CN107046705B

CN107046705B - Method, system and network device for automatically obtaining access point name

Info

Publication number: CN107046705B
Application number: CN201610081814.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 易智超; 郑安顺
Original assignee: ZyXEL Communications Corp
Current assignee: ZyXEL Communications Corp
Priority date: 2016-02-05
Filing date: 2016-02-05
Publication date: 2021-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 2036-02-05
Also published as: CN107046705A

Abstract

The invention discloses an access point name automatic acquisition method, a system and a network device for mobile network service. In the method, when a software means in a mobile network device judges that the device is in a mobile network service without an automatic access point name dispatching mechanism, whether a memory in the mobile network device stores a second table look-up is judged, and if the second table look-up exists, an access point name is obtained according to the original existing first table look-up and second table look-up decision. The second lookup table is generated by collecting the access point name automatically obtained each time the mobile network device has the mobile network service with the mechanism of automatically dispatching the access point name by the mobile core network.

Description

Method, system and network device for automatically obtaining access point name

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and system for obtaining access point names, and more particularly, to a method and system for automatically assigning access point names by establishing a lookup table for recording access point names in a mobile device.

Background

The Access Point Name (APN) is typically a Name that a carrier has already set up when provisioning a mobile device, and usually the APN does not change arbitrarily, but may need to be reset once the device is reset or the settings are accidentally changed. Although the user of the mobile device can manually input the APN, the user must first obtain the APN setting data of each telecom operator. If there is no help, the user will be unable to connect the network to obtain the assistance of others under the condition, which causes great trouble to the user of the mobile device.

The automatic APN technique in the prior art is mainly applied to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology of fourth generation mobile communication. As can be seen from the examples of the prior art, in one aspect, the mobile network device is provided with a support list of built-in APNs, and the mobile network device can query and automatically bring out the APNs that may be correct by using a table lookup. In another aspect, the APN support list may be stored in an external server, and the mobile network device queries the APN from the external server through handshake (handshaking), and the APN support list may be maintained in the external server. In another aspect, when the mobile network device has already recorded the APN, but the APN cannot connect to the mobile network due to an error, the mobile network device may respond to the wrong APN support list by using an additional message definition, so as to enable the mobile network device to obtain another correct APN and initiate a network connection request again.

According to the above-described automatic APN scheme, when a mobile network is to be connected, two types of connection Request types (Attach Request types) are included, and the first Type (Type I) is to sequentially present APN fields in the mobile network device and use them to make a network connection Request (Attach Request).

The second type (type II) is that the mobile network device does not provide the APN, but executes the network connection request, and the Mobility Management Entity (MME) responds to the mobile network device with a preset APN (default APN) message according to information after handing over with the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) for performing data exchange and performing security functions such as identity authentication, key agreement, and the like.

An automated APN scheme of the prior art may refer to the process shown in figure 1. After the initialization in step S101, an APN is selected by an APN decision module in the mobile network device, in step S103, and then a network connection request is sent by the APN obtained through the decision, in step S105. The connection result (step S107) may be that the connection with the requesting base station is successful or connection is rejected.

In case of connection rejection, the mobile network device may obtain a response message of the system end by using the failed network connection request, including replying an APN list of the mobile network device, in step S109, so that the APN decision module selects an APN again, and returns to step S103 to send out a second network connection request.

However, the prior art still suffers from the problem of deciding the Access Point Name (APN), one reason for which is that the mobile communication network operator does not actively update the APN of the mobile network device on the user side. Therefore, as the services of the mobile communication network operator and the operator are diversified, or when the mobile network device is first used in a new communication mobile network, or roams (roams) to the mobile communication network, the APN may change unexpectedly, so that the APN support list originally stored in the mobile network device is incorrect or incomplete, and the device cannot connect to the mobile communication network.

In addition, when the operator intentionally assists in updating the APN support list, each device is required to perform the configuration, which is inconvenient and may cause a delay in the distribution route for a new product selling area.

In the above scheme of the APN decision module attempting to acquire an APN with a wrong APN, it takes a lot of time and network resources to initiate a network connection request by a trial and error method.

In addition, in the solution of storing the APN support list by using an external server, a communication channel between the server and the mobile network device needs to be established first, and it is an obstacle to practice the technology to establish the communication channel before the mobile network device fails to establish a connection with the mobile network. Moreover, the technical standard under the scheme has the problem of downward compatibility, and the core network device which is not updated still cannot respond to the relevant message.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a method and a system for automatically acquiring the access point name of mobile network service.A related mobile network device applying the method can automatically acquire the Access Point Name (APN) of a system end through a method mechanism specified by 3GPP specifications, so that the mobile network device and a mobile communication network can smoothly and successfully establish network connection.

According to the embodiment, the main flow of the method for automatically obtaining an access point name of a mobile network service comprises the steps of judging whether a memory in the mobile network device stores a second table look-up table or not when judging that the mobile network device is in the mobile network service without an automatic access point name dispatching mechanism, and if so, deciding to obtain an access point name according to the existing first table look-up table and the second table look-up table. The mobile network device may then set this access point name to connect to the associated mobile network service.

The first table lookup includes at least one access point name maintained by mobile communication network operator, and the second table lookup is generated through judging that the mobile network device is in a mobile network service with automatic access point name dispatching mechanism based on the received broadcast message after the mobile network device is started.

The second lookup table collects the records of access point names obtained each time, and then, in one embodiment, the weight of each access point name is set according to the condition that one or more access point names obtained from each mobile communication network operator are used in the mobile network device as the basis for deciding the access point name.

According to one embodiment of the system for automatically obtaining access point names of mobile network services, the system can provide mobile network hotspots for providing nearby electronic devices to connect with the mobile network services, and the system at least comprises a storage unit for storing a first lookup table and a second lookup table, wherein the first lookup table comprises one or more access point names maintained by at least one mobile communication network operator, and the second lookup table stores one or more access point names obtained from the mobile network services with a mechanism for automatically dispatching the access point names by a mobile core network. The system includes an access point name decision means, which can be implemented in software, firmware, etc., and can make a decision according to one or more access point names recorded in the first lookup table and the second lookup table stored in the storage unit to obtain one of the access point names. The system includes means for connecting mobile network service, which can be implemented in software, firmware, etc., and can connect the mobile network service corresponding to the access point name obtained by the access point name decision means.

The system embodiment may further comprise a means for establishing a second lookup table by storing one or more automatically received access point names when the system is connected to a mobile network service having an access point name mechanism automatically dispatched by the mobile core network, and establishing the second lookup table.

The system and method described herein may be further applied to a network device having a processor and a memory, the memory storing a set of procedures executed by the processor for automatically obtaining an access point name of a mobile network service, the set of procedures comprising: the mobile network device comprises an instruction for judging whether the mobile network device is in the mobile network service with the mechanism of automatically sending the access point name, an instruction for obtaining the access point name by using a first table look-up to connect the corresponding mobile network service, an instruction for obtaining at least one access point name by using the mechanism of automatically sending the access point name by the mobile network service in which the mobile network device is positioned, an instruction for establishing a second table look-up, an instruction for judging whether the second table look-up is stored in the mobile network device, an instruction for executing an access point name decision according to the first table look-up and/or the second table look-up, an instruction for sending a connection request, and an instruction for connecting the corresponding mobile network service by using the decided access point name.

For a further understanding of the techniques, methods and technical effects of the invention to achieve the stated objectives, it is believed that the objects, features and characteristics of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are not intended to be limiting.

Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a process for obtaining an access point name in a prior art mobile communication network;

fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for establishing the new APN list;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method for automatically obtaining an access point name of a mobile network service according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the method for automatically obtaining an access point name of a mobile network service according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the APN decision module of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an APN record table referenced in APN decision making according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an APN auto-acquire system for mobile network services in accordance with the present invention;

fig. 8 shows a flowchart describing one of application flows of the method for automatically obtaining an access point name of a mobile network service according to the present invention.

Description of reference numerals:

the first field 601

Second field 602

Third field 603

The fourth field 604

Mobile network device 70

Central processing unit 701

Mobile communication unit 703

Regional network element 705

Storage unit 707

First lookup table 71

Second lookup table 72

Step S101-S109 Process for obtaining Access Point name in the prior art

Step S201-S211 flow for establishing newly added APN list

Step S301-S307 flow of embodiment of method for automatically acquiring access point name

Step S401-S419 are embodiments of the method for automatically obtaining access point name

Operation embodiment flow of APN decision module in steps S501-S505

Application flow of method for automatically acquiring access point name in steps S801-S825

Detailed Description

According to the disclosure of the present invention, a method for automatically obtaining Access Point Name of mobile network service and a system for executing the method are provided, wherein a related mobile network device applying the method can automatically obtain the Access Point Name (hereinafter referred to as APN) of a system end through a method mechanism specified by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) specifications, so that the mobile network device and a mobile communication network operator can smoothly and successfully establish a wireless connection.

When a User Equipment (UE) needs to perform a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network service, an Access Point Name (APN) is set first, and a connection Request (Attach Request) is performed to obtain the APN, so that a system side can automatically provide the APN. Before making a connection request, the ue requests resources from the air by using a Random Access Process (Random Access Process) means such as Radio Resource Control (RRC) according to information obtained by paging (paging), and sends a connection request to obtain an Access point name after completing a Radio Resource Control connection.

In addition to Long Term Evolution (LTE), a Mobile network device operating in a System such as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) must carry a correct APN to successfully establish a data connection, so that the access point name acquisition method provided by the present invention considers compatibility between GPRS and UMTS.

In a mobile network device, after the mobile network device is initialized (initialization), a network judgment means such as a software program or firmware loaded in a certain chip is used to judge whether the mobile network device is within a specific mobile network service coverage area, for example, a mobile network service such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) which originally has an automatic APN dispatch mechanism by a mobile core network is provided. When the mobile network device is judged not to be in the coverage of the mobile network service with the automatic APN dispatching mechanism such as LTE and the like, a newly added APN list can be obtained from a memory in the mobile network device by the method provided by the invention and used as the basis for APN decision, and the APN can still be successfully set in the mobile network service without the automatic APN dispatching mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for establishing the new APN list. The flow embodiment is to establish a second lookup table newly added in the system, where the second lookup table is different from the first lookup table in the prior art, and the first lookup table record at least includes one or more access point names maintained by a mobile communication network operator, i.e. an APN support list preloaded in the mobile network device in the prior art, and may be built in (or updated) by the operator or the mobile device manufacturer in the mobile network device. In the prior art, the APN is set by sequentially selecting APN records in the first list, but it cannot cope with areas where the original operator does not anticipate the need to use mobile network services.

In the embodiment of the process of creating the second lookup table, after the mobile network device is started, an initialization procedure is performed, in step S201, the mobile communication circuit in the device receives the broadcast signal sent by the system side, and determines that the service such as LTE, which has a mechanism for automatically dispatching the APN, can be connected according to the broadcast message.

When the mobile network service such as LTE and the like having the automatic APN sending mechanism is confirmed by the broadcast signal, the mobile network device connects to the mobile network service (e.g. LTE) according to the software setting thereof in step S203, and then sends a connection request (attach request) by the mobile network device in step S205, and at least one access point name provided by the system can be automatically obtained in step S207. In which, according to the procedure established under the 3GPP standard specification, the mobile network device automatically acquires and stores the APN of the network terminal by using the specified Attach Request mechanism, in step S209, a second lookup table of the relevant APN may be established in step S211, without excluding the recording of the content of the list in the form of a database, in which multiple APNs and relevant descriptions may be stored, and in one embodiment, a list of new APNs may be continuously added, and other data may be attached, as shown in the schematic diagram shown in fig. 6.

In the access point name automatic acquisition scheme of the mobile network service provided by the invention, the stored APN can be applied to mobile network services without an APN automatic dispatch mechanism, such as GPRS, UMTS systems and the like. The second lookup table created through the above steps will be stored in the memory of the mobile network device.

According to the method for automatically obtaining the access point name applicable to the non-LTE mobile network service, the main flow is as shown in fig. 3, which focuses on the step of automatically dispatching the access point name.

First, the mobile network service of the mobile network device needs to be determined, i.e. the network type is determined according to the broadcast message from the network end system. The embodiment of the invention solves the problem of setting the APN when the mobile network device is in the network environment which can not automatically obtain the correct APN.

In step S301, when the relevant software and hardware in the mobile network device are collocated to determine that the mobile network device is in the coverage area of the mobile network service such as non-LTE that does not have the mechanism for automatically dispatching the access point name, then in step S303, the determining means formed by the software program, hardware or firmware in the mobile network device determines whether the memory in the device has the second lookup table, which can be established and continuously updated as shown in fig. 2.

If it is determined in step S303 that the second lookup table is not present, it indicates that the memory of the mobile network device does not store the second lookup table, then step S305 is executed, and the connection mechanism in the mobile network device uses a general means of obtaining the APN, i.e. queries the first lookup table, to obtain the name of the access point recorded in the first lookup table, and accordingly connects the mobile network service corresponding to the APN, or tries to query the available APN in the first lookup table, or sequentially attempts to connect the corresponding mobile network service according to the past history (setting weight).

In this case, a general means for acquiring the APN is adopted, such as utilizing an APN support list (i.e. a first lookup table) built in (or stored in) the mobile network device, and automatically taking out the APN that may be correct after querying the first lookup table; or indirectly prompt the next connection request by performing a trial and error attempt using the APN recorded in the first lookup table.

If it is determined that a memory in the mobile network device stores the second lookup table, in step S307, the software means in the mobile network device selects an access point name according to the second lookup table and/or the first lookup table, and connects the corresponding mobile network service according to the obtained APN.

In this embodiment, the APN decision module is introduced, and the APN records of the first lookup table and the second lookup table can be considered at the same time, so that the advantage of the first lookup table in the prior art can be maintained, and the second lookup table automatically expanded is updated and added to improve the successful connection probability of the user.

Next, as shown in fig. 4, in an embodiment of the method for automatically obtaining an access point name of a mobile network service, the APN automatic obtaining mechanism provided in the present invention still operates in the standard specification of 3GPP, and the flow describes a decision applied between a mobile network service with an automatic APN dispatching mechanism and a mobile network service with a non-automatic APN dispatching mechanism, such as LTE.

In this embodiment, the mobile network device initially determines the type of the mobile network service that can be connected (step S401), and when determining, this example shows that the mobile network service with an APN automatic dispatch mechanism, such as LTE, is taken as an example, and it is determined whether the environment is LTE (step S403).

If it is determined to be LTE, the mobile network device operates under the mechanism of automatic APN dispatch in the prior art in an LTE environment, and the mobile network device does not need to transmit an APN to the network, but a network Mobility Management Entity (MME) provides the APN to the mobile network device and successfully establishes a network connection, wherein the steps include initiating a network connection request according to a protocol (e.g., a 3GPP standard procedure) (step S405), obtaining a correct APN using a mobile network service such as LTE (step S407), setting an APN in the mobile network device accordingly (step S409), and connecting the mobile network service such as LTE (step S411).

In this mode, the APN can be obtained in a standard manner under a mobile network service with an automatic APN dispatch, and stored in a memory with a corresponding token, which becomes an input value for an APN decision module (an access point name decision means therein) implemented in software. The mobile network device applying the technology of the invention can store the APN which is automatically obtained, store the APN as a list (second lookup table), and can give a corresponding note for the network which is successfully connected, and list the APN reference model which is listed in the subsequent network connection request. An embodiment may refer to fig. 6.

The APN stored in the second lookup table established in the part can be used in a mobile network environment without an APN automatic dispatch mechanism, such as GPRS, UMTS and the like, so that the mobile network device can execute APN decision and initiate a network connection request.

Returning to step S403, when it is determined that the mobile network device is in a mobile network service without an APN, it is determined whether a second lookup table is stored (step S413), and if no second lookup table storing an APN exists (no), the APN decision module is returned to use, the APN decision module is imported into the APN decision module to determine the APN (step S417), and a network connection request is initiated with the APN determined (step S419).

In step S413, if it is determined that the second lookup table exists (yes), in step S415, the APN is selected by the APN decision module, according to one embodiment, an access point name decision means implemented by software or firmware in the mobile network device decides to obtain an access point name according to the first lookup table and the second lookup table, wherein the access point name decision means includes setting a weight of each access point name according to a condition that one or more access point names obtained from each mobile communication network operator are used for recording in the mobile network device, and reference may be made to an example shown in fig. 6 as a basis for deciding the access point name.

The above embodiment process can be applied to a multi-system environment, for example, when a user carries a mobile network device already operating in a certain area to another area, the user cannot immediately obtain an appropriate APN, and if an applicable APN list (second lookup table) is stored when a mobile network service with an APN is connected, the user can still obtain an appropriate APN through an APN decision in another area, thereby improving the success probability of automatic connection.

The APN decision step may refer to the flow of the embodiment described in fig. 5, and is described as an operation flow of an APN decision module in the mobile network device of the present invention, when an APN decision is performed according to the APN record of the first lookup table and/or the second lookup table (step S501), an order of the first lookup table and the second lookup table is determined according to the weight (step S503) to perform a decision (step S505), after the APN is decided, a corresponding mobile network service is connected by means of connecting the mobile network service, and the system sends a connection request according to the APN obtained by the decision, if the connection is unsuccessful, the above steps are repeated until the APN is successful; or accumulating the times in each trial, and abandoning the connection when reaching the trial number; resetting the accumulated times before the next program restart.

The above-mentioned case of recording the use of one or more access point names obtained from each mobile communication network operator in the mobile network device at least includes the result of each connection using each access point name and time information, and an example can refer to the APN record table diagram shown in fig. 6 for reference when making APN decision according to the present invention. The record can be used as a reference for setting each APN or the first and second lookup table query sequence.

This example shows that the mobile network service providers (T1, T2, T3, T3) recorded in the first field 601, the APNs (APN1, APN2, APN3, APN4) provided by the mobile network service providers recorded in the second field 602, the dates of the APNs used recorded in the third field 603, and the record of whether the APNs are successfully connected or not recorded in the fourth field 604 are recorded.

In the system for automatically obtaining the access point name of the mobile network service implementing the above method flow, the second lookup table of the APN established under the mobile network service capable of connecting with the mechanism of automatically dispatching the APN by the mobile core network is stored in the memory of the mobile network device, and the memory includes a non-volatile memory (NVRAM) such as a flash memory (flash) arranged in the mobile network device. A related system embodiment may be found in fig. 7.

In this embodiment, the system for automatically obtaining access point names is shown to be operated in a mobile network device 70, and the mobile network device 70, such as a mobile hotspot device, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, etc., can provide a mobile network routing function, and in this device, the main components for implementing the system and method of the present invention include a central processing unit 701 for performing data processing, and related circuit components electrically connected to the central processing unit 701, such as a mobile communication unit 703, a local area network unit 705, a storage unit 707, and a program set stored in the storage unit 707 for performing the method for automatically obtaining access point names, and include a first lookup table 71 and a second lookup table 72.

The mobile network device 70 as the mobile network hotspot at least comprises a mobile communication unit 703 for connecting a specific mobile network service and a local network unit 705 for connecting an electronic device providing a local end with the device 70 through a local network, such as a WiFi^TMThe local area network of (1) can connect one or more terminal devices with a local area network, so that the mobile network hotspot service is realized by connecting one or more terminal devices with the mobile network service.

The automatic access point name obtaining system operating in the mobile network device 70, in which the function can be implemented by software, firmware or by matching with each circuit component of the mobile network device 70, includes a storage means, such as the storage unit 707 in the device 70, for storing the first lookup table and the second lookup table, and executing the program set of the related method for automatically obtaining the APN.

The system includes an access point name decision means, which can be implemented by the aforementioned APN decision module operating in the mobile network device 70, and can make a decision according to one or more access point names recorded in the stored first lookup table and the stored second lookup table to obtain one of the access point names, wherein a decision weight is set according to an operating status of each access point name, which can refer to the above embodiments.

The system has means for connecting to a mobile network service, i.e. a mobile communication unit 703 in the mobile network device 70, wherein the mobile communication unit 703 can connect to a multi-system (e.g. in GPRS/UMTS/LTE environment) network and can connect to the corresponding mobile network service according to the access point name obtained by the APN decision module.

According to an embodiment, if the system does not have the second lookup table, the system may include a means for creating the second lookup table, such as implemented in software, that is, the method as described in the foregoing embodiment of fig. 2, when the system connects to the mobile network service having the mechanism for automatically dispatching access point names, the system stores one or more automatically received access point names in the memory by the foregoing storage means, and creates the second lookup table therein.

Next, the related application can refer to the flow of the embodiment shown in fig. 8. In the embodiment, LTE is used to represent a mobile network service with an automatic access point name assignment mechanism; mobile network services other than LTE are mobile network services that do not have an automatic dispatch access point name mechanism. The actual implementation of the present invention is not limited to these network services.

Initially, in step S801, the mobile network device is initialized, in which the mobile network device is ready for its software and hardware services, and then in step S803, the type of the mobile network device is determined according to the received network packets.

If it is determined in step S805 that the type of the mobile network in which the device is currently located is LTE, then it is determined according to the network packet that the mobile network device is in LTE (yes), then, as shown in step S807, it is determined whether the network connection setting in the mobile network device is preferred (reference) to be a non-LTE mobile network, and if it is preferred to be non-LTE (yes), it indicates that the device is in a mobile network with an automatic APN assignment mechanism, such as 4G, e.g. LTE, but the preferred mobile network is not LTE, but is a mobile network service without an APN assignment mechanism, such as 2G/3G, and at this time, as shown in step S817, the mobile network device executes a background procedure, and still obtains an APN by using the automatic APN assignment mechanism in LTE, and in this state, the second lookup table is continuously updated.

On the other hand, if LTE mobile network service is preferred or LTE is automatically set because LTE is in progress, the mobile network device directly issues a connection request (step S809), and automatically acquires an APN of LTE (step S811), sets an APN (step S813), and establishes a connection (step S815).

In step S805, when the current mobile network type is determined to be not LTE (no), i.e., the current mobile network is in 2G/3G or the like, the mobile network service can still be interfaced through the decision-making procedure. In the subsequent step S819, the program in the device determines whether the memory stores a second lookup table.

If the second lookup table does not exist (no), it indicates that the APN for storing automatic dispatch does not exist, so that the in-device program only queries the APN from the first lookup table (step S821), sends out a connection request by using the obtained APN (step S823), and completes the connection (step S815).

Otherwise, if the second lookup table is determined to exist (yes), it indicates that the storage already has the APN list automatically obtained in the LTE mobile network, which can be used as the basis for the APN decision, in step S825, an appropriate APN is selected according to the decision, and a connection request is sent accordingly (step S823), and a connection is implemented (step S815).

It should be noted that once the mobile network device makes a decision to obtain the APN, the system may still determine the network type through broadcasting in the background program, and include an action of adding or continuously updating the second lookup table, and may select the APN through the decision module according to the second lookup table or in cooperation with the first lookup table, and issue a connection request. Under the mechanism, the mobile network device can be applied to various mobile network environments.

The above-mentioned flow embodiment shown in fig. 8 enables the preferred non-LTE user to successfully acquire the APN under the automatic access point name acquisition mechanism proposed by the present invention, and is applicable to the roaming (roaming) between 3G and 4G/LTE mobile networks in addition to the application under the preferred non-LTE setting. For example, when the mobile network device roams into an LTE network environment from a 3G mobile network service, the mobile network service can be continuously used according to the acquired APN without switching into LTE; on the contrary, when the method is applied to the LTE-to-3G, the applicable APN can be selected smoothly according to the table lookup established by the APN to connect the mobile network service without the risk of service interruption.

In the present invention, the software program for executing the above method is loaded in a network device such as the aforementioned mobile hotspot device, mobile phone, tablet computer, etc., wherein the network device includes a processor and a memory, the memory stores a set of access point names for automatically acquiring mobile network services executed by the processor in the device, and the set of instructions executed in the mobile network device include: judging whether the mobile network device is in a mobile network service instruction under a mechanism of automatically sending the access point name; obtaining the access point name by a first table lookup to connect the instruction of the corresponding mobile network service; an instruction for obtaining at least one access point name by executing a mechanism for automatically dispatching the access point name by the mobile network service in the background; an instruction to create a second lookup table based on at least one access point name; judging whether the instruction of the second table look-up is stored in the mobile network device; executing an instruction of selecting the access point name according to the first table look-up and/or the second table look-up; an instruction for sending out a connection request; and an instruction for connecting the corresponding mobile network service with the selected access point name.

It should be noted that the method for automatically obtaining an access point name of a mobile network service described in the present invention is not limited to a specific mobile network service, but can be applied to any mobile network service that does not provide an automatic APN serving mechanism. Therefore, the above embodiment process is applicable to other mobile network services which are not LTE and do not have an automatic APN serving mechanism, and therefore, the method can be used in a multi-system (heterogeneous) environment, when the APN can be automatically served under various mobile network services, the probability of successful automatic connection can be improved, the requirement of flexibly setting the APN by a hardware manufacturer can be provided, the APN covering various areas can not be set when the mobile network device leaves a factory, the product release time course can be shortened, and the overall product development cost can be reduced.

Therefore, according to the embodiments of the present invention, the method and system for obtaining an access point name disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention are applicable to a device operating in a system such as a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) system and a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) system, in addition to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system.

Moreover, when the system described in the present invention is built under the 3GPP standard specification, the relevant device automatically obtains and stores the APN from the system side (e.g. the server of the mobile network service provider) by using the specified Attach Request mechanism, and the stored APN can be applied to systems without the APN automatic dispatch mechanism, such as GPRS and UMTS. Because the mechanism is structured under the 3GPP standard specification, there will be no problem of core network device compatibility, and the network end proposes the network connection request as one time, no redundant message exchange will be generated, thereby avoiding unnecessary waste of network resources and speeding up the time for successfully establishing the network connection.

It should be understood that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, so that equivalent structural changes made by using the contents of the present specification and the drawings are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An access point name automatic acquisition method, comprising:

determining that a mobile network device is in a mobile network service without an automatic dispatch access point name mechanism; and

after judging that a memory in the mobile network device stores a second lookup table, deciding to obtain an access point name according to a first lookup table and the second lookup table, wherein the first lookup table comprises one or more access point names maintained by at least one mobile communication network operator;

wherein the second lookup table generation method comprises:

after the mobile network device is started, judging that the mobile network device is in a mobile network service with an automatic access point name dispatching mechanism according to the received broadcast message, and automatically acquiring at least one access point name; and

stored in the memory, and the second lookup table is established.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the access point name according to the first lookup table and the second lookup table further comprises:

setting the weight of each access point name according to the condition of recording and using one or more access point names obtained from each mobile communication network operator in the mobile network device as the basis for deciding the access point name.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if the memory does not store the second lookup table, the first lookup table is queried to obtain another access point name in the first lookup table.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the recording of the use of one or more access point names obtained from each mobile communication network operator in the mobile network device comprises: the result of each access point name connection and time information is used.

5. An automatic access point name acquisition system, comprising:

a storage means for storing a first lookup table and a second lookup table, wherein the first lookup table comprises one or more access point names maintained by at least one mobile communication network operator, and the second lookup table stores one or more access point names obtained from a mobile network service having an automatic access point name dispatching mechanism;

an access point name decision means for making a decision according to one or more access point names recorded in the first lookup table and the second lookup table stored in the storage means to obtain an access point name;

a means for connecting mobile network service, which is the mobile network service corresponding to the access point name connection obtained by the access point name decision means; and

and a means for establishing the second lookup table is to store one or more automatically received access point names when the access point name automatic acquisition system is connected with the mobile network service with the automatic access point name dispatching mechanism, and establish the second lookup table.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the APAS is running in a mobile network device, and a non-volatile memory in the mobile network device stores the first lookup table and the second lookup table.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the mobile network device is a mobile network hotspot, comprising:

a mobile communication unit, for connecting the corresponding mobile network service according to the access point name obtained by the decision; and

and the local network unit is used for connecting one or more terminal devices through a local network so that the mobile network hotspot service enables the one or more terminal devices to be connected with the mobile network service.

8. An access point name automatic acquisition method, comprising:

judging that a mobile network type of a mobile network device is in a mobile network service with an automatic dispatch access point name mechanism, and setting a network connection in the mobile network device as a mobile network service without the automatic dispatch access point name mechanism;

the mobile network device executes a background program to automatically acquire at least one access point name; and

obtaining an access point name according to a first table lookup and a second table lookup decision, wherein the first table lookup comprises one or more access point names maintained by at least one mobile communication network operator, and the second table lookup stores one or more access point names obtained from a mobile network service with an automatic access point name dispatching mechanism;

wherein the background program obtains the at least one access point name by a mechanism of automatically dispatching the access point name by the mobile network service; the second lookup table is added or updated with the obtained at least one access point name and stored in a memory in the mobile network device.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of determining whether the memory of the mobile network device stores the second lookup table before the step of adding or updating the second lookup table.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining the access point name according to the first lookup table and the second lookup table further comprises:

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the recording of the use of one or more access point names obtained from each mobile communication network operator in the mobile network device comprises: the result of each access point name connection and time information is used.

12. A network device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing a set of programs for execution by the processor to automatically obtain an access point name, the set of programs comprising:

an instruction for judging whether a mobile network device is in a mobile network service with an automatic dispatch access point name mechanism;

a command for obtaining the access point name by a first table lookup to connect with the corresponding mobile network service, wherein the first table lookup comprises one or more access point names maintained by at least one mobile communication network operator;

an instruction for obtaining at least one access point name by executing a mechanism for automatically dispatching the access point name by the mobile network service in the background;

an instruction for creating a second lookup table according to the at least one access point name;

an instruction for judging whether the mobile network device stores the second table look-up;

an instruction for performing access point name selection based on the first lookup table and/or the second lookup table;

an instruction for sending out a connection request; and

an instruction for connecting the corresponding mobile network service by the selected access point name;

wherein the second lookup table generation method comprises:

stored in the memory, and the second lookup table is established.