the downlink service data or signaling, the method further includes:

Step 202: sending first control information to the UE;

here, the first control information is used to instruct the UE to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and the second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period; the first period may be a current sleep period of the UE and the second access device (the value of the first period does not need to be explicitly indicated, and the value of the second period may or may not be explicitly indicated);

the first Control information is carried by a Media Access Control (MAC) Element (CE) or Radio Resource Control (RRC) information, and is indicated by a preset logical channel identifier; for example: the logical channel identifier may be a preset identifier value 01011;

the first control information includes: a second access device identifier, or an index corresponding to the second access device, or a communication connection identifier corresponding to the second access device; the index corresponding to the second access device and the communication connection identifier corresponding to the second access device may be preset.

Further, the first control information may further include dedicated access resource configuration information, so that the UE resumes the communication connection with the second access device through the dedicated access resource; for example: the dedicated access resource may be a dedicated random access signal/channel.

Further, when the control request information includes a second period adjustment parameter, correspondingly, the first control information further includes third control information, where the third control information is used to instruct the UE to adjust a sleep period between the UE and a third access device from a third period to a fourth period; the fourth period is less than the third period.

Further, after this step, the method further comprises: the first access equipment receives success information or failure information sent by UE; the success information and the failure information are used for indicating the success and the failure of the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from the first cycle to the second cycle;

after receiving the success information or the failure information transmitted by the UE, the method may further include:

and the first access equipment sends control success/failure information to the second access equipment.

The method of the embodiment of the invention can be applied to a 4G/5G/LTE network/WLAN network; the first Access device and the second Access device may be base stations, Access Points (APs), Access Controller (AC), and the like.

Example two

Fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a method for controlling communications according to an embodiment of the present invention, the method being applied to a dual-connection architecture or a multi-connection architecture; as shown in fig. 3, the communication control method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes:

step 301: the second access equipment sends control request information to the first access equipment;

the method specifically comprises the following steps: the second access equipment sends control request information to the first access equipment through a direct interface between the second access equipment and the first access equipment; in the embodiment of the present invention, the direct interface is an X2 interface, and the second access device sends control request information to the first access device through an X2 interface control plane message or a user plane GTP-U information on an X2 interface;

the control request information may be indication information indicating data or signaling arrival, or wake-up request information for waking up the UE, or DRX control request information for changing DRX, or paging request information; the control request information includes a reason indication for characterizing a reason for transmission of the information, such as: data arrival, signaling arrival, etc.;

when the reason indicates data arrival, the control request information may further include cache status information and/or data bearer information with data arrival; wherein, the data carrying information with data arrival comprises: bearer identity and/or QCI; the first access device can judge the urgency of the second access device to recover the communication connection with the UE according to the data bearing information with the data arrival.

Further, before this step, the method further comprises: and the second access equipment receives downlink service data or signaling, namely the second access equipment has the requirement of carrying out data communication with the UE.

Step 302: the first access equipment receives the control request information, and determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered according to the control request information;

here, the control request information is used to characterize that the second access device has a need for data communication with the UE.

Further, after this step, the method further comprises: the first access equipment sends control request confirmation information or control request rejection information to the second access equipment; wherein the control request acknowledgement information includes a time for responding to the control request, such as: responding to the control request after 5 minutes; after the first access device sends control request rejection information to the second access device, the process is ended, and no subsequent operation is executed;

Step 303: the first access equipment sends first control information to the UE;

here, the first control information is used to instruct the UE to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and the second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period; in the embodiment of the present invention, the sleep cycle is a DRX cycle;

the first control information is carried by the MAC CE and indicated by a preset logical channel identifier; for example: the logical channel identifier may be a preset identifier value 01011;

Further, the first control information may further include dedicated access resource configuration information, so that the UE resumes the communication connection with the second access device through the dedicated access resource; the dedicated access resource may be a dedicated random access signal/channel; for example: and when the first control information comprises the special access resource configuration information, namely the second period is indicated to be the period until the UE receives the first control information, the UE directly resumes the communication with the second access equipment through the special access resource.

Step 304: the UE adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle according to the first control information;

after this step, the method further comprises: the UE sends success/failure information to the first access equipment; the success information and the failure information are used for indicating the success or the failure of the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from the first cycle to the second cycle; the failure information can carry failure reasons; the failure reason may be: the UE detects that a radio link between the UE and the second access equipment fails, or the UE is about to leave or is already out of the coverage range of the second access equipment;

after the UE sends the success/failure information to the first access device, the method may further include:

the first access equipment sends control success/failure information to the second access equipment; the control failure information may carry a failure reason.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first access device is an MeNB, and correspondingly, the second access device is an SeNB; of course, the second access device may also be an MeNB, and correspondingly, the first access device is an SeNB.

EXAMPLE III

Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the method is applied to a dual-connection architecture or a multi-connection architecture; as shown in fig. 4, the communication control method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes:

step 401: the second access equipment sends control request information to the intermediate equipment;

the method specifically comprises the following steps: the second access equipment sends control request information to the intermediate equipment through an interface between the second access equipment and the intermediate equipment; the interface with the intermediate device can be an X2 interface or an S1 interface or a self-defined interface;

Step 402: the intermediate equipment receives the control request information and forwards the control request information to the first access equipment;

here, the intermediate device may forward the control request information to the first access device through an interface with the first access device, such as an X2 interface or an S1 interface.

Optionally, after receiving the control request information, the intermediate device may further generate information equivalent to the control request information according to the control request information, and send the generated information to the first access device.

Step 403: the first access equipment receives the control request information, and determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered according to the control request information;

Further, after this step, the method further comprises: the first access equipment sends control request confirmation information or control request rejection information to the intermediate equipment so that the intermediate equipment forwards the control request confirmation information or the control request rejection information to the second access equipment; wherein the control request acknowledgement information includes a time for responding to the control request, such as: responding to the control request after 5 minutes; after the intermediate device forwards the control request rejection information to the second access device, the process is ended, that is, the subsequent operation is not executed;

Step 404: the first access equipment sends first control information to the UE;

Step 405: the UE adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle according to the first control information;

In the embodiment of the present invention, the first access device is an MeNB, and correspondingly, the second access device is an SeNB; of course, the second access device may also be an MeNB, and correspondingly, the first access device is an SeNB; the intermediate device may be a gateway node, such as an X2 gateway, a core network node, such as a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a cloud server, or a virtualization server.

Example four

Fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart of a communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the method is applied to a dual-connection architecture or a multi-connection architecture; as shown in fig. 5, the communication control method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes:

step 501: the first access equipment receives downlink service data or signaling, and determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE needs to be recovered according to the downlink service data or signaling;

here, the determining that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored according to the downlink service data or the signaling includes:

Step 502: the first access equipment sends first control information to the UE and sends second control information to the second access equipment;

here, the first control information is used to instruct the UE to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and the second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period;

the second control information is used for instructing the second access device to adjust the sleep cycle between the second access device and the UE from a first cycle to a second cycle; in this embodiment of the present invention, the sleep cycle is a DRX cycle.

Step 503: the UE adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle according to the first control information;

EXAMPLE five

Fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a five-communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the method is applied to a dual-connection architecture or a multi-connection architecture; as shown in fig. 6, the communication control method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes:

step 601: the second access equipment determines that communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE and communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE need to be recovered;

the method specifically comprises the following steps: the second access device receives downlink service data or signaling, determines that communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored according to the downlink service data or signaling, and needs to perform data bearer shunting to the second access device, that is, the downlink service data or signaling needs to be shunted to the second access device, and communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored.

Step 602: the second access equipment sends control request information to the first access equipment and sends control information to the third access equipment;

the method specifically comprises the following steps: the second access equipment sends control request information to the first access equipment through a direct interface between the second access equipment and the first access equipment, and sends control information to the third access equipment through a direct interface between the second access equipment and the third access equipment; in the embodiment of the present invention, the direct interface is an X2 interface, and the second access device sends control request information to the first access device through an X2 interface control plane message or a user plane GTP-U information on an X2 interface;

the control information is used for instructing the third access equipment to adjust the sleep cycle between the third access equipment and the UE from a third cycle to a fourth cycle; the fourth period is less than the third period;

the control request information comprises a first period adjustment parameter and/or a second period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the second access equipment; the second period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the third access equipment; such as: the specific value after the sleep period adjustment between the UE and the third access equipment;

Step 603: the first access equipment receives the control request information, and determines that the communication connection between the second access equipment and the UE and the communication connection between the third access equipment and the UE need to be recovered according to the control request information;

after this step, the method further comprises: the first access equipment sends control request confirmation information or control request rejection information to the second access equipment; wherein the control request acknowledgement information includes a time for responding to the control request, such as: responding to the control request after 5 minutes; after the first access device sends control request rejection information to the second access device, the process is ended, and no subsequent operation is executed;

Step 604: the first access equipment sends first control information to the UE;

the first control information comprises third control information, and the third control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the third access equipment from a third cycle to a fourth cycle.

The first control information is carried by the MAC CE and indicated by a preset logical channel identifier; for example: the logical channel identifier may be a preset identifier value 01011.

Further, the first control information further includes: a second access device identifier, or an index corresponding to the second access device, or a communication connection identifier corresponding to the second access device; the index corresponding to the second access device and the communication connection identifier corresponding to the second access device can be preset;

the third control information further includes: a third access device identifier, or an index corresponding to the third access device, or a communication connection identifier corresponding to the third access device; the index corresponding to the third access device and the communication connection identifier corresponding to the third access device may be preset.

Further, the first control information may further include dedicated access resource configuration information, so that the UE resumes the communication connection with the second/third access device through the dedicated access resource; for example: the dedicated access resource may be a dedicated random access signal/channel.

Step 605: the UE adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle and adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and the third access equipment from a third cycle to a fourth cycle according to the first control information;

after this step, the method further comprises: the UE sends success/failure information to the first access equipment; the success information and the failure information are used for indicating the success or failure of the UE to execute the operation of adjusting the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle and adjusting the sleep cycle between the UE and the third access equipment from a third cycle to a fourth cycle; the failure information can carry failure reasons; the failure reason may be: the UE detects that a radio link between the UE and the second access equipment/third access equipment fails, or the UE is about to leave or is already out of the coverage range of the second access equipment/third access equipment;

In this embodiment of the present invention, the first access device is an MeNB, and correspondingly, the second access device and the third access device are an SeNB1 and an SeNB2, respectively; of course, the first access device may also be an SeNB1, and correspondingly, the second access device and the third access device are an MeNB and an SeNB2, respectively.

EXAMPLE six

Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth communication control method according to an embodiment of the present invention; the method is applied to a dual-connection architecture or a multi-connection architecture; as shown in fig. 7, the communication control method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes:

step 701: the UE receives first control information sent by first access equipment;

here, the first control information is used to instruct the UE to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and the second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is smaller than the first period, and the sizes of the first period and the second period can be set according to actual needs;

the first control information is carried by MAC CE or RRC message and indicated by preset logic channel mark; for example: the logical channel identifier may be a preset identifier value 01011;

Further, the first control information may further include third control information, where the third control information is used to instruct the UE to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and a third access device from a third cycle to a fourth cycle; the fourth period is less than the third period.

Step 702: adjusting the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from the first cycle to the second cycle;

after this step, the method further comprises: and sending success or failure information for adjusting the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from the first cycle to the second cycle to the first access equipment, so that the first access equipment sends control success/failure information to the second access equipment.

EXAMPLE seven

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the apparatus is located in a first access device; as shown in fig. 8, the communication control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes: a determination module 81 and a sending module 82; wherein,

the determining module 81 is configured to determine that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored;

the first sending module 82 is configured to send first control information to the UE;

the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period;

Further, the determining module 81 is specifically configured to receive the control request information sent by the second access device, and determine that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored according to the control request information.

Further, the determining module 81 is specifically configured to receive, through a direct interface with the second device, control request information sent by the second access device;

or, receiving the control request information sent by the second access device through an interface between the second access device and the intermediate device; the direct interface may be an X2 interface; the interface with the intermediate device can be an X2 interface or an S1 interface or a customized interface.

Further, the apparatus further includes a second sending module 83, configured to send control request acknowledgement information or control request rejection information to the second access device; wherein the control request acknowledgement information includes a time to respond to the control request.

Further, the control request confirmation information and the control request rejection information include timing parameter information; the timing parameter information is used for representing the minimum time interval for receiving the control request information sent by the second access equipment again;

Further, the control request information includes: a first period adjustment parameter and/or a second period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the second access equipment; the second period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the third access equipment;

Further, the determining module 81 is specifically configured to receive downlink service data or signaling, and determine that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be recovered according to the downlink service data or signaling.

Further, the apparatus further includes a third sending module 84, further configured to send second control information to the second access device; the second control information is used to instruct the second access device to adjust the sleep cycle between itself and the UE from the first cycle to the second cycle.

Further, the apparatus further includes a first receiving module 85, configured to receive success information or failure information sent by the UE; the success information and the failure information are used for indicating the success or the failure of the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from the first cycle to the second cycle;

the second sending module 83 is further configured to send control success/failure information to the second access device.

Example eight

Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; the apparatus is located in a UE, and as shown in fig. 9, the communication control apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention includes: a communication module 91 and an adjustment module 92; wherein,

the communication module 91 is configured to receive first control information; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period;

the adjusting module 92 is configured to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and the second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle;

Further, the apparatus further includes a feedback module 93, configured to send success or failure information for performing an operation of adjusting a sleep cycle between the UE and the second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle to the first access device, so that the first access device sends control success/failure information to the second access device.

Example nine

Fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the apparatus is located in a second access device; as shown in fig. 10, the communication control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes: a processing module 11 and a request module 12; wherein,

the processing module 11 is configured to determine that communication connection with the UE needs to be restored;

the request module 12 is configured to send control request information to the first access device; the control request information is used for instructing a first access device to send first control information to the UE, so that the UE adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and a second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle, and the second cycle is smaller than the first cycle.

Further, the processing module 11 is specifically configured to receive downlink service data or signaling, and determine that communication connection with the UE needs to be restored according to the downlink service data or signaling.

Further, the control request information includes: a first period adjustment parameter and/or a second period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the second access equipment; such as: the specific value after the sleep period adjustment between the UE and the second access equipment;

when the reason indicates data arrival, the control request information may further include cache status information and/or data bearer information with data arrival; wherein, the data carrying information with data arrival comprises: bearer identity and/or quality of service classification indicator (QCI, QoS Class Identifier); the first access equipment can judge the urgency of communication connection restoration between the second access equipment and the UE according to the data bearing information of the data arrival;

the second period adjustment parameter is used for characterizing adjustment conditions of the sleep period between the UE and the third access device.

Further, the processing module 11 is specifically configured to send the control request information to the first access device through a direct interface with the first access device; or, the control request information is sent to the first access device through an interface between the first access device and the intermediate device;

here, the direct interface may be an X2 interface; the interface with the intermediate device can be an X2 interface or an S1 interface or a self-defined interface;

the control request information may be indication information indicating data or signaling arrival, or wake-up request information for waking up the UE, or DRX control request information for changing DRX, or paging request information; the control request information includes a reason indication for characterizing a reason for transmission of the information, such as: data arrival, signaling arrival, etc.

Further, the apparatus further includes a second receiving module 13, configured to receive control request acknowledgement information or control request rejection information sent by the first access device; wherein the control request acknowledgement information includes a time for responding to the control request, such as: immediately responding to the control request;

In the embodiment of the present invention, the determining module 81, the first sending module 82, the second sending module 83, the third sending module 84, and the first receiving module 85 in the first access device, the communication module 91, the adjusting module 92, and the feedback module 93 in the UE, and the Processing module 11, the requesting module 12, and the second receiving module 13 in the second access device may all be implemented by a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or an Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

The above description is only for the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of communication control, the method comprising:

sending first control information to the UE; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust a sleep cycle between the UE and a second access device from a first cycle to a second cycle, wherein the second cycle is smaller than the first cycle;

the first access device is a master base station, the second access device is a secondary base station, or the first access device is a secondary base station, the second access device is a master base station, and the first access device and the second access device are devices under a dual-connection architecture or a multi-connection architecture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining, by the first access device, that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored comprises:

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving, by the first access device, the control request information sent by the second access device comprises:

4. The method of claim 2, wherein after the first access device determines that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored, the method further comprises:

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the control request acknowledgement information includes a time for responding to the control request.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the control request information comprises: a first period adjustment parameter and/or a second period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the second access equipment; the second period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the third access equipment;

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining, by the first access device, that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored comprises:

8. The method of claim 7, wherein after the first access device determines that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored, the method further comprises:

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first control information is carried by a Media Access Control (MAC) layer Control Element (CE) and is indicated by a preset logical channel identifier (CCID).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control information comprises: a second access device identifier, or an index corresponding to the second access device, or a communication connection identifier corresponding to the second access device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control information comprises dedicated access resource configuration information to enable the UE to establish a communication connection with the second access device via the dedicated access resource.

12. An apparatus for controlling communication, the apparatus being located at a first access device, the apparatus comprising: the device comprises a determining module and a first sending module; wherein,

the first sending module is used for sending first control information to the UE; the first control information is used for instructing the UE to adjust the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle; the second period is less than the first period;

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the determining module is specifically configured to receive control request information sent by the second access device, and determine that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored according to the control request information.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the determining module is specifically configured to receive, through a direct interface with the second access device, control request information sent by the second access device;

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a second sending module, configured to send control request acknowledgement information or control request rejection information to the second access device; the control request confirmation information and the control request rejection information comprise timing parameter information; the timing parameter information is used for representing a minimum time interval for receiving the control request information sent by the second access equipment again.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control request acknowledgement information comprises a time for responding to the control request.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control request information comprises: a first period adjustment parameter and/or a second period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the second access equipment; the second period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the third access equipment;

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the determining module is specifically configured to receive downlink service data or signaling, and determine that the communication connection between the second access device and the UE needs to be restored according to the downlink service data or signaling.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a third sending module, configured to send second control information to the second access device; the second control information is used to instruct the second access device to adjust the sleep cycle between itself and the UE from the first cycle to the second cycle.

20. A method of communication control, the method comprising:

adjusting the sleep cycle between the UE and the second access equipment from the first cycle to the second cycle;

the second access device is a secondary base station, or the second access device is a primary base station, and the second access device is a device under a dual-connection architecture or a multi-connection architecture.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein after the adjusting the sleep period between the UE and the second access device from the first period to the second period, the method further comprises:

22. An apparatus for communication control, the apparatus being located at a UE, the apparatus comprising: a communication module and an adjustment module; wherein,

the adjusting module is configured to adjust a sleep period between the UE and the second access device from a first period to a second period;

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a feedback module configured to send success or failure information for performing the adjustment of the sleep period between the UE and the second access device from the first period to the second period.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 or 23, wherein the first control information includes third control information, and the third control information is used to instruct the UE to adjust a sleep period between itself and a third access device from a third period to a fourth period; the fourth period is less than the third period.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the first control information is carried by a MAC CE and indicated by a preset logical channel identifier.

26. The apparatus according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the first control information comprises: a second access device identifier, or an index corresponding to the second access device, or a communication connection identifier corresponding to the second access device.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 or 23, wherein the first control information comprises dedicated access resource configuration information to enable the UE to establish a communication connection with the second access device through the dedicated access resource.

28. A method of communication control, the method comprising:

sending control request information to the first access equipment; the control request information is used for instructing first access equipment to send first control information to UE (user equipment), so that the UE adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle, and/or the UE is accessed to the second access equipment; the second period is less than the first period;

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the determining, by the second access device, that the communication connection with the UE needs to be restored comprises:

30. The method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the control request information comprises: a first period adjustment parameter and/or a second period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the second access equipment; the second period adjustment parameter is used for characterizing adjustment conditions of the sleep period between the UE and the third access device.

31. The method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the control request information comprises: dedicated access resource configuration information to enable the UE to establish a communication connection with the second access device through the dedicated access resource.

32. An apparatus for controlling communication, the apparatus being located at a second access device, the apparatus comprising: a processing module and a request module; wherein,

the request module is used for sending control request information to the first access equipment; the control request information is used for instructing first access equipment to send first control information to UE (user equipment), so that the UE adjusts the sleep cycle between the UE and second access equipment from a first cycle to a second cycle, and/or the UE is accessed to the second access equipment; the second period is less than the first period;

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the processing module is specifically configured to receive downlink traffic data or signaling, and determine that the communication connection with the UE needs to be restored according to the downlink traffic data or signaling.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 or 33, wherein the control request information comprises: a first period adjustment parameter and/or a second period adjustment parameter; the first period adjustment parameter is used for representing the adjustment condition of the sleep period between the UE and the second access equipment; the second period adjustment parameter is used for characterizing adjustment conditions of the sleep period between the UE and the third access device.